Ritual Preparation Guidelines

Ritual Preparation Guidelines
*Overview*
A. Define purpose
B. Write ritual
C. Gather necessary tools
D. Prepare area
E. Prepare body

A. Purpose

What is the significance of this ritual? Is it a Sabbat or Esbat? What are you looking to accomplish?

 Sabbat – what is the major focus of this Sabbat?
 Esbat- what sign is the sun/moon in?

B. Write Ritual

Using the ritual outline, create a ritual, making sure to double check for errors and possible changes that may be needed.

 Is it easy to follow?
 Is everything included that should be?
 Does everyone have their roles defined?
 Is this a solitary or group ritual?
 Does it clearly demonstrate the goal?

C. Gather Necessary Tools

Make sure you have everything you need ahead of time to avoid confusion and disorganization
This may include:

 Herbs
 Incense (making loose incense)
 Censer
 Offering Plate
 Broom
 Cauldron
 Robe
 Bell
 BoS
 Bowl for Water
 Bowl for Salt
 Spritzer
 Altar Cloth
 Bolline
 Athame
 Wand
 Cup/Chalice
 Altar Pentacle
 Altar Candles
 Goddess/ God Candle
 Oils (blending oils)
 Candles (anointing candles)
 Stones
 Checking Correspondences
 Determining Directions
 Who Is Calling Directions
 Cakes And Ale Set Up
 Astrological Positions
 Cleansing Tools Prior To Use (see below)


*Cleansing, Blessing, Charging and Protecting Tools*
Needed Items: sea salt, incense, water, candle
Mix sea salt and water. Stir (clockwise) to dissolve the salt in the water. Light candle and incense. Dip your fingertips into the salt water, sprinkle it onto the tool you wish to cleanse and bless and say:

I bless this (tool name) by the power of earth and water.
Now run the tool through the flame of the candle and the smoke of the incense and say:
I charge this (tool name) by the power of fire and air.
Next, with the index finger of your projective hand, trace a pentagram over the tool. Visualize electric-blue or purple flames streaming from your fingers to form the monogram and say:
With this pentagram and (tool name) I wish to protect
Cleansed of all negativity, harm will deflect

My magickal hand charges with success
And asks the Goddess and God to bless

I now invoke the law of three:
This is my will, so mote it be!
(Do this with all your tools and any other object you wish to cleanse bless charge and protect.)


D. Prepare Area

It is important to plan out and prepare the area where the ritual will take place. Here are a few things to consider:

 Make sure to avoid and prevent interruptions- take the phone off the hook, lock the doors, post a “do not disturb” sign, maybe have to find somewhere else for children and animals to be if the occasions call for it (incorporate children if desired which is totally based on the individual and the group).
 Remember, an interruption won’t ruin your ritual unless you let it.
 Accommodate space needed based on how many people are expected.
 Set up a working altar where the circle is to be cast. This physically prepares the area to become sacred while simultaneously psychologically preparing the participants to enter that space. (Also may have visual aids on the altar.)
 Determine the timing of the ritual so everyone knows when to be prepared.
 Cleanse the space prior to ritual by:
o Smudging
o Sweeping with besom
o Using a feather to sweep clean
o Carrying a white and/or black candle
o Spritzer of salt water
o Visualization
o Carrying each element around the circle area

E. Prepare Body

 Ritual Bath (or Shower)
o Whenever possible, take a ritual bath prior to ritual. It is beneficial to wash away everyday tensions before entering sacred space. In addition to being a spiritually as well as physically cleansing event, immersion in water links us with our most primal memories. If you cannot take a bath, a shower will also work. (Visualize the nasties flowing out of you and down the drain, leaving you pure and fresh.)
o If you do not have access to water, you can use incense, or a bell, or a few minutes of light drumming or meditation for the same cleansing effect.
o The goal is to enter the circle with a clear mind and an untroubled heart. You are trying to meet your friends, including Deity, on a higher/deeper level than in day-to-day life.

 Ritual Dress

Ritual Dress is another way to mentally prepare oneself for ritual.

o Nudity (optional, solitaries though some groups do practice ritual nudity as well)
o Robes (may be in specific colors or styles depending on ritual purpose)
o Jewelry (pentagrams, earrings, bracelets, etc)
o Any Other Ritually Significant Accessories (hats, shoes, bags, etc)

Witchie Book Wish List

Check www.bigwords.com for lowest prices

Sabbat Books and Prices from Amazon.com

Samhain-Halloween: Customs, Recipes & Spells by Silver RavenWolf
Buy new: $13.45
Used & new from $1.24


Yule- Yule: A Celebration of Light and Warmth by Dorothy Morrison
Buy new: $11.21
Used & new from $0.70


Imbolc- Candlemas: Feast of Flames by Amber K and Azrael Arynn K
Buy new: $11.53
Used & new from $4.30

Ostara- Ostara: Customs, Spells & Rituals for the Rites of Spring by Edain McCoy
Buy new: $13.45
Used & new from $6.54


Beltane- Beltane: Springtime Rituals, Lore and Celebration by Raven Grimassi
Buy new: $11.21
Used & new from $6.33


Midsummer- Midsummer: Magical Celebrations of the Summer Solstice by Anna Franklin
Used & new from $56.61


Lughnasadh- Lammas: Celebrating the Fruits of the First Harvest by Anna Franklin and Paul Mason
Used & new from $49.60

Mabon- Autumn Equinox: The Enchantment of Mabon by Ellen Dugan
Buy new: $10.17
Used & new from $4.28

Sabbat Ritual Outline

Sabbat Ritual Outline

Preparation
a. Define purpose
b. Write ritual
c. Gather necessary tools
d. Prepare area
e. Prepare body

Casting Circle
a. Greeting
b. Find elemental directions
 Physically and mentally cast the circle beginning in the North going Deosil
c. Call the guardians of the elements
 Make sure it is clear who is calling quarters before ritual is started, it cuts down on confusion and keeps focus in the group
Invoke deity
a. Goddess
b. God
c. Welcome them both to the circle

Purpose is stated out loud

Actual rite is performed
a. Working
 Complete spell work
 Raise power/ energy
 Focus and direct power/ energy
 Ground power/ energy
b. Honoring
 Cakes and ale
 Dedicate cakes and ale
 Partake in cakes and ale

Mediation and grounding

Thank and release deities

Closing the circle
 Mentally and verbally close the circle by thanking and releasing quarters
 Physically close the circle reverse beginning West going Widdershins

Announcements

Clean up
 Disposal
 Washing plates and glasses
 Putting away tools and other implements

last day

so this completes my full moon challange,
its been great following the goddess through her many phases
and so much has happened in just a month
both good and bad
and can we forget when i thought she disappeared
then realized it was the new moon
heh
love it!

Blood Moon!

Happy Blood Moon all my fellow pagans!
I'll be working!
I harvested my pumpkins, gourds, green beans, green peppers, and more!

Still got a few more things, but im saving them for the final harvest!

I'm so happy i can see the moon!
Shes so lovely!

Half way there!

The moon has been there steadily. Today it looked kind of foggy but it fit in with the spooky environment with my halloween decorations.

I'm just happy to have it back where I can see it. My moms trying to find me a used computer, some company buys them from businesses that rent them out, then fix them up and resell them. So hopefully it works ok or I'll be grr.

Set up my altar for Samhain tho it still needs more work....

Love and Light

Ami

The Good and The Bad

Well finally saw the moon yesterday....just a little toe nail. But I happy she has returned. Even Kevin noticed. I made homemade spaghetti sauce last night.

Now for the bad...

Monday night when I got home from work at midnight, I came home to my house tore to hell and my two computers missing and one of our camera and kevins work bag. We have been robbed...

ITS OFFICIAL!

I'm Finally Initiated!!!

o ok

duh new moon no wonder i havent seen her!

newho

mabon circle tomorrow yay!
ttyl
Ami

The Past Three Days...

For some reason I haven't seen anything for the last three day...
I don't know if its just void of course of if maybe she just rises later than when I am outside? I don't know.

Got some of my fall stuff out, and still going to school...

Mabon is Saturday YAY Much is underfoot!

See ya later!

What A Day...

Yesterday was wonderful.I put new stuff--not really new just newly found in storage--then put some old stuff in storage, changing the look of my living room a bit---was gonna do more but i stopped everything and spent the rest of the day with cat at the laundry mat. Holy cow does that chick have laundry!!!!

It was interesting, while we were waiting for clothes to dry, we were watching the history channel--we got one of the workers to change it to that channel. There was a program on about the end of world predictions, then we started talking to the lady who turned it on for us. Cat was asking if she knew about Nibiru, and other things like that, and she said no so cat explained that its the 10th planet that is said to have an orbital path that will cross between our planet and the sun, and its gravitational pull will make our axis completely shift causing world havoc.

Then somewhere during the whole conversation the lady asked her if she goes to church, and she said we no we're pagan, and she abruptly stopped talking to us and walked away to talk to another customer who i assumed was a regular since she knew him by name. Meanwhile i must have been in lala land because cat said she told that man that we were pagan and he in turn said real loud "Whats Pagan?" loud enough for cat to hear while they all made eye contact and the lady looked embarrasses like oh shit they now know i was talking about them.

I swear i find the best times to space out. The woman was acting so prejudice it kind of bothers me. Considering how many blacks were there i was gonna say "So do you have a problem with us being pagan because you kind of ran away? Is it fair to hold prejudices against us like you would how they had against the blacks in this place?" --or something along those lines. Its not like i said "oh yeah i kill animals and babys and drink blood and satan is my homeboy" ya know?

Just irritates me.

Then i came home, cleaned, did some more housework, then made salsa. Kevin came home from work, he also helped with salsa. I thought it was really sweet. I liked how he just joined right in ready to learn how the process worked :D

He also brought me back a rock thats kind of shaped like a mentos, i love it!
And he saved a spider from the lake :DD Thats my handsome!
The moon that night was pale and clear. I had a wonderful day!

Today was another story....

Everything seemed to be going wrong, first off I had crazy scary dreams, then I woke early with the intention of getting to class early for a good seat, and then my car was dead. Corroded battery wires or something. Kevins dad had to come over, tried jumping it but it took him about a half hour of scraping with a box cutter and cutting his finger to finally get it to work. By then it was pointless to show up to class because it would be about over by the time i got there.

So i went about my day was going to try out my new pressure canner thing and do green beans, but then i got a call from one of my nurses saying i was supposed to be there a half hour ago---i forgot i picked up a day of a fellow aide, so i changed real fast and made it just past four. Luckily the person in the other hall saved my ass and did my vitals for me! The night wasnt too bad, just a lot of confused patients.

I got to see the moon on my way to the store to pick up some milk, juice, cheese sticks, choc. chips, and chex. I'm watching the girls tomorrow so i had to get some supplies. I'm thinking of breakfast if they havent ate yet, then for lunch mac n cheese and making puppy chow. I was going to look up mabon kids activities maybe to do with them.

The moon was that huge golden color again, but its almost half gone now. Its weird how its not even divided into a straight line, i kind of bends. Its hard to explain, just gotta see it.

Well since i gotta get up early with the girls im gonna go. I'll tell ya what mabon idea i come up with yay!

Love and Light
Amistis

Golden Suprise!

Well today was the first day of school, not too shabby but I can see a lot of work in my future. I had two hours to burn between classes so I visited cat and she made me lunch and we chatted about the workings of the world, her future, and life.

After class I spent the rest of the evening cleaning and reorganizing my storage unit. I feel much better now that its completed and checked off my to do list. I wish I had more daylight though because I was rushing to get it all back in as the sun went down. I could barely see by the time I left and the skeeters were attacking me. The worst part was all the nasty spiders ick!!!!

Then I went to the store to forge for dinner....I was gonna do bbq ribs and mushrooms taters and moosetracks, but kevin called and told me just get the mushrooms and well have fish since he just got done bluegill fishing with his dad. So I got the mushrooms, moosetracks mmmm, and two more boxes of redrose tea.

I gave them to kevins mom, but i kept the figurines. I keep trying to get the fall ones, but so far i got the february march and april one. I got an extra cupid so im going to give it to lily. They are the perfect size for the altar.

Now kevins cooking dinner and im blogging. Tomorrow i have class at 930, then i wil come home and work on more canning. Mild salsa this time and maybe some veggies if there is time.

Anywho back to the moon thing, i didnt think i was going to see her tonight. It had been dark a few hours and still nothing but black sky. Then on my way home with kevin i saw her. She was still low in the sky so she was HUGE and golden. So bright that i couldnt see any stars from inside my car. It looked like something out of a movie. The deepest black sky contrasted by the BRIGHT golden gigantor moon!

I feel like i accomplished a lot today, and am feeling pleased with my first day of class. I hope tomorrow is just as inspiring!

Love and light, and blessings
Amistis Reudan

New Blog

I just created a 2nd blog, this one is directly in relation to my 2nd degree class. One of the requirements in a meditation log, and i think this will be an easier way for me to document my meditation sessions and make access easier for my teacher to see it.What do you think?

link below:

http://amistisreudanmeditationlog.blogspot.com/

Moon Updates and Nature

Saturday night as I stared up at the night sky, the moon was bright in the cloudless black mass. Though the full moon was just the other night, signs of waning have already begun. On my walk during my break at work I begin noticing signs of fall. Leaves are changing to brilliant reds, not many but a few early ones, acorns litter the path I walk. and there is a noticable decrease in the number of geese near the pond. I saw my animal guide, and he kind of startled me because I didnt expect him to be so close. I didnt even know he was there until he took off and all I heard was a gush of air.

Sunday the moon was even skinnier. I think shes losing weight heehee. I found a tuft of deer fur, but somehow lost it once i got inside. I also collected some fallen red leaves and baby acorns for my altar. I can feel the change in the air, and sense it everywhere I got. I wonder what is in store for us this winter. Work has been pretty crappy, thus my mood was not as chipper as usual. I feel like something is off, maybe because my Goddess charm keeps falling off my chain. It was laying in my bed when i woke this morning...hmmm. Fell off during work too, so i gave it to kevin to fix and now its ok.

Monday-Labor day- working again. This day was considerably nicer at work than the last four days I worked. I was caught up with everything, and even had spare time on my hands. Something is wrong with my car now. Sounds so terrible when i try to start it like it has no energy at all, like my battery is on E. But if i keep trying to start it, it eventually gathers enough to start, then it goes like nothing was wrong to begin with, could it have anything to do with the new virgo and aries charms i hung with my pentacle on my rearview mirror? perhaps, or it could just be an old POS that it is lol. The moon was ominous looking when i left work. It was a bit more cloudy today, so the moon looked foggy and sort of sepia toned. Not sure if that means anything. Saw my goose today, i hope he makes it through the winter since he cannnot fly with him bum wing. I feel so bad for him.

Tuesday-First day of school. No more sleeping in for me lol. I'm kind of excited and kind of not. I am happy to be making progress towards getting my life in motion to where i want to be-my life is kind of hinged on my finishing college and getting my nursing degree. Need the income for a house, want to be married and have a family. But until then my life is at a stand still. Great motivation dreams are. I also am not too thrilled because it means ill be busier than i already am, with homework and deadlines, as well as my witchy class and assignments, and working so i can pay bills, not to mention the millions of other things that are included with daily life, like family cleaning the house cooking garden care etc.

Beginning My Full Moon Challange

For one whole moon cycle I will keep track of the moon, her presence and its effects of my mood, my life, my thoughts....

So here we begin...

The full moon was last night, there were hardly any clouds to obstruct my view. There she was just shining bright and full. I forgot to look and see the exact time of the full moon (12:02p). But within two days of it, there was no doubt it was near. I could feel it.

I had to work yesterday. It was bad enough being a friday, where usually we have a lot of discharges and admits to keep me busy. But last night wasn't like that. I was still super busy but with tons of different things, and census was so low, they closed a lot of room which caused them to pull a person, and cut us down to three on the floor. I just couldnt get caught up for the life of me.

The energy this moon just feels strange, and I woke up today with my goddess charm off of my chain, where as the other two charms remained.

Thats all for now!

Love and light!

Amistis Reudan

Finished my first assignment

I did my first assignment on the chakras.

I was trying to figure out a way to copy it to my blog but it isn't copying my tables nice so it looks like a mess. Ah well,its ok,maybe I'll figure something out....

New Idea, How Bout It?

I thought this was an interesting way to observe the changes of light and dark throughout the year...

"On my altar I will have 4 candles.... I have tried to figure out a simple but visually beautiful way of symbolizing Sabbats and their meaning, and here is my scheme into which this simple observance fits.


Yule - 1 candle lit during ritual.
Imbolc - 1 candle lit, a second during the ritual.
Ostara - 2 candles lit, a third lit at end of ritual or at sunset.
Beltane - 3 candles, one lit during ritual, making 4.
Midsummer - 4 candles, one extinguished at end of ritual.
Lammas - 3 candles, one extinguished during ritual.
Mabon - 2 candles, one extinguished at sunset or end of ritual.
Samhain - 1 candle lit, but extinguished during ritual."

What do you think?

thoughts of an insomniac

and unable to sleep i begin to wonder if these thoughts of mine are there for a reason. As a result of recent nightmares i began wondering if maybe I should focus on this dark part of my life. Dark people of which I speak not of. Should I give forgiveness for their wrongs when asked of it frequently, should i refuse because their acts and unbearable unforgiveable? What does forgiveness entail? Surely not a clean slate or a pat on the back saying "its ok no harm done..." when in all truthfulness there is a lifetime of harm taking its toll on my soul... so in this night I ponder this darkness, wondering if maybe my wearabouts are unknown, because lately theres been nothing but bills waiting for me...not a peep from the guilty ones. What are the risks of me granting their request? Do I dare open that door again that I have closed so tightly and guarded with my every being? How long can I hold this back before it consumes me and destroys me? And if I do extend this favor, will it turn out to be a double edged sword? Will it in turn hurt me worse than I've been hurt already? Hopefully I will be granted a sign from the universe upon what path I should take, for this is not a decision to make light of, and I'm afraid it will have to be kept under cover, at least until I see how this unfolds...how can I make this end? So many questions I have but not sure if my answers will be truth or more lies....will I ever understand and be at peace.....not on this night at least...

Mornin Ya'all!

GOOOOD MOOOORNING!

I couldnt even go back to sleep after kevin left for work at 3am so ive been up making youtube videos and soon will be trying to post as many as possible before we leave tomorrow for VACATION!!!!

I'm so excited!

anywho just wanted to say HEEEYYY!

Toodles!

Amistis Reudan
Jenn

Summer Vacation

Its almost time for my favorite part of the year, when I can leave this crazy madness called life behind and just be with nature. On August 1st we are going to drive up to Boyne City Michigan, where a good friend of mine is getting married, so I will be missing Sabbat with my group once more---sadness. That evening we will be having dinner in town, then spending the night at the motel---kevin my sister and her boyfriend are all supposed to be going with me. The next day we are having the actual wedding around 11:30, and I found the perfect dress for 6.80 at Khols.

After the wedding we are having a picnic, then Kevin and I will be on our way to Glennie Michigan where we will go camping at the Alcona Park Campground. My sister and her boyfriend will just go back home, they couldnt get the time off from work.

We plan on being there until friday the 7th. Kevin has been going to this same campground almost his whole life, and its kind of a tradition now to go the first week of August. This will be my third year going. The first year we went with his parents and his brother and his grandma, last year his dad got layed off so they couldnt afford to go, and wouldnt accept our offer to pay for them. This year I'm not sure if they are going or not, his dad is still layed off, and money is tight, as well as tempers, so we'll see. The first year kevin and i were together i didnt go, but we were living together either, if i remember right i dont think i had the time off to go anyways, i was still working at mcdonalds then.

I am so excited to go, it had a huge lake so of course we fish all the time when we are there. Time slows down and we enjoy eachother. We eat together, help do camping chores, and all that, but my favorite part is at night-minus the skeeters that like to attack me--i hate my blood type!

I love when its night time, we got a toasty fire going, just the light of one lamp, and we are playing cards together---usually phase 10--my ultimate favorite card game! We got a lil alcohol too. but hey we arent going anywhere! Its the one time out of the whole year we actually get drunk, and it is just so nice. We can actually talk and stuff, not like we can here where we have so many distractions like tv phones ppl yelling across the street etc.

When we are out there, its like its just me and him and a sky full of stars....

2nd Year Overview and Assignments

Sacred Birch Society
Second Year Study Program
Course Overview

PURPOSE: To provide individual learners more in-depth study of the history of the Craft and a structured approach to studying and practicing a particular Craft tradition.

PERIOD OF STUDY: approximately 12 months; variable depending on the learner and format

COURSE OVERVIEW: The learner and facilitator will investigate possible resources (books, web sites, tutors), and agree on reading assignments for history, theology / Deities, rituals, and divination related to the learner’s chosen tradition.

The learning will develop a detailed written report on each topic area, and after receiving feedback will work with the facilitator to develop some type of sharing of the learning in summation either via web posting, a mini-class, or a presentation at a Coffee and Craft Chat or some similar experience.

SPECIFIC
ASSIGNMENTS:

Develop a personal meditation cycle and submit a monthy meditation report.

Complete the “Pagan site assignment” Sometime during 2nd year studies please make plans to visit a “Sacred Site”. Examples of this could be one of many Native American sites in Michigan and throughout the U.S. American Stonehenge in NH and even Salem, MA would be an excellent choice. After you have selected your destination, write about why this is a Sacred Site to you and what significance it has on your spirituality. Write about the history of the area (ie: markers, museums, or people you find there). You may also include the original indigenous people of the area and their beliefs in relation to the site. Be sure to add a travelogue (a combination travel diary and reflection of your visit).


Complete the “History of Witchcraft”/ Ritual style essay assignment (note: the sharing of your learning for this assignment need only focus on your chosen tradition). Hint: ( my chosen tradition is Eclectic and I tend to gather information from Celtic, Egyptian and Native American Indians. Hope this gives you an idea.

Create a chart of major Deities/Patheons, include their attributes and major correspondences from your chosen tradition. (When starting this contact me for more information – and helpful handout).

Thirteen archetypes Goddess: Maiden/Virgin/Daughter, Mother, Crone/Dark Mother, Lover, Warrior, Huntress/Lady of the Beast, Healers, Queen/Creator, Goddess of the Harvest/Fertility, Magician/Shaman, Goddess of Justice, Goddess of Fate and Destiny, Goddess of the Underworld
o Pick 2 goddess from the archetypes discussed and write a short essay on each
o Write a short essay on the goddess that speaks to you most or the one that you are most interested in. Different from the 2 goddess archetypes you chose.
o Find an explain a creation myth from your tradition. It can include a god or goddess.


§ Twelve archetypes God: Sacred Son/Divine Child, Lord of Love/Fertility, Lord of Creation/Heavens/Father God, Lord of the Forest and Animals, Lord of the Healing, Trickster Lords, Lord of Judgment and Prophecy, Hero/Warrior Lords, Magician Lords, Lord of the Waters, Sacrificed Savoir Lords, Lord of Death/Underworld.
o Pick 2 gods from the archetypes discussed and write an essay on each
o Write a short essay on the god that speaks to you most or the one that you are most interested in. Please choose one not from question 1.

Complete the “Ritual and Marking of Events Through Your Chosen Tradition” essay assignment. Make a timeline of when you got involved with the pagan beliefs and the events you have attended/been involved with including celebrations/rituals attended, solitary rituals performed, lessons/studies, special events ect.

Write a ritual for each Sabbat. (Yule, Imbolic, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lammas, Mabon and Samhain)

Design and perform a ritual (the 8 Sabbats) from your chosen tradition sometime during this 2nd year study. When you have completed writing the ritual of your choice then arrangements will be made for you to perform the ritual at a SBS celebration. If you are shy, you can co-perform the ritual with another SBS member.

Pick one herb that you will work with for the course of the next year. Try to learn everything you can about this herb. Write a short essay on this herb. Things to include: origin & history, how it is grown, how it’s used in both magical and mundane worlds. Try to use it at least once a week, magical or mundane. Learn to identify your herb in nature, Family/genus/species, parts used, mundane uses, Rx/ treatment uses, warnings, and other information. (Different one from 1st year study).

Complete several divination readings of a chosen type from your tradition OR if your tradition is not known for divination, then select a type you have not explored before. (The selection must be different than your first year studies).

o ‘Why did you chose this divination
o What is the history of this divination
o How many readings did you do? Summarize the readings: Were you on target? Did your reading make sense to them? Is this form one that you will continue to use? What did you like about this divination? What didn’t you like?

Chakras: Make a chart including; naming, location, colors associated with each, and how to cleanse each Chakras.
Zodiac Signs: make a chart of the 12 astrological signs. Include:
o “Strength” Keywords
o “Weakness” Keywords
o Element
o Symbol
o Colors
o Gems
o Metals

Throughout the course, make any needed additions to your glossary or correspondence tables and submit updates of these at the end of your study.

My year 2 classes

Today I officially begin my year 2 classes with my group the sacred birch society.

I dont quite know what to think of the outline this time around, for the first year classes we had to wait for each assignment and were given a few instructions then turned in something like a report.

But this time we got the whole thing all at once and I am to do the assignments in whatever order I want however long I want but still have to wait the whole year and a day.

I dont know where to begin, and its not like the assignments are individual where i can work on one per month, because some are required to do throughout the whole year, such as a meditation schedule and report.

The main focus is on a particular tradition, but I am eclectic so I think it will be quite hard to form my assignments to fit these without following any structured outline. This one is a more free flying in the wind form.

I dont know I have ideas swimming around my head so maybe I'll work out a system of some kind, and I'll consult my other classmate and see what he thinks.

Throughout the first year him and i would work on assignments together compare notes etc, but this time if we dont do the same ones at the same time i dont have the window open to me anymore.

so until then i will wait and see his take on this and work on my ideas.....

Strange Encounters

Well this is what I saw....



We kept seeing these red pulsating lights, then they would just peter out without seeming to go anywhere. We can not identify what they were but we saw them at least four times. It wasn't an airplane or fireworks, but I don't know what it was, but I was mezmorized by it. If anyone has seen this before or has any clue what it is, please let me know! Thanks!


I found a similar video, its weird because its also from july 4 but from 2007 not 2009 and its all the way out in washington, and mine didnt have anything descending from it that i could see, it would just sit there, not moving then flicker out....

heres the other vid




So I asked my brother to look at it since he's in the airforce and this is what he said....


Jenn: im uploading it now
Bubba Lou: ok
Jenn: i looked up another one someone saw july 4 2007 in tacoma washington
Bubba Lou: hmph
(sent him the vid)
Bubba Lou: i know what it is
Jenn: what is it
Bubba Lou: its a mach i358 recon drone
Bubba Lou: prolly observing illagal fireworks
Jenn: what would it be doing here?
Jenn: why does it not move then flicker out
Bubba Lou: its the warning lights
Bubba Lou: so airplanes dont hit it
Jenn: hmmm im gonna look itup
Bubba Lou: im sure it wont show up
Bubba Lou: its mil grade
Bubba Lou: we use them alot for scoping out areas
Bubba Lou: im sure it was nothing important
Bubba Lou: i wouldnt stress about it
Jenn: hmmm

So I tried to look it up and he was right, absolutely nothing showing, so all I can say about that is...

HMMMMMMMM...............

All that Litha Goodness...

http://sacredbirch.org/Rituals/2009/Mid-Summer%202009.pdf



This is a copy of the midsummer ritual written by my friend Terry, for the Sacred Birch Society

The Meaning of MidSummer on a spiritual level

By Onomaris



This is a time to reconnect with the Father and with the masculine within oneself.



Take the time to ask:



* Do I recognize and utilize the Father within myself and my life?

* What does the Father mean to me and why?



Summer solstice is a time when the sun reaches its peak - it "stand still" - and this is a wonderful analogy for the role of the solstice in one's life.



Step outside the flow and take stock of your life.



Are you living within the summer?



That is, not the past (the birth/springof life) and not the future (the death/autumn) and not the start ofthe next cycle (slumber before rebirth/winter) , but the present, the summer of your life?



This is a time when the sun is closest to the earth, and she responds with all her richness and bounty - and so should we.



Let go of the matters you had cleaned out to deal withduring Beltane and move onto enjoying the moment, building memories and living.



Summer is a wonderful time to start things - perfect for new relationships, handfastings and marriages.



Conceptions at this time are also wonderful - and will bring new life into the world in the Spring.



But beyond the traditional interpretation of such words, apply them to your own life.



What personal relationships have you embarked upon?



In what ways have you renewed old relationships?



What vows ofcommitment have you undertaken?



What new beginnings have you initiated?



Take the time to talk to the Gods - and to listen.



Partake of their bounty.



As always, try and stick to seasonal foods so that you aretruely partaking on the earth's bounty.



Drink herbal teas and water to cleanse and refresh yourself.



Light candles, incense, oils to purify and beautify your spaces.



Bring the sun into your home.



Bring the earth inside as well.



Live the days "in the moment" as much as possible.

Celtic Traditions



Druids, the priestly/professional/diplomatic corps in Celtic countries, celebrated Alban Heruin ("Light of the Shore").



It was midway between the spring Equinox (Alban Eiler; "Light of the Earth") and the fall Equinox (Alban Elfed; "Light of the Water").



This midsummer festival celebrates the apex of Light, sometimes symbolized in the crowning of the Oak King, God of the waxing year.



At his crowning, the Oak King falls to his darker aspect, the Holly King, God of the waning year..." The days following Alban Heruin form the waning part of the year because the days become shorter.

Christian Traditions



After the conversion of Europe to Christianity, the feast day of St. John the Baptist was set as JUN-24.



It "is one of the oldest feasts, if not the oldest feast, introduced into both the Greek and Latin liturgies to honor a saint."



Curiously, the feast is held on the alleged date of his birth.



Other Christian saints' days are observed on the anniversary of their death.



The Catholic Encyclopedia explains that St. John was "filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mother's womb...[thus his] birth...should be signalized as a day of triumph."



His feast day is offset a few days after the summer solstice, just as Christmas is fixed a few days after the winter solstice.



"Just as John was the forerunner to Jesus, midsummer forecasts the eventual arrival of" the winter solstice circa DEC-21.

Wiccan Traditions:



Midsummer is the time when the sun reaches the peak of its power, the earth is green and holds the promise of a bountiful harvest.



The Mother Goddess is viewed as heavily pregnant, and the God is at the apex of his manhood and is honored in his guise as the supreme sun.

Symbols of Midsummer



Other Names: Summer Solstice, Litha, Alban Hefin, Gathering Day, Feill-Sheathain, Whitsuntide, Vestalia, and St. John's Day



Colors: Red, Gold, Green, Blue, Tan



Symbols: Fire, The Sun, Blades, Mistletoe, Oak Trees, Balefire, Sun Wheels, and Faeries



Ritual Meanings: Honoring of Sun/God at His Power, Saying Farewell to the Waxing Year, Preparation for Harvest, Honoring the Pregnant Goddess, and Beginning of the Waning Year



Key Action: Nurture and Love



Ritual Oils: Heliotrope, Cinnamon, Sandalwood, Lavender, Orange, All Mint Oils, Lemon, and Saffron



Stones: Emerald, Jade, Tiger's Eye, Lapis Lazuli, Diamond



Plants: Mugwort, Vervain, Chamomile, Rose, Honeysuckle, Lily, Oak, Lavender, Ivy, Yarrow, Fern, Elder, Wild Thyme, Daisy, Carnation, Mistletoe, Frankincense, Lemon, Sandalwood, Heliotrope, Copal, Saffron, Galangal, Laurel, and Ylang-Ylang.



Activities: Jumping the Balefire, Gathering Herbs, Clan Gatherings, and Dressing Up



Taboos: Giving Away Fire, Sleeping Away from Home, and Neglecting Animals



Animals: Robin/Wren, Summer Birds, Horses, Cattle



Mythical Creatures: Satyrs, Faeries, Firebird, Dragon, Thunderbird, Manticore



Deities: Father Gods, Mother Goddesses, Pregnant Deities, Sun Gods, Aestas, Athena, Bona Dea, Freya, Hathor-Tiamet, Isis, Juno, Nut, Robigus, Aine, Artemis, Banba, Dana, Eos, Eriu, Grian, Sekhmet, Vesta, Baal, Dagda, , Hyperion, Gwydion, Llew, Ra, Thor, Apollo, Balder, Helios, Lugh, Oak/Holly King, Prometheus, Sol, Zeus



Foods: Summer Squash, Lemons, Oranges, Garden fresh fruits and vegetables



Drinks: Wine, Lemonade, Meade, Ales, Herbal Teas.

Hand-Fasting



A marriage ceremony between witches or pagans is known as a Handfasting, from an old custom of formally betrothing couples by binding their hands together with a silken cord.



This is where our current term "giving one's hand in marriage" is derived from.



Handfasting among modern Witches usually marks the beginning of a formal commitment rather than a betrothal, and may be legally binding if performed by a licensed member of the clergy.



Today's Witches and other Pagans still adhere to many of the ancient handfasting customs.



Partners are asked to view their chosen mates as embodiments of the God or Goddess, and often-ritual purification takes place ahead of time so that the couple may align themselves fully with their patron deities.



Brides often carry bouquets of flowers or herbs that contain magical or symbolic energies. These might include myrtle or rue for love, wheat for abundance and fertility, ivy for fidelity, primrose for good luck and to garner the blessings of the fairy folk, and rosemary for health and sexual stamina.



Both men and women might wear circlets of flowers on their heads the way a king or queen would wear a crown to show their connection to a higher power and make clear that-at least for now-they are the representatives of the deities on earth.



Extant legal codes from the late Pagan period in Ireland tell us that a couple came into a marriage as equals, each with their own property, which was returned to its original owner if the couple later separated.



Token items of value were exchanged as a pledge of faith in a way similar to today's wedding ring.



The origins of the simple, round wedding ring are sketchy, but is believed by many to represent the eternity of the union, similar to the Pagan view of the ring as a circle symbolizing, the never-ending cycle of birth, death, and rebirth for the human couple and for the deities in whose image they were wed.



Handfasting were once community events in which the entire clan or village participated.



Tokens from the bride were given to unmarried girls as talismans of love in the same way portions of the wedding cake are taken home today and placed under the pillow to induce prophetic dreams of one's future mate.



The earliest wedding cakes were made of grains, symbolic of fertility and abundance.



Bread was used in some cultures to bless the couple's home by breaking the loaf against the threshold or by burying it near or burning it in the hearth.



A wedding drink popular among the Britons and Celts was mead.



Mead is a rich honey-ale combining masculine and feminine elements, and it further underscored the handfasting as a symbolic union of the deities.



Our modern term "honeymoon" is believed to derive from a combination of these concepts.



The "honey" refers to the principal ingredient of the mead and the "moon" to the approximate period of time that would elapse between Beltane and the time a handfasting could take place.

MIDSUMMER/SUMMER SOLSTICE IN THE GARDEN ~~~Ellen Dugan



"A noise like of a hidden brook In the leafy month of June, That to the sleeping woods all night Singeth a quiet tume." .....Samuel Taylor Coleridge



Midsummer or the summer solstice is on or around June 21, the longest day of the year and the shortest night.



Decorating ideas are seashells and starfish arranged across your altar or mantle.



You could really be subtle and go Americana - use architectural stars and folk art in country colors of blues and reds.



Midsummer is celebrated at my house by barbequing, going to the pool, camping, or the occasional fishing trip.



Some other ideas for celebrating the solstice are midsummer garden parties, going on a picnic, or taking a trip to the lake or beach.



To create an inexpensive midsummer garden party, keep the menu fresh and light.



Decorate a picnic table if you have one, or drag your kitchen table out to the garden.



Use a tablecloth in any pretty pastel shade and either use floral theme paper plates or your good dishes.



I like to mix and match glassware and plates for a more informal look.



You might try picking up some plastic tumblers in bright shades of hot summer colors.



How about creating individual tussie-mussies for your guests or, better yet, have everyone make their own while they are at the party?



Put a pretty book on the table explaining the symbolism of the flowers, set out some supplies and flowers, and turn them loose.



If you are having your magickal friends over, try a solstice/celestial theme: gold suns with blue and gold plates and napkins.



Sprinkle some glittery stars and moon confetti on the tablecloth.



If children are invited, you could make it a faery party.



Let the little ones dress up as faeries - the adults, too, if they wish.



Embellish place cards with glitter pens and floral, faery, or celestial stickers, depending on your theme.



Snip some blooming roses off your bushes and use garden flowers and blooming fragrant herbs for a centerpiece.



For faery lights you can use old glass canning jars with a tealight inside and set them in a row down the center of the table or place them throughout the garden.



After the sun goes down, light up some sparklers for the kids and the adults.



Have an enchanted midsummer's night!



.....from 'Garden Witchery: Magick from the Ground Up'

The Summer Solstice, also called Litha, marks the longest day and shortest night.





The Sun is at the height of its power and is now beginning to decline.



In common with the other Solstice and the Equinoxes the date of this festival will vary from year to year, taking place between the 20 and the 23rd of the month.



Also in common with the other Sabbats it would have been traditional for celebrations to have taken place over several days.





If you have a group of people it can be great fun to enact the battle of the Oak and Holly Kings.



At this time Lord Oak, who presides over the waxing year, gives way to Lord Holly, who will rule until the Winter Solstice.



Select two combatants to wrestle or fight with staves until the one playing the Oak King gives way to the other.



It is a good idea for them to practice in advance so that they do not harm one another.

Litha Activities



Put a ring of flowers around your cauldron or around a bowl of mugwort.



Hang a bundle of fresh herbs out to dry. Use them to cook summer veggies.



Light a white candle and place it in front of a mirror. Say a prayer over, and let it burn out.



Go bird watching. Take a guide book, so you will knowwhat you are looking at.



The birds may bless you with a feather.



**Things to make with *found* bird feathers**:

Witch's Ladders



1. Use feathers in colors that correspond with your need

2. Braid a yard each of white, black, and red cord(for Goddess)

3. Chant while braiding:"Maiden, Mother, Ancient Crone,

Your powers to these cords please loan"

4. Add feathers to chain as it grows.

Make a quill pen to use in your Book of Shadows



1. Remove the barbs from the quill until it is comfortable to hold

2. Scoop out the back of the quill and remove the core

3. Cut a tiny notch on the front of the quill

4. Cut a slit on the front of the quill from the notchdown

5. Cut the tip of the quill to form a point

Endurance ritual



1. Write your birth-sign on a small stone in permanent pen

2. In a large flower pot, place the stone at the bottom.

3. Plant a marigold on top, placing seven stone around the plant.



As you work, chant:



"Sing me the song of seasons

Show me the sun's delight

Open my heart for you radiance

Lead me towards the light"



The marigold is the flower of endurance that always turns its face toward the sun, following its path through the sky.



This ritual will give you endurance.

Midsummer Manifestation Ritual



Make a list of everything you wish to manifest during the next six months.



Be complete -- include things related to career,personal issues, and other factors like clarity,confidence, and fun.



After sunset, light a candle ofyour choice.



Place a vase of flowers you like next tothe candle.



Say aloud:



"I gather in the power of this day of greatest light and call in the guardians of fire, earth, air, and water to bring the last grace of power in light to manifest my desires in the coming harvest. I ask that this be done within the greater good."



{Read aloud your list}



"I affirm that I am able and willing to allow these wishes to manifest and I participate in the miracle of creation and with faith. So mote it be."



Allow the candle to burn until you go to sleep.



Celebrate the energy of the evening in some way --play music, raise a glass, allow yourself some indulgence.

Blessed Litha/ Midsummer/ Summer Solstice! Summer is HERE!

Herbal Protection Blend

Ingredients and Items Needed

Bowl for mixing items (I have this wooden one I bought specifically because its earthy)

Sea Salt (I used to use just table salt, but I tried sea salt and I love it so much more!)

Basil (Fresh is best for each herb, but dried herbs from your baking cabinet work well also)

Rosemary Leaves

Parsley

Garlic

Crystal Quartz

Athame

Process and Tips

You can add the herbs in any order, but I like to add the sea salt first, to purify the bowl in a way before we actually start "cookin."

I also like to mix as I go, and some people like to mix widdershins or deosil throughout depending on the purpose, but I like to wait til the end.

Add the sea salt and herbs, mixing as you add each item.

Then add the crystal quartz, to ground the energies and help sharpen the focus of the intent.

Take the athame, insert it into the mixture, and mix it together counter clockwise.

Someone asked why counter clockwise? Because im using it for banishing the bad stuff, and thats what my focus is, counter clockwise is for banishment.

My Focus/ Intent

Protection

Anti-Theft

Remove Negativity

Blessing

Ask the God and Goddess for their blessing, and say words of power

"Youth, Father, Sage....

Maiden, Mother, Crone....

Let it harm none,

By the power of three,

By the Lord and Lady,

So Mote It Be!"

And now you have a protection mixture.

You may now be asking,

"What do I do with this mixture once it is complete?"

I usually go outside on the full moon (to figure out the exact date and time of the full moon, consult your llewellyn magical almanac, or simply visit http://www.farmersalmanac.com/.)

This month happens to fall on Sunday June 7, 2009 at 2:12 pm.

I channel some of the full moon energy into the mixture, with the help of the crystal quartz we added earlier.

I then walk the perimeter of my land, sprinkling the mixture as well has visualizing a wall of protection, and all images that pertain to my intent, such as a lock, happy things, etc.

I also do the same for the perimeter of my garden to protect it from the elements and bugs and other harmful things.

Thats it! This mixture can be made fore every full moon, or whenever needed. Sometime I keep a jar full just in case of emergencies, plus having some in the house will strengthen the protection as well. Sometimes I also follow the same process with a smudge stick after I am done sprinkling the mixture so kind of strengthen the spell. Change the herbs as needed per intent. There's no telling how many adaptaqtions are possible!

Blessed Be!

R.I.P. Toto and Mr. Mistoffelees

R.I.P Mistletoe "Missy Toto" May 12, 2009
Buried by our beloved "Fat Cat" a.k.a. "Katibugaboo"

She passed away at the age of 15, we think from cancer because she had many tumors that could be felt all over her body, mostly around her neck and tail. She was losing a lot of weight and wasn't eating like she usually did. I knew when I saw her last at my sisters house, after going to look at a castle where she might get married, that I would probably never see her again...
She was loved so much and now she is free from illness and pain. Blessings to the Summerland Mistletoe! )O(



R.I.P. Mr. Mistoffelees "Two" May 5, 2009
Buried amoung the sunflowers...

This little baby was rescued by my best friend, Cat. Her and my friend Morgan cleaned this little creature, de-bugged him, and took care of him, with frequent feedings, clearing away eye gunk and runny nose from infection, and gave him the best end of days that any stray kitty could wish for. We think he eventually died of pneumonia, at only three weeks. Though our time with him was short, we still remember him forever and loved him so much. He passed away with many people who loved him and cared about him, and he actaually had a home which is more than most stray cats ever have their whole life. Blessings to the Summerland Mr. Mistoffelees! )O(

New Treasures....

STUNNING SET OF Mc COY BEAN POT AND MATCHING BOWLS. A VERY UNUSUAL METALLIC OR OPELESENCENT GLAZE. NOT SURE OF THE AGE BUT I WILL GUESS SOMETIME AROUND THE 1970's. ALL ARE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. THE LARGE POT HAS A MATCHING LID AND A WIRE HANDLE. IT MEASURES 7.5" TALL AND IS 8" WIDE. THE SMALLER BEAN POTS ARE 3" TALL AND 5" WIDE. THIS SET IS A REAL BEAUTY.

This is the same Cauldron that Cat or Ms.Cheshire has in her vlog on youtube, but it also comes with baby ones. They has it labeled as a bean pot, but it looks like a witchy cauldron to me! Maybe its just called that because it has no feet???

Happy Earth Day!

Things to help around the home.....

Save energy

Use the ENERGY STAR program (energystar.gov) to find energy efficient products for your home. The right choices can save families about 30% ($700 a year) while reducing our emissions of greenhouse gases. Whether you are looking to replace old appliances, remodel, or buy a new house, ENERGY STAR can help. ENERGY STAR is the government backed symbol for energy efficiency. The ENERGY STAR label makes it easy to know which products to buy without sacrificing features, style or comfort that today's consumers expect.
Turn off appliances and lights when you leave the room.
Use the microwave to cook small meals. (It uses less power than an oven.)
Purchase "Green Power" for your home's electricity. (Contact your power supplier to see where and if it is available.)
Have leaky air conditioning and refrigeration systems repaired.
Use a programmable thermostat to save on heating and cooling costs when you're not home.
Insulate your home, water heater and pipes.
Keep in mind that every trip adds to air pollution. Learn more at It All Adds Up to Cleaner Air(http://www.italladdsup.gov).
Replace incandescent light bulbs with ENERGY STAR qualified Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFL). If every household in the U.S. replaced one light bulb with a CFL, it would prevent enough pollution to equal removing one million cars from the road. (energystar.gov/cfls)
Use less water

Look for the WaterSense label to identify water-efficient products and programs. The WaterSense label indicates that these products and programs meet water-efficiency and performance criteria. WaterSense labeled products will perform well, help save money, and encourage innovation in manufacturing. (http://www.epa.gov/watersense/index.htm)
Don't let the water run while shaving or brushing teeth.
Take short showers instead of tub baths.
Keep drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting the faucet run until the water is cool.
Scrape, rather than rinse, dishes before loading into the dishwasher; wash only full loads.
Wash only full loads of laundry or use the appropriate water level or load size selection on the washing machine.
Buy high-efficient plumbing fixtures & appliances.
Repair all leaks (a leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons a day).
Water the lawn or garden during the coolest part of the day (early morning is best).
Water plants differently according to what they need. Check with your local extension service or nurseries for advice.
Set sprinklers to water the lawn or garden only – not the street or sidewalk.
Use soaker hoses or trickle irrigation systems for trees and shrubs.
Keep your yard healthy - dethatch, use mulch, etc.
Sweep outside instead of using a hose.
Learn how to plant trees, build a pond, compost, and more from the Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/backyard).

Reduce/reuse/recycle
Practice the three R's: first reduce how much you use, then reuse what you can, and then recycle the rest. Then, dispose of what's left in the most environmentally friendly way. Read the tips below and explore the Consumer's Handbook for Reducing Solid Waste (http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/reduce/catbook)

Reduce:
Buy permanent items instead of disposables.
Buy and use only what you need.
Buy products with less packaging.
Buy products that use less toxic chemicals.
Reuse:
Repair items as much as possible.
Use durable coffee mugs.
Use cloth napkins or towels.
Clean out juice bottles and use them for water.
Use empty jars to hold leftover food.
Reuse boxes.
Purchase refillable pens and pencils.
Participate in a paint collection and reuse program. For information on handling household solid waste, visit Wastes, What You Can Do (http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/citizens.htm).
Donate extras to people you know or to charity instead of throwing them away.
Reuse grocery bags as trash bags.
Recycle:
Recycle paper (printer paper, newspapers, mail, etc.), plastic, glass bottles, cardboard, and aluminum cans. If your community doesn't collect at the curb, take them to a collection center.
Recycle electronics. (http://www.epa.gov/ecycling/index.htm)
Collecting Used Oil for Recycling / Reuse (PDF) 750K PDF; www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/recycle/recy-oil.pdf.
Compost food scraps, grass and other yard clippings, and dead plants.
Close the loop - buy recycled products and products that use recycled packaging (PDF) (13 pp, 1.6 MB). That's what makes recycling economically possible.

Handle toxics properly
What's under your kitchen sink, in your garage, in your bathroom, and on the shelves in your laundry room? Learn more about what's in these products, about potential health effects, and about safety and handling. A database of household products tells you more(http://hpd.nlm.nih.gov)

Common household items such as paints, cleaners, oils, batteries, and pesticides contain hazardous components. Although we cannot completely stop using hazardous products, we can make sure that leftovers are managed properly. The best way to handle household hazardous waste is to give leftovers to someone else to use.

Many communities have set up collection programs to keep hazardous products out of landfills and combustors. More than 3,000 household hazardous waste (HHW) collection programs exist in the United States. Read more about household hazardous waste. (http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/hhw.htm)

In addition to items listed here, check the Earth Day sites of various agencies for more tips and events in your area.

Quick Apology

Sorry for not posting more on the lessons or on life or anything for that matter.

Been working a lot and getting close to no sleep

Seriously i could sleep standing up right now

exams to study for this week, tests are in a week on monday morning

worked last 4 days, one 12 hr day, got today off, work tues, then 10 days off

walleye fishing opens midnight 4-25-09 technically tho i still think of it as 4-24-09 cuz ill be awake.

kevins transmission in his truck is effed so he is in the process of removing it, and will hopefully have it done by wednesday--fingers and toes crossed

so one more class and then maybe just maybe i can sleep for longer than 2 hrs at a time without having to be somewhere or do something

posted a quick video on youtube on my mooseph2005 channel, so check it out if u want to hear be blah about this junk lol

i look like crap so be warned

well i gotta head to my last class now

was so hoping it would be cancelled but theres really no reason it would be

wishful thinking

well for real this time
toodlessssss!!!!

Something new....

Well today I decided to try out my new wheels----my bike that is....

I got it for yule from my mom, and this week she brought it to my house since I cant fit it in my car..or at least I dont think it does.

I think the front rim is bent cuz my tire wobbles a bit when i ride it, and it was making a clicking noise when i ride, but when i changed it to 4th gear it quit, so i guess ill keep it on that one.

Seems weird that its got problems already when its a brand new bike ya know?

I can handle a wobbly tire and i got to clicking under control, i just need to get a better seat that doesnt feel like a rock under my ass, and maybe metal peddles so they dont break, and i have to figure out how to put the water bottle holder on it.

But i am happy to have a means of ourdoor exercise, i used to ride everywhere all the time, but as i grew up my life seems overrun by work and school and i find it hard to find time to do the things i used to do on a daily basis, like ride bikes go swimming and playing in the woods...

Lesson 1

Dear Silver RavenWolf,

I have started reading your book, to ride a silver broomstick, for the second time now. The first time I read it front to back, as I do with all books I read for the first time. But now a dear friend of mine has also acquired this book, and we decided to venture through the lessons together. So for this first assignment, you asked me to write you an imaginary letter about what I think it means to be a witch and what is witchcraft.

Firstly, I think a witch is a person to consciously chooses to accept the power of the universe into their lives, and take the time to learn the skills required to manipulate it for good to send out into the universe to activate change in their lives for the better, without harm to anyone else, of course.

There are lots of elements that go into being a witch, and this includes respecting the energies and life around us. We learn about the plants and animals that sustain us. We learn about the properties of stones, colors, herbs, etc, and how to use those energies to boost our spells. Respect for nature and life, and the divine is the utmost importance.

We strive to make our daily lives more natural, and to slow down, noticing the wonderful mysterious things around us. How simple things in life can be greatly magical is a thing of sheer delight, like seeing the world through the eyes of a child. The only limitations we have are the ones be put on ourselves.

Witchcraft is the practice of raising power, molding it with intent, and releasing it into the world where it can manifest to improve our lives. When we are children, we are taught about the stereotypical witch, the Hollywood version: green face, crooked nose, warts, gnarly hands, and cackling evil laugh. After all, she conspires with the devil right?

Later in life, one may discover that there really aren’t “those” kinds of witches, but rather a religion called Wicca, or Paganism in general. They may come to find these people are healers, herbalists, gardeners, etc. Some may think they are “floaty”, living in a fantasy world, where they can’t keep their feet on the ground.

Many do not see us as grounded, down to earth, normal people, who protect the earth, and a living to find balance and peace in their lives. We attune to the cycles of the earth, and embrace life in so many ways. We do not promote our religion, or try “converting” the masses, for we don’t believe we are the only way to divinity, and that people who are meant to travel this path will find their way on their own terms if it is meant to be.

Most people that I have encountered are very accepting of my choice, while others think I am a ding bat. My mother went postal on me when she found out in 2000, but now she is more accepting since she realized that I am not involved in a crazy cult where they will kidnap and kill me. The more people who come out of the broom closet and take the time to correctly explain our religion, the more accepting the world will be.
I hope when I finish this book, I will be more proficient in my practice. I want to understand some concepts better so I can teach them better to others who seeks knowledge from me. I want peace of mind knowing that the magic I create will be effective, and that my soul will be happy, inside and out.

Sincerely,
Amistis Reudan

To Ride a Silver Broomstick...

A friend and I have decided to complete the lessons in this book together and post about it on here. So I'll probably start tomorrow since i'm about to leave for work now. See you shortly!

Amistis

Insomniacness

 

She sits in the dark
No lights to be seen
except for the glow
of the computer screen

no sounds around her
nobody to care
just the furnace blowing
out warm comforting air

her love is gone
out working til after noon
and she sits in bed awake
under the light of the full moon

her tummy rumbles
to the pantry she seeks
something to snack on
easter candy she sneaks

as time passes on
her ass cheeks go numb
she's still sitting in bed
feeling like a bum

her hair is a mess
no shower last night
if she went outside now
she would not feel right

people would stare at her
wondering whats wrong
but she'd just ignore them
whistling her song

her eyes may be red
and her hair all a mess
but thats just because
she has insomnianess

you may say that
its not a real word
but ya know what
i dont give a fuck terd

haha
yeah see what happens when i cant sleep!

MySpace

Adventures of One Smelly Ass Witch

glitter-graphics.com

Ok so you know how to pump gas right?


glitter-graphics.com

Pull up to the pump so its on the correct ride with your gas tank thingy

(She pulls up to the pump so its on the left.)

Then you get out and press pay inside or outside with credit card

(She presses pay inside, no prepay required, woot!)

Then you gotta wait for the person inside to hit a button.

(Please wait.....finally they hit the button)

It flashes 'remove nozzel'(She opens the gas tank door and plug thing and puts in the gas nozzle)

Gas starts to flow

(She locks it into place by squeezing it til that metal thing hold it so she can check out much money she has).................................................


glitter-graphics.com

at this point your expecting:

Nozzle shuts off, replace it in holder, go inside and pay for the shizzle, go on your merry way

right???

WWWWRRROOOONNNGGGGG-----OOOOO



That mother effer never clicked off when it got full, it just kept on going until it was gushing out all over the place, down the side of my car like a gasoline waterfall down my pants all over my foot just spewing away.



Finally I get the bastard to unlock and I hang up the nozzle. Recap the tank and shut the little door, get my money out and go inside to pay the lady.

I told her

"somethings not right with that nozzle for the pump, it didnt shut off when it was full and just kept going and got all over the car and me and the ground etc"

and all she had to say was

,"yeah that happens sometimes when they get old, they dont work as good as they should..."

I'm so like WTF, i only had to pay a few extra gallons worth of gas that im wearing and spewing onto the ground, no biggie.

And then I had to come here (in school right now, between classes) so my whole first class noone would sit by me, noone wanted to be my partner for lab, my teacher didnt even want to give me back my quiz cuz he would be in range of the stench....lovely.



and I still have another class to go to, yippie skippie.Well I hope it goes away when i change clothes for work, and that I dont get blown up by a stray match or cigarette or something as super as that.

shit I'm shocked I didnt blow up from just starting my car at the gas station.



Lesson learned: Thats the last effin time I use that pump or the stupid self release shit.

PEEEEYOOOOOOUUUUUEEEEEYYYYY

5 day stretch

I have to work the next 5 days, and school on two of those days. Its gonna be rough. After the first three days I start to get a little burned out. Trying to figure out something to do for the full moon next week, but not sure if I will have enough time to really plan it out the way I'd like to.

A lot of people I have come into contact with, as well as myself, have been feeling a bit blue. I don't know if maybe it has something to do with this changing weather, or the fact that we got a crap load of snow coming again right when we all thought spring was really here...I don't know.

I just hope that the Lady will lend some positive energy to all those who need it this next week so we can all kind of recharge our internal batteries. My seedlings are doing well for the most part. Still a few that haven't emerged yet while otheres are going crazy so I just keep spritzing them and rotating them in the light. I also added a fan on low because kevins dad said they need to build up a resistance to the wind and become stronger. That way they do not snap in the wind once I transfer them outside.

Last night I attempted to cook a real meal, but it didn't turn out the way I planned. I wanted to do goulash in the slow cooker but it got all mushy so I ended up throwing it away. I burned myself on my potatoes that I roasted in olive oil garlic rosemary salt and pepper. I dropped them into the bottom of my oven and made the house full of smoke. Then I almost ruined the rolls by takin them out of the oven too early where they were crispy on the outside, but I took them out, bit into one and got a mouth full of dough, so I put them back in for a few minutes and they were great.

That teaches me not to cook all that stuff for one person and alone lol. I could have had some serious issues! Well thats about it for now. Oh yeah, I made a pogo account at pogo.com as mooseph2005. So now I can play games with my hunnie bunnie!!!!!

Just sitting here...

Yeah I'm at school right now using my new Dell Mini. I also hooked up a wireless router from Belkin at my house so now I can get online more instead of waiting for my honey to go to work so the computer will be free haha. And this little thing is like 2 lbs so its easy to travel with. I got a case for it too so it looks like a planner, but its my computer. Its awesome!!!!

I have 2 hours between my algebra class and my philosophy of world religions class so I used that time to set up my wireless for school cuz they make you register the computer and stuff like that. My good friend makes me laugh. She has all kinds of ideas but I have no idea where to start let alone how she thinks she can come up with the money for all that. She wants us to open an herbal shop together, start a witch school/day care thing, start our own coven, things like that.

Plus its almost impossible for me to find time at this point in my life. Work and school keep me pretty busy, and I try to spend time with Kevin as much as possible because we usually are on opposite schedules. I was at my friends house til almost 3am yesterday. Planned on being home around midnight so I could get a decent nights sleep before having to go to school at 7am-12:15 pm then I will get home right before 1pm, when Kevin will be getting ready to leave for work himself around 1:15pm. Then I have to get ready for work 3-11pm then thanks the Goddess that I have tomorrow off, totally, no work OR school. I am going to sleep in for a long effin time lol.

Well thats about it for now.
oh yeah the Goddess suprised us with an ass load of snow yesterday, so much for thinking Spring has Sprung. My lettuce and radishes and a strawberry plant have sprouted out of my seed starter thing I rigged up, so thats at least happy things!!!

Blessed Be!
Amistis

Happy Ostara Everyone!

Well its only about 34 outside, but the sun is out so it fools us to thinking it is warm. Kevin and I have the whole day off together, tomorrow is his b-day, and my Ostara Circle with the Sacred Birch Society.

So I'm not sure whats entailed for today, since I don't have the luxury of privacy today, so I think for now I'll just take a walk through the woods and read some of my witchy books....

What are you all doing today?

Amistis

Ostara...

The Simple Facts

Ostara: Vernal (Spring) Equinox, Alban Eiler (Caledonii)

~The Spring Equinox is the point of equilibrium - the balance is suspended just before spring bursts forth from winter.

~Half fill a bowl with water and place a selection of flowers into it for display in a prominent position in your home.

~The night and day are of equal length at the equinox, and Ostara is a festival of balance and fertility.

~It is a celebration of birth and new life.

~A day when death has no power over the living.

~This was the time of the official return of the young Goddess after her Winter hibernation.

~It is believed that the Goddess and young God consummated their love.

~From this the Goddess became pregnant with the God to be reborn at Yule.

~The God and Goddess are young children at play and holiday festivals use brightly colored eggs to represent the child within.

~The Easter Bunny also is of Pagan origin, as are baskets of flowers.

~Traditionally, Ostara is a time for collecting wildflowers, walking in nature's beauty and cultivating herb gardens.

~This is the time to free yourself from anything in the past that is holding you back.
___________________________________________________________________

Ostara (pronounced "O-STAR-ah") is one of the Lesser Wiccan Sabbats and is celebrated on the Spring Equinox, most often March 21st, but varies somewhat from the 20th to the 23rd. The variance, as with all Solar festivals, is due to the differences between the actual astronomical event and our calendar, so be sure to check the calendar each year.

Other names this Sabbat is also called by are the Vernal Equinox or the Spring Equinox, Oestara, Eostre's Day, Rite of Eostre, Equinozio della Primavera (Aridian Strega), Alban Eiber (Caledonii Tradition or the Druids), Bacchanalia, Festival of the Trees, and Lady Day.

Christians celebrate their holiday - Easter - near this same time and it is based on basically the same principles as ours in the Old Religion. Easter is actually determined in a very Pagan manner... it is always the first Sunday after the first Full Moon after the Spring Equinox.

This Sabbat is a time to celebrate the arrival of Spring, when light and darkness are in balance but the light is growing stronger. The forces of masculine energy and feminine energy are also in balance and this day paves the way for the coming lushness of Summer. Ostara is a time for the celebration of fertility and balance, a time when all elements within and without us are brought into harmony. A time of new life and rebirth, as well as the end of Winter.

Symbols used to represent Ostara include the egg (for fertility and reproduction) and the hare (for rebirth and resurrection), the New Moon, butterflies and cocoons. Symbolically, many Pagans choose to represent Ostara by the planting of seeds, potted plants, ringing bells, lighting new fires at sunrise, either in the fireplace (if the weather us still cold enough), in the the cauldron, or light a balefire (if outdoors).

I always give myself a gift of a newly potted plant or take a seed and plant it within my cast Circle. Ritually, a fire may be lit in the cauldron during (not before) the rite itself. You may want to decorate your altar with a colorful bouquet of Spring wildflowers. Other traditional activities include working on magickal gardens and practicing all forms of herbal work --- magickal, artistic, medicinal, culinary, and cosmetic.

Here is a traditional Vernal Equinox pastime according to Scott Cunningham: go to a field and randomly collect wildflowers. Thank the flowers for their sacrifice before picking them and it is also best to leave an offering to the plant and/or the Earth for taking the flowers, such as some milk and honey, a small crystal or even a coin. Or, buy some from a florist, taking one or two of those that appeal to you. Then bring them home and divine their magickal meanings by the use of books, your own intuition, a pendulum or by other means. The flowers you've chosen reveal your inner thoughts and emotions.

A particular suggestion from Scott Cunningham that I really enjoy each year is to do the following... at this time in the turn of the Wheel of the Year, when all things are green and renewed life is all around us, it is a very good idea to plan a walk (or a ride) through gardens, a park, woodlands, forest and other green places. This is not simply for exercise, and you should be on no other mission. It isn't even just an appreciation of Nature. You should make your walk celebratory, a ritual for Nature itself. Other Pagan activities may include the planting of your herb and/or vegetable garden.

Another very popular Ostara activity is decorating and coloring or dying hard-boiled eggs - or other eggs such as wooden or paper mache (I call them "Ostara Eggs"), and drawing Pagan and magickal symbols on the colored eggs. You could then choose to either keep the eggs, bury them in the Earth or cast them into a fire as offerings to the Goddess - the choice is yours. If I use hard- boiled eggs, I usually bury them in the Earth when the ritual is over, but - alternately - here is my personal choice... I usually make my eggs from the paper mache ones (the cost factor comes in to play here, they are a LOT cheaper than the wooden ones, but the wooden ones are much smoother). I buy them at the local craft store (such as Hobby Lobby). These eggs can be reused next year and you can even add new ones to the old, if you like.

The first thing I do is paint them each a different color - whatever shade strikes me - whether it be dull, bright, pastel, or primary. Then I use gold and silver paint pens to draw Pagan designs and magicakl symbols all over them. You may opt to use other color combinations. It is entirely up to your personal choice. I have one egg that is totally covered with interconnected triangles (Triple Goddess), a couple with pentagrams and God and Goddess symbols, some with words written in Theban script, etc. Just let your imagination take you there - it's a lot of fun!

Appropriate Deities for Ostara include all Youthful and Virile Gods and Goddesses, Sun Gods, Mother Goddesses, Love Goddesses, Moon Gods and Goddesses, and all Fertility Deities. Some Ostara Deities to mention by name here include Persephone, Blodeuwedd, Eostre, Aphrodite, Athena, Cybele, Gaia, Hera, Isis, Ishtar, Minerva, Venus, Robin of the Woods, the Green Man, Cernunnos, Lord of the Greenwood, The Dagda, Attis, The Great Horned God, Mithras, Odin, Thoth, Osiris, and Pan.

Key actions to keep in mind during this time in the Wheel of the Year include openings and new beginnings. Spellwork for improving communication and group interaction are recommended, as well as fertility and abundance. Ostara is a good time to start putting those plans and preparations you made at Imbolc into action. Start working towards physically manifesting your plans now.

The most common colors associated with Ostara are lemon yellow, pale green and pale pink. However, also appropriate colors include grass green, all pastels, Robin's egg blue, violet, and white.

Stones to use during the Ostara celebration include aquamarine, rose quartz, and moonstone.

Animals associated with Ostara are rabbits and snakes.

Mythical beasts associated with Ostara include unicorns, merpeople, and pegasus.

Plants and herbs associated with Ostara are crocus flowers, daffodils, jasmine, Irish moss, snowdrops, and ginger.

For Ostara incense, you could make a blend from any of the following scents or simply choose one... jasmine, frankincense, myrrh, dragon's blood, cinnamon, nutmeg, aloes wood, benzoin, musk, African violet, sage, strawberry, lotus, violet flowers, orange peel, or rose petals.

Foods in tune with this day (linking your meals with the seasons is a fine way of attuning with Nature) include eggs, egg salad, hard-boiled eggs, honey cakes, first fruits of the season, fish, cakes, biscuits, cheeses, honey and ham. You may also include foods made of seeds, such as sunflower, pumpkin and sesame seeds, as well as pine nuts. Sprouts are equally appropriate, as are leafy, green vegetables.

From Scott Cunningham: flower dishes such as stuffed nasturtiums or carnation cupcakes also find their place here. (Find a book of flower cooking or simply make spice cupcakes. Ice with pink frosting and place a fresh carnation petal on each cupcake. Stuff nasturtium blossoms with a mixture made of cream cheese, chopped nuts, chives and watercress.)

Appropriate Ostara meat dishes should contain fish or ham.

May the Lord and Lady bless you all with fertility, abundance, success, and all things new!
_________________________________________________________________

Natural Ostara Eggs

Natural egg-dying is like recycling. It takes a li'l bit longer to do, but gives you that witchy feeling.

Cover your plant material with about 3 inches of water, bring to a boil, and simmer until the color looks good. You'll probably have to let the eggs sit in the dye overnight, so if you're planning more than one color per egg, start this a few days before Ostara. Experimenting is half the fun, but here are some hints to get you started:

Yellows- daffodil petals, saffron, turmeric, onion skins
Blues- blueberries, red cabbage leaves & vinegar
Greens-broccoli, coltsfoot
Pinks- cochineal, madder root
Browns - walnut shells, tea, coffee

Wanna get fancy? Gather some small leaves, ferns, flowers and grasses. Dip them in water (to help them stick) and press them onto your eggs. Wrap each egg in a piece of cut up pantyhose and secure it with a twist tie before dyeing. When you remove the flower or leaf, it's design will appear (either in white or in your first dye-color). Rub your finished eggs with a tiny bit of vegetable oil on a soft cloth to shine them.

Too hard?? No hosiery??? Okay, try using crayons to draw spirals and pentagrams on the eggs before dying them.

Now, plan a fertility ritual for your garden. Bury an Ostara egg in the east corner of your garden, or one egg for each direction, or dig an entire circle for them (depends on how much you hate egg-salad).

Next I will list several recipes appropriate for the Ostara turn in the Wheel of the Year. I have gathered these from various places, noted on each...

Ostara Incense
Recipe by Scott Cunningham
2 parts Frankincense
1 part Benzoin
1 part Dragon's Blood
1/2 part Nutmeg
1/2 part Violet flowers (or a few drops Violet oil)
1/2 part Orange peel
1/2 part Rose petals

Burn during Wiccan rituals on Ostara (the Spring Equinox, which varies from March 20th to the 24th each year), or to welcome the spring and refresh your life.

Spring Equinox Ritual Potpourri
Recipe by Gerina Dunwich

A small cauldron filled with homemade potpourri can be used as a fragrant altar decoration, burned (outdoors) as an offering to the old gods during or after a Sabbat celebration, or wrapped in decorative paper and ribbons and given to a Wiccan sister or brother as a Sabbat gift.

45 drops rose oil
1 cup oak moss
2 cups dried dogwood blossoms
2 cups dried honeysuckle blossoms
1/2 cup dried violets
1/2 cup dried daffodils
1/2 cup dried rosebuds
1/2 cup dried crocus or iris

Mix the rose oil with the oak moss, and then add the remaining ingredients. Stir the potpourri well and then store in a tightly covered ceramic or glass container.

Ostara Oil - Put in soap or annoint candles
5 drops lavender
5 drops jasmine
5 drops patchouli
5 drops rose

Add a lavender bud and small lapis lazuli, rose, and clear quartz crystals. This has the gently smell of spring beginning to blossom. Very lovely!

Country-Witch Eggnog
Recipe by Gerina Dunwich
1 cup apple cider
3 cups milk
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 tablespoons brandy

Combine all of the ingredients in a large cauldron or pot and cook over medium heat for 13 minutes. Pour the hot eggnog into mugs and top each serving with fresh whipped cream (if desired). Country-Witch Eggnog is the perfect drink to serve your Wiccan friends and family members at Yuletide (Winter Solstice) and Ostara (Spring Equinox) sabbats. (This recipe yield two quarts.)

And finally, here are some wise words, along with a few nice devotional incantations and poems
Enjoy and May Ye Blessed Be!

Spring Equinox
by Rhiannon Cotter

The Spring Equinox represents the turning from Winter to Spring during which youth returns, beauty comes forth, and life rises from the depths of the Earth. The Goddess as Maiden is reborn surrounded by the symbols of fertility. Animals and plants return from hibernation. On Spring Equinox, balance is the theme. Yet this balance moves both inner and outer worlds toward love, light, living and outward manifestations of destinies dreamed. Now is the time of planting, nurturing and growth.

Ostara
by Aurora
Winter's barrenness has subsided,
From the death of Winter
Springs new life!
Spring is coming to the land.
The days grow longer,
Warm breezes begin to stir,
All around us we see signs
The land has become fertile again.
The Earth is caressed by
The loving touch of the Mother.
Where her hand passes:
Atoms twine together to create growth.
Buds burst open,
Leaves and vines unfurl.
She creates a vision of green beauty.
Beauty so breath-taking after
The dark solitude of Winter.
It is this vision that we celebrate
On her day of Ostara
The world recreating itself
Returning from the death of Winter,
Into the new life of Spring
Through the love of the Goddess.

Equinox Chant
by Ginger Strivelli

The day is balanced.
The night is balanced.
All is balanced this day.
Let balance be our way.
The God energy is balanced.
The Goddess energy is balanced.
All is balanced this day.
Balance in all we do, think, and say.
The Sun is balanced.
The Moon is balanced.
All is balanced this day.
Balance is the divine way.
The light is balanced.
The dark is balanced.
All is balanced this day.
From balance, may we never stray.

Esbat Invocation
by Zena of Lady's Grove

Mother of all
Goddess above
Look down on Your children
With goodness and love.
Grant to us strength
To heal and to grow.
Share Your fertility
With us here below.
Show us Your power
To sprout things from seed;
Help us all here
In our time of need.
We worship Your symbol, the Moon,
And pray to our Mother
To grant us this boon.
Be with us, Goddess,
Your children below,
And give us the knowledge
That we need to grow.
Blessed Be!

Spring Invocation to Persephone
by Elizabeth Barrette

Come, Persephone,
With your paint-pots and brushes:
Stipple the fields with flowers,
Dot the branches with bright blossoms,
Streak the Spring sky with pale pastels.
You are the one who paints the eyes on the pansies,
And the lines on the lilies so the bees can find their food,
And the blushes on the rosebuds.
Without you,
The bearded iris would have no smile
And the black-eyed susan would be blind.
Come, Persephone:
The world has rested too long
Under Winter's snowy cloak.
Come bring your brushes and bright colors
And dress us in the shades of Spring again.
We invoke you, gracious maiden of freedom and beauty:
Join us now.

Invocation to Bloddeuwedd
by Moonflower May

Apple Blossoms strewn,
along a wooded trail
Goddess of love walks,
Blodeuwedd;
Great Mother of the night.
The owl flies,
into the air.
Familiar of the Lily Maid,
in Her evening guise.
Dancing in the moonlight,
in the garden of the Goddess.
Blodeuwedd;
Maiden of the Mysteries,
waltzing through the night.
By Her side,
allowed to walk;
like the cat who's Her companion
on many evening roves.
Blodeuwedd;
Goddess of the Moon,
Enchant me with your beauty
under the silver Moon.
Moonflower May
Moonbeam Manor
Massachusetts
Robin o' the Woods
by Lokius
Robin o' the Woods
Come dance with us
Before this night has passed.
Come play with your children
Laughing and singing
Barefoot in the grass.
Bless our family
With a step and a song
As we gather together this night.
Oh, Robin of the woods
Come dance with us
Under the full moon light.
Lokius

A Sample Ritaul:

This Ritual shall be performed either in the morning, at Dawn, or during the day sometime, or during the early evening hours, just after Sunset.

Sweep area, starting in the North and moving deosil, with your magickal broom to cleanse the Circle area and "sweep away" any lingering negative energies.

Set up the Quarter candles (North-Green, East-Yellow, South-Red, West-Blue) and/or other items symbolizing the elements at the Four Quarters.

Set up your altar as desired, and face it to the North, covering it with a white, light green, lemon yellow or a pale pink altar cloth.

For this ceremony, decorate the altar with Springtime flowers of any color (silk are acceptable), along with a Spring basket filled with brightly-colored Pagan Ostara Eggs.

Along with your usual ritual tools and items, have upon the altar:

~White, Light Green, Lemon Yellow or a Pale Pink Altar Cloth
~Spring Basket filled with Brightly-colored Pagan Ostara Eggs
~Spring Flowers (for decoration)
~A New Plant or a Seed or Seedling to be planted within your cast Circle -
you will also need some soil and a pot (as a Spring gift to yourself)
~Pen and Paper (for writing out your desires for the coming year)
~Cauldron for Burning the "Seed" Papers in (light each one from the Fire candle)
~A Bell
~Ostara Incense - Spring Blend, or Jasmine, Rose, Sage, or Strawberry Sticks

When all is set up, take a shower or bath for purification and don your Ritual Robe or other Ritual attire. Be sure to wear your Magickal jewelry, if you have any. Sit quietly and meditate for a little while - to ground and center. When you feel ready to begin, play some quiet peaceful music for the Ritual.

Cast the Circle... begin the Ostara Sabbat Ceremony by sitting quietly for a few moments, then say these words aloud in dedication:

"Winter's bareness has subsided,
from the death of Winter springs new life!
Spring is coming to the land.
The days grow longer, warm breezes begin to stir...
All around me I see signs---
The growing things are beginning anew.
It is a resurrection of the dance of life---
The dance of the stems and stalks
As they push forth from the Earth.
It is the season of creation.
Growth has turned outward.
The land has become fertile again.
The Earth is caressed by the loving touch of the Mother.
Where Her hand passes:
Atoms twine together to create growth.
Buds burst open, leaves and vines unfurl.
She creates a vision of green beauty.
Beauty so breath-taking after the dark solitude of Winter.
It is this vision that we celebrate on Her day of Ostara.
The world recreating itself---
Returning from the death of Winter,
Into the new life of Spring
Through the love of the Lord and the Lady."

Sit quietly again and reflect on the meaning of the Spring Season for a few moments. When you are ready, pick up your wand and hold it in your power hand, face the North and with your arms outstretched and say:

"The time of change is upon us again -
the Equinox comes, the Wheel turns...
The Wheel of the Year turns on and on,
bringing us all to and from each Season,
and from and to another...
What will be is. What was will be.
All time is here and now in this Sacred Space.
I now pause to watch the Wheel turn,
and cast this Circle on this blessed day/eve.
to celebrate this season of balance known as Ostara, the Vernal Equinox -
the time of new birth and new beginnings.
In this moment between time,
I come to praise the bountiful young Goddess.
and Her son-lover, the Great Horned God of renewal.
for Their blessings of fertility, warmth and life renewed.
I wish to give thanks and feel myself as a part of
the relentlessly turning Wheel of Life, Death, and Rebirth."
Pause and reflect for a few moments, then continue, saying:
"O Great God of Strength, New Beginnings, and Fertility,
who has been known as Cernunnos, Herne, Pan,
the Great Horned God, and the Lord of the Forests -
Grant me strength, power, and understanding,
throughout this season and always.
O Great Goddess of Love, New Beginnings, and Fertility,
who has been known as Blodeuwedd, Eostre, Astarte, Aphrodite,
and the Maiden Lady of the Moon -
Teach me the secrets of the Mysteries
and the ways of magick."

Still holding the wand in your power hand, pause and reflect again for a few moments, then say these words:

"Behold, the Lord and Lady of life and the giver of life.
Without Her Lord, the Goddess is barren.
Without His Lady, the God has no life.
Each is needful of the other for completion and power,
as Sun to Earth, the spear to the cauldron,
spirit to flesh, human to human."

Rap the side of the cauldron lightly with the wand, say:

"O Great Goddess, be with me now.
in your aspect of the Maiden,
the fair one who brings joy and new life."

Ring the bell once and say:

"O Great God of renewal, be with me now.
in your aspect of the Lord of the Forests,
the Horned God who brings warmth and love."

Rap the cauldron once more with the wand and say:

"May the strength of the old enter into the new.
Great Lord and Lady, make all things strong
and giving of new life. Blessed be."

Pick up the burning incense and carry it once more around the Circle deosil. Set it back down and say these words:

"Awake! All creatures in the realm of Earth, awake!
Greet the Maiden and Her Lover,
who herald the coming of Spring."

At this time, symbolically present yourself with your new Springtime gift - the potted plant (or plant the actual seed or seedling in the soil and then present it to yourself). Say these words:

"As this tiny plant/seed/seedling begins its life anew,
so do I now begin to manifest
my new desires for the coming year."

Pick up your athame and touch its tip to the paper, and say:

"Now I cast behind me
the darkness of Winter and the past.
I look only to that which lies ahead.
This is the time for me to plant seeds in the
physical, mental, as well as spiritual realms."

Now write down your desires for the coming year on the slips of paper. Write only one desire on each piece of paper. Fold the papers and hold them up over the altar in offering to the Old Gods. Say these words:

"This is a joyous time, a time for planting.
With joy and trust, I place these requests
in the hands of the Goddess and Her Lord."

Light the papers afire in the flame of the Fire candle and drop them one by one into the cauldron to manifest as the Gods see fit. As you do so, say:

"These thought-seeds I do willingly place
into the hands of the Lady and Her Lord,
that these desires and dreams may
manifest and become reality.
By the free will of All, and
with harm to none,
as I will, so shall it be done."

When you are finished, proceed with the Cakes and Ale Ceremony, followed by Releasing the Circle in your usual manner.

This Completes the Ostara Sabbat Ritual

Please note this ritual is based on the Northern Hemisphere correspondences of elements and their colours, and directions and so on.