The Lucky Dragon

新年快樂

Happy New Year!

And happy new moon.

Today is the first day of the Lunar New Year. And last night was a new moon. So tonight we celebrated.

We had eleven in our circle tonight. We honored the Goddess Fortuna and we made good luck bags.

Fortuna is the Latin goddess of luck and fate. In her honor we made these bags to carry for luck.

Each bag contains…

Ivy- Representative of the element of Earth and the color Green

Earth= health, wealth, prosperity, employment and fertility

Green= love, fertility, abundance, money, prosperity, luck, resurrection, rebirth, jealousy, teaching, learning, changing attitudes, environmental issues and peace.

Cinnamon- Cinnamon can be used to make charms to draw love, happiness, and money.

Cloves- Cloves bring good luck and prosperity. Cloves keep good friends close and stops malicious gossip.

All Spice- Allspice can be added to sachets to aid in attracting money and/or luck.

Clear Quartz- Clear quartz is a stone of manifestation. Hold the crystal with intent and focus. The crystal will remember and permeate any environment it is placed.

Whole Nutmeg- A whole nutmeg seed can be carried to bring luck during all games of chance from cards to Bingo to roulette. Nutmeg can also be carried as a charm to encourage a favorable decision in court cases and success in other legal matters. Nutmeg carried will also help to ensure good luck while traveling.

Once that was finished, a new member of our group, who is also my daughter, offered a seeker oath, binding her to learn for at least one year. If she has not committed after that she can part ways with the craft or choose to seek again. It is her choice. No one is forced into the craft. Not even my kid. Besides, she is 17 and does tae kwon do, she could probably take me if I tried to force her. And as a gift, she was given a red journal to use as she sees fit. It has dragons on it.

And since it was Lunar New Year, an Asian celebration, I made beef and broccoli and rice as well as egg drop soup.

Thank you all for coming. May the lady Fortuna follow you where ever you go.

Blessed be.

Royal Jewels

Purple has long been considered the color of royalty. For years it was sought out by monarchs to symbolize their wealth and power. Purple symbolizes the soul, the Divine, mystery. It can also be the symbol of serenity and faith. In lighter shades it can bring equilibrium and awakening. It can help to alleviate mental or nervous problems (along with the advice of trained medical professionals) or help in spiritual healing. Too much purple can lead to negative thoughts, tiredness or depression. (If you feel depressed and have suicidal thoughts, contact someone immediately. Suicide Hotline- 1-800-273-8255)

Quartz that has been used for its magick properties since probably its discovery. On a cellular level our bodies and quartz crystal are made of the same minerals. The repeating chemical structure of the atoms that make up crystals are said to invest them with a kind of memory: a power to hold energy. Quartz crystals are naturally receptive to vibrations as they transmit, reflect and store light, and receive energy. The crystal will remember and permeate any environment it is placed.

Amethyst is purple quartz, from the Greek word Amethysos, which means “not intoxicated. So the Greek story goes…

The Wine God Baccus was very angry over being insulted by the Goddess Artemis (Roman Diana), the Goddess of the Hunt. So he vowed vengeance on the next mortal he sees. And for vengeance he plans to have two very large, ferocious tigers devour said mortal. The very next person he sees is the maiden Amethyst who is on her way to worship at the shrine of Artemis. When the tigers sprung out at her she called to Artemis for help. Artemis turned her into white crystal so she would be protected from the tigers and preserve her beauty. Baccus, who the felt guilty over his actions, poured his wine over the crystals as an offering, turning them forever purple. This stone is often associated with Artemis or Diana. The ancient Greeks believed that amethyst prevented drunkenness and they decorated drinking cups with them.

Amethyst was added to ancient European helmets in order to keep a cool head in battle. They believed it would bring good fortune in war or on the hunt. It is said to drive out evil spirits and inspire intellect. It was used to protect crops from locusts and as protection from snakebites as well as cures for stomach aches, insect bites and to beautify skin. It is even said that eagles, the birds of gods, used amethyst in its nest to protect its young from harm. Ancient Egyptians used it as protection during travels.

Amethyst is considered the stone of St. Valentine and a symbol of faithful love. (My engagement ring has an amethyst stone in it.) It is the Gem of Fire, once more valuable than diamonds. It spews with the energy of fire, passion, creativity and spirituality, but with the logic of temperance and sobriety. It has a sobering and cleansing effect and can aid with loss and grief. It is also the common birthstone associated with February.

It is the Stone of Friendship, a symbol of trust and piety. It is thought to put the wearer in a chaste state of mind. The Catholic Church calls it the “Bishop’s Stone” and it is worn by Bishops and Cardinals going back centuries to keep their minds pure and protect them from evil. Buddhists use it for prayer beads (Mala). Catholics have made Rosaries from it. Moses described amethyst as a symbol of the Spirit of God. It is found on the breastplates he was instructed by God to have made, the third stone in the third row. (Exodus 39:12) It is also used in the Bible as the 12th stone set into the foundations of New Jerusalem. (Revelation 21:20) The Russian Empress Catherine the Great loved it so much that she sent thousands of miners in search of it.

A new moon is upon us tonight, the night before Samhain. It’s a witchy night.

And why, you might ask, have I just filled your brain with all of this wonderful information about amethyst?

Because it called to me.

I have been learning to read runes. I have always been more of a tarot card kind of witch, but runes are smaller and there are less of them. I was introduced to them this summer and have been studying them since. I finally decided I was in need of my own set. And when presented with options, amethyst runes said “Pick Me!”

And I did.

And since they were not always mine, tonight, under a new moon, I said a prayer and lit a candle over them. I feel they will need to sit there until the full moon comes. Then they will be mine to use in divination.

For blessed are those who never stop learning.

The Winds Of Change

A blessed full moon to all of my witches this evening. It is beautiful out there. This moon goes by a lot of names. Wind Moon, Seed moon, Pink Moon…

Wind Moon because of the winds outside; the change of seasons and the change of times.

Seed Moon because now is a good time to plant seeds.

Pink Moon because now is the time of Pink moss, or wild ground phlox, one of the first Spring Flowers.

I like Pink Moon because I like pink. And while the moon is not actually pink, I still like the idea.

Today is Earth Day, and so, for today, we are discussing the element of Earth. Everything starts with it. Earth is one of the five elements invoked during ritual to balance the energies of either the sacred space or the individual or both. (With the other four elements being wind, fire, water and Spirit.)

The Earth is stable. It is the foundation of all. It is feminine, Mother Earth, giver of life. It is the North, the top, the beginning. It has a grounding affect. Earth is used in stone, crystal, and knot magick as well as garden magick and runes. It is often used in spells relating to hearth and home as well as the gaining of material things including money, employment, general security and family matters. It is useful in spells related to health, fertility and prosperity. It is a winter and night element and can be represented by drums.

Earth is represented in many ways. On an altar, it can be represented by stone or crystals, specifically onyx, jade, halite, amethyst, and fluorite. It can be represented by salt or a bowl of soil. It is represented by the colors brown, black, green, and yellow. It is represented by plants, particularly grains, ivy, red poppy, mushrooms and potatoes. Bulls, stags, dragons, wolves, owls, cats and Sphinx are animal representative of Earth. Gnomes, fauns, goblins, satyrs, dryads, sylvesters, dwarves and trolls are all mythical beings of the Earth element.

The goddesses Demeter, Ceres and Persephone are strong in the Earth element as are the Horae and Prosperpina. The gods Hades and Pluto are also gods of Earth. The Horned God is also a representative of the Earth element.

Earth is felt strongly in caves, forests, valleys and fields. It is in the practical areas of your home; the bathroom, the kitchen, the dining room.

People with earth based personalities like to work with their hands. They are also very family-oriented. On the other hand, too much can cause inability to dare or branch out in any way.

Earth is the first and last. The giver of life. And where we return at the end.

On my alter I generally use a bamboo bowl of salt as well as a rock I got from Yosemite on a trip there and a pine cone my daughter collected in Big Bear.

What do you use? What represents Earth to you?

Blessed be!

In Like A Lion

The old saying goes March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb. That is why March’s full moon is called the Storm Moon. Native American’s call it the Worm Moon, as now is the time when the ground softens, the earth worms come out, and the robins return.

Of course, if you live in the desert like I do, rain may seem like a far-fetched dream. Perhaps a nice rain talisman would help…

So…

Let’s talk about aquamarine.

Aquamarine is a light blue stone, also called blue beryl. And it was once used as a stone to bring rain. It is a water element stone also used for protection for those who travel by, over or near waters. Its name is Latin meaning “Water of the Sea”. Aquamarine evokes water, the ocean and calm seas. It brings luck to sailors and is considered treasure of mermaids.

Aquamarine is the color of heaven reflected in the ocean going on for infinity. It is the pale blue of the winter sky as it gives way to spring. It is calming, soothing and cleansing. It inspires truth, trust and letting go. It is a stone of eternal youth and happiness. It can cultivate inner tranquility, cleanse the emotional body and open channels of clear and heartfelt communications. It is also a mediation aid.

It is a cooling stone. It is the stone of breath and balance. It is a stone of empowerment showing that not all power comes from force. Ancient Romans believed it would render a soldier invincible and that it was an antidote for poison. They also believed that if a figure of a frog were carved into or out of aquamarine that it would serve to make enemies into friends.

Aquamarine is the stone of Kuan-Yin, the Chinese Goddess of Mercy, Compassion and Unconditional Love. It is also the stone of Akna, the Mayan Goddess of Motherhood, as well as Kupala, the Slavonic Water Goddess.

It is the Zodiac stone of Scorpio. It is associated with the Tarot Symbol- the Hanging Man. It is a traditional gift for a 19th wedding anniversary and is said to reawaken love in married couples.

But most common of all, it is the birth stone for the month of March.

And as today is my birthday, it is my birthstone.