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(Loo-nas-ah) Major Sabbat (High Holiday) – Fire Festival August 1, 2 Other Names: Lunasa (meaning August), Lughnasaad, Lughnasa Celtic),First Harvest, August Eve, Feast of Cardenas, Feast of Bread, Tailltean Games(Irish), Teltain Cornucopia (Strega), Ceresalia (Ancient Roman) Harvest Home, Thingtide (Teutonic), Lammas (Christian). Laa Luanys, Elembious, Festival of Green Corn (Native American) Animals and Mythical beings: Griffins, Basilisks, Roosters, Calves, Centaurs, Phoenix Gemstones: aventurine, citrine, peridot, sardonyx, yellow diamonds, citrine Incense and Oils: wood aloes, rose, rose hips, rosemary, chamomile, eucalyptus, safflower, corn, passionflower, frankincense, sandalwood Colors: red, orange, golden yellow, green, light brown, gold, bronze, gray Tools, Symbols, and Decorations: corn, cornucopias, red, yellow flowers, sheaves of grain (wheat, barley,…

I AM SWAMPED WITH STUFF TO DO; NO TIME TO DO IT; STRESSING OUT OF MY MIND “SPELL” http://www.underthenewmoon.com The title on this one truly says it all.  So, really, if we are to be honest, the last thing you need right now is ‘another thing to do;’ right?   Well not to worry… this spell is quick, easy and works.  I have to admit that I am a notorious ‘over-achiever, over-extender of myself and my days.  I am an herbalist, an aromatherapist, a massage therapist, a practicing; every-day witch, own my own business that I work 7 days a week (well, I try hard to take Saturday afternoons off…

As many people know, there are 5 main elements; earth, air, fire, water and spirit. In some cultures metal as well. This month I am going to focus on the element Air. Air is the element of the east and it is strongly connected to the soul and life. The two colors most commonly associate with it are yellow and white. Air’s hour is dawn and it’s associated season is spring. The planet for air is Mercury as well. As each element does, it has positive and negative characteristics. Air’s positive ones are that it is kid and joyful, intelligent and diligent and also communicative and intuitive. The negative characteristics…

The Anglo-Saxon for a hedge rider is hægtessa.  In the Elder Edda (Havamal 155), Odin speaks of scanning them sporting aloft in the sky, having left their skins behind on the ridge.  “Scanning” here may mean something different from mere seeing.  If people in the so-called Dark Ages were able to see such things, we must consider what this means if we are to identify and locate the hedge itself. One possibility is that such things did occur, however rarely, and some people saw them.  They do not occur now because there are no more hedge riders to be seen.  Another is that Odin’s ‘scanning’ meant something different from mere…

Love, Fear and Action   My husband and I had an interesting conversation the other day concerning fear, love and action. The question that we discussed was this: What motivates an individual into action?   A few definitions are needed here in order to understand this discussion.   What we mean by fear is any thought or vibration that is a negative emotion – a resistance to what is truly desired. Some emotions that correspond to fear are: anger, confusion, disappointment, vulnerability, unworthiness and guilt. These are examples of fear manifesting within our life experience.   What we mean my love is any thought or vibration that is a positive…

A descendant of the Dal Cais, found in the Dreamtime land, drawing on all the ancient ways, using knowledge to understand. Given the precious gift as a child, the power of words to find a way, to deal with situations when she didn’t know what to say.

Skullcap Scutellaria laterflora     Scutellaria lateriflora-photo by Louise Harmon 2012   One of the most cherished residents of my herb garden is Skullcap, Scutellaria laterflora. When I first planted her three years ago, I was cautious not to let her run amuck in the garden as is her nature, placing a flexible garden border around the plants, large enough to allow for growth, but deterring her from taking over the rest of the garden. Last year, feeling this was perhaps overkill, I removed the border to allow Scutellaria just a little more freedom to roam the garden. However, Comfrey and Skullcap now appear to be engaged in a bit…

The Way of the Crucible  by  Robert Allen Bartlett        © 2009  Ibis Books (An Imprint of Red Wheel Weiser)    ISBN:  978-0-89254-154-6     321 pages                    Paperback        $22.95 (U.S.)    How many practicing alchemists do you know?  What are alchemists really trying to do?  Can you transmute lead into gold?  These are all valid questions.   Among my various interests alchemy ranks fairly low.  I have no practical experience in it and, with few exceptions, my reading has mostly been confined to novels which feature alchemists and alchemy to some degree.  That put me at a disadvantage starting off.  On the other hand, even the little bit of non-fiction reading I have done…

The Elements & The Spiritual Connection   It is said that the elements that many are familiar with being earth, water, fire, air and of course spirit were the essence within the creation of existence as it is known. Yet in today’s spiritual practices the elements are not often called upon; so much so that some have come to believe that the elements are fairly new to the world of all things spiritual. This however, is not the case.   So, what is the significance of these specific elements when it comes to the spiritual and the individual? What is their relevance when it comes to the day to day…

Feeling Frisky? Herbs for Fertility     For thousands of years knowledge of the herbs and wild plants that could increase fertility were the secrets of the village wise women. But after the holocaust against European Wise Women (the “burning times”) and the virtual extermination of Native American medicine women, this knowledge virtually disappeared. In fact, many people erroneously believe that “primitive people” had no means of controlling the likelihood of pregnancy. Nothing could be further from the truth. Many common plants can be used to influence fertility, including red clover, partridge berry, liferoot, wild carrot, and wild yam. Some of these grow wild, others are easy to cultivate, and,…