Full Moon Blessings

 

The Full Moon arrives and I shall sit in my little garden beneath the oak tree that overhangs my patch and watch Her shine through the branches and leaves. Such a blessing to absorb the light of the moon, Her magick, Her blessings. Here is a little blessing I was inspired to write earlier.

Full Moon Blessings to all I give,

May all your dreams and wishes live.

The Great Mother’s love fills and surrounds,

Her peace, protection, and prosperity abounds.

As Her lantern shines tonight,

May we all be guided by peace, love, and light. 

C 2026 EA Kaufman 

And speaking of my little patch of garden, I discovered that one of the plants is Twoleaf Nightshade, with berries right now. Yes, it is poisonous and it is considered an invasive weed. Now every witch needs at least one poisonous plant just… well, because. And as for weeds, they are wildflowers!!! Anyway, an exciting find for me. I was quite delighted. 

So, enjoy the full moon, get out there and bathe in Her light for a little blessing of moon energy. 

Blessings dark and light!

Feast of Mary Magdalene 2026

 

Art: The Shepherdess by Baraka Berger

Mary of Magdala, I remember You.

As I remember You, I honor You,

As I honor You, I invite You to join me here

In my sacred place.

Please share Your wisdom and blessings 

As I travel new roads in my journey.

Hail Magdalene, Heroine among women.

This year I remember Mary Magdalene and honor Her with ritual on my own, no coven, just me in a new place, and on a new journey. It has been a tough ride, and an exciting one too. While I mourn my old life, my old path, I am traveling a new one, incorporating a mystical, feminist Judaic way as part of my journey. I am still Her priestess, Hecate, the Great Mother, the Great Goddesses, the Shekhinah, just adding this new dimension. 

As a non-Jew married to a Jewish man for forty-six years, I have helped my husband celebrate his spiritual life, celebrating the holidays, observing Shabbat and lighting the candles for many years. I recently underwent conversion for very personal reasons and because we have become more observant. This observance has helped me through some difficult life changes. It is simply another branch of my spiritual life that has given me great healing. Very conservative and Orthodox Jews will not understand this, but as always, I go on my way.

Mary Magdalene has long been a guiding light for me, a strong Jewish woman. She navigated change, loss, and making a new way. She  has always brought comfort over many years, but more so this year. So, again, as in past years, I take time to remember and honor Her, taking strength in this connection I have to Her.

I call to You, Magdalene, Holy Vessel, Wise Teacher, 

She who holds the red egg and the alabaster jar.

She who was and remains a great teacher.

She who witnessed a great mystery.

She who had the strength of faith beyond others.

She who bravely stood up for Her beliefs.

She who was blessed with wisdom from Spirit.

She who heals the spirit of all who ask.

She who washes away my sorrows. 

She who anoints me with her blessings.

She who is with me and gives guidance and love.

She who is with me whenever I have need.

I honor You, Magdalene, Shining Light of Love.

Mary, called Magdalene,

You who are faith, healing, and wisdom,

You who are Beloved of Yeshua.

I humbly come before you searching.

I ask for your eyes that I may see,

Your ears that I may hear,

Your wisdom that I may know,

Your heart that I may love,

Your feet that I may walk the pathways of truth,

Your hands that I may serve.

Grant me this request, Lady Magdalene.

Let me be like you, 

that I may become fully self-actualized,

Realizing the fulfillment of my Soul’s purpose in this life:

To know love.

To be love.

To serve on behalf of love;

And if it be ordained as such,

That I serve this love, as you did,

In the company of my own Beloved,

be this partner or Higher Self.

I ask this in your name.

So may it be.

C 2017 E A Kaufman,

Adapted from Prayer to the Magdalene by Lauri Ann Lumli

                                                   The Divine Feminine Oracle by Meggan Watterson

A Simple Yule Ritual

This Yule Ritual is simple, Goddess-centered/Dianic, and can be adjusted for solitary or group gatherings. The original version is by Geraldine Andrew, who included it in a Dianic Wheel of the Year series.

The ritual space should be decorated for the season, as you like. Place four white candles at the quarters and another white candle on the altar. Other candles may be placed on the altar, your preferred colors to represent any goddesses you choose to honor.

Purify and bless the space, altar, and each other, then cast your circle and call the quarters in your preferred manner. Call the Goddesses while holding hands and chanting this three times, then lighting the Goddess candles:

Old Wise One, Shining Silver Hag, Dark Mother, 

Take us in.

Old Wise One, Shining Silverq Hag, Dark Mother,

Let us be reborn.

(By Patricia Witt, adapted)

Everyone now sits down to prepare their “giveaways” - words, sachets of herbs, or objects that symbolize what each woman wants or needs to release, let go of. Paper and pens should be available. Each woman should have prepared any other item she would wish to include in advance as her giveaway and brought with her. Alternatively, with herbs available, something may be made, again focusing on what needs to be released. Herbs for releasing, a cauldron with prepared charcoal, should also be available.

Focus energy on the letting go while tapping, clapping, drumming, or using rattles or sistrums in the background as each woman prefers. When ready you may chant the following as many times as needed or wanted:

To die and be reborn,

Cleansed and purified,

During the longest night 

As the Wheel of the Year turns,

We now release what no longer serves us.

(Reclaiming Community, amended)

Women now may speak out words or sentences of

that which they need to release. They will also light the papers that they have written on on fire and toss into a cauldron at the center of the altar. 

The Hag, Dark Mother, Old One is now invoked into one woman to finish the releasing by cutting all ties to 

what has been released. The Hag will go to each woman to receive the giveaway item. In turn the Hag gives the woman a boline to hold, feel, to connect with the Hag. She then returns the boline to the Hag who then draws three Xs over the woman’s head.

The Hag then embraces each woman.

Meditation 

Divination- we generally have everyone draw one oracle card and give interpretations, discussion.

Farewell to the Goddesses

Farewell to the Elements 

Open the Circle & Feast

Blessings dark and deep!

21 Days of the Winter Solstice 20

Solstice Spirits in the cauldron sing,

Dance your magick and to us bring,

Abundant blessings from your fire bright

We gather the magick in the burning light!

copyright 2016 E A Kaufman 

The spirits showed themselves in the cauldron's fire during our Winter Solstice rite.

Blessings dark and deep!

all photo copyright Michelle Price 2016

21 Days of the Winter Solstice 16

For your Winter Solstice ritual place a large red candle in your cauldron, better it have three wicks if you can find one. During the ritual, in darkness with the exception of the altar candles, sit or stand at the cauldron. Peer into its dark depths while contemplating the past year and your dedication to your Arte and the goddesses. When you have finished your contemplations, say these words:

I sorrow not, though the world is wrapped in sleep.

I sorrow not, though the icy winds blast.

I sorrow not, though the snow falls hard and deep.

I sorrow not, this too shall soon be past.

Now light the candle and some Winter Pine or Pinon incense. Gaze briefly into the flames and then above at the night sky. Say these words:

I light this fire in Your honor, Great Crone,

You who watch over all who rest in the Winter's depths.

You welcome the dead and then

You fill the Mother's womb with life.

Warmth to cold to warmth again,

Around and round the cycle of life flows.

We welcome now life and light,

The gifts of the Goddesses.

Hail the Maiden, born this night.

Hail the Mother, who births the light.

Hail to the Great Crone, 

She who guides all through the cycles of life. 

So mote it be!

Now dance, drum, shake rattles, and sing as you circle the cauldron and pay homage to all of the

Goddesses. Chant this while circling until exhausted:

The wheel turns, power burns!

Continue your ritual, feast and make merry!

Adapted from a Yule ritual by Scott Cunningham,

in Wicca, A Guide For the Solitary Practitioner

Blessings dark and deep!

21 Days of the Winter Solstice 7

‘Demeter Mourning for Persephone’ by Evelyn De Morgan

December 7th is the annual rite of the Haloia of Demeter. It was performed in ancient Greece each year to honor the Goddess Demeter, who in mourning for the loss of Her daughter, Persephone, wanders the earth searching for Her. Demeter, in Her sorrow, refuses to bless the Earth with fertility therefore bringing Winter to the world. All crops, trees, and plants cease to bloom without those blessings and the world becomes still and mourns with Her. We also remember that Winter will pass and Persephone will return to Her mother in the Spring. In Her joy, Demeter will once again bestow Her blessings of earthly fertility and abundance upon the earth. The wheel turns and the cycle of life goes on.

I honor Demeter Melaina and Her Haloia with a simple ritual. I begin by lighting a bayberry tealight or votive candle and some incense, usually a blend of balsam, pomegranate, and pine in honor of the season. I spend some time feeling Demeter's loss and considering my own loses from the past year, acknowledging them and letting them go as best I can, knowing life goes on, the feelings these engender will pass. Yes, life will indeed go on. When my contemplations are finished, I recite the following invocation, then make offerings at my hedge of bread and honey, and a libation of a spiced and sweetened herbal brew. I allow the candle to burn itself out.

Invocation to Demeter Melaina*

The Land lies barren as You search, dark and sorrowing. 

Your great powers of creation draw inward. 

Field and meadow lie fallow. You mourn. 

For She who was born from Your womb has descended. 

She is no longer by Your side. 

But from Thee, Melaina, and Thy Shadows shall compassion arise! 

In the darkness, in solitude, alone in Your fragrant temple, 

Life gives birth to understanding, to the cycle of life,  

To change and transformation, birth, youth, maturity. 

In compassion You descend into the Underworld, 

Your blessings, healing all realms, are bestowed upon Your Daughter. 

O Blessed art Thou, Holy One, 

Great praises to both the fallow and the dark, the womb and tomb. 

All honor to You Mother of Bounty, 

Hear me, know my name, be with me!

* adapted from the Prayer for Demeter Melaina found in

The Mysteries of Demeter: Rebirth of the Pagan Way by Jennifer Reif.

Blessings dark and deep!

Hallows Everyday - 4

Remembering To Remember

This is the time of year when the veil between the worlds is thinest. Our Ancestors and other spirits are easier to communicate with. This is the time when we should remember those gone past the veil more so than any other. Ancestor veneration is not so common, we remember them occasionally, yet most of the time we forget them. We need to think about that, why are we afraid to remember? Why would we forget? We all will be Ancestors one day. None of us wishes to be forgotten.

If you begin a regular practice of remembering your Ancestors now, keeping to it through this Hallows season, it will likely stay with you through the rest of the year. It will become a daily or weekly practice. Simply lighting a candle, speaking their names, and spending a moment with them can be enough. Of course, more elaborate devotions are beautiful too.

If you've had difficulty communicating or connecting with them before, at this time they will hear you easily and you will hear them as you have not heard them before. This is the time, make it so.

To the Ancestors in the Scrapbook
by Ashleen O’Gaea

On the simple grey pages of history,
your pictures are framed in unconscious confidence
that someone will remember your names,
and your faces will shadow in another generation’s light.
You are young in your pictures and earnest: 
you accepted your duties, lit your candles.
Dearly departed, you are present in us in the usual course of Nature:
you begat us, you were our primal seas. 
Cryogenitors, you are frozen,
your breath and years caught in single crystals affixed to this page.
You are still real.
But I have so short a memory of you
that the fraction must comprise the whole.
You are real; you are real among
faeries and gods;
you are the muses and ghosts beyond our pale and ken. 
You are the few moments of your life
that someone photographed.
You are in them, truly:
these are the moments that eternally reveal you, 
reveal what your lives meant.
Our blood courses on.
Flesh becomes photograph, effect becomes legend, 
and you are still real.
I too will be real some day,
on the simple grey pages of history. 


from the anthology
Calling to Our Ancestors
Edited by Sarenth Odinsson, available as download or paperback at
http://www.asphodelpress.com/book.html?title=calling-to-our-ancestors

Blessings dark and deep!

30 Days of Devotion - 12

Day 12 - Places Associated With Hekate and Her Worship

Lagina, Temple of Hekate David Morgan

There are not many temples for Hekate, but there are many sacred places, places where we can find Her if we know where to look.

In Lagina, part of Caria, was a temple to Hekate. The ruins still stand. I can only imagine the sacred energy I would feel there if I should ever visit it. 

In Argos, the chief city of Argolis, there was a sanctuary for Eilethyia. Pausanias in his Description of Greece says this: "Over against the sanctuary of Eilethyia is a temple of Hekate [the goddess probably here identified with the apotheosed Iphigeneia], and the image is a work of Skopas. This one is of stone, while the bronze images opposite, also of Hekate, were made respectively by Polykleitos and his brother Naukydes."

Hekate's worshipers, and therefore I assume there were shrines of some sort, were also found in Thessalia (Pherai - honoring Her as Brimo Trimorphos), Zerinthyia Mountain and Cave of Samothrake, among others.

But what if we get away from Greece and Thrace? What do we find in our own time, in our own places? 

Hekate is know as a Goddess of Liminal Spaces, those places where time and energy shifts. Doorways, gateways, caves. Even places like my hedge where I can feel the change as I walk through the opening in the hedge... I am not in the same place... I can feel Her there. I can feel Her at the waters edge at the lake behind my home. I can feel Her at the opening of my hearth. All of these are liminal spaces where Hekate has repeatedly been called, honored, and therefore, they are Her sacred places. 

Just as the  "Athenians . . . in their own houses . . . constructed in the porch . . . altars of Hecate . . . before every door." (Aristophanes, Wasps 799 ff (trans. O'Neill) (Greek comedy C5th to 4th B.C.), and at temples as well,  so too do I. Her statue and other items for Her are kept at my front door for protection, yes, but also so She knows that, in my home, She is honored before all others.

Blessings Nine!

30 Days of Devotion - 8

Day 8 - Choose an Aspect of the Deity and How You Honor That Aspect

Hekate Kourotrophos

artist unknown, if anyone knows, please comment.

Today was supposed to have been "Variations on this deity (aspects, regional forms, etc.)," however I felt this was repeating Day 6 so I have changed my post. 

I am a woman who chose, with my husband, not to have children. I am not gushy about children, but babies are very sweet and cute, I love to hold and talk to them until they become fussy, then I hand them back to their mamas, LOL. That being said, when a child needs healing, protection, whatever, I am right there to assist in whatever capacity is needed. 

One of Hekate's epithets is Kourotrophos, Child-Nurse, Guardian of Children. I have been calling on this aspect over the past year more often than usual due to some little ones who were sick, a friend's new little girl for whom we did a Mother Blessing, and another friend who's granddaughter was born 5 weeks early. 

I sent Reiki to mamas and babies a few times a week. In addition, for the baby girls, I would light three small candles, a white, a pale pink, and a pale lavender, then place the candles before one of my Hekate statues. I took myself into trance and journeyed to the ocean and requested Hekate's presence. She always came to me, standing at the waters edge, the gentle waves moving over Her feet. I asked for a healthy and gentle entrance into our earthly realm, and healing for mama. I them returned from trance, made my prayers of gratitude, then took offerings and a libation to my hedge.

One little girl made her entrance just when she should, healthy, and is thriving. The other little gal decided she wanted to make her entrance 5 weeks early. Her weight was normal, but there were a few little issues which are resolving and she will be going home very soon. All is well, but then I expected nothing less from the ultimate nurse and protectress. Hail Hekate Kourotrophos!

Blessings Nine!

Invocation of the Circle

I love this circle invocation by Doreen Valiente, found in "Witchcraft, A Tradition Renewed" by Doreen and Evan John Jones. I'm always writing, rewriting, and searching out invocations, prayers, quarter calls, for my circles. I like to change it up all the time. This is a favorite.

Invocation of the Circle

By stang and cauldron, cup and knife,

By right of office that I hold,

Ye ancient powers of death and life,

Forgather to the circle's fold.

Kinship to kinship, blood to blood,

By wild night wind and starry sky,

By heathland brown and darkling wood,

To this our circle now draw nigh.

In likeness of a henge of stone,

Stand guard around this circle's rim,

While looming through the dark alone,

Stands in the east the Hele-stone dim.

I summon forth the fairy hounds,

Sharp-fanged, white-coated, red of ear,

To prowl beyond the circle's bounds,

And put intruders' hearts in fear.

Ancestral powers of this our blood,

We are your people, guard us well,

By earth and air, by fire and flood,

By magic mime and spoken spell.

Our craft's own Goddess I invoke,

And Ancient Ones of hill and mound.

With fire aflame and drifting smoke,

I dedicate this circle's bound.

By three times three,

Thus shall it be!

~Doreen Valiente, Witchcraft: a Tradition Renewed~

Hallows Everyday 24

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 of spring 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 these rites."

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 in these 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 in these 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 your protection, 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 9 beans into your mouth. Make the sign of the Yoni again, turn around counterclockwise, spit the beans out through the opening in your hands. 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 them up. 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.

Blessings dark and deep!

Hallows Everyday 21

Threshold Invocation For 

The Festival of Samhain

Stand at the open front door of your home

on Hallows/Samhain Eve, October 31,

after sunset, holding a lit candle dedicated

to the season. Recite this invocation:

Grandmother Wisdom, open the door,

Grandfather Council, come You in.

Let there be welcome to the ancient lore,

Let there be welcome to the Winter of the Year.

In cold and darkness, You are traveling,

Under crystal skies You will arrive.

May  the blessed time of Samhain (Hallows)

Clarify the soul of all beings,

Bringing joy and wisdom to revelation.

From the depths to the heights,

From the heights to the depths,

In the cave of every soul.

(invocation by Caitlin Matthews,

from Celtic Devotional, Daily Prayers & Blessings)

Make a libation of spiced, sweet apple cider

and an offering of apple cake to the Spirits of

the Land, your Ancestors, and the Goddesses.

Blessings dark and deep!

Hallows Everyday 16

An Herbal Ritual For Remembering the Dead

This ritual may be performed on or near Hallows/Samhain or when

someone you know passes. I found this on the internet years ago, but

no author was listed; I have made a few adaptations. 

If you cannot obtain some of the herbs, simply use 

another with similar properties and make the 

change in the prayer.

Gather the following for the ritual:

A tea light for each person to be remembered

rose petals, bay, oregano, parsley, elder,

rosemary, basil

Cast your circle using rose petals and rosemary to define it.

Be sure to clear the space well beforehand. 

Arrange the tea lights on your altar along with photos

or other remembrances of the dead.

Light a tea light and call the name of the person 

you are honoring.

Stand at your altar and  recite this prayer:

The wheel of life turns,

The cycle of life continues.

Those beyond life, beyond the veil,

You are remembered today.

Gifts of love and hope

are offered with love and honor.

To those I remember,

To those I do not,

to all those I have lost.

Hekate, guide them home with Your torches.

Persephone, take them in Your gentle embrace.

My dead You have taken,

The Fates have cut their threads,

And now spin and weave the threads anew.

May the wheel turn and begin again.

I give freely these herbal offerings,

May they be acceptable and assist you.

(as you recite, scatter the herb to the wind)

Rose petals for love,

Elder to guide your journey,

Bay for strength,

Parsley for honor,

Basil for peace,

Oregano for happiness,

and Rosemary for remembrance.

So mote it be!

Sit now and remember your beloved dead.

Let the peace of the ritual embrace you. Perhaps

perform some divination to receive a message.

Let the candles burn out. Open your circle.

(adapted from a ritual found on the internet, author unknown)

Blessings dark and deep!

Festival of Mater Matuta

Tomorrow, June 11, is the Festival of Mater Matuta. She is a Roman goddess of fertility and childbirth, motherhood, growth, and the raising of children. She has been associated with other goddesses, most notably Aurora, but this was because of something written by the Roman poet, Lucretius. She was worshiped widely throughout the Roman Empire and a temple was built in Her honor in Rome.

There is some conflicting information about how Mater Matuta was honored. I have read that only women who were married for the first time could participate in Her rites. The women also could only pray for their sisters' children and not their own. Interesting.

So... how do I honor Mater Matuta? Well, I don't have any human children, fur babies only. I do however have a niece and nephews, so I ask for Her blessings to be bestowed on them, as well as the children of friends, and all children throughout the world. This harkens back to when I was a very little girl and, like a good little Catholic child, I said my prayers every night. I used to spend a very long time asking God to watch over, forgive, and bless everyone I knew. I even asked God to forgive my parents because they were always kissing and hugging, and... well I suspected something else, LOL. This is a sweet little memory. However, since I suffered from anxiety, I was always worried about leaving someone out. I finally just asked God to bless everyone in the world and that took care of that problem. Rather an intelligent way to solve the problem for a 6 year old. And that's what I do now during my prayers to Mater Matuta; I simply ask for Her blessings on everyone; after all, we are are all someone's child.

I usually make an offering of cake and a libation of honey-sweetened milk. This has no historical basis, it just simply feels right to me. I also light a white candle for all children and a red candle for Mater Matuta; again, just because it feels right.

So, tomorrow night, make blessings and prayers for the whole world.

Just a reminder, the Vestalia began on the 7th of June and is celebrated through the 15th. My coven will perform our rites on Saturday night. Don't forget to honor Vesta and Her priestesses.

Blessings nine!

   

Making Oil Lamps

So... you'd like to have a beautiful oil lamp... or three... or nine... for your altars and shrines, but many of them can be expensive. I have gathered here a few video tutorials about making your own lamps from various bottles and jars.

You have a number of options when it comes to the bottles and jars, just use your imagination. Find colored bottles, plain glass bottles or jars, and decorate them with glass paints, beads strung on wire and molded onto the bottles, ribbons, etc. Just remember to use common sense and practice fire safety.

Enjoy!


I found this one easy and interesting, but would not use plastic bottles. This is simple and basic. His intro is a little manly-man with the bullets, etc. but very quick so just grin and bear it.



Another by the same person as above, Jiujitsu2000, that shows how to make a simple oil lamp with an oil/vinegar cruet that can be purchased at any store very inexpensively.



Canning jars with standard oil lamp tops, including the little screw thingy to adjust the wick. These can purchased for very little. Decorate as you see fit. Hurricane shades can be purchased for these which is wonderful when ritual is outside and the wind kicks up, which generally happens after calling the element of air. ; )

Note: don't bother referring to the video channel where she learned about these, Ben has removed his videos.



Any crafter worth her stash can come up with variations on the theme. Another option is really easy, just buys the lamps at garage sales, Goodwill, Salvation Army, or other second hand stores, or big box stores. I live in South Florida and we sometimes get hurricanes and tropical storms so I have a good supply of lamps purchased for a few few dollars each and which have lasted years. That being said, I like the idea of keeping my ritual items separate from daily use items. I also like the idea of decorating and then dedicating individual lamps to my particular goddesses, ancestors, and spiritual guides.

Here are some photos gathered from the web which show to tops of bottles and canning jars as well as some seasonal decorations.

I would be sure to remove all labels unless you have something really special and appropriate.

Use standard wick or 100% cotton yarn as show in the first two videos.

 Standard canning jar lamp.

 Blue canning jar lamps, possibly vintage jars.

 Caps and lid

Something special for the winter holidays.

Oh, but what about oil, you ask. Well, again, you have many options; the standard paraffin lamp oil, some of the finer more refined lamp oils, scented lamp oils, and olive oil. I've used olive oil in a clay lamp and like the way that worked. In the jars and bottles or hurricane lamps, I use a good quality paraffin lamp oil. I don't go for the inexpensive when it comes to oil.

*********

***

*********

Again, USE COMMON SENSE and FIRE SAFETY. Wipe up oil drips and spills, wipe the bottles and jars of any drips of oil before lighting. Do not leave lamps unattended or where children or pets can reach them.

Blessings nine!

The Vestalia

June comes in with the heat of summer and the time of the Vestalia is upon us, celebrated from the 7th to the 15th. I follow my daily devotions, including some special purification rites and keeping Vesta's flame lit as much as I am able. Life has been very busy, but a friend and I did manage to join together for a formal devotional rite; washing Vesta's statue with scented water, processing with the statue, then placing it on the altar. We made our invocations, lit candles to be used during the year, and let ourselves be overcome with the love and devotion we have for this goddess.

Afterwards, a late dinner, then good conversation, discussion, and the sharing of books, all into the wee hours of the morning. I arrived home and after my evening ablutions, I fell into bed at 5:30 AM! Needless to say, today has been a lazy day, but I have tended my flame and am preparing to make my evening devotions.

Daily devotions are centering for me, they keep things together, heal the mind, open the avenues of communion with the goddesses I am devoted to. Some days, it takes some doing to set aside the time to make my devotions, but, as a priestess, it is what I do; and that doing is a stabilizing force, the foundation of my life. All stays where it needs to be, even the tough lessons, when I am centered in my spiritual life. A good reason, certainly, to keep doing it, but that isn't why I do it, not at all. I do it because my goddesses are deserving of it and expect it of me; I came to that realization after some reading, it just really hit home, why I do what I do spiritually, how ingrained it is in my life. I expect it of myself, and there is no option for not doing it. I have said this many times, to many people, if I can't give of myself and my time to the goddess, why would they continue to commune with me? It is up to each of us how far we wish to take our spiritual practice, but it won't go anywhere if we don't give of ourselves by maintaining that practice.

I will not tell anyone how they should conduct themselves in their spiritual practice, that is up to each of us. I can say, with the utmost certainty, that making the time for these devotions, the giving of one's self to deity, brings a very special and deeply satisfying life.

Blessings nine!

   

  

Herkimer Diamonds

Triple Herkimer Diamond cluster

collection of E A Kaufman

There are suggestions that this stone, the Herkimer Diamond, NOT be worn for any long length of time. I, and a few others I know, will dispute this. Personally, I have three small Herkimer diamonds wrapped together as well as a single Herkimer - I wear one or the other EVERY day without any adverse effect. Many of the other stones I wear have a Herkimer included in the wrap, a trademark of the artist who does the wrapping. I wear a number of different stones daily, but one in particular, besides the Herkimers, is a rainbow quartz with a magicians cut and black tourmaline - I always wear these three stones so I'm not sure if these other stones balance the energies of the Herkimers, but I don't really think so. I received my first Herkimer from a neighbor, a herpetologist, who went to Herkimer, NY on a snake hunt. He knew that I collected stones so he brought me one as a gift. Perhaps all these years of being connected to Herkimers enhances my ability to work with them - not sure. Of course, I am an experienced practitioner of the artes magickal, shamanic, and healing, with a strong connection to crystals and stones, I'm sure that helps too.

Single Herkimer Diamon with baby penetrator

Three Herkimers wrapped in gold

collection of E A Kaufman

This is a stone of attunement, allowing us to tune in or link to higher spiritual beings and their realms, as well as other folks while we work magick or healing. While it will clear chakras and allow energy to flow in the body, this does not happen without intent and work. I personally feel energy move and shift easily,  I attribute some of this to the assistance of my Herkimers. I have read that these beautiful stones enhance creativity, telepathy and allow one to access past life information so one can release blockages related to those lives. This release is gentle and activates the light body.

Labradorite with Herkimer dangle, various Tourmalines with Herkimer,

Lemurian Seed with Herkimer, Sugilite, Herkimer, and Amethyst.

collection of E A Kaufman 

For healing, Herkimers make excellent elixirs - used to spray rooms or people, it purifies and detoxifies. Melody, in her book, Love Is In The Earth, suggests that Herkimers can be used for dispersal of toxins in the body, correcting imbalances in RNA/DNA as well as the metabolic rate. Most of you are aware that detox can sometimes be unpleasant and uncomfortable depending upon the issues. Although Herkimers allow for a more gentle detox, it still can be uncomfortable. Calming and stress relieving to all bodies, physical to etheric, Herkimers release tensions in muscles and other body tissues.

Magickally, circles, compasses, and sacred space can be gridded with Herkimers, although personally I find the Herkimer Diamond to be more  effective when used in the center of a gridded circle, the circle itself being gridded with selenite points at each of the four directions and, for me, the cross directions (NW, SW, SE and NE. A very powerful energy realm can be manifested in this way. Be warned that some may react to this intense energy, being effected very strongly, resulting in sleepiness, slower reaction time and thought processes, a sense of out of body-ness as well as encounters one may consider to be hallucinations - they likely are not hallucinations. This compass is truly in another place. The feeling of the energy can be likened to walking through water. This being said, the resulting magick/manifestation/healing when gridding with Herkimers alone can be powerful indeed. The psychic centers of participants are opened, and connection and communication with other realms can be intense - for witches, this is a whole other ball of wax. All of this can only manifest if the correct procedures and intent are used - otherwise, chaos along with the shit hitting the fan can be the result - no kidding!!! It has taken me some time to properly control a Herkimer gridded circle and I don't do so lightly - my butt has been kicked more than once - but no pain no gain, I always say, LOL! Seriously, it isn't a joke, use cautiously and wisely. Gridding your bed or room is fine, gridding a magickal circle or compass is another thing altogether.

Herkimers are really the witch's or magician's stone, enhancing the power of spells and other magickal workings. It is definitely an excellent aid to have at hand. 

I have encountered folks who get nothing from Herkimers or, for that matter, any other stone. They consider it "new agey" - not correct considering how old the use of stones in healing and ritual is. I feel this is because they just do not connect to the mineral realm, let alone this particular powerful stone. That's ok, not everyone does, others just need to work a bit to make the connection. I feel very lucky indeed to have such a strong connection to realms of Nature. As always, when asking for assistance, call the spirits of all stones, crystals, and minerals, with respect, love and integrity.

Blessings nine!



copyright 2010, E A Kaufman