New Moon ~ A time to set positive intentions

Dropping out-dated habits and successfully replacing them with new and positive intentions and actions is best done every New Moon. Setting intentions at a new moon begins a dialogue between yourself and your higher self, Sun and Moon, Spirit and Soul, Ying and Yang, positive and negative, expansion.

Take a moment and sit down, maybe with a candle burning and a crystal in your hand. Ponder and ask yourself some relevant questions related to issues associated with Aquarius. Give yourself a bit of time to listen, focus your thoughts, ideas and meditations on positive change and take notes.

Here are some examples:

How can I:

• make a positive contribution to the world? (Blue Celestite)
• meet people who share my interests? (Chalcedony)
• work in a job where I can put my inventiveness and ingenuity is good use? (Aquamarine)

The patterns, positive or negative, are set by the first quarter moon and continue to develop throughout the build-up phase. A positive attitude towards overcoming obstacles (restrictions from the past) will affect an expansive and constructive period of growth. Reassess the situation, identify necessary changes and integrate your experiences as required.

Last year was the Year of the Rabbit. But 2012 welcomes a more commanding beast — the Dragon.

Who is the Dragon?

The Dragon is a symbol of good fortune and intense power in Eastern culture. In Chinese tradition, the Dragon is regarded as a divine beast.

According to Sung dynasty manuscripts, the Dragon is described as having the “head of an ox or donkey, eyes of a shrimp, horns of a deer, body of a serpent covered with fish scales, and a feet of a phoenix,” and it usually clutches a pearl, meant to symbolize its supernatural powers.

The Year of the Dragon is one of the most revered years of the Chinese New Year calendar, and those born under the sign are regarded as innovative, passionate people who are colorful, confident and fearless.

The Dragon is sometimes called a “karmic sign.” The Dragon is larger than life and its appearance means that big things are to come. The Year of the Dragon is a flowing river, not a stagnant lake, so things happen quickly earlier in the year. The Dragon marks progression, perseverance and auspiciousness. It may also bring about unpredictable events.

Elements

The five Chinese elements are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. The Dragon is made of Earth, Water and Wood. It is said that the Chinese New Year 2012 will primarily be a water year. This could mean riches and abundance or it could mean natural disaster.

Dragons and the 5 elements

Metal Dragons – Years 1940 and 2000

Metal strengthens this already strong sign. Metal Dragons are more determined and they’ll fight for what they believe in. They enjoy the company of those who feel mighty enough to challenge their beliefs. They’re true leaders and usually find plenty of others willing to follow.

Water Dragons – Years 1952 and 2012

Water calms the Dragon’s fire. Water Dragons are able to see things from other points of view. They don’t have the need to always be right. Their decisions, if well-researched, are usually better since they allow other’s to become involved.

Wood Dragons – 1904 and 1964

Wood Dragons also are willing to entertain the opinions of others. Their artistic side is strong, and Wood Dragons enjoy being creative and innovative. They get along with others, but will always be the dominating force.

Fire Dragons – 1916 and 1976

A Fire Dragon’s emotions can flare instantly. Fire Dragons put themselves on pedestals, and because they react quickly and recklessly, they sometimes make wrong decisions. Fire Dragons need to slow down and keep their tempers in check as that’s when they’re best.

Earth Dragons – Years 1928 and 1988

More rooted in the ground, Earth Dragons make better decisions because they act more rationally. Earth Dragons are level-headed and able to control their behaviors. They’re more supportive of others, but they prefer being admired by others.

Sunshine has been a healing treatment dating back to ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt, in addition to other countries and cultures. For instance, in Greece and Rome, physicians would send patients to a “soleria” for exposure to healing sun rays. Hippocrates, the Grecian “Father of Medicine” prescribed “heliotherapy” (healing with sunshine) in his writings and for his patients. And in the 1800s, doctors treated tuberculosis with sun exposure, because of the sun’s ability to kill bacteria associated with this disease and its related infections.

Many ancient civilizations literally worshipped the Sun. Those in Aztec, Mayn, Egyptian, Celtic, Persian, Greek, Roman and other cultrures prayed to sun gods for help and healings. Solar ceramonies praised the sun for its life-giving force. The early Christian (especially Catholic) churches called this pagan worship a sin and began strongly discouraging its practice. Yet the references to sun worship are still evident, especially on Sunday of each week.

The love part of the healing equation comes from prayer and calling upon Heaven’s help. Angels, as pure, egoless beings, brings both light and love into any situation. When Angelic invocation and intervention is combined with additional sources of light, it opens the door to profound healings.

An Italian adage says: Dove il sole non entra il dottore, which means, “When the sun doesn’t enter, the doctor does. “

Statistically , more people die of diseases associated with sunlight deprivation than do people with skin cancer. As with everything, moderation is important when it comes to sun exposure – - it certainly isn’t wise to get sunburned, yet it’s also unwise to avoid the sun completely.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects millions. During Winter months, people with SAD experience depression, become lethargic, sleep excessively, crave carbohydrates, gain weight, lose interest in doing things with other people, often feel guilty and feel a lack of excitement about life in general. Symptoms improve when SAD suffers are exposed to full-sprectrum lighting.

Sunlight increases mental and physical performance. Sunlight has been shown to lower blood pressure, increase the bloody supply to organs and muscles, increase oxygen supply in body tissue and increase glyogen (stored energy) in the muscles and liver.

Sunlight has general Wellness Benefits. In addition to increasing our Vitamin D supply, sunlight has an insulin-like effect that is beneficial for diabectics. Exercising outside in the sun lowers the lactic-acid count, which can reduce muscular pain from a workout. Sunshine exposure also lowers serum cholesterol and seems to increase our tolerance of stress because it lowers our resting heart, blood pressure and resspiratory rates.

Biologically we’re meant to be exposed to sunlight for health and happiness. Our hemoglobin pigments (red blood cells) are virtually identical to the chlorophyll in plants. Chlorophyll absorbs sunlight and converts it into energy and food for the plant’s growth and health. In a similar way, our body benefits from sunlight exposure.

SO, enjoying a moderate  amount of sunshine in the morning or late afternoon (when UV levels aren’t as strong), appears to be important for our health.

Exposing ourselves to sunrises and sunsets connects us to the natural earth rhythms, which helps us have better timing and puts us in the synchronistic flow of life. Ideally, we should witness the sunrises and sunsets outdoors without sunglasses so our bodies can absorb the light fully. However, even watching the sun rise and set through a window is better than not seeing it all.

We are Spirits upon a Beautiful Planet that has physically based light sources ~~ the Sun, Moon and the Stars. They support and heal us. Light is a tool available to everyone, FREE of Charge. When coupled with LOVE the possibilities are endless ….

To me Beltane is a Magikal time of fertility and growth and union.

A time to dance the maypole, weaving the energies of male and female together.

A time to run between the fires, to cast out any negative energies left from the dark of winter and to bring positive aspects into our lives.

A time of union between Goddess and God.

Sing, Dance, LOVE, Sunshine Rainbows and Many Blessings Peoples xxxx

The time of fertility and new beginnings after a long winter. The Faeries are
afoot! They dance in the hills and roll in the grass, reveling in the joy of
warm breezes. Our spirits are high with the lust and heartiness of spring.

In Celtic tradition, the two greatest festivals of the solar year are Samhain and Beltane, celebrations of death and rebirth,  respectively.

Love is in the air at Beltane.

In rituals, many celebrate the union between the Great Mother and her young Horned God. Their coupling brings fresh new life on Earth. Some form of this Great Rite is enacted on this sabbat in nearly every modern pagan circle. The Great Rite symbolizes the sacred marriage, or sexual union, of the the Lord and Lady.

Often the rite is performed symbolically by a male and female who place a knife (a phallic symbol) into a chalice (a female or yonic symbol). In Old Europe, whole villages would  celebrate by slipping away into the woods for indiscriminate sexual  encounters. Any children conceived during this occasion were known as  “merry-begots” and were considered children of the gods. These “greenwood  marriages” were acts of sympathetic magick believed to have a positive effect on  their crops, animals, and themselves.

The Altar

Drape the altar in a green cloth and decorate it with blooming flowers and herbs.

Herbs

All-heal, blessed thistle, broom, curry, daffodil, dogwood, coriander, dragon’s blood reed, fern, fireweed, nettle, flaxseed,  hawthorn, marjoram, paprika, radish, rue, snapdragon, mushroom, almond, meadowsweet, rose, woodruff, tansy, elder leaves.

Incense

Rose, jasmine, ylang, ylang, peach, musk, or vanilla.

Stones

Malachite, garnet, rose quartz, emerald, beryl, tourmaline.

Magick

Spells to ensure prosperity, conservation, safety, and love.

Activities

Jump the balefire. The bonfire, or need-fire, is one of the oldest Beltane traditions. When lighting the fire, use nine sacred woods from the following list:

• oak, apple, hawthorn, birch, elder, ash, blackthorn, grape vine, mountain ash (rowan), holly, willow, cedar, yew, and hemlock.

Ashes from the balefire can be scattered in the fields as a fertility charm. Women wishing to conceive can tie a bag of the ashes around their necks.  Traditionally, cattle and other animals were driven between two fires for protection, healing, and purification. Modern pagans can ritually purify tools or other things in the balefire. Jump the dying embers of the fire for summer blessings.

Dance around the maypole.

Gather the first wild herbs of the season.

Go a-Mayin’ by going to the woods and fields to gather flowers. Take a picnic.

Wash your face in dew at sunrise on Beltane for beauty in the coming year. (Traditionally the dew from the hawthorn tree, but dew from  grass and flowers will do.)

Make daisy chains and fresh flower wreaths and chaplets (head dresses) to wear and to place atop the maypole. Braid flowers in your hair. Make and wear leafy green masks to represent the Green Man who has returned.

Make a wish at the hawthorn tree, a tree associated with faeries. Place strips of cloth symbolizing your wish in the tree (the colour should be appropriate to the nature of your wish, i.e. blue for health, pink or red for love, green or gold for prosperity). Take some time to attune to the  tree. When you feel you have contacted its spirit, visualize your wish coming true as you hook the cloth on one of the tree’s thorns, chanting your wish. When you have finished, leave a gift for the tree.

Make love in the woods. Beltane is the time of year when the Goddess and God consummate their passions. Traditionally it is a time when lovers pledge to live together for a year and a day. At the end of the period, they may part ways if things haven’t worked out. If all has gone well, they may make plans for a handfasting at Midsummer.

Commune with the faeries.

Mark the boundaries of your circle with oatmeal, a traditional Beltane grain.

I want you to see
That my love is true
Even though we can’t be
I still hold my true love for you

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Essential oils are essences derived from various plants. They can be used to beautify your environment, raise your vibration and enhance your psychic experiences.

Today day n night are of equal length. At this final harvest we give thanks for dreams harvested as a result of our work. Now the ‘grain’ is stored to be used throughout the months ahead. INVOKE ISIS

Maybe make bread to share, place pomegranates on your alter & burn brown & dark orange candles and sandalwood and myrrh incense; maybe even create a harvest Goddess with any plant material you have available

Goddesses/Gods: Goddesses honoured at this time are Bona Dea, Land Mother, Persephone, Demeter/Ceres, Epona and the Muses. Gods honoured at this time are Madron, Sky Father, Thoth, Hermes, Thor, Dionysus, Bacchus

Rituals: Prosperity, Introspection, Past life retrieval, Thanks-giving, Putting things back into balance

Animals/Mythical creatures: Andamans, Birds of Prey, Cyclops, Dogs, Eagle, Gnomes, Goats, Owls, Salmon, Sphinx, Stags and Wolves.

Gemstones: Amethyst, Carnelian, Lapis Lazuli, Sapphire, Yellow agate and yellow topaz

Herbs: Common herbs associated with Mabon are Acorns, Cedar, Fern, Hazel, Ivy, Marigold, Myrrh, Oak Leaves, Pine, Rose, Sage, Tobacco and Thistle, to name but a few

Feasting – Eating, drinking & Making Merry: As this is a festival celebrating the height of the harvest, food is in abundance and it is a perfect time for a community picnic, markets and festivals. Foods traditional at this time are fish, oysters, game birds and meats as well as vegetables such as turnips, marrow, cauliflowers, corn, squash, beans, potatoes, dried fruits, grapes, grains and breads. Traditional drinks are chilled fruity wines, beers, ales and ciders

Customs: Traditionally, this is a good time for eating seasonal fruit, making offerings to the earth, taking walks, hikes and camping in forests, making jams, preservatives, marmalades and using traditional recipes.

From this day forward the days will become shorter and the nights longer, in preparation for the resting period of winter, MANY WARM COSY BLESSINGS TO YOU XXXX

MARS has now moved into AQUARIUS for just over a month.

I always love this time of year, because our humanitarian instincts are revved, and our community spirit is high – something which many parts of the world, currently under water, needs right now.

On an individual basis, Mars in Aquarius prods, pokes and pushes us to be US and me to be ME – the Individual, the Eccentric, the Unique – because we’re all One Of A Kind.

I Accept my Uniqueness. There is no competition and no comparison, for we are all different and meant to be that way. I am Special and Wonderful. I Love Myself xx