Easy Incense for the slim budget

Maybe you are on a slim budget, have no budget at all or simply don't have a new age shop around to buy incense and charcoals. Where there is a will there is a way -- and a few simple things from the kitchen.  Nearly every kitchen out there has these three things: a glass container (wine glass, empty glass jar, or old candle votive), cinnamon spice, and salt. The only other things you need are notebook or typing paper and matches or lighter.

Put 1 to 2 inches of salt in the glass or jar that is at least 4 inches or taller. Now, cut a thin strip of paper that is at least one inch shorter than the top of your glass and at least one inch taller than the salt.  Push this empty paper tube down in the salt in the middle of the glass.  Now fill the tube sticking up out of the salt with ground cinnamon.  Light the paper on fire and VOILA! You have a beautiful smelling incense. ;0)

Wish I could take the credit for this idea but I got it from this YouTube video.  Be sure to watch the full video as she has lots of helpful ideas. Embedding isn't allowed so click the links.

The Witch's Way - Incense on a Budget - Part 1

The Witch's Way - Incense on a Budget - Part 2


Blessings,
Rayven Michaels

Ostara - Spring Equinox

The holiday Ostara, or Eostre as it is sometimes referred, being named after the Anglo-Saxon Goddess of Spring, is one of the Eight Sabbats of the Wheel of the Year.  It is celebrated at the time of the Spring/Vernal Equinox which is the First Day of Spring and falls on March 20 this year (2013). In ancient times, offerings of cakes and colored eggs were made as thanks for bringing in the Spring. Rabbits were sacred to her, especially white rabbits, and she was believed to take the form of a rabbit. This Pagan holiday has been adapted by Christians as the celebration of Easter (March 31 this year) in which Jesus, their Savior, rose from the grave. 

Pagans and Christians alike, celebrate this holiday by coloring eggs, eating sweets and decorations of white rabbits, and lets not forget those sugary confections, Peeps!  

Here is a bit of a fun story https://www.facebook.com/PaganNewsNow/posts/10151572399951518
I do hope that link allows you through.  It is a precious story about the selfless love of a small girl who tries to save a freezing bird.  She begs Goddess Eostre for help who pauses in her duties of bringing Spring and assists the freezing bird.  However, in her haste, Eostre fails to unfreeze the little bird's wings, leaving it unable to fly. The little girl in child like innocence demands the Goddess fix the birds wings. Amused by the child's insolence, Esotre instead, transforms the bird into a rabbit so that its frozen wings are no longer an issue.  And what do you suppose that leads to?  You guessed it, a Rabbit that lays brightly colored eggs every Spring.  Please do read the actual story as it is much more elegantly told by the author than my rudimentary summary here.

Ostara Blessings to All!
Rayven Michaels

WiseCraft Wicca 101 Class Now Forming

Classes Now Forming

Event Details: Our next hands-on/in-person WiseCraft Wicca 101 class will begin on Feb. 27, 2013 in Muskogee. This WiseCraft Wicca 101 class is a comprehensive year-and-a-day study program combining academic materials with Wiccan activities designed to help the Seeker/Dedicant student candidate become a fully functioning practitioner of WiseCraft, our version of eclectic Wicca. Classes will meet approximately every two weeks with a final class in approximately March of 2014. Students who complete this course will have the option to undergo an Initiation Ritual as a Solitary Priest/Priestess 

Fees associated with this class are "love donations" which helps with costs and expenses associated with materials, time and rent/utilities of the Yesterways covenstead. However, students will not be turned away based on inability to pay. Yesterways is a teaching organization and strives to work with seekers of all economic levels.

Our informational meeting will be held in late January or early February. Watch for details on time and location. At this meeting students and teacher can interact and ask questions. Students accepted into the class will be contacted with time and location of class meetings.

NOTE: If you can't attend in person classes, contact us regarding mentored online classes.

February Full Moon Correspondences

The February Moon derives its name from the Roman Goddess Februa, who was also known as Juno Februa.  Februa was also the name of a Roman purification festival held on the fifteenth day of February in ancient times.  Others say that the name came from the god Februus, who was later identified with the Roman Pluto or Dis.

During the month of February, the Great Solar Wheel of the year is turned to Candlemas, one of the four Great Sabbats celebrated each year by Wiccans and modern Witches throughout the world.

Other names for the February Moon include:

• Chaste Moon
• Storm Moon
• Snow Moon
• Quickening Moon
• Moon of the Seer
• Full Hunger Moon
• Ice Moon
• Horning Moon
• Wild Moon
• Red & Cleansing Moon
• Solmonath (Sun Moon)
• Big Winter Moon

Correspondences:

• Element: Fire
• Astrological signs: Aquarius the Water-Bearer and Pisces the Two Fishes
• Colors: light blue, violet, purple
• Stones: amethyst, jasper, rock crystal, rose quartz
• Nature Spirits: house faeries, both of the home itself and of the   house plants 
• Trees: rowan, laurel, cedar, myrtle 
• Herbs: balm of Gilead, hyssop, myrrh, sage, spikenard
• Flowers: primrose,  
• Scents: wisteria, heliotrope 
• Animals: otter, unicorn 
• Birds: eagle, chickadee 
• Deities: Brigit, Brighid, Juno, Kuan Yin, Diana, Demeter, Persephone, Aphrodite, Mars

In the Celtic Tree Calendar:

February 1 – 17: Rowan

Associated with the coming of new life born from the dark of winter, protection, and strength; the goddess Brigid.

February 28 & 29: Ash

Associated with the sea (myths tell of it having come from the undersea realm of Tethys), protection; the god Manannan.

Power Flow: energy working toward the surface: purification, growth, forgiving yourself, and making future plans. 

More Info:
February Full Moon Esbat
February New Moon Ritual
How to Hold an Imbolc Candle Ritual (for solitaries)

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Information compiled from the following sources:
http://www.magicspells.in/mainpage_months_and_wicca.html
http://www.tryskelion.com/tryskelion/moonlore.htm
http://wicca.com/celtic/celtic/moonlore.htm
http://www.pathcom.com/~newmoon/month.htm

New Moon Energies in Aquarius

When the Sun and the Moon line up, there is no illumination on the moon, thus creating a dark or new moon.  I think this quote sums up the New Moon energies very well: "The New Moon is a time to plant seeds for the future, an energetic doorway to pull in what you'd like to make real in your life." 

In general, you want to start things during the New Moon that you want to manifest between now and the Full Moon.  The New Moon is a time of new beginnings and planting new (magickal) seeds.  It is a good time to set goals, revisit existing ones, and begin new projects.  Each lunar cycle is influenced by a particular astrological sign.  Working with the influences of each astrological sign can enhance your abilitiy to manifest what you want.

The sign for this New Moon is Aquarius which is ruled by the element Air.  So, this New Moon is a good time to work with things in the mental realm such as ideas and intentions.

New Moon Blessings!
Rayven 

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additional reading:

New Moon Magic
New Moon Manifesting

January Full Moon Correspondences

January is named after the Roman God Janus.  However, the January Full Moon is known by a variety of names:

• Cold Moon
• Wolf Moon
• Old Moon
• Storm Moon
• Moon after Yule
• Snow Moon
• Ice Moon
• Quiet Moon
• Chaste Moon
• Moon of Little Winter

Correspondences:

Element: Air

Colors: Black and white, silver, brilliant white, blue-violet, violet, lilac, black

Stones: Hematite, garnet, onyx, jet, chrysoprase

Nature Spirits: gnomes, brownies

Trees: Birch, Hazel

Herbs: Marjoram, Holy Thistle, nuts, seeds and pine cones

Flowers: Snowdrop, crocus

Scents: Musk, mimosa, oakmoss

Animals: Fox, coyote

Birds: Pheasant, blue jay

Deities: Freyja, Inanna, Sarasvati, Hera, Ch'ang-O Sinn, Juno, Pax, Venus, Antu, Janus

In the Celtic Tree Calendar: 

January 1 – 20: Birch

Associated with new beginnings, the birth/rebirth of the sun, protection, and purification.

January 21 -31: Rowan

Associated with the coming of new life born from the dark of winter, protection, and strength.

Power Flow: Sluggish, below the surface; beginning and conceiving. Protection, reversing spells. Conserving energy by working on personal problems that involve no one else. Getting your various bodies to work smoothly together for the same goals.

This is a good time to work on magic related to protection, both physical and spiritual. Use this time to develop your inner self, and advance spiritually, becoming closer to the higher aspects of your deities.

Projects to make:
Moon Candle (from about.com)
Moon Braid (from About.com)

Other full Moon info from About.com

Full Moon Ritual

Winter Full Moon Ceremony for a Group

Drawing Down the Moon

_____________________
sources:
January Full Moon on About.com
Farmers Almanac
Names given to Moon by other cultures
http://www.examiner.com/article/magical-correspondences-for-january
http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/moonphasemagic/g/Cold_Moon.htm
http://www.pathcom.com/~newmoon/month.htm
http://witchery.wordpress.com/2008/02/04/january-esbats-information/

Imbolc - Feb 2, 2013

Imbolc, one of the eight Sabbats on the Wiccan Wheel of the Year, is Feb. 2, 2013.  It is the time of year halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox.  The Romans called it Lupercalia, the Egyptians celebrated it with the Feast of Nut while Celtic traditions honor the Goddess Brighid, or Saint Brigid after Christianization.  In addition to Saint Brigid's day, another Christian celebration for this time is Candlemas when the clergy would bless candles and people would light them in each window of their homes to ward off the darkness of mid-winter.  But what most children know this time for is Ground Hog Day where Punxsutawney Phil serves as the official weather forecaster by coming out of his hole and if he sees his shadow, we have 6 more weeks of winter.  I personally hope dear little Phil does not see his shadow and we can move on to Spring. 

Here is an old English saying:

If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Winter has another flight.
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Winter will not come again.

One of the things that I associate this time of year with is my Father's birthday on February 1 who was born just after midnight and only minutes after his twin brother.  He was an inspiring cancer warrior that lost his battle at the Fall Equinox of 2009.  And yes, I can hear you now. Love you Dad.

For more information about Imbolc, visit History of Imboc on About.com.

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sources:

History of Imbolc on About.com

Groundhog Day