The Faery Garden

Whatever you do to bring life to your garden will bring faeries as well. First of all, plant plants that attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. This will also attract the fae. So put up hummingbird feeders, bird feeders, bird baths, bird houses, even bat houses. Small fountains, ponds, faery statues, or waterfalls are all good.

Here's a short list of plants that attract faeries to your garden:

• Common yarrow, Achillea millefolium
• New York aster, Aster novi-belgii
• Shasta daisy, Chrysanthemum maximum
• Western giant hyssop or horsemint...

...I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Book of Shadows, and can be found in its entirety here: For A Magickal Fairy Garden

Faery Herbs and Their Charms

Bluebells:
To attract faeries to dance in your garden. On Beltane eve, make an ankle bracelet of "Bluebells" and "jingle" bells to attract helpful fae folk to you.

Clover:
A sacred faery plant, clovers of all kinds will attract them. Lay seven grains of wheat on a four-leafed clover to see the Faery....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Magickal Ingredients, and can be found in its entirety here: Faery Herbs and Their Charms

The Pagan Easter

The Easter Fire is a custom of pagan origin spread all over Europe. It is a symbol of victory, the victory of beautiful and sunny spring over the cold days of winter. The fire is lit usually on the top of the mountains – Easter mountain, Osterberg – and it is obtained from wood by friction....

... 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: Easter Fire

Ancient Greek Love Spell

The ancient Greeks also had a great many aphrodisiacs meant to instill a desire that was more than just temporary. Most of them appear to involve the rubbing of pungent or stinging mixtures onto a man’s penis. Here's an interesting one:


“Take a crow’s egg, the juice of the crow’s foot plant, the bile of an electric ray from the river, work them together with honey and say the spell whenever you work them and anoint your genitals with them ...

...  I am 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 its entirety here: Ancient Greek Love Spell

Crow Moon

While researching Crow Moon, I came upon this really cool video called "Crow Moon," and I thought I'd share it here.



Here's the story line posted with the video: "An animated short created in my spare room! A flock of roosting crows, black as night themselves, are threatened by the advancing shadows at dusk. They need light for protection so with the help of the Raven Chief they take a piece of the sun and use it to save themselves from the darkness."

... This video has been uploaded to my new website, Widdershins, and can be viewed in its entirety here: Crow Moon

Jugged Kaunengro

Jugged Kaunengro is a traditional Romany recipe for hare or rabbit stew.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons flour
• Salt and pepper
• 1 hare, jointed
• 3 and a quarter cups strong stock, hot
• 1 lemon, peeled and sliced
• 1 onion, stuck with 3 cloves...

I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Gypsy Magick and Lore (hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com) and can be found in its entirety here: Jugged Kaunengro

It's the Vernal Equinox

A traditional Vernal Equinox pastime is to go to a field and randomly collect wildflowers (thank the flowers for their sacrifice before picking them). 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. The flowers you've chosen reveal your inner thoughts and emotions....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been combined with another, and can be found on my new website, The Pagan Calendar, here: Méan Earraigh - Vernal Equinox

Magickal Properties of Flowers

As spring arrives, our gardens begin to bud and eventually bloom. For hundreds of years, the plants that we grow have been used in magic. Flowers in particular are often connected with a variety of magical uses. Now that spring is here, keep an eye out for some of these flowers around you, and consider the different magical applications they might have.

• Crocus: This flower is one of the first you'll see in the spring, and it's often associated with newly blooming love. The crocus is also known to enhance visions and bring about intuitive dreams.


• Daffodil: The bright petals of the daffodil are typically found in shades of white, yellow or even pale orange....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Magickal Ingredients, and can be found in its entirety here: Magickal Properties of Flowers

March Moon Names

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

Amaolikkervik Moon ~Inuit
Big Famine Moon ~Choctaw
Bud Moon ~Kiowa
Budding Trees Moon ~Medicine Wheel
Buffalo Calf Moon ~Arapaho, Sioux
Catching Fish Moon ~Agonquin
Chaste Moon...

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

Celebrating Matronalia

Patti Wigington at Paganwiccan.about.com wrote this nice little description about Matronalia:

 In ancient Rome, the holiday of Matronalia was celebrated each year at the beginning of March. This annual "festival of women" was held in honor of Juno Luciana, a goddess who watched over married women and those in childbirth. This aspect of Juno was associated with childbirth. The name lucina was thought to have come from the Latin word lux (light); thus, when a child was born it was said to have been “brought to light”....

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