Samhain On The East Coast

Well hurricane Sandy is coming and it looks like it's going to change plans for most trick or treaters. We are in the south east part of Ohio so we may have snow next week.

I had already decided weeks ago that we would not be joining a group this year for Samhain. I felt a need to stay home and keep it all in the family. Especially since this will be the first time we will do a ritual in our new apartment.

My ritual also involves bringing out my genealogy records. That's what I love about rituals, you can use virtually anything that has meaning to you! Have you ever used your family tree during Samhain or when evoking your ancestors? So many pages and I only know the stories of a short few; which is sad when you think about it.

Someone posted a poem on FB yesterday that I thought really put my feelings into words perfectly. I'll also be using this poem in our Samhain ritual. I do not know the author of this poem, so if this is your work or if you know who wrote it please tell me so I may give credit.

STRANGERS IN THE BOX
Come, look with me inside this drawer,
In this box I've often seen,
At the pictures, black and white,
Faces proud, still, and serene.

I wish I knew the people,
These strangers in the box,
Their names and all their memories,
Are lost among my socks.

I wonder what their lives were like,
How did they spend their days?
What about their special times?
I'll never know their ways.

If only someone had taken time,
To tell, who, what, where, and when,
These faces of my heritage,
Would come to life again.

Could this become the fate,
Of the pictures we take today?
The faces and the memories,
Someday to be passed away?

Take time to save your stories,
Seize the opportunity when it knocks,
Or someday you and yours,
Could be strangers in the box.

Will you be changing your Samhain or Halloween plans because of hurricane Sandy?

Magical Herbs, Rants, Moon Magick and Lust

Magical Herbalism by Scott Cunningham

Isn't it great when the grand design works for us? DH works at the local Goodwill. Today he brought home a book called Magical Herbalism by Scott Cunningham. This is why I don't believe in coincidence. Out of a small county with the majority of its residents being Christian, someone decided to drop off a Pagan book that my DH knew I'd enjoy because of my new herb growing project. Yay for me. I can't wait to dive into this book.

He also brought along a romance book. You lovely readers know how I love my paranormal romance. This ones about the Fae. and Werewolves. Yay me! Its titled "Not your ordinary Faerie Tale, by Christine Warren." Can't wait to read this one too. Two great books, and no idea where to start. Do I want to read about herbal magick or do I want to dive into love and lust? Decisions decisions. lol

Aine over on the Deepest Well mentioned the approaching full moon and how energetic and restless we might be feeling.  She does mention its a time where we tend to blurt out in a not so nice and confrontational way our feelings. (See rant below to prove that). She also mentions its a good time to focus on goals and exercise. Right now, my goal is to save money. Now that my husband is getting a paycheck I've created a budget. Its all in its initial stages right now since I'm not entirely sure what he'll get on his paycheck. He's also doing a lot of overtime from what his "normal" paycheck will be. So it will be a few months before I can get an average of what he'll bring home. If I've calculated correctly, we'll only be able to save $150 a month. That means I face 6 more aggravating months in MIL's home before we can afford to move out. I wish I could say that I had something to sell or some other way to make more money. If I find a job we'd get more money but so far that search has been fruitless. So here I am, stuck making plans and no real action. Which is why I feel restless and helpless.

Now onto the rant. I try not to rant often on my blog because I hate to bring anything negative to it. This must be said however. I don't believe one single Pagan has not experienced judgement from the non-Pagan community. If there is such a Pagan out there I haven't met them. So it hurts my heart when I see it from a fellow Pagan. Today on a spiritual forum I saw another Wiccan say that you can't be a Wiccan if you cast "Incantations" (her word not mine) for "Money or lavishes" because she considers it to be personal gain and in her opinion, wrong.

Now the rede does warn about not casting for greed. See quotes from the Wiccan rede below.

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

Quote

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.

Quote

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.

Quote

"An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will"

Not one word in the Rede says you can't cast for personal gain. That to me sounds like a Charmed TV influence. It does counsel against greed. I just wish people would focus on their own path and not focus on judging others. 

PBP: Mercury Retrograde

Prompt: Another Mercury Retrograde

Mercury appears to be moving backwards in the sky.... and for some people that means nothing. For others, however, who pay attention to the stars and the planets, Mercury moving backwards can mean a lot of things....

So, first off, do you pay attention to these Retrogrades?

If so, do you prepare for them?

Does knowing that it is happening make it easier to deal with the challenges that appear?

If you didn't know it was happening, would it still affect your life?

Any thoughts on this current Retrograde?

~Magickal Graphics~

 

 

To be honest I don't pay attention to what phase were in as much as I probably should.  I take note if there's a retrograde and I usually comment to my husband to expect more mood swings because I do think he is effected by the moons phase and the planets positions. I wish there was more studies on the planets, stars and moon in relation to human emotion and mental health. Unfortunately there is not. So I'll just have to maintain my opinion that my husband goes a little more wacko during times of full moons and retrogrades.

Stones & Crystals

I am by no means an authority on stones and crystals. But I realized as I was thinking up new topics for my blog that I rarely speak about them. However they happen to be an integral part of my craft. In my opinion no alter is complete without at least two crystals on it; most of the time more.

I'm one of those that has to take the information card with me or I will completely forget what the stone is called and its metaphysical properties. That's OK, witches can be forgetful too. My favorite crystal is Amethyst. Not only is it beautiful but I find the most uses for it. Its related to the moon, psychic ability, meditation. Basically anything related to the mind can be associated with Amethyst.

Another favorite of mine is red garnet. Dh and I really love to fight over this one because we both love it for jewelry. We have learned to share over the years though. So I'll wear garnet for awhile and then he can wear it. Because we so wonderfully balance each other doing this imbues the crystal with our energy so when Dh is having a particularly bad bipolar day, he can focus on that crystal to give him a little boost of my energy.

Some others I love are moonstone, tigers eye, quartz, and opal. 

What crystals do you find yourself drawn to?