My Pagan Baseline

You know what I realized after looking over some of my blog photos? That a wreath is my pagan baseline. It made me chuckle a bit. Yes that's right - almost all my pagan celebrations come down to the same simple thing. Creating a wreath and doing something with it - sending it off into the water, wrapping it around a tree, or putting it on my head! I make wreaths of herbs for birthdays, wreaths of lilacs for Beltane, wreaths of random flowers for Solstice - anything!

So, I guess it makes sense that I add a wreath-making tutorial on here at some point. Stay tuned!

Dedication Ritual

Last night we formally designated the garden circle as a sacred space. Dedication rituals are usually a bit more involved since you only do them once. It made sense to me to wait until the next new moon, which is a time for setting new goals and letting go of old habits. I bought some candles and incense to help create that special atmosphere that fosters deep thoughts and sacred moments. We began our ritual by calling upon the elemental powers of the world.

The stone circle we created has four full moon shapes set precisely in north, south, east, and west. We took turns standing on each moon and calling upon the corresponding element. Then, we each placed a floating candle into the fountain.

There was no breeze at all, and the sweet smell of incense hung in the air. With the candles glowing against a darkening sky, we each said our pledge aloud. I pledged to care for the space, for the plants and animals that lived in and around the circle. I promised never to be petty or selfish or dishonest in the circle. I pledged to welcome anyone who wanted to be in the circle with me, and finally I promised that all communication in the space would be gentle and kind, resolving any conflicts with an open heart. Whew! When we finished our pledges, we each placed a final candle into the fountain.

With our ritual complete, we hugged and kissed and went inside for a drink! 

Summer Solstice and the Full Moon

Midsummer is such a special time. The days are long and the night air is warm. The hustle and bustle of spring subsides, and makes way for more relaxation and enjoyment of life. This year, the weekend of the summer solstice (also called Litha) was also the weekend of the full Strawberry Moon. I decided to celebrate both together. Actually, as I am typing this I realized I forgot to add strawberries to the wreath offering. Whoops! Anyways...

At home I built a small fire, adding some dried herbs and spices to makes it smell more magic-y. Then my partner and I held hands and leapt over it, making sure not to let go of each other. In some traditions, leaping over the flame ensures fertility of both self and crops in the coming year. In others, it grants wishes or keeps your current romance true and faithful. It is a fun and easy solstice ritual. I have heard of people leaping over a lit candle in their bedroom - you can make this as simple or as complicated as you like.

The final part of my celebration involved making an offering to the local lake. I spend a lot of time at this lake during the summer months, and this is my way of showing gratitude and sort of "opening" the summer lake season for our family. I made two large wreaths full of white flowers, put on a white dress over a bathing suit, and made my way to the lake.

Any time I do something in public, I am racked with self-consciousness! There were only a few people, but of course they were staring at me with confused-but-interested looks on their faces. I remained friendly and smiling. However, when I stepped slowly into the calm water, I forgot I had an audience at all. There may have been other people at the lake, but NO ONE was in the water. It was clear and still and warm. I filled my head with memories of summers past, and breathed deep to smell the water and the plants. Once waist-deep, I slowly pushed the wreaths out. They floated beautifully, slowly drifting further and further away.

The Patio is Complete!

We did it - we completed the patio! And it doesn't look terrible. In fact, it looks amazing! I am SO proud of us for pulling this off. Huzzah!

Beltane

Dry herbs burn in the morning sun

Creating Sacred Spaces

I've mentioned my garden circle several times on this blog, usually when I have added to it in some way. The space has evolved both in how it looks and how I use it over the past two years. Currently, it's borders are marked with large rocks that are large enough to sit on. In the center is a fountain, and there are small trees and shrubs growing randomly along the edges. I use this space primarily to relax and contemplate after a long day, usually with a cup of tea in hand. I also use it to have serious or important talks with people. The space is special because it has been infused with meaning.

After many discussions (some in the circle ha ha!) we have decided to make completing this space our next project. Our plan is to enclose the space further, replace the grassy surface with a stone patio, and turn the border into a moon garden by adding white and silver plants. I know, it's a big project and a lot of work. I have a little experience with the planting aspect, but neither of us have ever tried to lay down a patio before.

Researching online gave me the impression that "a dedicated couple could complete a small patio project over several weekends". So we have given ourselves a six week deadline, which conveniently lands at the same time we are hosting a rehearsal dinner for dear friends.

Birthday

For my birthday this year, my parents and my partner went in together to give me an over-the-top, beautiful, whimsical gift. They gave me a FOUNTAIN!!!

I always wanted a proper fountain in the backyard, specifically in the sacred circle space we created last summer. But it was hardly a priority. A fountain this size is also expensive, heavy, and dificult to set up. But they made it happen, and I was beyond thrilled. It looks and sounds beautiful and calming, birds play in it, and the sun reflects the water onto the leaves above.

Love to the full moon!



Autumn Gratitude Ritual

When the trees are losing their leaves, I like to honor the end of their yearly cycle with a gratitude ritual. This is often done on the eve of the Autumn Equinox. Throughout the year the trees give us shelter, oxygen, food, and beauty. This ritual is essentially an offering, giving something of meaning in exchange for all that the trees have given us. Achieving balance. The best offerings in my opinion take effort - in this case I made bread from scratch (an overnight process) and apple cider (a full day undertaking). So there was effort a-plenty! Choose a tree that is special to you - maybe one you pass daily on your way to work, or one that looks especially beautiful this time of year. The tree we chose is a young maple that I stare at through the kitchen window while doing the dishes. It also looks gorgeous this time of year.

Our offering is ready

We tie the bread to one of the branches with string

Flowers adorn the base of the tree

We thank our beautiful maple tree

This ritual can be accompanied with singing, a declaration of gratitude, silent thought - anything! Whatever you feel moved to do is fine - as long as it is done with a genuine heart. I usually hum while I put out the offering, and end by saying a few things aloud. When the offering was complete, we went inside and enjoyed apple cider hot from the stovetop. Happy Autumn everyone!

Elder Tree

Here are some photos of a nearby tree I visit every time I walk the dog. The first time I saw this tree I was struck by the resemblance to a woman with her arms outstretched. So to me this tree has a female energy, and I call her the Elder Tree. She is covered in thick moss, and her branches reach out over a small creek. It's a beautiful spot at any time of year.

Her arms are outstretched

Soft moss covers the trunk and branches

Dramatic on this overcast day

Elder Tree is in a public wooded area, so while it's somewhat private there still sounds of traffic and other urban noises. It doesn't bother me (although I do feel sad when I see trash or graffiti) as I simply accept it as part of the landscape. The beauty and power of nature doesn't go away, we are just distracted from it by other things. So, all you have to do is make a conscious effort to notice. I feel quite lucky to have a wooded area like this the same distance from me as the grocery store and movie theatre.  

Full Harvest Moon

What better way to celebrate the Harvest Moon than by harvesting some apples and throwing a cider making party? Exactly - there isn't (ha ha). We bought a small press, invited some friends, and shared some good food. It was a great team effort.

First we picked the apples

The dog stole one

Then we washed them

Next we cut the apples into quarters

And the tiring task of grinding up the apples began

Put the apple pieces into a mesh bag and into the press

And press away!

Grace!

Saying grace is a wonderful idea, and obviously it needn't be religious My partner and I say the following (fairly secular) grace before dinner:

May we appreciate and show gratitude for all that we receive. For the food which comes from the earth to nourish us; for the people who prepared it. And for the good company we share it with today.

That's all for today. Be well!

Preparing for Mabon

The celebration of the Autumn equinox, Mabon, is coming!

The evening air is becoming cooler, and the young crows in my neighbourhood now have all their jet black feathers. My home feels cozier, and the scent of comfort food simmering on the stove fills the kitchen. Soon I will be exchanging my summer jacket for a heavier coat, and wearing boots instead of sandals. I love the beginning of the Autumn season.

The sabbat of Mabon essentially looks the same as Thanksgiving. I say looks the same because well, it has nothing to do with pilgrims or turkeys! The celebration revolves around a large feast, friends, family, gratitude, and the final harvest of the year. In addition, offerings are made to trees to thank them for the sustenance they provided during the year, and herbs are gathered and dried. "Mabon is a time to finish old business as we ready for a period of rest, relaxation, and reflection". Old business could mean anything from finishing a home project to making peace with your ex-partner. If any unresolved issues are keeping you up at night, now is a great time to say your piece, and move on.

Ironically, my days at work during this time of year are busier than ever! A lot of new projects and responsibilities begin and it is easy to feel overwhelmed. Still, I try and incorporate some of the spirit of Mabon into my daily work life in little ways - like taking time to breath!

On the home front this year, we will be pressing apples for cider, brewing a pumpkin ale, and making herb bundles. The celebration is only two weeks away, so I doubt the ale will be ready by then (or if it is it probably won't be one worth drinking!). I always feel nervous inviting people over to pagan celebrations, so it usually ends up being a select few who I know won't roll their eyes at me when I give some of my wine to the tree in the backyard. Ha ha.

Venus flirts with the Sun

The planet Venus, the manifestation of the beautiful goddess of love and desire. Around the world people gathered to adore her as she crossed in front of the sun. Aphrodite has been on my mind lately, and I made an offering to her over the weekend. I do almost all my rituals outside, and it was a lovely sunny day so I took advantage of the moment. Offerings can be anything that is meaningful to you, and I used incense, red and pink flowers, and a red candle. I watched the sweet smoke from the incense rise up into the sky, and imagined it taking my thoughts (and tears - I tend to get emotional!) with it to the universe above. Then out of nowhere, it began to rain - and I mean it poured. Heavy, large raindrops just pelted down on me. The timing was quite magical actually, as though my offering had been received and Aphrodite was crying with me. So awesome. I love being pagan!

Love to the Strawberry Moon

I purchased this beautiful Artemis candle a few days ago to celebrate the full moon. She is drawing her bow skyward while a deer and a rabbit stand loyally by. It is so lovely I can't imagine actually burning it down, so instead I lit a small candle behind it so that it would glow on my mantelpiece. Tonight I plan to perform a small cleansing ritual, as I've been feeling unsettled due to a few recent events. It is so nice to have a place to "put" these feelings, to let them go and gain some peace. And under a full moon it's somehow easier!

Magic is Afoot!



Celebrating the Divine Feminine

Yesterday was Mothers Day, a time to honor the mothers in your life and tell them how much you love them. In addition to enjoying the company of my own mother, I also reflected upon the mother archetype. It is a powerful and fascinating concept. To "mother" something is to nurture, to watch over, to protect it. Although I have no children, I do feel that I have "mothered" the people in my life at various times. And not just people, but animals and plants too.

Despite my insistence (mainly to myself) that I am a solitary pagan practitioner, I attended a pagan service yesterday morning in which both the recent Beltane and Mother's Day was discussed. The priestess spoke of the sensuality (not to be confused with sexuality) of Beltane. All those wonderful things that please our five senses around this time of year. The songs of birds, scent of flowers, the feeling of soft grass, all sensual sensations that draw us in and make us feel good. And humans are creatures who like feeling good!

These sensual things, the priestess argued, could be seen as an invitation to become intimate with nature. Intimate in the true sense, is about listening, looking, and enjoying each other. The earth is offering us sights and sounds that please us - what a gift and reason to rejoice! No wonder I feel so good around this time of year.

Love to the Flower Moon

Magical Study

A lovely friend lent me a book by Scott Cunningham called Earth Power. It explains different ways of interacting with the earth in magical ways. Cunningham refers to this as "folk magic" that is used everyday by ordinary people:

"It has been said that magic was the first religion, and that if you lovingly utilize the forces of nature to cause beneficial change, you also become one with them. It is these powers that have been personified as Gods and Goddesses. Attuning with them is a spiritual experience and is the basis of all true religion."

Cunningham describes earth based magic as uncomplicated and wonderful. That really speaks to me, as I am more drawn to a spiritual practice that is lighthearted and spontaneous. I sing and make offerings when I feel moved to do so, rather than because I have to follow a specific forumla. I am excited to read more about it. This image of a woman studying magic in the garden is of course how I like to think I appear when I am sitting on a lawnchair in my backyard. Ha ha!

Garden Circle

My plans to create a sacred space are coming along nicely! I have not yet cleared or dedicated the space as I want to wait until a few more things are put in place. But, I am already spending time just hanging out in the circle - just reading or talking on the phone, simple things. It is nice to have a special place (that is also private) like this outdoors.

And bonus - the fountain actually works!