Winter Solstice Chant

Geese and standing stones and mist,
Baying hounds and hooting owl,
Sparkling stars, snow is crisp
Herne is here. Bring forth the Bowl.


I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Widdershins (hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com) and can be found in its entirety here: Winter Solstice Chant

Big Winter Moon

The last moon phase of the year is the Big Winter Moon in December, also called Long Nights Moon, or the Cold Moon.

Correspondences:

•Colors: White, red, and black
•Gemstones: Obsidian, ruby, serpentine
•Trees: Pine, holly
•Gods: Minerva, Osiris, Athena, Persephone and Hades
•Herbs: Ivy, mistletoe, holly and berries, cinnamon
•Element: Fire

As the days get shorter and Yule approaches with the longest night of the year, we force ourselves to get through the darkness...

I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar (hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com) and can be found in its entirety here: Big Winter Moon

December Moon Names

What follows is a list (in alphabetical order) of the names given to the December moon. Also listed is the tradition and/or origin of that moon name:

Aerra Geola ~other
Ashes Fire Moon ~San Juan
Before Yule Moon ~Cherokee
Big Bear’s Moon ~Winnebago...

I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar (hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com) and can be found in its entirety here: December Moon Names

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 -- Wolf Moon
• 30 - Feb. 2: Roman celebration of Februalia

February 2010

• 2: Imbolc
• 2: Lammas or Lughnasadh (Southern Hemisphere)
• 3: Setsubun, celebration - Japan
• 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 Crow 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
• 9, 11, 13: Roman festival - Feast of the Lemures
• 13: New moon
• 27: Full moon -- Hare's Moon

June 2010

• 12: New moon
• 20: Father's Day
• 21: Litha
• 21: Yule (Southern Hemisphere)
• 26: Full moon -- Honey 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: Chinese Moon Festival
• 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....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, and can be found in its entirety here: The Mourning Moon

November Moon Names

What follows is a list (in alphabetical order) of the names given to the November moon. Also listed is the tradition and/or origin of that moon name:

All Gathered Moon ~San Juan, Native American
Beaver Moon, ~Algonquin, Native American, Colonial
...

I'm sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar (hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com) and can be found in its entirety here: November Moon Names

Rest In Peace Spells

Do the dead rest easy? Flowers and flowering shrubs may be planted on the grave to serve as barometers. Allegedly if the flowers thrive and bloom, there's no need to worry about whoever's in the grave. Of course some plants are considered better barometers than others....

I'm so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Book of Shadows, hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com, and can be found in it's entirety here: Rest in Peace Spells

Celebrating Day of the Dead

Today is the last day of the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos). Honoring the dead occurs in ancient cultures all over the world, and even in modern times it plays an important role in religions. It is founded on the belief that the dead live on and are able to influence the lives of later generations...

I'm so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website The Pagan Calendar and can be found in it's entirety here: The Day of the Dead

Thought for the day!

"... for magic to happen in your life,
you must believe in magic."

~ Lynn Andrews

... more quotes about magick can be found at my new website, Widdershins

Cosmos Lore and Magick

Element: Air
Month: October
Numbers: 2 and 8
Magickal Qualities: Harmony; Order; Symetry; Balance; Simplicity

The name Cosmos comes from the Greek kosmos, meaning order, harmony, or the world.

I'm so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to a brand new mini-site, Magickal Ingredients hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com. It can be found in it's entirety here: Cosmos