Pinterest

Lately, I've been in love with a site called Pinterest. On this site, you are presented with a page of images. If you click on an image it will take you to a page where you can continue on to the site from with the photo originated. You can "repin" images to boards- like a virtual bulletin board where you can categorize them for later reference.You can also "follow" peoples boards, much like twitter, so that anything posted on a followed board shows up in your default feed. Pinterest is especially great for crafts and recipes, but I also have boards for each sabbat for food ideas, decorating, etc. If you'd like an invite, request one from the site, or let me know your email and I'll send one to you.

I'm at http://www.pinterest.com/barefootwitch. Check out my boards if you like!

Samhain Altar

Here's a photo of my Samhain-season altar. It doesn't have the photos of my ancestors up on it yet, as I'm still getting that together for next weekends coven rite, but you can see my little pumpkins, as well as a few healing candles I burned this week for others, and my three re-dedication candles that are still there, waiting for my personal re-dedication (post-Samhain). These three candles are the candles that I originally dedicated with over a decade ago.

Arrow Tarot Spread

Here's a tarot spread that I developed and have been using recently.
Click it, to see it in more detail. :)

Moon Phase Magick

As the Harvest Moon is tomorrow, I wanted to share some moon phase information I got many years ago from http://www.sacredsax.com/phases.shtml. I like the correlations that it makes to the growing cycle. We can use that in much of our moon magick. I posted the quick chart here, at the top, and the details below.

New Moon		Seed	Gestation
Crescent Moon	Waxing	Sprout	Laying Down of Roots
First Quarter Moon	Waxing	Leaf	Crisis of Commitment
Gibbous Moon	Waxing	Bud	Struggle for Survival
Full Moon		Flower	Illumination
Disseminating Moon	Waning	Fruit	Pollination
Last Quarter Moon	Waning	Harvest	Climax of Fruit or Seed
Balsamic Moon	Waning	Compost	Decay / Letting Go

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New Moon (Dark Moon) Seed: Gestation Contained within the darkness of the Earth, the seed pulses with life and prepares for its journey.
Here we find the Sun and Moon in conjunction with eachother.
Under the influence of the New Moon we may feel impulsive, passionate and intuitive. This is the time to plant our seeds for there is great energy and potential for any new journey.
The New Moon rises and sets with the Sun.

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WAXING PHASE: Build up and Strengthen Absorption of nutrients or substances is accentuated. This is an excellent time for action and growth.

Crescent Moon Sprout: Laying Down of Roots The seed pushes down through the Earth and reaches for the Sky.
This is an excellent time to break from the past to create your own destiny.
Crescent Moon rises midmorning and sets after sunset.

First Quarter Moon Leaf: Growth - Crisis of Commitment Roots run deep, stems shoot up; we grow in both directions.
Here we find the Moon squared to the Sun. Bodies are strong. Old structures are cleared away to provide room for new development.
First Quarter Moon rises close to noon and sets close to midnight.

Gibbous Moon Bud: Struggle for Survival The pulse of life wrapped beautifully in itself is ready to expand.
This is an excellent time to refine and purify. Utilize spiritual tools as you seek your truth.
Gibbous Moon rises midafternoon and sets before dawn.

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Full Moon Flower: Illumination The Seed has become a Flower and shows its self, its beauty, to the world.
Here the Sun and Moon are in opposition with each other. The Full Moon fulfils the potential of the New Moon. The Full Moon casts the greatest amount of light at night providing us with the ability to see into the dark or unconscious. Our awareness and sensitivities are heightened. Emotions swim close to the surface and creativity needs full expression. We are called to release the inspiration and energy accumulated during the Waxing Phase.
The Full Moon is visible from moonrise to moonset.

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WANING PHASE: Complete and Release This is an excellent time for detoxification, dieting or introspection.

Disseminating Moon Fruit: Pollinating / Dispersal of Knowledge The Flower enjoys the Fruits of its labour.
This is a time when we see our purpose, life has meaning. We have learned from experience. Our ideas and wisdom is shared with others.
The Disseminating Moon rises midevening and sets midmorning.

Last Quarter Moon Harvest: Climax of Fruit or Seed The very life of the Fruit and Seed are given to sustain the lives of others.
Here, once again, we find the Moon square to the Sun. This is a time of powerful reflection and transformation. The internal and external worlds are balanced under this Moon.
The Last Quarter Moon rises around midnight and sets around noon.

Balsamic Moon Seed: Compost - Decay / Letting Go The soil which originally contained the seed is now rich with nutrients and ready to nourish the new seed.
This is a time to access wisdom and insight. Patience and understanding are our tools as we show our prophetic selves to the world.
The Balsamic Moon rises before dawn and sets midafternoon.

Ritual Themes and Ideas for Mabon

Below are a few themes and ideas for your Mabon rituals. :)



Balance


In circle:

• Do a guided meditation in regards to balance

• Honor Ma'at, an Egyptian goddess of justice and balance

• Figure out what is causing you imbalance, and do a bit of petition magic, burning it away



Outside of circle:

• Take some time out in nature to really feel the energy of the earth as She comes back into balance.





Thanksgiving/ Fruit Harvest

In circle:

• Have everyone bring a fruit and ask the god/dess for blessing, then make fruit salad and eat!

• Put a bunch of grapes on a plate. Pass it around, taking turns- state something that you are thankful for, eat a grape, and them place on in the offering dish

• Face each direction and give thanks to each direction, using the correspondences to guide your thanks- Finances and job (north), Passion, hobbies (south), knowledge or travel (east) and relationships or psychism (west). Come to the center, and thank the god/dess.

• Honor Abundantia- a Roman goddess of abundance and prosperity



Outside of circle:

• Actually harvest your (or neighbors) garden

• Volunteer at a soup kitchen or do a food drive

• Make mead or fruit wine

• Go apple picking





Goodbye to Summer/ Wheel Turning

In circle:

• Raise energy to aid the gods in the turning of the wheel

• Bless collected pinecones to place on the altar until Yule

• Cut open an apple to find the pentacle inside

• Honor Demeter, a mother goddess of the harvest



Outside circle:

• Do fall crafts: create a harvest wreath, make pinecone birdfeeders, apple dolls

• Shoot off any leftover 4th of July fireworks (if in America :)

• Do the last of your summer activities

• Do some canning of your harvest bounty so you'll have it in winter

• Gather leaves, seed pods, sticks- whatever calls to you





Crone/ Approaching Darkness

In circle:
• "Shadow side" work

• Work on facing your fears

• Honor Hecate- a Greek crone goddess

• Anything that you feel is dark and mysterious

• Have a croning ritual, for any crone witches in your circle



Outside of circle:

• Spend some time in the dark, getting to know it

• Honor actual crones in your life

• Volunteer at a nursing home, some of those ladies love to talk, and their stories impart wisdom

My Latest Harvest Altar

Here are a few photos of my latest altar, and Aphrodite shrine. We're talking about them a lot in the SoCalSisterWitches yahoogroup, and so I fixed mine up. It's been up, but I added a few touches to it.

The first photo is my main altar. The left side has my goddess candle, one of my singing bowls, my holy water in the blue bottle, a few small dishes, a candle and my ceramic water cauldron. Right now, the coven's Artemis candle is there too. In the center is an offering dish and a few Lughnasadh things. The right side holds my clay pentacle, crystals, my scrying mirror and my salt in the brown bottle. My fairy incense holder and chalice are over there, too. In two weeks, it will be completely different, so wanted to post a photo now. Also posting my shrine. :)

Everyday Prayer to Aphrodite

Blessed Lady Aphrodite,

I honor you with each step I take upon this earth.

With every breath, I take in your beauty and love.

Today, Aphrodite,

I ask that you might see me through this day.

Give me strength to keep moving forward.

Grant me the clarity to stay organized and focused.

Lend me your gifts that I might see beauty in all things.

Help me find my work easier to manage.

Aid me in finding the balance I need to make it through this day, energized and centered.

In Your presence I walk,
Blessed be.