August, 2012 Volume 1, Issue 1
• Please see our website at www.elementalmagick. wetpaint.com • If you would like to contribute to the newsletter or have suggestions, please contact Maxine at byers83854@msn.com OR Janie at Janie_bass@yahoo.com
Elemental Magick Monthly Newsletter Upcoming Events 7/31 eve to 8/2 eve: Lughnasadh 7/31 eve to 8/6 eve: Mid-Summer/First Harvest/Lammas
8/4 Celtic Tree month of Holly Ends 8/5 Celtic Tree month of Hazel Begins
8/1 Full Moon
8/17 New Moon
(Grain/ CornHarvest/Thunder Moon).
8/31 Blue Moon
The Start of Something NEW Articles: Introduction
1
Loughnasadh
2
Cernunnos
2
Out of the Closet 3 Aloe
4
Blue Moon
4
Gathering Notes
5
Spell of Month
6
Barter / Sell
7
Ask Gurtrude
7
EM Outreach
8
Welcome Friends to the first issue of the Elemental Magick Newsletter. Inside you will find a variety of articles and ideas to explore the lore of the gods and goddesses, and deepen your understanding of magic. The EM Newsletter is your Newsletter. Devoted exclusively to promoting and covering contemporary Wiccan/Witch culture, EM features exclusive articles written by teachers, writers and activists who create and lead our traditions. Filled with ideas and information from the sacred places and people who inspire us and discussions of our everevolving practices. You'll also find practical daily magic, ideas for solitary ritual and
devotion, God/dess-friendly craft-projects, poetry and much more in every monthly issue. We encourage everyone to contribute. Do you have a question for Ask Gertrude? How about a special spell or Craft you would like to share? Perhaps an article you have written about your favorite God/dess? Or a commentary regarding a Craft related issue? We welcome all submissions for publication. Guidelines for Submitting Articles 1. All articles, Letters to the Editor, short stories, poems, and other submissions must pertain to the Craft. 2. All articles, short stories, poems and other
submissions must be original or, if a quote from another author and/or source, must be named. 3. Individuals submitting, articles, short stories, poems and other submissions who wish us to use a "Pen" Name or "Craft" Name, should let us know as we WILL identify the submitter. 4. Submissions should be written in a civil manner, using NO abusive or threatening language of any kind. 5. Nothing political, subversive, or overtly, discriptual sexual will be published. 6. The Editors of this Newsletter reserve the right to edit for length or content. The Editors reserve the right to not publish any item that does not fall into our standards of
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publication. Lughnasadh At Lughnasadh, it's time to celebrate the first harvest of the year, and recognize that the hot summer days will soon come to an end. The plants of spring wither and drop seeds to ensure future crops. Grains are ready to be harvested and the fruits are ripe for picking. We can give thanks for the food on our tables. Lughnasadh means the funeral games of Lugh the sun god. The funeral is not his own, but the funeral games he hosts in honor of his foster-mother Tailtu. Traditional Tailtean craft fairs and Tailtean marriages are also celebrated at this time.
As autumn begins, the Celtic Sun God enters his old age. He symbolically loses some of his strength as the Sun rises farther in the South each day and the nights grow longer. Many Pagans celebrate this time to remember its warmth and bounty in a celebrated feast shared with family or community. Save and plant the seeds from the fruits consumed at this time. If they sprout, grow the plant or tree as a symbol of your connection with the deities, spirits, or just as part of the universe.
Traditional foods this time of year can include apples, pears, grains, breads and berries. Herbs and flowers, all grains, grapes, heather, blackberries, sloe are also often included in Lughnasadh celebrations. The gemstone for Lugh is carnelian. By Crafty Witch
God of the Month: Cernunnos the Stag Lord
“I am a stag of seven tines�
Cernunnos was worshipped by the iron age Celts all across Europe as late as the first century AD, and his worship must have begun centuries before that. The Celts had no written language of their own and although their druids could write in Latin and Greek there are no writings with their knowledge to be found today. Therefore people today have nothing in writing about him at all. Everything we know about him can only be guessed at from the iconography: the images of him created by the Celts themselves. The Celts made numerous models, or icons, of their various gods, and there
are over 60 depicting Cernunnos, from all over Europe. We only know his name because it is carved on a single one of these, made by sailors from the Gallic Parisii tribe. An early image of him that has been found was carved on rock in Northern Italy in the 4th century BC. How widespread the use of this exact name was is unknown, it is possible that this was the name for this antlered god to noone but the Parisii themselves, but the structure of the name suggests otherwise. Cornu in modern French means "horned, because modern French has grown from the Latin language
imposed upon them by the Romans, it stems from Latin roots. So Cernunnos is a Roman name meaning Horned One, and was probably the new Romanized name given by the Gauls to all their very old horned gods, in which case its use may have been widespread throughout Gaul after it became a Roman province. The images of him are unusually consistent. His main attribute are his horns, those of a stag. He is usually portrayed as a mature man with long hair and a beard, and wears a torc. Cernunnos is nearly always portrayed with animals, in particular the stag.
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Cernunnos the Stag Lord ~ cont.……. He is also frequently associated with a unique beast that seems to belong only to him: a serpent with the horns of a ram. The ram-horned serpent is particularly interesting. The serpent occurs in myths all across the world, and is nearly always associated with knowledge. Usually these associations are purely pagan, but remember that it was a serpent that tempted Eve to eat from the tree of knowledge.
It is also commonly associated with death and the otherworld, and is hence described as cthonic. The following poem of obscure origin but definitely Celtic could be about him. I am a stag of seven tines, I am a wide flood on a plain, I am a wind on the deep waters, I am a shining tear of the sun,
I am a hawk on a cliff, I am fair among flowers, I am a god who sets the head afire with smoke. I am a battle waging spear, I am a salmon in the pool, I am a hill of poetry, I am a ruthless boar, I am a threatening noise of the sea, I am a wave of the sea, Who but I knows the secrets of the unhewn dolmen ?
Living Out of the Broom headCloset afire with smoke.
I am a god who sets the
I understand that for safety reasons many pagans are still in their broom closets and only peek out every now and again. Having been out for some time now, I occasionally forget that. For those of us out we need to live in a way that those who are peeking feel safe enough to step out a bit. With witch hunting becoming a fun family activity for some churches again we do need to be cautious, and we will never ever convince everyone that we don’t worship their Satan. Remember we aren’t working to convert, just to take away fears. You are all thinking that it would be easier to convert aren’t you? Life is a challenge this is just another one. The more we show the rest of the world they have nothing to fear from us the safer we will all feel. It doesn’t take much either; all of us have it in us. This is my boon of all of you for the next year, to make our
part of the planet safe and hope it spreads across it faster than a virus.
are to others the more comfortable and relaxed they are.
A few of my thoughts on the how to’s start with a smile. Even if you’re grinning like an idiot, it still puts people at ease. It is the very best defense even, no one expects you to smile when they are trying to hurt you. Smiling is warming and inviting, not only to the person you are smiling at, but to you as well.
If none of the above work against someone who has decided to dislike you, it still worked for you and made you a better person. You kept the negativity away, you were still kind, and it truly hacks off those that hate for no reason.
Another idea is to always be seen with a positive attitude, be sitting in the mud changing a tire, and be cheerful about it, even if it’s not your tire. Again this benefits you as much as everyone else as positivity attracts positivity. And with the above, practice kindness. Aesop said that “no act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted” and I agree. The kinder you
By Crafty Witch
The Lord of the Animals. The Lord of the Hunt. The Stag Lord. The Horned God of the Hunt, The Lord of the Forest...of all the Celtic divinities none has caught the imagination of modern pagans so much as Old Horny himself. By Jessilyn Maxwell
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Scents of the World: Aloe It’s a fairly certain thing people will know this plant, especially if you’ve ever gotten a sunburn! Aloe (Aloe vera) is a succulent plant with a short stem and long fleshy leaves with spines. In the summer, aloe will have spikes of yellow tubular flowers. In warm, dry areas, it’s a popular ornamental plant.
“The living plant itself is magickally protective.”
Aloe has a great reputation as a medicinal plant. Its use has gone back several thousand years as a treatment for various skin conditions, wounds, and burns. The gel from its leaves is an anti-inflammatory, and helps to promote effective wound healing. The gel is readily available at stores, and can be used on a wide variety of ailments, such as acne, dermatitis, nettle rash, psoriasis, and shingles. It’s also a
fantastic moisturizer – my sensitive skin can never be without it! For all these reasons and more, aloe ought to be a common remedy in every household. The living plant itself is magickally protective. When grown indoors, it guards against evil influences and prevents household accidents. In Africa it is hung over doors to drive away evil and to bring good luck. Mexicans used aloe similarly when they made wreaths of dried garlic tied ALOE.. Cont…. with pictures of saints, packets of herbs and lodestones, and clumps of cut aloe. Having one growing on or nearby your altar helps protect a magickal practitioner when working with spirits. Whether you’re using it for
magick or medicine, it’s a wonderful plant to have around. Aloe is fairly easy to grow indoors. You can buy them at nearly any store with a garden section. When you buy one, make sure to plant it in a pot with holes for drainage. Use a potting soil that is designed for cacti; it must be well-draining. Water it infrequently, but give it a generous amount when you do. This will help mimic aloe’s natural habitat. In the summer, you may choose to place it outside to get more sun. It may even bloom! Do make sure to bring it back indoors in the fall. You’ll have a lovely protective, healing houseplant all year long!
The Blue Moon A "Blue Moon" occurs when two full moons happen in one calendar month. Since the phase period of the moon is 29.5 days, you usually only have one full moon each month. But each month it's a little earlier than the previous month and eventually you'll find 2 full moons in a single month. This occurs about every 2.5 years, and the second full moon is called the "blue moon
There is no physical difference in appearance, the second full moon looks like a regular full moon. According to folklorists, the term "Blue Moon" is at least 400 years old. The earliest known references to a blue moon were intended as examples of improbable events or something that could never happen. As time passed the expression evolved to mean something that rarely or
never happened. Hence the expression "Once in a Blue Moon" which is still popular today. In the pagan community, the origins of the meaning of a Blue Moon vary. And the legend or origin of these meanings cannot be substantiated. However, some believe the second full moon holds the knowledge of the Grandmother Goddess (or the Crone) and therefore contains the wisdom of the 3-fold energy.
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The Blue Moon ~ cont.…. This can be associated with the Goddess in her 3 forms of Maiden, Mother, Crone. It can also be associated with the 3 natures of self as Mind, Body, Spirit. In later evolutions as paganism began to be influenced by Christianity, this moon was associated with the Divine Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In other pagan traditions the phases of the moon represent the transition of knowledge within the Goddess. The quarter moons representing the Maiden Goddess, the New Moon the Mother Goddess, the Full Moon the Grand Mother Goddess (which maybe one reason we refer to the moon as "Grandmother Moon".
The Blue Moon then is seen as the transition of the Grandmother or Crone to the Divine level of existence. She becomes an expression of evolution of wisdom, as well as an example of the circle of life. The quarter moons representing the Maiden Goddess, the New Moon the Mother Goddess, the Full Moon the Grand Mother Goddess (which maybe one reason we refer to the moon as "Grandmother Moon". The Blue Moon then is seen as the transition of the Grandmother or Crone to the Divine level of existence. She becomes an expression of evolution of wisdom, as well as an example of the circle of life.
Another view is that the Blue Moon represents a time of heightened or clearer communication between our physical being and the Divine. Often the energy of the Divine is seen in the form of the Grandmother Goddess or the Crone Goddess. It can also be viewed as a link between the physical (masculine energy) and the spiritual (feminine energy), making communication with spirit easier and more apt to yield insightful and enlightened communications.
Borrowed from “Spring Wolf’s Pagan Path”
Gathering Notes ~ By Lazy Witch Yes, we are back after a long, much needed rest. As the seasons have changed since we were last together, so have our Gatherings. We are still getting together twice a month (2nd and 4th Wednesdays) but, for right now, we are Gathering in Q'emlin Park in Post Falls and enjoying nature and each others company! Due to family illnesses, vacations, people coming and going, our Gatherings have been quite a scramble since last we talked but right now things seems to be moving along.
On July 11th, a few of us Gathered at Q'emlin, had lunch, Circled, did a little Tarot, talked and caught up with what had been happening in our lives. The weather was totally beautiful but the river was blocked off because of the dam being open and heavy water flow. We talked to the gulls and watched the geese; moved the table around to stay in the shade and had a WONDERFUL time. The only thing that would have made it better would have had a few more hours to be together!!! Ahhhhhh, WHAT A DAY!!!!
Today, July 25th, we again met and again, just a small group but the weather was absolutely FANTASTIC!!! The swimming area was finally open (none of us went close to it but it was great to see all the youngsters playing in the water and having fun!! I'm totally amazed that as wonderful as that park is it isn't packed during the week! Anyway, today we sat and munched our way through fruits, veggies and chicken with a couple brownies on the side and really enjoyed our discussions.
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Gathering Notes ~ cont.‌. Among them was how should we get the word out about the group, who would be in charge of this (yeah, quit laughing, we all know that answer) but it was really great to have the ideas and in-put of those attending as well as their offers of help!!! What a blessing you all are!!!!
I know many of you are busy with your summer plans, visiting family members (or having them visit you), going on wonderful vacations, working on your gardens and remodeling your homes.
Very soon you'll be looking at getting your kids ready for school (or university) and then your lives will begin to fall into a slower mode. Don't forget about us!! We'd love to have you all back. Yes, we will still be doing Gatherings during the daytime at our indoor location BUT we are hoping to find somewhere close-in that will be suitable for evenings as well. If you happen to know of anywhere that would be appropriate,
please let us know. You can contact me through the mailbox here at the site. That's about it for now. If you have any news you'd like to pass on to everyone, please let me know. For those of you out of the area, this is a chance for you to participate with us. Don't forget, if you are a site member, you can post spells, ceremonies, etc (items listed on the left side of this page). Contact me and I'll be very happy to help you!!
August Spell for the Month Solitary Lammas Ritual Materials;
"If you take [a copy of] the Christian Bible and put it out in the wind and the rain, soon the paper on which the words are printed will disintegrate and the words will be gone. Our bible IS the wind and the rain." Quote from Herbalist Carol McGrath as told to her by a Native American woman.
* chime / bell * loaf of bread * candles The Chime is rung three times. Say: "I come to this space in celebration Within the Sacred Garden of the Gods. The Sun God, He gives forth light and the energy of life to all. Through the Goddess and from the Goddess All things grow and mature. It is She who is the bearer of life and rebirth of the Harvest to come. The land is full and must be tended. Let me now share Her bounty." Break off a piece of bread and eat it. Prepare a candle for lighting, saying: "I must open myself to change. To do so, I must abandon my faults, Refresh and vitalize the body and spirit, And embrace growth as I prepare for what is to become; For what the future holds, Yet for me to grow it is necessary for a part of me to die." Light the candle, declare any faults you would like to be cleansed of, and stick the candle in the ground before you. The Energy Circle is raised and at its climax blow out the candle. After a moment of meditation, say: "Out of the death of this small part of me, life begins anew." The ritual is complete and the circle is released. from: Secrets of a Witch
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Ask Gertrude Moon
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Welcome to my workroom where I mix my potions, write my spells and burn my magickal candles. I'm Gertrude Moon, a Witch by birthright, who has traveled this world as well as the world of the past to identify the skills of the ancients, learn them, develop them and bring them forward into the 21st Century! I'd like to thank the Editor of this newsletter for the opportunity to work with all of you readers, helping you with your questions and challenges as we all move forward into a New World, a New Universe that is opening up to the New Energies and Powers we are all feeling daily! What a wonderful time to be alive and what joy I feel sharing this time with you.
Each month I will do my very best to answer your Wiccan/Witch questions or assist you through your Magickal Challenges. Please send them via regular email or through our FaceBook page and together we'll work out the best answer for you. If you have something that you are needing help with immediately, please say so and someone in the Elemental Magick Outreach Program will get in touch with you as soon as possible. If your situation and/or question can wait, we'll work it out and print it in the next newsletter. REMEMBER, these should be questions or challenges concerning the Wiccan/Witch Realm. Any other questions would probably be best sent to "Dear Abbey".
Truly, I am here to help you and will do my very best to get you through any difficulties you may be having with any phase of your magickal practice, divination activities, or anything dealing with your Path. I do hope to hear from several of you very soon. Until then, I'll be here, in my workroom, working on that special recipe for making gold from moon beams!! Many blessings upon you, my children, until we talk again! May the Goddess watch over you Gertrude Moon Crone
Elemental Magick Outreach Program We've began a formal outreach program for our members and other Wiccans, Witches and the like throughout the area who may need the help of a good Wiccan, Witch or two!! Over the last couple of years several of us have performed duties that are usually covered by an outreach program but we just haven't called it that. So OFFICIALLY, as of today, we have begun our official "Elemental Magick Outreach Program".
Like everything we do, it's on the tightest of shoestrings but that just means we're doing this from our hearts!! If you or any pagan/wiccan/witch you know is needing some emotional assistance, please keep us in mind. Moving furniture, cleaning house, or babysitting really aren't on our list at this time but if you or someone you know would benifit from a visit (or many regular visits) from us, we would be happy to help. We can to sit and talk or perform ritual or ceremony for someone
who is house-bound, hospitalized, in a recovery facility or for some reason cannot attend our regular Gatherings. We have performed crossing-over ceremonies for people and pets, held the hands of those passing as well as those of their families. We understand what it means to have a disabled child and wanting to use our powers and energies to make life better for them and their families one Wiccan or Pagan can discuss with another.
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Elemental Magick Outreach Program ~ Cont.
We know the importance of sitting with friends, laughing, crying and discussing things that only Please contact us through the newsletter email or the FaceBook Wall if you have the need of our services or if you wish more information
If it were proven that there is no God there would be no religion. ...But also if it were proven that there is a God, there would be no religion. Ursula K. Le Guin, The Left Hand of Darkness
Ask Gertrude Dear Gertrude, Why do the books always want you to use a wooden match instead of a lighter in rituals? I hate the smell of matches and a lighter is so much easier? Signed, "Singed in Seattle" Dear "Singed", You probably don't like the smell of sulfur (brimstone) which is a substance that many Wiccans and Witches hold very dear. Rarely do writers of books give us their true reasons as to why they put certain requirements in their books be it the use of matches instead of lighters, a true feather quill instead of a BIC or computer or doing magick during a particular moon/sun/planet phase as opposed to performing magick when you need it. Let's take a little walk back to the Ancients and see what was used and how all this developed. In the World Before Time, humans gathered their first fire from nature. This would have been from a forest or wild fire that was begun from a lightning strike. These groups of humans would have realized the "Magick" of the Fire, keeping them warm at night as well as keeping wild animals out of their camps, bringing the little group together. As time passed, cooking food and allowing the ill to become healthy were other attributes at fire had. It was a place to gather in the dark and be communal, beginning families and tribes.
The Fire and it's tending was a true work of Natural Magick and a miracle. The Fire Tenders were taught how to keep the fire going all the time, rain or shine, what fuel it required, defending it from theft from raiding parties and, should the Fire go out, it became their responsibility to go find it again! Humans became very dependent on Fire very quickly. Fire was looked upon as Magickal, something spiritual, something only to be produced by nature. There are records of Romans marching across Europe, into Africa and Britain caring containers of fire with them, posting it in convent places at encampments so all would be able to start their cooking fires at the end of the day. Finally at some point in time someone realized that the rubbing of wooden sticks together was a way to get a fire started. Another very observant person (surely this had to be a Witch) noticed that sunlight shining through certain types of highly polished crystal and onto dry fuel would also begin a fire. I think it was probably a small boy (one of mine probably) realized that focusing Sunlight was a great way to start their Grandmother's back yard on fire! Stepping backwards a little, Sunlight is fickle at the best of time so further experimentation was done by Alchemists to develop a surer way to start a fire when one was needed. And the early match was developed. Who knows who originally developed; it very well could have been someone using a thin wooden stick to mix together the
necessary chemicals in an attempt to develop gold. He/She laid the stick down and the chemicals on it dried. Later the stick was rubbed across other dry chemicals and BOOM!! Fire began from the first match. The Ohio Match Company has been commercially making wooden matches in the United States for well over 150 years. These are the kind of wooden matches we know and use today. As to the use of them in your magick, well, that is totally up to you. If you are a "Purest" in your magick, then you may feel it's totally necessary to use wooden matches, though as you've read, pure fire comes from lightening or rubbing sticks together. If you would prefer using a lighter but want to light your candles or bon fires from wood, you could use bamboo sticks or sticks from trees, catching them on fire then using the stick to light whatever. You could also use bits of twisted paper or prepare waxed candle wicks, lighting them and use as you would sticks. Or you could use your lighter. It's the FIRE that is the magick, not so much how you got the fire. I know I'll hear from the purists here but Magick is the "INTENT" and "DESIRE" in what you are doing with your FIRE. I hope this little walk into the past has helped you make your decision. Many Blessings to You Gertrude Moon