Summertime

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So here we are once again around the wheel to summer, with her heat and sunshine and summer storms. Long days at lake or ocean. Everything is in bloom, foliage is the green green of growth, and there’s magick all around.

As we close in on the Summer Solstice, Midsummer, many people turn their minds to the Fae and their magick. I found this collection of fairy herbs on line purported to be from a 17th grimoire. I can’t prove that, but perhaps you will find it interesting.

FAIRY HERBS AND THEIR CHARMS

This is supposed to be from a 17th century work 

from http://pjentoft.com/fairy-herbs1.html

                               * Bluebells * 
 

to attract faeries to dance in your garden. On Beltane eve, make an  ankle braclet of "Bluebells" and "jingle" bells to attract helpful fae  folk to  you.

                                  * Clover *

 A sacred faery plant, clovers of all kinds will attract them. Lay seven  grains of wheat on a four-leafed clover to see the Faery.
 
                               

                               * Elderberry * 


 Used to make Faery wine, these berries can be burned on a fire to invite  the Good Folk to a gathering. Make a homemade brew of Elderberry Wine 
 and you are sure to have some thirsty visitors. It is said that if a  human  drinks the wine, she will be able to see the Faery. If a human should  drink  Elderberry wine from the same goblet as a Faery being, he will be able  to  see them forever after. 

                             * Elecampagne * 


Also known as Elfswort. This root can be scattered around the home to  attract the Sidhe. It can be added to any magick or spell to invoke  Faery  blessing. 

                             * Foxglove * 
 

The source of the modern heart drug Digitalis, Foxglove can have  seriously dangerous results if taken internally. DO NOT INGEST!!  Instead, 
 plant Foxglove near your front door to invite the Faery in. Put a dried  sprig  of Foxglove in a talisman to keep you surrounded in Faery light. 

                          * Heather * 
 

Heather is said to ignite faery passions and open portals between their  world and our own. Make an offering of Heather on "Beltane" eve to  attract good fae to your garden

 

                               * Lilac * 
 

The sweet scent is said to draw Fae spirits to your garden. Lilac and  primroses for midsummers eve, will please the Fae. 

                             * Mistletoe * 
 

The most sacred herb of the Druids. Mistletoe is a magickal activator.  In  Faery spells, use a dash of Mistletoe taken on Summer Solstice to  empower your workings with Faery magick.

 

                              * Milkweed * 


Both Monarch butterflies and fairies like milkweed. If Milkweed is  planted  in a Witches garden, the fey will always be in the area. The silky  tassels of the  milkweed pods can be added to a dream pillow to not only make it softer but also to make you dream of fairies. In the Autumn when the  pods are bursting and the fluffy seeds are flying across the fields, a  wish is  granted for each seed that can be caught and then released again. 

                              * Peony * 


Peony seeds were once used to protect children from faeries. A garland  of  the seeds were placed around the child's neck to keep them safe.

 

                            * Poppies * 
 

Said to invoke the faery into your dreams Make a dream pillow of fresh  poppies to entice the fae to your dreams. 

                                 * Primrose *

 When planted in a garden or hung dried on the front door, primroses will  attract the company of Faeries. If you have them growing under your  care,  do not let them die! The Faery will be deeply offended by your  carelessness. Primroses are great in container gardens. Tie a pink ribbon  around your container of Primroses while chanting; "Sacred roses, hear my cry 
 for your protection, this I tie"
 
                                

                                    * Roses *

 
Roses attract the Faery to a garden. Their sweet scent will lure 
elemental  spirits to take up residence close by. Roses can be used in Faery love spells. When performing the spell, sprinkle rose petals under your feet  and  dance softly upon them while asking the Faery for their blessing on your  magick. 
 Roses are loved by the fey so you can plant Roses in your garden to  attract fairies. Wild Roses are best for this purpose.    Say  the following spell as you plant your baby Rose bush:

 "I ask a fairy from the wild, 
 To come and tend this wee rose-child. 
 A babe of air she thrives today, 
 Root her soul in the Goddesses' good clay. 
 Fairies make this twig your bower, 
 By your magic shall time see her flower!"

                                  * Thyme *

 Wearing thyme will increase your ability to see the Sidhe. Sprinkle it  at the  base of your door, and on window sills to invite the Faery to enter your  home.

                                 *********

Now… before you go on and sprinkle and call, be sure, very sure, that you really want the Fae around. They can cause much mischief, even problems, and are very difficult to get rid of. 

Blessings dark and bright!

 

                              

 

La Befana’s Night

Tonight, Epiphany Eve, is the night when La Befana 

visits. So put up your stocking and maybe she will leave a treat… if you’ve been good!

I’ve read a couple of versions of Befana’s story. One is that she was cleaning her home when the three wise men traveled by and told her about the birth of Jesus. They invited her to come along with them, but she declined because she had so much to do. They went on their way and she continued her cleaning. However, the more she thought of it, the more she thought she should go. Befana packed gifts for the baby Jesus and went to catch up with the wise men, but she couldn’t find them. She gave her gifts instead to all good little children, leaving coal for the bad ones. It is said she is still looking for the baby.

This Christmas witch, little old lady, holds a special place in my heart. A very long time ago I read that before Santa Claus, it was an old woman who delivered goodies on the Winter Solstice. I like that so I am sure to light a candle and leave a glass of wine for her on January 5th. Sometimes a goddess or spirit speaks to us and we’re not sure why. That seems to be the case for me. 

Do you honor Befana? Leave a little wine as an offering tonight. Maybe she will leave some sort of treasure for you.

Befana comes at night 

In tattered shoes

Dressed in Roman style

On her sage broomstick

Long live the little granny.

Long live the Befana!

The Befana comes at night

In worn-out shoes.

For the small, little children 

she leaves a lot of little chocolates,

For the bad little children, 

she leaves ashes and coal.

Long live the Befana!

Blessings dark and deeps!

New Year Blessings

I am but a thread witch

Casting magick with a stitch. 

Every embroidered piece a spell

With my magick laid well.

May my needle stay shiny

Truly a witch’s wand of light

And my stitches cast their magick

Every thread a charm bright.

C E A Kaufman 1/1/2024

 

Here’s to a year of lots of stitching, 

good health, happiness, peace, and magick!

And it is so!

🧵🧙🏻‍♀️🪡

Winter Solstice Blessings

 

A Merry Solstice and many blessings to all!

Winter Mother, 

help us grow as you need us to.

Winter Mother, 

Show us the way through the dark,

show us what we are here to do.

We are growing, 

We are changing, 

on this darkest night,

We are growing, 

We are changing, 

in our darkest place.

Blessings dark and deep!

Mother Night

 

December 20, Mother Night, Yule Eve

The Winter Solstice, 2023 is December 21, at 10:27 PM. On the night before Yule (approximately) a Germanic/Scandinavian Midwinter festival known as The Mother Night (or Modresnach) was observed. It was believed that dreams on this night foretold events in the upcoming year. Many of its traditions live on modern Christmas celebrations. The decorated evergreen tree was a symbol of the Tree of Life, or World Tree. The star atop the tree represented the pole star of the Star Goddess. The dinners and gifts were in honor of the food and prosperity given by the Mother Goddesses to their human children. The elves connected with our current Santa Claus are remnants of the supernatural Nature folk of the Old Religion. The reindeer are symbols of old shamanic abilities used by the people. The mistletoe is said to have first been picked and used to collect kisses by the Goddess Frigg, before it became a weapon to kill her son.

So that is the Germanic/Scandinavian mythology. I have no note as to the source of the above, other than I found it a while ago on line. 

For myself, I like to include and honor all the mother goddesses, my own mother, friends and family mothers, grandmothers. I light candles, quite a lot of them, make hot cocoa, eat cookies as well as offering them, and reminisce. I say prayers to the Mother goddesses and honor women and how our bodies are made to give birth. I also honor the maternal in us all, whether or not we have children. So many of us who chose not to be mothers have come through our lives as very strong nurtures. That was our calling and an important one it is. So after honoring all the mothers, goddesses and humans, I honor myself as well.

May the Mother Goddesses bless you all and encompass you and yours with love and blessings!

Blessings dark and deep!

Settling Into Winter

 We will be celebrating the Winter Solstice in a few days, also known as Midwinter. For me, it always feels as if this is just the beginning of winter. Yes, the solstice is the longest night and the days begins to  increase in length, but long nights are still with us and Mama Earth is still holding all in rest.

Many people I speak to wish the days were longer, and seasonal depression is a real issue for many. I use to suffer from it myself. Now however, I relish this time of year, I settle into this time, especially once the holidays are over. Winter comes to me as a time of rest, restoration, and renewal.

I read the term “wintering” a few days ago and thought, ah yes, that is the perfect term for me when I think of how to describe what I feel. I have begun my wintering! 

This is my hibernation time. A time of allowing seeds of thoughts, feelings, healing to come into being. Those seeds incubate and deepen so they can be developed or discarded. My personal spiritual practices deepen and I allow myself to journey and meditate, and connect with the goddesses and spirits as much as I need to. 

Creative work, journaling, cogitating, and oracle work, these are what I do more freely and with greater appreciation for the processes. I just let myself restore and renew. By doing this, settling into and appreciating my wintering, I find great peace. Perhaps part of it is aging and understanding. I don’t know. I also realize this isn’t so for everyone, but for me I have found it to be so healing. 

I wish you a wintering of healing and peace.

Blessings dark and deep!

Welcome December

We’ll here we are in December already. November was a busy time for me and yes, December will be too, but… I’m settling in cozily and slowing myself, my mind. There is much to do, it will slowly, gently, easily get done.

I am writing our Winter Solstice ritual, falling back into a gentle spiritual practice without rules, no agenda. I’m just letting it happen as it will. Guidance is available on so many levels, the right way for me is just falling into place. For me, this is how it feels best.

So… I light a candle, say a prayer, let the magick flow. 

Blessings dark and deep.

 

Pomona

Pomona

 I am the ancient apple queen,

As once I was so am I now.

Forever more a hope unseen,

Betwixt the blossom and the bough.

- William Morrison -

November 1st is the Pomonia, the ancient Roman celebration of Pomona. She is the goddess, spirit, or nymph of fruit trees, orchards, most especially the sacred apple. Pomona is also known to be a goddess of love spells and other enchantments. She is transformation, making things sweeter, and death. Her main tool is the pruning knife. Apples are sacred to Her and are useful for magick, especially love magick. 

I always honor Pomona on November 1st. I generally make a lusciously moist and spiced apple cake, a recipe I found as a young bride in the early 1980s, making it ever since. A piece of this, some apple slices spiced and drizzled with honey, an apple decorated with cloves, and some shelled almonds and walnuts are left under my hedges as an offering to Her. A libation of apple cider is poured onto the ground for Her. I light a lovely Crystal Journey Apple Pie candle and ask Her blessings for sweetness in my life. Then we dig in to a nice piece of apple cake and sip some cider to the soft glow and lovely scent of the candle.

Blessings dark and deep!

Hallows Everyday 31

Hallows Blessings!

May the Great Mother

And all the Goddesses

Bless you and yours.

May your Ancestors 

Watch over and guide you.

May your life be filled with

Magick, enchantment, and love.