NATURAL WITCH

FOLK MAGIC

for Protection, Health, Fertility

Keep a perfect, unopened PINE CONE in the house for fertility, good health,

 long life, and warding off the Evil Eye.

If it opens and begins to shed it's seed, plant it, and replace it with a new one.

THE YEAR IS A DANCING WOMAN

THE GODDESS YEAR

The year is a dancing woman

Who is born at the coming of spring

The year is a dancing woman

Of her birth and death we sing

In spring she come to power

When the red of her moonbloods come

And she dances and spins towards summer

To the beat of her passion's drum

'Tis then she becomes so fertile

With the life that is to come

And she flows with the love that feeds us

'Til the harvest time is done

Then dances and spins towards darkness

All dressed in autumn fire

To descend to the time of shadow

And rest from the world's desire

Now her hair is touched with silver

Winter's wisdom claims her soul

And she births the spirit within us

Bringing light and hope to us all

Igniting a blaze in the darkness

To kindle the coming spring

Then dreams 'til her resurrection

And her story again begins ...

The year is a dancing woman

Who is born at the coming of spring

The year is a dancing woman

Of her birth and death we sing ...

* Art & Lyrics by Shekhinah Mountainwater

WHEW, GLAD THAT'S OVER ...

Mercury retrograde has been a bitch this time around. Full moon, lunar eclipse and planets lining up all at an already stressful time where so blatantly a pagan holiday has been taken over by a bully. Blah, blah, blah, I'm so glad the pressure is off, near completely off.
I can sleep again, the sleep of darkness, warmth and dreams. The deep sleep of winter. Sinking deep down into the rich dark earth and healing, dreaming. So many past issues regurgitated into December, my head still spins during my wakeful hours.

Today I return to my volunteer work for a local women's shelter that provides free services to women and children of abuse. Haven't volunteered since I was a teen and I'm glad I decided to do community service again. I had ( and still have sometimes) a hard time acclimating to the multiple egos that rear their ugly heads from the many volunteers. It's amazing to me that there are STILL office politics even when no one is collecting a paycheck. I stupidly thought since we were all volunteering our time we'd all be equals, my ridiculous utopian naivete shines again. My lesson is to figure a way to get women to work together. Patriarchy has ruled us for too long.

All in All, things are getting back to manageable again. I shall have a better plan in place for December next year. I had a beautiful Solstice but the "muggle" xmas thing wears me out, on many levels.
Happy hibernation !

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE YULETIDE

Twas the night before Yuletide and all through the glen
Not a creature was stirring, not a fox, not a hen.
A mantle of snow shone brightly that night
As it lay on the ground, reflecting moonlight.
The faeries were nestled all snug in their trees,
Unmindful of flurries and a chilly north breeze.
The elves and the gnomes were down in their burrows,
Sleeping like babes in their soft earthen furrows.
When low! The earth moved with a thunderous quake,
Causing chairs to fall over and dishes to break.
The Little Folk scrambled to get on their feet
Then raced to the river where they usually meet.
“What happened?” they wondered, they questioned, they probed,
As they shivered in night clothes, some bare-armed, some robed.
“What caused the earth’s shudder? What caused her to shiver?”
They all spoke at once as they stood by the river.
Then what to their wondering eyes should appear
But a shining gold light in the shape of a sphere.
It blinked and it twinkled, it winked like an eye,
Then it flew straight up and was lost in the sky.
Before they could murmur, before they could bustle,
There emerged from the crowd, with a swish and a rustle,
A stately old crone with her hand on a cane,
Resplendent in green with a flowing white mane.
As she passed by them the old crone’s perfume,
Smelling of meadows and flowers abloom,
Made each of the fey folk think of the spring
When the earth wakes from slumber and the birds start to sing.
“My name is Gaia,” the old crone proclaimed
in a voice that at once was both wild and tamed,
“I’ve come to remind you, for you seem to forget,
that Yule is the time of re-birth, and yet…”
“I see no hearth fires, hear no music, no bells,
The air isn’t filled with rich fragrant smells
Of baking and roasting, and simmering stews,
Of cider that’s mulled or other hot brews.”
“There aren’t any children at play in the snow,
Or houses lit up by candles’ glow.
Have you forgotten, my children, the fun
Of celebrating the rebirth of the sun?”
She looked at the fey folk, her eyes going round,
As they shuffled their feet and stared at the ground.
Then she smiled the smile that brings light to the day,
“Come, my children,” she said, “Let’s play.”
They gathered the mistletoe, gathered the holly,
Threw off the drab and drew on the jolly.
They lit a big bonfire, and they danced and they sang.
They brought out the bells and clapped when they rang.
They strung lights on the trees, and bows, oh so merry,
In colors of cranberry, bayberry, cherry.
They built giant snowmen and adorned them with hats,
Then surrounded them with snow birds, and snow cats and bats.
Then just before dawn, at the end of their fest,
Before they went homeward to seek out their rest,
The fey folk they gathered ‘round their favorite oak tree
And welcomed the sun ‘neath the tree’s finery.
They were just reaching home when it suddenly came,
The gold light returned like an arrow-shot flame.
It lit on the tree top where they could see from afar
The golden-like sphere turned into a star.

The old crone just smiled at the beautiful sight,

“Happy Yuletide, my children,” she whispered. “Good night.”

SING IF YOU FEEL IT !!!

SILENT NIGHT
Ellen Reed

Silent night, Solstice Night
All is calm, all is bright
Nature slumbers in forest and glen
Till in Springtime She wakens again
Sleeping spirits grow strong!
Sleeping spirits grow strong!


Silent night, Solstice night
Silver moon shining bright
Snowfall blankets the slumbering Earth
Yule fires welcome the Sun's rebirth
Hark, the Light is reborn!
Hark, the Light is reborn!


Silent night, Solstice night
Quiet rest till the Light
Turning ever the rolling Wheel
Brings the winter to comfort and heal
Rest your spirit in peace!
Rest your spirit in peace!


 
 
Gods Rest Ye Merry Pagan Folk




Gods rest ye merry Pagan folk,
Let nothing you dismay
Remember that the Sun returns
Upon this Solstice Day!
The growing dark is ended now
And Spring is on its way


O, tidings of comfort and joy!
Comfort and joy!
O, tidings of comfort and joy!


The Winter's worst still lies ahead
Fierce tempest, snow and rain!
Beneath the blanket on the ground
The spark of life remains!
The Sun's warm rays caress the seeds
To raise Life's songs again!


O, tidings of comfort and joy!
Comfort and joy!
O, tidings of comfort and joy!


Within the blessed apple lies
The promise of the Queen!
For from this pentacle shall rise
The orchards fresh and green.
The Earth shall blossom once again
The air be sweet and clean!


O, tidings of comfort and joy!
Comfort and joy!
O, tidings of comfort and joy!

BEEN A WHILE

My goodness it's been a busy time.
Car repairs, fall influenza, icicles threatening to tear down gutters, working on a handmade Winter Solstice, snowed in for a week and much more I won't bore you with.
Watched the Women's Spirituality Series by Donna Reed. Even though they were made in 1992 it was wonderful to watch. And to see some founding women of the Goddess movement, so young and full of fire, and to see some who have passed on. Watch it, if you haven't already.
New additions to my altar; three muses relief found at a garage sale, and a huge conch shell from a different garage sale, a ulexite stone and a crystal encrusted stone the size of my hand, passed down as a toss away.
I definately feel a new chapter beginning in my life. Sorting out the people who are my friends from those who drain me for one reason or another. Life's too short.
I feel inspiration taping on my shoulder, off to create ... be well!

A PAGAN MAGAZINE IS A POWERFUL TOOL

Here's one for you, enjoy!

RECLAIMING QUARTERLY

WE ARE PREDITOR, NOT PREY!

It's a catchy title and just one small line, from this interview, that holds profound meaning for some. This interview is full of amazing snipets of knowledge. Go make a cup of tea and listen, if you feel compelled. Blessings!

Radio interview with Dr. Ada-Belinda DancingLion, healer, medicine woman and spiritual counselor.

Deep lessons revealed in a 30 minute interview that some will never learn in 30 years.

I'm inspired, hope you are too!

WILD WITCHES DON'T GET THE BLUES

SAMHAIN

Time of Hag Time of Crone

Time of Blood Time of Bone

Hecate offers cold embrace

Spectre, wraith and banshee pace

Wait for Hallow's eve to fly

Wait 'til deepest dark to scry

This night the veil is very thin

Life goes out and death comes in

Open wide to all the fear

Trust that from the darkness here

Life and light will rise again

Death goes out and life comes in

~ Ila Suzanne

From Goddess Spirituality Book, Rituals, Holydays, and Moon Magic by Ffiona Morgan

HOME PROTECTION SPELL

My man came home with a bucket full of rusty used railroad spikes and knew I would receive them like a gift of gold. I'm not really a follower of hoodoo but folk magic has always crossed my path since I was little.

Well used rusty railroad spikes are used in home or land protection spells to secure your home from those who wish to move you from it. You need a spike for each corner of your property, some anointing oil ( peaceful home, protection) and a well meant, from the heart, incantation seeking security and peace of place. Drive the railroad spikes into each corner with a hammer. In hoodoo work each spike is then topped with a silver dime, covered over with graveyard dirt of one's ancestors and marked with fresh urine.