Imbolc Blessings!

Happy Imbolc to everyone!

Yes, I know it was Thursday and it is now Saturday. But I had to work and the Goddess will always forgive.

I did do some stuff on Thursday. My broom, Endora, got some fresh ribbons and I used her to sweep the negativity right out my front door. I set out a bowl of cream for Brigid and a yellow candle. I also hung up a nice wind sock. I even made a little besom to hang by the door to welcome Brigid.

I left a white cloth out overnight so that Brigid could come by and bless it. I am saving it for a day I need Brigid’s help. I also made fresh, homemade butter.

Tonight we celebrated.

This morning I put out fresh buttermilk for Brigid, as well as some bread. (I made the buttermilk myself. It was left over from my butter making on Thursday.) I gave the house another good sweeping. I also put out some fresh spring flowers.

I made a variety of gifts to honor Brigid and for my friends and family to take home for this special day. I made bird seed bells to hang in the trees. I made a milk bath sachet to give to people and I made a Celtic Cream warming potion that was so good. I also made a potato cheese soup and bread pudding.

We lit white candles to honor Brigid. Once everyone’s candle had been lit by Brigid’s flame, we snuffed them and cooled them so they could be taken home to bless the homes of my friends and family.

And finally, one of our group was having a birthday and so we honored her with cake and gifts. You only turn 17 once. So happy birthday to you. We hope to see you and your mom at one of our services again soon.

All and all it was a pretty awesome Imbolc. Thank you Brigid for honoring us. I am already looking forward to this celebration next year. I have great ideas for crafts and new decorations I want to get.

Blessed be!

Festival Of Lights

Happy Hanukkah!

Tonight begins the first night in the 8 night celebration of the Jewish holiday, Hanukkah. And just what is Hanukkah?

Well, it is a Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. There was a revolt and when they took back the temple and purified it, there was only enough sacred oil to burn for one day. But a miracle occurred and the oil lasted 8 whole days.

And so Jewish families celebrate by lighting a menorah, which holds eight candles, one lit each night from right to left. And they eat food fried in oil.

And while we are not a Jewish family, obviously, we celebrate right along with them. So we will light our nightly candle and make potato pancakes and spin our dreidels.

(It sounds almost pagan… candles, food, prayers…. Just saying. Focus on the sames.)

Anyway, to me it isn’t Hanukkah until I hear this…



Okay, so not very religious but it always makes me laugh.

(On another side note… Santa comes tonight. Reminds me of a certain Holly King. This one looks like my tree topper.)

Blessed be!

On A Cold Night

Sometimes your best laid plans don’t always pan out. Sometimes what the Gods deliver is better than your plan.

Tonight we honor the full moon. This one is called the Cold Moon or the Long Night’s Moon. Both of those names are apt as for the fact that they happen around the winter solstice and the coldest and darkest time of the year.

Today I went to Disneyland and honored the God and Goddess by spending the time with my family. We walked around and had a great time as always. (FYI… I read somewhere that Walt Disney was Pagan. His family came from Ireland, so perhaps Celtic.) In the park they had booths set up to try holiday foods of other cultures. We tried a curry dish from India, a lamb dish from the Middle East and kugel from the Jewish booth. (The curry was my favorite.)

Since I knew we had planned to go to Disneyland today, I had planned to have an esbat last night by myself.

Planned to.

But then…

Some very nice person made a coconut cake for a friend. And that friend was having a bad day and the cake sure lifted her. Then she called me and asked if I wanted to share in this cake. And I told her since she is sharing her cake with me; I will share my dinner with her. (It was tacos and pozole.)

So instead of an esbat service for one, I held an impromptu, informal service for several. We ate a fabulous meal. I taught a younger witch (13) about runes. She and I did a candle spell together for good luck. She told me about her first deck of tarot cards. She admired things on my alter and I gave her stuff to set up her own at home. (Much like mine and her mother.) I gave her a candle and some incense and an incense holder. I even lent her a book to study and gave her a new blank book to write in.

Before I go on… let me tell you about that blank book.

Earlier this month I received a box of items from a subscription service I subscribe to. Inside the box was this blank book. It has a design on it from the new movie “Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them”. (Yes, I am a huge Harry Potter nut.) When I pulled it out of the box, my husband asked me what I was going to do with yet another blank book. I immediately told him I was going to give it to the before mentioned 13 year old. I told him she would need it. For what purpose and when, I did not know, but she would need it.

And she did. Last night. The God and Goddess know what they are doing.

Anyway, she and I read runes and talked. Then we enjoyed an informal communion. We used the coconut cake as it was already a blessing.

After they left, her mother sent me this picture of the alter she went home and set up.

I love it.

See…

I wrote this post for these reasons…

1. Being Pagan is a perfectly normal part of life.
2. The God and Goddess know what is best for us.
3. Magick is everywhere, you just have to look for it.
Blessed be.

A Birthday Spell Of Love

Today is my husband’s birthday. It is also the anniversary of the day we moved in together 11 years ago.

Geez. We are getting old.

Happy Birthday Hot Stuff, may this year bring you nothing but happiness.

And for the occasion, I did a little candle spell.

I used a large candle so that it could burn for him though out the year.

I used a green candle for luck, wealth, wisdom, and abundance.

I used cinnamon and vanilla oils to anoint the candle; Cinnamon to enhance the male libido (That was a little for me.) and vanilla to relieve stress and heightened mental clarity.

I placed the candle on the alter in front of one of my favorite pictures of him with our daughters. I used a green alter cloth. I let it burn for hours.

May each day be better than the last. Let no harm come to anyone. May love always burn in your heart.

Blessed be.

On A Shopping Spree

A Flower Moon... a good time to get out in the garden. Grow some herbs. Do some magic. That is what I am going to do. I have some great spells in mind.

How about you?

So...

Ever need a witchy item and be all like…

“Where does one even get one of those?”

Well, Amazon has a ton of options you can order right from home. I have ordered candles, a candle snuffer, a tiny cauldron, some charms and various books right off Amazon. Even better, you can buy used books for cheap. I got a couple for a penny plus shipping.

But if you are looking for something a little more specialized, I use Azure Green.

Check out their website.

They have a ton of great stuff. Their staff is awesome and the items ship quickly. I have purchased several candle holders, a bunch of great incense, some charms and a little bell. They have a great selection of runes and tarot cards. There are so many wonderful little boxes and a wide array of alter cloth. I could spend hours on the website just shopping.

Not only do they offer a ton of stuff for Wiccan practices, they also offer items for Asatru/Odinist Pagans, Buddhists, Hindu, and even Santeria.

Now I just want to buy stuff. Look what you made me do. So when this little jewelry box arrives, I am telling my husband it is your fault.

Blessed be.

An Evening Prayer

Thank you all for coming out tonight. I finally had a night off that we could be together.

Tonight we discussed our own unique interpretations of God and what they mean to us. We also explored the way others find their own paths. I appreciated everyone’s involvement.

We asked for blessing to come upon us. We covered our table in purple cloth to bring serenity. We honored a small piece of the Earth, tonight in the form of a rock from Yosemite along with lavender to calm and strengthen our souls. We lit a candle of white to bring to purify our home as well as our souls.

Finally, we finished with about 30 minutes of meditation.

It was a pretty successful night. I feel calmer and happier already.

I know it was short and simple, but sometimes that is just enough.

Thank you again.

Until next time…