Winter Magic, Day 4: Pagan Carols Songbook free download by Enthusiastica on Substack. A beautiful collection for the holiday season. There is a link in the article, 3rd paragraph after the video of the author and friend singing a beautiful rendition of The Holly and The Ivy. That happens to be my very favorite carol.
This painting represents the personification of The Stirring of the Seed, my celebration instead of Imbolc or Candlemas. My tradition doesn't resonate with these common Pagan sabbaths, so instead I celebrate something a little different. Unfortunately, the two posts where I found this beautiful image did not have an artist credit, nor could they find one. I wish I could find the artist. If anyone knows or finds it, please do share.
The Stirring of the Seed represents the coldest time of the year and the deepest withdrawal and reflection. It is the time of building our restorative energies, our self-healing at its most intense, and the strengthening of our energies to manifest and live fully.
In this painting, I see that the woman is within her power animal/totem, surrounded by other power animal spirits who assist her. Roots are, based on my intuition and experience, our deepest connection to earth, the stabilizing force of our physical lives, the richest nourishment for the lower chakras. These roots, in the painting, surround the woman. She sleeps, but is connected to deep earth, her animal and plant guides. Soon she will begin the her ascent to the light of day and evolve into the fecund earth, blossoming forth, giving of her fruit. For now, she sleeps still, but lightly, stirring slowly and gently, coming back to being.
I found this ritual in my BOS. I think I adapted it, but don't have an original source.
Hallows Ritual
You will need: Incense made of Frankincense and Myrrh or Lavender, Basil and Rosemary, 2 black candles, black altar cloth,bell, chalice of milk, dish of barley, 81 black beans for each participant, a bowl ofspring water, and a towel.
Cast your circle. Light the candles and say:
"Blessed Be thou, creature of light"
Light the incense. Bless the barley. Say:
"I bless this grain in the names of Demeter and Kore."
Invoke the Goddesses going counterclockwise. Begin with the North:
"I call upon rich-haired Demeter, Mother of Harvest,
Giver of Eternal Life.
Bless me with your protection, Mother,
and aid me in theserites."
Leave an offering of barley for Her. Move to the West. Say:
"I call upon Hekate, Witch-queen,
She of the crossroads who walks with Death.
Bless me with your protection, Mother,
and aid me inthese rites."
Leave an offering of barley for Her. Move to the South. Say:
"I call upon Vesta, sacred Hearth and Flame,
Guardian Goddess of home and nations.
Bless me with your protection, Mother,
and aid me inthese rites."
Leave an offering of barley for Her. Move to the East. Say:
"I call upon Isis, Black Madonna,
compassionate Queen,
whom our fore-mothers worshipped
from Asia to the Atlantic.
Bless me with yourprotection, Mother,
and aid me in these rites."
Leave an offering of barley for Her. Return to the altar. Say:
"Hail Persephone!
Queen of Earth and the underworld.
In this fading time renew our
hearts, and purify our homes."
Toss a handful of barley onto the altar, say:
"I offer this grain in thanksgiving to
Persephone, Conductor of Souls.
I ask you to lead my departed kindred
into your realms of peace."
Lay your hands over the chalice of milk and bless it by saying:
"I bless this cup in the name of Persephone,
Queen of the Dead.
Shades of my ancestors,
known and unknown,
I offer this cup in thanks,
for all your care,
and all your gifts.
Depart in peace to
your abodes in the Earth,
knowing that all is well."
Place your hands in the sign of the Yoni (a upside down triangle). Rinse your hands in the water 3 times in the water and dry. Take 9beans into your mouth. Make the sign of the Yoni again, turn aroundcounterclockwise, spit the beans out through the opening in yourhands. This a symbolic rebirth for spirits. Say:
"These I send forth.
With these beans, I redeem myself and mine."
Do this 9 times. When you have used all the beans, turn away from them and avert your eyes, giving the spirits a chance to pick themup. Keep still for the space of 13 heartbeats. Take up the bell and
ring or strike it 9 times, say after each strike:
"Shades of my ancestors depart."
Then say:
"It is done! Blessed Be!"
Thank the Goddesses and open your circle. Bury the milk and candles. Walk away without looking back.
The Death card; people are generally very uncomfortable with this card and the Death card in the tarot. In fact, it terrifies them. While death frightens most people, it also fascinates them; they want to know what happens, not just on a spiritual level, but physically - it disgusts and fascinates.
Death truly is what this card says - the eternal cycle. Without it there would be no life. I feel death feeds life - think of compost - it nourishes all life. We eat dead things; don't let the vegetarians, vegans, and raw food enthusiasts fool you, once you cut that plant, pick that fruit or nut, it is dead. Our meat comes from slaughtered animals, dead animals. I don't know of anyone who eats live animals, but I suppose they could be out there. My point is, the dead feed us so we can live.
And so the cycle begins with death. Hallows/Samhain is a celebration of death. We honor the dead, hope for messages from them. This is very much a time of release and renewal. The leaves that fall, the plants that die, the Earth Herself stills and quiets. All life returns to the womb - the beginning.
While celebrating and honoring your beloved Dead, do not forget to let go, release whatever is no longer valid in your life. Quiet yourself, let your inner self begin again, growing outward over the Winter. The real message of this card is to let go, clear away, just as our planet does. Clearing is a process that has great power, it brings us to the place where we can begin again.
Winter is the womb time, curl up and let the initiation of new things happen.
The following invocation was adapted by me from one written by Rev. Judith Lewis. She wrote it for invoking the God at Samhain. I have it in my Book of Shadows and when I reread it I thought it would make a wonderful ancestor invocation after a few changes.
While most of the Pagan world celebrates Beltane, I am celebrating and honoring Flora, Roman goddess of Spring and blossoming flowers, through May 3rd. My altar is adorned with fresh flowers and branches from my hedge. The blossoming is what is important for me, all that I desire to manifest, may it come into being, blossoming riotously, abundantly, and joyfully. To you and yours, I wish the same.
