I Survived the Big Blizzard of 2010!

If you've been watching the news, you'll probably have seen the big mess going on in NJ and the surrounding areas.  Holy crap, we got it and we got it bad!  About 30 inches of snow by the end of it all - 2 inches of snow an hour.  It took all day yesterday to dig out the cars and roads are still iffy around the neighborhoods.

The buses into the city were shut down, so Mr. B. got to stay home (and shovel).  The kids were a little upset that they got snow while they were already on break (snow is way better when you get out of school for it!).  And Mimi?  Mimi held it for almost 2 days rather than pee in snow.  She finally went today and you could see the relief on her face, lol!  Poor afraid-of-the-snow puppy!

Here are a few shots of the effect of the blizzard on our neighborhood:

The Witchmobile getting dug out.

A Ritual for New Year's Eve: Letting Go of Negativity

Photo: http://all-free-download.com

Many Pagans create their  New Year's resolutions on Samhain. For the secular New Year's Eve you might consider a ritual for letting go of the negative aspects of the year;  a way to mentally and spiritually take a step toward moving on from the actions of others that have affected you and of letting go of the mistakes you've made and did your best to correct.

Before you begin this ritual, take a little time to reflect on if you've really done the work to correct or move forward from the things you want to let go - as always, magic will happen when you do your part of the work. 

A New Year's Ritual for Letting Go

Day after Yule Mutterings...

The last week has been quite busy, but yesterday we had a lovely, quiet Yule!

On Sunday, we got a new member to our family!  Meet Mimi!

Taking a Holiday Break!

I'll be off for a few days, taking a break for the holidays!  I'll be back up and posting after Yule!



This is post copyright to the author. It may not be reposted, reprinted or distributed in it's entirety without express written permission of the author.

Magical Correspondences for December 14, 2010

Today is Tiu's Day.

The moon is in Pisces.  Use this time for work concentrating on music, divination and psychic development. Mercury is still in retrograde.

Correspondences of the Day:

Magical Correspondences for December 13, 2010

Today is the Moon's Day.  It's also the beginning of the Runic half-month of Jara, St. Lucy’s Day (A Festival of Lights). Tonight is the peak night of the Geminid meteor shower.

The moon is in Aquarius; time for work related to science, freedom, personal expression, problem solving and friendship. The moon also reaches its First Quarter at 8:59 am EST and is now waxing. Time for work related to unbinding, fertility, friendship, health, inspiration, love, luck and money (among other things). Concentrate on  growing, attracting, beginning and overcoming.

Seasonal Eating: Winter

Photo courtesy of the author

Planning your meals and shopping according to what's in season has a multitude of benefits.  There is, of course, the obvious health benefits of working fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet. Buying produce in season is also relatively inexpensive, you get fruits and veggies that are at their peek flavor and if you're able to shop locally, it supports farmers and your community.  Eating seasonally is also a way to help keep yourself in tune with nature and the turning of the wheel of the year.

In the winter, people tend to eat hardier meals and often forget about keeping fresh produce in their menus. Knowing what's in season can help you in your meal planning.  Produce will vary somewhat by location.

Gift Basket Ideas: For a Reader

Photo via Peter Kemp/
Wikimedia Commons

As a huge book lover, there is nothing better for me to receive books or book related stuff for the holidays! Buying actual books for someone can be tricky, though, if you don't see them often enough to know what they read or what they own.  Here are a few ideas for the book loving Pagan in your life:

• Scroll through Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Weiser Books or Llewelyn and pick a book or gift card.

The Weekend in Magic: Dec. 10 thru Dec. 12

Friday (Dec. 10) is Freya's Day.  It's also Dewey Decimal System Day, Nobel Prize Day, Roman Festival of Lux Mundi (The Light of the World).  Her burning torch is said to give hope even in the darkest hour (*coughStatueofLibertycough*).  

The moon is in Capricorn and Mercury enters retrograde.

Correspondences of the Day:

December 9, 2010

Graphic © CPSM

Today is Thor's day.  It's also Egil Skallagrimsson Day (Asatru) and the sacred day of Tonatzin

The moon is in Sagittarius.

Correspondences of the Day:

Gift Basket Ideas: For Your Favorite Pagan Gardener

Photo via Wikinoby/Wikimedia

I know very few Pagans who don't at least grow a couple of things in a pot on their windowsill. From that to a whole garden of herbs and veggies, there are some great gift ideas to supply your favorite gardener or grower, and in a wide variety of prices!

December 8, 2010

Today is Woden's Day.  It's also the sacred day of Astraea (Greek Goddess of Justice) and Bodhi Day (Buddhism).

The moon is in Sagittarius.

Correspondences of the Day:

What I got in the Mail Yesterday!

Yesterday, I got an unexpected and mysterious box in the mail.  I had no idea what it might contain, and I opened it to find this:

Gorgeous, vintage looking little suitcase box. I love cool little boxes, so I was super excited just by that! I couldn't even image  how cool the inside would be!

December 7, 2010

Today is Tiu's Day.  It's also Pearl Harbor Day (United States),  Hijfa (New Year, Islam) and La Quema del Diablo (Guatamala).

The moon is in Sagittarius.  It's also the earliest sunset of 2010.

Marie Laveau 5 Holy Waters for a Peaceful Home

As winter sneaks up on us (or comes crashing in, as the case may be), it can be hard to keep up the peaceful, positive feelings in your home.  Mild seasonal blues, lack of sunlight, freezing temperatures, and if you're like me, cold, creaky bones!

One small way you can keep your home full of positive vibrations, and keep those negative forces out is a quick spray of Marie Laveau's Five (or Seven!) Holy Waters.

December 6, 2010

Today is the Moon's day.  It's also  St. Nicholas Day (Greece).

The moon has wondered into the constellation Ophiuchus (the Serpent Bearer).

Used Books Sale

Clearing out my bookshelf!  New books will go up daily until the shelves stop creaking, lol!
Please note that prices are for media mail shipping in the US only. First come, first served.  Payment via PayPal only.


Due to issues I've been having with PayPal buttons (and my lack of ability to properly use them, lol), if you see a book you'd like, email me the title and I'll email you instructions for payment and list the book as sold.  If payment isn't made within 24 hours, the book will be relisted.

December 3, 2010

Today is Freya's day.  It's also the day of the ancient Roman Festival of Bona Dea (The Good Goddess).

The Moon is in libra and Venus rises at 3:44 am EST

Today's chakra is the heart.

Correspondences of the Day:

Decorating a Pagan Holiday Tree

Snow Goddess Ornament

Photo: Courtesy of  Carioca Witch 

Anyone who knows their history knows that the "Christmas" tree was first introduced by ancient Pagans.  The Egyptians decorated palm branches during the winter solstice to symbolize resurrection. Ancient Greeks decorated evergreen trees in worship of Adonia, who was resurrected by a serpent.  The ancient Germans decorated evergreen trees in worship of Woden.   Romans covered their trees with metallic decorations and candles to honor Bacchus.  All of these tree decorating traditions predate Christianity.

Gift Basket Ideas: For Your Favorite Domestic Witch

Reusable Swiffer Juju Cleaning Cover
Photo used with permission: Rita's Spiritual Goods

If you are looking for a gift for your favorite domestic witch, buying online can be a real help.  From aprons to kitchen witch decorations, there's dozens of ideas just waiting at your keyboard.  The following is a list of ideas and websites where you might find the perfect gift idea for a friend - or yourself! 

Domestic witch gift ideas:

December 2, 2010

Today is Thor's Day.  It's also Special Education Day and  International Day for the Abolition of Slavery Day.

The moon is in Virgo, and Venus is at it's greatest brilliancy today.

Correspondences of the Day:

Incense:  nutmeg

Color: blue

Stone: lapis lazuli

Herb/Plant:  rye

Deity: Perun

Work to concentrate on: financial matters

If you are looking to do magical works in the month of December, here are a few correspondences to strengthen and fire up your workings.

December is also known as:

Aerra Geola (Anglo Saxaon): "The Month Before Yule"

Heilagmanoth (Frankish tradition) "Holy Month"

Wolfmoon (Asatru)

Mi na Nollag (Irish) Christmas Month

Photo by Andre Karwatha via Wikimedia Commons

December’s Zodiac signs include Sagittarius (November 23 - December 22)  and Capricorn (December 23 - January 20).  It’s birthstone is turquoise and it’s birthflower is poinsettia or narcissus .  The lucky number for the month is 3.

When working with color in December, consider using green, bright red or turquoise

If you are looking for stones to work with this month, consider aquamarine, bloodstone, lapis lazuli, peridot, ruby, blue topaz or turquoise.  Carry one or more on your person, use them in a monthly magic mojo bag, or set them out this month on a window sill to charge throughout the month. Choose one or more to research and add to your book of shadows.

December’s animals bear, goat, snowy owl, wolf and groundhog.  To incorporate these animals, add a statue or photo of your choice of animal to your altar or read about how them can be used as totem animals. 

Mythical creatures for the month are sylvan spirits (spirits of the woods).

The best plants to work with during December consist of Christmas cactus, evergreen trees, holly, ivy, mistletoe, oak and poinsettia.  Keep a small pot of one on your altar, add one or more to your monthly mojo bag, research them, plan recipes around them or make an infusion of them to add to your cleaning water. Decorate with evergreen boughs, decorate an outdoor tree with food for the birds, hang mistletoe in your doorway.

December’s signature incense?   A mix of holly leaves and oak wood.

Goddesses associated with December are Athena, the Fates, Freya, Hathor, Hekate, Ix Chel, Lucina, Minerva, Neith, The Norns, and Vesta.

Gods include Attis, Dionysus, Freyr, the Horned God, Odin, Osiris, Poseidon and Saturn

The New Moon appears on the 5th at 12:36 pm EST.

December’s full moon will appear on December 21st at 3:13 am EST.  It goes by many different names:

• Cold Moon (Algonquian)
• Big Bear's Moon (Winnebago)
• Small Spirits Moon (Chippewa)
• Moon When the Wolves Run Together (Cheyenne) 
• Month of Respect (Hopi)
• Big Cold Moon (Comanche)
• Frozen Over Moon (Cree)
• Groundhog Mother's Moon (Tlingit)
• Moon When the Deer Shed Their Antlers (Lakota)
• Long Night's Moon (Colonial)
• Moon of Popping Trees ( Northern Arapaho)
• Big Winter Moon (Creek)
• Wolf Moon (Celtic)
• Ripe Berry Moon (Haida)
• Frost Fish Moon (Pasamaquoddy)
• Snow Moon (Cherokee)
• Turning Moon (Zuni) 
• Oak Moon (English)
• Real Goose Moon (Kiowa)

Use December's full moon energy for banishing, divination, prosperity, transformation, wisdom, personal relationships

The First Quarter moon happens the 13th at 8:59 am EST while the Last Quarter is the 27th at 11:18 pm EST.

Month-long observances that take place in December include National Write a Business Plan Month, Spiritual Literacy Month, Universal Human Rights Month

To read the daily correspondences for the month of December, click here.

This is post copyright to the author. It may not be reposted, reprinted or distributed in it's entirety without express written permission of the author.

Sources: 

The Pagan Book of Days by Nigel Pennick
The Farmers’ Almanac 2011
The Spellcaster’s Reference by Eileen Holland
National Geographic, Full Moons: What's in a Name?
The Moon Book by Kim Long

This is post copyright to the author. It may not be reposted, reprinted or distributed in it's entirety without express written permission of the author.

Gift Basket Ideas: Basket Full of Wishes

Photo via US Mint

Looking for the perfect gift for your favorite Pagan?  How about a basket full of wishes?  Wish magic is playful and good for most ages.  With a little creativity, you can create a basket full of items for creating wish magic that will last long after the Yule holiday is gone.  Gather any or all of the following in a festive basket and top with a bow for a truly magical gift!

Items for wish basket: