My New Old Cauldron

Yesterday David and I went to a once-a-year antique fair at Elm Bank in Wellesley. We bought a beautiful Fulper vase early on and were beginning to think that that was it for us for the day, but as we were leaving we passed an aisle we weren't sure we had been through or not (the vendors were set up rather willy-nilly rather than in orderly rows so it was easy to miss stuff or find yourself doubling back to things you had already seen). As we stood there, taking a moment to think whether we had already perused those stalls, I saw a collection of ironware in a group on the grass outside the first booth and I knew instantly we hadn't been there. I made a beeline for that dealer and scored the find of the day for me: a very old iron cauldron. In fact, this was the find of the year (several, to be exact) as I have been looking for a pot like this for ages.

I now have a new cauldron that is very old. The dealer estimated it to be from the late 18th century, the very early 19th at the latest. It carries a mark from this early period and has the wear of more than two centuries to it. While 'new' might be better for some, for me 'old' is king. I could have bought a new cauldron from a mail order house that is clean, the right size and decorated with pentagrams or bats or some such design people think of when they think "witch." And I could have had it in my hands a long, long time ago. But instead I chose to wait until I found exactly what I had in my heart and in my mind. And the wait was worth it. Even though there were many pots and cauldrons sitting there in the sun, I was immediately drawn to this one and I bought it without a second thought (and got a fantastic deal on it too: I've seen smaller new cauldrons from China selling for far more than I paid for this perfect gem).

The body of the cauldron is a generous size (almost a bit too big for some applications) at 3 1/2 inches in height (not including its three legs) and 7 3/4 inches in diameter. Its exterior was repainted black an eternity ago and this last attempt to clean it up is itself now very aged and lovely. I simply love the idea that so many women through so many years have used this piece for what at one time, among other things, were uniquely feminine chores such as cooking supper for their families and heating water for washing. I can sense it hanging over their fires. I can feel the feminine energy in it. It's very strong. I need to wash it and cleanse its energy for myself before I put it to work for me and my own needs, but for the time being it's sitting happily before the fireplace in my living room, biding its time and waiting patiently for me once again, just as it had been for all those years when I was searching for it.

I can't wait for it to join me in circle.

Kitchen Witch Prosperity Spell

Fancy ground herbs aren't needed to cast an herbal spell. It's perfectly acceptable (and also equally as powerful) to use the basic cooking herbs you have in your spice rack or items from your kitchen cabinets, just be sure they aren't too old as fresher means more power.

This is a spell for prosperity, for the money needed for something that is important, and/or for a very specific thing that you wish for. This ritual should be tailored to your individual need(s) and mention made of the specific thing you desire within the actual spell, but it's a nice foundation for you to build off of. This is a spell I wrote for a very important desire of my husband's, something he had hoped for for many years. Remember that your energy input and intention is the most important part of a spell and even given my non-pagan husband joining me in the ritual and not generating the proper energy as it should have been raised, this spell was not entirely unsuccessful! It worked well enough.

This spell uses equal amounts of dill, sage, oats, poppy seeds and cinnamon.

When you set up your circle altar with the usual items that are personal to you and your ritual (salt water, incense, Deity candles, athame, etc), be sure to also have on your altar your herbs measured out in little individual jars/bowls, a clean empty dish or shallow bowl for them to be mixed in, and candles in the color(s) of your choice, based on your specific need, as well as a small green candle to sit in the middle of the empty herb dish. And in a few moments when you light this little candle, be careful if you are using any herbs that are large or flammable! I chose orange and green candles, for success/luck and money/luck respectively.

Ground and center.

Power up each herb before it is placed into the empty dish. This is done by waving your power hand (your dominant hand, the hand you write with) over each. Feel the energy of the herb building and say as you hold your hand over it: "I purify and consecrate this herb for use for good." Place them into the empty dish one at a time once you feel they have been empowered sufficiently. Repeat this for each herb. Place the jars outside the circle.

Light your incense and your candles, (not the little one in the empty herb dish however). Again hold your hand over the herbs and say "Dill, I pray that with your magickal properties you bring me the money for ____." "Sage, I ask that with your magickal properties you make my wishes come true." "Oats, I pray that with your magickal properties that you provide me with the money needed for ____." "Poppy Seed, I pray that with your magickal properties you bring me luck and the money I need for ____." And lastly, "Cinnamon, I pray that with your magickal properties you bring this spell to a speedy fruition."

Walk once around to cast your circle deosil (clockwise, in the direction of the sun). Walk the circle a second time with your salt water, sprinkling as you go and say, "I purify and consecrate this circle with the sacred elements of water and earth." Walk the circle a third time with the lit incense and say, "I purify and consecrate this circle with the sacred elements of air and fire. "

Sit and meditate for a moment feeling the elements surrounding you. Call the quarters. Invite the Goddess and the God. (I cast this spell on a Thursday and also invoked Jupiter, the King of the Gods and Diana, Goddess of the Moon, but while this isn't necessary, be aware that carefully choosing your day of the week and phase of the moon only serves to make a spell more powerful). If you can wait until the best time, then it is wise to do so, but in the event of an emergency or immediate need, obviously waiting for the right moon makes no sense at all.

Pull energy again from the earth, grounding once more, and feel it filling you and energizing you. Recite this spell:

"By these herbs of elements four,

Earth, water, air and fire.

I pray that you hear my deepest desire

And make my wishes come true.

Dill, sage, oats and poppy seed,

Work your magickal ways

And bring what I dearly wish

To have for all of my days."

Then say:

"By the power of three times three,

As I will it, so mote it be.

By this witch's words

I work this spell,

May I _____

May I know this well."

Light the green candle in the middle of the herbal/oat mixture. Meditate on your desire, your need. Be very specific what you wish for, you cannot be at all vague. If you can compose a two or three line chant specific to your wish, this is very helpful as chanting helps to raise the energy needed to cast your spell. If you have written a personal chant, now is the time to use it until you feel the energy reach a crescendo, at which point you shout, "Now!" and raise your hands up as you send your desire to the universe. If you feel this is a bit too much for you, quiet but very focused meditation is fine as well. Whatever is most comfortable to you is what will be the most effective. Being uncomfortable, self-conscious or nervous isn't going to help you generate positive energy.

Ground your energy back into the earth. If you have offerings to make, now is the time to share your food/wine offering with the Divine.

Thank the Goddess and God for gracing your circle.

Wish a farewell as you dismiss each of the quarters.

Put out the candles and walk three times around the circle widdershins (counter clockwise) to break the circle while saying, "Fire seal the circle round, let if fade beneath the ground. Let all things be as they were since the beginning of time. My circle is open but never broken. Merry meet and merry part and merry meet again."

May all the luck you wish for be with you and may all your desires be fulfilled. Peace.

The Legacy of a Witch

"If you want to know more about [witches], you should first search yourself, throw a glance into your own past and become completely self-aware. For only if you know where you ultimately come from will you know where you are going. Sure of yourself, then you can comfortably go out on the eve of a new moon, cross the way and go over to the witches' field, to the witches' tree...You should come to it without asking "how" or thinking "but," come to it without guile and falseness, like a child, wrapping your arms around the trunk of the linden tree in order to feel the power that flows out from it and into yourself...These are no wicked faces that you are allowed to look upon. They are the faces of wise women, old as stones, furrowed with the runes of the ages, from whom radiates a deep knowing. Many of them have gone through the fire, yet their countenances have not been thereby destroyed, for their knowledge made them immune to it. Uninjured [were] their souls and spirits which were thrust into the embers in order to destroy them, for they were also not made of the transitory stuff of the earth."

-Gottlob Haag, Maientanz und Hexentanz, 1992 (excerpt from the book "The Last Witch of Langenburg: Murder in a German Village, written by Thomas Robisheaux and published by W. W. Norton & Company, 2009)

Full Blackberry Moon

Today is the Full Blackberry Moon, the name I personally prefer to some of the other names this moon goes by, as I adore the process of wandering among fruit bushes both in the wild and those cultivated on berry farms. There is nothing quite so musical as the sound of those first few berries hitting the bottom of the empty little metal bucket. In my family, we call it "the sound of berry rain."

Today's moon is also known as the Full Buck Moon, as this is the time of the year when bucks begin to grow antlers, and the neo-pagan name for this moon is the Hay Moon.

Today also brings a penumbral eclipse of the moon, though I doubt that I'll be able to see it as it's dark and cloudy here with thundershowers and it isn't supposed to clear for several days. It will be visible on the west coast and in the central US, as well as Alaska and Hawaii in the early evening and here on the east coast as the moon sets for those lucky enough to have clear weather and good visibility.

Granola Recipe

What better way to honor our body than to eat healthy and mindfully and in doing so, nurture our soul as well? This a wonderfully simple recipe for granola, and while it should be eaten in moderation as there is some fat and sugar in it, overall it's still healthy and delicious as well.


GRANOLA makes approximately 8 - 10 cups

6 cups raw organic oats (not "quick" or "minute")
3/4 cup wheat germ
6 tablespoons organic butter
3 ounces pure maple syrup (not artificial breakfast syrup)
3 ounces light brown sugar (firmly packed)
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1-2 cups dried fruit and/or nuts

In a large bowl mix together the oats, wheat germ and brown sugar. In a medium bowl, combine the butter and maple syrup and heat in the microwave until butter melts but doesn't burn. Add the vanilla. Pour over oat mixture and stir thoroughly to coat. Spread evenly on an ungreased baking sheet and bake at 350f for 30-40 minutes or until golden in color. It's best to not spread the oats right to the edge of the sheet, but to keep them at least a couple of inches in, and also to not spread the mixture too thin, but to keep it about 3/4 inches deep. This will keep it from burning.

Cool thoroughly, crumble and add dried fruit or nuts as desired. Store in an airtight container. Enjoy.

Some dried fruit suggestions: apricots, raisins, black cherries, cranberries, apples and blueberries.

Some nut suggestions: almonds, pecans and walnuts. These can be lightly toasted and cooled before adding for a richer flavor.

The Dog Days of Summer

Today marks the start of the "dog days", 40 days that run from July 3 through August 11 when Sirius, the Dog Star, is visible every day with the rising sun. Sirius is known by this name as it is located in the constellation Canis Major, or the Big Dog. Our ancestors also associated the star with the weather at this time of the season as we experience the hottest days of the year. And as we see our furry friends lying about limply in the heat and humidity, the "dog days" have taken on another meaning entirely.

Today the earth also reaches aphelion, when in its orbit it is farthest from the sun.

Trees 101: The Fir

Fir trees are known as the "birth tree" and are used in protection spells for mothers and children. A few needles may be burned during childbirth to ensure a safe birth for both mother and baby. It is the fourth of the nine sacred woods of the sabbat fire, representing friendship. The fir symbolizes the Great Mother Goddess due to its seeming immortality (as it doesn't "die" in the winter months as do other trees and plants). Native to only the northern hemisphere, the fir is traditionally used as decoration during the winter as it is symbolic of life and thus represents abundance in the coming year. For this reason it has been used since early times at Beltane and Yule. Sensitive to the elements, fir cones respond to the sun and rain by opening and closing with each.

Native Americans used many parts of the fir tree as medicine, and even today the fir can be used to treat cuts, burns, coughs and colds and even constipation due to its laxative effects.

The fir is associated with Mars and Saturn and while its energy is essentially masculine, it is associated with both the God and the Goddess. The fir tree vibrates to the element of air and as well as being used for protection and medicinal purposes, can also be used for attracting prosperity, in divination work and to promote personal change.

A Pentagram Rant

I have a real problem with the pentagram being given such a bad rap by so many people, especially when the beliefs they hold (and spread) about this symbol are misguided, wrong and frequently detrimental.

I enjoy watching a paranormal TV show that shall remain nameless, and while I find most of the show to be interesting and thought-provoking, I find that several of the cast members who are devout Christians of a specific faith regularly reference the pentagram as a symbol of devil worship, demon possession and something to be feared. And this really bothers me as it propagates the notion that those of us out of the 'broom closet' as it were, and openly wearing one at our throats, are evil, perhaps even satanic, and blatantly advertising it for all the world to see. It only serves to make our pagan lives more difficult than they already are when we are forced to defend or explain our beliefs to those who automatically assume we practice the Black Arts simply because of a small star enclosed in a circle.

The pentagram is a symbol of spirituality, with four of the points representing the four elements of earth, air, fire and water and the fifth representing the Spirit of the Divine. It has actually been in use since at least 3000 BC, where in Babylonia the five directions were astrological and represented the planets Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn and the fifth point, Venus, as the Goddess of Heaven. In Taoism the pentagram represents the five Chinese elements of earth, wood, water, fire and metal. Early Christians at one time used the pentagram to represent the five wounds of Christ (the Mormons still use the symbol in much of their architecture) and it was even the symbol of the city of Jerusalem for a time.

But somehow, somewhere, probably in the 19th c when the occult and all its frightfulness and intrigue took hold of so much of the population, it became something to fear, something unsettling. And while there are some Satanists who use it reversed with the three points facing down to symbolize a rejection of the Holy Trinity, the majority of people who use a pentagram use it to honor Spirit and all that Spirit encompasses in this beautiful natural world. And while it can be symbolic of that which is magickal, as we use it so much in circle, from calling the quarters to decorating our altars, it shouldn't automatically be assumed that the magick it's used for is black and dangerous.

Close-mindedness and ignorance are never a good thing, and when coupled with religious intolerance, they are a very dangerous thing. I try very hard to remain gentle when questioned by curious or concerned strangers about my belief system, even when I feel threatened by their fear and anger. By being kind, even in the face of hostility and derision, perhaps I can teach the truth to a few people who hopefully might in turn enlighten others if the subject of the pentagram and devil worship ever arises again in their lives. In the meantime in my own life, I'll continue to be annoyed by people who should know better (read: people of any faith who are by profession paranormal researchers). Stop spreading hatred and fear. Please.

Full Strawberry Moon

Today is the Full Strawberry Moon, a name used by all the Algonquin tribes, and so (obviously) named because June is the month when strawberries are ripe for picking. The Lakota called this moon the Drying Up Moon as June is the month of the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, and when it first begins to get hotter, thus drying up any residual spring flooding. In Europe it is known among their indigenous peoples as the Rose Moon and many tribes refer to it as the Hot Moon because it heralds the summer season and the hot days ahead. It's neo-pagan name is the Mead Moon.

Even though this is the Strawberry Moon, now is a great time to plant any berry bushes, such as raspberries or blueberries. I saw some lovely ones this afternoon, lush with soon-to-be ripened berries and I contemplated buying a few, but alas I have no place to put them (I guess I'll have to be satisfied with picking them at the small, local farm we've been picking them at for years now). By the next full moon, or shortly thereafter, these fruits will be ready for the picking, just as the days grow hotter and the coolness of tart and juicy fruits would be a welcome snack.

What better way to honor the moon and the Goddess than to plant a fruit-bearing plant on the day of the first full moon that symbolically heralds the season of growth and abundance?

Color: Magickal Properties

Color is a very powerful thing to work with, as all color is imbued with different energies. At some future time I'll talk about the healing properties of colors in relation to our chakras, but today I'll keep the discussion to color magick and working with color to create more potent spells. This might be basic 101 to a lot of people, but to some it's all new territory. Candles, herbs, flowers, paper and any decorations used for spellwork, circle and/or altars can be intensified by bringing objects made of the appropriate colors into play, and even more so by incorporating any gods or goddesses they are linked with, as well as the days of the week they are connected to. Keep this in mind when using them for spellwork: timing is everything when it comes to power!

Red. This is the color of pure vibrant energy. Passion and desire. Red represents the Life Force in everything. It attracts good luck, but can also stir up anger and other unsettling emotions. Because of its power, it's best to use it or be exposed to it in moderation as any emotions it draws out can quickly get out of hand. Use it in magick to overcome difficulties or to increase determination and courage. It's the color of the Celtic Goddess Brid, goddess of the forge, and all things creative. It is also linked with Tuesday and the planet Mars.

Orange. Orange symbolizes joy, optimism and a will to succeed. This is also another powerful color and in magick is used to garner personal happiness and fertility too. This is a color of communication as it is one of the colors associated with Mercury, the messenger of the Roman Gods. Orange is linked with Sunday and the Sun.

Yellow. This color is a mind stimulant and represents achievement and learning. In divination it is used for success, new beginnings and inspiration. It evokes the sun. Linked closely with the color gold, it is a secondary color of the God and male divinity. Be careful with too much yellow though as it can turn from courageous to cowardly quite fast. Yellow is linked with Wednesday and the planet Mercury.

Green. Green is the color of harmony, nature, calmness, balance and growth. In magick it symbolizes prosperity and wealth, as well as healing and luck. This is a very positive color to use in spellwork when attempting to draw something to you in the most positive of ways. It is a sub-color of the Goddess as it is symbolic of fertility and Mother Earth. Use it also in spells to draw new love to you or to strengthen an existing relationship. Green is linked with Saturday and the planet Saturn.

Blue. Blue is the color of Spirit. It also represents healing, water, idealism and has a calming energy. Blue can be used in magick for occult protection, to enhance psychic gifts and in dreamwork. This is a very protective color. Blue is linked with Friday and the planet Venus.

Purple. Purple is the color of high spirituality as it provides a link to higher planes, psychic gifts and our dreams. This a very powerful healing color as it represents the link between our mind, body and spirit. Magickally it is used to gain insight into all things esoteric that we are seeking. Purple is linked with Thursday and the planet Jupiter.

Pink. Pink is, not surprisingly, the color of love and friendship, happiness and harmony. It represents women's mysteries and is a lesser color of the Goddess. Like green, this color is linked to the Goddess Venus. It is used magickally to restore a sense of peace and calm when things have become difficult or chaotic in relation to our emotions.

Brown. Brown represents natural wisdom, an affinity with nature and healing for animals. In magickal applications it is used to create a protective shield, to guard our homes and keep them safe, and to keep us grounded when we are feeling like we are being pulled in a direction we don't necessarily wish to go.

Black. Black represents the unseen forces in our lives, though these don't necessarily have to be negative, despite black's reputation as a color of all that is "evil." It is used for communicating with the dead and for endings to situations. In magick it is used to sow the seeds of new beginnings where needed, to absorb negativity and in banishing and limitation spells.

White. White is the color of the Divine Force in our lives. It is the color of peace, purity and truth. White is a cleansing color. In magick white is used to enhance psychic matters, to begin a new phase and as protection. It is frequently used in visionary magick. The color white is linked with Monday and the Moon.

Silver. This is the color of the Goddess and is always present on the altar to represent her, usually in the form of a silver candle. Silver is also the color of visions and intuition, inspiration and transformation and aids in giving birth to our potential. This is the color of the moon.

Gold. This is the color of the God, and like silver and the Goddess above, is always present on the altar as well, usually in the form of a gold candle. Gold symbolizes achievement, success, wealth and longevity. In magick this color is used to cast spells for success in any area of our lives and to promote confidence. It is associated with the most powerful Sun gods such as Apollo in Greek and Roman mythology, and with Ra, the Egyptian God of the Sun.

By incorporating color magick into your daily practice, and being aware of how these colors can work, both very powerfully and intimately for you, you can expand your magickal possibilities only as far as the depths of your imagination can travel.