The Eye of Jasper

A new moon is here. And it was a pretty awesome day. I did have to work, but it wasn’t so bad.

Recently I got a new necklace made of beads of green jasper. I really like it and have been wearing it a lot. If you don’t want to put yourself out there by wearing a pentagram around your neck, you can wear something simple as a beaded necklace. (Or you can wear it under your clothing as it is better closer to your person. I wear mine where ever. I have several with pentagrams and moons and goddesses.)

Green Jasper is a very nice earth stone. Green is the rarest form of jasper. More common colors include red, yellow, brown and grey.

Green jasper is the ultimate and most reliable stone for rain bringing. I live in the desert so I can always use that. Besides, I love the sound of rain. I use a rain sounds soundtrack when I meditate, study or to help me sleep.

It is also a sleep stone. It can be a talisman for those coping with paranoia or who are overwhelmed by nightmares. It can ward off negative energies, bring reassurances and restore inner calm. (Although if you are having problems sleeping or are coping with paranoia, please see a qualified health professional.)

Jasper can drive away evil spirits, ghosts, harmful fantasies and evil witchcraft. (Although, no witchcraft should be evil.) It can be protective against venomous creatures or protect you from drowning. (So does common sense. Stay away from venomous creatures and large bodies of water if you do not know how to swim.)

Jasper can provide good health; make one amiable and brave, and even ward off sorrow. It is said to heal fever and edema, as well as diseases of the stomach, lungs and chest. It can increase fertility and aid women through pregnancy and childbirth. (Again, with the aid of a qualified medical professional.)

Jasper can balance obsessive tendencies and restore harmony to the emotional body. Because of those qualities it is used to aid with addictions, such as smoking or alcoholism. (Again, seek a qualified medical professional if you are seeking help.)

Green jasper is associated with Persephone, Greek Goddess of Spring and Re-Birth; Gaia, the Greek Earth Mother Goddess; Bona Dea, the Roman Goddess of Earth and Fertility; Callisto, the Greek Moon Goddess, Chirakan-Ixmucane, the Mayan Creator Goddess; and Clota, Goddess of the River Clyde.

With all of those amazing qualities, it is no wonder I enjoy wearing it so much. I hope you to have found something that is special to you.

Blessed be.

Love Conquers All

Happy Beltane all you lovers out there! I hope you enjoyed this fine Sunday enjoying the outdoors and stopped to smell the roses at least once.

Unfortunately, I did not get a chance today. I was at work and when I came home, I found that some kind person had smashed the back window of my car. Therefore, I spent the evening waiting for police to come and take a report. Let this be a lesson to those people… Always remember the rule of three…

So what is Beltane you ask?

Beltane is another name for the Gaelic May Day festival. Most commonly, it is held on 1 May, or about halfway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. Beltane is mentioned in some of the earliest Irish literature, and it is associated with important events in Irish mythology. It marked the beginning of summer and was when cattle were driven out to the summer pastures. Rituals were performed to protect the cattle, crops and people, and to encourage growth. Special bonfires were kindled, and their flames, smoke and ashes were deemed to have protective powers. The people and their cattle would walk around the bonfire or between two bonfires, and sometimes leap over the flames or embers. All household fires would be doused and then re-lit from the Beltane bonfire. These gatherings would be accompanied by a feast, and some of the food and drink would be offered to the spirits. Doors, windows, byres and the cattle themselves would be decorated with yellow May flowers, perhaps because they evoked fire. In parts of Ireland, people would make a May Bush: a thorn bush decorated with flowers, ribbons and bright shells. Holy wells were also visited, while Beltane dew was thought to bring beauty and maintain youthfulness. Many of these customs were part of May Day or Midsummer festivals in other parts of Great Britain and Europe.

Beltane celebrations had largely died out by the mid-20th century, although some of its customs continued and in some places, it has been revived as a cultural event. Since the late 20th century, Celtic neopagans and Wiccans have observed Beltane, or something based on it, as a religious holiday. Neopagans in the Southern Hemisphere often celebrate Beltane at the other end of the year (around 1 November).

There is so much history and ritual to this holiday and it is one of my favorites. This is just the generic Wikipedia version.

In addition, since I have not had too much time today, here I offer you some great websites where information was already written. Enjoy them.


Wikipedia- Beltane
Beltane
Beltane- ThoughtCo.
Beltane- Circle Sanctuary


Tomorrow I will go out and smell the roses myself. I promise.

Passover

Today is the first day of Passover, a Jewish religious celebration of the book of Exodus. In the Hebrew book of Exodus, the Jewish were slaves to an Egyptian Pharaoh. Led by Moses, the Jewish attempted to gain freedom, with an assist from God. God unleashed 10 horrible plagues upon the Pharaoh, persuading him to let the Jewish people go.

First, God changed the water of the Nile to blood. So the Egyptians would have no water. But it didn’t bother the Jews.

Next, God sent frogs. That again, left the Jews alone.

Third, it was lice. But not on Jews.

Fourth, it was a swarm of flies or wild animals. But the Jewish farms remained untouched.

Next, God sent diseased livestock to the Egyptians only.

For the next bit of persuasion, God sent boils. Ow.

Then it was a thunder storm or hail and fire which somehow missed all the Jewish people.

For the eighth plague, God sent locusts.

And for the ninth, God made it night for three whole days.

Now, let me just say, these Egyptians were a stubborn bunch. I would have given up already. But the Egyptians, who worshiped a nature based pantheon of gods, were sure that their gods could kick the Jewish God’s butt. In Islam, The Qur’an, which tells a very similar story of Moses, says that despite all of these, the Egyptians “were seeped in arrogance, a people given to sin.” (The Holy Qur’an- Surah 7: Al A’raf Section 16, Verses 132 through 136.)

So for the 10th and final plague, God decided to kill all the first born sons. The Jewish were instructed to put the blood of a slaughtered lamb over their door so that God would know not to kill those first born.

And so we have Passover. As in, God passed over the Jewish homes when He was on a killing rampage.

The Pharaoh decided that killing people was too far and told Moses to take his people and go. Then he changed his mind later, but that is a different story.

And so the Jewish were freed.

Except…

People of that area were celebrating a Spring Festival long before the Exodus, which would have been roughly 1300 BCE. Complete with lambs blood on the door to ward off evil spirits, as soon as the barley was ripe.

And who says the Jewish God was more powerful that the Egyptian pantheon? Perhaps the Pharaoh was being a jerk, which he clearly was, and Ra, the sun god, was not happy with the way this Pharaoh was treating people and let these things happen to teach him a lesson. Maybe they were working together.

We are all at the will of the Gods and Goddesses. Only by respecting them, shall they respect us. Lesson learned. Thank you, Moses. You have shown us that those who serve the Gods are helped by them. And thank you Pharaoh, for this lesson in how not to act. Be kind to all who walk the path of the Spirit. While their path may not be yours, it is also not your path to judge.

Happy Passover to all of my Jewish friends.

Blessed be.

The Winds Of Change

A blessed full moon to all of my witches this evening. It is beautiful out there. This moon goes by a lot of names. Wind Moon, Seed moon, Pink Moon…

Wind Moon because of the winds outside; the change of seasons and the change of times.

Seed Moon because now is a good time to plant seeds.

Pink Moon because now is the time of Pink moss, or wild ground phlox, one of the first Spring Flowers.

I like Pink Moon because I like pink. And while the moon is not actually pink, I still like the idea.

Today is Earth Day, and so, for today, we are discussing the element of Earth. Everything starts with it. Earth is one of the five elements invoked during ritual to balance the energies of either the sacred space or the individual or both. (With the other four elements being wind, fire, water and Spirit.)

The Earth is stable. It is the foundation of all. It is feminine, Mother Earth, giver of life. It is the North, the top, the beginning. It has a grounding affect. Earth is used in stone, crystal, and knot magick as well as garden magick and runes. It is often used in spells relating to hearth and home as well as the gaining of material things including money, employment, general security and family matters. It is useful in spells related to health, fertility and prosperity. It is a winter and night element and can be represented by drums.

Earth is represented in many ways. On an altar, it can be represented by stone or crystals, specifically onyx, jade, halite, amethyst, and fluorite. It can be represented by salt or a bowl of soil. It is represented by the colors brown, black, green, and yellow. It is represented by plants, particularly grains, ivy, red poppy, mushrooms and potatoes. Bulls, stags, dragons, wolves, owls, cats and Sphinx are animal representative of Earth. Gnomes, fauns, goblins, satyrs, dryads, sylvesters, dwarves and trolls are all mythical beings of the Earth element.

The goddesses Demeter, Ceres and Persephone are strong in the Earth element as are the Horae and Prosperpina. The gods Hades and Pluto are also gods of Earth. The Horned God is also a representative of the Earth element.

Earth is felt strongly in caves, forests, valleys and fields. It is in the practical areas of your home; the bathroom, the kitchen, the dining room.

People with earth based personalities like to work with their hands. They are also very family-oriented. On the other hand, too much can cause inability to dare or branch out in any way.

Earth is the first and last. The giver of life. And where we return at the end.

On my alter I generally use a bamboo bowl of salt as well as a rock I got from Yosemite on a trip there and a pine cone my daughter collected in Big Bear.

What do you use? What represents Earth to you?

Blessed be!

What's That Smell?

It's a fabulous new moon tonight. Who is ready for a great new month? I know I am.

Lavender is my favorite incense. The calming effect is amazing. It’s also a great herb to grow in the garden. I grow it in my garden. Lavender is a member of the mint family. I actually grow it next to mint. It smells really good.

Lavender is an antiseptic and it is anti-inflammatory. Use it with chamomile to help you sleep.

Lavender is relaxing and uplifting. It sharpens minds and encourages and strengthens true love. It can also encourage fertility.

Lavender is associated with the element of air. It is masculine in action. It is also associated with the zodiac sign Virgo and the planet Mercury.

And if you are looking for something to deter moths and fleas, look no further.

Like I said, it is my favorite. I light it so often it really is my signature scent. My house always smells like lavender.

It is also a really great color.

Purples, like lavender, can speak to the soul, invoke the divine and create mystery. They bring about serenity and faith. Lighter shades can bring equilibrium and awakening. It is great for spiritual healing.

Combine the color with the scent to relieve stress and anxiety.

Relax.

Blessed be.

For The Jesters

Happy April Fool’s Day!

Today is the official day of hoaxes, pranks, and jokes.

This is not really a holiday. Not really…

The first recorded mention of anything April Fool related was in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales from 1392. On April 1, the proud rooster is tricked by the sly fox however he escapes when the fox attempts to chide his pursuers and accidentally let go of the rooster.

Whatever it is, you go out and enjoy it. No reason for witches not to have a little fun.

Here are a few to get you started…

Sort Of, But Not Really

It’s Easter Sunday.

No, wait it isn’t really. We did that already.

However, for all of my Christian and Catholic friends, it is Resurrection Sunday.

And they still call it Easter. The Easter Bunny still comes. He leaves eggs at church.

A PAGAN SYMBOL IN A CHURCH! EGADS!

But there it is. What can you say? It’s a tradition.

So to all of you fabulous people celebrating Easter today, Happy Easter.

Truthfully, as it is an American Holiday, the Easter bunny came by here too. My little one put on her fancy new Easter dress and hunted for eggs in the yard. I made a ham. It was delicious.

When I was little, my grandpa used to take me to church on Easter. I got to wear a fancy dress and sing songs and get candy. It was awesome. I felt all grown up going to church with grandpa.

Anyway, to all of you out there celebrating, whatever you are celebrating, have a great day!