November and Total Solar Eclipse

Firstly, I would like to talk about November. This month has a lot going on, especially this week.

Today is the end of the half month of Nagal, in the runic calendar, and tomorrow is the start of the half month Nyd. In the runic/norse tradition, november is the Fog Moon. I don't know where you live just now but here in Scotland it is misty at the moment and is looking to be misty all week, save Thursday! A aptly named moon, for a change :D

This week also sees the Festival of Feronia, a Roman festival information on this here: Feronia, as well as the birthdays of Israel Regardie (famous Golden Dawn member and writer)on Saturday.
Tomorrow night is also the New Moon, which makes tonight the Dark of the Moon. This i8s a very good time to look at yourself, to look at what you are working on, and for self dedications/self initiation. Hekate is the Goddess of this type of work, as she is the Goddess of initiations, of the dark of the moon and of the winter months which are almost upon us.

We are currently, in Native American tradition, in the Month of the Snake, which ends next week, 22nd. The 23rd will be the Month of the Owl. The Snake is all about wisdom, renewal and transformation.

On a Celtic note, we are in the Month of the Celtic Tree Reed (or Dwarf Elm here in the UK). This also ends next week - 24th - and the Elder takes over on the 25th. The Month of the Reed/Dwarf Elf is about the mysteries of death (again the association with Hekate) and the hidden basis for all life. It is a wonderful time of year to do divination and to use music in your magic, esp flutes/bagpipes/wind instruments. This tree is sacred to Saturn and Odin. This is a very good time to do psychic workings. Elm has great protective qualities 9can be used as protective talisman)and is a feminine tree. Using this tree in spells makes them more stable and more likely to go the way you want them to.

The Total Solar Eclipse takes place on the 13th (14th in Australia) of this month. It will be visible in the S Pacific, N New Zealand, N Australia and the very W parts of South America. Best of luck to anyone able to see it.

Eclipse energy is very special and if possible, should be used. It is the connection of the earth's eergy with that of the moon during the day and should be harnessed. This is earth and lunar magic at it's peak :D

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

Celtic Month of the Ivy Tree - October

Ivy in the Celtic Tree Lore came into cycle on the 30th of September and lasts to the 27th of October this year.

Ivy is the symbol of resurrection and is therefore associated with winter and especially with Yule/Xmas, for example ‘The Holy and the Ivy’.

Magically, Ivy is an excellent plant to use when carrying out planetary magic and would be used in association with Jupiter and also with the Sun and very occasionally Saturn. Given that many ivy leaves are five pointed, they are therefore also a plant of the Goddess in general.

What sort of magic to use Ivy with?
Strength of character and/or emotions work, any fears/phobias can be aided by working with ivy.
Ivy can be used in any magical/spiritual workings regarding protection, healing, fertility and even exorcisms. It is also linked to fidelity and marital bliss and has been used in this kind of working, as well as used during handfastings (often intertwined with holly). Many use it as a good luck charm or as a friendship talisman.
Ivy can also be used as a means for creative inspiration.
Finally, ivy was most often used (again in assoc with holly) as an altar decoration during Yuletide.

When using this plant, other correspondences include:
Colour: blue
Day: Thursday
Gemstone: Yellow Serpentine

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

Hawthorn, Tree of May-June

The Celtic Tree Month is currently that of the Hawthorn and comes to an end on the 9th of June. This is a modern invention but it is a useful tool for insight into the time of year and into the different aspects of many trees.

The Hawthorn (also named Mayblossom, May bush, Mayflower, Haw, Lady’s Meat among other things) is a stunning, twisted and beautiful tree. It is associated with marriage and with hope and is both a fire and water tree, symbolising its mutability, balance and magical importance. It is energy/inspiration and also healing and fertile.

Hawthorn trees are found round healing wells in Ireland and Scotland and have a strong link with fairyland/the fairy realms and fairy lore. It is one of the tees of the bale fire and a purifying tree. It was said to give sight of the faerie to humans.

Use Hawthorn for clearing and purifying, for prosperity and fertility, marriage and love, protection and happiness.

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