Pumpkin Carving Template Downloads - PDFs

Well we're getting to, what is for many of us, our favourite holiday of the year, Samhain and it's time for thinking not only about our rituals and ancestors, but also the pumpkins!


I've had these templates for a while, but they are excellent. Included in this link is a doc file called "Carve It." This file is a step by step guide on carving pumpkins. Then there are 6 wonderful pumkin designs, ideal for all the family.


If you do have any problems downloading these files, do please let me know and I'll see what I can do.


Click on the following links to down load the pages!


Carve It - How To Carve Your Pumpkin!


Pumpkim Design 10


Pumpkin Design 16


Pumkin Design 19


Pumpkin Design 21


Pumkin Design 23


Pumpkin Design 28

Health, Happiness and Prosperity Plaque

What You Need:


A4 Card To Make Heart Template - Click Here To Download Template
Red/glitter Fimo Clay - (Should need about half, maybe less)
5 Red Gem Flowers - Optional
Gold Ink or Craft Paint
Narrow Green Ribbon, about 3 yards
A silver coin
Glue - One that will stick the coin and gems to the Fimo
Fine paint brush
Kitchen foil
Rolling pin
Baking Tray


How To Make:


NB: All the time you are making this plaque think of it's purpose. See you and your loved ones happy, in good health, and feeling prosperous. This will empower the plaque with your intentions!

• Set your oven as per instructions on the clay packet.
• Download the template and print onto A4 card. Cut this out ready for use.
• Roll out the Fimon clay. Want's to be a little under 1/2cm
• Place your template over the top and using a knife (one you'd eat dinner with will be fine), cut around the template. Take your time.
• Make two holes, about 2 cm apart at the top of the heart , about 1 1/2 cm below the central point.
• Scrunch up some foil onto the baking tray. I made two small mounds for the upper curves of the heart and a smaller one to lay the tail over. Do also remember to have a dip in the centre where you will place your coin. You could press the coin into the centre to create the dip.
• Now you can lay your heart over the foil. Shape the heart until you are happy. this is to give the heart some shape.
• Place in overn and bake for the requited time as per instructed. Note: even once it is cooked, the clay will still feel soft, so don't remove from the foil or tray until it is completely cool!
• Now paint the edge, roughly, with some gold paint or ink. I also dry brushed (this is where youremove some of the paint onto scrap paper before applying brush to surface) some paint over other areas of the heart.
• Once the paint is dry you can glue the coin in the centre of the heart and glue your flower gems and allow to dry.
• Cut enough ribbon to make a loop for hanging the plaque. Thread this through and make a knot.
• Now thread the rest through from the back to the front and tie into a bow.

Your plaque is finished. Mine is by the hearth, but you could place yours near the heart or front door to encourage 'health, prosperity and happiness' to come into your home.

Solstice Sun Stone

This is a very easy project for most children and can be extended to other pagan symbols. This stones are lovely for alters or in the garden.

What You Will Need:

A flat river or sea stone - about 4 to 6 inches in length (note: Always ask for your gift and leave an offering as a thank you)
A light pencil - HB should be fine
Gold Hobby Paint
Fine Paint Brush

What To Do:


Make sure your stone is clean and dry

Lightly draw your sun design onto your stone. (Younger shildren may need some guidance for this part).

Now carefully paint your design and allow to dry. If pencil lines are showing gently go over the first lot of paint again.

Note: You might want to do a small concegration ceremony once it is completed.


Other Ideas:

Tripple Moon Symbol - Use Silver paint for this

Pentacle - You could make your very own alter pentacle using a lovely stone. Natural things are always nice for your alter.

Totems - you could create some animal totem stones. Keeps your images symple. Take a look through google for idea.

Runes - Pebbles always make lovely runes

Families banished over witchcraft

~Pagan Related News~

Families banished over witchcraft



Wednesday, 7th October, 2009


Angry residents attacked two families in Mubende and Mityana district after accusing them of practicing witchcraft. A mob almost lynched the family of Yozefu Walakira on Sunday night at Bulyamagunju village in Myanzi sub-county.


A day earlier, in a separate incident, Betty Nakyobe was chased from Kityokya centre in Bulera sub-county. In the Sunday incident, Walakira’s property was destroyed, but security operatives came in time to rescue the family.

The sub-county internal security officer, Godfrey Kabiito, confirmed the attack. “Some goats, pigs and chicken were killed. The banana and coffee plantations were cut down and Walakira was assaulted,” he said.

The mob accused Walakira’s wife, Deziranta Namatovu, of terrorising the village with witchcraft, he explained.

“One of the complainants is Simon Bugembe, his neighbour, who claims that Namatovu bewitched her daughter.” The Police said the hunt for the perpetrators was still going on.

In the other incident, Nakyobe was chased from the trading centre after she was seen digging up the graveyard of George Nsamba resident.

“They arrested her and took her to the Police. The Police called the owner of the graveyard and Nakyobe agreed to repair the graves,” said Jane Namukasa, the defence secretary.

“When she was released to implement the agreement, the residents held a meeting and resolved to send her away from the village.”

Another area leader, Emma Sakos, said the residents attacked Nakyobe on Saturday morning before she left her house and ordered her to leave the village.

“The LC officials and the Police intervened and she was not assaulted. She immediately left the village. The property which she left behind was burnt,” Sakos said.

The acting district Police commander, Nathan Matovu, said the case was being investigated.


http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/19/697106

Ritual for Samhain

A pentagram should be marked on the ritual area, centred on the spot where you will be sitting before your alter. The pentacle should be about eight feet across. (if you wish not to use a pentacle then cast your circle as you feel you should.)


Set up the ritual area in advance then retire to bathe before robing for this rite, fixing in your mind that the water is cleansing not just the physical body, but also the heart, spirit/soul of all guilt, stain and imperfection, leaving behind only that which is strong and good.


On the alter place a bit of bread and some salt in a small dish, as well as a glass or chalice containing some red wine or nectar. Incense should be available, as it is used liberally throughout the ritual. (Essential Oil may be substituted is you wish)


When you are ready, meditate for awhile, and think of what has happened in the past and of those who have gone before you. This is a time for joy and celebration of your dead ancestors.

Items you'll need:


7 candles:
1 White
1 Green
1 Black or Purple
4 of various Seasonal Colours


Small Pumpkin
Ear of Corn with Husks
Bit of Bread
Salt
Red Wine or Nectar
Cup or Chalice
Cauldron (or suitable substitute)
Incense or Essential Oil

The Ritual:

Go to the place of the ritual, and kneel before the alter. Light the candles on the alter, saying as you do so:

Light white candle:


This I light for the Maiden's bright glory.

Light green candle:


This I light for the passion and triumph of the Lady/Mother

Light black/purple candle:


This for the wisdom of the Crown

Light the incense, and then the five candles which sit before the alter, saying:

These do I light in honour
Not only of the Three-Fold Goddess
But for Her strong, horned consort.
He who is sometimes laughing, sometimes grim
And close nearby on this night


Stand, pointing the wand out before you, calling:


On this, the sacred night of Samhain
Do I build this small temple
In honour of the Goddess, and of the God
And of the Ancient Ones
From the times before Time.
To all I do give by love
And my warmest greetings.


Place the five candles at the points of the pentagram, touching each with the wand. Rap thrice upon the alter with the wand, then replace it. Kneel before the alter and hold your arms out over it, crossed, and give the incantation:

This is a time that is not a time
In a place that is not a place
On a day that is not a day
Between the worlds
And beyond...


Pause for the space of 13 heartbeats.


Then hold your hands over your bread and salt, and the wine / nectar in a attitude of blessing, and say:


For this salt, bread, and wine/nectar
Do I ask the blessings
Of Maiden, of Lady/Mother, of Crone
And of the Horned God/One
Who guards the Portal of the Worlds

Take the bread and touch it to the salt, saying:


May I, and those whom I love Have sufficiency and good health


After eating the bread, take the wine cup and hold it forth in a toast towards the north, saying:


May our spirits be strong.

Drink the wine/nectar, and proclaim:


By the Threefold Goddess
And by the Horned God/One
So be it!

At this time you can relax, play a musical instrument, and sing or recite poetry, if these are your inclinations. Or you may improvise that which you feel is appropriate for this occasion. When you feel that the ritual should end, put out the candles at the points of the pentacle, then those of the alter, saying:

Though these flames
Of the material world
Be blackened,
They shall ever burn
In the worlds beyond.


The rite is ended!

Full Moon ~ 5th October 2009

This, like my Mabon ritual, had been the first Full Moon Ritual I’d done in a while. I kept it simple, nothing too over the top or elaborate, that is some thing I don’t do, as I don’t feel it necessary to be honest. This ritual started at about 11:30 and not finished around 1am.


I found out my simple white cloth for the table, my crystal ball, a lovely glass globe paperweight that has a moon like bubble within it and my clear glass marble that I sat in a silvery tea light burner that has a lid with a star on top.

I then retrieved my scrying bowl from my bedroom alter. It’s been the home of my smudge stick and so has a duel purpose. I would imagine now that there will be those who will read this and be completely aghast at my total disrespect for the scrying bowl. Well to me and for me, tools can and do have multiple purposes. Such as today’s athame in days of old would not just have been a tool of ritual, but a tool of the kitchen too. It would have chopped vegetables, meat, as well as herbs and possibly flowers. The besom would not only, if they did such a thing, cleanse the ritual space, but swept the kitchen floor and outside entrance. So for me today is no different. Oh don’t get me wrong, I don’t cut my food, unless it is ritual food, with my athame. But I don’t have a special knife for cutting such things as herbs. I use my athame for that, so therefore my athame is sharp!

So, after my small detour of subject, we return to the subject in hand, the full moon ritual.

I filled my bowl with water from the stream and placed a single, open, white rose in the centre. It is as beautiful and as fragrant as the moon (not that the moon smells you understand, but you get the point I am sure). After gathered and placed my white and silvery items I started to placed other items: candles in lanterns, my decorated oak wand, my shaman shaker (I use this to cleanse the area), my goblet filled with cider, my wood pentacle, drum, my burner with some paper with a list things I wish to rid myself of and my Celtic lady who represents the Goddess. This evening is dedicated to Rihanna who is the Celtic Goddess of the Earth, Stars and the Moon.

I then lit my candles and sat for a while to gather my thoughts and look up at the moon. After a short while I picked up my shaker and starting on the outside and walking in a deosil spiral, I worked my way towards the centre all the time shaking my Sharman shaker. Once I’d reached the centre I turned to face east and shuck the shaker in its direction, I repeated this for south, west and finally earth. I replaced upon the alter, the shaker and then I started to light the 4 incense sticks; dedicating each to ancestors, family, pet friends, protectors of our home, spirits and the Gods.

When it came to things I said I cannot share as I don’t remember. I never wrote anything up for the ritual; it was off the cuff, as you might say. It was something spontaneous rather than planned. After my verbal dedications I picked up the bowl and sat down with the moon light reflect in it. I did the same with my crystal ball; making mental notes of thoughts and feelings.

I was, twice, pleasantly disturbed by my hedgehog friend. The first time he made me jump a tad as I was focused on my work. I heard a rustling behind me and then spotted him scuttling about three feet away from me; heading to the old bonsai house. I watched him for a while and then carried on with what I was doing. I also did some dowsing to feel the energies in my circle. During this I discovered my darling Tibby was near by. I felt she was and this had confirmed it. I even heard, for only a moment, purring. This was incredibly emotional for me. Marmalade was also there, watching over the proceedings.

Before I was getting ready to finish; I had a second and final encounter with my friend. Once again I heard him behind me, but this time he moved within a foot of me. He stopped, his features lit up by the silvery moonlight. I could see every detail. He watched me for a moment and started to make a low grunting sound. I slowing reached to my side and grabbed a little bread and put close, but as I turned back to him he was scuttling back towards the bushes.

Now it was time to bring the proceedings to an end. I read out my short list, towards the moon and then burnt it in the burner, and watched the smoke gracefully float towards the sky. I then used the cider to send my blessings to the spirits, the Gods and so forth, drinking a little each time and then finally pouring what was left into the Earth as a thank you.

I took the shaker once more and moved to the centre and started to walk in a widdershins spiral back to the outside edge, shaking the shaker as I slowly moved around. I then shook it at each of the elements; starting with North and finally finishing at East.

I was a very special evening, full of emotions and delightful encounters, and one I hope will be as special next month.

Full Moon Recipes

Fall Moon Cakes

(Cakes to be eaten at full Moons in the Autumn)

Traditional Chinese moon cakes are round like their namesake and are usually filled with red bean paste, lotus seed paste or coconut. This nonfilled version is crunchy and sweet, and a little more familiar to American kids' palates.

• 1 cup/ 8 oz butter
• 2/3 cup/1 to 1Ilb 8oz  sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 1/2 cups/ 1Ilb 4oz all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• Vanilla frosting
• Grated coconut (optional)

Cream the butter and sugar. Stir in the egg, add the flour, salt and vanilla extract, then let chill for a few hours. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out the dough to 1/4-inch thickness and cut out circles with a 3-inch cookie cutter. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until just brown. Frost when cooled and sprinkle grated coconut on top, if desired. Makes 4 to 5 dozen cookies.

  

Tiessennau Mel (Welsh Honey Cakes)

•  4 oz Honey  
• 1 teaspoon Cinnamon  
• 4 oz Brown sugar
•  Egg
• 1/2 LB Flour  
• 1/2 teaspoon Bicarbonate of soda
• 4 oz Butter or margarine  
• Caster sugar 
• A little milk

Sieve together flour, cinnamon and bicarbonate of soda. Cream butter and sugar. Separate the egg yolk from the white. Beat the yolk into sugar and butter, then add the honey, gradually. Stir in the flour with a little milk as required and mix all together lightly.

Whisk the egg white into a stiff froth and fold into mixture. Half fill small patty tins with the mixture; dredge the top of each with caster sugar. Bake in a hot oven (425 degrees)

N.B: Please note the metric conversions, were the Ilbs & oz equivalent for cup has been applied, are approximate!

Moon Incense Recipes

Dark Moon Incense #1

Ingredients:

1/4 cup sandalwood powder

1/8 cup patchouli leaves

1/2 cup myrrh resin

10 drops jasmine oil

4 drops lemon oil

Dark Moon Incense #2

Ingredients:

Equal parts: myrrh, cinnamon, cassia, hemlock

12 drops cedar oil

8 drops myrtle oil

4 drops musk oil

Olive oil to bind

Dark Moon Incense #3

Ingredients:

3 tsp. ground cascarilla

2 tsp. ground sandalwood

21 drops wisteria oil

Full Moon Incense

Ingredients:

2 parts orris root

2 parts lavender

2 parts myrrh

2 parts calamus

3 drops jasmine oil

3 drops rose oil

3 drops gardenia oil

Full Moon Ritual Incense #1

Ingredients:

3 parts gardenia petals

2 parts frankincense

1 part rose petals

1/2 part orris root

few drops sandalwood oil

Full Moon Ritual Incense #2

Ingredients:

2 parts sandalwood

2 parts frankincense

1/2 part gardenia petals

1/4 part rose petals

few drops ambergris oil

Full Moon Ritual Incense #3

Ingredients:

3 parts frankincense

1 part sandalwood

1 part rose petals

New Moon Incense

Ingredients:

3 parts frankincense

1 part sandalwood

Solitary Moon Rite

This rite may be used for either New or Full Moon. The difference is in your meditation and mental attitude in preparation. Remember that the New Moon is a time of outward work and thought, building to the peak, which is the Full Moon. At the Full Moon, you should be preparing to lessen the outward flow of energy, bit by bit, until the period before New Moon, during which you are passive, building a pool of energy within you, in preparation for the New Moon.


The altar should be placed in the center of the ritual area. On it should be placed a rose or stick of incense on the eastern side, a red votive candle to the South, a cup of water on the West, and a bowl of salt or living plant on the North.


Around your ritual area, you should place an unlighted candle at the cardinal point of each direction.

________________________________________


To begin your rite, enter your darkened temple, carrying one burning candle, white or lavender, with you. Place it on the center of your altar, sit, and meditate on the meaning of the rite. When you feel the time is right, stand, and go to the eastern point, carrying with you the burning taper. Light the votive at the eastern point and go to the southern, picturing, as you do, an arc of pure strong light curving from one candle to the next. Continue to the West, and then to the North, lighting the candles as you go, and then walk to your eastern candle again, having formed a circle of protective light surrounding the area in which you worship.


Return to the center of the circle; replace the candle on the altar, and say:


My Lady of the Moon, who is called Diana, Artemis, Levanah, Isis and by any other names,
I come to you to bring you my love and my devotion.
May you grant me the joy of your presence.


Mentally divide the room into four quadrants by visualizing a line of silvery moonlight from the southeast to the northwest, and from the northeast to the southwest. Go the East, taking with you the rose or incense. Say:


Sweet Goddess, the gentle breeze is the touch of your loving hand,
the wind of storm a reminder of your strength.
The sound of the trees in the wind is your voice,
and the fragrance of flowers borne on the wind is your gift of beauty.


Place the rose next to the votive candle, then stand there as you picture the quadrant filling with moonlight. See the moonlight streaming quietly and gently into the room, filling the quadrant from center point to the edge of your circle.

When this is complete, take the red candle to the South. Place the gift and see the quadrant fill with moonlight. Say:


Most loved Lady, the light of the candle is a guide along our path leading to you;
ts warmth the reassurance of your presence and your love.
The light of the Sun is the knowledge you impart to us,
driving out ignorance and those things, which can survive only in darkness.


At the West:


Lovely One, the quiet pool is the serenity of your being.
The vast sea where life began on this planet
is the vast sea of your being whence all life came;
its waves are the ebb and flow of the universe you rule.


At the North:


Goddess of all, the fertility of the earth is a sign of your fertility, whence all life
rose. The solidity and permanence are still of it are still less than yours.
The earth's fertility feeds our bodies, and your fertility feeds our souls.


Go to the center of your temple, which is now filled with moonlight.

Everything in the circle is touched by it, blessed by it, including you. Sit down and feel this moonlight around you. Know that it is the Goddess. Realize that you are in the center of a sphere of light that is half above and half above and half below where you sit. Begin to breathe slowly and evenly, deep breaths that penetrate your whole body. When this rhythmic breathing becomes natural, imagine that the moonlight by which you are surrounded enters you, fills you entirely.


With each exhalation of your breath, some of the essence of yourself leaves your body, and with each inhalation, the light enters you. You are being filled ever so gently with this beautiful light. This light, which is the presence, the being of the Goddess, is within you as well as without. With each breath, you are less yourself and more the Goddess.


When you are filled with light, filled with the Goddess, the shell of your body fades away. You have no body; there is nothing to separate you from the entire being of the Goddess. Nothing exists but the being of which you are apart. You have ceased to be a separate entity. You are nothing and everything. All that was, that is, and all that will be, you are.


Enjoy this feeling as long as you like. When you feel it is time, picture the outer shell of your physical body reforming, becoming solid again. It is being built out of the Universe of which you are a part.


Now, as you continue your slow deep breathing, see the moonlight flowing out of your body, as gently and slowly as it entered. As it flows out, realize there is a difference. Because you have become one with the Goddess, with the Universe, your being has changed. As the moonlight flows out of your body, it takes with it a part of that which was yourself, now part of the Goddess, and leaves behind a part of the Goddess, forever now part of you. You become yourself again, solid as you were, but changed. You are surrounded by the presence of the Goddess, which now contains a part of yourself.


Move again to the East. As you speak, and after, picture the moonlight in that quadrant flowing back to its source, leaving that quadrant as it was.


Do this at each quadrant, until all the moonlight has returned to the Moon.


At the East:


My Lady, guide my thoughts.
Let them lead always closer to you.


At the South:


Gracious Goddess, guide my actions.
Let them always help and never harm others or myself.

At the West:


Lovely One, guide my emotions:
Let them be healing and touched always by you.


At the North:


Sweet Goddess, let my mind always be fertile and strong,
that I may grow always toward you.


Return to the East to complete the circle and say:


Queen of Heaven, I thank you for your presence,
both now and always. My love and devotion are yours. Blessed be!


All spirits that have joined me tonight may depart, with my love. Return to your proper places.


Walk again around your circle, but this time counter clockwise, extinguishing the quadrant guards as you go, and at the same time, mentally erasing the white line which surrounded your circle. When the candles are out and the circle gone, rap on your altar and say:

The rite is ended.

________________________________________


By

Ellen Reed, Coven of Sothistar

Full Moon Woman Circle

EAST

Spirits of the east,
spirit of inspiration,
spirit of intellect,
the spirit that blesses the air we breathe,

spirit of new beginnings.

Behold the child as it sees the glories of life, the start of new adventures.

Let us honor the presence of the spirits of the East
and invite you to join with us tonight to do our work.

Be with us now. Blessed be.

SOUTH

Spirits of the south,
spirit of passion,
spirit of creativity,
spirit of fire.

Bless us with your flames and heat and the seeds of life are sown.

Behold the maiden as she sows the seeds of change from child to mother;
as she transforms from the innocence of the child
to prepare for the fruits of motherhood.

Let us honor the presence of the spirits of the South
and invite you to join with us tonight to do our work.

Be with us now. Blessed be.

WEST

Spirits of the west,
spirit of water,
spirit of emotion,

spirit of harvest.

Behold the mother as she bears the child created in her womb,

the fruits of her union.

Bless the mother who will nurture this child on the start of a new cycle of life.

Let us honor the presence of the spirits of the West

and invite you to join with us tonight to do our work.

Be with us now. Blessed be.

NORTH

Spirits of the north,
spirit of rest,

spirit of recovery,

spirit of renewal,

spirit of strength.

Behold the crone as she transcends the labors of motherhood

and reveals her truth, her wisdom.

Let us honor the presence of the spirits of the North
and invite you to join with us tonight to do our work.

Be with us now. Blessed be.

CENTER

Spirits of the center,
spirits above us,
spirits below us.

We welcome you.

We are the child, the maiden, the mother, the crone.
We are one, we are the parts combined to be whole.

We embrace life.

Let our work begin. Let our play begin.

Blessed be.


By ~


Janine Sutphen


- Full Moon WomanCircle, August, 2000

Moot Mabon Picnic

What a beautiful day yesterday was! At the last moot meeting I thought it would be nice for som e of us to get together for a lovely mabon picnic and we couldn't have asked for a better day. It was clear blue skies and stunningly warm. The gods were most deffinately kind to us that day! Especially as Friday was rather chilly.

We had the picnic at our local park and the spot we had it in is surrounded by lovely old hawthorne trees. They were there when we moved here and that was, I hte to say, some time ago now, and there were mature then!

It was even nicer because my sister and young nephew also game and he added entertainment to the whole proceedings by chasing or being chased by either myself, my sister or one of our other moot members!

The picnic started at just gone 2pm and we didn't leave until around 6pm. Though my day did start rather badly...My own fault really, should have sorted everything on Friday, but frankly I was having a bad day and really didn't much feel like it. So I spent the mornign baking a Tuna Quiche and Fruit Parcels YUM! But the pastry really didn't want to play! lol I can make my own pastry, but didn't have the time, so I used *gasp* frozen! Rubbish!!! But all worked out in the end...

Back to the picnic...

We chatted, as is the norm with us, about all sorts of things be it pagan or not pagan. We talked about past moots and blots (three of our members are Heathen and I'm an honoury Heathen as I attend some of the blots). And of course my nephew stole our thunder a good number of times! lol

And like with past picnics we left offerings to the spirits/gods as a thank you for the harvest and a good day. I lit some Nag incense and left some fruit and one of my Fruit Parcels and we also left flowers, cakes and more fruit. My nephew (who's non pagan) didn't understand why we were doing this. So I explained to him why, that it was a thank you for the harvest etc and he too wanted to leave and offering and we were all duely impressed as he left a chocolate croissant. I may have had a hard time parting with that! lol

Now I am thinking of possibly a Yule dinner..Think that maybe nice...

Herbal Tea for Coughs and Runny Noses!!

Herbal Tea for Coughs and Runny Noses!!

 This is my own recipe so I hope you like it.

What you will need:~

Small tea pot
Thyme
Cinnamon
Lemon Juice
Clear Honey

Method:~


1: Firstly warm your Tea Pot with boiling water for a few minutes.
Refill the kettle with fresh water and boil ready for tea.

2: Pour hot water out of tea pot and put in two tsps
of dried thyme.

3: Now break into the pot either 1/2 or 1 stick of
Cinnamon.

4: Pour freshly boiled water over the herbs and leave
to brew for about 4 minutes.

5: Warm your cup with some hot water.

6: Pour brewed tea into cup. Stir in a tsp of clear
honey and squeeze in some lemon.

7: Now put your feet up and sip the healing drink
slowly.


I would suggest having this drink 2 or 3 times per day until your cold has gone.


 

Chants, Prayers & Blessings - Part one

Here are a few chants I love to use. They are not my own, so I make no claim to them. But please, if you do know of the author, do please let me know. 

We all come from the Goddess

We all come from the maiden, and to her we shall return.

Like a budding flower, blooming in the springtime.

We all come from the mother, and to her we shall return.

Like a grain of wheat falling to the reaper’s scythe.

We all come from the wise one, and to her we shall return.

Like the waning moon, shining on the winters snow.

We all come from the Goddess, and to her we shall return.

Like a drop of rain, flowing to the ocean

At The Alter

This is a time that

Is not a time

In a place that is not a place

On a day that is

Not a day

I stand at the threshold

Between the worlds

Before the veil of

The mysteries

May the Lady and

The Lord help

And protect me

On my magickal

Journey

So Mote It Be!

A Prayer of Oneness

I release my isolation to the Stars

Breathing in the Energy that connects all things

Allowing my body to be caressed by Nature

Filling my lungs with eternal Breath

Filling my senses with the joy of Being Alive

Filling my heart with gratitude for this Moment

Finally allowing my Spirit to soar Free

I am a creation of the Universe

Eternal in my Essence

In time . . . when my life wanes

Returning my body to Star Dust

Held in the body of the Great Goddess

I will again, be the Energy of Life

Thank You For This Day

Thank You for this day on Earth

Ancient Mother who gave me birth

Healing Mother who keeps me strong

Crone Mother who brings each new dawn

Thank You for the gift of being

For blessing me with the wonders of seeing

For the sounds and feeling of laughter

and the wisdom learned through pain

Spirit Mother bless me,

tomorrow with a day again

Nature Berries Notebook

I was floating around google looking for images of berries and found this little gem of an idea. I have thought of it before, creating a little notebook with drawings and what not from walks and such like. But I have a habbit of making everything so complex, such as drawings, that I get bored and loose interest.

But this I love as it reminds me that my drawings only need to reflect what it is. It doesn't need to be complicated or photographically correct! It's such a pretty page...It also helps me with regards to my grimoire, again, something I keep thinking needs to be complex! Hogwash Reki, it doesn't need to be complex at all. I think this all harkens back to my art college days!! lol

So now, because of my search for something else I stumble on this little gem and feel inspired! Always a good thing me thinks!

I'd also love to see the rest of this book....Well look what I've just found, the rest of the book and it seems to be have been designed for children! How wonderful :)

......Enjoy!

http://www.moocowfanclub.com/Blogs?page=5

Deep Listening

Listening is something we all take for granted to the point that we never truly listen anymore. We think we do, but we don't. We only hear snipets of life, from the TV to iPods. Train announcements to the general chatter of teens on the bus. But it is snipets as we are so wound up in our day to day mundane lives and we are surrounded by so much noise that we have almost become numb to true sound. We have stopped deep listening!

Of course I'm no different really to anyone else. I'm sat here typing away with the TV playing behind me and I'm not really listening at all as I'm focused on this. People will speak to me and I don't really hear them because my mind is elsewhere. And even when we're meant to be listening, we don't.

But an odd thing happend a few days back when I was doing something very mundane. I was making myself lunch, a simple sandwhich. I seemed to have my ears truly open and every sound I made in the kitchen, I heard it. From the peeling back of the margarine tub to opening the fridge door. I was hearing sounds I'd not really noticed that much before. Of course I heard the sounds when ever I did such things, but I never really listened to how they sounded.

So can the same be said when we step out in to the green woodlands or the sandy beaches? Do we truly listen to each step we take and the results of the impact of our footfalls? Do we really hear every rustle of the breeze in the trees or the waves on the pepples? How much do we miss because we have stopped deep listening. I think for the most part it is hard to listen so deeply because our minds, as well as our ears, are so full of life in general. It creates a kind of barrier and the only real way to listen so deeply is to sit quietly, and focus on the sounds around us. To almost block out everything else. Something that can be rather difficult as we are so easly distracted. Things popping in and out of our minds and ears. Mundane and silly little things. But still, it is something we should all try from time to time, to open  up our hearts, minds and ears to the beauty that surrounds us, be we pagan or not. To really listen to those beautiful sounds, no matter how mundane they may be.