Anything from Queen! FLASH... A..HA..*screams and throws things*  FLASH...A..HA.. He'll Save everyone of us!

Sing ALONG!

Todays Post was inspired because I got flowers from my boyfriend. I thank the gods for him daily, but this was so sweet of him. Roses and Austurtium, mean love and splender. Or as we say to one another “Love is a Many Splendid thing!”, a quote from Moulone Rouge.

With Spring and Ostra around the corner I have been so busy gardening and preparing for the feast I am hosting. Because Ostara falls around Easter weekend I will be able to host more and celebrate more.

So today I’m going to give an overview of floriography, the Language of Flowers.

This was a Victoriana age practice where the suitor would send his love different flowers to communicate things silently. Rose mean love as we all know and the different colors say different expressions Yellow is Friendship, white is purity, ect. This is the classic example many people still follow today.

In her book, Garden Witchery, Ellen Dugan talks about making charms and Tussle-musses, flowers organized for a magical purpose. Of course her book deals with flower magic in worshiping the goddess and god also.

Another important aspect of flowers is using them in Magick the same way you use other plants and herbs. Always remember that ingesting something may not be good for you.

Here is a link to a site on floriography:

http://www.victorianbazaar.com/meanings.html

Hope all have a great Ostara!

I honored my mother and father this evening. Not my birth parents, my celestial ones. Three shooting stars later I come to you to say what has been gifted to me.

The moon is full and according to the Charge, we as Pagans/Witches/Wiccans/Children of the divine we should honor the Mother.

My ritual was planned large, with 2 others, my sisters in the craft I have worked with for almost five years. Once again plans fell through, and I was touched by the gods for that reason.

Even as a solitary I made large plans, elaborate rituals. This was to be the full moon of all full moons this year, THE Esbat, full of symbols and meanings.

It is, but the Gods choose the words, symbols, and meanings.

First it was the watching of the Moon with family, as I had never seen an eclipse in my life. Yes they have occurred, and according to legends there was on the night of my birth. But I have never watched one start. I did this evening and it may have changed my life. Only time can tell me. :)

So after having intense family time I was left alone, time for my ritual. Things were gathered, some put back and new things gathered. I marched out in the cold in slippers (With crescent moons) and my pj pants with a short sleeve shirt. I left the celestial robe because of a near fire earlier in the evening. A noise caught my attention away from what I was doing and I saw a deer, couldn’t see if it was a doe or a buck, but a deer. Above it was a HUGE shooting star, never seen one that big before, only small dots in the night sky.

After that I enacted the ritual I had never planed, nor ever thought of. I am to share it with you, I feel the urge.

But the feeling I get now is refreshing, just like my first ritual.

COOOOLLLLL….

So here is the ritual I did, remember, you still have tomorrow night to catch the Esbat energy, but not the eclipse energy.

Stella Moon Ritual (Stella Rituel de lune)

Items required:

*A Bell (or some nose making thing)

*Incense of your choosing

*Bowl of h20 (Water)

*Candle that will sit above water level

*Lighter/Matches

 

“I call out to the Moon Mother/Deity of your choosing!” Light incense. “I have come to honor your call.” Stand arms stretched out to Moon. “As it was written, Once a month when the moon is full, to worship you. I am here Mother to honor you.” Hold bowl of water up to the moon. “I thank you for the past month for the joys and sorrows, for the life and death, and for the beauty and the ugly. Hear my praise.” Put bowl down and ring bell till you feel satisfied, you may also chant. Now place the candle in the bowl and raise it again. Visualize the similarly between the moon in the dark sky and the candle in the water. Now light it and connect with the flame, feel as if you were one with it. “This light matches you, and as above the shinning moon light, now below the sinning light.” Now leave on ground for sun rise. “Thank you mother, blessed be.” IF SAFE leave Bowl and Incense burning and look out the window before you go to bed again for safety, and reflection.

 

Thanks for reading. Something feels special about this Esbat. I don't know why. Anyway, I am going to go dance in the moon light, then maybe have some food for grounding. Never had this problem.

Blessed Be!

 

Full Moons!

Hurray, today is the full moon! Well 10 something tonight the moon will reach its peak. What do I do for esbats? Well the old me used to do full rituals with my coven, but at my low point I used to ignore them. Lately the moon is full and I will burn a bright white candle, whisper some words in my goddess honor. Who is my patron deity again? Arhonhod, the Silver Wheel, the goddess of Avalon.

So what can a person do on an Esbat? Any full moon magic you want! Traditionally, fertility, healing, love, and money spells are done on the full moon.

Another system of spell work is devised up into the "wheel of the Moon system" where each of the 13 moons with symbolic names. My favorite is the Honey Moon in June. Honey-Moon? As funny as that joke may or may not of been think about it. Traditionally the Lord and Lady are marred at Ostara where they first meet or at Beltane upon the first Ahem, pagans following the gods would get marred May through June, awesome climates, bountiful crops, and public bathing surround this time frame.

So as I’m writing this I am witnessing my first Eclipse in years. In an hour I will do my ritual.

So I will update in a few hours since full moon magick can be used 3 days of the full moon.

Blessings!

I had to answer this one. Even as a Wiccan I have $ issues, so let me answer this. 
Thing One Pratical:
-Gas tank= $10 Get my butt to Job interview
Thing Two Fivolous:
-Starbucks Coffee= $3-5 Gotta praise the goddess with something, and I need to stay awake.
Last Thing:
-Starbucks Coffee for him=What ever is left over, have boyfriend cheer me up and give my resume a look over.

My list was easy! Sorry this isn't a very pagan post! But, in the future the Starbucks Goddess will be known! 

 

Hail and Happy Lupercalia! Oh and blessed Valentines Day.. that’s today also. Sorry I waited till today to post.

So what is this Lupercalia I speak of? It this a Pre-Roman holiday celebrated by what archaeologists call the Etruscans, a band of people that lived in Central and Northern Italy, with some bands living as south as Napels area. They lived at some point between 800BCE and 396 BC when Rome began.

The holiday is dedicated to cleansing and blessing the temples, and honoring the She-Wolf where later Romulas and Remules were mothered by. The holiday also celebrates the sheered god Lupercus, who priests wore goat skins, he also has pan-like status in mythology.

The strange thing folklore brought to my attention was the fertility association. According to lore roman women were chased through the streets scourged by the priests by animal tales and fur for fertility.

So happy Lupercus! Ladies, I’d stay out of the Roman streets if I were you.

 

So also today is Valentines Day. I don’t know if others around the world are celebrating it, but I am, so Happy Valentines Day.  

Today I am stepping back from Spellwork, because Love spells, even ones to make a person love themselves more are out of my field. I try and fail, Love magic is one of the few magicks that turns to dust when I touch it.

Lucky for you folks Christopher Penzack gave a Love Potion (Non drinking) on his blog. So I leave you with his Valentines Day gift.

 

Love Potion No. 13
This is a formula I created in meditation for a friend who was recovering from a difficult relationship. It's purpose is to bring the feeling of love back into your life, and when you are ready, an actual relationship.
The base of the potion is water, and this particular batch was made from spring water, melted snow and well water from the red well at Glastonbury Tor. You can start with 2 Cups of fresh spring water and add three Tablespoons of sea salt.
Add to the water a copper ingot, wire or coin while it simmers on a low heat, to infuse the metallic power of copper, Venus' metal, to it. Add the following ingredients, one at a time, to it, stirring each in thirteen times.

1 Tablespoon Rose Petals soaked in Rose Water
1 Tablespoon Rue
1 Tablespoon Jasmine Flowers
1 Tonka Bean
1 Tablespoon Vervain
1 Tablespoon Star Anise
1 Tablespoon Raspberry Leaf
1 Tablespoon Damiana Leaf
1 Tablespoon Yarrow Flower
1 Tablespoon Basil Leaf
1 Tablespoon Red Clover Tops
1 Pinch of Dragon's Blood Resin
1Vanilla bean

Let the mixture cool and strain out the herbs. Add nine drops of Sea Water, if available to the potion to truly activate its Venusian powers.

This potion is not for consumption, but for anointing the body, including the chakras and nape of the neck. One of the ingredients, Rue, can cause some skin irritation in some people, and should never be used by pregnant women.

I've been lost for a few days on this blog. So i read the writer's block and I got inspired, imagine that?

Tea, the soaking of leaves and herbs in warm water to produce a drink. Teas are an important practice for any Wiccan. I admit that I don’t read as much on Herbology as I should, but I know where to look when I need to know something.

 

So what is Herbology? The study of herbs and plants and there effects on the human body, in Wicca one can also study the magical correspondences of herbs. I admit I’m not an expect, I learn by trail and error. So when I suggest something I have done this multiple times and I’m still alive. But before you do anything, especially ingesting or drinking any herb do the research. Also just because I’ve done some things, I won’t share them, things that can be used ageist other, the great world of potions aren’t my field, any questions for Love potions or a herbal abortions will be deleted and ignored. Yes I know some, but I haven’t used them for good reasons.

 

The use of plants and herbs for medicine goes a long time. Just know that village healers have been using them all other the world since the start of time. Even those who don’t know it use Herbology, when someone gets a sun burn we use over the counter Aloe to heal it.  I also find that growing an aloe plant is the easiest thing to start with, all garden stores carry them, you only have to water them once a week, and they work in all climates, and they charm the house along the way.

 

So how does Miss Stella9 practice Herbology? Teas, Aloe, and spellwork. One day I’d like to study Chinese burning acupuncture too, that is where herbs are smoldering on your skin. I’m seeing the Celtic lands before that. My teas I make from scratch and of my own exportation, good news is the results a repeatable now. I also am a Nurses daughter, so a doctor is always on call for me. Here is my list and recopies.

 

 For any repirtory sickness (This is the BEST, I call it “Sick Tea” and my friends will call for it.)

-1/4 ounce Mint

-1/4 ounce green tea leaves

-1/2 ounce red raspberry leaves

(Optional 1 piece of garlic for if coughing things up, it tastes bad but works)

If you are adding the garlic boil that with the water. Boil a pot of water (6-8ounces), once boiled add each ingredient and let boil again (if with garlic take it out now), once boiled let it cool and boil again, then again so that it has boiled with the ingredients three times, this number is more than symbolic, this helps the tea leaves expel more tea.  Once done filter, I like coffee filters over large plastic storage containers, this makes a lot of tea. Chill and drink warm or cold, this tea has a refrigerated shelf life of two weeks.

 

Note: Everyone try this, I really want to get this recipe out! I’m serous, I make it once a month for anyone who gets sick. I get midnight calls for this. Pass it along! Please message me once you do if you have any suggestions.  This tea was conceived when someone cleaned out her magical cabinet and handed me the mint because she’s not a mint tea drinker. The green tea I always had, and the red raspberry leaves I bought because I had an infection and they were sitting up there. And the garlic trick I watched once on Discovery Health and felt that I should know that. The Green tea makes this yummy and smooth, it also relaxes you. The red raspberry helps to clean your system and also tastes yum. The mint clears your respitory system and the garlic (Which I eat raw when I’m cooking so I’m used to it) helps break down the stuff you cough up. Try it without the garlic first.

An alternative is that when you make the tea without garlic and want to add some heat the serving of tea with the garlic in a pot or microwave and then take the garlic out before serving. Gargling with salt afterwards gets the garlic taste out of the mouth.

 

For morning stress relief

-small handful of green tea leaves

-Small handful of mint

Boil once and drain, add honey instead of sugar and sit by the window.

 

Menstrual moodiness

-handful of green tea

-handful of red raspberry

-dash of ground parsley (Like if you were cooking with)

-Shot of liquor

-Chocolate syrup

-creamer vs. milk

Boil water, boil herbs, and boil herbs with liquor you like the taste of. Pour syrup into cup you will drink tea from, drain twice, add to cup with syrup, add creamer, and drink. You’d be amazed with the results. I skip the creamer and the liquor boil; instead I add a cream liquor like Baylies. It’s a good idea not to do this when you have things to do as you will fall into a nice tranquil state. Because I and the women around me tend to have cycles together I make a large quantity of this and put a movie in. Moulin Rouge is a favorite, but Practical Magic also is great!

 

Magical Uses:

Mint corresponds to income and prosperity; I use it in all charms.

Red raspberry leaves -cleansing

Green Tea- nature, Peace, the goddess

Aloe-health

Basil- prosperity, protection, sex

Parsley- Protection, prosperity, healing

Bay leaf- visions, dreams, spell work; I also associated it with earth power

Rosemary- love and affection, also attraction of things in one’s life, Memory

 

Well I hope this has been a useful blog for some. If you need a good reference check out Cunningham’s Herb encyclopedia, also there are a lot of non-magical books in your health section on herbs. My doctor’s office has a book or two. And before you ingest anything seek medical opinion, even if it means going to your local pharmacy and asking them.

 

Blessings,

Stella9

PS:I drink my coffee at noon with 2% milk and two lumps of suger. Regular black tea is made with honey and milk and served luke warm in a penguin shaped cup after dinner.

Yes I know Imbolic is here.
The Ground Hog did see his shadow. Six more weeks of winter.
 Today most of my information comes from Celtic Sources since the Italian Witchcraft side has Valentines day to rant about. On the Fourteenth I will explain. So what is Imbolic. Imbolic is also known as Candlessmass and Bride’s Day. This is one of the pagan holidays everyone makes there own. The date is either the First or Second of February, and us in North America also know the Second as Groundhog Day, where we see how long till Spring Arrives. Today where I live we are having a false Spring already, as we did yesterday.
So what do I do for the holiday?
*Clean my Candle box and burn left overs (An all day event, Yesterday)
*Bless my Garden with honey and milk-Milk is  Sacred today (Boyfriend screams in joy) because Imbolic marks the separation from the mother cow and her child. Also in olden times they used to bless the fields today and till the soil. (I also did this yesterday)
*Bless the fireplace- People would relight there hearths from Bridget’s temples on this day.

Those are the main things that I am up to on this holiday. The deities associated with it are:
*Bridget-The poet fire smith Goddess
*Bride-A Celtic goddess
*St. Bridget-Patron Saint of Ireland
*The young God

Other things that you can do to honor this day:
*Sing Loves songs in honor of the Bride goddess as she waits for the young God
*Make a corn dolly
*Play with young children (Till I moved away I used to visit my God/dess children) as the Lord and Lady are still children in the Mythos.

Imbolic Candle Blessing
Use any Oil you find suitable, I use milk but it is written to use Oils like dragons blood, jasmine, Rose, or vanilla.

Bride ,Bridget, Fire,
Light, Spring, Fire.
Blessing of Divine,
Power combined.
Here, now, centered.

You can chant this while rolling the candle in your hands with oil or any other way you feel the bless the candle.

So today’s blog is abut the word Pagan. To some it is a big bubble we all fit in, and to others it is not what they believe. One witch told me that she isn’t Pagan, she’s just a Witch. So to those who this doesn’t apply to, you don’t have to read.

When we look up the word Pagan in the dictionary it comes up with 4-5 distinct meanings, the first two are normally nouns :

-To worship gods that are not of the Christen, Hebrew, or Islamic religions.

-One of a people or community observing a polytheistic religion, as the ancient Romans and Greeks.

- An irreligious or hedonistic person.

Next you come up with the adjectives or descriptive word pagan:

-Pertaining to the worship or worshipers of any religion that is neither Christian, Jewish, nor Muslim.

-irreligious or hedonistic.

And finally the one that I can identify with, well beside the ones above..

-of, pertaining to, or characteristic of pagans.

 

So what is characteristic about us? I'm sure we all can relate to at least one of the "50 signs someone you know is pagan", like the local church people not banging on my door anymore "Oh.. YOU live here.. have a nice day" or the lack of Jehovah Witness suddenly ANYwhere I spend my time. (i.e. My work, Tom's home, the old apartment, my house). The strange odor coming from my house is another classic example, also I keep local candle shops in business. (Which reminds me, I need a substitute for Sage, mom didn't ask nicely for me to stop using it.. but the results WORK!)

Before we leave the subject of the dictionary article about Pagan here is something else.

[Origin: 1325–75; Latin: peasant, n. use of p--g--nus rural, civilian, deriv. of p--gus village, rural district]  So now we speak of a living location. This also makes me Pagan, I live in a small town. As does several other pagans I know.

 

So now I have a direct definition of pagan, someone who is not Christen, Jewish, or Muslim, who lives in a small town who is hedonistic (a person whose life is devoted to the pursuit of pleasure and self-gratification) and follows a polytheistic religion. Does this sound like me? Yes, and in fact it almost sounds like me from the day I was born!

Does this sound like most Wiccans and Witchs I know? Yes, but not everyone agrees with me. Each of us must find out own paths, however I found that knowing the excepted definition of what we call ourselves has helped me focus who and what I am.

 

Today’s Spell:

Stargale’s Prosperity Charm

This was given to me from an Online Friend, Stargale. I like it because it is simple and uses house hold ingredients.

Ingredients:

*Simple Pouch for the charm (Craft stores sell packages of them)         

*Basil, Mint, and other Prosperity herbs

*A green Candle (Or Gold)       *Green or Gold Cord

*Coins of Currency

 

The Working:

Usually done on Waxing moon night, Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday if you can. If not Wednesday is also expectable because of Mercury representing Speed. Light the Candle, and ask the deities of Prosperity to be with you.  When you have reached a moment of focus on your need for prosperity, then begin to bless your ingredients in whatever way you feel. When they are blessed name each ingredients and the reason for using it. Speak your mind and place it in the pouch. When you have finished drip wax on the closure and tie with the cord. Once done clean up (End the circle, thank the gods. Ect) and hang the charm in a door way you use often. Even if you forget about it each time you pass in and out it blesses you.

Greetings everyone!

Today I’d like to Spotlight my favorite writer, Christopher Penczak. I started reading his books 2 years ago with “Spirit Allies” and was hocked. This Yule I found myself buying “Witches Shield” and was even more impressed. I read his columns on Reki in the New Worlds Magazine, and I enjoy his Myspace musings. His writing is not for everyone, it is a very hip young style.

(Did I mention he’s so VERY yummy!)

And each book he starts with Wicca basics, so no matter how many books you’ve read or written he still wants to make sure you know what you are getting yourself into.

So my Current read is “Instant Magick”, much more progressive approach to Magick.  But Sprit Allies is a great book if anyone wants to get into Sprit glides. Also check out his other book I recommend “Witches Shield”.

Here is his Website: http://christopherpenczak.com

Myspace Page:  http://www.myspace.com/christopherpenczak 

 

So today’s spell I have taken from Penczak himself and done some spin on it, making it easier for some of us.

The find lost objects spell!*

“Golden Thread”

Intention: To find lost objects

Colors: Gold or any color you associate with attraction

Elements: Earth and Water

Deities: (I Use St. Frances of Anthony of Padua always) any for attraction

Words: I immediately locate (Object lost)

Visualizations: Call your inner power (He calls it your trigger) and focus it. Imagine the lost object and see the gold cord wrapped around it, pull it towards you. Ask for the deity for assistance in bringing this lost object back to you. Now go look for the object in the first place you think of and know that it will be there.

 

*I use this spell A LOT!