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

Autumn Equinox and beyond

Today is the Autumn Equinox (Spring if in Southern Hemisphere). It is, as we already know, a time of balance and reflection, a time of looking back over the past years to see what worked and what did not.

It is a time to discard that which did not help or improve our lives, and bring in new things that may help or improve our path/livestyle/general life.

While this is very much a time of spiritual reflection, it is also sitting on Libra, an air sign. Libra is also a cardinal sign, and so this is a time before a change. It is the lull, so use it wisely. As air, much is focussed on mental issues, such as study, creativity and meditation.

I like to light some incense (frankincense and sandalwood are great at this time of year), watch the moon sail through the night sky and reflect. Sometimes in meditation, sometimes on paper.

As this falls within the Vine moon, it is also a time of celebration, so be sure to have a good time, eat well and be merry.

This is a time of endings, just as the Spring equinox is one of new beginnings. We feel the summer passing away as the god has passed into the underworld. If you have any habits that you wish to rid yourself of (smoking, eating too much or eating the wrong things, or anything else for that matter), now is the time to do it. The full moon has just passed and it is a waning moon. As the week goes on, into the next, write down your issue you wish to be free of on a piece of paper, then burn it, sending it out into the universe. Always make tsure that you specifically state that you wish no harm to come to anyone as you do this.

On a practical side, this is the time of powercuts and storms, so making sure you are well prepared is essential. Having a few staples in supply is a must, as are candles, a gas cooker and/or gas heater if no fire, blankets and a few provisions in your car in the event you are caught out when on a trip.

For me, this festival is pensive, as well as uplifting. It is a solumn, thoughtful time, when we really take a long, hard look at ourselves with eyes open, honest. It can be liberating as well, to let go of any preconceptions you try to portray about yourself and other to the world around you. It is also a wonderful time to let go of any hurts you have been holding onto. Guilt, anger, regret, grief, anything negative that has a hold on you. Use a black stone and empty all these emotions into it. Then cast it into the sea, or place it into a bowl of salt water (swirl water around) before throwing it away.

Equinox blessings everyone x


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

Celtic Month of Vine in Tree Calendar

This is the month of the vine, and a time of celebration. We have the happiness of the harvest and the remnants of the warm, later nights, before the long winter begins.

The vine is considered to be the celebration of joy and its wood was used as one of the nine woods for the balefire at Beltain. The vine is sacred to many deities, including the more obvious Bacchus/Dionysus, Venus and Minerva, and the less obvious Osiris, Demeter, Hathor, Rhea and Aphrodite.

Associations for this tree include the snake, tit-mouse and white swan, variegated colours although silver and burgandy are very strong at this time of year and the stone is an amethyst.

Types of magic used at this time of year are related to the harvest, joy, poetry, imagination and inspiration. Other types of magic include garden magic, faerie magic, spells of wrath, joy, exhiliration, prosperity fertility, mental powers, happiness and especially binding.

If you lack self esteem or suffer an inferiority complex, this is the time to work magic to improve this, with the leaves and fruit of the vine. Vine can also help with those looking for strength and to succeed in their ambitions.

Fertility is both in the harvest itself but also in preparing the garden for the year to come, as well as making the foods you are about to harvest are as good as they could be. In ancient Greece and Rome, this time would also have been spent in festivals of thanksgiving and revelry, and as a result, many babies would be conceived at this time :)

Because wine is the 'afterlife' of a grape, this tree is also a symbol of rebirth (hence the connection to Osiris). Of course, grapes are not the only vine fruit but they are one of the most common.

As this is the month of the Autumn Equinox, we are looking at ourselves in detail, watching how the year has affected us, what worked and what did not. We need to strengthen our bodies and minds for the coming winter and looking into courses on any crafty or cooking classes we might want to attend is a good step.

We are entering a very fecund time of year where nature has given us all the ingredients packed with nutrients that will keep us healthy over the coming winter. it is a good time to eat seasonally, stock up on potatoes (general as well as sweet), squashes/pumpkin, mushrooms, berries, pears, beetroot, plums, apples, cabbage, damson and mussels are all in season just now.

Getting into your kitchen is as important as getting out into nature, as food is nature. It is the first, deepest connection we have with the earth and the wheel of the year. Steer clear of processed foods, which have very little nutritional value and opt instead to pop some of these glorious foods into a soup, stew or a lovely crumble :D

BB and have a wonderful, colourful September!

On another note, my second book, The Island of the Mist, is now available on both Kindle and paperback formats:

Kindle: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Island-Mist-Kingslayer-Series-ebook/dp/B0092TUS7U/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1346945410&sr=1-2

And paperback: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Island-Mist-N-Roy/dp/147921292X/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346506656&sr=1-2

and in the US: http://www.amazon.com/Island-Mist-N-Roy/dp/147921292X/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346946271&sr=1-2&keywords=the+island+of+the+mist

My first book, The Stone in the Sword, is now reduced in price: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stone-Sword-ebook/dp/B006ZQIEPG/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1327179005&sr=1-3

Equinox Blessings

Today is the Spring Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and the Autumn Equinox in the Suuthern Hemisphere. Firstly, I would like to say that I hope everyone has a lovely day and that the sun is shining wherever you are.

Part of the Spring Eq is about sowing the seeds for the coming year, doing everything you need to do in order to have a good harvest in the Autumn. In magic we take this literally and plant seeds on this day to mark any plans we have, whether it be a new business venture, a baby, relationship or anything else you hope to happen over the coming year. We plant seeds in soil. and infuse those seeds with out wishes. There is something so magical about the feel of soil on skin, it makes you feel alive, and feel the connection with the waking earth. We then look after them, watch them grow and yield. It is a wonderfully fulfilling spell and so simple. Night and day are equal and we look ahead to the growing days.

In the Autumn it is the opposite. Night and Day are equal and we look back over what we have done with this year so far, over the seeds we sowed int he Spring have yielded anything and what we can cut out of our lives that did not work. We are reaping what we have sown and now we should be benefiting from that. We enjoy the harvests, knowing that the winter may be long and harsh, it makes everything taste that little bit sweeter. This is a time of reflection, before the earth slips into her deep winter sleep. We look over all that we have achieved and what we did not and look at whether we should let go of that which did not work, or whether it is worth trying it from another angle.

Today in Scotland the sun is shining. It is cold, we still have snow on the hills and it's set to be -5C tonight. But the flowers are in bud, some blooming. Things are starting to wake and i feel that renewed joy, that thirst for life as the sap rises in the trees and in all of nature. Everything is frisky with life.

This is also the start of the Celtic Tree Month of Alder. This is a work tree, as well as a Goddess tree. It is a time for setting things in motion and for powerful magic, protection and love.

BB

On another note, I have written 3 books. 2 are part of a series set in Scoltand 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

The autumn equinox is almost upon us, being on the 22nd of September this year. As mentioned in the previous post, it is about contrasts, night and dark, light and dark, inner and outer. This is a time of balance and taking a long hard look at ourselves.

A very good ritual is to spend some time looking over the good and bad of the last year. Write them down. What would you change about any decisions you have made in this time? What do you wish to accomplish in the next year?

This is a highly psychological testing of ones self. In the old days, for those inclined, this would have been a time of vision questing, of looking ahead as well as behind.

This is also a highly practical time for looking at your home and lifestyle, preparing for the winter ahead. Do you have a back-up plan for when the inevitable power cuts happen? Candles, matches, an alternative sounrce of heat. Many older people die due to lack of heating in winter blackouts. It is a good time to make sure elderly neighbours are also prepared. Do you ha=ve a gas cooker, or a camping stove? It is a good time to stock up on tinned provisions and for making sure we have a reliable can opener :D

A check-up at the doctor is a good idea fi you have nopt had an annual MOT. Get a check-up, make sure you are up to date with your medications and you have some salt stored up for icy pathways.

It is a good time to go through your book stores and see what you wish to keep and wish to pass on, either selling or giving to charity.

A spiritual ritual for the equinox is to light a candle or lantern and set it onto water, which is moving away from a shore - so a river or the sea. However, many people complain about candlewax so lanterns may be a better option. This is a symbol of saying farewell to the light, and you can add a promise, wish or blessing with it.

BB

On another note, I have written 3 books. 2 are part of a series set in Scoltand 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

The year ahead - dates for your calendar in paganism

Many pagans seem to be under the incorrect idea that all pagan festivals are fixed to one specific date of the year. This is not the case. The solar festivals (both equinoxes and solstices) move every year. Some days they are on the 20th, the 21st or the 22nd of the corresponding month. This is because there are very slight changes in the Earth's orbit around the Sun. The majority of pagans simply celebrate on the 21st of the month but this is not always the actual date of the solstice or equinox.

For instance, this year, the dates are as follows:
Spring Equinox - 20th March
Summer Solstice - 20th June
Autumn Equinox - 22nd September
Winter Solstice - 21st December

The agricultural festivals are not as fixed as many imagine either - these are dates for actual agricultural events as well. The only exception is Hallowe'en, or Samhain. This is a fixed date as it is the date the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest. But the others can alter slightly. For instance, Imbolc, usually celebrated on the 1st or 2nd February can be earlier or later, depending when the first snowdrops appear and the first signs of life begin to show. Equally, this is the same of Lammas, the wheat harvest, can be earlier or, more commonly, later.

Personally, I tend to feel that Beltain is more like Hallowe'en. It feels more stationary, less mutable. This would make sense, given that these dates are the reverse in the Southern Hemisphere.

So when Imbolc comes around and you haven't spotted any snowdrops pushing up through the ground, hold off celebrating a few days until they appear. Likewise, if the first harvest hasn't happened in the countryside near you, wait a few days. If you can't tell re Lammas, then go ahead and celebrate around the 1s August but it is always better to feel more attuned to the seasons, and to the energies of the sun.