It’s time to say farewell to the light, as we move into the darkness of night. We’ve reaped what we’ve sown, the seeds that were planted have now grown. We are blessed from the earth, and we give thanks around the hearth.
EDITORIAL
Ambrosia Hawthorn, Editor Maya LeMaitre, Copy Editor
WRITERS&CONTRIBUTORS
Mairi Valdinyx (Wild Woman Witchcrafts), Mozinah The Seer, Carmen (Witchy Keydra), Holly Charles (Holistic Holly), Monica Crosson, Bridget Engels, Miss Wondersmith, Deborah Mesdag (Vegan Kitchen Magick), Dark Lady, Cherelle Buscall, Sarah (Tiny Cauldron), Maia Toll (The Illustrated Herbiary), Marie (Anita Apothecary)
ART&PHOTOS
Cover: Ambrosia Hawthorn Illustrations: Ambrosia Hawthorn All other photos are from free stock sources or from contributors.
SALES& SUBMISSIONS
admin@wildgoddessmagick.com www.wildgoddessmagick.com/magazine/advertising
SOCIAL
www.wildgoddessmagick.com www.instagram.com/witchologymag www.twitter.com/wgmagick www.facebook.com/witchologymag MAGAZINE IS INTENDED FOR AGES 18 AND UP.
There's a chill in the air, and the earth is slowly beginning its move towards dormancy as we make our way to Winter. •
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Celtic Tree Month of Hazel Ends
Celtic Tree Month of Vine Begins Last Quarter
New Moon
First Quarter
Birthday of Carl Llewellyn Weschcke
Bewitched began today in 1964
The Harvest Full Moon
Celtic Tree of Ivy Begins
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Birthday of author Henrich Cornelius Agrippa, 1486 and author Ellen Dugan
International Day of Peace
Mabon (Northern Hemisphere) Ostara (Southern Hemisphere)
Celtic Tree Month of Vine Ends
Two days a year, the Northern and Southern Hemispheres receive the same amount of sunlight and darkness. This is because the earth is tilted at a right angle to the sun, and the sun is directly over the equator. In Latin, the word equinox translates to "equal night." The Autumn Equinox, or Mabon, takes place on or near September 21, and its spring counterpart falls around March 21. If you're in the Northern Hemisphere, the days will begin getting shorter after the Autumn Equinox and the nights will grow longer—in the Southern Hemisphere, the reverse happens. Most modern Pagans call the Autumn Equinox, Mabon in recognition of the Welsh god Mabon ap Modron meaning, "the great son of the great mother" in Welsh.
Mabon is also known by the Druids as Mea’n Fo’mhair. It is also the time of the Crone aspect of the Triple Goddess or the Dark Mother. Mabon or the Autumn Equinox, celebrates the second harvest, known as the Witch’s Thanksgiving. This time is all about reflection. This day is about seeking balance and about respecting the darker aspects of life, since so many of the other holidays are about honoring the light and sun. Take time during this Sabbat to give thanks, celebrate the gifts of earth, and share with those around you. This is the season in which the apples orchards are blooming. You can easily celebrate with apple crafts, recipes or be more adventurous with wine by making your own or preparing mulled wine. This is a wine heated on the stove with spices.
In honor of Mabon, many Witches choose to decorate their altar. You can use corn, sheaves of wheat, squash, and root vegetables or add some tools of agriculture if you have them scythes, sickles, and baskets to add some harvest flair. Also look at using any variation of yellow, orange, red, and brown to decorate with. Other ideas are to put colored fallen leaves and use candles in deep, rich colors such as reds, golds, or other autumn shades. Have fun and let your creativity and craft guide you!
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This a season to celebrate hearth and home. Brew up some witchy foods and begin storing for the winter.
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ajchel, iana. Mabon ituals, ecipes ore for the Autumn E uino .
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Shabby Witch Mabon Ritual Candle
TheShabby Witch.etsy.com $11.99
Mabon Autumn Foliage Altar Stone
Cornucopia Mabon Altar Tile
RocknGoddess.etsy.com $13.50
The WhimsicalPixiel 1. etsy.com $25.99
Fall Harvest Mabon Goddess TheCosyGoddess.etsy.com $42.19
Artisan Harvest Festival Smudge Stick Wand for Lammas, Mabon & Samhain
I_.--�-✓� Mini Besom Broom Mabon
RiverSilver Wolf. etsy.com $20.00
MoodyMoons.etsy.com $14. 75
Mabon Cauldron Shaped Candle FromAFable.etsy.com $25.37
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Autumn Equinox September 21st-22nd
Focus: Accomplishment, balance, death, equality, goals, gratitude, grief, healing, love, preparing, sharing, and success.
Magickal Workings: Grounding, family harmony, wisdom, protection, prosperity, security, and self-confidence. Also those of harmony, and balance.
Deities: Mabon, Demeter, Epona, Juno, Minerva, Modron, Morgan, Epona, Persephone, Pamona, the Muses, Osun, Yemaya, Oya, Apollo, Dionysus, Jupiter, Thoth, Thor, Hermes, Vulcan, and the Green Man. Colors: Red, orange, russet, maroon, brown, green, yellow, and gold.
Herbs: Acorn, bay, benzoin resin, echinacea, hyssop, ivy, sage, solomon's seal, tobacco, yarrow, rosemary, marigold, sage, mistletoe, saffron, chamomile, rose hips, bittersweet, sunflower, wheat, and apples. Trees: Ash, Elder, Maple, and Oak.
Crystals and Stones: Clear quartz, amber, hematite, peridot, gold, citrine, yellow topaz, cat's-eye, adventurine. Metals: Antimony, Gold, and Iron.
Animals: Blackbirds, eagles, horses, geese, owls, salmon, squirrels, and stags. Oils and Incense: Aloe, benzoin, burning leaves, cinnamon, cedar, clove, frankincense, myrrh, and pine.
Symbols: Cornucopias, baskets, effigies, scarecrows, garlands, wreathes, scythes, bolines, and sickles.
To make your a blend of incense for Mabon, the Autumn Equinox, we'll be using scents that remind us of the Fall season, and the second harvest of the year.
2 parts sandalwood for protection and spiritual awareness 2 parts pine for purification
1 part rosemary for protection and purification 1 part cinnamon for power and defense
1 part dried apple for death, immortality, and love
1 part dried oak leaf for protection and abundance
This recipe is for loose incense to be burned on a charcoal disc but it can be altered to make cone incense if you wish. As you mix and blend your incense, focus on the intent of your work. Add your ingredients to your mixing bowl one at a time. Measure and if the leaves or blossoms need to be crushed, use your mortar and pestle to do so. As you blend the herbs together, state your intent.
Use this Mabon ritual for gratitude as well as to connect with the Dark Mother. During autumn, we must also prepare for rebirth. Mabon is a day of balance, with equal amounts of darkness and light. Spend time before the ritual to decorate your altar with symbols of the season and get your Mabon Incense ready to burn. You will need a candle representing the Dark Mother, a basket of autumn leaves and a bowl of apples. When you are ready to begin, cleanse your space by mentally pushing out all negative energy with your besom. If you call a circle in your tradition, this is the time to define your circle and call the elements. Visualize a white light flowing creating the circle. This is your sacred space to hold your ritual. If you have other variations, please feel free to use them. After calling the elements and returning to center, light your Dark Mother candle, and say, Dark Mother, bringer of darkness, I embrace you tonight. There is no happiness without sadness, no day without the night, no life without death, and no love without anger. Dark Mother of the night, I thank you.
Place the offering of apples on your altar and say: Five points in a star, hidden inside. Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit. With this apple, I give thanks, For what was sown is now reaped. Then take a handful of leaves and let them fall gently within the circle. Six months of light, and six months of dark. Old leaves die, only to be reborn again later. During this night, I honor the Dark Mother, And give thanks for renewal and rebirth. Take a few more minutes to meditate on the candle flame, and to focus on the notion of gratitude, balance, and rebirth. When you are ready, close your circle, and dismiss the elements at this time. Leave the apples on your altar overnight, and the next morning, put them in your garden as an offering to the earth.
Mabon Tarot spreJ ďż˝ HoCfy c6arCes
1. What has been my biggest achievement this season? 2. For what should I express the most gratitude?
3. What must I focus on as we enter the dark period of the year? 4. What has the potential to knock me off balance? 5. What will help to keep me on track? 6. What should I leave behind?
7. What should I focus on/remember, when things get tough? 20
8. What will I experience/what gifts lie ahead?
MeetiltJ Sar"6 ':From T6e Ti!)' cauClron Sarah is the owner of The Tiny Cauldron which is a small online cottage where enchanted goodies of salts, oils, sprays for protection and cleansing, sachets, smudge sticks, palo santo bundles, and apothecary items. She also cultivates subscription boxes and mystery boxes, each devoted to bring the magic of flowers and herbs to your life. Sarah has been practicing personally for 16 years, but it wasn't until a year ago that she started The Tiny Cauldron. She uses everything she makes and her creativity comes from her own personal grimoire and knowledge of plants.
How did your Witchcraft begin? I had an inclination toward the craft when I was in the fifth grade; I borrowed a book on the Salem Witch Trials from the library and found myself hooked. It wasn't until a few years later that my mother told me my grandmother also practices. That woman taught me how to read my tarot. I still read from that deck today (The Fairy Tarot). We also have a really spiritual town near here with strong "earth-based spirituality" underpinnings. It's called Yellow Springs, and when I feel that pang of "I need to go home," that's where I go. Even the ground to me has a different energy. And I was lucky in that my mother didn't shut down my interests. I think she found it strange that my grandmother and I both found that spirituality on our own, and saw some sort of universal purpose in it.
So we would go to the Yellow Springs Street Fair twice a year and would snag witchy tools like my Grimoire, (I have had the same one since I was fourteen and it has evolved a lot) candles, and books. It has played an integral part of making earth-based spirituality the core of my spiritual roots. So this life is ingrained in me, it is a true second nature and an extension of self. My practice has ebbed and flowed based on other elements of my life, but it's always been there. The Tiny Cauldron is me sharing that part of myself with you. What is your inspiration for your products? I believe that herbs and flowers should speak for themselves in the craft. That is a large part of my understanding of the craft and nature-work. Because if we're incorporating them
in our magick, aren't we suggesting that they can speak for themselves in bringing about that magick? That thought process comes out in all that The Tiny Cauldron creates. Our bottles are always transparent so that you can see exactly what herbs are used and you can enjoy them even when not performing spell work. Our ingredients are always simple, allowing the focus to be on the plants and nothing else. In addition, I base all of my products on archaic herbal and floral lore. I love the image of the witchcraft-practicing woman in her cottage in the 1600s, making her wares with what she has and nothing else. And I always make each item in an attempt to adhere to that old-world way of practice as much as I can.
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ow can your products help witches connect with their craft
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You can find arah on Instagram at tinycauldron or her shop at Tiny auldron.Etsy.com
TinyCauldron
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The Mother Earth Offering Kit provides you all you need for celebrating Lammas and Mabon, two of the tree harvests wherein we celebrate midsummer and the Autumn Equinox, express gratitude for the harvest, and stay mindful of those who are less fortunate so that we can help where and when we can. However, it can be used any time we need to provide an offering or truce, like when blessing land or a new home or blessing scarred or negative land.
The Mother Earth Offering Oil
As practitioners using nature, it's ideal to have offerings ready on our altar or in our supply for such purposes.
This oil's intention is to provide an easy witchcraft supply or altar item for earth offerings, be they during harvest celebrations like Mabon, Samhain or Lammas; for when we take herbs and plants from the earth and want to give back; and for when we want to thank the earth for a good yield. You can also anoint your ritual candles or other ritual tools, or wear the oil as a way to stay mindful of the Earth's offerings or to be closer to Mama Earth. The oil is fractionated coconut oil, a carrier oil that is unlike many; it won’t linger on you or your tools, so you can reuse as often as desired without the negative consequences of other oils. Our herb blend combines ceremonial tobacco, blue corn and sweetgrass-often refered to as the hair of mother earth-with tomato leaves, barley, cedar, pinon pine, and sunflower.
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The Mother Earth Offering Kit
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SEPTEMBER MAGICKAL WORKINGS
September is a great time to focus on the hearth and home. Spend some time preparing your environment for the upcoming chilly months. If you don't already have one, set up a hearth or kitchen altar for those times when you're cooking, brewing, and baking.
Use this time to clear out both physical and emotional clutter before you have to spend the long winter days inside. Also learn to infuse will and intent into your practice and spend time this month to celebrate the Autumn Equinox with the Triple Goddess.
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Tea Magick & Tasseography By Ambrosia Hawthorn
All over the world, tea is a ritual. You can use it in many different ways, from divination, spells, rituals, altars, and setting intentions at anytime of the day. You don't have to be a Kitchen Witch, Hedge Witch, or Green Witch to use tea in your practice. You only need to gain a basic understanding of tea, tea blending, the herbs you plan to use, and how to fit the ritual of making tea into your regular practice.
Tasseography
Tasseography, otherwise known as Tasseomancy or Tassology, is the art of tea leaf reading. Tass is an Arab root, meaning small cup or goblet. This is a form of divination done by interpreting the patterns of tea leaves left in a teacup after the tea has been drunk. Some diviners use specialized teacups for reading tea leaves but you can read tea leaves just as easily with a regular teacup from your cupboard. To get started reading tea, add a teaspoon of any type of tea to a wide, shallow teacup and pour hot water into the cup. Allow the tea to brew to your liking and enjoy it as you normally would. This is a good time to meditate about your intentions. 28
Next, place a napkin on the saucer and when you’re finished drinking your tea, swirl the cup five times and turn it upside down on the saucer. The turning of the cup before inverting it over the saucer is equivalent to the shuffling of Tarot cards. Make sure that you have only enough liquid that the tea leaves can move but not so much that the leaves will drain right out of the cup when it's upturned. It can take a bit of practice to figure this part out but it isn't too difficult once you've developed an eye for it. Now you can turn the cup right side up and interpret the shapes and symbols left in the tea leaves. A good deal of practice is necessary before the symbols can be accurately interpreted at a glance. In time it will be as easy as reading a book. A general rule of thumb is that the rim of the cup represents the present day and the base correlates to a year in advance. As you read the leaves further down into the cup, you’re getting farther into the future. The handle of the cup represents the seeker. The closer the leaves are to the handle, the more direct an influence that part of the reading will have. A symbol's meaning can change with how it interacts with other nearby symbols, so keep that in mind when interpreting tea leaves.
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KITCHEN WITCHERY There is no correct or incorrect way to practice Kitchen Witchery. It is a truly eclectic form of magick that can be shaped according to your own knowledge, intuition, and personal preference. The Kitchen Witch generally prepares food from scratch and focuses on the ritual aspects while cooking or baking. This also brings them closer to Mother Earth. Kitchen Witches often create special dishes with specific magical intentions, or they simply enhance everything they make with positive, divine energy. If you are a hazard in the kitchen, like me, I choose to begin with brewing teas. This is a form of Kitchen Witchcraft and it's as easy as measuring herbs and boiling the kettle. It gets you started on focusing your intentions and raising energy. For the advanced, get creative with baking your own breads, cakes, meads, ales, and snacks. All infused with magickal intent. Our ancestors made the hearth the
focal point of their homes; a place where food was cooked and shared among family and friends. Nowadays, most of us don't have fireplaces and if we do, we don't generally cook in them. In modern times, the oven and stove top now serve as the hearth. If you are a Wiccan, before you perform any magick in your kitchen you may want to cleanse and consecrate your kitchen. Even if you aren't a Wiccan, it is a good idea to clear out clutter, sweep, and smudge so you can focus on setting your intentions before any magickal practice. If you live in a Muggle household, Kitchen Witchery is a great way to keep a low profile on your craft. You don't need fancy tools or objects with pentacles. Your greatest tool is your intention and will. You can certainly still clean your kitchen, holding the intention of clearing out unwanted energy while you work. You can also charge any object in your room and place it in the kitchen as a talisman. This could be a candle, a crystal, or even a plant.
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It's time to sit 6acA� ant! leCiciousfy savor, t6e 6eau!7 ef t6e season� ant! t6efruits ef our Ca6or. _.:.rr-
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TripCe Go/less scptem6er ".FuCC Moon Melitation By Bridget Engels Take a seat in circle or on your own and get comfortable now. You can lay down on the floor with blankets/pillows or sit upright and take a few deep breaths ...close your eyes. Let go of all your cares and concerns of the day. Feel yourself begin to relax and go within. You are going on a journey .... Now imagine yourself on a dark, early autumn night at the edge of a lake. There is a slight chill to the air. The waves lap up onto the shore near your feet. The full moon is rising over the horizon white and shimmering; shining a path on the surface of the water to you. A small wood boat floats near the shore; waiting for you there. You walk into the water and get in the boat and then push off with the paddle into the lake. You paddle into the moonlit path on the surface of the water further towards the middle of the lake. You are feeling the mysterious pull forward. You keep paddling towards the other side of the lake. There is an inlet ahead of you; partly obscured by trees. You softly paddle into the dark and silent inlet. It is now leading you into the mouth of a river. Your boat lurches forward as the current beneath you becomes stronger and swifter. It makes a tum and then another, twisting more and more. Large rocks jut out from the sides of the river as you instinctively float through them, avoiding all danger. As you paddle through these rapids; you look up to see in the darkness what looks like cliffs forming an arc. As your boat passes under the cliffs you can now smell salt water in the breeze. The current pulls you forward, faster now, into a choppy, vast sea. The moonlight seems to have vanished with clouds covering the sky. You suddenly feel lost, alone, and afraid in this sea. What's worse is that there is a funneling whirlpool and it's sucking you down into it! You scream out for help. Aaaaahhhhh! Just as your boat is careening on its side into the voracious whirlpool- you sense a force of power and strength surrounding you. A high pitched hum of a woman's voice sings high on the air. Suddenly the whirlpool ceases and your boat regains its balance on the sea. A strong breeze pulls you forward and you lose consciousness from your fear and exhaustion. You are pulled through the stormy sea and finally onto a shore. You blink awake and notice this brilliant white shore illuminated by the moonlight. Little, round, white stones glow from the moonlight that is shining in a clear and starry sky above you. What an utterly serene and lovely place this is and so silent. You walk out of your boat and onto this shore of glowing white stones. You now sense some movement of energy coming towards you and hear the same high pitched hum in the air when you were in the whirlpool on the stormy sea. 41
An ethereal figure of a woman floats towards you. She is tall, radiant, ancient and powerful and her force emanates all around her and into you. Her silvery gown and white flowing hair seem electrified with lunar energy. Her face is three in one that is constantly turning and changing. It is hard to distinguish her features. Full and white, half black shadowed and white, all black shadowed and now changing to white again. Gravity pulls you closer to her. You feel an energetic force inside you. She speaks to you in her otherworldly voice: "Sister, I am Luna. I have been with you and the Earth since the beginning and I will be there at the end of time. I show myself to you in all my guises as I sail through the heavens and your life in all the seasons...your seasons. I empower, I illuminate, and I transform life. Wherever you are; you will have my eternal guidance while you walk this Earth. Think back daughter, to the moment when you were a teenage girl. Your eyes wide open and innocent, with youthful energy. What were your thoughts, dreams, and motivations at that time? Do you remember your youthful power? Now think back again when you were a 30- year-old woman ... remember who you were around or with in relationship and in work or school. How did you express your power and energies? Savor the life force of those years and their fertileness. Now think ahead when you will be a 65-70 year-old woman. How will you best use your wisdom, power, and energies? You and I are all three cycles of life-ever intertwining, ever transforming and ever giving. Throughout all the endless cycles of life, death, rebirth- Maiden, Mother, Crone I represent this sacred cycle of life in every woman. I will always shine my light into your spirit no matter what cycle of life you are in. Take this gift as a reminder of your journey this night and my blessings to you ... Go now and rest." She places a white, small, moon stone in your open palm now. You bow to Luna and slowly tum and walk towards a white cottage. Turning around, you see that she is gone but the moon in the September sky has become so enormously full and radiant- it shines a glittering light all around the lake. You are tingling with lunar energy and feel charged, healed, and peaceful. You now get to the door of the cottage and walk inside. There is a warm fire and a soft bed against the wall. You lay down and rest awhile ... pause here for a few minutes Now slowly take a few deep breaths in and out. Wiggle your fingers and toes. When you are ready come back to present time and place. Open your eyes. Blessed Be, -Bridget TRIPLE GODDESS SEPTEMBER FULL MOON MEDITATION 42
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GETTING TO KNOW MAIA TOLL, AUTHOR OF THE ILLUSTRATED HERBIARY MAIA'S BEGINNING I spent my 34th year in Ireland apprenticed to a traditional healer. We crafted medicine from roots and bark, leaves and petals ... and also from words, stringing them into stories to mend the spirit. MAIA'S RETURN TO THE STATES When I returned from studying with a traditional healer in Ireland, what I missed most was the herb room. This room, an overgrown closet really, was full of scents and colors and textures. We stored dried herbs, medicinal tinctures, essential oils, plus any special products we'd made or acquired like soaps or bath salts. I opened a small apothecary which has grown into Herbiary.com, with stores in Philadelphia, PA and Asheville, NC.
We had the chance to learn more about herbalist, storyteller, folklorist, and women's wisdom mentor, Maia Toll.
Want to find out more? Visit Maia at: www.maiatoll.com or www.herbiary.com
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR HERBIARY Herbiary's first location wasn't much bigger than that Irish herb room. Now, over a decade later, my partner Andrew and I have 2 shops-one in Philadelphia at the Reading Terminal Market and the other in Asheville, North Carolina. Come visit! WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU LIKE OUR WITCHY READERS TO KNOW? I also currently have a blog. This is where I share my stories. In August, 2018 it will be joined by my first book, An Illustrated Herbiary. This book is whimsical, gorgeous, and OMG yummy; I can't wait to share it with you. Stay tuned!
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T6e Harvest Moon Autumn EP'-inox
septrm6er September was the seventh month in the oldest Roman calendar. The Harvest Moon is sometimes referred to as the Wine Moon or the Singing Moon. This is a month of hearth and home. Spend some time preparing your environment for the upcoming chilly months. If you don't already have one, set up a hearth or kitchen altar for those times when you're cooking, baking and canning. Use this time to clear out clutter before you have to spend the long winter days inside. Correspondences: Colors: Brown, yellow-green, and yellow. Gemstones: Peridot, olivine, chrysolite, and citrine. Trees: Hazel, Larch, and Bay. Deities: Demeter, Ceres, Isis, Nephthys, Freyja, Ch'ang-O, and Thoth. Herbs: Copal, fennel, rye, wheat, valerian, and skullcap. Element: Fire. During this Full Moon, work with balancing light and dark. Also, clean and straighten up physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual clutter in your life.
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Pomona is the goddess of abundance in Roman mythology. She is a wood nymph, and her name originates from the Latin word pomun, for fruit. She watches over and protects fruit trees and cares for their cultivation. Pomona was tricked into marriage to Vertumnus, who likewise presided over gardens. Together they embody the fruitful earth, from which we gather physical and spiritual sustenance. She is one of the few Roman deities that do not have a counterpart in Greek mythology.
Pomona was one of the Numina, the Roman guardian spirits who watched over people, homes and special places.
Pomona is celebrated during autumn and often represents the Mother aspect of the Triple Goddess for her nurturing nature.
To honor Pomona, gather apples and has provided. You can also call on Pomona for abundance work and during transitions. Theme: Rest, pleasure, abundance, nature.
Symbols: Fruit, orchards, gardens, cornucopia.
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Wisdom often addresses the necessity of balance. It is what we call on to make the right decisions. You'll Need: 2 pieces of purple fabric (for wisdom) 1 spool of purple thread 1 embroidery needle -or- 1 purple drawstring bag 1 purple camdle 1 bay leaf 4-5 cloves 4-5 sunflower petals or seeds 1 lapis lazuli stone a small owl charm and sage essential oil
Cleanse and create a sacred space, set your intentions and light your purple wisdom candle. Place the bay leaf, cloves, and sunflower in the bag while saying,
Herbs, I bless you and awaken the wisdom you have to share with me.
Anoint the lapis lazuli stone with the sage oil and add it to the bag while saying,
Guide me to the wisest choices.
And lastly, place the owl charm in the bag and say:
Help me see what I might miss, to question until I truly understand.
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Pens and Positivity Art
Hello! I am Cherelle Buscall, the hand that holds the brush at Pens and Positivity Art.
My work is in either watercolors or mixed media and I take almost all of my inspiration from Mother Nature. I live in a beautiful area in the UK with dense woodlands, rolling corn fields, and estuary banks all around me. My three-year-old takes great pleasure in exploring these breath-taking areas so we are out roaming in nature a lot. In all my watercolor work, I use water that has been set out under the light of the full moon and I infuse the water before each painting session by popping selected crystals into my water pot. I use clear quartz, rose quartz, tourmaline, or amethyst to suit the piece that I am painting or the message I am conveying. I like to think this fills each painting with just that little bit of extra magick.
As a qualified Color Therapist, I am mindful when selecting my color palette to ensure that a good balance of energy is distributed throughout my work. Nature is my greatest love and Mabon is the most beautiful time of the year. As the Autumnal Equinox approaches, the skies grow pinker, the leaves turn orange, and the morning dew twinkles under the Sun. During this time, I feel an abundance of gratitude when I harvest and hang my herbs to dry and pick the last of the fruits from my garden. It's definitely the most inspiring time of the year! You can find more of my work here: Etsy.com/uk/shop/ PensAndPositivity And you can keep up to date with all my news on my Facebook page: Pens and Positivity Art
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"For they are us, and we will soon be them" -Darklady
Bone Conjuring: This Is What I Do By Darklady
Speaking to the Dead comes naturally to me because I have ancestors that did it too. The Dead see me as someone to talk to, and to me, that's a real honor. I can't go to a store without them being around, and that is just fine to me. I love interacting and seeing them. A Bone Conjurer or Necromancer in the Middle Ages were the educated elite clerics. Defending their actions by using necromancy to "invoke and control demons or spirits in the name of God." Even though we Witches have been working with the dead long before that. With the clergy working with the dead, they said that often times Demons would be summoned. This goes hand in hand with what they believe- Devil, Satan, Demons, and Hell. This is what they believed. I'm here to say that I have worked with spirits all throughout my sixty-two years, from shadow people to full apparitions, and I haven't met a demon once. I have met angry spirits, but not more angry than when they were alive. So a lot of this "Demon possession" is just to keep the fear-mongering going to keep their flock under control. Anyway, today's Necromancers like John Edwards, Sylvia Browne, and those who talk to spirits are like me, the new age Necromancers. We don't raise the dead, or sacrifice animals to bring them back to life.
We just channel and work with the dead in the spiritual realm. I can, and do see them with my spirit eyes, it's like seeing through your third eye. I do this all the time, so like the movie Sixth Sense, where the little boy says to Bruce Willis, "I see dead people," I really do, and to me that is a true honor that they have come to me. You must always honor and respect the dead, always. When you talk to them through a spirit board or in sĂŠances, always talk with respect, never yell, and never talk down to them. You really don't want to piss a spirit off. So what does Necromancy mean? The term Necromancy means the manipulation of death and the dead through ritual magick or other kind of occult ceremony. The first part of necromancy is Neco, which means Death (Necropolis, Necrosis, Necronomicion). There are two types of Necromancy. The first type consists of Divination, which are Tarot cards, spirit boards, and pendulums, Mediumship, which refers to automatic writing, channeling, and sĂŠances, and Spirit work, which is to summon the dead in spirit form to help and teach. I consider myself a
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summoner and have to be careful. I don't believe in evil spirits or Demons but I really don't like dealing with pissed of spirits as I have met and dealt with a few. So the second type is about Witchcraft and dealing with the dead. I'm a Dark Grey Witch that deals with the dark aspects of Witchcraft. To me, it's not scary, it's beautiful in its own right and it's all about how you look at it. Being who I am and working with the dead gives me a whole other appreciation for life. If you fear death, being a Necromancer is not for you because you won't be able to face the dark. But, if you can deal with the shadows and you understand your shadow self, then you can also travel down this path like I have. I began at the age of three, having had my first friend who protected me from being killed so many times by my stepfather. The shadow knows, he always knows. Spirits are nothing to be afraid of, they have emotions just like us, fear, anger, hate, love, loneliness, and regret. So remember to respect them, for you shall be in their shoes one day. We all die, everything dies. So always honor and respect the dead.
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If you are interested in conjuring the dead, you'll need a white candle and salt (to make a salt ring around your table for extra protection). As you ignite your white candle, call the spirit you would like to meet and wait. You will have to have patience until they appear. After you have had your conversation with them, thank them for coming, say your goodbyes, snuff out the candle, and turn on the light. Channeling is very different, and you'll need to be experienced to know what you are doing. So darlings, traveling to the spirit realm and talking to spirits is not for the faint of heart. You have to have a lot of courage and not be afraid of the darkness. I have been walking down this path, with my two spirit Witch sisters now for about a year. They teach and protect me. Being either behind me or beside me, if you look at any of my pictures you may be lucky enough to feel or get a glimpse of them. So thats a little about me and what I do and I hope it has shed some light on Bone Conjurers (Necromancers) and how I do it. Dark Blessings! -Darklady http://www.sciencia.cat/temes/medieval-necromancyart-controlling-demons Bailey, Michael. Magic and Superstition in Europe: A Concise History from Antiquity to the Present
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa was a German polymath, physician, legal scholar, soldier, theologian, and occult writer. He was born in Cologne, Germany on September 14th, 1486. He was most often known as a German mystic and alchemist. He studied both medicine and law in Cologne. In 1503, he assumed the name Cornelius Agrippa von Nettesheim, adopting the von to suggest a noble background. Three years later, he established a secret society in Paris devoted to astrology, magic, and Kabbalah. His career is diverse: secret agent, soldier, physician, orator, and law professor in Cologne, Paris, DĂ´le, London, Italy, Pavia, and Metz. In 1520, he set up a medical practice in Geneva, and in 1524 became personal physician to the queen mother at the court of King Francis I in Lyons. He gave his mind to writing, and composed three Books Of Occult Philosophy, Natural Magic, Celestial Magic, and Ceremonial Magic. No evidence exists that Agrippa was accused for his interest in or practice of magical or occult arts during his lifetime, although it was known he argued against the persecution of witches. Agrippa died on February 18, 1535 at Grenoble. During his lifetime, he was married three times and had a large family. Valente, Michaela "Agrippa, Heinrich Cornelius". In: Dictionary of Gnosis and Western Esotericism. Agrippa, Heinrich Cornelius. Three Books of Occult Philosophy. Vectura. "Agrippa, Heinrich Cornelius." Complete Dictionary of Scientific Biography. Encyclopedia.com. http://www.encyclopedia.com.
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Mabon Shortbread Gratitude Tree By Deborah Mesdag A big part of celebrating Mabon for my family is expressing our gratitude for all of our blessmgs. Last year we made a gratitude tree with fabric leaves, and it turned out really well. We put some branches in a vase, then each day from September 1st until Mabon, we wrote something for which we were grateful on a leaf and added it to a branch. This is what it looked like on Mabon:
We made a hole in each leaf before baking so we would be able to hang them up later:
After the cookies had cooled, we made vegan royal icing (recipe on page 71), colored it, and then dipped the cookies in the icing:
This year, I thought I would try an edible version with shortbread cookies shaped like leaves. We started out the same as before with putting branches in a vase, then made shortbread cookies (recipe below) and cut them out with a 3 1/2 inch long leaf-shaped cookie cutter:
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We made a marbled effect by adding one drop of a contrasting color and swirling it on the top of the icing:
We let the piped words dry, then used ornament hooks to hang the cookies from the branches:
We took the rest of the icing and added cocoa powder to make it a dark brown. We also added some additional powdered sugar to make it a bit stiffer. You don't want it too thick to pipe easily, but it needs to be a little thicker than is ideal for dipping so the letters don't spread out. We a4ded the brown icing to a piping bag with a fine tip and waited for the icing on the leayes to dry. We made a list of things for which we are grateful while the icing dried. Then, my mom piped the words onto the cookies:
My mom and I had a lot of fun making our gratitude tree and we loved how the leaves turned out. You can begin your own tradition of what you are thankful for during the time of Mabon. They are also just as delicious as they look! Have a blessed Mabon, -Deborah
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on S ort re d Gr titude ree e or
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INGREDIENTS: 20 g (4 1/2 tsp) EnerG Egg Replacer 0 g (6 TBS) Warm Water 2.5 g (1/2 tsp) Vanilla Extract 4 0 g (4 c) Powdered Sugar
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Miss Wondersmith 73
Letting Go of Summer Cider By Miss Wondersmith
A warm and delicious brew combining the fall flavors of crisp apples and vitamin c rosehips with summertime honey and rose petals. Perfect to bridge the seasons. Alter as you see fit.
INGREDIENTS: 500ml (2 1/2c) Fresh Apple Juice 2 Cinnamon Sticks 10g (1/4 c) Wild Rose Petals 12g (1/4 c) Dried Rosehips A pinch of burned fir needles, for depth 15g (1 Tbsp) Honey, or to taste
DIRECTIONS: -Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan. -Simmer on low for half an hour, or until the rosehips have plumped up. -Strain, and serve hot (perhaps with some cookies, as pictured.) As you sip, close your eyes and picture the beauty of summer - the dewdrops glistening on ripe fruits and soft flowers, the long evening sunlight, the warm breezes. Then picture the progression of the season - the fruits shriveling and dropping, the flowers fading, the days growing shorter. This transition can be particularly difficult as we look towards a long dark winter (at least here in the Northern Hemisphere), but as I sip my cider I like to envision the energy of the plants moving downward, into the roots. Picture all of that vitality slowly making its way back down into the earth, where it will sleep restfully under a cozy blanket of snow until spring returns and wakes it up. All safe and sound and snuggly. Ah, now doesn’t that feel better? -Miss Wondersmith
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APPLE BUTTER Marie From o e ar
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How did our ancestors celebrate the holiday? What does it mean to you? If you have little ones, possibly start a family tradition of making Apple Butter and gifting it to others to spread the spirit of Mabon and the gifts of the land.
INGREDIENTS: 3.1 kg (6.5-7lbs) Apples (peeled and cored) 1.4 g (1/4 tsp) Salt 11 g (1 1/2 TBSP) Cinnamon 14 g (1 TBSP) Vanilla Extract 100 g (1/2 c) Brown Sugar (firmly packed) 100 g (1/2 c) Granulated White Sugar
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