Offerings Of The Spirit

Enchanted Moon is a book of pagan poetry written by Ruth Francis-Foster.
Its priced at £4.99 and all proceeds are going to Ruth's local Stray Cat Rescue centre which desperately needs all the help it can get! 

If you would like to buy one and in doing so help those wonderful furry beings, feel free to send an e-mail to Ruth on her mail address which is  Ruth.thewytch@hotmail.co.uk and she will give you all the details you need to know for the purchase.

Blessed be  )O(

When many of us try to define happiness, we often equate it with such things as financial security, getting married, having friends or material abundance. Society often tells us, in a myriad of subtle and not so subtle ways, that happiness comes from something outside ourselves. If we make more money, lose weight, buy the newest electronic gadget, etc., etc., we will be happier people. But, in reality, that's not the case. Because happiness, true happiness, comes from within ourselves. This deep happiness that resides within us can be known as spiritual happiness.

Spiritual happiness is characterized by an easy, flowing joy, along with contentment, gratitude and self-acceptance. When a person is spiritually happy, they are in tune with themselves as well as the world around them. They live in harmony with the flow of life, and are aware that life holds a much deeper meaning than what appears on the surface. For many people, it may seem that spiritual happiness is impossible to achieve. But through deeper awareness and daily practice, this can become a natural state of being.

A Brief Note- Because there are a wide variety of beliefs and religions in the world, higher source is referred to by many different names such as God, Creator, Allah, Source, etc. For the sake of simplicity, this higher source will be referred to as God in this article.

Know Who You Are
An important part of spiritual happiness is understanding who you are, and learning to respect your own, unique self. We are all expressions of God, by whichever name we recognize God to be, and you are no different. Honor that expression by understanding your nature, and nurturing the gifts and qualities God has given you. When you understand and respect yourself, you're able to live more harmoniously with the world around you.

Remember Your Essence
As you get to know who you are as a person, take it a step further by remembering your essence. Also known as your soul, your essence goes beyond your appearance and personality to who you really are. It is the true You that is always at one with creation. Rather than looking outward for approval, attention, riches, etc., get in touch with the wealth of wisdom and love within your soul. This is best done in a state of stillness, such as meditation or quiet contemplation. When you remember your essence, you deepen your connection with God, thus tapping into the infinite source of joy and love.

Be Thankful
As humans, we often fall into the habit of comparing ourselves with others, and focusing on what we're lacking. These comparisons, and the sense of lack, can leave us feeling dissatisfied and spiritually disconnected. But gratitude has a way of bringing our focus to what is truly important. It softens the heart, letting contentment and joy enter the soul. Count your blessings every day, no matter how small that blessing may seem. Make it a habit to say "thank you" to God when you awaken in the morning. Focus on what is good in your life, rather than falling into the habit of comparing.

Find Happiness in All You Do
When we think of happiness, we tend to equate it with tasks or activities that bring us enjoyment. But spiritual happiness and fulfillment can be cultivated even during the most menial or difficult tasks. Think of it this way...if you're going to be doing something, you can do it with resentment and complaints, or with cheerfulness. When you do things with an enthusiastic, sincere heart, greater spiritual happiness will come into your life.

Have a Sense of Humor
Having a good sense of humor helps us have a more positive outlook toward life. It can help us relate better with others, be better problem solvers, and allow us to access joy even during the most painful times. Having a sense of humor is not the same as laughing off, or ignoring one's problems. Instead, it loosens the rigidity within when we feel burdened or overwhelmed, allowing our outlook on life to be more light and flexible. It also helps us to not take ourselves too seriously. Think about the things in life that make you happy, look for the humor in life, and allow yourself to laugh.

The gift of spiritual happiness comes to us through greater understanding of who we are, and a deeper, more expanded awareness.Open your heart to this gift of happiness and allow your light to shine.
Recommended book: Choosing Happiness: Life And Soul Essentials by Stephanie Dowrick

Here is little something for everyone whose spirit guide is a cat...

"Nava-ratri" literally means "nine nights." This festival is observed twice a year, once in the beginning of spring and again at the onset of autumn.

What's the Significance of Navratri?
During Navaratri, we invoke the energy aspect of God in the form of the universal mother, commonly referred to as "Durga," which literally means the remover of miseries of life. She is also referred to as "Devi" (goddess) or "Shakti" (energy or power). It is this energy, which helps God to proceed with the work of creation, preservation and destruction. In other words, you can say that God is motionless, absolutely changeless, and the Divine Mother Durga, does everything. Truly speaking, our worship of Shakti re-confirms the scientific theory that energy is imperishable. It cannot be created or destroyed. It is always there.

Why Worship the Mother Goddess?
We think this energy is only a form of the Divine Mother, who is the mother of all, and all of us are her children. "Why mother; why not father?", you may ask. Let me just say that we believe that God's glory, his cosmic energy, his greatness and supremacy can best be depicted as the motherhood aspect of God. Just as a child finds all these qualities in his or her mother, similarly, all of us look upon God as mother. In fact, Hinduism is the only religion in the world, which gives so much importance to the mother aspect of God because we believe that mother is the creative aspect of the absolute.

Why Twice a Year?
Every year the beginning of spring and the beginning of autumn are two very important junctures of climatic change and solar influence. These two junctions have been chosen as the sacred opportunities for the worship of the divine power because:
(1) We believe that it is the divine power that provides energy for the earth to move around the sun, causing the changes in the outer nature and that this divine power must be thanked for maintaining the correct balance of the universe.
(2) Due to the changes in the nature, the bodies and minds of people undergo a considerable change, and hence, we worship the divine power to bestow upon all of us enough potent powers to maintain our physical and mental balance.

Why Nine Nights & Days?
Navaratri is divided into sets of three days to adore different aspects of the supreme goddess. On the first three days, the Mother is invoked as powerful force called Durga in order to destroy all our impurities, vices and defects. The next three days, the Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees the inexhaustible wealth. The final set of three days is spent in worshipping the mother as the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. In order have all-round success in life, we need the blessings of all three aspects of the divine mother; hence, the worship for nine nights.

Why Do You Need the Power?
Thus, I suggest you join worshipping "Ma Durga" during the Navaratri. She will bestow on you wealth, auspiciousness, prosperity, knowledge, and other potent powers to cross every hurdle of life. Remember, everyone in this world worships power, i.e., Durga, because there is no one who does not love and long for power in some form or the other.

Navaratri in Haidakhan Babaji Tradition
The followers of Haidakhan Babaji, who is believed to be incarnation of God Shiva, celebrate Navaratri the way He instructed us. Here, in Osijek, in Haidakhandi Love Center, celebrations are held every day in the morning (Yagya - a ceremony of Sacred Fire and offerings made to God and Goddess through that fire, Arati - daily offering of the Light to Deities and Paduka Puja - giving respect to Guru's feet by making different offerings) and evening (reading of Sapta Shati - scripture describing glories of Divine Mother and Arati - daily offering of the Light to Deities). I wish you all a special Navaratri, all the blessings of all forms of Divine Mother, Goddess, Durga, Shakti or however you would call Her............. Om Dum Durgayei Namaha.......


Thank you Ram for sharing with  us a glimpse into the Navaratri celebration in Osijek Love Centre

I always choose the path of most love.
I choose love in every moment.
Everything I do adds love to the world.

I trust that everything comes at the perfect time and in the perfect way.
The universe works in perfect ways. It always serves my higher good.

Whatever I need to know is revealed to me.
Whatever I need comes to me in divine right order.
Everything I need, or need to know, is available to me in stillness.
Thank you, God, for opening my eyes to what I need to see.


My energy is open and flowing in every area of my life.
My days are filled with fun and meaningful activities.
My choices and possibilities are expanding every day.

My thoughts are loving and positive.
I expect only the best to happen and it does.

I focus on what I love and thus draw it to me.
As I do what I love, money and abundance flow freely to me.
I gladly and proudly accept all the abundance the universe has to offer.
I choose to live an abundant life.



I am not my body. I am not my mind. I am spirit.
I am a drop of God in a sea of God.
I am boundless love. I am infinite joy. I am inexhaustible energy.
I am radiant health. I am eternal youth. I am unlimited abundance.

I choose the path of kindness.

I allow myself to have more than I ever dreamed possible.


I open to all the gifts that the Universe is offering me.

Whatever happens, happens for good. There is good hidden inside every moment of my life. I see the brighter side of life and feel good. The universe is with me and it is doing what I want it to do for me.

We all make choices in life. I am the sum total of my choices which make me who I am. We are all of us unique.I celebrate what it is that makes me unique and unrepeatable.



I choose to take the necessary steps to make my dream dreams come true. My dreams are my reality.

I pray for others with all my heart. Happiness is my reward.

Every day is a new beginning -- Problems and mistakes of yesterday are now just memories of a lesson learned. I absorb the energy and possibilities of each new day, acknowledge the simple beauty that can be taken for granted, and look forward to tomorrow's new beginning.








 

Beginning Witch Craft: Which Witch Are You?

When you are beginning Wicca or Witch Craft, the first thing you must know is what sort to practice.
You need to find the version that will suit you best. There are many kinds of paganism, Wicca, and Witch Craft, and not all will work equally well for you.

Exploring Your Witch Craft

I recommend spending some time journalling on these questions:

• What drew you to Wicca or Witchcraft in the first place?
• What do you hope to get from being a Witch?
• What moves your soul the most? Being quiet in nature, formal ritual, high drama, music and song, spiritual practices, magick, ...?
• Do you like tradition and hierarchy, or spontaneous responses to your heart's promptings? Or a balance between the two?
• How important to you is being able to work magick? What do you want to be able to do with your magick?
• What are your esoteric skills or desires? Divination, psychic abilities, sensing others' emotions, sensing the Earth energy, feeling One with all existence, astral traveling, ...?
• Do you prefer to do your spiritual work alone or with others? Or both?
• Do you feel a particular affinity for plants, animals, devas, Gaia, the stars, ...?
• Are you looking for a religion to practice from time to time, or something that permeates every aspect of your life?
• Are there certain deities or cultures you resonate with?
• What is the Divine, to you?
• How important to you is living lightly on the Earth?
• What are your long-term spiritual goals?
• What are your values and ideals? What kind of person do you want to be?
• Who are you? Underneath all your roles and masks, who are you, really?

There are no right or wrong answers to these questions. This exploration is simply a starting point for you to find out what kind of Wicca or Witchcraft will work for you.
Your answers will guide you to the right practice.

Follow Your Heart

There are more kinds of paganism, Wicca, and Witchcraft than I am thoroughly familiar with, so I can't guide you through all of them. You will need to do some research and probably try out a few. But here's what I can tell you...
Be true to your calling.
Whatever brings you to Witch Craft or Wicca in the first place is likely to be important to stick with. If it's worshipping nature or the Goddess or healing the planet or communicating with plants, that's the core of your practice.
(This is assuming, of course, that you didn't come to Wicca just because it's trendy to be Witches, or you're wanting power over your "enemies," or you're hoping to wiggle your nose and have your house clean itself. These may mature into a true calling. If not, you probably won't go far with your search.)
The one thing I wish to convey to you is that, whatever your soul's longing, there are Witches out there practicing something similar. You can find that path, or create it yourself.
Be blessed in your journey!

With Bright Blessings,

Borrowed from Wicca Spirituality, a New Wicca for a New World

Do You Need A Wicca Altar? 

A Wicca altar is an important aspect of the Wiccan religion for many witches. A value that goes way beyond having someplace to put all your witchy stuff!

A Wicca Altar Is . . . 

A focal point and container for magickal energies.
A reminder of your ideals.
An echo of your beliefs and wishes.
A Home for the Divine.
And, perhaps most importantly, a Wiccan altar is a magickal "spell" for your success and well-being.

If you don't have one yet, you don't know what you're missing! Try it! An altar is a source of joy and a font of peace.And this section will tell you everything you need to know to get started.

Everything You Need To Know
About Your Wicca Altar

What really is an altar? What goes on an altar? How do you create and tend an altar? And why would you want an altar in the first place?Fabulous questions! I'm glad you asked.
Let's start at the beginning - the why - and work our way down to the details - the how.

Why Is A Wicca Altar Important?

Any altar is a symbolic manifestation of your innermost self.It is an expression of your heart's longing and your soul's potential.
It is also a focal point for your devotion . . . A spiritual practice arena for devotion to the Divine.

Temples Within And Without

We each have a Temple in our inner hearts. And any spiritual process is about entering and worshiping there. But it's not easy to access something so abstract.
So, like your symbols and tools and Gods and Goddesses, you create something that comes through the gate of your senses. Something you can see and smell and touch. Even hear and taste, if possible.
The more senses you engage, and the more you balance your sense perceptions, the more you can access the spiritual levels that you seek.
In this context, altars are not some esoteric mystery, but the most natural expression of what has value to you.

Natural Altars

So, in the broadest terms, an altar is any collection of items that are personally meaningful. Almost everyone has one . . . That collection of photographs on the bedside table. The mementoes that gather on the mantle place. These are altars to your loves and your life.
When you want to make an altar dedicated to your spiritual life, you simply focus a little more. You put only items that uplift your spirit and remind you of your ideals.
That's all any spiritual altar is - Wiccan or otherwise . . .

A symbol to help you remember . . .

• Who you really Are,
• Where you really come from, and
• Where you are choosing to go! 

Your Altar Nourishes Your Soul

Once you make your first conscious altar, and discover how beautiful and nourishing it can be, you may find yourself wanting to make altars everywhere. Go for it! How could you possibly go wrong, bringing the blessings of the Divine wherever you are. Your office, your car, your bedroom, . . . all are perfect places for an altar.
. . . Because every altar becomes a home for what you enshrine there. When you create an altar to the Divine, She lives there.
(So behave accordingly!)

Your Inner Temple

You'll probably want to keep at least one altar private. Put it in a personal part of your house, or somewhere you can discretely close a door and keep it from sight.
This can be your innermost Temple's altar . . . the Heart of your witchy heart. This is where you can put your most personal and meaningful items.

The Power Of Keeping Silent

This privacy isn't about hiding. It's the Fourth Power of the Witch: holding silence.When something is very sacred, it's not easy to talk about it. The words don't exist, for one thing. Even more, the respect for Soul and Spirit isn't common in our culture.
So to expose your innermost Temple to idle curiosity, disdain, or ill intent is to open your Heart to violation and disperse the Power gathered by your altar.

Your Private Relationship With The Goddess

You will want to give your Wicca altar the respect it deserves. Especially once you've experienced the Power that your altar can move, in your life.Only those to whom you could safely entrust your most tender feelings should see this . . . if anyone. Even then, think about it carefully. There is no reason why you should share this altar at all.
Your spiritual life is between you and the Divine. Your Wicca altar is the outward manifestation of this relationship. It can be kept completely confidential.
Sometimes the most sacred things need to be kept silent about.
Your relationship with the Divine is the deepest of relationships. Just as you are unlikely to let people watch while you and your beloved are making love (or so I assume ), keep your most personal altar truly sacred.
All your other altars can be as open as you (and they) like.

It's Simple

A Wicca altar doesn't have to be complicated or costly. You don't really need anything other than what you have on hand, or can easily find for free.You don't even need a specially designed altar table. Many people set up altars in convenient places, like an end table, a dresser, a mantle, even on top of the tv! For a private altar, a hutch with closing doors, or a bedside table can work well.
And don't forget your outdoor spaces - perfect for Wicca altars!

• Old stumps,
• Hollows or nooks in trees,
• On top of stones,
• Beside creeks,
• Small caves . . .

Anyplace you aren't likely to step or sit on it, you can set up a little altar.

Tending Your Wicca Altar

Tending an altar is a wonderful spiritual practice that anyone can do. It's very forgiving, as spiritual practices go. Which makes it perfect for those of us who are not yet particularly disciplined.

The Magick In A Wicca Altar

The benefits of tending your altar are not all in the spiritual realm. Your daily life will reflect what's happening on your altar. In other words, when you make changes on your altar, you will alter your life.
If you feel stuck at work, for instance, alter things in the spiritual realm. Clean your altar thoroughly. Put on a fresh altar cloth in a bright colour. Decorate it with some new Wiccan stuff. And then watch your life transform.
This magickal benefit creates motivation to keep your altar devotion up.

Summary

Some people will try to tell you that you absolutely must have this or that on your Wicca altar. If so, smile politely, say thank you, and walk away.It's your altar. And it's your spiritual Path. There are no rules for what kind of Wiccan stuff you put there, except the Silver Rule - do what works for you. Be creative. When making a Wicca altar, let your heart speak. Let your inner magickal child express the wonder and delight in the world that you once had.
This is your pure divine self expressing itself.
And that's what spiritual practice is all about.

With Bright Blessings,





 Borrowed from Wicca Spirituality, a New Wicca for a New World

Hope this helps you if you had any doubts about how to make your Wiccan altar, it helped me, blessed be..

 

 

There are 8 Wiccan Sabbats in a year. Each has their own meanings and associations. These Sabbats are but into two categories: The Minor Sabbats and the Major Sabbats. They are spaced about 45 days apart from each other.
The Minor Sabbats consist of four Sabbats. The two Equinoxes of March 21st (Spring Equinox Ostara) and September 21st (Autumn Equinox Mabon), when day and night are each 12 hours long. Then there are the two Solstices of June 21st (Summer Solstice Litha) and December 21st (Winter Solstice Yule). Litha has the longest daytime of the year and Yule has the longest night of the year. The exact dates of the Minor Sabbats vary from year to year and may occur on the 20th to the 23rd of the month.
The Major Sabbats consist of four Sabbats as well. They occur roughly midway between the Minor Sabbats and are usually at the end of the month. There are many names and dates to these Sabbats, but the meanings of them are the same. Samhain (October 31st), Imbolg (February 2nd), Beltaine (April 30th), and Lammas (August 1st) are the 8 Major Sabbats.
The Wheel of the Year as it is called, starts with Samhain and ends with Mabon. The following is the descriptions and associations for each Sabbat starting with Samhain.

Samhain (October 31st)
Samhain is a time to remember those who have left us. This is a time to remember our ancestors, both ancient and wise. This is the time when the barriers between our world and the next become blurred, and those from the other side are free to visit our world, as well as guide us.
It is also the time when the Witches and Wiccans say goodbye to the god. Thought this temporary as the God gets ready to be reborn from the Goddess.
This is a time for reflection, to look back over the past year. A time to come to terms with the one great phenomenon of life in which we have no control of Death.
The year starts with Samhain, for it is in the dark half of the year. The great Druids believed that the day began with the setting of the sun; therefore, the dark half of the year is the beginning. New Years resolutions are made on Samhain.
Samhain is the traditional day to raise a Covener within a circle.
Other Names: Third Harvest, Samana, Vigil of Saman, Shadowfest (Strega), Halloween, All Hallows Eve, Hallowe'en, and the Scottish Gaelic spellings for Samhain are Samhuin or Samhuinn.
Correspondences and Associations:
Colors: Black, Orange, White, Silver, Scarlet, Dark Brown, Bronze and Gold
Foods: Apples,Pumpkin Pie, Hazelnuts, Corn, Cranberry Muffins and Bread, Ale, Nuts, Cider, Turnips, Gourds, Mulled Wines, Beef, Pork, Poultry, and Herbal Teas.
Symbols: Jack-o-Lanterns, Photos of the Deceased, Apples, Squashes, Autumn Flowers, Fall Leaves, Gourds, Black Cats, Bats, Crows, Oak Leaves, Divination Acorns and Besoms.
Incense: Apple, Heliotrope, Mint, Nutmeg, Sandalwood, Myrrh, Mugwort, Patchouli and Sage.
Candles: Black, Orange, White, Silver, and Gold.
Gemstones: All Black Gemstones (Jet, Obsidian, and Onyx), Carnelian, Jasper, Smoky Quarts, and Bloodstone.
Deities: Anubis, Arianrhod, Astarte, Cernunnos, Cerridwen, Crone, Dark Lord & Lady, Demeter, Hathor, Hecate, Horned God, Innana, Isis, Kali, Odin, Morrigan, and Lilith
Herbs: Mugwort, Allspice, Broom, Catnip, Deadly Nightshade, Mandrake, Oak Leaves, Sage, Pumpkin, Apples, Chrysanthemums, Thistle, Rosemary, Rue, Calendula, Sunflower Petals, Pumpkin Seeds, Apple Leaves, Mushrooms, Wild Ginseng, Wormwood, Tarragon, Bay Leaf, Almond, Hazelnut, Passionflower, Nettle, Mandrake Root, Hemlock Cones, Garlic, Pine Needles, Acorns, and Straw.
Animals: Stag, Cat, Bat, Owl, Jackal, Elephant, Ram, Scorpion, Heron, Crow, and Robin.
Work: Sex Magick, Release of Bad Habits, Banishing, Faerie Magick, Divination of any kind, Candle Magick, Astral Projection, Past Life Work, Dark Moon Mysteries, Mirror Spells (reflection), Casting Protection, Inner Work, Clearing Obstacles, Uncrossing, Inspiration, Creative Visualization, and Contacting those who are no longer on this plane.
Tools: Besom, Cauldron, Tarot, Obsidian Ball, Pendulum, Runes, Ouija Board, Black Cauldron or Bowl filled with Black Ink or Water, and Magick Mirror.

Yule (December 21st)
Yule has the longest night and the shortest day of the year. It is the time when the Goddess gives birth to a son, the God. Witches and Wiccans celebrate the Festival of the God's Rebirth. It is a time to honor the Holly King. Accomplishes of the past, love, togetherness, and love are also celebrated. These things are celebrated by burning the Yule Log in a bonfire. A portion of the Yule Log is always saved to be used to light next years Yule Log. The Yule Log is usually oak. It is kept throughout the year to protect the home as well.
Other Names: Winter Solstice, Christmas, Alban Arthan, Finn's Day, Festival of Sol, Yuletide, Great Day of the Cauldron, and the Festival of Growth.
Correspondences and Associations:
Colors: Red, Green, White, Silver, Gold, Yellow, and Orange.
Foods: Roasted Turkey,Nuts, Eggnog, Cookies, Fruit, Pork, Ale, Roasted Apples and Mulled Wine.
Symbols: Yule Log, Evergreen Boughs, Wreaths, Holly, Mistletoe, Gold Pillar Candles, Baskets of Clove Studded Fruits, Poinsettias, Cinnamon Sticks, Ivy, Wheel, and Fir or Pin Bows.
Incense: Bayberry, Pine, Cedar, Rosemary, Juniper, Cinnamon, and Frankincense.
Candles: Red, Green, White, and Gold.
Gemstones: Ruby, Cat's Eye, Blue Zircon, Turquoise, Serpentine, Emeralds, and Diamonds.
Deities: Athena, Attis, Dionysus, Fates, Frey, Freyja, Hathor, Lucina, Norns, Osiris, Woden, and the Horned God.
Herbs: Bayberry, Blessed Thistle, Evergreen, Frankincense, Holly, Laurel, Mistletoe, Oak, Pine, Sage, and Yellow Cedar.
Animals: Reindeer, the Stage, Mouse, Deer, Horse, Squirrel, Phoenix, and Bear.
Work: Peace, Harmony, Love, Happiness, Banishing Disease, Seeking Past Lives, Meditation, Singing Around the Hearth Fire, and Goals and Accomplishments.
Tools: Bells.

Imbolg (February 2nd)
Imbolg is the time to welcome spring, and celebrate the festival of the end of winter. It is a Festival of Light and Fertility. Imbolg is the recovery of the Goddess after giving birth to the God. The lengthening periods of light awaken her. The God is now young and lusty, but his power is felt during the longer days. Marking the return of Spring, the Earth feels his warmth. Imbolg represents new beginnings, spiritual growth, and the "sweeping of the old".
Other Names: Imbolic, Candlemas, St. Bridget's Day, Brides Day, Lady Day, Imbolc, Lupercus, and the Snowdrop Festival.
Correspondences and Associations:
Colors: White, Pink, Red, Orange, Yellow, Light Green, and Brown.
Foods: Sunflower Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Muffins, Dairy Products, Peppers, Onions, Raisins, Garlic, Poppy Seed Bread and Cakes, Herbal Teas, Spiced Wines, Potatoes, and Turnips.
Symbols: White Flowers, Candle Wheels, Yellow Flowers, Lamps, and a Dish of Snow.
Incense: Basil, Bay, Cinnamon, Violet, Vanilla, Rosemary, and Wisteria.
Candles: Brown, Pink, and Red.
Gemstones: Amethyst, Garnet, Bloodstone, and Onyx.
Deities: Bridget, Aradia, Gaia, Dagda, Pan, and Herne.
Herbs: Angelica, Basil, Bay, Blackberries, Celandine, Coltsfoot, Heather, Iris, Myrrh, Tansy, Snowdrops, and Violets.
Animals: Sheep, Wolves, Bears, Stags, Eagles, Ravens, Groundhogs, Owls, and Snakes.
Work: Blessing the Seeds for this years Garden, Fertility and Purification, All Virgin and Maiden Goddess are honored, Candle Lightings, Stone Gathering, Searching for signs of spring, and Rituals of Initiation.
Tools: Plough and Garden Implements.

Ostara (March 21st)
Ostara marks the true fist day of spring. This is the time to celebrate the balance of seasons and the passage of Night into Day. The Goddess covers the earth with Fertility as she bursts forth from her sleep. The God stretches and grows into maturity. He walks among the greening earth and delights in the abundance of nature. On Ostara, the hours of the day and night are equal. This is a time of beginnings, of action, or planting seeds for future grains.
As spring reaches its midpoint, night and day stand in perfect balance. (with light on the increase.) The young Sun God now celebrates a sacred marriage with the young maiden Goddess, who conceives. In nine months she will again become the Great Mother. It is a time of great fertility and growth, and newborn animals.
Ostara is the time of Fertility of the Earth. Other Names: Eostre and Spring Equinox.
Correspondences and Associations:
Colors: Light Green, Lemon Yellow, and Pale Pink.
Foods: Hard-Boiled Eggs, Honey Cakes, 1st Fruit of the Season, Leafy Greens, Dairy Products, Nuts, Sunflower Seeds, and Flower Dishes.
Symbols: Eggs, Rabbits, Seeds, Spring Flowers, Four Leaf Clover, and Colored Ribbons.
Incense: African Violet, Jasmine, Rose, Sage, and Strawberry.
Candles: Gold, Green, and Yellow.
Gemstones: Aquamarine, Amethyst, and Red Jasper.
Deities: Diana, Artemis, Ostara, Eos, Eostre, Mars, Ares, The Green Man and The Maiden.
Herbs: Daffodil, Jonquils, Woodruff, Violet, Gorse, Olive, Peony, Iris, Tansy, Honeysuckle, and all Spring Flowers.
Animals: Rabbits, Hares, Robins, Dragons, Lambs, and Chicks.
Work: Planting, Coloring Eggs, Fertility Rites, Herb Work, Spells for new beginnings, prosperity, fertility, and potential.
Tools: Eggs, Baskets, and Green Clothe.

Beltaine (April 30th to May 1st)
Beltaine marks the emergence of the Sun God in manhood. Stirred by the energies at work in nature, he desires the Goddess. They fall in love, laying amongst the grass and flowers and unit. The Goddess then becomes pregnant.
Beltaine marks the return of vitality, of passions and hopes consummated. This is the last Spring Fertility Festival. It is time to dance around the Maypole, a symbol of Fertility. This Festival celebrates the union and marriage of the God and Goddess and reawakening of the Earth's fertility at its greatest. The time for plating seeds has ended and the time to wait has begun. It is one of the two most important Sabbats of the year. Beltaine is the compliment  of Samhain. The Barriers between our world and the next are again blurred. At Samhain the Otherworld visits us, at Beltaine we can visit the Otherworld.
Jumping over the bonfire promotes fertility and prosperity. Wild Water is collected on this day and used the bathe in or used to drink for health. Beltaine literally means "Fire of Bel" (Celtic God of Light and Fire.). May is the month for sensuality and sexuality to be revitalized. The awakening of the Earth and her Children.
Other Names: Beltane, May Day, or May Eve.
Correspondences and Associations:
Colors: Pink, White, Green, Soft Pink, Blue, Yellow, and Red.
Foods: Red Fruits, Herbal Salads, Red or Pink Wine/Punch, Large round Oatmeal or Barley Cake, Strawberries, Cherries, Passion Fruit, Kiwi, Marigold Custard, Vanilla Ice Cream, and Green Salads.
Symbols: Bonfires, Maypole, and Flowers.
Incense: Frankincense, Lilac, and Rose.
Candles: Dark Green.
Gemstones: Emerald, Orange Carnelian, Sapphire, Rose Quarts, Amber, and Malachite.
Deities: Flora, Diana and Artemis, Pan, Aphrodite, Venus and Maia.
Herbs: Honeysuckle, St. Johns Wort, Almond, Angelica, Ash Tree, Bluebells, Daisies, Hawthorn, Ivy, Lilac, Marigold, Dandelion, and Apple Tree.
Animals: Swallows, Doves, Swans, Cats, Lynx, and Leopards.
Work: Fertilize, Activities of Pleasure, Leaping Bonfires, Making Garlands, Dancing around the maypole, and Feasting.
Tools: Besom, Bonfire, and Cauldron.

Litha (June 21st)
Litha is the Summer Solstice. It marks the longest day of the year. Litha is the classic time for Magick of all kinds. Believe whatever is dreamt of will become true for the dreamer. This is a time to celebrate passion and success. Litha is the opposite of Yule. On this day of the longest daylight, life and light are abundant. This is the time when the Sun God has reached the his greatest strength. Seated on his greenwood throne, he is God of the forests. The powers of nature are at their highest point. Bonfires are lit to represent the Sun God and to rouse love, purification, health, and fertility. Litha Eve is also special for adherents of the Faerie Faith.
Other Names: Midsummer, and Leetha.
Correspondences and Associations:
Colors: Blue, Green, and Yellow.
Foods: Fresh Vegetables, Summer Fruits, Pumpernickel Bread, Ale, and Mead.
Symbols: Dried Herbs, Potpourri, Seashells, Summer Flowers and Fruits.
Incense: Frankincense, Lemon, Myrrh, Pine, Rose, and Wisteria.
Candles: Blue, Green, Gold, and Red.
Gemstones: Emerald, Jade, Lapis, and Diamond.
Deities: Ra,Bast, Mother Earth, Mother Nature, Father Sun, Father Sky, and the Oak King.
Herbs: Lavender, Chamomile, Roses, Daisies, Cheekweed, Apple, Vervain, and Lilies.
Animals: Butterflies, Caterpillars, Sea Creatures, Wren, Robins, Horses, Cattle, Satyrs, Faeries, Firebird, Dragon and the Thunder Bird.
Work: Herb Drying, protection, luck, health, transformation, career, and relationships.
Tools: Drums, Rattles, Bonfire, Mirrors for reflecting the sun or bonfire, Earth circles of stone energies.

Lammas (August 1st)
Lammas is the time for the first Harvest, when the plants begin to wither and drop their seeds for our use as well to ensure future crops. The Sun God losses his strength as the sun rises farther in the south each day and the nights grow longer. The God is dying, but living inside the Goddess as her child. We are reminded that nothing in the universe is constant. Lammas stands for the funeral games of lugh. (lugh referring to the Irish Sun God.) However, the funeral is not his own, but the funeral games he hosts for his foster-mother Tailte. For that reason, the traditional Tailtean Craft fairs and Tailtean Marriages are celebrated at this time.
Other Names: Lughnasadh, Cornucopia, Lughsasa, and Thingtide.
Correspondences and Associations:
Colors: Yellow, Orange, Green, and Brown.
Foods: Homemade Breads (Wheat, Oat, and Corn), Nuts, Wildberries, Apples, Rye, Berry Pies, Elderberry Wine, Ale, Corn, Rice, and Meadowsweet Tea.
Symbols: Corn Dolls, Wheat Weaving, Corn, and Wheat Stalks.
Incense: Aloes, Rose, and Sandalwood.
Candles: Orange and Yellow
Gemstones: Aventurine, Citrine, Peridot, Sardonyx, and Tourmaline.
Deities: Lugh, Demeter, Epona, Tailte, Cerridwen, and Rhiannon.
Herbs: Heather, Hollyhock, Grapes, Crab Apples, Sunflowers, and Pears.
Animals: Goats, Lamas, and Horses.
Work: Grains woven into God and Goddess symbols and Meditation.
Tools: Athame

Mabon (September 21st)
Mabon is the Autumn Equinox. Mabon is the completion of the Harvest that began at Lammas. Once again day and night are equal. The God prepares to leave his physical body and begin the great journey to the unseen, towards renewal and rebirth of the Goddess. Nature begins to die, laying in rest for next springs bounty. The Goddess nods in the weakening sun, but fire burns within her womb. We all take a moment to pay our respects to impending darkness. We also give thanks to the waning sunlight as we store our harvest of this year's crops. Offerings of Ciders, Wines, Herbs, and Fertilizer are appropriate at this time. Witches and Wiccans celebrate the aging Goddess as she passes from Mother to Crone, and her consort the God as he prepares for death and re-birth.
Other Names: Fall or Autumn Equinox
Correspondences and Associations:
Colors: Orange, Dark Red, Yellow, Brown, Maroon, Deep Gold, Violet, and Indigo.
Foods: Corn Bread Cakes, Wheat Products, Breads, Nuts, Vegetables, Apples, Cider, Carrots, Onions, Potatoes, Wine, Ale, and Pomegranates.
Symbols: Acorns, Pine Cones, Baskets of Fallen Leaves, Ivy Vines, Dried Seeds, Dried Leaves, and Dried Flowers.
Incense: Benzoin, Myrrh, Pine, Cinnamon, Cloves, Jasmine, Frankincense, and Sage.
Candles: Brown, Green, Orange, and Yellow.
Gemstones: Sapphire, Lapis Lazuli, Yellow Agates, and Yellow Topaz.
Deities: Thor, Morgan, Green Man, Epona, and Land Mother and the Muses.
Herbs: Hazel, Corn, Acorns, Oaks, Wheat Stalks, Cypress Cones, Pine Cones, Thistles, Milkweed, Pine, Cedar, and Sage.
Animals: Dogs, Wolves, Stag, Owl, Eagle, Salmon, Goat, and Blackbirds.
Work: Celebration of the Second Harvest, Ritual sprinkling of leaves, protection, prosperity, security, and self-confidence.
Tools: Red Alter Cloth and Bolline.


Written by Celina Kilburger

                                                    

   
                                                                Introduction
These poems have been inspired by the Goddess Brighid herself. They developed over the course of a year from the original Invocation I made to Bride at Candlemass in February 2008. This is the first poem in the cycle.
The cycle then follows the wheel of the Celtic year, with New Year starting in the darkness of Samhuinn (November), and working through Winter Solstice, Imbolc, Spring Equinox, Beltane, Summer Solstice, Lammas and finishing with Autumn Equinox. The poems contain nuances and subtle correspondences to the Festivals they represent and are intended to be used prayerfully and meditatively during the Festival season.
Living close to the sea in Ayrshire, Scotland, I frequently see the Oystercatcher along the shore and rejoice in the connection between this beautiful bird and Brihde. The poetry is part of their song.
No charge is made for downloading these poems, but I would ask that anyone who does so, makes a donation to a charity in their neighbourhood, and then emails me at brihdein@live.co.uk and lets me know they have done so. Wouldn't it be marvellous if benefits from this poetry poured out into nature and the environment, health and social care, human rights and peace!
May the Blessing of Brighid be always with you
May the Blessing of Brighid be always with those you love
May the Blessing of Brighid be always a bright and eternal flame in your heart

AN INVOCATION TO BRIHDE AT CANDLEMASS
1 February
Blessèd Brihde my one desire
Is you before me by the fire
Spreading rays of radiant light
Bringing end to winter’s night.
You’re also known as hallowed Bride
And greeted at this Imbolc-tide.
Your triple calling speaks to me:
Healer, forge and poetry.
Blest Brihde your spirit touches mine –
The name of Smith is in my line.
The words I write are breath of Brihde
My garden heals a world in need
I thank you for the gifts you send
Of snowdrop flowers at winter’s end
And in return I send your way
An Imbolc gift of milk this day.
Blest Brihde sweet Lady of the Hearth
Illuminate my faltering path
Inspire my words and heal my pain
And help me forge my life again

SAMHUINN
1 November
Under cover of darkness the Old Year seeps away
Daily becoming thinner, weaker, more dilute
Fraying at the edges, ragged, pale and grey
Washed-out fabric, fragile, feathered jute.
Under cover of darkness the New Year grows apace
Daily becoming tougher, stronger, more distinct
Knitting at the edges, broderie anglais, lace
Saturated colour, pearlised with a deeper tint
Between the feathering and the filigree
Shimmering chiffon separates the two
A strange world veiled in organdie
Where does old end? Where starts the new?
This sacred season of Hallowed Eve
Samhuinn Night - the Old Year's tail -
Allows for passage through the weave
For ancestors to cross the veil
Under cover of darkness mysteries unfold
The seam is stitched together, memories fade
But in deepest shadow throughout the winter cold
There shines the light of Brighid in gold brocade!

WINTER SOLSTICE
21 December
In the stillness of the Shortest Day
The rising sun dawns quite alone
A single sunbeam casts a golden ray
On a solitary frosted standing stone
In the forest sheltered from the wind
A unicorn glimpsed white through falling snow
Sparkling prisms of glistening crystal ice
Illuminate the sickled mistletoe
Ivy entwines the berried holly tree
A deer slips by unnoticed in the shade
The sun paints fingers of streaming light
Across the frozen river of the glade
The setting sun sinks slowly into dusk
Darkness gathers early - candlelight
The pine log crackles fragrant in the open hearth
The Shortest Day : the Longest Night
The Queen of Fire and Light puts on her boots
And wraps her mantle tightly to her side
It's time for work - a six week journey to the beach
To bring the world to life at Imbolc-tide

IMBOLC
1 February
Brihde crossed the machair to the sea
An oystercatcher in her hand
She scooped a cup of the rising sun
And sprinkled sunbeams o'er the land

SPRING EQUINOX
21 March
Spring is not a time of peace
It jumps and jerks and wrestles free
March hares boxing bound wild-eyed
Buds erupting on the tree
Last year’s seeds burst into life
Hard earth cracks as shoots emerge
Wild winds storm across the sea
And whip the flooding tidal surge
A time to leap before you look
To follow Fool – step off the ledge
A time of reckless folly, risk
To dare to balance on the edge
Herne the Hunter heralds havoc
Dances in a fairy ring
Mad Hatter loups across the fields
Then stops, high-fives Green Man of Spring
Bridie wrings a rainbow out
Cascading colours crown the hills
Glade and garden emerald green
And golden dancing daffodils

BELTANE
01 May
On the fields around the bridle-path
Young grass sparkles in morning dew
The day stands tip-toe, waiting, ready
Beltane sun is shining through
In a dappled blossom-laden lane
The scent of hawthorn fills the air
Brihde bestows a glimpse of grace
As she tends the birthing of a pregnant mare
Lovers circle spiralled ribbons
Dancing through the May Day morn
Song and laughter, Beltane bonfire
Labour ends. A foal is born

SUMMER SOLSTICE
21 June
In all the wonder of brilliant light
Of blazing blinding transfiguring flame
Of the power and the passion of the Solar circle
Brihde a rose by any other name
Brihde the Queen of Fire and Light
Who hangs her mantle on the Sun
Brihde of courage, fortitude and strength
Brihde of life ere life begun
Brihde of Solstice in exalted glory
You come with light for the good of all
But your throne is a daisy surrounded by bees
For you burn with love for all things small

LAMMAS
1 August
Bridie drowses in the barley,
on the way to Lammas Fair.
Weaves the crop stalks in a circle;
plaited poppies in her hair.
Kinsfolk gather at the bonfire:
contracts actioned; bought and sold.
A time of measure, introspection.
Bring in the new, discard the old.
Blest Lady take me as I am and gather me
as new-scythed corn
Open arms in winnowing wind,
scattering seeds to be reborn.
Brighid of hearth, your oven bakes
the harvest of the Lammas field.
The bread is shared; a mystic glimpse:
a world at war is cherished, healed.
The Oystercatcher flutes at dawn,
a warning in her soulful call.
The barn is full, the harvest ends.
High summer preludes autumn fall.

AUTUMN EQUINOX
21 September
With joyful triumphant liquid trill
Robin's song announces Autumn's here
Day and night are equal length
Darkness comes to northern hemisphere.
A time of sorrow - Summer's over
Dreams and hopes turn golden brown and die
Trees take the risk to stand skeletal, bare
Throughout the Winter's sharp and icy bite.
Their boughs are bending, laden down with fruit
Apple, hazel, beechmast, berry, haw -
Birds and insects riffle through the feast
Enough today - when Winter comes, no more.
A wave of grief floods inland from the sea
Atlantic breakers empty on the strand
A curlew gathers molluscs with the tide
Dunlin harvest food twixt sea and land.
The oystercatcher, known as Gille Brihde
Dips her beak in sand at evening light
The setting sun sinks aqueous through the clouds
Damp and misty, weak, then lost from sight.
The wind of change rampages from the west
A time to stall the cattle in the byre
A time to set the ewes down in the fold
To shut the doors and windows, stoke the fire.
From now the year progresses to its end
Shortened days and nightfall gathering.
But know that all the while the darkness reigns
That Brihde will come with sunlight in the Spring.

As Samhain is getting close, I gave a lot of thought about how will I celebrate the Celtic New Year. Since my knowledge in pagan or wiccan traditions is scarce, I searched for helpful ideas and I found this beautiful and simple way how to celebrate Samhain. But first I wanna say something  about Samhain itself.




                                                                        ( By Labgrrl )
October 31st, or November Eve, which is also called Samhain, is the cusp of the liturgical year for Wiccans and Pagans who choose to follow the Wiccan liturgical year. It marks the time when the old religious year passes, and the new religious year begins.

Like other such "Year's end" holidays, in other faiths, it is a good time to reevaluate how far we've come in our personal goals and how far we have to go.

New Wiccans, who've just started in the religion, even ones who will begin on October 31st, often want to do some activities that make them feel connected to the day. This list contains some ideas that newcomers to Wicca, and even old hands, can try with little or no background information.

#1. Honor the dead of the year. Pick people you know of who passed on this past year, and even those who you didn't know but who you felt affected by, and light a stick of incense for each one. Say their name, then light the incense, then say "May you pass freely from this world into the next, and find happiness." Then stick the incense in a pot of dirt or other holder. This should be done outside. You could also light tea candles in their names, etc, but the idea is to have a votive sacrifice, something of at least small value you consume in their honor, so don't reuse the candles.

#2. Make a list of things you have done wrong in the year, and how they can be rectified. Those things that you can make amends for either make amends for (For example, if you broke a window, fix it or pay for it to be fixed.) Those things you cannot fix, find a way that you might still make it better or right. Maybe you need to tell someone you're sorry?

#3. Write a list of all the people who have influenced you, either in your life or just this past year, and why they have influenced you. What people should you cultivate in your life (people you should get closer to) and what people are bringing you down (people you should reduce contact with.) How can you improve your influences over the next year?

#4. Come up with three goals for the next 12 months- a hard one, a not-that-hard one, and a fairly easy one. Break the goals down into three sections-what you will do immediately to further them, when you will be half-way there, and what you'll want to be like just before you're finished. Revisit the goals you made last year, if any.

#5. Let "The Dead" become untrapped from your property. Open your front door and your back door simultaneously (You may have to lock pets in another room.) Say "Let those who need pass this space pass freely." After a few minutes, close the doors.

#6. Give something that is not good for you up. Write it on a piece of paper and burn, bury or tear the paper into shreds.

#7. Put on a costume and wander around, with your cell phone handy, and 'police' your neighborhood for injured kids, crime, etc. Become a force for good on a night that some ignorant people will use for pranks and vandalism.

#8. Call up a relative you have not spoken to in a long time and say hi. Relatives become ancestors faster than you realize.

#9. Visit a grave of a lost one and tell them what you need to tell them to move on with your life.

#10. Dedicate yourself to your future, and the future of our people and our planet. Make plans, set goals, and take steps.

All of the above tasks require no special rituals or training, and represent very real things Wiccans do on this holy night. Each can help you "get the meaning" of the holiday, even if it's your first one as a Wiccan.
This is borrowed from www.labgrrl.com/2009/10/activities-for-new-wiccans-who-are.html

I found this site today, it's an online community for Pagans and Wiccans.This is what they say:

This site is devoted to the practice of Wicca. It is an excellent resource for those looking to gain a better understanding of the religion of Wicca as a whole. Through chat, discussions on our post boards, our many Wiccan groups, and links to many other sites with a Wicca connection. Wicca is an open religion devoted to the worship of the goddess, or god and goddess, The Horned God, and the Triple Goddess respectively. Traditional Wicca includes many paths, Gardnerian, Alexandrian, oftentimes referred to as British Traditional Wicca. Osian, Gaian, Cochranianism, Feri, and the Dianic. And the list goes on. Some new age covens, followings, and groups are emerging all the time.

One thing all traditions hold in common is the Wiccan Rede. Though there are many forms of it, and changes to the wording, the meaning stays clear; "And thou harm none, do as thou will" It is not necessary to belong to a coven to be Wiccan. The solitary practitioner has as much a place as any coven member. Oftentimes , the solitary Wiccan will refer to themselves as an eclectic. Devoted to the idealism's and teachings. While most Wiccan covens have some sort of initiation process. Accompanied by a more strict guideline to follow, including feast days, appropriate ritual, and a variety of others. Wicca is a religion dating back to only the 1950s and was founded by Gerald Gardener. But its roots go back to generations before. Regardless of your personal religion, or whether you would call yourself Wiccan or simply just Pagan.

We hope you enjoy your time here on Wiccan Together.

So, if you think this is a place for you, visit them at www.wiccantogether.com/

This brilliant overview of the growth, supression, and modern-day reemergence of Wicca as a Goddess-worshipping religion has left an indelible mark on the feminist spiritual consciousness. In this beautiful 20th-anniversary edition, Starhawk now reveals the ways in which the practice of ritual and Goddess religion have, in the face of a changing world, developed over the last 20 years – and the ways in which these changes have influenced and enhanced her original ideas. This important spiritual guidebook provides both the tools of ancient practice and the means to adapt them to our lives today – for, according to Starhawk, ‘a living tradition is not static or fixed; it changes and responds to changing needs and changing times.’

If anyone wants to read let me know :)