Catch Up

Hi all,
I know, I haven't been around and missed a few big things like the May Supermoon, Beltane and Bast`s holy day but in my defense I was hand fasted on the May Supermoon and I`ve been busy with that. :)

So the May Full Moon (moon in Scorpio) was a supermoon meaning it looked much larger and closer than usual. Magically it means it was a more potent moon and it had a stronger effect on people, and magic done on this full moon was especially potent. Now add to that the moon was in Scorpio and you have a recipe for much emotional turmoil and drama. You were not alone if you found that you and your significant other fought a lot in the days approaching the full moon. The Scorpio full moon is an intense moon on it`s own (like us Scorpios lol). It acts almost like a dark moon by creating deep healing by bringing your shadows to light. Truths were forced up to the surface, we were forced to face our shadows, and things that we were suppressing came bubbling up.    I was effected as well. But after the emotional roller coaster I found that I felt free and strong and more at peace with myself than I have in years and my relationship was so much stronger than it had ever been. My spouse and I cumilated this growth and deeper connection by handfasting after our full moon ritual.

The ritual (which can be done at another time) was to build a small Bel fire in our front yard (as it was also Beltane) and after drawing down the goddess, writing down all our negative, confusing emotions that we wanted to be rid of and burning it in the Bel fire. Then we acknowledged something positive in our lives that symbolized the union of the Goddess and God, then jumped the fire. My spouse and I acknowledged each other and jumped the fire together signifying a new stage of our relationship. Later in front of our Household Goddess` shrine we committed to each other.

For Beltane we camped out in the woods and held a Beltane festival for three days. We did ritual, Women`s and Men`s Mysteries, Chose our May King and Queen that presides for a year, and danced and drummed around the fire into the wee hours of the morning.
I was quite happy that my spouse really took part this year, battling the king and even running naked through the forest, into the women`s camp and back to the men`s camp as a show of manly bravery. The look on my face was probably priceless.
As it was Beltane and a lot of mead was involved some of it is a bit fuzzy as the night wore on  but we had a great time connecting with the primal, tribal forces associated with the holiday.

Now that I am back home the next order of business is a Bast ritual before the week is out as she is our household goddess. Her holy day is on the 11th and it is a week long celebration. We celebrated Bast at my handfasting but I want to do a ritual solely for Her. Once I do I will post the ritual.

So happy belated Beltane and Full Moon. I will have more time to commit to keeping up the blog and I have lots of great things in store.

Hail Bast and Blessed Be!

Daily Devotional

Hello wonderful people. It's been a little while, I know, work has been crazy! But with all the running around, long work days and lack of rest what really keeps me going is my daily devotional. So that will be today's topic.

A daily devotional is something you do everyday that honours the divine externally or within yourself. It doesn't have to be elaborate or time consuming, actually it works best when it is something simple. It can be a prayer, a self healing, a mantra, a 5 minute meditation, a yoga practice. Anything that centres yourself and brings your spirituality to the forefront.

I find the best times to do your daily devotional is in the morning when you get up and/or in the night before you go to sleep. I do mine in the morning, I find its a great way to start the day and get me going. I am an Usui Reiki master so my daily devotional is a Reiki self healing and reciting the 5 Precepts of Reiki.


5 Principles of Reiki:
Just for today, I will not anger.
Just for today, I will not worry.
Just for today, I will be grateful.
Just for today, I will work hard on myself.
Just for today, I will be kind for others.

The Reiki Principles stress the importance of living in the present and that goals are easier to attain when you take it day by day. Most spiritual people wish to get to a state of mind and soul where they no longer hold anger, worry and stress and live their life in a state of gratitude and compassion for themselves and others. Many take vows to live these principles but it is hard over the long term because we are human and tend to get discouraged when we trip up. It is much easier when the length of time you concentrate of holding these principles is only for a day. Do this everyday and before you know it a week has gone by,  a month, then years.

When I am not as busy and time permits, my daily devotional also includes a yoga practice everyday before bed. For me it's a great way to let go of the stresses of the day and it relaxes and centres me.

Take some time and figure out your daily devotional. If you have an altar or shrine set up at home you can light a candle and say a quick prayer of gratitude and acknowledgement. Mantras, Affirmations as a part of  Neuro-lingustic programming, chakra works and self healing are all great ideas for daily devotionals. Figure out what works best for you. It should help to bring you closer to the divine and bring balance within yourself.

The Mysteries of Fermentation

The last post on hangover cures inspired me to talk about the mysteries of fermentation. Most of us adults drink alcohol  at some time or another. We drink to party and loose our inhibitions, to relax,  to celebrate important happenings in our lives, as pagans we drink it ritually. And the most consumed alcohols worldwide and throughout history are wine and beer.
Now, taking a moment to recognize the sacred nature of drinking when you do indulge is one great way to bring the sacred into daily life. Many Wiccans have cakes and ale as a part of ritual but I'm surprised to know most Wiccans who do don't really understand the symbolism and mysteries of the cakes and ale.

As fermentation is the topic of this post I will focus on the 'ale' part of cakes and ale. This is the mystery of fermentation as I understand it:

The whole process of fermentation actually starts with the planting of the crop. Planting the seed  is symbolic of death, burial and the goddess’ descent into the underworld.

When the seed is beneath the soil it germinates by feeding off and transforming decay, this is symbolic of the meeting and union of the Goddess and the Lord of the Underworld. The germination and sprouting of the plant from the seed beneath the soil is symbolic of the process of rebirth within the Underworld, conception and growth of fragile life within the womb, as well as the ascent of the goddess as she journeys back to the world of the living. The emergence of the new plant from the soil is indicative of birth and the goddess as she returns transformed and renewed.

As the plant grows as a result of being properly nurtured by sunshine, water and sustenance taken from the roots in the soil (the lessons she learned in the underworld) she grows and blooms (symbolic of the maiden goddess coming into her womanhood). Then she meets the wild, virile god of nature, unites with him and takes him into herself through fertilization (the process of being fertilized by bees and birds). This is part of the mysteries of Beltane. As the product of this union, the fruit, grows it is indicative of the goddess entering her mother stage.

As the fruit (or Grain) ripens and falls or is picked it can be seen as symbolic of the goddess giving birth giving birth to the Harvest Lord who contains within himself the essence of the goddess (the seed).

The fermentation of Grape (into wine) or grain (into beer) is the blood and body of the god undergoing transformation so that we may consume it and take into ourselves the blood, body and power of the god and taking on his nature that leads to the stripping of our civility and baring of our base selves though intoxication and initiation into his wild mysteries through loss of inhibitions and opening to his power and chaos.

The flip side of fermentation of the grain is the making of the grain into flour and making bread and cakes. This concept is the basis for the Wiccan tradition of cakes and wine.

So there you have it. Every-time you drink, you are symbolically taking in the essence of the god (and goddess) an they become a part of you. Taking a moment to meditate on that whenever you drink is a great way to recognize the sacred in the mundane.