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dolly-decadatia · 4 years

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12/3 S.C notes Chap 7 continued

South- fire 🔥: the element of transformation, of passion and change, success, health, and strength. An oil lamp or piece of lava rock can be used as well.

West: water 💦- a cup or bowl of water can be placed in the west. Water is the realm of the emotions, of the psychic mind, love, healing, beauty and emotional spirituality

The altar should go in the center (according to Scott) but you have to be flexible about the amount of space you have. Some of us have to place it in a corner or against a wall. I for one currently live in a shitty trailer and will be moving into a tiny rv once my lease is up. It behooves me to not fixate on “my altar MUST be dead ass center in the circle.” A lot of us probably have similar poverty related space constraints.

Generally the altar is set up facing north (but see my thoughts above).

Take his altar set up with a huge grain of salt. He’s gendered it. He says the left is goddess, the right god and he’s gendered inanimate objects to reflect cis genitalia and assigned them to the left or right. Cis pussy to the left, cis dick on the right. It’s not so much transphobic as it is just weird and creepy. I probably want to completely design my own altar lay out to avoid this weird dick and pussy fixation. I need to double check how LaVey had his set up. It’s been a really long time since I actually practiced Satanism and I don’t remember his set up. I know he has a straight up phallus on his supply list but imo having. A representation of genitalia that looks like genitalia is less weird and creepy that randomly deciding Wands and athames are cocks and cocks somehow automatically are male. I think LaVey’s phallus was supposed to represent lust or something. Idk, I need to reread it. Don’t quote me.

If you’re working magic in the circle ⭕️, all necessary items should be within it before you begin, either on the altar or beneath it. Never forget to have matches handy, and a small bowl to hold the used ones. He says it’s “impolite” to throw them in the censer or cauldron but until I see someone I respect say that I’m ignoring it.

Chapter 8: The Days of Power

Here, I’m copy pasting notes I already took from the internet while I was waiting for the book to arrive. I skimmed through Scott’s chapter to see if there was anything to add but there wasn’t. These are my first draft of what May end up being my holidays/ Sabbaths/ whatever I choose to call them. They’re not done so don’t judge them too harsh yet:

“Wheel of the year” ideas

January- New Years

February- Valentine’s Day

March- bad things happened to me-day of healing ?

April- wedding anniversary and t date

June- my birthday

Aug- partner’s birthday

October- Halloween and dating anniversary

December Krampusnacht

9 in total this draft

Does not seem seasonal at all so “wheel of the year” isn’t a great name at all.

I do like some of the seasonal things but I’m having trouble figuring out how to incorporate them. Even when I was Wiccan I didn’t understand the significance of celebrating an agricultural cycle.

Wiccan wheel:(copy pasted with commentary)

Yule- When is Yule: December 20-23

Themes: rebirth, quiet introspection, new year, hope, setting intentions, celebration of light

In most traditions, Yule is the Sabbat that begins the Wiccan Year.

(I think January 1st makes more sense to me. As far as the winter holiday goes- I resonate with Krampusnacht and there’s nothing about Krampus that screams “new year” to me.)

This is the Winter Solstice—the shortest day and longest night we will experience in the Northern Hemisphere.

Yule, a fire festival, is a time of celebrating the return of the light. From this point forward, the days will gradually grow longer again, until we reach the height of the Sun’s power at the Summer Solstice.

Although we will still see comparatively little of the Sun’s light for several more weeks, this Sabbat reminds us to have patience—the waning half of the year is over, and warmth, growth, and light will reign again!

(This part resonates with me because I have seasonal affective disorder and the light returning is very meaningful personally.)

it is a relatively quiet, indoor holiday, as people gather within the warm shelters of their homes to be merry and give thanks. As a Yule ritual, many decorate their altars with evergreen branches, such as cedar, pine, hemlock and spruce, as well as bright sprigs of holly, pinecones, and other festive winter flora.

Food for simple feast/ gingerbread and ???

Candles are paramount to this Sabbat, of course, with Yule traditions emphasizing the colors red, green, white, and gold. Images of the Sun are also appropriate. Those lucky enough to have a fireplace can burn a sacred Yule log, but you don’t need an actual hearth to brighten up your home with candles galore! Interestingly, many traditions which are generally thought of as belonging to Christmas—including the Yule log, a decorated tree, wreaths, and even caroling—are actually rooted in pre-Christian pagan traditions. So it’s quite likely that you’ve already been celebrating Yule for years, with or without your knowledge!

Imbolc- This cross-quarter day—midway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox—is a welcome milestone for many who eagerly await the warmer months.

(So do I need to celebrate the coming warmth in December? Wouldn’t this make more sense- or would it make even more sense to wait for the spring equinox to really say “fuck you”’to winter?)

celebrated on February 2nd. As a holiday celebrating beginnings and renewal,

(Seems like a beginnings and renewal holiday would be relevant to me but maybe I should do that on my t day)

Imbolc is often chosen as a time for initiation, whether it be through a coven or through a self-dedication ritual.

(Also seems like a tday thing) It is also a time for ritual cleansing after being shut indoors, largely inactive, for the past few months. (My t day is in April when spring is either here or near and that imagery can make sense then too) The ability of the Sun to cleanse and purify is recognized in various ways. Some people light several candles in each room of the house, or, in a more modern version of this tradition, turn on every lamp to set the old energy “ablaze” with the power of light. Some Witches will leave their ritual tools out in direct sunlight as one of their Imbolc traditions to cleanse and charge them—particularly metal tools and treasured crystals or mineral stones.

Traditional candle colors for Imbolc are white, yellow, orange and red, and altar decorations include fresh Spring flowers, besoms (small decorative ritual brooms) and figurines or images of young animals.

(The stated foods are all Imbolc specific and don’t make sense for me turning parts of it into my tday festival)

Ostara- (there do not appear to be any themes in Ostara that would be relevant or useful to my practice)

Beltane April 30 or May 1

Themes: passion, mischief, sensuality, sexuality, (rawr) beauty, romance, fertility,(eew) vitality, abundance

Celebrated on May 1st, Beltane marks the transition point from Spring to Summer. This is a heady time of lust, passion and fertility, marking the return of vitality to both the Earth and the Sun. Blossoms on the trees are giving way to robust leaf growth, young animals are growing into maturity, and the daylight continues to lengthen and strengthen as we move toward the full power of Summer. Love and commitment are themes of this Sabbat, along with abundance and creativity. Handfastings are traditionally held at Beltane.

(Wedding anniversary is April 14. Can possibly borrow some Beltane themes for that)

Beltane is a very sensual Sabbat in many traditions, celebrating sexual energy

One distinct custom in England and elsewhere that has never died out entirely is dancing around the Maypole—a tall, wooden pole said to represent male virility. Typically, people gather flowers and green branches to decorate the Maypole, or else use brightly colored ribbons. Many groups incorporate this tradition into their Beltane celebrations.

Fire is also a big focus at Beltane—so much so that many places host a Beltane fire festival. In ancient Irish culture, from which the name of the Sabbat is borrowed, people lit giant sacred fires on this day to purify and protect their cattle from illness. The cattle were driven between two fires to ritually cleanse them and connect them with the Sun. It was also considered good luck for people to jump over a bonfire at this time, and this is another Beltane ritual that is often found in celebrations.

The word “beltane” actually comes from an ancient Celtic word meaning “bright fire,” so it’s highly appropriate to include fire of some kind in your festivities. If, like many Wiccans, you don’t have the means to build a fire either indoors or outdoors, you can still decorate your altar with images of fire. If you have a mini-cauldron, place it over a few scraps of red and orange paper for a symbolic fire right on your altar!

Other ways to celebrate Beltane include making a “wedding feast” . Breads and cereal grains, oatmeal cookies and dairy foods are all traditional Beltane treats. Include seasonal spring vegetables as well for a true feast. Gather flowers and green leaves to decorate your altar with. Many people like to create a “mini-Maypole” for their altar and decorate it with ribbons. If you have long hair, braid it as a symbol of the union between (my partner and I) weaving in some wildflowers or tree blossoms if you like. Traditionally, couples would spend the whole night outdoors, romping in the fields and forests, but if this isn’t practical, take a long walk with your sweetheart somewhere out in nature. The important thing is to make sure you spend some time outdoors on this day! (we like nature and we got married on the beach so this is very useable)

Midsummer June 20-22 (oh hey thats so close to my birthday!)

Themes: abundance, growth, masculine energy, (love that for me) love, magic

This is the longest day and shortest night of the year, marking the pinnacle of the Sun’s power to fuel the growing season. From here on out, the Sun will set a little earlier each night until Yule, and so we recognize and give thanks for its warmth.

The crops are reaching their full maturity and the forests are bursting with lush growth. In just a few short weeks, the harvest season will begin, but for now we pause to celebrate the manifestation of what was planted in the early weeks of Spring. The warm sunlight is a welcome contrast to the cold and dark of Winter, and we bask in its comforts. T

To celebrate this Sabbat, you can decorate your altar with summer flowers, herbs and fruits, and summer colors like yellow, green and blue. This is a traditional time for rites of re-dedication as well as divination related to love and romance. Keep at least one candle lit throughout the day to honor the Sun, and if possible hold your rituals at noon, when the Sun is at its highest point in the sky. Have an outdoor picnic feast to bask in the warmth of the day, and eat fresh fruits and vegetables—ideally from a farmer’s market or harvested from your own garden. This is a good time for magic related to masculine energies and any situation that needs to be “fired up” in your life.

Lammas: August 1 or 2

Themes: first fruits, harvest, gratitude, benevolent sacrifice, utilizing skills and talents

(I don’t know what to do here. When I was Wiccan, this was one of my faves because I am obsessed with autumn but all the mythology here in the description is harvest related and I am not a farmer or about gratitude. Gratitude is lovely and I want to incorporate it into my practice but doing gratitude amongst the fall foliage aesthetic makes me think of American Thanksgiving which is super gross. This is going to need a lot of thought.)

Lammas rituals are related to harvest and gratitude, and recognizing the manifestations of our intentions that have unfolded so far during the course of the year. Bread-making is a common way to mark the holiday, as it represents bringing the seeds of intention into full fruition. People also might make a corn dolly—a traditional poppet made from straw—for use in ritual and magic. Decorate your altar with the colors of summer and fall—yellow, orange, red, green and brown. Use harvest imagery like scythes and baskets and, of course, loaves of bread. A Lammas feast should definitely involve bread, as well as late-summer fruits and vegetables, corn, and other grain dishes. Spellwork related to securing abundance and a happy home is particularly powerful at this time.

(see what I mean? What do I do here? Also I just glanced at the date and its early august which is hotter than the surface of the sun in the modern south where i am trapped. It doesn’t start feeling autumny down here until mid november. This one needs a lot of work)

focus their celebrations on giving thanks for their skills and talents as well as for the grain harvest, but the emphasis is on gratitude all the same.

Mabon: September 21-24- Autumn (or Fall) Equinox.

Themes: harvest, gratitude, abundance, balance, preparation, welcoming the dark

(wait, how is this different from lammas? I think this is the one I was actually thinking about when I said “this was one of my faves when I was actually wiccan.” My bad. Ok, I’m dumb but in my defense why do they have 2 back to back autumn colored gratitude holidays???)

Mabon falls on the Autumn Equinox and is the second of the three harvest festivals (Lammas, Mabon, and Samhain). Just like Ostara on the opposite side of the Wheel of the Year, at Mabon the days and nights are of equal length. Though temperatures may still be warm during the day, summer has truly come to an end. The leaves on deciduous trees have begun to turn colors and fall to the ground, (not in my state, homie) and there is a chill in the evening air. The days were longer than the nights until this moment, and after this the nights will begin their reign.. In these modern times, most of us are not involved in agriculture, but we can still take a moment to rest from our labor and relax, appreciating all that we have. It is a time to recognize the need for balance between work and play.

But how should you celebrate Mabon? For starters, Mabon rituals can include decorating your altar with acorns, pine cones, seasonal fruits and nuts, and/or a few of the first colored leaves that drop from the trees. (yes this was deffo the one I was thinking of, not Lammas) As with Lamas, harvest imagery like scythes and baskets can be used. (no wonder I mixed them up. They’re practically twins.) Candles and altar cloths in autumn colors like rusty red, orange, brown, and gold are appropriate. If you have a feast, whether solo or with others, include seasonal vegetables like onions, potatoes, carrots and other root vegetables. Spellwork related to protection and security is appropriate now, as are workings for self-confidence, prosperity, harmony and balance. If you are one who struggles with seasonal depression during the fall and winter months, (YUP) use this time to set an intention for inner peace and strength. You might make and charge a talisman for this purpose, to accompany you through the next two seasons. (OOH i LIKE THAT)

When is Samhain: October 31 or November 1

Themes: death, rebirth, divination, honoring ancestors, introspection, benign mischief, revelry

The third and final harvest festival on the Wheel of the Year is Samhain, observed on October 31. This Sabbat marks the end of the growing season and the beginning of Winter, which must be prepared for now in earnest. Herbs are dried for winter storage, fruits and vegetables are canned and preserved, and root vegetables are dug up and stored so they may nourish us through the cold months. The word “Samhain” comes from the old Irish and is thought by many to translate as “Summer’s end.”

While the cycles of life and death are implicitly recognized at every Sabbat, Samhain is when the necessary role of death is formally honored. The nights grow noticeably longer with each day. The God retreats now into the shadows of the dark season, symbolically dying back to the Earth before being reborn again at Yule. Many Wiccans and other Pagans consider this to be the most important day on the Wheel, a time when the veil between the spirit world and the mundane world is at its thinnest. Our ancestors and loved ones on the Other Side are said to be more easily able to visit with us and make their presence known at this time.

Samhain is arguably the most visible Sabbat in the mainstream world, thanks to the parallel holiday of Halloween. Many of the Halloween traditions celebrated in contemporary cultures today have grown out of customs dating back to pagan times. As far back as ancient Greece, people were leaving offerings of food to their ancestors, which is echoed in the modern tradition of trick-or-treating. The practice of leaving root vegetables hollowed out with lighted candles inside, to guide spirits visiting on Earth ultimately led to today’s jack-o-lanterns. Witches, of course, have always been part of mainstream Halloween lore.

. We also honor our ancestors and invite them to visit with us. You might decorate your altar with pictures of your deceased loved ones in addition to fall foliage, apples and nuts, dried herbs and even jack-o-lanterns. Many people will leave a plate of food and drink out for any spirits who happen to wander by. Samhain is one of the most powerful nights of the year for spellwork and divination. Magical workings related to just about anything will receive an extra boost, but waning-moon work will have the most potent effect. Banishings, protection spells, clearing of obstacles and astral projection are particularly favored. Scrying, tarot reading, rune casting and any other form of divination you practice will bring you very clear results, as well as possibly a visit from an ancestor or spirit guide. Be open to doing inner work as well—reflecting on what you’d like to let go of and what you’d like to improve in yourself over the coming year.

(Ok now I’m going to be repetitious and re paste my list of significant dates and combine my thing with the wheel if applicable. Ran out of time midway through that so I’ll put it into tomorrow’s study notes)

#atheist witch #witch journey #beginner witch #secular witchcraft

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agnosticanimist · 7 years

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Holidays I Observe/Celebrate

Taken from my sh!tty Book of Shadows, here's a list and summary of the holidays I attempt to celebrate.

KEEP IN MIND: These are holidays that I personally celebrate, they are described as I personally see them, and the celebrations mentioned are the ones that I personally observe. There are no “right” or “wrong” ways to celebrate a holiday, even “culturally important” ones. Everyone celebrates them differently, some people don’t observe certain traditions, and that’s okay. If you celebrate differently than I do, that’s okay! I can already smell the hate and annoying responses I’m going to get because of this but whatever let’s get started!

Putting a keep reading because holy farts this post was SO LONG!!!

New Years Day 🆕

January 1st --- A celebration of the new year. Usually celebrated by staying up the night before until midnight, then toasting a drink to luck and prosperity before going to bed. Lunch and/or dinner are usually comprised of black-eyed peas, greens, mashed potatoes, and cornbread.

Feast of Fools 🎭

January 6th --- A day to mock authoritative power, the church, religion in general, and the government. Mock ecclesiastical rituals are performed, a mock king/pope/bishop is elected, and drinking, dancing, and singing occurs. It's a day to laugh at that which is taken so seriously the rest of the year.

Chinese New Years 🐉

New Moon between January 21st and February 20th --- (I’ll update this part later!!!)

Imbolc 🏠

February 1st --- Marks the first day of spring. Celebration of hearth and home. Activities include making St. Brigid’s crosses, making bride’s beds, making priapic wands, lighting candles or bonfires in the snow, and eating pastries and dairy products.

Valentine’s Day 💝

February 14th --- A day to express your romantic love to those whom you love, usually by giving them a love note/card or a Valentine. Other gifts include roses, stuffed animals, chocolates, etc.

Mardi Gras ⚜

3 Days before Ash Wednesday --- Traditionally occurs 3 days before Ash Wednesday (which occurs 46 days before Easter). Activities include parades, throwing beads, eating good food, wearing masks, singing/playing music, dancing, and drinking.

White Day 💮

March 14th --- Usually celebrated in Asian countries, White Day is a response to Valentine’s Day. On Valentine’s day, women are the ones expressing their love to men. On White Day, men who received love are expected to return it, oftentimes with gifts triple in value to the gift they were given. Common gifts include white chocolate, white lingerie, cookies, etc. (Slightly sexist, but hey, a second day to spoil my partner with love is a-ok in my book!)

St. Patrick’s Day 🍀

March 17th --- A day to celebrate Irish culture and heritage. Activities include wearing green (and pinching those NOT wearing green), listening to traditional Irish music, and feasting on things such as roast, potatoes, greens, cornbread, whiskey, beer, and/or cider. A common tradition is “wetting the shamrock” where a clover is placed at the bottom of a shot glass that is then filled with alcohol. The shot is gulped down, and the clover goes with it, or alternatively is tossed over the shoulder for good luck.

Ostara - Spring Equinox 🌱

March 19th-22nd --- Ostara, the inspiration for Easter, is a celebration of new life, birth, fertility, growth, etc. Celebrated by planting seeds, starting gardens, planting flowers and trees, etc.

April Fool’s Day 😜

April 1st --- A day of pranks and jokes that I hate to death but also still celebrate for some reason..?

Easter 🐇

1st Sunday after the Full Moon --- Activities of celebration include painting and hiding boiled eggs which are collected in baskets, feasting on shepherd’s pie and carrot cake, eating candy and treats in the shapes of rabbits and chicks, etc.

Beltane 🔥

May 1st --- Originally celebrated by casting protection spells onto cattle who were headed out to summer pastures, today it is a celebration focused on protection of the self. Bouquets of primrose, rowan, hawthorn, gorse, hazel, and marigold are made and hung over the doors or windows of a home. Maypoles are danced around with colorful ribbons. Massive bonfires are lit and feasts are held.

LGBT+ Pride Month 🌈

The Entire Month of June --- A month to celebrate lgbt+ identities, such as lesbain, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. Notable days for me are June 3rd: Bi pride day, June 5th: Pan pride day, and June 23rd: Androgyne pride day.

Litha - Summer Solstice ☀

June 19th-22nd --- These mark the longest days of the year. Protective amulets are made out of rue, rowan, and basil tied together with white or gold ribbon. They’re kept until the next Litha, when they’re burned and a new amulet is created. Other activities include picnics, making flower crowns, and dancing/singing around a campfire.

America’s Independence Day 🎆

July 4th --- Celebrations include barbecues, grilled foods, lemonade, pool parties, American patriotism, and shooting off/watching fireworks after dark.

Tanabata 🌠

July 7th --- (There’s so much lore about this holiday that I’m going to leave out because this post is already so long.) Essentially, it’s an Asian (more specifically, Japanese, or the version I celebrate hails from Japan) holiday centered around two lovers who get to meet only once a year (the 7th day of the 7th month). On the day of their meeting, you can write down wishes on tiny strips of paper and tie them to trees/bamboo, which are burned at midnight to release the wish into the universe in hopes that it will come true. Also it’s bad luck if it rains on Tanabata because the lovers can’t meet.

Lammas/Lughnasadh 🍞

August 1st --- The first harvest of the year. Feasts of breads, grains, and beers as well as bonfires are common. Activities include making corn dollies, wicker men, making crowns of wheat/corn stalks, creating/decorating staves, wands, and besoms/brooms, etc.

Cherokee National Holiday 🐦

1st Monday in September --- An annual event celebrating Cherokee heritage and culture, held each Labor Day weekend in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The theme of the celebration changes each year, but activities include a two night inter-tribal pow wow, stickball, Cherokee marbles, horseshoes and cornstalk shoot tournaments, softball tournaments, rodeos, car and art shows, gospel singings, the annual Miss Cherokee pageant, the Cherokee National Holiday parade, and the annual "State of the Nation" address by the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.

Mabon - Autumn Equinox 🍁

September 19th-22nd --- The days and nights are equal in length. A time to wear your finest clothes and spend time with your family. This is the second harvest of the year. Activities include offering tributes to nature for the harvests, making wine, gathering dried herbs, walking in the woods, and decorating burial sites with acorns, leaves, and pine cones.

Halloween 🎃

October 31st --- Inspired by Samhain and celebrated on the same day. Activities include carving pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns, wearing costumes, going through haunted houses, riding hayrides, and giving/receiving treats like candy, popcorn balls, and little plastic toys.

Samhain 👻

Sunset of October 31st - Sunset of November 1st --- Marks the beginning of winter. Feasts inviting the spirits of dead loved ones to join are held. Offerings to fae and spirits are given. Masks and disguises are worn to hide from evil entities. A time to honor the dead, be they kin, friends, or pets.

Dia de los Muertos 💀

November 1st & 2nd --- A time to celebrate the dead. Activities include tidying up or decorating graves/burial sites, creating shrines/altars to the dead or deities connected to the dead, leaving offerings like sweets and marigolds to the dead, painting your face to look like a calavera (a skull), dancing and singing to honor the dead, feasting on pan de muertos, etc. Meant to be a joyful but still respectful celebration of those who have passed on.

Thanksgiving 🍠

4th Thursday in November --- A time to gather with the family over a meal and express thankfulness for what you have. A traditional feast includes turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and more.

Yule - Winter Solstice ❄

December 19th-22nd --- The longest nights of the year. Activities include toasting to trees with spiced cider, creating/lighting a yule log, decorating with ivy and holly, kissing under mistletoe, and enjoying a feast of pork dishes, eggnog, turkey, spiced wines and ciders, cookies, and cider-soaked caraway cakes.

Christmas 🎄

December 25th --- Inspired by Yule, celebrations include caroling, giving/getting presents and gifts, decorating a Christmas tree, making snowpeople, eating gingerbread cookies and candy canes, watching parades, watching sports, watching ballets, and feasting with friends and family.

OH IT’S FINALLY DONE THANK THE MOON!!!

This list is subject to change/edit at any given time.

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tipsycad147 · 5 years

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Snowdrops in Magick

Published October 15, 2016 | By shirleytwofeathers

Scientific Name: Galianthus nivalis

Common Names: Fair Maid of February; Bulbous Violet; Emblem of Early Spring; Maids of February; Candlemas Bells; Mary’s Tapers; Moly

Type: Flower

Parts Commonly Used: The flower

Basic Powers: Hope, Friendship in adversity, Passing of sorrow,

Snowdrops are often assigned to the month of January, and I’m not sure why because these little flowers are also known as “Candlemas Bells”. February 2nd is Candlemas (Festival Day of Candles), and Imbolc. The ancient festival marks the midpoint of winter and some recognise it as the last day of the forty day Christmas season. In the catholic tradition, candles were brought into the church and blessed as a symbol of hope and light. In a time of no electric lights, candlelight offered great protection and comfort during the dark days of winter.

By producing their own heat, snowdrops actually melt the snow in their surroundings. Like candles, Snowdrops offer us our own light of hope in the grey of winter days. They are the emblems of friendship in adversity, harbingers of spring.

The first sight of snowdrops growing wild represents the passing of sorrow. In various religions, they are a sign from the gods that good times will come once more. According to one Christian tale, an angel turned falling snowflakes into flowers to give Adam and Eve a sign of hope after evicting them from the Garden of Eden.

The fact that snowdrops are often found, in abundance, in the old convent gardens, it was believed that this little white flower was sacred to virgins. For this reason, it was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. In some places, during the Candlemas celebration, it was customary for young women, wearing white gowns, to walk in procession carrying snowdrops in their hands.

It was often said that any one wearing a snowdrop would have only pure and lofty thoughts; and that if a young girl ate the first snowdrop she found in spring, neither sun nor wind would tan her that summer.

The snowdrop flower – which is well loved not only for its simple beauty, but for its distinct, honey-like scent – has a surprisingly varied history in both ancient folklore and more modern storytelling. In Grimm brother’s original version of the fairy tale nowadays known as Snow White, the main character’s name was actually Snow Drop.

Every spring on March 1, the national Moldovan holiday, is celebrated. On this day people present each other with the traditional flowers. One of the old Moldovan legend says that once in a fight with the winter witch, that didn’t want to give up its place, the beautiful lady Spring cut her finger and few drops of her blood fell on the snow, which melted. Soon on this place grew a snowdrop and in such a way the spring won the winter.

However, in some folklore, snowdrops are seen as unlucky. The reason for this is perhaps that they often grow in cemeteries and churchyards. Along with other white flowers, superstition says it is courting disaster to bring snowdrops into the house. To do so is to invite death into the home, can mean the parting of a loved one and, in the west country, is thought to cause eggs to turn addled. One should never even pick wild snowdrops, especially from a graveyard. The sight of a single snowdrop blooming in the garden foretells of impending disaster.

According to Are You Superstitious, by Lore Cowan, it is particularly unlucky to bring snowdrops, or “Candlemas bells”, into the house on February 2nd, which is Candlemas, or Imbolc, and if you wish to be married within the year you should not bring them into the house on Valentine’s Day, 14th February.

Snowdrops have their use in medicine. The alkaloid Galantamine, which was first isolated from snowdrops, has been used to treat Alzheimer’s disease, neuritis and neuralgia. In parts of eastern Europe, rubbing snowdrops on the forehead was at one time a folk remedy used as pain relief.

Andreas Plaitakis and Roger Duvoisin in 1983 suggested that the mysterious magical herb moly that appears in Homer’s Odyssey is actually snowdrop. An active substance in snowdrop is called galantamine, which, as an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, could have acted as an antidote to Circe’s poisons.

Note: This post was compiled by Shirley Twofeathers for Magical Ingredients, you may repost and share without karmic repercussions, but only if you give me credit and a link back to this website. Blessed be.

https://shirleytwofeathers.com/The_Blog/magickal-ingredients/snowdrops/

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mrs-k-cottage-witch · 7 years

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Feast Day Candles

I made these with the tutorial from @baduhennasraven , but instead of Spell Candles I made candles for the Sabbats or Feast Days I celebrate!

Here are all the Feast Day candles in order!

Imbolc

Red, yellow and orange candles were used on this candle. I used pumpkin spice black tea and red glitter on the top of the candle and it is tied with an orange piece of twine and a triskele charm. These are all my personal associates for Brighid and Imbolc is her Feast day.

Spring Equinox

This candle celebrates the dichotomy of light and dark. This Feast Day for me represents the turning of the wheel and after this day of equal light and dark it will start to get lighter every day. I used yellow, black, and white candles for this. The light side has salt for cleansing, and white quartz chips. The dark side has silver glitter and smoky quartz chips for banishing. It is topped with lemon peel for cleansing.

Beltaine

This candle is for one of the first Fire festivals of the year. It has purple, green, and red candles dripped on it. The herbs used are lavender, dried roses (whole and crumbled up) and dried honeysuckle - for the sweetness, love and romance of the season. It also has pink glitter for romance and pink Himalayan sea salt for self care and cleansing. This is basically like my Valentine’s day. It is tied with a purple sparkly ribbon and the charm is a purple butterfly, to represent the Fair Folk. This holiday is a time when the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest, and it is said the Faeries walk the land.

Midsummer

I live in very warm place so basically summer starts on Beltaine and lasts well into August or September. This candle is for the summer solstice, or as I celebrate it - Midsummer. This candle is for Manannán Mac Lir. It has green, purple, and ocean scented aqua candle drips on it. It is topped with beach sand, salt, shell pieces, and ocean jasper chips - to represent the sea, the realm of Manannán. It is tied with a straw ribbon that represents the rushes we pay as rent to him, and a sea shell with a hole in it I found at the beach. It smells the best out of all the candles!

Lughnasa

One of my favorite Feast Days, this candle is for the harvest feast of Lughnasadh. It represents three deities, Lugh, Taitlu, and Brighid. The yellow is for Brighid, who I honor this time of the year as well. The purple is for Taitlu, who plowed the land non-stop, purple represents her bruised body and tireless work. Green is for Lugh, the Many-Talented. This Feast Day is the funeral games he threw for Taitlu. It is topped with pumpkin pie spice, which looks like dirt and smells like all the good things that grow in it. It also has Brighid’s tea on top, and then a sprinkle of all the left over colors of wax to represent all the talents of Lugh. It is tied with a green ribbon and a sprig of Ornage flowers, to represent the harvest that starts on this Feast Day.

Samhain

Samhain was a fun one. It’s not quite done, because I am going to look for a charm for it. It has black, purple, and white candle drips. It’s the second time of the year that the veil between worlds is thinnest, and is know for the spirits of the dead to visit. The purple is for the Fae as wel, for they too step through the veil. The top has silver glitter, rosemary for remembrance, and theee juniper berries, offering for the honored dead. This candle is to honor my ancestors, the gods and not-gods, and the beloved dead.

And those are the candles I worked on today!

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