Disting - The Charming of the Plough

Time: Early to Mid-February, Normally Observed at First New Moon
Focus: Disir, Goddesses & The Beginning of the Planting Season
Overall: A time to honor the Disir (in a broad sense), Goddesses and those connected with the coming power of Spring - the Vanir, local land wights and Nerthus to name a few examples.

Charming of the Plow is a ceremony that marks the beginning of the planting season; when the first furrows are made in the fields. In the Old World that usually meant bonding with and asking for the blessing of Gods and Goddess, the local land spirits and perhaps anyone else who might help insure the crops are a success...

... I am so sorry, but this post has been combined with another and moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar. It can be found here: The Charming Of The Plough

Setsubun!

Japan has four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The term setsubun originally referred to the days marking the change from one season to the next, so that there were four of them, but today only the day before risshun (the beginning of spring in the traditional Japanese calendar) is called by that name. Setsubun comes on either February 3 or 4, depending on the year.

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

Camphor Protection Spell

During the days of the polio epidemics, mothers hung camphor balls around children's necks to ward away illness. This spell works under the same premises, except that what you're warding off is the metaphysical virus of an unwanted romantic attention, or to ward off illness, negativity, or whatever you would like to repel....

... I am so sorry but this post has been combined with another and moved to my new website, Magickal Ingredients. It can be found here: Camphor Magick and Lore

Camphor Cool Off Spell

Camphor is a substance frequently taken for granted. It's used in many lotions and cosmetics because of the cooling sensation it provides. Camphor, botanically related to cinnamon, is considered a sacred lunar plant. In Marco Polo's time it was bartered for with gold...

... I am so sorry but this post has been combined with another and moved to my new website, Magickal Ingredients. It can be found here: Camphor Magick and Lore

Magickal Uses of Camphor

Ruler: Moon, Buddha
Type: Extract from tree
Magickal Form: oil, whole chunks

Obtained from the evergreen tree, this fragrant white compound holds many spiritual properties. In voodoo rituals, it is burned for love and attraction. It is one of the most sacred substances to offer to the moon goddess on a new moon to thank her for her abundant blessings.

Camphor is also used in cleansing and purification rituals. Use it to get rid of unwanted passions or unwanted admirers....

... I am so sorry but this post has been combined with another and moved to my new website, Magickal Ingredients. It can be found here: Camphor Magick and Lore

Candlemas

Candlemas is the Christianized name for Imbolc, and all of the church candles are blessed for the year. The Virgin Mary is also honored. Today, this holiday is chiefly connected to weather lore. Even our American calendar keeps the tradition of Groundhog Day, a day to predict the coming weather. The Groundhog Day tradition tells us that if the Groundhog sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of bad weather. An old British rhyme instructed:

If Candlemas day be fair and bright,

Winter will have another flight.

If Candlemas day be shower and rain,

Winter is gone and will not come again.

We pagans see the God as an infant during the time of Imbolc...

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: Candlemas

Other Ways of Making Imbolc

As this is a time of new life and growth, it is appropriate to plant bulbs or flowers or to sow seeds. However, you will need to use your judgement and some local knowledge to decide whether to actually do so at Imbolc or whether to wait a week (or several) until the last frosts have passed. Of course seeds can often be started indoors and planted out a month or so later...

I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been merged with more information on Imbolc and has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com, and can be found in its entirety here: Imbolc - A New Beginning

Crescent Cakes For Imbolc

Baking is appropriate for celebrating Imbolc, and we often make Crescent cakes for the end of our Imbolc ritual. Here is our circle’s favorite recipe:

• 1 1/4 cups Flour
• 3/4 cup Sugar
• 1 cup Finely Ground Almonds
• 3 drops Almond Extract
• 1/2 cup Butter or Margarine, softened...

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: Crescent Cakes For Imbolc

A Ritual for Februalia

Februalia, Februa, and also Februatio, was the Roman festival of ritual purification, later incorporated into Lupercalia. The festival, which is basically one of Spring washing or cleaning (associated also with the raininess of this time of year) is old, and possibly of Sabine origin. According to Ovid, Februare as a Latin word which refers to means of purification (particularly with washing or water) derives from an earlier Etruscan word referring to purging.

The Roman month Februarius ("of Februa," whence the English February) is named for the Februa/Februatio festival, which occurred on the 15th day of the Roman month. A later Roman god Februus personified both the month and also purification, and is named for them. Thus, the month is named for the festival and not for the god.

Here is a ritual for Februata, and is appropriate any day during the month of February:

• Color: White
• Element: Earth
• Altar: Spread with a clean white cloth and place thereupon four white candles and a bowl of water, very simply.
• Offerings: Clean something externally, and at the same time clean something internally....

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

More February Lore

February was named for the Roman goddess Februa, mother of Mars. As patroness of passion, she was also known as Juno Februa and St. Febronia from febris, the fever of love. Her orgiastic rites were held on February 14th, St.Valentine's Day. In Norse traditions, she is equated with Sjofn.

The Irish called this month Feabhra or an Gearran, the gelding or horse. The horse was used to draw the plough, but Gearran also means 'to cut' and 'Gearran' can be used to describe the 'cutting' Spring winds. To the Anglo-Saxons, this was Solmonath, "sun month," in honor of the gradual return of the light after the darkness of winter. According to Franking and Asatru traditions, this month is Horning, from horn, the turn of the year....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been combined with another, and  moved to my new website The Pagan Calendar hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com, and can be found in its entirety here: February Magick and Lore