Quickening Moon

The February full moon is tomorrow. Snow Moon, Ice Moon, Hunger Moon; many of its names recall that winter is still upon us. But it's been two weeks since we passed the halfway mark to the next solar event of the year, the spring equinox; and the shift can already be felt. The Front Range has seen a very mild winter thus far, with occasionally dumps of snow but many, many sunny and warm days. February in particular has been very warm. Denver set a new high for the date last week - 73!

http://yourtake.9news.com/media/18442654

It has other names that hint at the coming spring: Rowan Moon, Wild Moon, and the one that caught my eye today, Quickening Moon.

The Earth certainly is quickening. My tulips are beginning to poke above ground. I wish I could be happy about that, but as we all know, winter is not over, and it will certainly snow and turn cold again before spring really settles in to stay. So while it gave me a thrill to see them emerging, it also makes me sad, because they're rather frail, and another hard freeze will mean yet another year with no blooms.

This time of year is about beginnings. An intention planted now that will grow and thrive as spring arrives, and our energy increases along with the lengthening of the days and the warming of the Earth.

Full Moon Spell:

On a slip of paper, jot down, in simple terms, what you want. You can also do this on a bay leaf, with a single word.
Light a candle in the color corresponding to your need.
Consider your desire, really think about what it is you want, what steps you will need to take to get there, and visualize it manifested.
Burn the paper and bury the ashes in your garden, if you have one.

Releasing Spell

Releasing a Terrible Day

Before bed, dress a white candle with basil or rose oil. Light a calming incense: myrrh, lavender, frankincense, or sandalwood are good.

Breathe deeply of the scent and close your eyes.

I breathe in peace
I exhale tension
This day has brought havoc,
dissatisfaction, frustration.
This is part of the cycle
All things must pass
and this shall too
I release this day
and all of its trials.
I welcome Somnos' gift of sleep.
I trust in tomorrow
I thank the gods for all I have,
mindful of blessings,
grateful for another day.


"Sleep is the poor man's physician," as the saying goes. I recommend it.

Tomorrow is another day.

Magic

"Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The allure of magic is in its mystique. Hidden knowledge, secret words, spells and potions. My own version is less robes and circles and more candles and herbs. I'm a kitchen witch; I seek the magic of the natural world, of herbs and plants and stones. I plant my vegetables during the waning moon with a prayer to Freyr and an offering of beer.

Magic is about intention, the focus of energy. Complex spellwork may be good for formal ceremonies and holidays, but for the everyday, I look to the energy of natural things, and use them as a vehicle. In that sense, I don't really consider what I'm doing "magic." It's more a matter of channeling the natural world into my thoughts, and using the power in those objects to assist my own will. My spells are extremely simple. Writing down something I want to cease or change, and burning during the night of a full moon. Selecting a yellow candle and burning it with a prayer to Athena for wisdom in my meeting today.

I suppose these could just be called superstitions, and perhaps they are. But perhaps there's something more to superstition than paranoid nonsense. Perhaps it's the recognition that the world around us has much to show us, if only we'll open our eyes to see.

Magic is a fascinating concept and practice, and I wish to explore it even more deeply than I have. Such is another of my goals for the coming year.

 

Spell for a Peaceful Home

Gather freshly cut parsley and place it in a pan of water. Let soak for nine minutes, and then sprinkle throughout the house while visualizing a calm environment.

I Am In Them

Edvard Munch, "Girl Looking Out the Window," 1893

With the new year, come resolutions.

Not everyone does this, I've found, but I do. In fact, I usually begin compiling my resolutions at my birthday, in early December, when another year has truly passed. December's a difficult month to institute disciplinary changes, though, so, like most, I start in January. 

I think resolutions are so hard because they require daily commitment. Over and over again, choosing to stay true to your resolve. Since resolutions are usually painful changes, it's very difficult to make this commitment, day after day. It's the reason most of us fail, the reason the gyms go back to their normal crowds in mid-February or so.

My method last year was the most successful I've ever used, so I'm using the same strategy this year. I'm dividing my life into the areas in which I want to make changes and improvements: physical, mental, spiritual, emotional. The physical list is always the longest and the hardest to stick to, but last year I managed to lose twenty pounds and keep it off. It wasn't the forty I wanted to lose, but it was a good start and this years' resolution will be to finish the job. 

Only the job is never finished, is it? There's never a place where you're just - done. I have to eat right, every day. I have to exercise, every day. And every day simply doesn't happen. The key, I think, is to not let one bad day - or even one bad week - derail the effort completely. Scarlett had it right: tomorrow is another day. 

The spiritual resolution is what I'll be focusing on here. Developing a daily practice of rituals, prayers, spells - to do every day those things I am sporadic with now. With that in mind, I want to find a quote, spell, piece of folklore, or some other lesson to share every day. 

Today I'd like to share a quote from Edvard Munch. He's most famous for his painting "The Scream." It sums up quite well what I think is the likely meaning of "eternal life." 

I don't think there's much consensus on what Pagans believe about the afterlife. Reincarnation seems to be a popular theory, and it certainly makes sense when one looks at the world and how it functions. We are part of this organism called the Earth; from her we were born and to her we will return. But what of our souls, the anima that makes us individuals? Does it linger on? 

I have no idea.