Yule Blessings

I sorrow not, through 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.

I light this fire in Your honor, Mother Goddess.

You have created life from death; warmth from cold;

The Sun lives once again; the time of light is waxing.

Welcome, ever-returning God of the Sun!

Hail Mother of All!

credit: www.sacredgrove.com

_________________________________________________________________

Yule Prayer Song

Mother Earth

I offer to you this song

For I am earth

and to the Earth, I belong

Mother Earth

help me grow as you need me to

Mother Earth

show me what I am here to do


'Cause I am growing, I am changing

on this darkest day

I am growing, I am changing

in my darkest place

I am growing, I am changing

on this darkest day

I am growing, I am changing

in my darkest place


Blessed Be!

credit: Colombe

I will serve the Great Goddess

I will serve the Great Goddess
And give reverence to the Great God
I am a Pagan
A stone in the ancient circle
Standing firmly
Balanced in the Earth
Yet open to the winds of heaven
And enduring through time
May the old gods witness my words
Blessed Be.

Silver Ravenwolf's "To Stir a Magick Cauldron"

Gems

I went on vacation and ended up with a pocket full of rocks, I come by it naturally, my mom taught me this well. This is a continuation of my past post of crystals I've added to my inventory and what they mean to me. This is by no means an exhaustive list of all of their properties.

Crystalline Kyantie (wand): meditation, truth, smooth lasting relationships, connections. Doesn't need cleaning!

Jade (turtle): encourages you to become who you really are, recognizing yourself as a spiritual being on a human journey.

Turquoise (bracelet w serpentine and yellow turquoise): dissolves self sabotage, releases old vows, allows soul expression. Healing body and spirit. Sacred to Native American, bridges earth and heaven

Serpentine (bracelet w blue and yellow turquoise): detox, aids meditation, correct mental and emotional imbalance, focuses healing energy to problem areas, good for ritual, trance work, said to be particularly good for celts

Blue Lace Agate (tumbled): facilitates expression of spiritual and personal truth, counteracts fear of rejection, neutralize anger, thyroid

Sodalite (tumbled and bracelet): unite logic and intuition, intellect, emotional balance. Clears electromagnetic pollution, metabolism

Chrysocolla (tumbled): draws out negative energy, meditation and communication. accept change, remain impartial and speak your truth. Thyroid. Confidence. Personal power.

Jasper (tumbled): insomnia, heals disease and obsession, balancing overpowering parts of life, become more empathetic.

Peridot (ring): metabolism, thymus. Protect aura, powerful cleanser. Release adn neutralize toxins, purifies body and mind. visionary crystal good for healers.

Opal (ring): teaches what we put out we get back, Absorbent and reflective, picks up and amplifies thoughts and feelings. Heals earths energy, shamanic. Induces metaphysical and mystical visions.

Threefold Law or Rule of Three

Ever Mind The Rule Of Three
Three Times Your Acts Return To Thee
This Lesson Well, Thou Must Learn
Thou Only Gets What Thee Dost Earn

Mind the Threefold Law you should,
Three times bad and three times good.

Morning Prayer

We're sorry, but this discussion has just been closed to further replies.

Lady of the moon
Lady of the moon

Lord of the sun

Protect me and mine

'til day is done

Oh gracious Goddess
Oh gracious Goddess

Oh gracious God

Lend me health, strength and love

during this coming day

Assist me with the challenges ahead

Share your divine wisdom

Teach me to respect all things

Remind me that the greatest power of all

is love



So mote it be

Blessed be



My Lady and Lord
My Lady and Lord

By Earth Air Fire and Water

Look lovingly upon your daughter

keep me safe with all your power

in this right and ready hour

give me strength and give me grace

as I venture from this place

As my will so mote it be

a loving thought 'tween thee and me



Blessed Be



Found online here

• Posted by Fianna on December 30, 2008 at 5:20am in Everyday Pagan Prayers
• Back to Everyday Pagan Prayers Discussions

Wiccan Rede

The Wiccan Rede

Bide within the Law you must, in perfect Love and perfect Trust.
Live you must and let to live, fairly take and fairly give.

For tread the Circle thrice about to keep unwelcome spirits out.
To bind the spell well every time, let the spell be said in rhyme.

Light of eye and soft of touch, speak you little, listen much.
Honor the Old Ones in deed and name,
let love and light be our guides again.

Deosil go by the waxing moon, chanting out the joyful tune.
Widdershins go when the moon doth wane,
and the werewolf howls by the dread wolfsbane.

When the Lady's moon is new, kiss the hand to Her times two.
When the moon rides at Her peak then your heart's desire seek.

Heed the North winds mighty gale, lock the door and trim the sail.
When the Wind blows from the East, expect the new and set the feast.

When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss you on the mouth.
When the wind whispers from the West, all hearts will find peace and rest.

Nine woods in the Cauldron go, burn them fast and burn them slow.
Birch in the fire goes to represent what the Lady knows.

Oak in the forest towers with might, in the fire it brings the God's
insight. Rowan is a tree of power causing life and magick to flower.

Willows at the waterside stand ready to help us to the Summerland.
Hawthorn is burned to purify and to draw faerie to your eye.

Hazel-the tree of wisdom and learning adds its strength to the bright fire burning.
White are the flowers of Apple tree that brings us fruits of fertility.

Grapes grow upon the vine giving us both joy and wine.
Fir does mark the evergreen to represent immortality seen.

Elder is the Lady's tree burn it not or cursed you'll be.
Four times the Major Sabbats mark in the light and in the dark.

As the old year starts to wane the new begins, it's now Samhain.
When the time for Imbolc shows watch for flowers through the snows.

When the wheel begins to turn soon the Beltane fires will burn.
As the wheel turns to Lamas night power is brought to magick rite.

Four times the Minor Sabbats fall use the Sun to mark them all.
When the wheel has turned to Yule light the log the Horned One rules.

In the spring, when night equals day time for Ostara to come our way.
When the Sun has reached it's height time for Oak and Holly to fight.

Harvesting comes to one and all when the Autumn Equinox does fall.
Heed the flower, bush, and tree by the Lady blessed you'll be.

Where the rippling waters go cast a stone, the truth you'll know.
When you have and hold a need, harken not to others greed.

With a fool no season spend or be counted as his friend.
Merry Meet and Merry Part bright the cheeks and warm the heart.

Mind the Three-fold Laws you should three times bad and three times good.
When misfortune is enow wear the star upon your brow.

Be true in love this you must do unless your love is false to you.

These Eight words the Rede fulfill:

"An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will"

______________________________________________

http://www.jesterbear.com/Wicca/Rede.html

Rhyming Wiccan Creed

Know the Wiccan Law thou must:
In perfect love and in perfect trust,
Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill--
If it harm none, do as thou will.
Ever mind the rule of three,
As thy self-defense it be.
Follow these with mind and heart,
And merry meet and merry part.

The Wiccan Rede

Bide the Wiccan Law ye must,
In perfect love, in perfect trust,
Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill:
And ye harm none, do what ye will.
What ye sends forth comes back to thee,
And ever mind the Rule of Three
Follow this with mind and heart,
And merry ye meet and merry ye part.

The Rede

Bide the Wiccan Law ye must,
In perfect love and in perfect trust;
Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill:
"An ye harm none, do as ye will."
Lest in self-defense it be,
Ever mind the rule of three.
Follow this in mind and heart,
Merry ye meet and merry ye part.

Another version of the Rede

Bide the Wiccan Rede ye must,
In perfect love, in perfect trust.
These eight words ye must fulfill:
"An harm ye none, do as ye will."
And ever mind the Rule of Three:
"What thou sends forth returns to thee."
Follow these with mind and heart,
For merry ye meet, and merry ye part.

Wiccan Rede (short Alexandrian trad version)

Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill:
"An it harm none, do what you will."

Ye Wiccan Rede (very long version)

Bide ye Wiccan laws ye must, in perfect love and perfect trust
Live and let live, fairly take and fairly give
Form the circle thrice about, to keep evil spirits out
To bind ye spell every time, let ye spell be spake in rhyme

Soft of eye, light of touch, speak lityl, listen much
Deosil go by the waxing moon, singing out ye Witches' Rune
Widdershins go by the waning moon, chanting out ye Baneful Rune
When the Lady's moon is new, kiss your hand to her times two

When the moon rides at her peak, then ye hearts' desire seek
Heed the North wind's mighty gale, lock the door and trim the sail
When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss ye on the mouth
When the wind blows from the West, departed souls will have no rest

When the wind blows from the east, expect the new and set the feast
Nine woods in ye cauldron go, burn them fast and burn them slow
Elder be the Lady's tree, burn it not or cursed ye'll be
When the wheel begins to turn, soon the Beltain fires'll burn

When the wheel has turned to Yule, light the log the Horned One rules
Heed ye flower, bush and tree, by the Lady blessed be
Where the rippling waters flow, cast a stone and truth ye'll know
When you have and hold a need, harken not to others' reed

With a fool no season spend, nor be counted as his friend
Merry meet and merry part, bright the cheeks and warm the heart
Mind the threefold law ye should, three times bad and three times good
When misfortune is anow, wear the star upon your brow

True in love ye must ever be, lest thy love be falst to thee
I these eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill, an ye harm none, do what ye will.

___________________________________________________

I come home from vacation renewed and empowered.
My pagan path intensifies and resides: heart and soul.
Expression strengthens and softens my path,
I shall not think twice to pull upon the power my heart yearns for.
Home and work space, once stoic and bland will have pockets of enchantment in this land.

The Rede, my thoughts and prayers, in my writing you will find
For through them I feel ties that bind

Words on paper, intent in heart
Actions thoughts and intellect I impart
To print these out and keep them near
No matter the place, no matter the "where".

When is a stone not a stone?

I used a combination of the Encyclopedia of Crystals by Judy Hall and some caring members at the Aeclectic Tarot, Crystal forum to delve into the world of crystals. This first batch was bought offline at healingcrystals.com. The experience was nerve wracking as I had to trust that the crystals meant for me would find their way through someone else's hand. I could not see the selection nor touch and admire each one to choose a "favorite". My nervousness dissapated when I opened the postal box and unwrapped each carefully packaged crystal. Then my heart sang as I opened the packing slip and was greeted with a personal "Thanks" hand written and a extra piece of paper sharing with me a prayer that was said to honor the crystal and the buyer.

All things have a frequency and energy it emits and absorbs, physics taught me this years ago, I don't know why I didn't see that crystals are a way to introduce an outside vibration to my own to interfere constructively, but one day it hit me and.. looking back into a closed mind is no longer an option. Crystal entries in my blog will not be an in depth catch all for everything each crystal has to offer, it will be a more personal basic approach because I usually remember what I write down. There are more general sources for information of each crystal online or in books and I recommend using those instead of my blog to choose crystals or learn about all they have to offer.

In the past I've learned to trust my cravings, I had no idea this could go further than food or survival. My first choice in the crystals I bought to my amazement is no different. They all work together and once the lust gave way to a healthy attachment, I found that what I chose in crystals was no different than listening to cravings and being provided for by getting what my body mind and spirit need.

Work:
Black Tourmaline:
Primary use will be to place it at my desk to protect electromagnetic disturbance.
Seconary possiblities: draws off negative energy, grounding. Also good for detoxing, back issues and chest congestion.

Snowflake Obsidian:
Primary use will be to keep me balanced throughout a work day, to dispell emotional responses and see that mistakes are much more than simple frustrations, but are something to build upon and accept instead of loosing my temper
Secondary: bodily healing, cramps, joint pain, warming extremities

Tree Agate:
Primary use will again be balancing and grounding at work. Instills a feeling of being safe in challenging situations, simulating a quiet day surrounded by nature through it's nurturing energy of nature. Helps to see the gift of a challenge, again, instead of flying emotionally off the handle.
Secondary: lymphatic system, anayltical abilities.

Home:
Laborite:
Primary: I see this as a preparation and intermission to transition from work to home and spirit. Ease away the stress of a day, a perfect "in-between" to peitersite.
Secondary: Keep my metabolism stable, which is a big deal in itself. I see this crystal as "maintenance" instead of a full on intervention. Helps me leave lingering co-irkers projections behind.

Peitersite:
Primary: Support my endocrine system, strengthen my piuitary.. I'm thinking this stone would help my digestive system after eating since my issues stem from my lacking endocrine system. Also help quell exhaustion I feel after finally arriving home after a long day working and commuting.
Secondary: Support higher awareness in meditation, dispell illusion of individual separateness, removes conditioning imposed by others, strengthen inner guidance. This to me also stems from supporting my endocrine system because on a good day I know all this, on a bad day.. I'm more ruled by waves of emotion due to horrible hormones ruling over my heart and mind.

Aqua Aura Quartz:
Primary: Time with family after dinner spent, everyone settled in and now it's time for me. Help me on my spiritual journey and help me (start) work with spirit guides. Quells what negativity is still lingering (even after other crystals)......this is the crystal of intervention.
Secondary: thymus, healing, balance.

Quartz:
Primary: boost energy, heal and cleanse. For me as well as other crystals and objects.

Going to court!

RWS - Page, Knight, Queen, King
Crowley - Princess, Prince, Queen, King

Look through your court cards, is there a balance of male/female? Some would rather see balance, others don't look that far into that aspect. Where do you fall? Look at and reflect on how they represent life. The below is common, but not the only way to "see" them, breath air into them, light their fire, unearth them or let them ebb and flow with the tide. Another method is based more on physical appearance and sign, we'll get to that one later. The following is a more intuitive approach.

Court cards typically symbolize people, all of us carry many aspects of each element, but this "person" would at the time have a trait more prevalent than others whether it be their consistent nature or simply a trait brought of by the phase of life they are in. But they may also be symbolic. The young page is trusted as a messenger, the Knight always swiftly moving and traveling.




I like thinking of them in stages or phases in life and related to the element of the suit. We'll cover physical characteristic that can come into play after. Let's talk about the Page. The page is young and can represent a child or a child-like adult, this can be taken a step further into possibly representing and apprentice. I usually picture a Page with a scroll or letter in hand.
Wands - Message from far away, message of a move (can be something as major as a trip or as minor as moving desks or a career move/change)
Cups - a love letter, message of the heart
Swords - message of resolution or something coming to a poor end, message in the way of an idea, sometimes illness, sometimes rumor or gossip.
Pentacles - message of money, good turn in health (body), luck

Now let's talk about who could be these young messengers
Wands - True to the fire element, think of the fire within or child full of energy and adventure, dynamic, can be aggressive
Cups - the romantic lured by the romance of life and heart. Daydreamer, good imagination, storyteller. Extreme happy and sad. Sensitive. With healing water pumping through their veins, they wish to heal and soothe.
Swords - Air spews from their lungs as they talk talk talk. Constantly chattering to the point of irritation or sounding like a know it all. Obviously not good with a secret.
Pentacles - Children play, pentacles is earth. Picture a child blissfully sitting in mud creating something. They love animals of the earth. They can also be very moved as entrepreneurs. Good hearted and generous, but sometimes serious.

Okay onto the mighty Knight rushing through the night, representing travel or swiftness. Still exploring life but not too old to forget youth and play. They are young brave fledglings, think of them as teens or young adults. The swiftness can also bring change of scenery and emotion. Their childhood not far behind, they still embody much of the elements.
Wands - Energetic trip, maybe to a hot place on a trusty quick vehicle.
Cups - Travel by water
Swords - Travel by air
Pentacles - Travel with nature: hiking, eco-friendly biking, walking

The young fledgling can embody the following personal characteristics:
Wands - Still charismatic, loves to give and receive energy, leader, great at competive sports, a bit of a bully. loyal but not always reliable.
Cups - Romeo. Emo, sensitive, music, poems, deep love.
Swords - Whoa, this kid's still talking a mean streak. Weilding his sword to argue or debate. Sharp tongue, can be gossipy.
Pentacles - Still an entrepreneur and lover of material things. Now he plays with only the best clay instead of mud. He likes having things and can be possessive of his stuff. Organized, can be solitary in his plight of perfect.

The King and Queen leave little for words, as their paths are born and breed into them. Their paths we know well as the figureheads seems to speak for themselves moreso than the Knight or the Page. They are refined and paternal. The nurturing mother Queen. The confidant who softens the strict king with kind reasoning behind the scenes. The Queen is about nurturing and creativity. She tells us and supports us to open your vision, heart and mind.

The majestic King, he can be seen to represent self confidence, for they are the experts of their domain by experience, more controlled and domineering than the Knight.



references:
http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/learn/
Llewellyn's Tarot Reader 2008

Art of Conversation

The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right time, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.

New hobby - Geocaching!

This weekend my other half let my excitement carry us to a new hobby, geocaching. So as we were preparing for a day in the city, I searched for caches close to where we'd be. The first was a green space I'd not known of close to where he games sometimes on the weekends. Periodically I go in to Calgary with him and go to a few yarn stores, then sit at the game store and knit while they play. I wanted to check it out so I could possibly knit there instead of in the store. The second, I admit was a great point of interest for Mark: the military museum, hehehehe. I chose it so he wouldn't get bored or to spark his interest, little did I know he was hooked with the first find.

I was too quick to feel defeat, and did not realize zooming in with the GPS was what I needed to do. As soon as I zoomed in, I decided to keep at it. The clue was there, it HAD to be there. Could that dirty bag under the leaves really be it? I sat quietly with what could be garbage in my hand or what could be my first cache! With trepidation I opened the nescafe can and thankfully was rewarded with the site of a log book. Whew, what a relief that was! Other geocachers came up as we where looking though the find, I felt bad and immediately wondered if I'd broken a code or done something totally wrong. lol Who'd have thought in all the cache's someone would be coming to find the same one, in an unknown corner of the world.

The second was tricky and another huge learning curve. I had flipped a number in the coordinates, it was 772m, a had recorded 722m! Thank goodness I'd checked the clue before leaving home! It was in the parking lot, a big tank up on display. We dare not crawl on top, instead we look low, in the tracks, behind the tracks. Then I spotted a number that looked kinda like the clue number but a little off! Coming from a background of overhauling military equipment, I knew exactly what it meant. We found the right wheel and I dared to reach behind.. success!

What did I learn?

• Check coordinates carefully
• Some coordinates get you close, but not right on top of the cache
• Stop and think, clues are just that .. clues.. they aren't big neon flashing arrows
• I need better shoes

I learnt alot, we had fun, we succeded! (I'm pretty sure we'll do it again, we've already picked out a few for today near home). I didn't take pics yesterday, I will today.

Tarot Study - The Suits

I have seen and read (in books and online) about using the numbers on tarot cards for study by understanding common themes. Two references would be my MerryDay companion book and a book in Mary K. Greer's series. I've read it being called "Constellations". There are also references online for the art of reading with a 52 deck of cards, using suit and number, called cartomancy. The next few tarot blog entries will be about using suit and number to add finesse to your reading, the best place to start would be to understand the suits (and relate them back to a 52 regular playing deck). This may also help with the court cards.. we'll get to that after the numbers.

Look at your deck and decide if it matches the common elemental associations. Please look carefully at Wands and Swords because sometimes the elements are reversed and Air is used to represent Wands while Fire is used to represent Swords. If your elements are reversed for these two suits, your general meaning will follow element not suit. Yes, yes, not all suits are named exactly, I've put the other names below as well to help. If you come across something different than below, I'd love to hear from you!


Fire = Wands/Staves/Staffs/Baton = Clubs
The red firey tip on some decks wands brings me back to learning color. Red and Fire represent the energy and passion or fire within. Your drive and motivation to journey, to excel at work, spirit or creativity. Something you put your own personal energy into.

Water = Cup/Chalice = (you guessed it) Hearts
Water soothes and heals, it's a conduit for electric energy and connects us to the divine. The tides ebb and flow as do our emotions. Cups represents love, I see it as loving others as well as loving ourselves and the earth we inhabit along with her creatures and creations.

Air = Swords = Spade
The air carries our words to others. Words can cut like a blade. Swords are about thoughts, ideas and communication.

Earth = Pentacle/Coins/Discs = Diamonds (mined from the Earth)
From the earth we are born, from the earth minerals are mined and refined. Pentacles is of body and tangible things of this world, including money. This extends to business matters as well, I see it as business bringing in cash wealth.. or not.


Cups as water, that's a pretty easy element association, a chalice holds water. A sword slices through the air. Coins or pentacles are mined from the earth. Wands sometimes have a red (fire) crystal at the tip. I have thoughts on remembering the element if your deck has Swords and Wands reversed, but I don't want to confuse them, so I'm going to leave them out.

I use visualization to remember the playing card associations. I couldn't resist putting my association for Pentacles and Cups above in brackets. That leaves Wands and Swords, for those I have images that dance in my mind. I see a club held over a caveman's head, as if in a dream he morphs into a wizard carrying a wand, both are tools and can be held above the head to "assert" their power. I see my mom digging in her garden using a spade, she's one tough woman that in days past I could see overcoming stereotypes and looks and jeers to become a knight carrying a sword! I tell ya, I never wanted to mess with her!


My personal decks in relation to the elements
MerryDay has the suits in the following order and element: Swords (Air, Spring), Wands (Fire, Summer), Cups (Water, Autumn) and Pentacles (Earth, Winter). The pictures in the Mystic Faerie do not show seasons, only one suit story (yes, each suit has an enchanting story, bringing the fae and the deck alive) tells of a season, the one element is also not very prevelant within the images. For the Mystic Faerie: Wands (Fire, Summer), Cups (Water), Swords (no apparent element by deduction Air will suffice) and Pentacles (Earth). By deduction I can assume the Swords are air, but honestly there's nothing on the pictures to classify it. The swords are represented by thorns.. not very airy to me. My Faery Wicca deck is named from cities, I'm leaving those out to avoid confusion. My other decks are newer and will require more study later, they are very quirky in their own right and I think two work for examples to give you something to work from and relate to your own deck.


*online references include IvyRose Holistic Resources and Thirteen's Tarot Card Meanings online at Aeclectic.net .

The Moon

Like the phases of the moon, I shall return to gaze upon the her again. A quick look was all I could stand. I felt as if I intruded and dare not face her wraith

I spoke with The Moon today, ominous as she was. The eerie shadows almost scared me off, but I stood with my feet grounded and saw a beautiful sight...

My instant reaction to this card was one of mistrust. I cannot decide if she is sad or feeling anger and seeking revenge. But the wolf trusts her...

The wolf, acting on instinct and intuition...

Her hair lively and beautiful, her intent consistent. I have found a few sources for meanings of this card that include the crayfish. Personally the symbolism doesn't spark with me, maybe another night it will be all I see. But for now she looks just past me, as if not seeing me as her vision narrows and she spins a creative picture in the trees I hide amongst.


(I believe my perception engulfs the nature behind the card. She's known to represent dangerous illusions (how I see her from my hiding spot) and letting intuition take you (the wolf).

Quote!

How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.
~Annie Dillard~

What a gown!

I can appreciate the magic of brides and the energy it takes. Personally for me, not something I want to go through, but this gown and story made me stop in my tracks. How fitting a shepherdess!

8: Strength

Today I call on Strength.

The sun settles and begins its departure. Magic buzzes for those celebrating the coming eve.
She quietly steps through the cracking leaves,

Fingers caress the trees, wisps of energy stream from fae and tree as she passes,
Some young and full of green life, some old and stoic, both are treasures,
Energy flows from tree to fae and fae to tree,
Both are living in the moment, she whispers "Just be".

Gracefully the trees part along the path and she glides out in open space to meet a kindred spirit,
Of it's dangers and wild spirit have always been writ,
A majestic dragon, one with the earth and knowledge of ages past
In the presence of her love and understanding it basks.

She breathes deeply and centers on the fire within, a spark flutters to life, tendrils of red and orange heat begin their dance. Her heart surrounds the flame, accepting it for all that it is and all that it was. All that it can be requires her tender care and a constant awareness for balance, she cannot allow the flame to consume her. She calls upon her inner calm and tranquility to surround the flame, leaving it room to breathe.

In this clearing I've come to learn,
This quiet control of the flame of life is what I yearn,
I caress each tree as I wander quietly away,
And value, with time and desire, I will survive to see the day.

Tada!

Here I am, blogging again after a few years of .. err.. not blogging. Let the yarn and faeries fly!

What could you see? Knitting of course, Faeries of course, tarot study, rants, poems and otherwise mash of verbage.