Decisions, Decisions

Sitting at work, so early in the morning and I want to be anywhere but here. This work isn't my passion. Work doesn't fill my heart or ignite my imagination. Suddenly all the things that do fill me up and set me aflame rushed into my mind. I felt pulled toward my cards (I always have a deck in my bag obvs) and drew a card while no one was looking. Of course, the card that jumped out is the 7 of cups. The fairies are literally pulling her hair toward the answer or begging to make a decision (shit or get off the pot/cauldron witch).

When you are lost in daydreams where do you go and is that where you really want to be?

If so, what does the map to that place look like?
What choice do you make for yourself in this moment?

Prioritize. What comes first? What can wait?

Don't spend so much time staring at the choices before you that you forget to make a decision.

Summer Solstice ~ Litha

  

    


     Summer Solstice or Midsummer is much more than just the longest day of the year.  This day has deep, magickal roots all over the world and has been celebrated by a myriad of cultures for centuries. A solar/fire festival, Midsummer is a celebration of light, the powers of the Sun and the coming abundance of Mother Earth.  Summer Solstice (I tend to interchange the terms Midsummer and Summer Solstice) occurs around June 20th - June 21st when the Sun enters the zodiac sign Cancer. The longest day and shortest night happens on Summer Solstice day, bringing the Sun to the height of its power.  Although the hottest days of summer are still ahead of us, the Summer Solstice marks the end of the light half of the year and the beginning of the dark half of the year (the days slowly start to get shorter as the sun sets earlier each evening).  Midsummer has many names including:

• Summer Solstice and Midsummer 
• Litha
• Feast of Epona (ancient Gaul)
• All Couple's Day (Greece)
• Vastalia (ancient Rome)
• Gathering Day (Wales)
• Feill-Sheathain (Scotland)
• Thing-Tide (Scandinavia)

  

    Because of the power this day (and the days surrounding the Solstice) holds, it's a great time to perform spell work for protection, fertility, abundance, renewal, love and cleansing.  Nature is growing and blooming at every turn.  The Summer Solstice gives us wee mortals a chance to revel in the beauty of nature and celebrate all that Mother Earth gives us.  Midsummer is generally a time to party, feast and get down with your bad self at a community or family gathering (these ancient gatherings took place at Midsummer and are the root of what we now know as family reunions which usually take place in June.) Mother Earth likes a good a party too. Use the power of the Summer Solstice to:

•  Honor and commune with the fairy kingdom (Leave the fairies an offering of food ie. milk, honey, butter, wine, bread etc)
• Garden witchery (make a fairy garden and kill 2 birds with 1 stone)
• Herbal and garden magick
• Invite a bunch of pagan folk over and make the most of the sunshine with outdoor ritual followed by a rowdy picnic/bbq
• Gather fresh herbs and hang them to dry (Vervain was traditionally gathered before dawn on Midsummer and pine cones gathered on the day are considered powerful protection amulets.)
• Harness the protective power of the sun and make protection amulets.  Next year, bury the amulet on Midsummer Eve and make a new one on Midsummer Day.

     

     Although all Sabbats are associated with fire in some way, this element is most important and honored at Midsummer because of the hot sun.  Balefires have been a prominent component of Midsummer for centuries and continue to be lit today.  Traditionally, a balefire was lit on the eve of Midsummer, burned/tended to throughout the day of Midsummer and then allowed to burn out. Summer Solstice activities (feasting, spell work, etc.) took place around the balefire making it the focal point of the day (symbolic of the sun's extended stay in the sky).  In some traditions, all lights in the home were extinguished and re-lit using torches lit from the balefire to bring the power of the sun into the home.  Farmers sometimes lit two fires side by side and walked their livestock between them. This practice had two purposes: 1. the smoke purified the livestock while the fire offered symbolic protection. 2. the heat from the fire caused pests like ticks to fall off the animals.  Once the balefire has gone out the ashes that are left behind are sprinkled in the fields to bless the crops and bring fertility.  The most important thing to note about fire during Midsummer is its similarities to the sun. Fire can cook your food, heat your home, light the way, burn you, and purify.  The sun provides warmth, provides plants with energy to grow and thrive, lights the way, heats you up and can give you one hell of a burn if you're not careful.  There are countless activities that can be done during Midsummer that include fire/sun:

• Light a bonfire. If a bonfire is too extreme, make a fire pit. If you're like me and don't have access to a yard, then use your cauldron. Light a few gold and green candles (gold represents the sun and green represents nature) in your cauldron.
• A simple spell to release that which no longer serves you: write down what you want to release on a peace of paper and throw it into the fire. 
• Place votive candles in a dish with some water.  The floating votives are pretty, provide some ambiance, and can also double as a scrying tool.
• Do some candle magick
• Practice safe sunbathing and work on your tan a bit
• When the sun begins to set, light sparklers and dance with the fireflies.

Summer Solstice folklore: June is a popular month for people to get hitched.  Ancient societies believed it was bad luck to marry in the month of May because this time belonged to the God and Goddess (Beltane). May is the month of sacred marriage between the Goddess and God, so people waited until June to walk down the aisle.  A nursery rhyme/old poem reflects this belief in its lyrics: 

"Married when the year is new, he'll be loving, kind & true,

When February birds do mate, You wed nor dread your fate.

If you wed when March winds blow, joy and sorrow both you'll know.

Marry in April when you can, Joy for Maiden & for Man.

Marry in the month of May, and you'll surely rue the day.

Marry when June roses grow, over land and sea you'll go. (or and happiness you'll always know)

Those who in July do wed, must labour for their daily bred.

Whoever wed in August be, many a change is sure to see

Marry in September's shrine, your living will be rich and fine.

If in October you do marry, love will come but riches tarry.

If you wed in bleak November, only joys will come, remember.

When December snows fall fast, marry and true love will last."

Summer Solstice/Midsummer is a powerful time during the wheel of the year. Work on your tan, reflect on the light half of the year, make plans for the dark half or have a few rowdy companions over for a bbq, fire pit and sparklers.  Spend some time thinking of all that Mother Nature provides and the harvest that is still to come.  Create a fairy garden or an amulet to protect your home, property, animals or yourself (these could be good projects for the kids).  It doesn't matter what you do as long as you enjoy the longest day of the year!! 

Brightest of Blessings to you all, 

~Amethyst~

Sources:

Sabbats: A Witch's Approach To Living The Old Ways   by: Edain McCoy    (great book!)

Seasons of Witchery: Celebrating The Sabbats With The Garden Witch   by: Ellen Dugan 

Herb Talk ~ Lavender

     

     We're more than halfway thru the month of April and I'm itching to get outside and play in the dirt.  I'm anxiously waiting for the nights to warm up so the jungle in my house can be relocated to the patio for the spring and summer months.  I've also decided that Lavender is going to be one the new additions to that jungle so I thought I'd discuss it in this addition of Herb Talk. Lavender (Lavendula officinale) is a member of the mint family and there are 39 known species of Lavender.  Spike, Nard, Elf Leaf and Nardis are some of the folk names for Lavender.  Its ruling planets are Mercury and Jupiter.  Lavender is a masculine herb and it is associated with the element of Air. 

This is a Lavender sachet that I keep in my pillow. 

It's Lavender with a few red rose petals added in. I've had trouble sleeping for my entire life and putting this simple sachet in my pillow has really helped.

Lavender is high on my list of must have herbs and is always present in the exploding herb cabinet. It has a strong and unmistakable scent and its purple coloring makes it appealing to the eye.  One of Lavenders' main magickal uses is in spell work regarding love. To attract love using Lavender: 

• Write love notes on paper that has been rubbed with Lavender oil.
• Spray clothing with Lavender scent.
• Put Lavender sachets in drawers with clothes to make them smell good and attract love.
• Mix Lavender, rose and mint to create a powerful love/attraction formula.

Lavender is also a relaxing, purifying and cleansing herb.  It will calm your nerves, help you sleep and can be used for healing purposes.  Scatter around the house to create peacefulness and plant outside your home for peace and protection.  Burn Lavender to find your way to dream land (I sleep with Lavender sachets in my pillows and it helps this insomniac get to sleep.)  Mixing Lavender with chamomile and making a tea will also help alleviate insomnia.  Smell some Lavender the next time your feeling a little blue or anxious  and your mood will instantly elevate.  Lavender is also a natural antiseptic/astringent.  When you have a minor skin ailment (bug bit, sunburn, small cut etc) use Lavender oil to take the sting out and help get rid of the germs.  Lavender is also considered lucky so add it to a mixture to add some extra umphhh.

Interesting Tidbit:  The scent of Lavender attracts men.  Lavender water and/or the essential oil was worn by prostitutes centuries ago to attract customers and to advertise their profession.

Will Lavender kill me??

Lavender flower is not toxic and won't kill you.  Lavender is used frequently in teas especially teas intended to relax and help someone sleep.  It is also used for cooking and baking in some parts of the world.  Lavender flowers can be candied and used as decorations on baked goods.  There is also Lavender sugar (and it's yummy).  To make Lavender sugar you'll need:

• 4 tablespoons dried lavender flowers
• 3 cups sugar

Place Lavender and sugar in a food processor. Pulse to mix evenly, and until you see flecks of lavender evenly distributed throughout the sugar.  (Thank You Whole Foods!)

Although the Lavender plant is o.k. to ingest the oil is poisonous and should not be ingested! A few drops in the bath is one thing but don't put it in your tea.***

So Lavender is amazing herb.  The smell of it is it relaxing and its also visually appealing.  Use it for purification and cleansing purposes and put some in your pillow to help you sleep.  No neosporin?? Lavender oil can be used in a pinch when you have bug bite or sunburn.  Keep it in and around your home to promote peacefulness and provide protection. Use it in your love drawing mixtures and if your a lady of the evening dab some behind your ears.

Bright Blessings,

~Amethyst~

***I am not a doctor and I don't play one on TV. Do your research before you consume any herbs via potions etc.

Sources: Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by: Scott Cunningham
The Encyclopedia of Magickal Ingredients by: Lexa Rosean

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/2367

Mother Moon

Greeted by Mother Moon as I walked into work this morning.  #fullmoon #pinkmoon #moon #sunrise #moonset 

Magickal Aha

   


     I was 14 years old when The Craft was released. I've seen it so many times I could close my eyes and watch it on the back of my eyelids without missing a scene. By the time the movie was out in theaters I was already hiding witchy/pagan/magickal books under my bed, far away from judgmental eyes. I learned a lot from that movie: don't mess with someone's free will, if a night on the beach with friends causes marine life to wash ashore it's time for new friends and make sure your mom is asleep before you start trying to levitate your friends.  The most important thing I learned was that:         

"The only good or bad is in the heart of the witch."

     I was so struck by Lirio's (dope name) words and I've carried them with me since the first time I heard her say them.  Truth be told, a lot of those books hiding out under my teenage bed weren't very good.  At that stage in my studies of witchcraft I didn't know any better and I was just grabbing any book with the word witch on it.  So many of them drew a deep line right down the center of magick. There was white magick and black magick (I disliked those terms right from the start), pick one and use it. You could either be Glinda or Bellatrix.  Lirio's words were an AHA moment (for lack of a better phrase...  no seriously, I'm sorry) for that 14 year old novice. Magick was everywhere and it was neutral.  It would go wherever I directed it with whatever intention I attached.  The realization was freeing and also a warning. I was in control but I had to be careful with my words, actions and intentions.  

"Careful girls, you don't want to end up like Nancy."

     It was an unexpected moment at a movie theater in some mall in New Jersey.  In the years since, I've come to expect and have even grown accustomed to odd synchronicities and regular whacks in the head from the universe.  Did you have one of these moments early on in your magickal life?  What was the lesson? How did it present itself?  Tell me in comments!  <3 

BB

~A

Squad Goals...  minus the crazy