Pagan Calendar of Days for 2010

Here is a quick list of pagan, magical, and other holidays for November 2009 through December 2010. You will notice that some of the holidays are different depending on which side of the equator you are on.

November 2009

• 2: Full moon -- Mourning Moon
• 16: New moon
• 30: Festival of Hecate Trivia (The Night of the Crossroads)

December 2009

• 2: Full moon --Long Nights Moon
• 16: New moon
• 17: Beginning of Saturnalia
• 21: Winter Solstice or Yule
• 21: Litha (Southern Hemisphere)
• 25: Christmas Day
• 25: Feast of Frau Halle, Germanic goddess
• 31: Full moon -- Blue Moon
• 31: Partial lunar eclipse
• 31: Festival of Hogmanay

January 2010

• 15: New moon
• 27: Up Helly Aa celebration, Shetland Islands, Scotland
• 30: Full moon -- Cold Moon
• 30 - Feb. 2: Roman celebration of Februalia

February 2010

• 2: Imbolc
• 2: Lammas or Lughnasadh (Southern Hemisphere)
• 13: New moon
• 14: Valentine's Day
• 15: Lupercalia
• 28: Full moon -- Quickening Moon

March 2010

• 1: Matronalia, the Festival of Women
• 14: New moon
• 20: Ostara
• 20: Mabon (Southern Hemisphere)
• 29: Full moon Storm Moon

April 2010

• 6: National Tartan Day
• 14: New moon
• 22: Earth Day
• 28: Full moon -- Wind Moon
• 30: Walpurgisnacht

May 2010

• 1: Beltane
• 1: Samhain (Southern Hemisphere)
• 5: Cinco de Mayo
• 9: Mother's Day
• 13: New moon
• 27: Full moon -- Flower Moon

June 2010

• 12: New moon
• 20: Father's Day
• 21: Litha
• 21: Yule (Southern Hemisphere)
• 26: Full moon -- Strong Sun Moon

July 2010

• 4: Independence Day
• 11: New moon
• 11: Solar eclipse
• 25: Full moon -- Blessing Moon

August 2010

• 1: Lammas or Lughnasadh
• 1: Imbolc (Southern Hemisphere)
• 9: New moon
• 24: Full Moon -- Corn Moon

September 2010

• 8: New moon
• 21: International Day of Peace
• 22: Fall Equinox or Mabon
• 22: Ostara (Southern Hemisphere)
• 23: Full Moon -- Harvest Moon

October 2010

• 7: New moon
• 22: Full moon -- Blood Moon
• 31: Samhain
• 31: Beltane (Southern Hemisphere)

November 2010

• 6: New moon
• 11: Veteran's Day
• 21: Full moon -- Mourning Moon
• 25: Thanksgiving day (United States)
• 30: Festival of Hecate Trivia (The night of the crossroads.)

December 2010

• 5: New moon
• 17: Beginning of Saturnalia
• 21: Full moon -- Long Nights Moon
• 21: Winter Solstice or Yule
• 21: Litha (Southern Hemisphere)
• 25: Christmas Day
• 25: Feast of Frau Halle, Germanic goddess
• 31: Festival of Hogmanay

The Mourning Moon

The Mourning Moon is upon us. As the days grow shorter and the sun's life-giving fires are banked, sometimes it seems so dark we feel the light will never return. This moon, however, is a reminder that death is just a part of the endless cycle of life, death, and rebirth.

It's also known as the Fog Moon or Snow Moon, depending on where you live. Some Native American tribes referred to it simply as The Moon When Deer Shed Antlers (although in most regions it's more accurate to say they're shedding their velvet - a buck doesn't usually lose antlers until later in the winter, unless you're very far north).

Correspondences:

• Colors: Gray, blues
• Gemstones: Lapis lazuli, turquoise, topaz
• Trees: Cypress, alder, hazel
• Gods: Bastet, Isis, Kali, Hecate, Astarte
• Herbs: Thistle, betony, verbena, fennel
• Element: Water

In the early Celtic society, November was the beginning of the new year, and so it makes sense to use the magic of this moon phase to celebrate new beginnings.

This is a time of washing away the baggage of the past and letting it go. Once you've done that, you'll be able to focus on the joys of the future. During the Mourning Moon phase, say goodbye to bad habits and toxic relationships, and get a fresh start for the new year. Work on developing and strengthening your connection with Spirit.

God Is Alive

God is alive...Magic is afoot...God is alive...magic is afoot...
God is afoot...Magic is alive...Alive is afoot...magic never died!



God is alive...Magic is afoot...God is alive...magic is afoot...
God is afoot...Magic is alive...Alive is afoot...magic never died!

God never sickened. Many poor men lied. Many sick men lied.
Magic never weakened. Magic never hid. Magic always ruled. God is afoot.
God never died!

God was Ruler, though his funeral lengthened.
Though His mourners thickened, magic never fled.
Though His shrouds were hoisted the naked God did live;
Though His words were twisted the naked magic thrived;
Though His death was published round and round the world
The heart did not believe.

Many hurt men wondered. Many struck men bled.
Magic never faltered. Magic always led.
Many stones were rolled, but God would not lie down!
Many wild men lied.
Many fat men listened.
Though they offered stones, magic still was fed!
Though they locked their coffers, God was always served.

Magic is afoot...God is alive...
Alive is afoot...Alive is in command.

Many weak men hungered.
Many strong men thrived.
Though they boasted solitude, God was at their side.
Nor the dreamer in his cell, nor the captain on the hill:
Magic is alive!
Though His death was pardoned 'round and 'round the world,
The heart would not believe!

Though laws were carved in marble they could not shelter men;
Though altars built in Parliaments, they could not order men;
Police arrested magic and magic went with them, ah!
For magic loves the hungry...

But magic would not tarry, it moves from arm to arm,
It would not stay with them; it cannot come to harm:
Magic is afoot! It cannot come to harm.
It rests in an empty palm. It spawns in an empty mind.
But magic is no instrument: magic is the End!

Many men drove magic, but magic stayed behind; Many strong men lied.
They only passed thru magic and out the other side!
Many weak men lied.
They came to God in secret and though they left Him nourished,
They would not tell Who healed;
Though mountains danced before them, they said that God was dead!
Though His shrouds were hoisted, the naked God did live!

God is alive! Magic is afoot...
God is alive...God is alive...Magic is afoot...

This I mean to whisper to my mind:
This I mean to laugh with in my mind:
This I mean my mind to serve
'Til service is but magic, moving through the world
And mind itself is magic, coursing through the flesh
And flesh itself is magic, dancing on a clock,
And Time itself, the magic length of God!

God is alive...Magic is afoot...Magic is afoot...God is alive..
Magic is alive...God is afoot...Alive is afoot...God never died.
Many strong men lied.
They only passed through magic and out the other side!
This I mean to whisper to my mind:
This I mean to laugh with in my mind:
This I mean my mind to serve
'Til service is but magic, moving through the world
And mind itself is magic, coursing through the flesh
And flesh itself is magic, dancing on a clock,
And Time itself, the magic length of God!

Lyrics: Leonard Cohen
Sung by: Buffy St. Marie

Moon of Hecate

The twenty-ninth day of each month is known as the Moon of Hecate, regardless of the Moon cycle at the time. Hecate, Greek goddess of the underworld, is sometimes misunderstood and aligned with dark forces. Hecate is actually a symbol of empowerment for many women. Her image is represented as a woman who faces three directions, expressing the Triple Goddess of maiden, mother, and crone, whose wisdom can also see in all directions.

Today, two days before Samhain, invoke the energies of Hecate to uncover secrets that are hidden from you, or to help find an answer to a question you need to have answered. Speak these words:

Hecate,
Come help me unfold,
What has remained untold.
With your vision help me see what remains unseen by me.

Meditate and allow thought to flow freely, taking note of whatever enters your mind.

By: Emely Flak

Five Ways to Celebrate Samhain

Magick is in the air, and it's important to just let things happen.

Keep good fun thoughts in your mind, with hope for the future. These positive thoughts will turn into Magick energy and be released... that is the power of Samhain!

Here are 5 ways to celebrate Samhain.

1. Honor the dead
Honoring the dead is one of the best ways to create Magick on Samhain. How do you honor the dead? By remembering them. Think of all the people that have passed on in your life, and don't let their memories fade. Spend some time looking through old photographs. Think deeply about what they were like in life, what did they do... what did they feel? Tell them you miss them. Tell them you love them. Talk about them to friends and family.

2. Have a "dumb" supper
Pick a person (alive or passed away) that has qualities you admire... maybe someone you love and care about that isn't with you. Have dinner as usual, but leave an empty plate for them and "pretend" they are there.

You can either talk to them...ask them how they are doing. Or you can have dinner in complete silence, and think about them deeply. Treat your "guest" with a delicious meal, some good wine, and a tasty dessert. The person you are honoring will feel the energy, and you'll boost your emotional and Magick sources.

3. Carve a pumpkin
Pumpkin carving is a pagan pastime. It actually has it's roots in the belief that carving faces into turnips would keep evil away. Pumpkins work just as well and are easier to carve. Yes, it's fun, and it will also keep any bad luck and negative energy away.

4. Feast... feast... feast!
This is one of the best ways to celebrate Samhain because the positive emotions that build up will directly influence the effects of your divinations and rituals. If you have like-minded friends or family, get together and make a feast! There are many special recipes that work wonders for enhancing your Magick...

5. Do your Divinations
This is the BEST time of the year for seeing what is to come...and don't let it pass by without doing at least one divination ritual. You could do Tarot, Runes, Scrying, Pendulum divination, Tea Reading, and any other divination techniques that resonate with you. It's best to do your divinations AFTER the feast because that's when the energy is at it's peak.

~ Rose Ariadne