The Angel and the Witch

Who said that witches can't have angels? Back in the dark ages, the devil was more involved in everything witchcraft and demons were called "the witche's lovers". But a long time has passed and a lot has happened in the last thousand years or so.

Angels are spirits that can aid a witch in casting his/her spells. Since witches walk between the worlds, they make allies in the different realms. Angels are viewed as safe and comortable for fearful spirits. Some wicca traditions work closely with archangels and other shy away from them, feeling that they hark from Christian beliefs. The roots from angels come from Egypt, Sumer, and Tibet. 


Spirit guides - angels, animal spirits, etc - aid us by offering advice, knowledge and magical bridges in which both (witch and guide) can obtain a blessing. It is my belief that angels also need our aid - that they too are in a learning process and thus need our spirit to grow. Sometimes, you have more than one spirit guide around you. In my case, both angels Kalavan and Raziel are around me at all times and are learning from the angel-human experience.

Deities of the Spring Equinox

by Patti Wigington
About.com


Spring is a time of great celebration in many cultures. It's the time of year when the planting begins, people begin to once more enjoy the fresh air, and we can reconnect with the earth again after the long, cold winter. A number of different gods and goddesses from different pantheons are connected with the themes of Spring and Ostara.

 

Asasa Ya (Ashanti)

This earth mother goddess prepares to bring forth new life in the spring, and the Ashanti people honor her at the festival of Durbar, alongside Nyame, the sky god who brings rain to the fields.

Cybele (Roman)

This mother goddess of Rome was at the center of a rather bloody Phrygian cult, in which eunuch priests performed mysterious rites in her honor. Her lover was Attis (he was also her grandson, but that's another story), and her jealousy caused him to castrate and kill himself. His blood was the source of the first violets, and divine intervention allowed Attis to be resurrected by Cybele, with some help from Zeus. In some areas, there is still an annual three-day celebration of Attis' rebirth and Cybele's power.

Eostre (western Germanic):  

Little is known about the worship of this Teutonic spring goddess, but she is mentioned by the Venerable Bede, who said that Eostre's following had died out by the time he compiled his writings in the eighth century. Jacob Grimm referred to her by the High German equivalent, Ostara, in his 1835 manuscript, Deutsche Mythologie. Eostre's name is the root of our present day spring celebration of Ostara.

Flora (Roman)

This goddess of spring and flowers had her own festival, Floralia, which was celebrated every year between April 28 to May 3. Romans dressed in bright robes and floral wreaths, and attended theater performances and outdoor shows. Offerings of milk and honey were made to the goddess.

Freya (Norse)

This fertility goddess abandons the earth during the cold months, but returns in the spring to restore nature's beauty. She wears a magnificent necklace called Brisingamen, which represents the fire of the sun.

Osiris (Egyptian)

This lover of Isis dies and is reborn in a resurrection story. The resurrection theme is popular among spring deities, and is also found in the stories of Adonis, Mithras and Attis as well.

Saraswati (Hindu)

This Hindu goddess of the arts, wisdom and learning has her own festival each spring in India, called Saraswati Puja. She is honored with prayers and music, and is usually depicted holding lotus blossoms and the sacred Vedas.

Fire of Justice Spell

Spell for bringing justice to those who do you harm.  Careful! Remember that what goes around comes around.

What you need:

1 red candle

Set the candle on a table and light it. Focus on the person's wrong doing and how the universe might bring justice. Try not to mix emotions because this will make it a revenge spell and set off a lot of wicked mojo.

Looking at the candle's light, conjure:

Fires of justice

I call to thee

Let ______ know

What she/he did to me

Fires of justice

I do request

Just and fair dealings

At your behest

Fires of justice

By the laws of return

Rule in this case

Make ____ learn

By the power of three

So mote it be

Let the candle burn for a few minutes before blowing out. Repeat for three days with candle. When done, biry remqins in open field and forget about it.

Spell to Attrack Positive Attention

What you need:

1 medium glass with mineral water
1 teaspoon of sugar
1 teaspoon of honey
9 red rose leaves
1 crystal quartz (small)

Wash the crystal and petals in water. Put all the ingredients in the minral water and stirr untill suger and honey dissolve.
Cut a piece of paper and draw a circle. Write your full name, clockwise, and draw a pentagram in the center.
Place glass with ingredientes on the paper for 3 hours, preferably under the sun. Then, place the contents in a fresh glass and drink the contents. (do not drink the quartz, of course!)
Burn or Bury your name safe.

Esbats: Storm Moon

“I am the moon that rises from the twilight sea,
I bring men dreams that rule their destiny,
Bring the dream tides to the souls of men,
The tides that ebb and flow and ebb again…

These are the moon tides, these belong to me,
Hera in Heaven, in earth, Persephone,
Levannah of the tides, and Hecate,
Diana of the Moon, Star of the Sea.
These are my secrets, these belong to me…”
                                                          Dion Fortune, The Sea Priestess.

February Esbat – The Storm Moon (13/02/06)

The Storm Moon of February (also known as the Snow, Chaste, Quickening or Hunger Moon) is our wake up call. During this time, all in nature is pure and full of potential. The hibernating creatures are beginning to slowly arouse themselves, quickening their heartbeats, and creeping out or their dormant period. Mother Earth is gently awakening full of quiescent possibilities. The Storm Moon uses the same force upon us. There is a gentle pulling upon our consciousness at this time, we become aroused to the latent forces within ourselves – now is the time to turn the mirror in upon ourselves, and see what is reflected. A time to grasp the buds of new paths and ideas, and like nature, be prepared to welcome life anew.

Before we do so however, we must find our balance. Use this Esbat, to find your inner cornerstone – the bedrock upon which you shall build upon your potential. You may not know what lies ahead for you, but to utilise the power of the Storm Moon means you make plans for your future with the blessing of the Goddess.

As we in the Northern Hemisphere well know, this is a tempestuous time of year in terms of the in weather. So too is the relationship between God and Goddess. The God is now Consort to the Goddess whilst the Goddess is changing from Crone to Maiden, and will soon join the God to dance in the spring. As the weather ebbs and flows between frost and thaw, the undercurrent of energy that is the God slowly awakens the reborn Goddess. She is aroused from Her ice-capped slumber and awakens. The Great Wheel has turned, and the time of transformation is here.

A Storm Moon Ritual.

During this Month we also celebrate Imbolc, the halfway point between winter and spring. Imbolc is a fire festival, a celebration of the waxing light. The Goddess most revered at this time is Bridgit, a Celtic goddess of hearth and home, of healing and transformation. It is particularly apt therefore that during the Storm Moon Esbat (but 10 days after Imbolc), we appeal to the Goddess Bridgit to help us in our quest to fulfil our potential. Persephone is also a favoured Goddess at this time.

It can firstly be beneficial to equate ourselves with the moonlight. It is true that many find darkness unsettling and gloomy, but to take the time to be out of doors at night-time in a place that you feel safe (for example your own back garden) can be extremely relaxing. Noise from traffic is much quieter, and neighbours are indoors with their windows shut, especially at this time of the year! Wrap up warm, make yourself a hot drink, and take the time to just sit, and observe the peacefulness – soak it up. When you are comfortable and at peace, take a while to reflect upon who you are, your strengths and how to build upon them. This does not need to be a great long-term plan; it can be something quite simple and basic, which is indeed in keeping with the concept that this is a time for building upon our foundations. Once you have a come upon your desire, take a pure white candle – (in a lantern holder or similar if the night is windy), and whilst you light it, repeat quietly to yourself, what it is you want. Once your candle is burning brightly, and the flame is strong, chant three times:

“As I light the flame of fire,
Goddess Bridgit, this is my desire,
Help me find my truths untold,
Bring the light of inspiration,
To find my strengths, make me bold.”

Now sit quietly and watch the candle flame, and let the light of the Moon fill you up.

Alternatively, if you celebrate your Esbats with your family, you may each light a candle indoors, having taken your candles out into the moonlight earlier to charge them. Write down the chant beforehand for your children, or sit little ones on your lap whilst you chant it for them! Before you light them, each hold your unlit candles, and imagine the power of the Goddess Moon flowing through your body to strengthen it. Having done this, verbalise your desire for strength and enlightenment – you may wish to use this alternate chant:

“Lady Moon make me strong,
That I may grow,
Hear my song.”

Which is much easier for little ones to remember! Light all the candles, and place them upon your alter, fireplace or other appropriately safe place.


 Source
Brigther Blessings.com

Imbolc/Candlemas (February 2): Rebirth of the Sun

From The Complete Idiot's guide to Wicca and Witchcraft

Imbolc (IM-bolk), which is often called Candlemas, is the time when Wiccans celebrate the renewing fertility of the Earth. The Goddess is seen as recovering from childbirth, and the God is a small child. This is also the time of “fire in the belly.”

There is the feeling that spring is coming, but a certain restlessness or cabin fever can set in. This can also be the bleakest time of the year when we start to fear that spring will never arrive. It’s no coincidence that many people celebrate Ground Hog’s Day on this date. What is Ground Hog’s Day but a way to let Nature reassure us that spring really will come? Sometimes, even though it is still cold, you can see early buds on trees on this date. This is another way that Nature reminds us to hang on; life is getting ready to burst forth.

Imbolc is a time to celebrate with seeds, with a newly germinating idea. Some covens like to initiate new members at this time of year. Imbolc is a holiday of purification and of the renewed fertility of the Earth. It’s a great time for some early spring cleaning, too. Get rid of things you don’t need. Get ready for the spring season to come.

Imbolc

From http://www.worldspirituality.org/imbolc.html

Imbolc is an ancient festival, Celtic in origin, and considered one of the greater Wiccan sabbats.  It is celebrated on the night of February 1st in the northern hemisphere. 

The primary purpose of Imbolc is to celebrate Spring's impending replacement of Winter.  In this sense, Imbolc may be seen as a spiritual alternative to the secular celebration of New Year's Eve. 

At New Year's Eve, we often see the image of old, bearded Father Time replaced with a young baby.  Father Time represents the old, outgoing year, and the baby celebrates the year just born.  At Imbolc, we have similar imagery; an old crone represents the outgoing year, and turns things over to a young maiden. 

Fertility, of course, plays a part here.  The frozen earth is incapable of growing things, just as the old crone has grown incapable of producing offspring.  This barrenness is replaced by the warm return of Spring, making the earth once again fertile, symbolized by the fertile young maiden.

How to Celebrate Imbolc

An evening feast is in order, since Imbolc represents a return to liveliness and all the bounties of Nature.  Americans might best grasp the concept of Imbolc by thinking of it as a Thanksgiving celebration for what is about to happen.  Celebrants can be happy feasting, knowing that winter is passing and that food will once again be growing and plentiful.  The feast begins with a short prayer, or toast:

Blessed be the earth, and all who dwell upon it.
We give thanks for the season now departing from us,
For the blessings it has bestowed upon us,
And upon those with whom we share this world.

 Blessed be the new season.
We pray that it will be a time filled with peace,
With abundance, with prosperity,
With wisdom,
With love.

Blessed be all who share this feast.
Let us now prepare for the time ahead
By opening our hearts, and our minds, and our spirits.

Blessed be.

Imbolc Menu
The table should be set with white candles.  Since ewes begin lactating at around the time of Imbolc in many locations in the northern hemisphere, the sabbat is connected with ewe's milk.  For this reason, some sort of dairy product - cheese, for example - should be included in the feast.  Other than that, there are no specific food requirements, except that food should be plentiful!  Something green and fresh, such as a salad, would indicate the coming of spring, but since winter is yet with us, the main fare should be hearty, served with a nice, crusty bread.  Mead, ale, spiced wine or non-alcoholic equivalents would all be appropriate beverages.