Happy Imbolc!

Imbolc reminds us that spring is coming soon, and that we only have a few more weeks of winter to go. There are the stirrings of seasonal change where the first signs of spring and the return of the sun are noticed (the first sprouting of leaves, flowers, animals are returning to forage). In other words, it is the festival commemorating the passing of winter and the beginning of the agricultural year. Celebrate with candles (Fire here represents our own illumination and inspiration as much as light and warmth.), foods that honor the hearth and home (breads, 'stored veggies, dairy), and decorate with flowering branches or store bought floral arrangements.

View fullsize

art by Jessika Galbreath

The Wheel. Of. Medicine. !!!!

You were supposed to imagine me saying that in the voice of Charlie O'Donnell (announcer from the Wheel of Fortune) !

 The medicine wheel symbolizes the interconnection of all life, the various cycles of nature, and how life represents a circular journey. The number four is sacred and can represent many things: the four seasons, the four parts of a person (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual); the four kingdoms (animal, mineral, plant and human); the four sacred medicines (sweetgrass, tobacco, cedar and sage). Hence, you may see the medicine wheel represented in several different ways:

(1) The four points of the compass, each with a guiding spirit, symbolizing stages in the life journey. The East, direction of the daily birth of the sun, represents a person's birth and early years. The South relates to childhood and intellectual growth. The West symbolizes adulthood and introspection, while the North represents the old age, wisdom and the spiritual aspects of life. The center of the wheel is symbolic of Mother Earth and the Divine, and their role in the beginning and continuation of life.

View fullsize

(2) The four points also represent the balance between spiritual, mental, physical and emotional aspects of health.

(3) The quadrants of the wheel are often colored red(South), yellow(East), black(Autumn), white(Winter)- and/or green (I usually place this in the center for balance).

(4) They can also represent the different symbols of the tarot...

For a traditional healer, an imbalance  in any area of your personal wheel may create an imbalance within and around you. Since not everyone has a large piece of land or the time to create a huge outdoor wheel, I've come up with an idea to bring one inside to you! A mobile medicine wheel!

I brought all of the elements that I choose to represent MY wheel together in a planter dish. You may feel drawn to different things...make this personal! It's your place of healing. Your emotions will heal through different totems, images, plants smells etc. 

View fullsize

Materials

Planter Dish

Semi precious stones and crystals

candle, matches

incense

feathers

moss

shells

seeds

wood, branches

Starting with white, in the Northern quadrant I used white stones and feathers to represent air, North, winter, New Moon, Mental, logic, receiving energy.  I placed all of my yellow items (candle, matches, stones) in my eastern quadrant, representing spring, East, new beginnings, fire, spirit, birth, determining energy and the 1st quarter of the moon. In the Southern quadrant I use red stones and pine needles as well as shells for South, Summer, water, growth, giving energy, Full Moon, trust, innocence, youth, emotions. And Finally, in the west I placed earth in the form of soil and plant matter as well as black stones for West, physical, adult, physical, introspection, insight, shadows, evening, 2nd quarter of the moon, and holding energy.

View fullsize

I also placed moss in the middle for centering, balance, harmony, self love and beauty...with some incense to cleanse the entire area.  By creating my little mobile medicine wheel, I can use it to contemplate or meditate as well as realize what needs to be worked on within and around me. And, it's freakin BEAUTIFUL to look at. 

I hope you enjoy creating a sacred place of healing for yourself. Please feel free to ask any questions or leave comments!

Frost Moon Ritual

November 6th marks the Full Moon- Beaver Moon or Frost Moon. 

 At the Full Moon, the energy is powerful and intense. This surge enables you to take action – especially in regards to the New Moon intentions you may have set two weeks ago. Cleaning closets, getting winter clothing down and putting away summery things, friends that are no longer friends, shame, pain, anger- anything that is holding you back. This is a perfect time for releasing something that no longer serves you; or letting go of something that you no longer need in your life; or an opportunity to let go of an aspect of yourself that you have outgrown. A Full Moon ritual is a powerful way to invoke this- Releasing. Letting go. Unburdening yourself. Purging. You get rid of the old, celebrating your emergence by stepping out of an old way of being / an old identity / behaviour /  attitude / relationship / frame of mind / situation. The ritual marks this inner transformation in a formal, ceremonial way. Emphasising to yourself and the Universe that you are ready to let go for the new you to emerge. Making way for new magical opportunities to come to you. The easiest way to create and perform a ritual is to follow your intuition. But I'm going to offer some ideas from my own practice. Use them, and introduce some of your own things as well!

What you will need:

A quiet spot, water, a fireproof container, something to write with, paper, candle.

* Start by finding yourself a quiet spot where you will not be disturbed. If you can practice under the moonlight to feel her full beam, great, if not, no worries, as long as you are somewhere you feel safe and sound. 

* Create a sacred space- free of clutter- place a candle, a bowl of water, your favorite crystals or other special items, and anything else you want to represent this time in your life.

* Cleanse your area by smudging, or praying, meditating, or envisioning being enveloped in a bright white light that protects you.

* Close your eyes and slow your breath, taking deep, slow, cleansing breaths. Clear your mind and just listen to the sound of your breath.

* Write down what you no longer need. What (or whom) you want to free yourself of.

* Breathe deep into your root and say aloud, "I no longer need this, I now release you into the Universe".

* Light the paper and allow it to burn in your container, watching the smoke carry away what no longer serves you.

* Dip your fingers into the bowl of water and 'anoint' yourself with it, declaring "I am washed anew, and now I may began again". 

* Meditate on your breath once again, allowing the sound of your body to be the only thing you hear.

* Ground yourself with a bite of food, or drink, or walk into the grass with barefeet. Allow your energy to be centered and solid.

Please add or subtract whatever parts of this ritual that don't feel 'right' to you. I sometimes like to dress up with flowy gowns or glitter, head adornments and fun makeup.And instead of anointing myself with the water I sometimes drink it. And I usually finish my Full and New moon rituals off with a glass of wine. This is the time to create your own traditions. I promise there is no right or wrong way to create a ritual if you are coming from a loving and positive place. 

More things to do in the Full Moon Light

Cleanse your crystals by laying them in the moons light so they can gain her energy.

Create a crystal or oil essence to absorb the moon's strength and energy. 

Make "Full Moon" Water: Grab a mason jar (a clear glass container with a lid) and fill it with water (tap, spring, distilled) allow it to sit in the moons light all night and absorb the energy of her. I drink my water throughout the next few days, absorbing the Moons positive strength and energy.

Cleanse your tarot cards by allowing them to absorb the energy of the moon light. 

Remember, this is YOUR ritual, your time. there is no right or wrong way to do this. And have fun! This doesn't have to be such a solemn practice!

New Moon Rituals

The New Moon is Thursday and I feel the energy in the air getting tingly! The New Moon is a way for you to clean your energy and space(s) as well a commit to new intentions for the month. Little goal settings such as these will make you super productive(if you stick to them) and give you a little structure. And it's fun to create your own set of ritual that works for you. 

**A Rant On Ritual**

Folks always misconstrue the meaning of ritual...dictionary.com  defines ritual as: 

rit·u·al

ˈriCH(əw)əl/

noun

1. 1.

   a religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order.

   "the ancient rituals of Christian worship

adjective

Now you can be 'solemn' in all that you do. But the fact that you create a ritual around a date or time of year or a game or test or first date does not make you a wicked-or bad, or anti-christian, or any other ridiculous label others want to put on you out of fear of the unknown. I detest labels, and they always trip me up...maybe for fear of being pigeon holed and judged...maybe because I change so much one label wouldn't last a year. I have friends and family from all different walks of life and spirituality- Pagans, Catholics, Krishna, Hindu, Neo-Pagan, Wiccan, Atheist, Agnostic, "Christian" or plain and simple human. One of the things they all have in common is RITUAL. It may surround different circumstances and they may call it something different but its a ritual. So when you talk about creating a ritual, or when you begin a ceremonial ritual that is important to you and some ignorant person wants to judge you, you can either educate them OR tell them to fuck off...your choice!

**RANT OVER**

Where was I?!? Oh yeah;

Creating your own rituals based on the new moon or full moon or any other date is fun, like your own personal party and celebration for the Moon! With the new moon being the first moon of the new phase it's a good time to reset: bad habits, decisions, ethics- or to cleanse: yourself, energy, home. So plan your ritual with that in mind. A reset on all of your habits for the next month. Just a month of time where you try something a different way, and if you like it continue with it! Get creative! And for Goddess sake HAVE FUN!

1. 1.

   of, relating to, or done as a religious or solemn rite.

   "ritual burial"

2.    

   Some of my rituals include:

   Smudging my altar and tools

   Cleansing my tarot cards

   Releasing old habits ( I write them down and then burn them to release them)

   Setting New Intentions (write them down, draw them, create a vision wheel, start a journal something that you can see daily to remind you of your intention for yourself.)

   I usually start by cleaning my area; my studio and meditation space/altar are all together so it gets quite cluttered. I then smudge the area going to the four corners N/S/E/W and to the heavens above and the earth below giving thanks for my life and my health and good fortune. I then light candles and have a representative of earth, water, air, fire and spirit present on my table. I sit in meditation and just breathe before I start to think of what needs to be released...I then write them down on bits of paper and burn them in a fireproof container (I use an abalone shell). Then I journal about what I want to bring into my life and set my new goals(intentions) based on that. I sit once more in silence and breath then I give thanks to my Divine Spirit, and to the four corners of the earth and to the elements and then I begin to extinguish my flame. I usually do  a few yoga poses or eat something to 're-ground' my energy. And that's it! With the journaling that I do on my new intention I usually create an art piece of some sort as a reminder of my new moon intentions( art journal, vision board, style board, heck-you could even create something on pinterest!).

   The key is to set your intentions realistically, "I want to be a millionaire" is a great goal, but how will you accomplish that within a month?  Maybe instead, "I'll start setting back extra money, or not purchase a five dollar coffee three times a week" and place that money in a container in your sacred place so the good energy of your ritual and intent will envelope the cash. Set realistic goals that you can accomplish and then stay on it. 

   I love ceremony and ritual, and I'd love to hear from you! What are your sacred practices surrounding the New Moon? Leave a comment so we can learn more about one another...community is key to love and longevity!