Mystical Wednesday; Scrying

For centuries, people have been fascinated with learning what the future will hold. Wealth, happiness, good fortune of any kind, drove people to seek out ways to learn what the universe had in store for them. From this, several forms of divination arose, and most if not all, are still quite popular today.

Scrying is when you can gaze into crystals, stones, glass, mirrors, water, fire, or smoke, hoping to evoke some image of the past, present, or future. While the name itself invokes images of mystical dark nights chanting under a full moon, there is more to it than it appears. It is thought that by gazing into a reflective, translucent, or luminescent substances, the conscience side of the brain ‘shuts off’, allowing for the unconscious to dominate as it does while we’re sleeping. In this state, many believe we can tap into our psychic abilities.

I have done scrying during a full moon, but my mind races so much that it was hard to really fall into any sort of trance. I took a piece of silver (a coin), placed it in a bowl with water and held it up so the water reflected the moon. I tried to position the moon’s reflection directly over the coin, but everything was at such an awkward angle that it didn’t work.

I have thought about trying it again. Maybe this summer. What about you? Have you ever been curious enough to try it?  

Winter Solstice/Yule Ritual

I posted this last year and I love it so much that I’m not changing anything and doing the exact same rite for the Solstice. I put this together over a few days. It’s quick and easy, and the best part is that it is versatile.

~Disclaimer: The prayers and other parts I got from Scott Cunningham’s books, and the first part I got from a spell a day email I think from Llewellyn Books, but I can’t remember.~

Ritual

After a cleansing bath or shower, set up your altar so that it has a representation of the four elements (earth, air, fire, water), representation of the God and Goddess (candles or statues, or whatever you use), and a white candle in the center. There should be something for the Simple Feast. I like to combine food and objects, ie. using nuts and cookies for the Simple Feast as well as having them depict the element of Earth.

For this rite I used walnuts/cookies for the element of Earth.

Sandalwood incense for the element of Air

A small red candle for the element of Fire

A goblet of fruit juice to represent Water.

 

Light the God and Goddess candles (if any) and the red candle while saying out loud;

Longest night and shortest day,
Magic comes bright.
We gather now on this longest night,
Honoring darkness, praising light.
Dancers hail the
standing stones,
As growing solar light returns.
Ancient ones at Newgrange gathered,
Awaiting dawns first light.
Hidden tombs and
carvings old,
Illuminated by solstice
sunlight bright.
World round, grateful souls
Celebrate this night of returning light.
May we see this shaft of brilliance,
A sign of summer growing.
Cut the evergreen adornments,
And build the sacred fire to coax the Sun higher.
Yule log embers and torches bright,
Warm our dreams this magical night.
Memories and ancient secrets
Of the Druids come to me tonight.
May this increase my wisdom now,
The ancestors guide my spirit.
Magnifying brilliance and promises to come,
Spirals dance in solstice first light.
Visions planted, now on this night,
Grow strong and clear with the light.
Holly, mistletoe, ivy, pine,
Magic be, on this day.
So mote it be.

Stand before your altar and gaze at the candles. Say these or similar words.

I sorrow not, though the world is wrapped in sleep,

I sorrow not, though the icy winds blast,

I sorrow not, though the snow falls hard and deep,

I sorrow not, this too shall soon pass.

Light the white candle and say:

I light this fire in You honor,

Mother Goddess.

You have created life from death,

warmth from cold,

The sun lives once again; the time of light is waxing.

Welcome, ever-returing God of thr Sun

Hail Mothr of All!

Now comes the meditation. You can stand if you want, or sit. I sit on a chair just because getting up from the floor hurts my knees. Think about the warmth of the sun. Imagine it growing stronger, feel the warmth on your face and what the growing warmth will mean to you. After a time, stand again before your altar and say:

Great God of the sun.

I welcome your return,

May you shine brightly

upon the Goddess.

May you shine brightly

upon the Earth.

Scattering seeds and fertilizing

the ground.

All blessings upon you.

Reborn one of the Sun!

 

Traditionally, you do acts of magic here. Go ahead if you want. I say prayers for my family and what I hope for them for the coming year.

 

After my prayers, I thank the God and Goddess and sit down to eat the Simple Feast. I eat the nuts and cookies, acknowledging the nuts as the seeds of my intent for the new year, and the cookies as the product of my hard work. I drink the fruit juice and acknowledge the festive part of the season. When I’m done, I thank the God and Goddess for their presence.

 

Remember not to blow out the candles. Use a snuffer or pinch out the flames, and DON’T leave the candles unattended.

 

~Blessed Be~

Preparing for Yule, Part Two; Symbols, Songs and Decorations.

It’s now December and Yule is just a few weeks away. I am looking forward to it. Out of all the other celebrations, I find Yule has the most colour. Between the traditional colours of red, green, and white, there are blues, yellows and just about any other colour you can think of.

This week I want to share more traditional Pagan objects. Some you will know but I’m sure you’ll find others that you can fit into your holiday decorating.

Tools, Symbols and Decorations

http://twopagans.com/holiday/Yule.html

 

Songs

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/pantheon/2010/12/13-songs-for-yule/

http://sanfords.net/Pagan_Humor_and_Thoughts/Pagan_Yule_songs.htm

http://members.tripod.com/~willow_Firesong/YulCarls/

This has a Wiccan twist to some traditional Christmas songs and poems.

http://magickalenchantments.blogspot.ca/2008/12/pagan-yule-songs-chants-and-more.html

 

Food

http://www.ravenandcrone.com/catalog/a23/Yule-Food-Recipes/article_info.html

http://www.angelfire.com/wa3/angelline/yule_recipes.htm

 

Myself, I’m not sure if I’m doing anything special for Yule, after all, the world is supposed to end on that day so I could be a little busy. I might try a few of those recipes though. They sound really good.

Preparing for Yule, Part One; Origins and Traditions.

Just a few weeks after Samhain and Pagans begin to prepare for Yule. What many people celebrate as Christmas is a mix of Celtic, Saxon, Nordic and Mithraic traditions. It’s interesting to note that more than one religion celebrates at this time of year.

Along with Christians, and Jews, Hindu’s celebrate Pancha Ganapati; a modern five-day Hindu festival celebrated from December 21 through 25 in honor of Lord Ganesha, Patron of Arts and Guardian of Culture. It has been described as a Hindu alternative to Christmas.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancha_Ganapati

Ashura is celebrated by Muslim’s around the world.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_Ashura

Buddhists celebrate Bodhi Day: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhi_Day

And there is Kwanzaa; a week-long celebration by the African-American, African-Canadian community.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwanzaa

Here is a list of many winter festivals.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_winter_festivals#December

~~~~~

I found this web page that has a wonderful write up on many of the traditional Christmas symbols and their origins.

http://www.kynes.net/misc/yulesymbols.htm

Traditionally, Yule is the time when the Holly King passes over and Pagans celebrate the rebirth of the Oak King.  As I’ve stated before, I prefer to see the Lord and Lady together enjoying the seasons, so I tend to focus on the rituals of life and love at this time of year. I like the idea of spending time with my family, exchanging gifts and having good conversation over a good meal. Over the last few years, my Husband and I have cut back on the amount of gifts we give; focusing more on the spiritual side of the season. It’s interesting to note that the way people celebrate Christmas now is much different than it was celebrated a hundred years ago. Back then, only the rich celebrated with presents and good food. The poor did not celebrate the same way, except perhaps by attending church.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/victorianchristmas/history.shtml

http://seeker7.hubpages.com/hub/Celebrate-Christmas-Past

 

Blessed Samhain!

I have received a lot of traffic over the last few days for my two Samhain posts, but as I’m so busy getting things ready for the conference, I don’t have time to do it, so I thought I would show you a picture of how I set up the Honouring the Dead ritual and tell you a little about each person shown.

The woman at the top-left hand side was named Lisa, and she committed suicide a few years back. I went to high school with her, then worked with her a few years later. Both my husband and I know her. We heard later she was bi-polar and this may have contributed to her suicide.

Next is a group picture from when I used to work as a waitress. You can’t see it well, but there is a older gentleman standing in the middle of us. He was our boss as the best boss I ever had. Really cared about his staff. He passed away in 1998. I remember this because Sithboy was still a baby and I couldn’t get away to get to his funeral.

On the right-hand side next to the centrepiece is a picture of Floyd. Our male beagle. He hated being alone. Would howl and bark for at least ten minutes (according to the neighbours) after we left for work in the morning.

Bottom right-hand picture is Joan. Husband’s grandmother. It’s been a year since she died. Ironically, MIL buried her ashes on her birthday.

Bottom left-hand picture is my grandmother Louise (Lulu). She died when I was nineteen due complications of Alzhimers. They didn’t have the medication they do now, so she deteriorated pretty quickly. I still remember making her pictures of rainbows with chalk.

Left hand side of the centrepiece is a picture of my grandmother and three of her sisters. This picture was the last one taken of them all together. It was at my mother’s College graduation.

I know things are hectic and busy today, but remember to take a few moments and remember those who aren’t with us anymore.

 

~Blessed Samhain~

 

 

Poems and other things for Samhain

It’s almost that time of year! Samhain is just around the corner and while most people will be celebrating Hallowe’en with costumes and candy, I will do my Honouring the Dead ritual. For those of you who are looking for symbols and ideas, I did a few blog posts last year on preparing for Samhain.

http://darkeconteur.wordpress.com/2011/10/04/preparing-for-samhain-part-one/

http://darkeconteur.wordpress.com/2011/10/11/preparing-for-samhain-part-two/

http://darkeconteur.wordpress.com/2011/10/18/preparing-for-samhain-pt-three/

http://darkeconteur.wordpress.com/2011/10/26/preparing-for-samhain-part-four/

 

Here is my Honouring the Dead ritual:

http://darkeconteur.wordpress.com/2011/10/26/samhain-ritual-for-honouring-the-dead/

 

This year I want to add something new to this. I did a Google search and found thirteen spooky poems that you can read for Samhain, or Hallowe’en. Thanks to About.com Pagan/Wicca for the list.

1. The Raven, Edgar Allen Poe

http://www.heise.de/ix/raven/Literature/Lore/TheRaven.html

2. Annabel Lee, Edgar Allen Poe.

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/174151

3. Tam Lin, (Scottish ballad)

http://poetry.about.com/library/weekly/bltamlinhalloween.htm

4. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Samuel Taylor Coleridge

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/173253

5. Halloween, Robert Burns

http://www.djmcadam.com/halloween.htm

6. Witches Spell from Macbeth, William Shakespeare

http://www.october-country.com/wychingwell/ww-bard.html

7. It’s Halloween!, Jack Prelutsky

http://www.thehalloweenday.com/poems/its-halloween.html

8. Ghost House, Robert Frost

http://poetry.about.com/od/poemsbytitleg/l/blfrostghosthouse.htm

9. Darkness, Lord Byron

http://www.strickling.net/byron_darkness.htm

10. A Lament, Percy Bysshe Shelley

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/174393

11. Because I Could Not Stop For Death, Emily Dickinson

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/177119

12. The Apparition, John Donne,

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/173349

13. The Little Ghost, Edna St. Vincent Millay

http://www.online-literature.com/millay/renascence/9/

Are there any poems that bring our images of Hallowe’en for you?

The Wonders of Beeswax Candles

A while back, I did a post about relaxation and how to incorporate it into your life. One of those means was meditation; another is my topic for today—beeswax candles.

If you’ve never burned a beeswax candle, you’re in for a nice surprise. Unlike paraffin wax, beeswax gives off a honey smell, and as an added bonus, gives off negative ions, which in turn clean the air of dust mould and odours. Another advantage of negative ions is that it helps to create a peaceful environment. I once heard someone say that if everyone in the world lit a beeswax candle at the same time and let it burn, all the negativity in the world would disappear. Don’t know how true that is, but I do notice a change in attitude when I burn them.

They are a bit more expensive than paraffin wax, but they’re worth it. I’ve also found that if you follow the burning instructions, they last a lot longer as well. Many online places sell coloured beeswax candles in tea lites and in sheets. I buy the sheets and roll them up myself. Another thing I like about them is the way some of them look. The ‘drippy’ look is so cool.

Have you ever burned beeswax candles? What did you think of them?

Turn of the Wheel: Mabon

If you live in an area where the seasons change, you can really feel it now. The air is cooler (especially at night), the leaves are beginning to turn and are probably falling, and the birds are flocking up. Even the insects are readying themselves for the winter. This is usually the time of year when we get bombarded with ladybugs.

Mabon, or the Autumn Equinox, is widely known as one of two points during the year where the day and night are even, but it’s know to some of us as the second of the three Wiccan harvest celebrations. This is a happy and sad time of the year for me. Happy, because the fruit of my summer long labour of gardening and tending to my veggies finally pays off (except this year. See Thursday’s post for more details), and sad because I know soon it will be darker longer and the cold and snow are just around the corner. For many Wiccan’s, this is the time of the year when the Horned God slowly begins his exit to Summerland. Personally, I like to think that the Goddess and the God are taking a stroll through some woodland path, enjoying the season just like us. I imagine them sipping on hot apple cider and eating pumpkin pie.

I’m going to write up a ritual for Mabon. Something that better reflects my belief. Everything I’ve looked up online and in books has laments saying farewell to the God.

Here are some interesting links I found on Mabon rituals, celebrations and meanings.

Rituals:

http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/mabonrituals/Mabon_Rituals_Rituals_and_Ceremonies_for_Mabon.htm

http://thewiccalife.blogspot.ca/2011/05/solitary-mabon-ritual.html

http://www.angelfire.com/wa3/angelline/mabon_solitary_ritual_2.htm

http://www.angelfire.com/wa3/angelline/mabon_solitary_ritual_3.htm

Information:

http://www.twopagans.com/holiday/Mabon.html

http://www.thewhitegoddess.co.uk/the_wheel_of_the_year/mabon_-_autumn_equinox.asp

http://wicca.com/celtic/akasha/mabon.htm

There is a Season, Turn, Turn, Turn…

I’ve had this song going through my head the last few days. Ever since we drove into town and I spotted a maple tree with a few leaves turning orange. I always get excited when the first trees start to turn. It’s like seeing the first snowfall of the year or the first warm spring day. It’s a signal that life is changing, moving forward. It’s something to look forward to; not be afraid of.

Since becoming a pagan, I’ve notice the changes in the season more prevalent now. Not just the obvious, but the little things like the difference in the way the air smells, or the way the clouds look (yes they look different). I notice the small animals readying their food supply or the birds flocking up and preparing for the long journey south.

I notice the affect it has on me as well. Spring and Autumn are filled with weather turmoil as the warm and cold fronts battle it out for control, and they’ve been known to wreak havoc with my emotions. I’m pretty good at keeping the chaos at bay, but sometimes, especially if I’m under stress, it’s not so easy.

I feel the turmoil and while I am excited that I’m so connected to Nature, I’m sure it drives my family nuts. I’ve often wondered if the changing of the seasons has the same effect on the wildlife? After all, they experience some of the same emotions as humans do. Why should it not? So the next time you see acting oddly, just take note of the season and keep away. You never know how they’ll react.

Lammas Veggie Garden Video

Yesterday was Lughnasadh (or Lammas), the first of the three harvests. It’s traditional to look over the crops you’ve planted and see how they’re doing. I ran out of usable batteries for my camera. We have re-useable, but Sithboy confiscated them for his game controller, so the only thing I had to use was my crappy video recorder. Yes, this is my voice. I have no idea what the clicking noise is, so my apologies on that.