Autumn Equinox and Virgo

We are on the cusp of Autumn, my favourite time of year. The colours, the scents, the crisp air, all make me feel alive and vibrant. Everything is at its most at this time of year. We are also approaching the Autumn Equinox (called Mabon). This is a time of balance and reflection, of looking at who you have been and what you have done over the last year. It is time to let go of the things that hold us back or do not serve us, and keep those things that make us happy, or think of new practices to begin that can bring joy into our lives. September is a contradiction in terms. It is celebratory and reflective, joyous and analytical.

We are entering the darker half of the year, when Hekate emerges from her threshold, half her face still hidden in the shade, the other half turned to face the Atumnal sun. She holds a lit torch in one hand and a set of keys in the other. We are entering the mysteries, the path inwards, where initiation truly takes place.

Demeter still calls out as the harvest has not fully taken place. Yemaya still holds sway over the water but the dark ones await the days that shrink, when the nights stretch out and the northern hemisphere once again becomes enshrouded in Night.

September's full moon has 2 names. The Vine moon in Celtic Tree lore (see my post from this time last year), and the Harvest Moon, because it is the main harvest month, and because this moon is usually that little bit brighter (not as bright as Hunter's Moon next month though).

We are now fully into the sign of Virgo - mutable earth. She is often depicted holding a sheath of wheat. Virgo, the vigrin, is all about the subtlety of the intellect, service and critical analysis. She is a symbol of feminism, not in the sense of Aphrodite but in the sense of Athena, in that she is wise and idealistic. However the usually discriminating eye of Virgo can become cynical and skeptical when faced with disappointment. Mercury governs Virgo, and as such, communication is a key feature in this zodiacal month. Always remember that Mercury is also a Trickster, like Coyote or Loki, and as such magic practiced in this month should be ever watchful that all parmetres of your spell are carefully marked, in case you open the door for the Trickster to enter (be careful what you wish for).

A few correspondences for you:
Colour: lighter blues and orange (much like Mercury), less so olive green
Flower: Cornflower, Rosemary, Lily
Plant: Ivy
Stones: Sapphires, aquamarine, carnelian, corundum
Tarot: The Hermit & Queen of Pentacles
Animal: Cock & Squirrel
Number: 6

I am currently focussing on working with runes - more magically than for divination. I find that using runes as sigils can bring about real and great change. They tap into an old section of your brain and make a real connection.

With the intellectually awakening Virgo we enter the 'learning' phase of the year. Our brains awaken after a hearty summer and want for stimulation. Given that Virgo is a month of counselling, really looking at yourself and knowing what you want/who you are, the perfect phrse for Virgo, to me, is 'Know Thyself'.
BB

On another note, I have written 3 books. 2 are part of a series set in Scotland about the Sidhe, fairy folk. Available on kindle and in paperback: The Island of the Mist is book 2 The Stone in the Sword is book 1
The 3rd book is an adult, sexy witchy werewolf/vampire story set in New York and featuring a strong female lead character, again available in kindle and paperback formats: The Wolf, the Witch and the Coffin

Summer Goddesses

Summertime is considered by many people to be the firm domain of the God, where he/they are at their peak but this is also a time of Goddess and while most people associate Goddesses as being spring or winter holders, summer is also a season of the divine feminine. Here are a few of the wonderful women of the summer.

Demeter & Persephone - the Greek Goddesses are abound from mid spring through to the autumn, when Persephone must return to her dark lord!!

The Horae are the Greek Goddesses of the seasons and Auxo was the Goddess of summer, although later forms of Horae would have Theros as summer.

Another Greek deity, Aphrodite, is seen by many people as a summer Goddess, as she is most often depicted with scallop shells and roses. Venus, her Roman counterpart, is also a summer deity.

Hera can also be associated with the summer through her mother Goddess position and cuckoos as one of her birds (peacocks being the main one).

Yemaya, a Yoruba Goddess, is the ocean (and often a River deity) and is another mother Goddess. She is often associated with Isis in her form of Stella Maris.

Isis is the principle Egyptian Goddess and is very much a Goddess of Summer, mother of the winged Horus and re-animator of the corn God, Osiris, her husband.

Keeping to the Egyptian pantheon, we have to add Sekhmet, lion headed Goddess to the list of summer Goddesses. Sekhmet bears a solar dis on her had and is a solar deity, one of the few female solar deities. Wadjet is the other Summer Goddess of Egypt I'd like to mention. Another lioness head, she is depicted as having a snake on her head, also occasionally depicted as being a snake with a woman's head. Her festival is Midsummer.

In the myriad Indian pantheon, Shakti is all seasons, the divine mother of all and can therefore represent the summer. She is often depicted with a swan and a snake.

Amaterasu is the Japanese Sun Goddess and is depicted with rays of light spreading out from her head.

Most mother Goddesses can be seen to represent summer, although some are clearly more autumnal than others.

In the summer, most of us try to spend time at the sea, on beaches or near large bodies of water. This is very much a Goddess domain and in visiting these places, spending time there, making offerings, we are connecting with the summer goddess.

Enjoy the warm days filled with light and sunshine xx


On another note, I have written 3 books. 2 are part of a series set in Scotland about the Sidhe, fairy folk. Available on kindle and in paperback: The Island of the Mist is book 2 The Stone in the Sword is book 1
The 3rd book is an adult, sexy witchy werewolf/vampire story set in New York and featuring a strong female lead character, again available in kindle and paperback formats: The Wolf, the Witch and the Coffin