The Celtic Tree Month of Elder – 25th Nov to 23rd Dec

The Celtic Tree Month is now Elder and this is a wonderful month for creativity. This is the month of Venus and green is the colour, malachite the stone. The element of this Celtic month is air. When speaking of deity, we are looking at the crone phase, and Elder represents the Crone.

It was believed that if someone cut up an elder the tree spirit or dryad would follow the wood and haunt the people.

Given that the Elder Tree Month incorporates the winter solstice, this is a great tree to focus on for working with Sun God or Goddess work.

Elder is said to be a tree of healing, of visions/divination/prophecy and cleansing. It can be used for Faery magic, spiritual works, offerings, love work, protection, prosperity and exorcisms. Elder is very helpful when dealing with natural magic and even has folklore links of warding off vampires!!

Many magical tools are made from Elder, such as wands and brooms.

Al in all, this is a very helpful and magical tree, with deep roots in folklore (pun intended).

A simple way to start, if you don’t have access to an Elder tree, is to look at the image of the tree I have here and meditate on it, or meditate on the word to gain depths on its meaning and how you can work with it/bring it into your life.

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

Full Moons and November

I was looking up what the moon in November is called, as I remember from childhood that it does have a name like Harvest Moon and Hunter's Moon but I just could not remember it. There are many sites out there that mention names but these are recent inventions, such as Dark Moon - you just have to have seen the moon a couple of nights ago to know this is a ridiculous name for this month. With dark skies, this moon is especially bright.

While I am aware that much knowledge has been lost over several centuries, making up names that have no relevance is not the answer. We need to observe nature before we decide what we should be calling certain objects.

So for me, I would think Bright Moon a far better, more relevant name but that is just my opinion.

Have a wonderful Autumn's end. Get out while its stil warm enough to and enjoy all the vibrant colours before they disappear.
Blessings :D

Halloween / Samhain – 31st of October

The last day of the Celtic year is almost upon us and it is in times like this that our inner child is revealed.

This is a time of partying, dressing up, bobbing for apples and making a mess. We want to laugh, to be scared and feel that rush of adrenalin. But we also want to mark the occasion solemnly, a remembrance of our ancestors, of those loved ones who have passed on as the veil between this world and the next is at its thinnest at this time of year.

Unlike several of the other festivals of the Wheel of the Year, Hallowe’en is a fixed date. We do not wait for any seasonal signs for this particular date. It is the pivotal point on which the rest of the year rotates. As the majority of you already know what this date is, I don’t want to reiterate what you already know.

So how do we commemorate this occasion? A party? Absolutely, this is one of my favourite times of year and one time when I really do think a party is in order. But this year, having lost a parent, I personally will not be partying. I will be casting a circle and connecting with the energies I find within it.

This has also always been a time of divination. Crystal balls and scrying tend to be the most common forms at this time. Scrying is the art of looking into something (such as a candle flame, a dark bowl of water or a blackened mirror (using a crystal ball is in fact a type of scrying)) and using it as a focus for images to form.

I tend to find that in many cases, it is best to begin scrying with your own element. I am a fire sign, so I find staring into flames far easier than staring into a bowl of water, but do try each method and see what works best, and don’t forget incense smoke for air signs.

Look into the object and relax, becoming aware of your breathing. Don’t be afraid to blink, it won’t interfere with the process. Let any thoughts or images form in your mind and don’t worry if they seem irrelevant at the time. Write down any impressions you get at the end of your session.

For all of you, I hope you have a wonderful Hallowe’en/Samhain :-)

Please note: scrying in blue is a link to page on how to scry xx

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

October, Hunter's moon

Firstly, I must apologise for the delay in putting something up. It has been one of those years – death, car accidents, weddings etc. A real roller coaster. Sincere apologies for not taking some time to write a few items for my blog.

October

Having passed the Autumn Equinox, the time for taking stock of the year gone and deciding what we’ll do/focus on in the coming year, we are now at a point of inner journeys, of magic and self discovery, for within the self, all questions are answered. When we can link with our higher self, we connect with the divine.

So for many pagans and anyone else on a spiritual path, October in particular is the month for meditation, visualisation and spell-work.

October is also the Hunter’s moon. In times gone by (and even today) hunters would go out and hunt by the light of this moon and make their kills for the winter. They would separate the meat from the skin and bones, using all parts of their kill. Some meat would be eaten and some dried for the long winter months.

So why not try doing a connecting meditation – connecting with yourself first.

Ground and centre yourself.
If you’re not sure how to do this:
For simplicity, take this part as meaning you think of roots coming out from your base chakra (the red one that sits at the bottom of your spine) down into the earth, through the soil, rock, crust of the planet, down through the mantle to the core. Feel your roots connect with the core and align yourself with that energy, the earth’s energy. Feel this energy rise up back into your base or root chakra, up your spine to your crown (the top of your head and extending a couple of inches above you) chakra. Once you feel this, you can then begin floating inwards to that spark within you.

For this bit, I tend to see this as a cloud of white light – not too bright, but a flame within that you know is the centre of your being. Within that flame, you can meditate on anything. This is a safe place. A place of power. From here, you can think of a word or image or concept and see where it takes you.

Don’t worry if this takes more than one attempt, or if you keep hearing your own thoughts at random – like shopping lists etc. They will pass, just acknowledge them and let them go.

For your first attempt you can try things like connecting to your higher self, or connecting to the divine.

When you’re happy that you are done – try it for 4 mins the first time. Some people do this for hours but any amount of time can be beneficial – then return from your inner core back to yourself. Gently retract your roots from the core of the earth back into yourself and wiggle you fingers and toes. When you feel ready it’s good to write anything you experienced down in a journal. Then go eat :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

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

Partial Solar Eclipse: 1st of June 2011

On the 1st of June, there is a partial solar eclipse and will be visible from high latitudes in the northern hemisphere. In ancient times, eclipses were seen as negative events but today we known this to be a misconception.

What does this mean for pagans? For the most part, not a lot but you can use the energy in spells or for meditation should you chose.

As you will be aware, a solar eclipse in when the sun is blocked out in part, or wholly by the moon. So we could say this is a melding of lunar and earth energy, which is why it is very good for meditation or any inner workings (lunar), or any earth-based spells and grounding work.

If you have a preference for shamanic workings, or other trance workings, this is a good time to do it.

As mentioned, this is a time of part lunar energy and so any psychic work will go well on this day. Although it is a partial eclipse, it is still a powerful time.

Divination would be a perfect way to go on this day – especially with a crystal (the combination of earth and lunar energies). It doesn’t have to be a crystal ball, a fair sized crystal held in the hand would suffice.

The other way to tap into these energies would be to connect with lunar and earth deities that you have been trying to meet/ask something of/honour.

Whatever you decide to do, I hope the partial solar eclipse will bring good tidings and a greater awareness of the energies around you.

NB: Just to prove that there is always balance in nature: there is another partial solar eclipse on the 1st of July in the southern hemisphere – if you live in the southern hemisphere – this will apply to you then.