30 Days of Witchcraft ~30-Day Challenge~Day 28 Beltane

We're slowly reaching the end of this month! For day 28 of our 30 Days of witchcraft "Write Your Craft" challenge, we're discussing the Gaelic festival of Beltane, or as you may know it, May Day.

30 Days of Witchcraft ~30-Day Challenge~Day 27 Ostara

For day 27 of our 30 Days of witchcraft "Write Your Craft" challenge we're discussing the first day of spring, Ostara! This is in late March, held on the spring equinox around the 20-21st. As you can guess, with the new life, blossoming plants, and "twitterpation", it is a true sign that spring, warmer days, and sunny days have arrived.

30 Days of Witchcraft ~30-Day Challenge~Day 26 Imbolc

For day 26 of our 30 Days of witchcraft "Write Your Craft" challenge we're talking about Imbolc! Imbolc is a time for renewal, growth and more. Situated halfway between Yule's winter solstice and Ostara's spring equinox, we celebrate this Sabbat on February 2nd.

30 Days of Witchcraft ~30-Day Challenge~Day 25 Yule

For day 25 of our 30 Days of witchcraft "Write Your Craft" challenge we're discussing Yule. Way back in 2018 I did a lot on Yule one season because my girls were asking a lot of questions, so there is more than what I am adding today and I'll add more this season, but for today let's do that info a correspondence list, shall we?

30 Days of Witchcraft ~30-Day Challenge ~ Day 24 Samhain

 

For day 24 of our 30 Days of witchcraft "Write Your Craft" challenge. The next in this series is another Wheel of the Year sabbat, Samhain. Now, in October we'll do another "30 Days of" challenge all about Samhain, so today we'll do those basics like we did Lugdnasadh & Mabon.

30 Days of Witchcraft ~30-Day Challenge~Day 23 Mabon

We're going to wrap up the final week of our 30 Days of Witchcraft "Write Your Craft" challenge with the remaining Wheel of the Year, Starting with Mabon.

Mabon is considered a "Witchs' Thanksgiving" because it's our fall harvest celebration. It will peak Thursday, September 23, at 9:03 pm EST in the northern hemisphere. (Yes, you read that correctly, 8 days. See my post here for an explanation...kinda.)

30 Days of Witchcraft ~30-Day Challenge~Day 1 Lughnasadh

Merry meet, and welcome to my first 30-day challenge! I'm excited to talk "30 Days of Witchcraft" with you! To read more about why I'm doing my own 30-Day challenge, go to my "Write Your Craft" page. 

While Samhain starts the pagan "New Year, I'm starting with Lughnasadh/Lammas because it is August 1, Monday and I want to get a little ahead of it so that we can all celebrate in our own ways. 

First things first, Lughnasadh (pronounced Loo-NAS-ah) has been spelled about 5 different ways in my research. Pick the spelling you can remember LOL! Lughnasadh is also the Celtic version of this Sabbat and can be used interchangeably with Lammas. 

Wheel of the Year: Imbolc ~ An Invocation to Brigid

Wheel of the Year: Imbolc ~ Correspondences

Imbolc is the celebration of spring, observed from sundown on February 1st until sundown February 2nd. With the 1st being Saint Brigid’s Day and the 2nd being Candlemas. The Maiden aspect is honored during this time, as it is she who blooms with life. Loosly translated, Imbolc means “in the belly of the mother” where seeds begin to awaken, as does spring.

Imbolc is mentioned in some of the earliest Irish literature with evidence that it has been an important date since ancient times. It was originally a pagan festival associated with the goddess Brigid (goddess of fertility) and was later was Christianized as a festival of Saint Brigid, who is thought to be a Christianization of the goddess.

Below are the correspondences as mentioned on the image above :)

Colors

• Red
  • Signifies: Strength, health, vigor, lust, danger.
  • Planetary Object: Mars
  • Day(s): Tuesday
  • Astrological Sign: Scorpio
• Light Green
  • Signifies: Finances, fertility, luck, success energy, charity, growth rejuvenation, ambition, counteract greed and jealousy, plants kingdom including herbal healing.
  • Planetary Object: Venus, Mercury
  • Day(s): Friday, Wednesday
  • Astrological Sign: Taurus
• Silver
  • Signifies: Purity, the moon, treasure, values, female energy, the unconscious mind.
  • Planetary Object: The Moon
  • Day(s): Monday
  • Astrological Sign: Gemini
• Pink
  • Signifies: Healing, familial or emotional love (rather than sexual), friendship, affections, unselfish emotions, spiritual healing, banishing hatred.
  • Planetary Object: Venus
  • Day(s): Friday
  • Astrological Sign: Aries
• Brown
  • Signifies: The Earth, grounding, trees, concentration, telepathy, spells to locate lost objects, protection of the familiars, pets, and animals.
  • Planetary Object: Earth
  • Day(s): Monday, Friday, Saturday
  • Astrological Sign: Capricorn
• Yellow
  • Signifies: Knowledge, learning, concentration, persuasion, charm, confidence, jealousy, joy, comfort.
  • Planetary Object: Mercury
  • Day(s): Wednesday
  • Astrological Sign: Gemini, Leo

Stones

• Amethyst
  • Increases spiritual awareness, used in all workings for peace, love, happiness and protection, used in divination and psychic work.
• Garnet
  • Enhances strength and endurance, protection, healing, enhances self-esteem and encourages success in business.
• Onyx
  • Enhances self control, confidence, mental strength, and is a protection from negativity while giving a feeling of being grounded
• Bloodstone
  • Increases physical strength and courage, brings victory in the courtroom, used to banish, exorcise.
• Ruby
  • Increases health, wealth, energy, courage, leadership and influence over others, improves sleep, drives away nightmares, and wards off evil spirits and depression. Wear near the heart to attract love and loyalty.
• Turquiose
  • Believed to bring love and courage. It is said to be a protector against violence in thought and deed. Also good for reducing bodily and mental tensions.

Herbs Plants & Spices

• Angelica
  • General protection and blessing, esoecially in the aid of woman
• Basil
  • Helps steady the mind, brings happiness, love, peace, and money and protects against insanity, as well as aiding in peacemaking and making up.
• Bay Laurel
  • Add to spells and potions to enhance psychic clarity, and it is said that when you write a wish on a bay leaf and burn it, it comes true.
• Blackberry
  • Thorny Vines: Protection and prosperity
  • Leaves: Used tor everything related to female fertility and tea made from them is said to be a mild aphrodesiac
  • Berries: Represent an abundant harvest and represent prosperity
• Celandine
  • Protective and confusing to enemies
  • CAUTION: Poisonous
• Heather
  • New beginnings, and self-discovery, enhancing physical beauty, and bringing a peaceful resolution, attracts fairies and friendly spirits.
• Iris
  • Reveals inner truth, Assists with creativity, energetic balance, intuition and divination, purification, protection, astral projection. Petals symbolize faith, valor and wisdom.
• Myrrh
  • Purification and preparation for ritual, protection, and healing.
• Tansy
  • Associated with immortality and eternal youth, use for craft related to longevity
• Violets
  
  • Useful in spells associated with love, protection, wishes, peace, and healing
• All white or yellow flowers
• purity, new growth, spring

Please stay tuned for the next Imbolc post on altars. Until then, YOU DO YOU!

Wheel of the Year: Yule ~Recipes

Merry Meet!

I’ve discovered that I don’t have that many traditional Yule recipes. I have several family recipes that we do for the Christmas gathering, but none specific to Yule. This year we are starting that tradition with a Yule Log cake with a caramel apple pie filling and white chocolate ganache frosting. I spent several days gathering my favorite frosting and filling recipes for you in case you want to try a Yule Cake with some other flavors!

Here are my recipes for:

Wheel of the Year: Yule ~ The Altar

Yule is when we celebrate the return of the sun, the lengthening of days again. These are things we should reflect in our altars, as well as remembering old traditions, such as the Yule log.

Symbolism

Wheel of the Year: Yule ~ Correspondences

Yule 2018 will begin on Friday, December 21 and ends on Tuesday, January 1. It will peak
Friday, December 21, at 5:23 pm EST in the northern hemisphere. (Yes, you read that correctly, 12 days. See my post here for an explanation…kinda. Yuletide also corresponds with many Old Norse traditions, including the 12 days)

Wheel of the Year: Mabon ~ Rituals and Spells

Mabon is the second of our three harvest festivals. It is a reminder to “reap what we sow,” both literally and figuratively, our own crops and intentions.Night and day stand equal in length; make it a time to express gratitude for your blessings, and ask for their prosperity, complete projects, and honor a moment of balance.

Wheel of the Year: Mabon ~ The Altar

Mabon is when we celebrate the second part of harvest. It is a day equal of night and day. It is about a balance of light and dark. These are things we should reflect in our altars.

Symbolism

Wheel of the Year: Mabon ~ Recipes

Fall harvest! Is there a better time for baking and hearty comfort food cooking? With correspondences such as apples, cinnamon, and nutmeg my grams apple pie comes to mind immediately, but there is SO much more!

Thought Co. is one of my go to sights for a wide range of ideas. The Mabon Cooking  post from Thought Co. includes links to: crockpot apple butter, herb butter blends , and there are more recipes there too!

A note on herb butters: if you want it to remain spreadable, whip olive oil or another light oil of your choosing into it AND diary free diets can use margarine or other substitutes in the same quantities to create the mixtures.

Wheel of the Year: Mabon Correspondences

Mabon 2018 will begin on Friday, September 21 and ends on Saturday, September 29. It will peak Saturday, September 22, at 9:54 pm EST in the northern hemisphere. (Yes, you read that correctly, 8 days. See my post here for an explanation...kinda.)

Mabon is considered a "Witchs' Thanksgiving" because it's our fall harvest celebration.

Wheel of the Year: The Deal with Sabbats

Four of our Sabbats (Yule, Ostara, Litha, and Mabon) astrological events - solstices and equinoxes, and change peak dates year to year within a few days.

Mabon (Fall equinox) and Yule (Winter Solstice) however last approximately a week if you just search for the specific dates. I haven't determined exactly why.. (I'm researching), but I like to think that this is because our ancestors took the end of harvest and the cycling of death and rebirth throughout those sessions seriously.

But, regardless, we don't have to be exactly rigid in our celebration dates. Do you think that if our ancestors missed a solstice that the crops went unplanted? unharvested? That winter stopped? Not at all, and there is no point in wasting that energy because you missed one specific day!!

There is, if course, a peak moment of Sabbats..a strongest point, if you will, if you need that energy for specific work, but Sabbats last long enough for thought, ritual, afterthought, and contemplation. The good news is that this gives us ample time to hold our festivities (use or spare a spoon or two, if necessary) and still bless each one well as we usher it in.

The other four Sabbats (Imbolc, Beltane, Lammas/Lughnasadh, and Samhain) are approximately halfway marks between each equinox or solstice and technically last approximately a 24 hour period the same dates each year. Their peaks are generally said to peak at midnight or high noon, depending on the event

During my posts about Sabbats, I'll give you the date spreads as well as peak times. Remember: solstices and equinoxes can vary slightly year to year and hemisphere to hemisphere. My information is for the northern hemisphere, US Eastern Standard Time. A quick Google search will give you your best peak times.

However, as witchcraft is about intent, use these days as you see fit, and hold rituals as you will. Intent is your only boundary, and blessings and offerings are always appreciated.

Until next time,

New Blog Series

Starting this week, I'm starting a new Wheel of the Year series. Each week (hopefully) I'll post thoughts, ideas, recipes, rituals, history, and folklore leading up to the next Sabbat, starting with September's Mabon. I hope you join me!

Blessed Lammas & Lughnasadh!

L&L Blessings to all! How did you spend your Sabbat?

I unfortunately had a migraine all day so we had a simple pasta dish and the little one and I spoke about what Lammas was. We plan on making our Lammas bread man on the weekend and maybe a barley soup...something we can toss in the crock pot while we go to the local museums.

I'll post again when we've completed our celebrations.