TBT: To Kiki, with Love ...

Last night one of my dearest girlfriends, Kiki Love ... (yes you heard it right, her middle name is actually 'Love') and I finally had a chance to meet for our monthly girlfriend dinner. This time we attended Taco Night at a local fire company hall we belong to.

I was also able to give her the handmade macrame plant hanger she asked for two months ago ...

While we were catching up, I noticed they were selling veteran's poppies from the American Legion for donations so I brought home a few ...

I even gave one of the poppies to Kiki who hung it up on her door at home ...

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HAPPY FIRST HARVEST EVERYONE!

Beltane Lore and More

Green Man: The Magnificent God of the Forest

Of all the many forms in which our Lord God takes, I must say that I love His Green Man aspect the most! He is both lover and consort to our Lady Goddess, the Earth Mother, and our Father always -The Oak King and Holly King respectively.

Historically speaking, the Green Man goes all the way back to pre-Christian Europe, Ireland, Scotland and Russia. He represents our kinship with the trees and the woods and the cycle of renewal and rebirth. He is known by many different names as He is recognized in almost every tradition. For example, he is heavily associated with Cernunnos (Celtic god of the forest), Dionysus (Greek god of Wine) and Bacchus (Roman god of wine), to name a few.

My Green Man Yule tree ornament

Our Wiccan group, Old Path Enlightener’s Circle, always honors The Green Man or “The Oak King” at our Beltane celebrations. This is the time when our Lord God and Lady Goddess unite in the “sacred rite of holy marriage.” We re-enact this sacred marriage ceremony during the symbolic Great Rite. This is one of the many reasons why I love Beltane so much and why it is amongst my favorite of our Wiccan celebrations. Lady Sabrina Rhiannon’s group, The Coven of the Silver Moon Circle, chooses a May King and Queen during their Beltane ritual. Everyone inside the circle walks in between two balefire cauldrons for a total of 9 times while making one wish each. 

Typically, the Celtic Fire god Bel or Belinus is honored at this particular sabbat, as the word Beltane literally means, “Bel-Fire,” but we much prefer to honor The Green Man.

Draco & Rhiannon lighting the Spirit candle during the symbolic Great Rite - Beltane 2008.

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As I walked out one May morning,

‘Twas on the blooming heather

I saw a Maiden dancing there

In fair and sunny weather,

The Beltane fires were burning high

The dancers round did spin

They sang, “Blessed Be and Blessed Be

And Blessed Be again!”

~ Joe Bethancourt

(Further reading: https://www.wicca.com/pagan-holidays/beltane.html)

This story is told by the Berks County, Pennsyvlania renowned author of several historic and ghost legend books, Mr.  Charles J. Adams, III in his own words:

"Far less legendary for its witchy ways than the Bay State city, the Berks County township of Windsor has nonetheless earned the right to the necromantic namesake via not 17th century hysteria, but ancient legends and lore.

Berks County’s Witchcraft Road courses over the crest of a hill for three miles, roughly between the crossroad hamlets of Windsor Castle and Virginville. That hill is named Witches Hill, or, as the Pennsylvania Germans call it, “Hexe Baerrick” (Witches Hill) or “Hexe Dans” (Witches’ Dance Hall).

An otherwise unremarkable farm field on the highest point of the hill is the epicenter, and one of the last vestiges, of the earliest observance of an ancient observance called Walpurgisnacht–when superstitious settlers believed the veil between the living and the dead was the thinnest, and the “evil ones” were free to roam, ramble, and wreak havoc on the farms and in the villages.

It is where the earliest settlers gathered on that night, April 30, to scare away the witches and demons they believed dwelled, danced, and conjured up their hexes there.

It was said that no crops grew on this spot because the sorceresses would tramp the fields in their ranting revelries. It was also said that horses led onto the road would refuse to trot over this ridge because of the ominous spirits that suddenly reared up before them and terrify the steeds–not just on Walpurgisnacht.

Some folks have added another level of mystery by professing that when not trysting on the hill, the witches were cavorting and conjuring in a deep and dark nearby ravine known as Witches Hollow.

But to most locals, it is the hill, not the hollow, that holds what they believed was the most convincing evidence that something nefarious was afoot.

Hexe Baerrick also rises beneath the flight path of a legendary creature whose existence was handed down to early European settlers by the indigenous people of northern Berks County.
Not far from Witches Hill is Dragon Cave, which is said to be the lair of a fiery serpent that would appear on auspicious nights.
Tales were told of two young native lovers who came from feuding families who forbade their love affair.

The star-crossed couple decided that if they could not live together on this mortal coil, they would dwell together eternally in the great beyond. They chose to end each other’s lives inside the cave.
As they took their last breaths, the dragon was stirred. It roared out of the cave, soared north to the Pinnacle, and blazed over Witches Hill on its way. After touching down on the mountain, it reversed course and returned to its dark den.

To this very day, it is said that on some and certain dark and stormy nights, the flaming firedrake can still be seen fluttering from a cave named Dragon over a road named Witchcraft."

First Day of Spring

 

Blessed Lughnasadh!

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(Tamed Wild)

Midsummer Blessings

 

Blessed Beltane, Happy May Day (and other things) ...

Beltane Blessings, all! Welcome May!!

As you can see, the boys are so excited today ...

Sir Leo, Butterscotch, and Teddy snuggling up together in their favorite spot on the couch.

Last Wednesday, for some unknown reason, we were given these nice baseball caps at work ...

And last, but not least, allow me to introduce you all to our newest "home boy" outside kitty, "Charlie". As you can tell, Chester gets along with him just fine as they eat together side by side in the garage ...

And so, it would appear that Chester now has a buddy!

BLESSED IMBOLG!!

Imbolg/Imbolc/Candlemas/Festival of Lights

Our next holiday celebration is the cross-quarter and greater sabbat of Imbolg. Imbolg, as we all know, is also known as Imbolc, Candlemas/The Feast of Flames, Festival of Lights, and Groundhog Day among others.  It falls on February 2^nd of every year and it is a time for purification and cleansing ~ the “sweeping out of the old and bringing in of the new” as it were. It marks the first fetal stirrings of Spring in the womb of our Earth Mother and seeds are prepared for sewing.

It is also a time when we honor the Triple Goddess in Her maiden aspect of Brigid (pronounced “Breed”) who is the goddess of fire, inspiration, healing, craftsmanship, and midwifery. She is also the patroness of the hearth, poets, smiths, craftspeople, healers, and priests/priestesses. The God who was born of the Goddess at Yule stirs in His slumber and awaits the Spring Equinox. It is also said that Groundhog Day (later known as Candlemas), which had its’ beginnings in German Paganism and is celebrated in both the United States and Canada, symbolizes the manifestation of the God Himself. In regard to six more weeks of winter: “If Candlemas day be sunny and bright, Winter again will show its’ might. If Candlemas day be cloudy and grey, Winter soon will pass away.” Of course, in reality, either way we must still endure six more weeks of winter before the start of Spring. Personally, I just adore Groundhog Day here in the States. It is such a fun festivity whether celebrated locally or abroad. We always enjoy watching "Punxsutawney Phil" awake from his hibernation to make a brief appearance to predict our winter's future on early morning of February 2^nd. For more on Phil, please read my post, “Can't get enough of that Phil!” Just an aside, last year when we took our 5-day cruise on Ontario, Canada's Rideau Canal, the Captain and family business owner's sister, who happened to be the Cruise Director named Ann, told us a story of how she made a special trip to Punxsutawney, PA here in the States for the express purpose of actually meeting "Phil" and joining in on the town's festivities! Such a delightful woman!

Imbolg is a good time to get organized ~ spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically. It is also the traditional time for dedications, rededications, and initiations if you are associated with a coven or group. It is an ideal time to cleanse your sacred space, altar, and tools. Activities may include making Brigid’s Crosses, Sun Wheels, a crown of candles, creating a grain or wicker dolly to represent Brigid, making a Brigid’s Bed using the corn or wheat from the previous Lughnasadh, and hanging a scarf outside on the eve of Imbolg so that Brigid will bless it with healing powers. Other activities include hanging three ears of corn on your door until Ostara to honor the Triple Goddess and making Dream Pillows for every member of the family. I always like to cleanse and bless our home on Imbolg.

Also, on Imbolg eve, it is customary to leave food and drink out for Brigid such as buttered bread, milk, grains, or seeds.

IMBOLG CANDLES

We light the candles on Imbolg

Weave our crosses end to end

We light the candles on Imbolg

To urge the Sun to come again,

We light the candles on Imbolg

To honor the Goddess Brigit,

We light the candles on Imbolg

To plow the field and sow the seed

~ Lady Caer Morganna

Imbolg: Honoring the Goddess Brigit

Imbolg, also known as Imbolc, Festival of Lights, Lady Day and Oimelc, is a fire festival which celebrates the on-coming of Spring. The word Imbolg literally means, “in the belly” (of the Goddess) and it honors the Celtic Goddess Brigit. She was the Goddess of fire, wisdom, poetry and sacred wells. She was also a deity associated with prophecy, divination and healing. Because the Goddess is in her maiden aspect as Brigit, the word "bride" was derived from her name. To symbolize her, we craft corn and grain dollies and make a "Brigit's bed" in which to place her in as a way to encourage her return and the return of the sun.

This sabbat represents new beginnings and spiritual growth.  The “sweeping out of the old and bringing in the new” is symbolized by the sweeping out of the circle with a besom (or broom) which is traditionally done by the High Priestess of the coven who wears a brilliant crown of 13 candles on top of her head. Also, Brigit’s Cross, one of the archetypal symbols of Ireland, while it is considered Christian, has its’ roots in Paganism and the Goddess Brigit. It was traditionally hung on the kitchen wall to protect the house from fire and evil.   It is usually made from straw, but can also be made with various colors of pipe cleaner sticks. It is woven counter-clockwise into a center square and four radials tied at the ends. These are easy to make and are a lot of fun for kids as well!

In  ancient Europe, Candlemas was celebrated as a torchlight procession to purify and fertilize the fields before the seed-planting season and to honor and give thanks to the various associated deities and spirits. Even the Christians adopted this sabbat celebration, giving honor to the Virgin Mary.

An Imbolg Poem

In the bitter cold of winter

Spring seems so far away

How long  ’til the Imbolg candles

Urge the sun to come to stay?

To help you count the nights so long

Are these little candles of white

Ignite one each eve at dream time

And it will soon be Imbolg night!

(Poem taken from Edain McCoy’s book, “The Sabbats"; image credit)

Sunday Odds and Ends

Well, it is a cold, rainy, dreary Sunday here today and I decided I would just stay warm at home in the house doing not too much of anything except putting away my Yule decorations and such.

The only time I ventured out was to drive down the road to "The Mint Leaf" in order to check out their new stock of sweaters. And, while I was there I picked up a couple of more items at Soul Centered Wellness and The Stinkleberry Soap Company. These are their new batch of macaron soaps ...

I saw this book and thought that it sounded pretty interesting - one very important point which I would like to make is that "revenge" is not something that I believe in. I much prefer to leave any judgements up to karma and the Divine. 🌟

My new sweater and matching heart earrings ...

While at The Dollar Tree store (or shall I say "The Dollar and .25 cents store?) yesterday I couldn't resist this cute little Spring sign. Of course, I am not decorating for Spring quite yet - after all, I am currently preparing for the upcoming Sabbat of Imbolg, the Greater (Cross quarter) Sabbat which falls between Yule/The Winter Solstice and Ostara/The Spring Equinox. 

 

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I also want to wish my beloved Dad a Happy Heavenly 90th Birthday today! I miss you so much!

As for the rest of the night, I am watching a marathon of one of my classic tv shows ... "Columbo".

Throwback Thursday: Countdown to Mabon

Around the Corner: Countdown to Mabon!

Getting so excited! My favorite season of fall is just around the corner. My hubby and I wed in a legal Handfasting on Mabon/Autumn Equinox of 2001. Believe it or not, it really wasn't planned that way. We both wished to get married in September and the only Saturday my dear friend and Wiccan High Priestess could officiate for us happened to be on Mabon of that year. I am convinced that it was definately meant to be!

I'd like to share with you all a poem I had written this past Spring for a blogger friend of mine who lives in the Southern Hemisphere and therefore celebrates Mabon while we Wiccans and Pagans alike living in the Northern parts are celebrating Imbolg and Ostara. I hope you enjoy it!

Painted Leaves

 

Colored bed beneath my feet,

The crisp, fresh air grows cool;

Painted leaves adorn the Earth,

All under Modron's rule

Aging Goddess; powerful, wise

Autumn's picture, Nature's guise

Celebration of beauty,

 the wheel turns on;

With painted leaves ~

'tis Blessed Mabon! 

~ Lady Caer Morganna

 

(image credit)

Merry Beltane and Happy May Day!

I saw my family doctor this past Tuesday and she added something else to my daily regiment. Oh well, I will try anything natural rather than have to take RX drugs as long as it does the job ...

One of my thoughtful co-workers brought in a dish of homemade perogies filled with potatoes and bacon! She is Polish American - they were absolutely Delish! ...

While out with my mom on Friday afternoon, I saw this novelty pen set at "The Mint Leaf" that I just had to have. I have great week all!

"Never too early to start dreading Monday"

"I'm starting to feel sick tomorrow"

"This meeting could have been an email"

"Same thing, different day"

"Personally victimized by my daily alarm clock"