One Stitch At A Time

Take your needle, my child, and work at your pattern; 

it will come out a rose by and by.  

Life is like that - one stitch at a time 

taken patiently 

and the pattern will come out all right 

like the embroidery. 

-Oliver Wendell Holmes-

Marjoram in Magick

Marjoram

Most people have this herb in their spice cabinet. For the kitchen witch, it is a wonderful herb to cook with as well as an excellent herb for magick. It will help in spells for a variety of issues. Named after a city in Sicily, it is a common plant found everywhere. 

For protection, marjoram is quite powerful. Sprinkling the herb into corners or on window sills and at doorways, about the house or work place, will keep away bad luck and protect the inhabitants from harm or malicious intent. One should vacuum or sweep away each month at the new moon and replace with fresh.

Sicilians believed marjoram could banish sorrow. For grief, sadness or even mild depression, place some of the herb in a small pouch or square of cloth, add an apache tear and tie up. The buds of Balm of Gilead can be added to enhance the charm.

Around the home, add to food along with basil to ensure peaceful, happy energies for the family. It is especially useful for keeping love strong. Drink as a tea to gain love, happiness, healing, wealth and all good in general. Add to pot pourri with rose petals or tie up in a square of cloth and hang on the connubial couch to keep marital relations harmonious.

copyright 2011 E A Kaufman

Blessings nine!

Voice of the Trees Give Away!

Mickie Mueller is a fabulous, fantasy artist whose work includes Goddesses, fairies and other magickal beings as she writes in her profile. Well, she's having a great give-away at her blog, so... follow the link and join in for a chance at the goodies she's offering:

http://mickiemuellerart.blogspot.com/2011/08/win-signed-copy-of-voice-of-trees-and.html

Take a look at her Etsy shop to see some of her wonderful art:

http://www.etsy.com/people/MickieMuellerStudio?ref=ls_profile

Blessings nine!

Hekate's Night - August 13th

For those dedicated to Hekate, Saturday's Full Moon holds special meaning - it is Hekate's Night, a night to honor our great Goddess, She who bestows many gifts upon those who honor Her, including magical abilities and prosperity. Those who know Her, know that they have been chosen by Her, it is no accident that one becomes Her priestess. For those just beginning to hear Her call, accepting Hekate into your life will bring great change, there will be no turning back.

For those who are drawn to Her, but know little of Her, I have reproduced the Hekate page I created for the  Neokoroi website. It includes a basic ritual to honor Her, which you can perform as written or use as a basis for a more elaborate ritual. May your celebration bring you closer to our Lady!


Epithets:
Aidônaia (Lady of the Underworld)
Anassa eneroi (Queen of those Below, Queen of the Dead)
Angelos (Messenger)
Antaia (the One in Front)
Antania (Enemy of mankind or Sender of Nocturnal Dreams)
Atalos (Tender, Delicate)
Brimo (Angry One)
Dadophoros (Torch bearer)
Despoina (Lady)
Epiphanestate Thea (Most Manifest Goddess)
Enodia (Of the Roads, Of the Paths)
Erodia (Gatekeeper)
Khthonia/Chthonian (Underworld, Of The Earth)
Kleidouchos (Keeper of the Keys)
Kleidophoros (Key Bearer)
Koure mounogenes (Only Begotten Maiden)
Krataiis (Strong One)
Kurotrophos (Protector of Children)
Liparokrêdemnos (Bright-coiffed, With Bright Headband)
Megiste(Greatest)
Monogenes (Only Child)
Nyktipolos (Night Wandering)
Nykipolos Khthonie (Night Wanderer of the Underworld
Perseis (Destroyer)
Phosphoros (the light-bringer)
Propolos (Guide, Attendant Who Leads)
Propylaia (the Guardian, The One Before the Gate)
Prothuraea (Before the Door)
Skylakagetis (Leader of the Dogs)
Soteira (Saviour),
Trevia/Trivia/Trioditis (Of The Three Ways, Of the Three Roads),
Tricephalus (The Three-Headed),
 Trimorphis (Three Formed, Three Bodied),
Trioditis (Of the Crossroads),
Zerynthia (Of Mt Zerynthia)

Other Epithets
The Distant One
Queen of Night
Night Mother
Queen of the Ghosts
Queen of the Witches
Mother of Witches
Mistress of Magic
Most Lovely One
Prytania  The Invincible Queen Of The Dead

Symbols:
torches, keys, rope, knife, dogs, snakes, knife

Animal(s):
dogs, owls, crows, snakes, frogs, the toad (conception), snakes (guardian and underworld), dogs (guarding and hunting)

Offerings/Sacrifices:
yew, cypress, hazel, black poplar, willow, black dogs, black
bulls, black lambs, myrrh, civet, camphor, aloe, menstrual blood, red
mullet, bread, eggs, cheese, honey, garlic, apples, figs, pomegranate

Primary Cult Center(s):
Lagina, Miletus, Argos, Eleusis, Aigina

Festivals:
Hecatesia or Hekate's Night (celebrated on different dates - August 13 or 16, November 16)
Dark Moon - last day of the lunar month (Deipnon)
Day of Hekate at the Crossroads (October 31 or November 30)
The last day of the calendar month
December 31 - Roman

Ways to honor:
Keep sacred the Deipnon and Her festivals.
Study Her history, search for the truth of Her origins.
Study magic and prophecy, particularly theurgy, as she is the
patron of that art.
Go for walks at night, or among strange places.
Aid fellow travelers and strangers, especially if they have dogs. (Or
are wild dogs!)
Appreciate the weird and uncanny.

Rituals:

A  Simple Way to Honor Hekate by Pythia Hecateira
(copyright E A Kaufman 2010)

In whatever guise Hekate presents Herself to you, regular devotions are an important part of spiritual practice. A simple, basic way to do this is offered here for you.

 You may perform your rite indoors or outside; if working indoors, take and leave the offerings and libation outside. Offerings of any of the following or combination thereof are suggested: garlic, eggs, almonds, barley, pomegranate and/or seeds, figs, dates, apples and olives as well as the wood and/or leaves of willow and yew.  A libation can also made to Hekate. Prepare wine, cider or even tea, laced with honey, spices and herbs. I am drawn to use dark sweet spices such as cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and, for some reason, oregano. Prepare the offering plate and libation in advance.

Begin by sitting in some quiet place, lighting a candle and incense. I suggest calling out Hekate's various titles as listed above under appellations - choose those that most resonate with your experience of Her; She presents Herself to each of us differently. Invocations, poetry and/or song may be offered as well as quiet contemplation. Petitions can made and meditative or other workings done, including divination. When you have finished, take the offerings outside after making a blessing over them. The libation should be placed in an offering cup or chalice, placed on the ground and gently tipped over to flow into the earth. The offerings should be placed directly on the ground as well. These offerings and libation can be left at a place you find sacred. A crossroads is an especially powerful place to leave the offerings for Hekate; a quiet intersection, where you can place them safely, would be appropriate. A entranceway, opening in a fence or gate, as well outside your door would also be appropriate.  When you have placed the offerings and made your libation, walk away and do not look back, especially if you have made some petition.

Give thanks, snuff your candles and have something to eat to ground the energy you have raised. As Dion Fortune said and I paraphrase, there is nothing like food to ground the magic and bring one back to the mundane.

Invocations, Prayers & Poetry:

I have included some invocations if you would like to include them.


The Orphic Hymn To Hekate

I invoke you, beloved Hekate of the Crossroads and the Three Ways
Saffron-cloaked Goddess of the Heavens, the Underworld and the Sea
Tomb-frequenter, mystery-raving with the souls of the dead
Daughter of Perses, Lover of the Wilderness who exults among the deer
Nightgoing One, Protectress of dogs, Unconquerable Queen
Beast-roarer, Dishevelled One of compelling countenance
Tauropolos, Keyholding Mistress of the whole world
Ruler, Nymph, Mountain-wandering Nurturer of youth.
Maiden, I beg you to be present at these sacred rites
Ever with a gladsome heart and ever gracious to the Oxherd.


Hymn to Hekate

Hail, many-named Mother of the Gods, whose children are fair.
Hail, mighty Hekate of the Threshold.
Shape the course of my life with luminous Light
And make it laden with good things,
Drive sickness and evil from my limbs.
And when my soul rages about worldly things,
Deliver me purified by Your soul-stirring rituals.
Yes, give me Your hand I pray
And reveal to me the pathways of divine guidance that I long for,
Then shall I gaze upon that precious Light
Whence I can flee the evil of our dark origin.
Yes, give me Your hand I pray,
And when I am weary bring me to the haven of piety with your winds.
Hail, many-named Mother of the Gods, whose children are fair.
Hail, mighty Hekate of the Threshold.
Proclus Diadochus (410-485 AD)
Hymn VI: To Hekate and Janus adapted by E A Kaufman 2008 


Invocation to Hekate

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,
She of the Saffron Robe & beautiful hair,
Nocturnal One, Keeper of the Keys,
Hekate,  hear me.
Upon this night, the path is open.
Approach the Crossroads of the Worlds and be with me.
Keeper of Ancient Wisdom,
She who guides the Souls of the Dead  across the River.
You who are
Black as Night, Red as Blood, Wise as time everlasting,
You who are the Pale Mother,
Be present at this my Hallowed Rite.
I bow to You, Lady.
With scent & flame I make offerings to You.
With honey & cider I pour a libation to You.
I have given my blood that You may know me,
Keep me,
For I am one of Your especial breed.
I bow before You, Hekate,
Come, Hear me, Know my Name,
Be with Me.
copyright 2007 E. A. Kaufman, included in Bearing Torches, A Devotional for Hekate, Bibliotheca Alexandrina


For more information:
Apollodorus' Library 1.6.2
Apollonius Rhodius' Argonautica 3.477-478, 3.528-530, 3.1035-1041,
3.1207-1224, 4.827-829
Chaldaean Oracles
Euripides' Ion 1049
Euripides' Phoenician Women 109-110
Hesiod's Theogony 409-452
Homeric Hymn to Demeter 2.25-62, 2.438-440
Lucian's Pharsalia 4.839-40
Vergil's Aeneid 4.511, 4609-610, 6.247
Papyri Graeci Magicae 36.187-210
Pausanias' Descriptions of Greece 1.43.1, 2.30.2
Theocritus' Idylls 2

Books:
Hekate in Early Greek Religion by Robert von Rudloff
Hekate Soteira: A Study of Hekate's Roles in the Chaldean Oracles and Related Literature by Sarah Iles Johnston
Bearing Torches, A devotional Anthology for Hekate  - Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Hekate, Keys to the Crossroads Edited by Sorita D'Este
Hekate, Liminal Rites by Sorita d'Este & David Rankine
Hecate: Death, Transition & Spiritual Mastery by Jade Sol Luna
Hecate ll, The Awakening of Hydra by Jade Sol Luna
Crossroads by Greg Crowfoot

Music:
Hecate - Hecate's Wheel
Hecate - Ruth Barrett
Hecate - Wendy Rule
Hecate Phantasmagoria - Jade Sol Luna
Queen of the Crossroads - Jade Sol Luna
Silver Moon, Black Shy - Jade Sol Luna

Links:
www.theoi.com/Khthonios/Hekate.html
www.homepage.mac.com/cparada/GML/Hecate.html
www.inanna.virtualave.net/hekate.html
www.hekate.timerift.net/hecate.htm
www.hermeticfellowship.org/OrphicHymnHekate.html

Hekate statue by Maxine Miller 

Blessings nine!

copyright 2008-2011 E A Kaufman

More This & That

It is a truth universally acknowledged that until a woman reaches a certain age she does not qualify for certain discounts available to her elder sisters. Dear reader, I now qualify! Yes, indeed, yesterday I reached the big 55. A "dear" friend sent me, just a few weeks ago, a completely amazing list of all the discounts one qualifies for when reaching the ripe and wise age of 55. The majority of these are not publicized, but they are available if one asks for them - such as 10% off at various chain restaurants, etc. She also sent discounts for those 65 years and older as my darling other half reached that milestone a few months ago. Friends, they are so dear to one's heart!

As some of you know, I am married to a nice Jewish guy - in fact, due to the Jewish by injection factor, many of my Jewish friends tell me I'm more Jewish than any Jew they know! Hey, when I first married I intensely studied How To Run A Traditional Jewish Home by Blu Greenberg! Of course, for years I have been working on my own version, The Witch's Guide To Managing the Pagan-Jewish Home, but that is neither here nor there. It was inevitable with so many Jewish friends and in-law relatives, I would become one of the tribe - in my own way, of course! Anyway, the point of all this, I think, is that it is with delight that I discovered, from one of the many Jane Austen blogs I read, a new version of Pride and Prejudice - P & P, The Jewess and the Gentile by Lev Raphael! As the author says on his webpage, http://www.levraphael.com/pride-and-prejudice-jewess.html, get ready for Pride and Prejudice and brisket! (Now that's cute!) Our lovely heroine, Lizzy, is a nice Anglo-Jewish gal with attitude, Mrs. Bennet is a Jewish mother and Mr. Darcy is himself. Can it work? I immediately ordered it on my Nook - how could I resist? If it turns out to be as hilarious as described, I will order a hard copy for my collection of JA take-offs. I am beside myself - yes, again!

In other, less mundane news, Hekate's Night is the 13th and a full moon. We are planning a major ritual, of course. Since our little coven is dedicated to Her, this is a major celebration. I know many devotees around the world will be celebrating as well which will make for an energetically intense event. I will be posting a simple ritual to honor Hekate in a few days for those who wish to celebrate but have not done so before.

Later in the month, coinciding with the New Moon, I will begin a monthly women's gathering for discussion, meditation and even a little magick focusing on  the Divine Feminine. We will meet at Nature's Emporium in Coral Springs, Florida on Tuesday, August 30th at 7: 30 PM. If you are in the area and are interested in joining us, please see our Facebook page for further updates: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Natures-Emporium/102956843131674

And now, after a day of napping, reading, talking on the phone and saying thank you on Facebook to all my family and buds who sent birthday wishes, it is time to take a few stitches to complete my day. I napped so much I'm wide awake! A cup of tea and some stitching is just the thing to relax. Perhaps a little music too, via iPod, so as not to disturb my other half. Yes, that does sound perfect.

Sweet dreams and...

Blessings nine!

Her (Jane Austen) needlework, both plain and ornamental was excellent,

and she might have put a sewing machine to shame.

She was considered especially great in satin stitch.

James Edward Austen-Leigh, 1871

Bountiful Blessings

Bountiful blessings to all at this first harvest. 

May Demeter richly nourish and sustain you in all your endeavors.

Blessings nine!

Dark Moon Blessings

Another dark moon ritual lasting into the wee hours. No, it isn't the new moon, not yet, at least for me - that will happen when the first crescent appears in the sky. We dedicated our ritual to Hekate, of course, did a little divination and left offerings at the crossroads. Raven's partner prepared a lovely cassoulet, some of which served as our offering to Hekate - meat, beans, onions, garlic - along with a libation of Strega liqueur. Yes, of course we had our little nip too. We were even given a little omen - a frog jumped right across our path as we made our way to the car. There are reasons why I think this is a good omen, but I will not elaborate. I drove home in a haze, tired after a long day, reeking of incense and oil and feeling that our divinatory session was helpful and motivating.

August is around the corner. My Festival of Demeter the Bountiful on August 1st, a birthday, my 55th (can't believe it) later in the week, Hekate's Night on the 13th along with the Full Moon - how lovely! I am a true ritualist at heart so, as busy as I will be, it will be labors of love.

I would love to hear from you about how you celebrate the dark of the moon vs. the new moon.

Blessings nine!

Full Moon Blessings!

Luna, every woman's friend,

To me thy goodness condescend;

Let this night in visions see

Emblems of my destiny.

~ traditional ~

May our Lady bless your Full Moon revels!

 Blessings nine!

Scattering Rose Petals Under the Moon

courtesy of Marie's Freebies blog

It  has been a busy month and the rest of the summer looks to be the same. This week I am at the shop three days caring for the crystals and advising in my capacity as "Resident Witch" - I love my job! It seems like we were just honoring the Dark of the Moon and now, here is the Full Rose Moon, a moon I love celebrating! This is so much a women's moon, for me and mine anyway.

There are quite a few names for July's Full Moon, in fact Rose Moon may apply to June as well. In June I celebrate The Moon of Fruit and Flowering, which is a celebration I created myself. Here are some other names for July's full moon:

Summer Moon - Colonial

Hungry Ghost Moon - Chinese

Ripe Corn Moon - Cherokee

Moon of Claiming - Celtic

Mead Moon - Medieval

Buck Moon - Thomas's Old Farmer's Almanac, Algonquin Tribes

Blessing Moon - Wiccan

For our celebration of July, the main theme is the Rose Moon, but adding Claiming and Blessing as well. The altar is dressed with roses, both fresh and dried petals and buds. Rosewater to cleanse with and a special rose blend oil for anointing are also included. We invoke the Goddesses with a calling out of Their names and the energies we associate with Them and claim our power and worth with a prayer for affirmation of self-worth. Offerings, a libation and divination are included among other things.

As our coven is dedicated to Hekate, we naturally honor Her, but include other Goddesses as well, such as:

Aphrodite, Persephone, Selene, Hestia, Sulis, Rosmerta, Lilith, The Fates and Ananka. Yes, this is mixing our cultures certainly, but for this ritual, we honor ALL Goddesses, of all cultures and all women. For us, it's our Dianic/Feminist thing!

I hope you are blessed by the feminine power of the rose this full moon.

courtesy of The Graphics Fairy

Blessings nine!