What I've Been Up To

So... I have been quite busy with all sorts of Goddess festivals. There have been quite a few that I have been inclined to celebrate; I was really called to keeping holy these sacred days. It has been spiritually fulfilling to be so steeped in my practice as priestess. As witch, I have been kept busy as resident witch at the shop, advising and assisting folks in need, doing some readings, brewing potions and making herb blends. I do not foresee any change with that - business is brisk and I am happy as a clam.

On February 12th I celebrated the Festival of Diana as Protectress of Wildlife. I recited hymns to Her, made offerings at the hedge and lake. I also made sure my ducks had some special little cakes, the squirrels, seeds and nuts, the birds received a special seed mix and Sterling B had some lovely tuna with just a bit of tomato sauce which he loves - he was rescued from behind a Pizza Hut at about 2 months and was terribly malnourished. However, that was 14 years ago and he is healthy and still loves tomato sauce.

February 13th was my version of the Parentalia, Honoring the Ancestors. I dusted all the photos on the Ancestor Wall, placing sprigs of rosemary and some little miniature roses. I sat and remembered many good times and stories I had been told. I made a libation of my special brew which includes Strega Liqueur as well as an offering of cake and fruit.

The Festival of Ovens was celebrated on the 17th. In preparation for this, I had cleaned my oven - thank goodness it is self-cleaning! All I had to do was wipe it out after it cooled. The stove was scrubbed from bottom to top, smudged, crystals that sit on the back, cleansed, and all was consecrated. I then baked a lovely olive oil cake, keeping some for us, some for the ducks and an offering to my Goddesses.

Ariadne was honored on the 24th. I spun a bit of thread with my drop spindle - not perfect by any means, in fact, rather bumpy and uneven, but I thought it was lovely nonetheless. This was draped on the hedge after being snipped in smallish lengths, as an offering. I worked on stitching a labyrinth design as well.

February 25th is the Time of Old Women, which I believe comes to us from Morocco. It is a time to honor our elder women for their beauty, age and wisdom. I spoke with some relatives (living) then gathered all the photos of the women in my family and DH's, and also Z Budapest, Marion Green, Patricia Crowther and a few others, to create an altar. I did some divination, calling on those who have passed, requesting a sign of some sort that they were watching over me. I was granted that favor. Libation and offerings at the hedge, as usual.

Sunday, the 26th, I honored Hygeiea, Goddess of Health. Her statue resides in my kitchen behind the sink. She was bathed, anointed with lavender and rose oils and Her "home" scrubbed and made tidy. Offerings of barley and herbs - nettles, dandelion greens, fresh oregano and rosemary were placed in a dish on Her altar.


On the 28th, I took a little ride out to the Everglades and left an offering for the Nymphs and Spirits of the Land there - the Nymphs of the Wetlands. Herbs, barley and a few flowers were the offerings I made.

March 1st was my day for purification for my oracle work. A special bath and anointing of oils was followed by my special oracle tea and then the working.

The Full Moon on the 8th is my next celebration and then a little quiet until mid-month when, once again, there will be a Goddess to honor and celebrate every few days. How lovely!

In the mundane world, my mother's second back surgery, this past Thursday, seems to have been a success. After many months of terrible pain, she woke up pain free. Two of my aunts are visiting, along with my nephew, so she is well cared for and I will see her very soon. Such a relief!

I have also begun music lessons again, am stitching and weaving like a mad woman, and creating everyday. Oh... reading too. Just finished a wonderful book by Alice Hoffman, The Dovekeepers, based on the story of Masada, with an interesting cast of magical women. The reviews by Hoffman's fans are not good - too long, too boring, too much mysticism. Ignore them! I didn't want the book to end, it captivated me. I recommend it for those who can understand and absorb the magic.

And now, into the arms of the Sleeping Lady, Mother of Dreams. May our rest be peaceful and renewing, and may we be blessed with sweet dreams as She, the Mother of All Things, watches over us.

Blessings nines!

Well???

Blessings Nine!

Democratic Women Boycott House Contraception Hearing After Republicans Prevent Women From Testifying | Truthout

Please read!

Democratic Women Boycott House Contraception Hearing After Republicans Prevent Women From Testifying | Truthout

Blessings nine!

Happy Birthday, Pixie!

Happy Birthday Pixie!

Pamela Colman Smith, she was nicknamed "Pixie" and I can certainly see why in this photo, is best remembered as the artist who designed the illustrations for the Rider-Waite tarot deck. Born February 16th 1878, she passed away on September 18, 1951. She looks very much the gypsy artist here.

Although she attended Pratt Institute, studying art, she never finished her degree, but she did go on to work as a successful illustrator. It is said that her early work demonstrated a symbolism that was ahead of her time. Some of her work appeared in The Illustrated Verses of William Butler Yeats and Bram Stoker's book about the actress, Ellen Terry. She also published two of her own books, Widdicombe Fair and Vanity Fair.

(source: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pamela-Colman-Smith/109502605734565?sk=info)

I wonder if she had any idea how her work would live on? Well, I'm sure she knows now!

Blessings nine!

Love!

Judy Hall, the author of The Crystal Bible and other books about crystals, has a lovely little ritual in the back of her book for invoking love. Here, I offer a spell based on her ritual, but with a more goddess and witchy orientation.

Gather together four pieces of rose quartz (no, size doesn't  matter) as well as an amethyst. You will also need three pink candles with holders, some rose incense and an image or statue of Aphrodite, Freya or Venus - or any other goddess of love that you like; rose petals, some ground allspice and a pinch of yarrow,  a piece of chocolate will do for an offering, some red or blush wine sweetened with honey and spiced with allspice; a small pink pouch or a piece of pink fabric and some red yarn or ribbon.

Place the candles in a triangle - one at the top of your triangle, the other two at the lower points. Focus your energy and take a few deep breaths. When ready, light the incense and say:

To you, Aphrodite ( or whichever Goddess you are invoking), I make this offering of sweet smoke. May it bring you pleasure!

Scatter some of the rose petals, allspice and yarrow about the area.

Light your pink candles, one by one, beginning at the top of your pyramid. As you light each one say:

The light in my heart shines brightly for all to see!
Love, most perfect, I draw to me.

When the candles are lit, place the amethyst in the center - focus on its energies as a master healing crystal, healing your heart and all issues that may block love being a strong and healthy force in your life. Now take the rose quartz, one at a time and place at the top of the pyramid, then to the candle in the lower right hand corner, then the left hand corner, and finally, between the two lower candles.

                                    X

                            Rose Quartz

                              Amethyst

  X                                                             X

RQ                              RQ                          RQ

(X - candles)

Focus upon the stones and candles, intone this chant three times:

The love in my heart shines brightly,

Healthy and whole, it draws to me

Love that is perfect and nourishing,

For myself and for my good!

Visualize a swirling mist gathering around you, filling and healing you and your heart. Take the chocolate and some of the herbs, place them outside as an offering; take a sip of the wine and pour the remainder on the ground as a libation. As you place your offering on the ground and pour your libation, say the following:

Aphrodite, here I make an offering of chocolate and sweet wine to you. May it please you.

The remaining herbs should be placed in a pink pouch or piece of fabric tied with red yarn or ribbon - carry this in your handbag or pocket. Allow the crystals to remain in their grid and the candles to burn out. The crystals may then be placed on your altar or next to your bed. Whenever you have need, hold them, invoking their healing, loving energies.

(adaptation copyright 2012, E A Kaufman)

May love fill your life!

Blessings nine!

Aphrodite

A Web of Silk!

This is so incredible - a cape, as well as another garment, made of actual spider's silk - millions of female Golden Orb spiders and not one injured - they are released back into the wild after the silk is collected. This fabric took thousands of hours to weave and embroider, three years. Amazing and beautiful.

The spider is one of my totem animals and plays an important part in some of my magickal workings. Of course, I also weave - wouldn't I love to get my hands on some of this silk - oh the possibilities!

Enjoy!



Be sure to turn off my music player at the bottom of the page.

Blessings nine!

Celebration of Inanna

(be sure to turn off my playlist at the bottom of the page before viewing)

Today is the celebration of the Birth of Inanna. A Summerian Goddess, Her name means Queen of Heaven and She is a goddess of love, fertility and war. Her myths and stories are easily found through various books and internet search engines so I won't go into great detail here, just briefly share Her myth. What I really want to share is how I honor Inanna on this day and what She has given me.

Briefly, when Inanna descends into the Underworld to reluctantly visit her sister, Eriskegel, a sister She was not close to, it was to offer compassion and comfort.  Eriskegal's husband, in one myth, has abandoned Her; in others, He has died. She is mourning his loss, angry, suffering. As Inanna descends, She is required to leave, at each of the seven gates a piece of Her attire, Her crown and then Her clothing. She arrives at Erishkegal's throne, naked and vulnerable. Again, there are various interpretations of the myth - Eriskegel, fearing that Inanna has come to usurp Her role as the ruler of the Underworld, kills Her. In other myths, Eriskegel is so angry because Iananna has never visited Her before and, in that anger and grief, She impulsively kills Her sister. In any event, Inanna dies and Her corpse is hung at Eriskegel's throne. When Inanna does not return after three days, a servant goes to Enki, Her father, and tells Him what has happened. He creates two creatures from the dirt beneath His fingernails, sending them into the Underworld with the Food and Water of Life. They offer compassion to Erishkegel, who is comforted and grateful for this, offering them whatever they want. They ask for the corpse hanging on the wall which She gives them. They proceed to revive Inanna with the Food and Water of Life. Inanna then asks that She be allowed to return to the World and Eriskegel consents, but only if someone will return to take Inanna's place. Inanna agrees.

When She returns to the World, Inanna finds that Her own beloved husband, Dumuzi, instead of mourning Her, has usurped Her throne. In Her anger She sends him to the Underworld to take Her place. However, as She considers this and calms Herself, She realizes that She has made a mistake and wants him back. Eriskegel has also had time to consider and realizes that Inanna had come to visit to offer comfort, so She agrees to release Dumuzi, but because the Underworld is what it is, he can only return home for half the year. Each year Inanna must return to Eriskegel's world to revive him, renew Her own vitality and return to the Earth each Spring to bring fertility and life to the Land.

There are many lessons in Inanna's myths. At this time, in celebration of Her birth, I embrace the Winter to make my own descent into the Underworld and within myself. I make a conscious effort to cast off seven issues that I may be over-focusing on, allowing them to be released for a time, setting them into the Earth to lay sleeping. I then recovered them, renewed and revitalized, even changed in whatever way needs changing, later in the Spring.

At times I need to just stop, let go and stop worrying. This ritual assists me in doing this. These issues are not issues that must be permanently released, but issues that need restoration, ideas that need revitalization. In Inanna's honor I do this as She is wise, inspiring and knowing. Perhaps She left Her myth as an offering for our healing and regeneration. Perhaps that is nature of all goddess myths.

Blessings nine!

Happy New Year!

Blessings to all for a magickal and joyful

New Year!

Blessings nine!

Solstice Thoughts

I need some sprinklings of healing magick. Every year, after the big days - the Solstice, Christmas Eve and Christmas, I feel this let down. This year is a bit worse - the autumn and Yuletide season just flew by leaving me rushing along behind, never quite catching up.

I'm not alone in these feelings. I've spoken to many folks who feel the same and there are a lot of them out there - where did the time go? Is it that we are older? Is it the fear of 2012 that so many seem to have? I personally have no issues with 2012 because I know exactly what happened with that calendar!

 So... this can't be the problem. ; ) What's going on? Just weird energy swirling around us? I don't know, but what I do know is that this will pass and I will be back to my old, feisty, effervescent self in no time at all. And that's the name of that tune!!!

In other news - and there seems to be plenty - I continue working on my project, A Book of Artes and Charms. I have three gals that want to be students/apprentices and I've decided with my magickal partner that we shall take them on. This is something that we really hadn't been interested in before, but these gals are just the right ones. They have that excitement and enthusiasm, the "I just can't wait" energy, it's quite lovely. Multiple tarot readings have been encouraging this path over the last eight months, so here we go. In addition, my partner and I will continue our "inner court" workings.

Stitching wise, well, I have not two, but three large projects just starting: Sampler Sisters of the Thread as mentioned before and only one line done, Autumn At Hawk Run Hallow not yet started but being carried everywhere I go, just in case, and A Marriage by Lizzie Kate. A Marriage will be stitched in time for our 32nd wedding anniversary at the end of May. I saw this on line, called my local shop and found that they had it. I scooted right over there to pick up the chart which comes with all the threads. It calls for 32 count Lambswool linen which I just happen to have an abundance of. The DH drove over with me which was a good thing as I left my wallet at home!!! However, that curtailed my shopping spree a bit. This is very different from what I usually stitch. I prefer traditional or primitive type designs, reproductions of antique samplers - that sort of thing. This one is much more modern looking, to me, but the verse is exactly what my DH and I always say about our marriage. So.... onward stitches! Of course there are a few smalls thrown in for a break such as "Cake For Jane Austen" by The Sampler Girl and a some others from various magazines and on-line freebies. I really plan to knuckle under and not buy anymore charts - well except the two whizzing there way from Europe, oh and Last Stitch Cemetery by Hinzeit - so adorable, I just couldn't resist, LOL, but it  isn't quite the New Year yet so it's all good. No comments from the peanut gallery, hehehe!

In any event, our Christmas Eve and Christmas day were both quiet, just the two of us and it was quite lovely. Christmas Eve dinner was spinach dip on crackers, pigs in a blanket and mini bagel pizzas along with homemade egg nog, shortbread and fudge for dessert. We then lit the fire and sat side by side, rocking, chatting and dozing a little, Sterling B at our feet. Christmas Day we slept in a bit, exchanged a couple of gifts, relaxed and chatted on the phone with relatives. Not a bad holiday although I did miss my Christmas Eve open house. Oh well, maybe next year, but we shall see. I really enjoyed just the three of us.

I hope much magick was had by all of you and you enjoyed yourselves. May the New Year be a wonderful one!

Blessings nine!