Blessed Yule

2015-12-222015-12-23 Miss Poison December, Wicca, Winter Solstice, Writing, Yule December, Wicca, Winter Solstice, Writing, Yule

Today is Yule. It is celebrated on the Winter Solstice which is the longest night of the year. After this night, the nights will start to get shorter and the days will get longer. It is the rebirth of the Sun.

Ancient people were hunters and farmers and spent most of their time outdoors. The seasons and weather played a very important part in their lives. Because of this, many ancient people had a great reverence for, and worshiped the Sun. The Norsemen saw the sun as a wheel that changed the seasons. It was from the word for the wheel, houl or jol, that the word Yule is thought to have come.

Every 6 months there is a Solstice. On the Summer Solstice the longest day of the year and shortest night, the Waning Sun takes control of the skies and the days get shorter and nights get longer, the cold starts to set in and vegetation on the earth begins to die. On the Winter Solstice the Waxing Sun takes over and the nights start to get shorter and the days longer, it is a sign that Spring is only a few months away, where life will begin anew and the earth will start to blossom and bloom.

On Yule we celebrate the return of the Waxing Sun. In Wicca it is birth of the Sun God who has many names: Cernunnos, The Oak King, Apollo, Sol, Freyr, Horus, Mithras, The Horned God, The Green Man, Lord Of Light, and more. The Goddess gives birth to him on this night, she sacrifices herself to give life to the Lord Of Light to ensure the earth’s survival.

In ancient tradition, Yule was celebrated with a large fire where the townsfolk and villagers would dedicate it to the Sun God. They would fill their homes with evergreens and an evergreen tree to show that even though the land is barren and dead, life is still flourishing. They would decorate the tree and their home with shiny objects to encourage The Sun God to shine.

We use Holly and Mistletoe on Yule as symbols of the fertility of the God and Goddess as they grow in the Winter. The red berries of the Holly represent the blood of the Goddess and the white berries of Mistletoe represent the semen of the God to ensure a healthy Spring and harvest to come.

Fill your Yule altar with fruit, nuts, and seasonal winter fare such as fallen leaves, fallen tree branches, acorns, evergreens, and anything bright and shining. Light yellow, green, red, white, or orange candles to ensure a good year and honor the season. Make an offering of wine, grapes, juniper berries, apples, nutmeg, cinnamon, or cloves to the Gods to honor them and wish for a happy new year.

The Winter Solstice has been celebrated by many ancient cultures, one of the most famous being Saturnalia.The ancient Romans held a festival to celebrate the rebirth of the year. Saturnalia ran for seven days from the 17th-23rd of December. It was a time when the ordinary rules were turned upside down. Men dressed as women and masters dressed as servants, the servants were given lavish gifts and their masters made them a big feast. The festival also involved decorating houses with greenery, lighting candles, holding processions, and giving presents. A Saturnalia Tree would be the center piece of every home.

Yule is a celebration of light and of the Sun and its life-giving properties upon the earth. It is a time to rejoice and be thankful for all we have and to gather strength for the new year. It is a time to contemplate on the year that has gone and look to the future.

The Winter Solstice falls on the longest night of the year (this can fall anywhere between the 20th-23rd of December) and was celebrated in Britain long before the arrival of Christianity. The Druids (Celtic priests) would cut the mistletoe that grew on the oak tree and give it as a blessing. Oaks were seen as sacred and the winter fruit of the mistletoe was a symbol of life in the dark winter months.

It was also the Druids who began the tradition of the yule log. The Celts thought that the sun stood still for twelve days in the middle of winter and during this time a log was lit to conquer the darkness, banish evil spirits, and bring luck for the coming year. To make a Yule log, cut a log into 12 pieces and burn a piece every day for 12 days, with each piece burned make a wish for the coming new year.

Today we welcome back the Lord of Light. Blessed Yule to all.

Full Written Credit: Mystical Tymes

Edited by Lisa Marino

Photo Credit: Various

New Moon In Sagittarius

2015-12-11 Miss Poison December, New Moon, Sagittarius, Wicca, Writing Change, December, Growth, New Moon, New Moon In Sagittarius, Sagittarius, Wicca, Writing

Tonight is the New Moon in Sagittarius. This is the final New Moon of the year. As with all New Moons, this is the end of a cycle and a new beginning. It is an opportunity to wipe the slate clean and start anew. Use this renewed energy to make a fresh start in the coming New Year.

Sagittarius is about hard work and strength, but it is also about hard play and vulnerability. You may be feeling a little underappreciated at the moment for all your hard work, but even though people don’t always show it, know that what you do for them is very much appreciated. Try not to dwell in negativity and let your playful, fun side out. We all need to relax and let our hair down now and again. You deserve a break.

Emotions will be high this New Moon; your feelings will be intense and heightened. Each individual is testing themselves to rise to a higher level through a challenge in some form. Many people start a New Year full of hope and promises and then start to feel down as the year progresses. Don’t let this happen to you. Keep your promises to yourself. Don’t lose faith; this will be a magical year full of powerful energy that will help you succeed.

Don’t get ready. Be ready. Uranus moves direct just hours before the Sagittarius New Moon. This is a green light from the universe to go forward. Uranus rules freedom. Uranus wants to liberate you from the chains that bind you. You are creating your reality. You do this from your thoughts, words, and behavior.

What do you want to create in the New Year? You are setting the foundation for the next twelve months now. Be practical and patient and set achievable goals for yourself.

Use the power of this New Moon for real growth. Look deep within yourself and ask what it is you need to change or grow, also ask what you need to let go of that which is holding you back. Don’t let fear stand in your way, push past it and make a real commitment to getting to where you want or need to be.

This is a time where you should be reflecting on the past and the lessons you have learned from this past year. Take the lessons into the future with you. Let go of the old and welcome the new. Take small steps you feel comfortable with to create a positive change. Start your own personal journey to who and what you want to be. Dream big, and think big. Be ambitious, follow your dreams and desires. Allow yourself to be happy.

Have a blessed New Moon & may the Goddess watch over you.

Full written credit goes to Wicca Teachings.

Developmental editing by Lisa Marino.

Full Frost Moon In Gemini

2015-11-25 Miss Poison Full Frost Moon, Full Moon, November, Wicca, Writing Change, Full Frost Moon In Gemini, Full Moon, Gemini, November, Wicca, Writing

Tonight is the Full Frost Moon, named as such because the frost and ice will start to set in as the earth grows colder, animals will start to hibernate for the winter months, the last leaves will fall from the trees, and the land will become barren.

The Moon is rising in the constellation of Gemini. We are amidst some strong planetary alignments that are heralding a need for profound change and revolution inside and out. Our attitude is of utmost importance during this time and can empower us and see us through whatever we are facing. Gratitude for what we have and a willingness to move with the energy that is calling is required.

This particular Full Moon will not be boring and will have an unpredictable vibe along with it. The places where we have been feeling stuck in our lives may suddenly begin to move or shift. If emotions are clogged, they may surface and flow; let them. Don’t hold anything in, let your emotions out. Be aware of dualistic thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, as this may be generating a lot of mental stress and tension, as well as sending out mixed signals to others and the Universe. Try to stay grounded and find a balance. Finances are illuminated on this Full Moon, to watch what we are spending and to improve or bring in extra income.

Tonight’s Full Moon brings change, as we are coming to the end of the calendar year. With Yule and the New Year fast approaching, we must become empowered to make the changes necessary to shift our situation. It is up to us; the time is now. We must let go and surrender to the deeper current that is transforming us. You are the master of your destiny. Take your power back from society and other people. Learn from your past mistakes. Vow to do better next year. Make a commitment to your success. Be adaptable. Make friends with change. It is not the enemy. Change is your friend. Change sheds the old and gives birth to the new.

This Full Moon is about communication, higher learning, and our sense of creativity and adventure. Something has been building inside of us and now is the time when the energy of the cosmos demands that we let it out. We are magnets to our desire, and we have the power to attract what we want toward us.

Gemini is the sign of knowledge and learning. This will give us a boost in mind power, as we will be able to see things more clearly. We will see our own truths and a fog will be lifted that can show us a path that can lead us to improving ourselves both spiritually and mentally.

This Full Moon look into yourself and ask yourself what you need to move forward. Ask yourself how you are going to achieve this, and ask yourself if you feel that you are strong enough to do this. If you feel that you are not strong enough, use the energy of this Full Moon to heal and gain strength. Ask the Goddess for guidance and to lead the way to a more positive, happier life. Tonight is a good time to determine just what you value and want you stand for, as well as what you want to create in your life and carry forth into the next cycle of your evolution.

Have a blessed Full Moon. May the Goddess watch over you.

Full written & photo credit goes to Wicca Teachings.

Developmental Editing by Lisa Marino.

Friday The 13th

2015-11-13 Miss Poison Writing Christianity, Friday The 13th, Judaism, Loki, Norse Gods, Odin, The Knights Templar, Wicca, Writing

It’s Friday the 13th, a day that people either embrace or fear. A day that doesn’t usually come around too often, but this year we have had three Friday the 13th’s. We had one in February, one in March, and today is the third. It is very rare to get three Friday the 13th’s in one year. It won’t happen again until 2026.

More than 60 million people worldwide claim to be affected by a fear of Friday the 13th. Some won’t go to work, drive their cars, or get out of bed on this day. Many hospitals do not have a room 13, while airports don’t have a Gate 13, and a lot of hotels don’t have a thirteenth floor. The official word for the fear of Friday 13th is “paraskevidekatriaphobia”.

The belief that Friday the 13th is bad luck may have sprung from Norse legend when on Friday, 12 Gods were joined by a 13th God, Loki who was a cruel and brought upon humans great misfortune. Loki crashed a party at Valhalla disguised as an old hag. The Gods allowed him in and fed him, thinking he was a nomad soul passing through. Valhalla was the “banquet hall of the gods.” The Gods were enjoying a great feast where Balder, Odin’s son, was letting them throw spears at him to show his strength and courage. There were 12 guests present at the hall, they were the greatest of the Norse Gods, until Loki arrived, Loki the trickster Norse God was the 13th guest. The affair turned grim when Balder, the beloved son of Odin, the God of light, joy, and reconciliation was killed when Loki tricked Balder’s sightless brother Hod into throwing a spear of mistletoe at him, the only thing on earth that could kill Balder. By doing this, Loki brought about the promise of Ragnarök which will be doomsday when Odin will get revenge on Loki and all the Great Gods will fight their enemies including Loki. This will bring about the end of the world, ushering in a new dawn where Balder will be resurrected and rule in place of Odin.

On Friday the 13th in the year 1307, thousands of soldier monks of the powerful Knights Templar were massacred by French King Louis IV. It is said that blood ran through the streets like a river. Many people believe this is where our fear of the date stems from. The Pope of the church in Rome, in Conjunction with the King of France, carried out a secret death warrant against the Knights Templar. The Templars were terminated as heretics, never again to hold the power that they had held for so long. The Grand Master Jacques DeMolay was arrested and before he was killed, was tortured and crucified. This was carried out on Friday the 13th and there were 13 High Templars which ruled the Knights Templar.

In Spanish-speaking countries, Tuesdays dated the 13th, not Fridays, are considered unlucky. In Italian culture, Friday the 17th is considered unlucky.

The number 13 appears many times on the U.S. $1 bill. There are 13 stars, 13 stripes, 13 steps, 13 arrows, and even an olive branch with 13 leaves on it. Also there were thirteen colonies in British North America. There are 13 stars and stripes on the original American flag.

From a religious standpoint, Muslims tout Friday as the day Allah created Adam. Legend has it that Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit on a Friday and later died on a Friday. Christians consider Friday as the day on which Christ was crucified by the Romans. Also the number 13, in the Christian faith, is the number of guests at the Last Supper with the 13th guest at the table being the traitor, Judas. When Christians combine this day and number the combination can only hold special significance. In Judaism, a Bar or Bat Mitzvah is held at age 13 on a Friday the Jewish Sabbath day. The Bible also lists 13 attributes of God. (Editor’s Note: I’ve been to plenty of Bar Mitzvahs. None of them were on a Friday or even on the 13th of a month.)

There are 13 Witches to a Coven, which is true for many traditional Covens, but not all.

Written credit goes to Wicca Teachings.

Edited for accuracy and cohesiveness by Lisa Marino

Samhain Blessings

2015-10-31 Miss Poison Samhain, Wicca, Writing God/Goddess, Halloween, October, Samhain, Wicca, Writing

Today is Samhain. It is one of the most important of the 8 Sabbats, as it is the Pagan New Year.

The wheel of the year has turned full circle and a new year begins. The word Samhain means Suns’ End. It is pronounced Sow’in.

Samhain is the third of the harvest festivals, only this isn’t a harvest of crops or grain, it is the harvest of flesh. It was the time of year when farmers and families would slaughter cattle and preserve the meat to last through the cold winter months.

Samhain is a festival of death as it is the death of the year and of the waxing Sun. It is also the death of the earth when plants, seeds, and acorns are now slowly descending underground to ready themselves to be reborn in Spring. Animals will start to hibernate, and the earth will appear barren as it sleeps through the winter months.

Earth’s energies are being pulled inwards at this time. This is the time we should also be looking inwards at ourselves. Contemplate the year we have had and what lessons we have learned, whether they were good or bad, and contemplate what we can take from them and use in the future.

The God of the waxing Sun descends into the underworld opening up the veil between the two worlds of the living and the dead. At Samhain spirits can commune with the living and visit us. We remember our ancestors, people, and pets who have died. We honor them by placing pictures of them on our altars and invite them to join us. We should also adorn our altars with seasonal fare such as fallen leaves, twigs, acorns, nuts, turnips, and pumpkins and offer these as gifts to the Triple Goddess who is now in her crone phase, she is the wise dark mother of knowledge and days past.

Although a time of death, Samhain is also a time of fresh starts and new beginnings. It is a time of ‘out with the old, in with the new’. It is a good time to start looking forward to our future.

On Samhain we should light a fire, as this is primarily a Celtic fire festival where the villagers and townsfolk would light giant bonfires to say goodbye to the God of the waxing Sun and to thank the Goddess for her harvest of gifts bestowed upon the earth. There would be big feasts with stews, corn, and breads and we would give thanks for people in our lives and show gratitude for all that we have, and give thanks to the people who are no longer with us and invite them to join us at the feast.

Light a candle tonight and put it in a window facing West to light the way for our lost loved ones and invite their spirits to visit us.

Today is a great time for divination, for doing Tarot reading and looking to the future and asking ourselves how we can improve our lives and move forward for the coming year.

Have a Blessed Samhain and may the God and Goddess watch over you.

Full written credit goes to Wicca Teachings.

Edited for cohesiveness by Lisa Marino.

10 Things I Wish Everyone Knew About Wicca

Link 2015-10-31 Miss Poison Wicca Articles, Wicca

http://www.faithstreet.com/onfaith/2015/10/30/10-things-i-wish-everyone-knew-about-wicca/38007

This is such a great article, so I thought I’d share it.

I’m incredibly non-traditional because I am a practitioner of two religions. Monotheism and polytheism don’t mesh well together because the beliefs cancel each other out here and there, but because I was raised with Kabbalistic teachings, I make it work. I would never abandon one for the other and 100% consider myself of both faiths. One you’re born into or you’re not, and the other is a choice. I think it’s important for people to choose their own path and do what is right for them, so long as they aren’t harming anyone else in the process.

Full Hunter’s Moon In Taurus

2015-10-272015-10-27 Miss Poison Full Hunter's Moon, Full Moon, Taurus, Wicca, Writing Blood Moon, Full Hunter's Moon In Taurus, Full Moon, Halloween, Hunter's Moon, October, Samhain, Taurus, Wicca, Writing

Tonight is the Full Hunter’s Moon, named so because people would use the brightness of this Moon to go hunting and gather meat for their families. It is also known as The Blood Moon because between now and Samhain/Halloween was the harvest of flesh, it was the time when the farming community would slaughter cattle and preserve the meat to last through the winter months.

Tonight’s Full Moon is rising in Taurus. This is a time of great change. The universe is giving us so many gifts and chances now, don’t be afraid to take them and to dream of bigger and better things, ask for more, do more, be more. Look at what may be holding you back and get rid of it, the Taurus Full Moon is about new starts, getting rid of the old and bringing in the new.

So much of what has been suppressed is coming to the light now and shining so brightly that we cannot ignore it any longer. This Full Moon is about truth and seeing what is really there, not what we want to see. In life we can often see illusions about ourselves, illusions about others, and illusions about our world. All of these will start crumbling away so we can rebuild on what is real and true.

This Full Moon is a time of healing and cleansing, of getting rid of our negative junk, and moving ourselves into a new and positive direction. Look at all the good things in your life and look at how to improve upon the bad things. It’s time to take a deep look within ourselves and become more aware of what makes us feel comfortable and secure.

With this potent Taurus energy, we have the chance to make important changes in our lives. It’s time to make some solid, yet realistic plans for the future.

Tonight’s Full Moon has an earthy, yet romantic quality and will bring a new wave of calm and peace with it. The gentle dusting of energy brought by this Full Moon will allow us all to restore and recharge our batteries and perhaps feel even more comfortable with our situation and where we are at. We will see with clarity what we need to do to heal and grow. Now is also the time to really get in touch with your passions and desires and work on making them a reality.

Have a blessed Full Moon & may the Goddess watch over you.

Full written credit goes to Wicca Teachings.

Edited by Lisa Marino.

http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2015/10/supermoon_oct_26-27_2015_last.html

The moon was truly enormous and bright last night. I tried taking photos with my cell phone and tablet, but none of them were able to capture the beauty of what I was seeing. I hope you all got a chance to see it in its full glory. 🙂

New Moon In Libra

2015-10-13 Miss Poison New Moon, Wicca, Writing Change, Energy, Libra, New Moon, October, Uranus, Wicca, Writing

Tonight is the New Moon in Libra. This is a time to find a real balance in our life physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. With the waves from the lunar eclipse still rippling through the atmosphere, it might be a good time to stand still, take a breath and center yourself.

With this New Moon you may be feeling irritated, misunderstood and have little patience for people, this can lead to arguments and upset. We may be initiating ourselves into a process of truly feeling all our wounds, pain, anger, and rage. Try to stay calm and weather the storm as it will pass in the coming days. Think before reacting too quickly, try to come from a place of kindness and understanding, keep away from negative thinking.

The Libra New Moon will give us a bolt of energy, so if things have felt sluggish and slow lately get ready as things will now start to shift and move a lot faster. Use this energy to get jobs done and to shift things into a positive direction. This will be a productive New Moon, with a promise that the scales of justice will be balanced and we will get what we deserve, whatever work we put in we will get in return.

Uranus will play a big part in this New Moon as Uranus is associated with sudden changes and revelations that are unexpected and can be very exciting, so be ready for some big surprises coming over the next few weeks. You can use the Uranus energy to bring on big changes and transformation. Get rid of the old clutter holding you back to make room for new opportunities coming your way.

The message of this New Moon is to find balance, knowing when to push and when to rest. Take a step back and look at everything more clearly. Now is the time to start clearing out junk, both in our homes, work, and in our emotional lives. Expel negativity and try to let go of any bad thoughts and feelings by looking at how to improve any situations rather than just complain about them. The Libra New Moon holds magical healing power. We are in a profound cleansing and clearing cycle. Allow the deep emotions emerging from the unconscious to be healed.

Have a blessed New Moon and may the Goddess watch over you.

Written & photo credit goes to Wicca Teachings

Edited by Lisa Marino

Full Harvest Moon In Aries

2015-09-28 Miss Poison Aries, Full Moon, Wicca, Writing Aries, Autumn, Emotions, Full Harvest Moon, Full Moon, September, Wicca

Tonight is The Full Harvest Moon. It is called the Harvest Moon because at the end of September crops which were seeded in Spring are ready to be harvested. It is the final harvest before Winter, so crops, fruit, and grain would be stored to last through the winter months. The Harvest Moon is very bright, probably the biggest and brightest Moon of the year. This morning’s lunar eclipse and Super Moon will create extra strong tides and energy flows, disrupting sleep and energy levels.

Tonight’s Full Moon is in the constellation of Aries. This will be a fiery Full Moon deep with flaming, raw emotions. Your sensitivity will be heightened. You may have to move away from loud noise, crowds, and negative people. Try to be around nature tonight, as it will be very healing and nurturing to you. It’s okay to cry a little and wipe the slate clean in your heart now. Aries is a fire element, therefore emotions and feelings are strong now. Be kind and gentle with yourself as you may be feeling ultra sensitive.

This is a time of transformation. Earth is going through a major shift at the moment as it heads into Autumn. We are also going through a major change in our lives as Earth’s energy projects itself on us. We can use this energy of transformation to become what we feel we need to be in order to move on and be happy. Aries will make us feel a little braver and stronger, we may find that we have the courage to do things we were afraid to do in the past. Open yourself up tonight to the magical forces around you. Don’t be limited by the five senses or the ‘how’s’ and ‘when’s.’ Instead, believe in yourself and live from a place of magic and miracles.

The Harvest Moon is a time to reap what we have sown and cultivated this year. Our harvest is the culmination of our efforts to manifest a deeper and fuller life for ourselves. Name what you have harvested over the past year, bless it and yourself for the good work you have done.

This Full Moon let your emotions flow, get rid of past hurts, cry, scream, or shout if you need to, but let it out. Allow yourself to heal. Let the fire of Aries cleanse you. After tonight’s emotional Full Moon when you wake to an Autumn Sun, you will feel like a new person, full of vigor and energy.

Have a blessed Full Moon and may the Goddess watch over you.

Full Written Credit goes to Wicca Teachings.

Photo Credit: Various

Edited by Lisa Marino.

bloodmoon2-2015 — A view of last night’s Blood Moon. This isn’t the best photo I have, or the closest, but it’s nice and clear.

Autumnal Equinox

2015-09-23 Miss Poison Autumnal Equinox, God/Goddess, Mabon, Wicca, Writing Autumnal Equinox, Darkness, Fall, God/Goddess, Light, Mabon, September, Wicca, Writing

Today is the Autumnal Equinox when night and day are exactly at equal length. It is also one of the eight Pagan Sabbats, Mabon.

Mabon is mainly a harvest festival, it is the last harvest before winter comes. In old times it would be a time to start stocking up on fruit, wheat, corn, and grain for the winter months ahead.

This is a time of transformation. The great wheel has turned as we pass into a new season and say goodbye to Summer. The earth is going through a major shift, where darkness will now start to take over light as the nights get longer and days get shorter. Cold will start to take over warmth and death will start to take over life as plants wilt and trees start to lose their leaves, and fields become barren. Wild animals will start to gather food for the winter months and hibernate.

Mabon is a time of thanksgiving. We thank the God and Goddess for all that we have and thank them for the harvest. The sap of trees returns to their roots deep in the earth, changing the green of summer to the fire of autumn, to the flaming reds, oranges, and golds. We are returning to the dark from whence we came.

The Goddess is radiant as Harvest Queen and the God finally dies with his gift of pure love with the cutting of the last grain. He will descend into the underworld, his last day on earth will be Samhain when a gate will open between our world and the underworld. We enjoy the abundance of fruit and vegetables at this time. We should adorn our altars with pumpkins, nuts, corn, wheat, squash, fruits, and other seasonal fair and any falling leaves or acorns we may find to honor the season and to thank the waning Sun for the wealth of harvest bestowed upon us.

Mabon is also a transition for the Triple Goddess as she goes from her mother phase to her crone phase, her final phase from her journey of the year.

The Autumnal Equinox is a time of balance, of both light and dark, it is a time to look within ourselves and balance our thoughts and emotions, and to find balance in our lives. To embrace our dark and our light equally, as one cannot exist without the other. It is when we stop and relax and enjoy the fruits of our personal harvests, whether they be from toiling in our gardens, working at our jobs, raising our families, or just coping with the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

May your Mabon be memorable, and your hearts and spirits be filled to overflowing.