{"id":19805,"date":"2019-01-01T01:10:14","date_gmt":"2019-01-01T06:10:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/paganpages.org\/content\/?p=20046"},"modified":"2018-12-31T10:16:22","modified_gmt":"2018-12-31T15:16:22","slug":"beating-the-january-blues-excerpts-from-every-day-magic-edited-by-lucya-starza","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/2019\/01\/01\/beating-the-january-blues-excerpts-from-every-day-magic-edited-by-lucya-starza\/","title":{"rendered":"Beating the January Blues: Excerpts from Every Day Magic Edited by Lucya Starza"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

January\nblues refers to that unsettled and unhappy feeling after the holidays\nare over. The joy and excitement have come and gone, and now there is\nnothing to look forward to. Of course, Imbolc isn\u2019t so far away, so\nas a Pagan it\u2019s probably a bit easier to cope with! But winter\ndepression and SAD can affect anyone, so it\u2019s important to keep an\neye on your mood at this time of year and try and do something\npositive if you feel yourself becoming anxious or feeling low. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\nare some excerpts from a book I contributed to which has magical\ntasks for every day of the year. Every\nDay Magic: A Pagan Book of Days<\/a> is a collection of 366 ways to\nobserve the cycle of the year. These ideas can help make a grey and\ndismal January as magical as you need it to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Click Here or Book Cover for Amazon Info<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

January\nthe First: New Year\u2019s Resolutions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resolve\nto enrich your spirit each and every day in many and varied ways. Aim\nto watch the way the seasons change; meditate a little; whisper\nprayers; light candles for peace, hope, joy, love and good health;\ndance and sing; learn about the Gods and Goddesses of the ancient\nworld and celebrate the forces of nature, the Earth, the Sun, the\nMoon and the stars. Breathe in love and breathe out love. Be open to\ninspiration. Be blessed. Lucya Starza<\/em>I<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

January\nthe Fourth: Janus<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

January\nis named after the Roman God of beginnings and endings, Janus. At the\nstart of the year, cakes made of spelt flour and salt were\ntraditionally burnt on his altar as an offering. Bake spelt bread\n(there are many traditional recipes online), then make an offering of\na little to Janus. Tell him all the things you want to change and ask\nfor his help. Light a candle in his honour. Ravenwings<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

January\nthe Fifth: Focus and Control Pouch <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Braided\nstring, 6 inches in black, blue and yellow \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Almond\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cedar\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bay\nleaf \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nutmeg\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carnelian\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cinnamon\noil<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pouch\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Purple\ncandle \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before\npreparing the pouch, apply cinnamon oil to the candle. Light it to\naid focus and meditation. Leaving the oil on your hands, continue the\nwork. Affirmation:<\/strong> \u2018I am strong. I will focus. I remain\ncalm, and use wisdom.\u2019 Repeat this as you place the rest of the\nitems into the pouch. Tie it with braided string. Laeynarrie\nAuvresti<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

January\nthe Sixth<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Twelfth\nNight Wassail<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recite\nthis to an apple tree and offer it cider and toast: \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wassail\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Old\nApple tree, old apple tree, \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\nhave come to wassail thee. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thirteen\nfires we bring to thee, \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ancient\nMother apple tree. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s\ncider-toast to break thy fast, \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now\nwinter lessens here at last. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\nwake the spirits with the gun, \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then\nsing and dance, have lots of fun. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh\napple tree, oh apple tree, \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do\nblossom well we beg o\u2019 thee. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To\nbear and to bow apples enow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hats\nfull! Caps full! Three bushel bags full! \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barn\nfloors full, \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And\na little heap under the stairs. Elen Sentier<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\ndo you do to keep yourself joyful in January? However you spend this\nfirst month of the Gregorian year, may you be warm and merry in some\nsmall and special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

***<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

About\nthe Author:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mabh\nSavage<\/strong> is\na Pagan author, poet and musician, as well as a freelance journalist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She\nis the author of <\/em>A\nModern Celt: Seeking the Ancestors<\/strong><\/em><\/a>\nand <\/em>Pagan\nPortals \u2013 Celtic Witchcraft: Modern Witchcraft Meets Celtic Ways<\/strong><\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Modern Celt: Seeking the Ancestors Click Here for Amazon Info<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pagan Portals – Celtic Witchcraft: Modern Witchcraft Meets Celtic Ways Click Here for Amazon Info<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

January blues refers to that unsettled and unhappy feeling after the holidays are over. The joy and excitement have come and gone, and now there is nothing to look forward to. Of course, Imbolc isn\u2019t so far away, so as a Pagan it\u2019s probably a bit easier to cope with! But winter depression and SAD can affect anyone, so it\u2019s important to keep an eye on your mood at this time of year and try and do something positive if you feel yourself becoming anxious or feeling low. Here are some excerpts from a book I contributed to which has magical tasks for every day of the year. Every Day Magic: A Pagan Book of Days is a collection of 366 ways to observe the cycle of the year. These ideas can help make a grey and dismal January as magical as you need it to be. Click Here or Book Cover for Amazon Info January the First: New Year\u2019s Resolutions Resolve to enrich your spirit each and every day in many and varied ways. Aim to watch the way the seasons change; meditate a little; whisper prayers; light candles for peace, hope, joy, love and good health; dance and sing; learn about the Gods and Goddesses of the ancient world and celebrate the forces of nature, the Earth, the Sun, the Moon and the stars. Breathe in love and breathe out love. Be open to inspiration. Be blessed. Lucya StarzaI January the Fourth: Janus January is named after the Roman God of beginnings and endings, Janus. At the start of the year, cakes made of spelt flour and salt were traditionally burnt on his altar as an offering. Bake spelt bread (there are many traditional recipes online), then make an offering of a little to Janus. Tell him all the things you want to change and ask for his help. Light a candle in his honour. Ravenwings January the Fifth: Focus and Control Pouch Braided string, 6 inches in black, blue and yellow Almond Cedar Bay leaf Nutmeg Carnelian Cinnamon oil Pouch Purple candle Before preparing the pouch, apply cinnamon oil to the candle. Light it to aid focus and meditation. Leaving the oil on your hands, continue the work. Affirmation: \u2018I am strong. I will focus. I remain calm, and use wisdom.\u2019 Repeat this as you place the rest of the items into the pouch. Tie it with braided string. Laeynarrie Auvresti January the Sixth Twelfth Night Wassail Recite this to an apple tree and offer it cider and toast: Wassail Old Apple tree, old apple tree, We have come to wassail thee. Thirteen fires we bring to thee, Ancient Mother apple tree. Here\u2019s cider-toast to break thy fast, Now winter lessens here at last. We wake the spirits with the gun, Then sing and dance, have lots of fun. Oh apple tree, oh apple tree, Do blossom well we beg o\u2019 thee. To bear and to bow apples enow. Hats full! Caps full! Three bushel bags full! Barn floors full, And a little heap under the stairs. Elen Sentier What do you do to keep yourself joyful in January? However you spend this first month of the Gregorian year, may you be warm and merry in some small and special way. *** About the Author: Mabh Savage is a Pagan author, poet and musician, as well as a freelance journalist. She is the author of A Modern Celt: Seeking the Ancestors and Pagan Portals \u2013 Celtic Witchcraft: Modern Witchcraft Meets Celtic Ways. A Modern Celt: Seeking the Ancestors Click Here for Amazon Info Pagan Portals – Celtic Witchcraft: Modern Witchcraft Meets Celtic Ways Click Here for Amazon Info<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":206,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19805","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19805","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/206"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19805"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19805\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19805"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19805"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19805"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}