A Favorite Designer Give-away! Oh, and other stuff!

These beauties are the newest folk art releases from Lori Brechlin at Not Forgotten Farms, and she is having a give-away. Wouldn't it be lovely to win one of these? Just fly over to this link and post a comment for a chance to win -http://farmhousenotforgotten.blogspot.com/2011/05/folk-art-necklace-pendants-and-giveaway.html
Lori is a favorite designer of primitive style needlework designs, as well as folk art. Why not take a look at her wonderful stuff at her etsy shop too: http://www.etsy.com/shop/notforgottenfarm?ref=pr_shop_more


In other world-of-stitching-witch news, I finally had some stitching framed and will be posting photos tomorrow. Currently I am stitching like a madwoman, Madame deFarge or Bertha Rochester in her attic - did she stitch? And yes, I know, Madame deFarge knitted. Well, you get the idea. A baby sampler for a shower on June 11th for our newest family member. It is a quick, but really pretty stitch and I am just about done. The problem will be the framing, but I think my LNS, Cross Stitch Cupboard, in Fort Lauderdale, will come through for me - IF I can get this finished in the next day or so. I WILL DO IT!! In addition to this, I am stitching another quick but pretty stitch for my sister - a first time granny sampler. I wanted to get them both done together, but didn't find the designs or decide to actually do this until last week! Oh well, it would be nice to present them together, but if I can't, so be it. I'll send it later.


Now, as for the little man, cutest baby on the planet!!! I ask you, are these not just adorable? Love these photos!!!!

Really, our family just produces adorableness in abundance!!! I am not bias at all, BTW.


Dark moon magick on the horizon tomorrow and more magic later in the week with Raven; and, of course, spells and magickal advice at the shop where I now have a regular part-time position - Saturdays & Mondays with an extra day thrown in here and there. It's just perfect and a dream come true after years in medical offices. Resident witch - what a great position, LOL! And that's what my week has in store for me! Hope yours is magickally wonderful too!


Blessings nine!

Abalone

Not a crystal or stone, but a seashell - and a beautiful one, indeed. It has a rather flattened shape with the outer shell looking funky and organic, while the inside is jewel-like. Due to the shape, it is sometimes called "sea ears." 

The water element is strong in shells, making it a perfect ally for healing emotional issues.  The blue and green colors found within are calming, settling overactive emotions and  chakras. Lay the shell over the chakra, adding other crystals as needed. Abalone's energy is soothing, not overwhelming. It heals the emotional body by re-aligning the energy so it flows gently, assisting with the release of what is no longer beneficial and allowing what is to flow freely. It is especially effective for survivors of traumatic situations and also for those who are resistant to or fearful of making needed changes. It can work to heal the heart chakra by gently releasing sorrow, feelings of loneliness, loss and being unloved. For me, shells are womb-like, holding a life within, therefore they carry mother-goddess energies. This may be why their energy brings comfort and peacefulness .

Abalone is also helpful for divination and oracle work, it's reflective iridescence stimulates intuitive and psychic abilities through the third eye. Shells may also be used for scrying, gazing and meditative work.

In magick, abalone can be used in love spells or any other spell involving emotions. Place your charm ingredients in the shell or make amulets of abalone jewelry for your various needs. If you find broken shells or jewelry, grind  and add to magickal powders.   

Abalone shells make beautiful offering bowls, but I advise against using them, as many do, to burn sage, resins and other incense. First of all, the burning damages the beauty of the shell. Why would you want to do that? Second, this womb-like shell was the home of a life, the spirit of that life may still be attached to it, ready to assist you. Burning it may likely damage that connection and is disrespectful.  Allow this shell to work its water element magick by being seen and reflecting its beauty and energies out into our lives. 

(copyright E A Kaufman, 2011)

Blessings nine!

Serena's Tarot Lightbulb Joke

Although a joke, this is very insightful too. Enjoy!


Q: How many Major Arcana does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: All of them:
• The Fool has already started before anyone else is ready.
• The Magician assembles an array of objects that might be needed, displays them to best advantage and starts discussing how to go about it.
• The High Priestess sits in the background, knowing one thing is missing but says nothing.
• The Empress fusses around making sure it is safe and nobody gets hurt.
• The Emperor tells everyone he thinks it should be done right now and starts delegating responsibilities.
• The Hierophant offers advice on the missing part after consulting with the High Priestess.
• The Lovers umm and ahh about what wattage bulb to put in this time.
• The Chariot charges in and starts doing it himself regardless of the others' protests.
• Strength surreptitiously places what's needed into Chariot's hands and gets it done her way.
• The Hermit suggests a candle in a lamp would provide light in the meantime.
• The Wheel of Fortune laughs and reminds everyone that the light will need changing again in the future.
• Justice works out whose turn it is to change the light and whether the division of labour is being delegated fairly.
• The Hanged Man sits back and contemplates how darkness can change our lives.
• Death points out mournfully that this was bound to happen and how everything ends.
• Temperance tells Death to chill out, it all evens up in the end.
• The Devil tries to blame the Hanged Man for causing the light to blow and creates bad feelings all round.
• The Tower suddenly starts ripping out the original light fitting so he can create a whole new more basic look.
• The Star marvels at new beginnings and says how much she's looking forward to having the light working again.
• The Moon continually offers conflicting advice, confusing everyone until he wanders off to the relief of all.
• The Sun wants to redesign the whole room around a much brighter light.
• Judgement examines the globe to see whether it truly was its time to blow and ponders whether the globe can be recycled.
• The World suggests that any problems with the light are temporary: we had light once, we will have it again, and suggests focussing on the bigger picture.
Meanwhile, the Fool has already finished changing the light bulb and is off doing his own thing.


© 1999 Serena Powers, www.serenapowers.com


Blessings nine! 

Her Sacred Fires!

I gathered my wand, cauldron, Hekate's statue and other paraphernalia, then out the door I went to drive to meet Raven. We would celebrate the Rite of Her Sacred Fires. 

Last year, after my ritual, I went to leave my offerings at the hedge and found a toad in my path, waiting and unafraid. This time, a toad again made an appearance as I walked to the car. She waited for me to take notice and say a few words, then hopped off into the bushes. I thought it was interesting as I haven't seen any toads in a good long while. Then, as I opened the car door, a beautiful teal colored dragonfly flew around my head, tapped the car a few times and then disappeared into the sky. Ah, I said to myself, the magick begins.

And so it did. Raven and I had a lovely ritual at her home. We added an additional working and some divination to our rite, then took our offerings to the crossroads outside her home. A luminous moon lit our way, a gentle breeze stirred the trees to speak; an enchanted and enchanting night . Yes indeed, magick was there.

Hekate of the Three Ways, I invoke You,

Maiden of the Land, the Underworld & the Seas as well,

Chthonia, Enodia, Phosphoros,

Propylaia, Atropaios, Propolos,

Kourotrophos,

Adorned in saffron robes, shining in the Night,

Nocturnal One, Keeper of the Keys, Lady of Torches,

Hekate,  hear me.

~ from Invocation To Hekate by E A Kaufman, copyright 2007 ~

Blessings nine!

Newest Family Member!

A new family member has arrived, safe, sound and healthy! Carter Jay arrived on May 11. This is my sister's first grandchild. Although we have a grand-neice and grand-nephew on Mike's side of the family, I've been waiting for one on mine and now... here he is!

Goddess bless you baby, may She bestow all Her blessings upon you for a happy, healthy, joy-filled life!
Much love and...


Blessings nine!

The Rite of Her Sacred Fires 2011 - Get Ready!

If you honor Hekate, then you will want to join thousands of other devotees, across the world, in the second annual Rite of Her Sacred Fires during the full moon this month, May. In South Florida that will be May 17.


For further information and a copy of the text for the rite, as well as YouTube videos from last year's rite, please go to   www.sacredfires.co.uk

Late the nocturnal sacrifice begun,

Nor ended till the next returning sun.

Then, earth began to bellow, trees to dance

And howling dogs in glimmering light advance.

Ere, Hecate came."

~ Aeneid, Book V1 ~

Distant One! Mistress of Witchcraft! Wortcunning Maiden!
Threshold standing and night wandering,
Harken to me!
Emerge from your cave,
and attend this rite.

~ Shivian Balaris (shivian.com) ~

Blessings nine!

The Merry Month of May Begins!

To view the May and June Goddess Celebrations calendar, click on this link from last year:

http://witchofstitches.blogspot.com/2010/05/may-blessings.html
The dates for the Dark of the Moon and Full Moon will be different, of course. This year, the Dark Moon is on May 3  at 2:51 AM EDT and the Full Moon shines gloriously on May 17 at 7:08 AM EDT.


May begins with the great celebration of The Greening of the Goddesses and Beltane. My celebration last evening, was solitary and quiet, but very meaningful. The hedge was alive and stirring. 


Earlier, Sunday afternoon, I had a great longing to be out of doors, which I indulged with a visit to a local nursery. I picked up some herbs, including a nice stevia plant and a large oregano - a favorite herb! It is already very hot here in South Florida and I was sweating and blotting as I roamed about - oh the fifties, the sweat years of a woman's life! The heat felt good though, just what I seemed to need, I allowed the heat and sun to soak deeply into my bones. Listening to the fountains and looking at the water plants, I have begun planning an indoor water garden once again. We then went off to the garden department at Home Depot, where I picked up a sweet little Rabbit's Foot Fern and a little planter of mixed plants while looking at more fountain/pond materials. All plants are resting comfortably, including the oregano which is hanging close to my head!


While this celebration was quiet, the month ahead will be busy. Homage to Bona Dea and the Dark of the Moon on the 3rd, the Star Goddess on the 6th, Artemis on the 9th and the Rumanian Festival of the Fates on the 11th - that is one I never skip! All will keep me busy in the temple and at the hedge here at the Toadstool. On the Full Moon of the 17th, all over the world, devotees of Hekate will join together in The Rite of Her Sacred Fires for the second year. (http://sacredfires.co.uk/?p=297) Raven and I will celebrate that together and make whatever other magicks we can throughout the month, as time allows. Then... the Vestalia in June which I celebrate each year for nine days. You can read about my previous Vestalia celebrations here:  http://witchofstitches.blogspot.com/2010/06/vestalia.html   and here:
http://witchofstitches.blogspot.com/2009/06/vestalia-june-7th-15th.html


And just in case you think my needle has been idle, be at ease, that needle and my fingers have been flying. I am stitching a Hekate's Wheel on that lovely cognac colored linen I mentioned in a previous post, with black thread, which I will finish with a buttonhole stitch and little fringe around the edges. It will look lovely on our altar during the Sacred Fires Rite. Four projects have made it - finally!!! - to Cross Stitch Cupboard for framing. They have been lying in the basket of forgotten, finished needlework projects - well, at least it is a basket of finished projects! I continue with several dozen other WIPs (Queen of Perpetual Projects, that's me!) as well as making a scarf for my mother's friend and some collage and painting projects. Must not forget my Classics Challenge, I don't think I'll make the Master's Degree after all. I have finished three of my books and am half-way through the forth. Lizzie is busy.


If you would like to stitch a Hekate's Wheel for yourself, the free cross stitch pattern can be found, with two pages of charts of mystical symbols here:     http://crossstitch.about.com/od/freecrossstitchpattern1/ig/Wiccan---Pagan-Symbols/
The Hekate's Wheel is the last design on that first page.

 Earlier this morning, I drew a tarot card from The Tarot of the Crone deck. I chose Temperance... hmmm... how very interesting, I think!  A black-cloaked figure walks on a sliver of a green path under a dark sky illuminated by stars. On one side, a field of fire; on the other, a field of ice. The figure holds her hands out to each side, palms down, drawing up the power and essence of each.

This is a  card about mystical journeying to spiritual illumination. Although things may not be as clear as I would like them to be, in time the answers will come. Patience, balance and discipline - that is what is required and what I have. Really? I am finding the balance that I need in my life. From the companion book, I find more messages from this card: I draw in opposing powers and combine them to create what is needed and desired. Fire does not burn me, ice does not cut me; nor do I put out the fire or melt the ice. I know the hunger of fire and the bite of ice, but neither consumes me. I know the boundaries, but I do not allow them to to pin me in place. The power and passion is living within me, now is the time to use that power in all I do.

I am the one who brings beauty to life. I am the one to walk my path. Temperance is a dynamic process, a moving magick, and it makes a life full of meaning. Interesting, indeed.

I walk in beauty

I walk in power

And I create my path

With every step

And so the journey goes...

Blessings nine!

The Greening of the Goddesses!

While others are celebrating Beltane, I shall be celebrating my own version of May Day, The Greening of the Goddesses. For me, this is a celebration of that yearly, sensuous riot, the growth of the Earth; seeds splitting and sprouting, green, tender shoots dancing upward toward the Sun, the Sky, for early harvest, health and enjoyment. Now is the time of the great Earth Mother, Demeter, in Her full power and majesty as She Who Brings Forth From The Land.


In addition, this is the time, for me, to cast my magicks to promote fresh, creative energies and inspiration - more projects of fiber, paint and words. All of this brought to fruition by Persephone's return to Her mother.  Once again She wanders fields, breathing in the rich and redolent scent of flowers and herbs, listening to the winds, dancing with Her Nymphs, all the while, Her mother, Great Demeter, and Hekate, fond companion, watch and smile across the Land.


Ah, Spring settles in and Summer is not far behind. All the Earth is bustling with the business of creation and rebirth!


Blessings Nine !