Happy Imbolc

Last year I didn't have much time to do anything for Imbolc and chastised myself for always letting this festival slide. I guess I'm going to have to chastise myself again this year too! I don't know what it is about the beginnings of February but it seems so hectic. I suppose we spend a lot of January getting over the shock of Christmas and build up momentum again by the end of the month. Who knows, but I have had hardly any time to prepare anything and for that I am truly sorry.

However, in honour of the Goddess of Brigid (the Goddess associated with Imbolc) I have plans to focus this evening on some sketching and some tarot reading. The sketching comes from her association with creativity and the arts - letting inspiration come forth. Divination is also one of her strengths and so I want to focus on a tarot reading to take me into spring and guide me towards the best choices and options for me.

If you have anyone that you feel is a little weakened in any way at this time, don't forget that Brigid is also a Goddess of healing and so you can meditate for however long you can spare and send some thoughts of love and kindness their way. It's surprising how often they can feel lifted without ever knowing you have thought of them :)

Wherever you are and whatever you are doing for this special day, have the happiest and most blessed Imbolc! Love and hugs xxx

Fran

Yule Spell - Day 3 Very Delayed!!

Thanks to a combination of terrible weather, lack of internet and plunging into a very busy 2011, to my huge disappointment I didn't get to post my final installment of the yule spell! So just because I was determined to do it at some point, here it is:

God and Goddess
Perfect in balance
I bid you to bless
My life with your talents

Your wisdom and serenity
The strength in your identity
I seek to imitate
With total humility

I am content where I am
And for now I shall stay
To suspend growth for now
And to embrace today

It seems that I suspended growth for a little too long though! Hopefully will get back to more blogging now so catch you later!

Blessings to you. xx

Yule Preparations - Day 2

In my last post, I mentioned that I was going to represent the God and Goddess in my Yule celebrations. Now, I am a solitary witch and so do not subscribe to a particular Wiccan tradition - if you do then you are likely to already have close associations with particular deities and the associated names. But I enjoy the ecclectic nature of being solitary in this instance, that I can choose what I feel most drawn to and what I feel would most suit my spell or ritual. As long as I give thanks and am humble, I see all is well with this.

For this particular Yule, I am choosing the Triple Goddess and the horned God.

To represent the Triple Goddess I am going to use an altar cloth with her/their symbol on it. I am also going to use a display that features something else I talked of yesterday - the crystal ball. This will placed at the centre as it's to represent the full moon, the mother - full and abundant. On either side, to represent maiden and crone, I will have an acorn and an owl. Potential and vitality balanced by wisdom and a psychic eye.

Now for the horned God - I am going to use the guise of the Holly King for this. Plenty around and this represents perfectly a rich, deepness in character (in the dark green) and the scary edge (in the prickles)! Holly is something that I'm so happy to use in my Yule rituals and spells as not only does it have its Pagan traditions but it's one of the many things that remains with us today and so brings with it all the happy memories of childhood memories.

Now need to get cracking on putting some structure together for al these ideas!

Fran xxx

Yule Preparations - Day 1

It's funny that at this time of year, Yule represents the earth going to sleep or dying before its rebirth. And yet we are all running around like crazy trying to get everything done!

That said, it's time to start thinking about Yule traditions and making plans for my festive celebrations. In terms of renewal, I'm actually quite happy with the way that most of the important aspects of my life are going at the moment so I'm going to aim for stability - to keep up the good work and keep everything ticking over so that I am then ready for another spurt of enthusiasm and progress come Ostara. It's been a very chaotic time and so I am happy to see some calm and balance come in, it will be grounding for me.

I'm happy to throw in a bit of giving thanks for the opportunities I've had lately though - I don't plan to make it too sensible a party!

Anyhoo, here are some of my ideas so far:

• Red and green candles, for the sake of being tradionalist. And lots of them too being a celebration of light.
  
• Plenty of holly and mistletoe, for the same traditionalist reasons as above!
• Almonds, cloves and cinnamon
• Snow quartz
• Thyme - a great herb for this time of year.
  
• Last year I went for divination with a tarot reading. Plan to fit in crystal ball work this year.
• Symbolism for the God and Goddess, for which I have some ideas already but will let you know the details a bit nearer the time.

Can't wait for the next wave of ideas!

Fran x

Free Spell: A little love spell

It's been a while since I included a love spell - don't know why as who doesn't like a bit of romance in their life! So I've got a very simple little spell to try. It can be for trying to encourage the spark between you and an interest or to bring back and little frisson to an established relationship. Both work well if you just want a bit of passion back in your life.

You will need:
A white candle
The Lovers card from a tarot deck
White paper
A red pencil, crayon or pen

Place the lovers card in front of you, the unlit candle just behind it. Directing your thoughts to the tarot card say:

You represent the beauty of love The feelings I wish to enjoy

(Light the candle)
So I light up your power Illuminate the wonder Then cast it on me and my love

I write my intentions My promise to him/her Please carry my thoughts to the wisdom above

Now write something personal and expressive about the feelings you have for this person on the white paper in the red pencil. Don't make it too much of a wish list though, it's not the time to lay out what you want to happen. Just put down your honest feelings and let the energies do the rest :)

When you are finished, fold the Lovers card up in the paper you have written your intention on and leave it (safely!) in the light of your burning candle.

Free Spell: The Disappointment Spell

Unfortunately I have had a bit of a disappointment lately. I had pinned my hopes on something only to find that it wasn't quite what I imagined. It's no biggie ultimately but sometimes it's really hard to change the way you view something, to accept reality and move on. Disappointment leaves a gap in your feelings somehow, it leaves you not knowing what to aim for or cling to or even believe in. The hard part is trying to find something to fill that gap.

Needless to say, I've spent this afternoon working through a few spells to help me with this! Thought you might like a few ideas if you have been through something similar recently.

Disappointment Spell Number 1
You will need:
A candle (any colour is fine)
Incense
Water
Bread (preferably quite wholesome and fresh)

These are to represent sustenance and the feeling of being full and satisfied in your life.

I have light to help me see (light your candle)
I have air to help me breath (light the incense)
I have water to refresh and carry me (lightly touch the water or even sip it)
I have bread to nourish and fulfill (taste the bread)

The basis of life for me is observed
I'm whole and complete
Hope follows


Disappointment Spell 2
The next spell I worked on is very simple and one that I can repeat whenever that sinking feeling washes over me. Think of it as a top up!

I am using a tumblestone of clear quartz as this is such great neutraliser. It's important to realise when disappointed that very often, you haven't lost anything, you just feel like you have. Your situation is much the same as it was and this is why I like clear quartz - it resets the energies.

Just keep the gemstone of your choice with you and if you feel a bit low, hold it in your hand and try the following:

My feelings are infinite
My spirit moves on

Blessings and hugs and I hope good luck finds you! xx

Cold Spell?

I have a terrible cold at the moment and I'm really wishing there were a spell to make it go away! Mind you isn't there something about witches sneezing 3 times in a row? Or is that cats??