The Summer Solstice is another special time for all sorts of magic and rituals.
This is the time of the cauldron of Ceridwen. The cauldron of the goddess can contain many things: death, birth, re-birth, wisdom, fear, but above all it is always the vessel of transformation.
Create your own cauldron of Ceridwen today:
Into a clear glass bowl pour spring water and into the water drop some crystals - clear quarts, rose quarts and amethyst, plus a single green stone (green aventurine would be a good one).
On the surface of the water float some flowers, daisies are especially appropriate as they are the Day's Eye, the flower of the sun.
Do all these things outdoors, in the light of the sun if possible, then stir your cauldron three times deosil (sunwise or clockwise) with your magic wand and chant:
Ceridwen, Lady, Cauldron Queen,
Bless me, this magic hour,
Infuse these waters, give them life
And all Thy magic powers!
Close your eyes and lift your face and left arm towards the sun, your right hand should point at the water - you can hold your wand in the water if you prefer. Now allow the power of the Solstice Sun to run through you and enliven the waters of your cauldron.
When you are done the water should be saved and used to bless yourself and others, or sprinkled to give extra power to your spells. It can also be added to your watering can to give your garden a magical blessing too.
All sorts of energies and magic are more powerful if done today, or during this season.
For a start the fairies are more active around the solstice and up until the 29th of June, so a good time to work any kind of fairy magic.
Plant some thyme or chamomile in a special place in your garden to attract fairies and put near it some little bells or a wind chime.
Position a Fairy Door today, and remember to knock on it to activate its powers.
Cut a magic wand or divining rod today and it will be especially powerful.
Curses, hexes and ill-wishes are also more powerful today, so be careful about how you use your psychic energies today. Pick some nettles and sprinkle them on your windowsills, they are powerfully protective and will turn away every kind of negative vibes from stray jealousy and fleeting ill thoughts to full blown curses aimed at you.
Collect seven different flowers today and put them under your pillow tonight and you will have a special magical dream. You can also ask the fairies to visit you and show you the way to fairy land.
Make a small garland or necklace from flowers and throw it into a stream as you make a wish. If the water carry the flowers away your wish will be granted, but if they meander about and return to the bank, you are unlucky this time.
Make yourself a Talisman of the Sun today for success, prosperity and good fortune:
In the centre of a circle of paper draw a small image of the sun and around it draw thirteen small stars. Turn the paper over, and on the back of it write your name or initials and date of birth.
Now put this paper somewhere where the light of the midday sun can bathe it. Leave it there until at least 12.30, then put it in your purse, money box, or in a small pouch which you can carry with you. Keep it safe and you will soon see an upturn in your fortunes.
Oh and this is also a wonderful time for all times of love magic. Pick a rose tonight after sunset and stand naked in your garden. Pluck the petals from the rose and as you do so whisper the name of the one you desire and your wishes will be carried on the night breeze.
If for any reason you can't do your magic or rituals today, remember that the 23rd of June is Midsummer's Eve, perhaps the most magical night for all Fairy Magic, and 24th is Midsummers day, so you can do your spells and rituals then instead.
Merry Solstice!
Saturday, 21 June 2014
Sunday, 8 June 2014
A Witches Work is Never Done
It is a good thing that we enjoy what we do, because it is very rare for us to take time off.
There is always something which needs doing - for example today: I have researched some info for our daily Facebook post; taken some photos of plants, and had a quick little bake (photos of these are also up on Facebook), then I settled down to clearing a few more orders, yes even on a Sunday.
I like doing stuff at the weekend actually, I feel more able to do the orders that need a bit more attention. A lot of orders are straightforward despatches of items which we make as standard, or are simple picked from the boxes in the stock room. But quite a lot of orders need a personal touch, or sometimes a lot more than just a touch.
By the nature of our business, a lot of people make magical enquiries when they place an order, sometimes these can be answered simply, but these are often quite in depth and may need a spell or magical working researching or devising, just for that individual. So today I have been finishing off some orders which needed letters including with them. One needed a spell to help with business success, another enquired if we could create a special magical oil for them for a particular working they were doing, someone else wanted a working for healing.
And now here I am typing a piece for my blog!
To be honest, I don't think I'd know what to do with myself if I had nothing to do.
Oo just had an idea for another magical charm ! Sorry folks must dash off and make a quick note before I forget it.
Coming to a Mail Shot very shortly .....
There is always something which needs doing - for example today: I have researched some info for our daily Facebook post; taken some photos of plants, and had a quick little bake (photos of these are also up on Facebook), then I settled down to clearing a few more orders, yes even on a Sunday.
I like doing stuff at the weekend actually, I feel more able to do the orders that need a bit more attention. A lot of orders are straightforward despatches of items which we make as standard, or are simple picked from the boxes in the stock room. But quite a lot of orders need a personal touch, or sometimes a lot more than just a touch.
By the nature of our business, a lot of people make magical enquiries when they place an order, sometimes these can be answered simply, but these are often quite in depth and may need a spell or magical working researching or devising, just for that individual. So today I have been finishing off some orders which needed letters including with them. One needed a spell to help with business success, another enquired if we could create a special magical oil for them for a particular working they were doing, someone else wanted a working for healing.
And now here I am typing a piece for my blog!
To be honest, I don't think I'd know what to do with myself if I had nothing to do.
Oo just had an idea for another magical charm ! Sorry folks must dash off and make a quick note before I forget it.
Coming to a Mail Shot very shortly .....
Sunday, 1 June 2014
Butterfly Myth and Magic
For those of you unlucky enough not to be on the Raven Mailing list - and therefore having missed out on the latest edition of our Newsletter - here is one of the articles from the June 2014 issue which went out with the new Magical Curiosities catalogue.
This children's song was collected in the western isles in the 19th century. It was believed that butterflies were sent from heaven to guide the souls of the departed, so it was a good sign to see butterflies outside the home of one who had recently died, as it ensured that their soul would be swiftly led to heaven.
Butterflies are associated with spirits of the dead, or the unborn, in cultures all over the world
In ancient Greece the word 'psyche' means both soul and butterfly as does the Latin word 'anima'.
In Teotihuacan, the Aztec capital, is the Palace of the Butterfly, the Palace of the Mariposa - in modern Mexico the word 'mariposa' still means butterfly, but also means a beautiful homosexual man.
To the Azrtecs the butterfly represented the elements of both fire and water and was sacred both to the rain god Tlaloc and to Quetzalcoatl the Feathered Serpent. Quetzalcoatl was associated with the planet Venus, which appears as both the evening star and then as the morning star, he was the dying god who sacrificed himself in fire, then was reborn as the morningstar. When the morning star reappeared, its symbol was the butterfly which therefore symbolised rebirth and resurrection.
The Aztecs thought that the earth was maintained through a dynamic harmony of Fire and Water, and that if this balance was not maintained the earth would be destroyed. The butterfly held that balance between Tlaloc and Quetzalcoatl.
The association with the Fire element is seen in that the butterfly is invoked in healing ceremonies for 'Fire' diseases such as frostbite, chilblains, prickly heat or soreness of the eyes.
The Celts also believed that the souls of the dead manifested as butterflies and up to the 17th century in Ireland it was against the common law to kill a white butterfly as these were believed to be the souls of children.
There is an old Irish blessing:
It was also said that if butterflies are seen outside the home of one who has recently died, they have come from heaven to guide the soul into the after-life. And any butterflies found in the home are spirits of dead loved ones come from heaven for a visit.
In Russia the butterfly is sometimes called Babochka, which is a name of honour meaning 'old woman' (as in Baba Yaga, the archetypal Russian Witch in her spinning house, on chicken legs) as Witches are believed to be able to transform into butterflies.
The butterfly symbolises grace, beauty, sensuality, the summer, kisses and secrets. In ancient Rome it was sacred to Juno, the goddess of marriage.
In China a Jade butterfly is the emblem of love, suggesting the bonding of souls, so a husband would give his wife a jade butterfly to symbolise their eternal love.
The butterfly is also the symbol of the Vodun lwa Loko who is the spirit of the wildwoods and invoked before any healing ritual.
The butterfly also symbolises the power of magical transformation. The caterpillar, earth-bound, concerned only with eating and growing, turns into the pupa (dies) and is re-born, transformed into a creature of light, air and beauty.
According to American folklore, if a girl wants a new dress she should catch a butterfly of the appropriate colour and crush it between her teeth while muttering a magic formula. I suspect the type of girl who is ruthless and selfish enough to try this spell, doesn't actually need it in order to obtain a new dress or any other trinket she desires.
A nicer spell says that you should carefully catch a butterfly without harming it, and while it is between your hands whisper your wish to it. Release the butterfly unharmed and your wish will be granted.
If you see a Fritillary butterfly it means you have money coming to you.
'Once upon a time, I dreamt Zhuangzi was a butterfly, fluttering hither and thither, to all intents and purposes a butterfly, and was unaware that I was Zhuangzi. Soon I awakened, and there I was, veritably Zhuangzi again.
But now I do not know whether I was then Zhuangzi dreaming he was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly dreaming I am Zhuangzi.'
Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu) 389-286 bce
Butterfly, Butterfly
Whose soul were you carrying
Butterfly! Butterfly!
Yesterday to heaven?
This children's song was collected in the western isles in the 19th century. It was believed that butterflies were sent from heaven to guide the souls of the departed, so it was a good sign to see butterflies outside the home of one who had recently died, as it ensured that their soul would be swiftly led to heaven.
Butterflies are associated with spirits of the dead, or the unborn, in cultures all over the world
In ancient Greece the word 'psyche' means both soul and butterfly as does the Latin word 'anima'.
In Teotihuacan, the Aztec capital, is the Palace of the Butterfly, the Palace of the Mariposa - in modern Mexico the word 'mariposa' still means butterfly, but also means a beautiful homosexual man.
To the Azrtecs the butterfly represented the elements of both fire and water and was sacred both to the rain god Tlaloc and to Quetzalcoatl the Feathered Serpent. Quetzalcoatl was associated with the planet Venus, which appears as both the evening star and then as the morning star, he was the dying god who sacrificed himself in fire, then was reborn as the morningstar. When the morning star reappeared, its symbol was the butterfly which therefore symbolised rebirth and resurrection.
The Aztecs thought that the earth was maintained through a dynamic harmony of Fire and Water, and that if this balance was not maintained the earth would be destroyed. The butterfly held that balance between Tlaloc and Quetzalcoatl.
The association with the Fire element is seen in that the butterfly is invoked in healing ceremonies for 'Fire' diseases such as frostbite, chilblains, prickly heat or soreness of the eyes.
The Celts also believed that the souls of the dead manifested as butterflies and up to the 17th century in Ireland it was against the common law to kill a white butterfly as these were believed to be the souls of children.
There is an old Irish blessing:
May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun
and find your shoulder to light upon,
to bring you good luck, happiness and riches
today and beyond
It was also said that if butterflies are seen outside the home of one who has recently died, they have come from heaven to guide the soul into the after-life. And any butterflies found in the home are spirits of dead loved ones come from heaven for a visit.
In Russia the butterfly is sometimes called Babochka, which is a name of honour meaning 'old woman' (as in Baba Yaga, the archetypal Russian Witch in her spinning house, on chicken legs) as Witches are believed to be able to transform into butterflies.
The butterfly symbolises grace, beauty, sensuality, the summer, kisses and secrets. In ancient Rome it was sacred to Juno, the goddess of marriage.
In China a Jade butterfly is the emblem of love, suggesting the bonding of souls, so a husband would give his wife a jade butterfly to symbolise their eternal love.
The butterfly is also the symbol of the Vodun lwa Loko who is the spirit of the wildwoods and invoked before any healing ritual.
The butterfly also symbolises the power of magical transformation. The caterpillar, earth-bound, concerned only with eating and growing, turns into the pupa (dies) and is re-born, transformed into a creature of light, air and beauty.
According to American folklore, if a girl wants a new dress she should catch a butterfly of the appropriate colour and crush it between her teeth while muttering a magic formula. I suspect the type of girl who is ruthless and selfish enough to try this spell, doesn't actually need it in order to obtain a new dress or any other trinket she desires.
A nicer spell says that you should carefully catch a butterfly without harming it, and while it is between your hands whisper your wish to it. Release the butterfly unharmed and your wish will be granted.
If you see a Fritillary butterfly it means you have money coming to you.
'Once upon a time, I dreamt Zhuangzi was a butterfly, fluttering hither and thither, to all intents and purposes a butterfly, and was unaware that I was Zhuangzi. Soon I awakened, and there I was, veritably Zhuangzi again.
But now I do not know whether I was then Zhuangzi dreaming he was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly dreaming I am Zhuangzi.'
Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu) 389-286 bce
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