|
NEXT EDITION •
SUMMER SOLSTICE
Summer Solstice / Lammas 2004 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
R
E F L E C T I O N S N E W S L E T T E R
SEASONAL
OBSERVANCES
About Ostara |
 |
Ostara -- Spring or The Vernal Equinox - Also known as: Lady Day
or Alban Eiler (Druidic). As
Spring reaches its midpoint, night and day stand in perfect
balance, with light on the increase. The young Sun God now
celebrates a sacred marriage with the young Maiden Goddess, who
conceives. In nine months, she will again become the Great Mother.
It is a time of great fertility, new growth, and newborn animals.
The next full moon (a time of increased births) is called the
Ostara and is sacred to Eostre the Saxon Lunar Goddess of
fertility (from whence we get the word estrogen, whose two symbols
were the egg and the rabbit.
The Christian religion adopted these emblems for Easter which is
celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon following
the vernal equinox. The theme of the conception of the Goddess was
adapted as the Feast of the Annunciation, occurring on the
alternative fixed calendar date of March 25 Old Lady Day, the
earlier date of the equinox. Lady Day may also refer to other
goddesses (such as Venus and Aphrodite), many of whom have
festivals celebrated at this time.
Foods: Nuts such as Pumpkin, Sunflower and Pine. Flower
Dishes and Sprouts.
Herbs/Flowers: Daffodil, Jonquils, Woodruff, Violet, Gorse,
Olive, Peony, Iris, Narcissus and all spring flowers.
Incense: Jasmine, Rose, Strawberry, Floral of any type.
Gemstone:Jasper
Activities: Planting seeds or starting a Magickal Herb
Garden. Taking a long walk in nature with no intent other than
reflecting on the Magick of nature and our Great Mother and her
bounty. |
|
|
BACK
TO MENU
|
|
|
|
|
R
E F L E C T I O N S N E W S L E T T E R
SEASONAL
OBSERVANCES
About Beltane
|
|
|
Beltane, also known as May
Eve, May Day, and Walpurgis Night, happens at the beginning of May.
It celebrates the
height of Spring and the flowering of life. The Goddess manifests
as the May Queen and Flora. The God emerges as the May King and
Jack in the Green. The danced Maypole represents Their unity, with
the pole itself being the God and the ribbons that encompass it,
the Goddess. Colors are the Rainbow spectrum. Beltane is a
festival of flowers, fertility, sensuality, and delight.
Prepare a May
basket by filling it with flowers and goodwill and then give it to
someone in need of healing and caring, such as a shut-in or
elderly friend. Form a wreath of freshly picked flowers, wear it
in your hair, and feel yourself radiating joy and beauty. Dress in
bright colors. Dance the Maypole and feel yourself balancing the
Divine Female and Male within. On May Eve, bless your garden in
the old way by making love with your lover in it. Make a wish as
you jump a bonfire or candle flame for good luck. Welcome in the
May at dawn with singing and dancing.
This celebration
marks the second half of the Celtic Year; one of the four Celtic
Fire Festivals. Complement to Samhain, it is a time of divination
and communion with Fairy Folk/Nature Spirits. In Pagan
Scandinavia, mock battles between Winter and Summer were enacted
at this time. May Day has been a workers' holiday in many places.
Maypole
Forms include pole, tree,
bush, cross; communal or household; permanent or annual. In
Germany, Fir tree was cut on May Eve by young unmarried men,
branches removed, decorated, put up in village square, &
guarded all night until dance occurred on May Day. * In England,
permanent Maypoles were erected on village greens In some
villages, there also were smaller Maypoles in the yards of
households. Flowers: Gathering and exchange of Flowers and
Greens on May Eve, pre-dawn May Day, Beltane. Decorate your home
with green budding branches, including Hawthorn. Make garland
wreaths of Flowers and/or Greens. May Baskets were given or placed
secretly on doorsteps to friends, shut-ins, lovers, others. * May
Bowl was punch (wine or non-alcoholic) made of Sweet Woodruff
blossoms.
Beltane Fires: Traditionally,
sacred woods kindled by spark from flint or by friction -- in
Irish Gaelic, the Beltane Fire has been called teine eigin (fire
from rubbing sticks). Jump over the Beltane Fire, move through it,
or dance clockwise around it. Livestock was driven through it or
between two fires for purification and fertility blessings. In
ancient times Druid priests kindled it at sacred places; later
times, Christian priests kindled it in fields near the church
after performing a Christian church service. * Rowan twigs were
carried around the fire three times, then hung over hearths to
bless homes. In the past, Beltane community fire purification
customs included symbolic sacrifice of effigy knobs on the Beltane
Cake (of barley) to the fire, or, in medieval times, mock
sacrifice of Beltane Carline (Hag) who received blackened piece of
Beltane Cake.
Sacred Union & Fertility
Union with the Land
focus, often with actual mating outside on the Land to bless
fields, herds, home. May Queen (May Bride) as personification of
the Earth Goddess and Goddesses of Fertility. May King (May Groom)
as personification of Vegetation God, Jack-in-Green -- often
covered in green leaves. |
|
BACK TO MENU
|
Gardening, we picture lovely
flowers and herbs blooming next to a piece of groomed grass or a
stone path leading to a quiet meditation spot. Maybe your dream
is of rows of vegetables growing strong and able to feed your
family for the coming seasons. These are dreams of mine and
perhaps yours as well.
Unless you have more time and more energy than the normal
person, these dreams will be a long time coming. Just because it
will take time doesn’t mean we can’t start. It takes a few small
steps. One row each of vegetables, herbs and flowers makes a
great big garden when you start out. Starting small is a way to
find out if you enjoy gardening or if you find the weeding and
watering a chore.
If you have started in your back yard, and you don’t like it,
you can let it go back to grass next year. There is no shame in
letting others, who enjoy this endeavor, do it and you can just
go to the market and purchase what you need.
If you have decided to try it, now is the time to start doing
your homework. There are 3 basic things you need to decide: the
size of the garden, the placement in your yard and the plants
you will grow.
I start with size because some of you don’t have a yard so
you think you can’t grow things. How about using pots? Large or
small doesn’t matter. They can easily be planted with any number
of things and put on a patio or deck or porch.
The weeding will be less work but you will have to be very
careful to water on a more frequent basis. The next step up in
size is the raised bed type of garden. Find a spot in your yard
and form a square of dirt in a frame of blocks or wood. The
surrounding grass shouldn’t encroach as much than the typical
type of garden, a plot of land taken from a square of lawn. The
weeds will come more quickly, as will the grass but watering
won’t be needed as often as if you planted in containers.
Once you decide what size you can handle, you have to decide
where you will put the garden. Containers are easy. You can move
them into the sun or shade whenever you need to. If you want to
create a spot in your yard you will have to select carefully.
Look for the amount of sunlight and where there is water. This
will tell you what kinds of plants will work the best.
Watch where the sun shines on your property. Take notes of
this for a week. You will know if the plot gets enough sun or
not. Knowing how much sun on a usual day the area gets will help
you choose what kinds of plants to grow.
The second determination concerns water. Where is the nearest
water faucet? Will you have to run many hoses to reach the
garden? To be a very successful gardener you will have to give
your garden more water than Mother Nature can provide. So plan
ahead and get the amount of hose and sprinkler systems you will
need to cover your entire garden.
Lastly, and the most fun, is choosing the plants. This is a
personal choice. Just because you are a witch, wiccan, or pagan
you don’t have to plant all herbs. If you find you use one herb
on a regular basis then go ahead and choose that, but remember
that Gaia doesn’t care what you plant, as much as how you take
care of it. There are no "shoulds" in planting your garden. Find
a seed catalog like Harris Seeds and look at what there is and
what it takes to make it grow well. Match all the plants you
like with the conditions in your potential garden. Once you have
this list, cut it down. Remember this garden is going to take
time. It won’t be perfect in one season or even two.
Now you are ready to dig in the dirt. There are all sorts of
involved things you can do to prepare the dirt for your plants.
Don’t worry about it. You can test the soil and find out if you
need to put nutrients in it but I find that just turning up the
soil to loosen it and get the weeds out, to start, is just fine.
Gaia will always be there to help any effort we put into our
gardens. Be practical, be magikal, be daring. Most things do
just fine.
So now is the time to make lists of all the things you will
need. Stones, or framing for a raised bed, extra dirt because
there isn’t much where you want the garden to be, hand tools to
help you plant, & weed, hoses and sprinklers. Decide where you
are getting your plants or seeds. If you gather all the things
you will need to garden, you will have a head start on the
planting season. If you are all prepared, you can get out there
to dig in the dirt as soon as the weather permits. Planting
weather around here usually starts in May but planning weather
is anytime.
Enjoy your garden. Ask Mother Gaia to help you and do your
homework. Don’t expect to be a master gardener in a flash but
expect good things from your efforts.
In the next issue of the newsletter look for more tips on
your ongoing gardening project. The Weeds, and the Feeds….
Happy Gardening with Gaia!!
|
|
BACK TO MENU
|
|
As a modern Pagan, I have found it difficult at times to find a
connection to all eight Sabbats and to explain the roots of our
traditions to my child. Lady and the Moon Hare: An Ostara
Tale was written to fit a need in my own life. I wanted
to create a story of the Ostara holiday that my child and I could
both find special meaning in.
There are metaphors, both hidden and not so hidden,
within the tale that young children can find joy and magick in. As
the child grows older, those metaphors can be explained as part of
the mysteries of the Goddess and of modern Paganism.
Inspiration was taken directly from the myths of
Eostre and Skaldi, the Moon Hare, who brought the Goddess his
special eggs during the rites of spring.
It is my intension to make Lady and the
Moon Hare part of my family’s Ostara celebration, perhaps
in combination with an egg hunt or when dying magickal eggs. I hope
you and your family can enjoy this tale in addition to all of the
beautiful traditions of the season.
Springtime Blessings,
L.M. Hutchings
CLICK HERE FOR
PRINTABLE VERSION
|
 |
Lady and the Moon Hare:
An Ostara Tale
By L.M. Hutchings
The Moon Hare had fur as white as freshly fallen snow and his
tail was much like the softest ball of cotton ever picked. It
was the Moon Hare’s job to keep watch over the seasons and tell
the Lady of the Forest when it was time to wake from her deep
winter slumber.
Through the trees and
leaves he hopped, over melting snow and muddy soil, balancing
his basket of magickal, colored eggs upon his back. The Lady’s
cottage was hidden well and only the Moon Hare knew the secret
path.
When he arrived at the
cottage the Moon Hare knocked on the door with his furry fist.
The Lady rose with a yawn and greeted him with a sleepy, gentle
kiss. She was dressed in colors of fresh, creamy |
|
|
buttermilk
and her eyes had the hue of young, green grass. With her delicate
hand she took one of the Moon Hare’s special eggs, broke open the
shell, and put it to her rose red lips.
The magick of the eggs filled
the Lady with so much love and happiness that she began to laugh out
loud. The joyful sound rang out over the land, causing the animals
of the forest to poke their heads out from their homes and start to
wander about. Trees began to grow leaves again and the frosty waters
suddenly ran warm with shiny fish of every color.
As the Lady ate more of the
Moon Hare’s eggs she grew more and more happy. Thus the sun grew
brighter, the land grew greener, and the animals grew in number.
|
|
When the Lady had eaten her fill,
day had turned to night and there were still many eggs left in
the Moon Hare’s basket. The Lady wanted to share the magick of
the eggs, so she quietly crept about, hiding them outside the
homes of good little children. She knew that the eggs would
bring them joy and a renewal of the spirit after the darkness of
the winter months.
So it was that the Lady of the Forest grew full with the Moon
Hare’s magick eggs and the light and life of spring returned to
the land once more. |
 |
|
|
|
|
BACK
TO MENU
|
| |
|
|
BOOK
REVIEW
Progressive Witchcraft by Janet Farrar
and Gavin Bone
Book Review by
Mike Gleason |
|
I've always liked to work of Janet Farrar.
However, I couldn't even get past the Dedication of this
work without noticing a couple of minor errors. There is a
remembrance of some of those who have passed on to the
Summerland in recent years. They mourn the passing of Leo
Louis Martello (whom they list as Louis Martello) and Jessie
Wicker Bell (remembered as Jesse Belle), both of whom were
well-known (and controversial) enough that their names
should have been spelled correctly.
Progressive. Eclectic. What's in a name? For years
traditionalists in the Wiccan community have looked down on
those who have called themselves Eclectic Wiccans (or
Witches). After all, so they said, there needed to be
established ways of doing things, and "proper" wording.
This, in spite of the incorporation of Cabalistic "words of
power," Judeo-Christian angels, Eastern charkas, and the use
of "alpha" for meditative states. And then, of course, there
was the open secret that some of the "big names" of the past
would "steal from any idea that didn't run away too quickly
(and if it did run away, they would trip it, and THEN steal
from it)". Now some the current "big names" are saying that
is alright to meld various ways of seeing the world. Imagine
that!
There are many traditionalists who will be unhappy with this
book. There will be at least as many eclectics who will be
unhappy. Lineaged folks will decry the value of
self-initiations. Self-initiated folks will despise the
entire concept of lineages. And both will miss the point!
Both views have been, and are, needed in the movement as it
exists today. Without the dynamic tension engendered by
these opposing points of view, stagnation awaits.
Janet and Gavin reflect, in my opinion, a natural
progression many Witches undergo. Janet comes from a
lineaged (Alexandrian) tradition, Gavin from a
self-initiated (Seax) one. They both have evolved from at
least a semi-dogmatic stance to one of "If it works, use
it." They both experienced events which led them to question
how they wanted to experience their religion.
Progressive Witchcraft is NOT a "Wicca 101" book. Certainly,
it lays out some of the basics. Any author who wants to sell
books must cover the basic, since the reading public is not
stratified. Beginners are not told "You must not buy this
book." This book, however, goes far beyond the basics. As
someone who has experienced many of the same phenomena, also
without a support system at the time, I can verify the
validity of these experiences.
Those individuals who have spent more than a short time
living the Wiccan/Witch life will have had many of these
same experiences. Some may have discarded them because those
experiences didn't fit into an expected frame of reference.
Others will have taken into an evolving view of personal
religious experience, as have Janet and Gavin.
This book is less about Wicca/Witchcraft and more about
personal spirituality, which I see as a necessary
development in the literature. Over the past several years I
have heard more than one Elder remark "I've stopped thinking
of myself as a Pagan (Witch; Wiccan) because I don't feel
that describes my personal beliefs any more." My daughter
and I have had this same discussion (she was born and raised
in a lineaged Craft tradition) more than once. I not only
sympathize with this point of view, I embrace it
whole-heartedly.
If you feel that labels are too confining; if you feel you
have moved beyond the "classical" concepts of Wicca and/or
Witchcraft; if you are willing to accept some
"untraditional" concepts of what our ancestors did and felt,
pick this book up and read it. You won't agree with
everything in here. There may be things which, in your
personal experience, are just plain wrong. Just read the
book with an open mind.
Chapter Eleven provides a good basis for a training manual.
It is NOT a Book of
Shadows - it contains no specific words or rituals, merely a
set of guidelines to help you along your path of
development. It is a good starting point. This is not a book
which provides answers. It provides questions and options.
Appendix II (Correspondence Tables) will help the newcomer
to start their own researches. It is important, however, to
see it ONLY as a seed, or starting point. Anyone who works
in the natural world will rapidly outstrip the two pages of
data here. Nonetheless, they provide a simple framework
which is easily expandable.
The final Appendix (III - Spiritual/Occult Laws) is one of
the most important four pages I have seen in print in recent
years. These 14 "Laws" are the bedrock of magick and are
often assumed to be common knowledge by authors in the
field. Copy these into your personal (or coven) Book of
Shadows so that you have them all in one easy-to-find place.
You won't regret it.
While this book is not perfect (I found lots of little
editing glitches, as well as a few statements which I,
personally, questioned), I highly recommend it. It is going
on to my recommended books list.
PROGRESSIVE WITCHCRAFT
by Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone
© 2005 New Page Books
246 pages + Appendices, Resources, Bibliography and Index,
Paperback
ISBN 1-56414-719-3 $15.99 (U.S.)
(Permission granted to NEC to reprint this book review)
Mike Gleason has spent the last several years reviewing
books for the Pagan/Wiccan/Witch/Magickal community as a
public service. He is a 50-something individual living with
his wife and children in Massachusetts. He was co-publisher
of a small Pagan magazine (THiNK! The Best in Pagan Thought)
for the entire run of its existence (about three years), and
Co-Director of the Massachusetts chapter of Witches Against
Religious Discrimination (before its dissolution in 2003).
He was a member of the Pagan Way (Temple of Uranus -
Chicago, IL) and received his FirstDegree initiation from
them. He was also a member of The Sabaean Religious Order of
A'mn (also in Chicago). He is the former High Priest of
Coven EarthRose (Alexandrian Tradition) and currently works
as a solitary with his wife.
He has
dedicated his time to sharing his knowledge and opinions
with others through his book reviews. He welcomes personal
replies to his reviews, and is always looking for
recommendations for publishers and books of interest. He is
currently reviewing an average of 50+ books per year. |
|
|
|
BACK TO
MENU
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ADVERTISEMENTS |
|
|
$25 for 4 Issues!
Click Here
for more information!! |
Something Else
Studio
Palmyra, New York
http://www.somethingelsestudio.com
Step into
your fantasy by wearing one of our historical or
original designed gowns created and fitted just for
you. With the tradition of old world craftsmanship,
each garment is handmade and one of a kind. Look on
our Shoppe page for pewter goblets, Celtic jewelry and
beautiful headpieces.
3/2004
|
|
 |
|
BACK TO
MENU
|
|
|
|
NECofWICCA
MEMBER BUSINESSES AND SERVICES
|
|
HOUSE CLEANING/BLESSING
Do you have unwanted visitors of the spiritual type
in your home? If you need assistance to "clean"
your house of these unwanted guests and send them peacefully
on their way, the following people are knowledgeable and
experienced:
Psychic’s Thyme (585) 473-4230
Debbie Deals Magick (585) 663-7458
Linda Hanley (585) 964-2736
|
TAROT CARD READINGS
Experienced and Reputable Readers
Psychic’s Thyme
16 Edmonds Street - Rochester
(585) 473-4230
Debbie Deals Magick!
(585) 663-7458 |
LEARN TO RIDE!
EVERGREEN STABLES
212 Sheffer Road, Scottsville, NY 14546
(585)889-1200
www.evergreenstables.us
Evergreen Stables is a teaching stable where you can learn
how to ride horses without fear. We teach English and
Western riding - starting from age 7 to adults. Our indoor
arena allows you to ride year round! Boarding is also
available for full time or winter only.
Visit our website
or call for more details.
|
PSYCHIC’S THYME
For all of your metaphysical
needs! Plan on stopping in - let Char and her friendly and
knowledgeable staff assist you. Psychic’s Thyme also
offers a wide variety of classes during the week as well as
meditations every Saturday!
Psychic's Thyme
16 Edmonds Street• Rochester,
NY
(585) 473-4230
http://www.psychicsthyme.com/ |
OTHALA GROVE
An e-group for people of all
Spiritual and Religious Paths and Traditions to join
together in unity for learning, sharing ideas,
healing of individuals and the Pagan/Alternative
Religions Community as a whole. Are you willing to
reach out and grow?
Be
Welcome Here In Light and Love!
Yahoo! Groups : OthalaGrove
|
|
|
|
BACK TO MENU
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NEWSLETTER
SUBMISSIONS |
|
Reflections,
the community newsletter of Northeast Council of W.I.C.C.A., is published
quarterly on each solstice and equinox. Featured columns include questions &
answers about Wicca, Witchcraft, and Paganism in Cerridwen's Cauldron;
a review about natural magick in Gaia's Garden;
an article about Pagan Living in Lifestyles; submitted opinions in
Your Humble Opinions; and book reviews
in Pagan Book Reviews in addition to Articles of Interest
to the Pagan community.
If you would like to make a column submission or have an article
of interest to share please email Program Services
with your contribution. All submissions graciously welcomed! |
|
|
BACK TO MENU
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LEGAL
DISCLAIMER |
|
Opinions expressed or reported
in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the opinions of
Northeast Council of W.I.C.C.A. or its membership. In addition,
Northeast Council of W.I.C.C.A. does not endorse or research any
groups, events, or web sites presented in this newsletter.
Individuals are encouraged to use their own discretion.
Northeast Council of W.I.C.C.A. assumes no responsibility for
individuals choosing to take advantage of any newsletter content
provided to our readership for informational purposes only. |
|
|
BACK TO
MENU
|
|
|
