Well, it's a day late, but HAPPY MABON!!

Yesterday is a memory of blurry colors and flying by the seat of my broom stick, so I apologize for not making this post on what is the calender appropriate day. =)

I would like to share the simple ritual that was writing by one of the circle members for our celebration last night, as well as the simple spell we started with once the circle was cast...

Simple Mabon Candle Spell

Created by Mrs. B (from confessions of a pagan soccer mom) Thank you for your lovely words Mrs. B!

Needed Supplies: a candle (fall colors or white)

Paper/Pen

Cauldron

Center yourself and take a few deep, cleansing breaths. Think about the season passing and the one to come. Think of the abundance that you've received and worked hard to obtain. Light the candle and say the following (or words of your own creation):

I light this candle to honor the season and to give thanks for the abundance in my life. I strive to remember these blessings and give thanks for them throughout the entire year. I strive to remember to share those blessings with others not as fortunate as I am, even when I have little to share. I express my gratitude to the Lord and Lady for all my blessings this Mabon, and give thanks for all those blessings that will come to me this glorious fall season. So Mote it be!

Write down your blessings as well as your thanks upon the paper. When finished, fold into a square and light from your candle. Set into the cauldron and send off these words to the Powers That Be.

Mabon 2011

Need: chalice of “wine”; Three candles (white, red, black) set around the cauldron, athame, elemental candles

Creating the Ritual Area:

East: I call upon the Wind, the East, the Power of Thought and Logic.

Inspire us this day as we celebrate Mabon.

Protect us in this time of both Light and Dark.

Blessed Be.

South: I call upon the Fire, the South, the Power of Strength and Ferocity.

Guide us this day as we celebrate Mabon.

Protect us in this time of both Light and Dark.

Blessed Be.

West: I call upon the Water, the West, the Power of Emotion and Intuition.

Bless us this day as we celebrate Mabon.

Protect us in this time of both Light and Dark.

Blessed Be.

North: I call upon the Earth, the North, the Power of Stability and Patience.

Guard us this day as we celebrate Mabon.

Protect us in this time of both Light and Dark.

Blessed Be.

Center: I call upon the Spirit, Beginning and End. Power of Souls and Dreams.

Watch over us this day as we celebrate Mabon.

Protect us in this time of both Light and Dark.

Blessed Be.

High Priest: Mabon is a time of Rest. The harvest has been brought in, and at last we can enjoy the fruits of our labors. The Harvest Lord may lean back and drink from his horn, content in the knowledge that his people are cared for as he prepares to hand over his throne. In this time before Winter, joy and plenty abound.

High Priestess: These are the days when we bid farewell to the Goddess as she prepares for her descent. Persephone goes to join Hades. Inanna prepares to join her sister in the Underworld. These are not a time for mourning, but for quiet farewells and wishes of return. Only in the time of rest can life be rejuvenated. Winter must come for Spring to arrive.

High Priestess: Light the three candles around the cauldron. Say:

We call upon the blessed Lady, queen of the harvest, Giver of life and plenty since before time began. We honor and praise you in your courage and beauty. Bless us with your courage and wisdom to see us through the coming Dark.

High Priest: Salute the cauldron with your dagger or sword. Say: We call upon the Lord of the harvest, sacred King, Giver of riches and protection since before time began We honor and praise your strength and laughter. Bless us with your strength and laughter in the coming Dark. High Priestess: Take the dagger in your power hand, the wine chalice in the other. Say: Always has life fulfilled its cycle and led to Life anew in the eternal chain of the living. In honor of the Gods, We mark the fullness Of our lives and the harvest of this year's lessons.

Touch the dagger to the chalice. All: Walk three times clockwise around the circle, beginning in the east. Chant: The wheel of the year must turn, so too must bounty come.

High Priest: Raise the chalice and speak the following, sip, then pass. To the good seasons that have gone, And to the good ones who will come. Blessed Be! To the Goddess! May she bring peace And fulfillment to all her children. Blessed Be! To the God! May he protect his followers And bring prosperity and happiness. Merry meet, merry part, and merry we shall meet again! Blessed Be.

(It is at this time that any workings you wish to do may be done.)

Center: Powers of Spirit, Protectors whom have watched us. Thank you for joining us this Mabon Day.

Go if you must, stay if you will

Blessed Be.

North: Powers of Earth, Protectors whom have guarded us. Thank you for joining us this Mabon Day.

Go if you must, stay if you will.

Blessed Be.

West: Powers of Water, Protectors whom have blessed us. Thank you for joining us this Mabon Day.

Go if you must, stay if you will.

Blessed Be.

Mabon Day.

Go if you must, stay if you will.

Blessed Be.

East: Powers of Wind, Protectors who have inspired us. Thank you for joining us this Mabon Day.

Go if you must, stay if you will.

Blessed Be.

All: This circle is Open, but shall never be Broken. 

The ritual went really well, and I, personally, felt like I was flying on a hot electric storm by the time we were finished. It was great!

I hope that everyone had a blessed day and is making the most of the fine weekend we've been given!

Magical Pep

Boy let me tell you what... after the late night with the Superbowl and long drive home, then the early morning of getting the kiddo up and off to school, I am DRAGGING. As it is the first Monday of the month, that also means that I am starting a new class at school as well. Ah the joys of being a full time college student. It's all good though, because in July of 2011 I will be done with my Bachelors and able to take a few months of rest before tackling my Masters. Yee-haa for vacations!

Being that my energy tanks are running very low and that Monday's seem to be that nasty in between time of wanting to veg out and knowing you can't, but being unable to motivate yourself to really work hard (which is undoubtedly why the proverbial crap always hits the fan on a Monday), I figured I would use this particular blog entry to put in two simple "Pep in your step" spells.

Spell Number 1: (written by Dorthy Morrison)

To improve your own work productivity, during the waxing Moon place one hematite in a small basket or tray and enchant it by saying: "Ground and heal, magnetic one; bring me clarity on this day." Add the quartz crystal to the container and say: "Bring boundless energy to me; may it last through this day." Add the calcite and say: "Stone of joy and yellow light, help me sort through my work today." Place the container of stones on your desk and say: "Help me work through the day; bring me inspiration. And when the day is done, may the labor be finished."

Or, Spell number 2:
Take a red candle and light it. Sprinkle some chili pepper* on/around the candle and say something like "Herbs and Spices work your magic and hear my plea. Energy Boost I ask of thee, on this very day, so mote it be!" Sit and feel the energy from the candle and spices, and see yourself being pumped up with this energy.
*You can also use an Energy Boost Powder, with equal parts of appropriate herbs, like chili powder, cumin, garlic, etc.

Happy Monday everyone!

Happy Imbolc Everyone!

Today is Imbolc, as well as the New Moon! What a delightful combination, I must say. The sun is out for long periods of time, and even though there is still a chill in the air (a delightful 25 degree's here), you can start to feel the warmth of the coming spring. It is time to clean your house and start de-cluttering it, both physically and energetically, from the long nights of winter. Here are a few fun and simple activities for your Imbolc celebration:
Cleanse your house with sage (air/fire) and salted water (earth/water) and follow by anointing all of the doors and window frames with a blessing oil. As you do this, say:
With the purifying power of Water,
With a clean breath of Air,
With the passionate heat of Fire,
With the grounding energy of Earth,
I/We cleanse this space!

Here is a spell of personal purification that works directly with the Goddess Brigid:

A Spell for Purification:You will need:  3 candles of varying colors,
suggested colors: red, white, yellow --a bath oil of a warming spirit

Suggested place to do spell: Bathtub/Shower
 

Plan the spell for a time when you can be uninterrupted.
Quiet your mind the way you usually do.  Focus on Brigid's flame burning within your heart-center.  With each breathe this flame grows warmer and warmer and fills your entire body.  See, with your mind's eye, the flame from your heart now enveloping you.  Push the flame as far out of your body as you can.  Try to make it fill the entire room.

Once you have captured the image of the flame raised to where you want it, begin focusing on the things you want to bring in to your life now. Imagine yourself receiving these things before the Spring Equinox.  It may help to visualize a calendar with dates
-- be sure to see the numbers 2011!

When you have finished drawing your future with your mental magic-want, begin bringing the flame down and back into your heart.

Thank Brigid with your heart-light. Try to let the candles burn themselves out (never leaving them unattended).

Remember, no matter what you decide to do today, it is a time for new beginnings in all ways of life! So go purify your mind, body, and soul and jump into these new beginnings with a clean slate!

Blessed Imbolc Everyone!

A cleansing bath

Many of us, on our various paths, frequently partake in cleansing rituals. These rituals typically start with a bath (or shower for the witch-on-the-go) and are followed with a wide array of rituals and spell work. I got to thinking about these things which so many of us partake in and wondering if people actually take the time to think about what they are doing. Really. When you take a cleansing bath, have you ever really contemplated or meditated on the true meaning of cleansing? Or are you simply going through the motions in order to move forward with the following ritual or spell work? I can admit, I'm guilty of jumping into a quick shower, scrubbing myself down with a sugar scrub and asking Isis to cleanse my mind, body, and soul, then jumping back out of the shower, slapping on some make-up and running out the door. Let's face it, life happens. But, I challenge you, the next time that you are preparing for a ritual or spell in which you must first partake in a cleansing bath, to light a candle, some incense and put on good meditation music then crawl into a nice hot bath and really SEE and FEEL the cleansing. Don't just ask for it to be done, but see the dirt and grim of the day wash off your body. Feel the emotional weight and stress of the day melt away into the water. And, just as importantly, center your spiritual self. Find that divine spark within and feel it expand through your whole body. Remember, you are a child of the divine, whatever divine you believe in, and it is so, so important to be at one with that divinity and to have your spirit and soul cleansed of all that is not divine.

Go in peace, my dearest friends.
Brightest Blessings to you.

Simple Candle Spell

When you suddenly find yourself needed in an area that can't be physically reached (i.e. another state, class room, etc.) I find that the simplest of candle spells can help you astrally or energetically reach this needed destination. Today I found myself being called on to help with a negative court room/ lawyer experience. The assistance needed was to help keep happy energy flowing and not allowing the person being questioned to become buried under stress and negativity. I tapped into my friend (after getting them to lower their shield enough to let me in) and, even though I had to tend to making my daughters lunch and putting groceries away, I said a small prayer lit a light blue candle and some myrrh incense. I continued on with my tasks, humming a chant to myself (om mani pedme hum) and have helped with a long-distance energy manipulation to help a friend in need.

It's not always possible to physically be there for people when you're needed, but with a small amount of concentration and a strong intent, anything is possible.