Everyday Enchantments

Mabon, or the Autumn Equinox, is the second harvest festival in the Wiccan Wheel of the Year after Lughnasadh. I usually set up seasonal altars and this is no different! I have added a scented votive sampler now and some very nice horse chestnuts which as now starting to fall :) I tend to use votive samplers as 'seasonal candles'. I found a nice autumnal one from Yankee Candle this year called "Amber Moon" for my Mabon altar. It's described on the website as "warm golden amber in the evening breeze with the added intrigue pf patchouli and sandalwood". It reminds me of a nice brisk walk in a wood filled with fallen, golden leaves on a sunny autumn day with a chill in the air! :) It is stronger than I normally like for a scented candle so I burn it sparingly. I used cards from Brian Froud's The Faerie's Oracle to symbolise the changing season. I grew Quaking Grass this year so I took it in to dry for Mabon. It's a beautiful annual grass ...

I just wanted to show you a very simple Fullmoon Altar I've set up tonight. The June full moon is sometimes called the Rose Moon, as the dog rose flowers at this time, but for me, it is definitely Jasmine Moon! I love Mock Orange, and around the June full moon and Midsummer, the Mock Orange flowers and the scent carries on the night breeze. When I was a young witch some 20 yrs ago, these were my most magical full moons as my mother grew a gigantic Mock Orange in the front yard meaning I could have these fragrant boughs in my vase on the balcony for my celebration! I have a scented candle on my altar this year to recreate this feeling - Yankee Candle Midnight Jasmine. I also like to pull out some moonstone, selenite and a crystal ball, and this year I wanted to use a card and spell from the enchanting 'Witchlings Book of Spells'!

Today is the first harvest festival, the Autumn Equinox being the second one. I prefer to just call it Festival of the Harvest, but it is commonly known in Wicca as Lammas or Lughnasadh. I have very little time just now but wanted to mark the occasion so I made a very simple altar this year with two Tarot cards I like to meditate on during the first harvest festival - The Sun and Six of Pentacles. I like to say a slow farewell to The Sun with my meditation, and Six of Pentacles is a card of giving and receiving and also reaping the fruits of your labour, whether that be actual fruits from your orchard or the finalising of a work project. Happy Harvest!

I decided to revive this blog as I feel I have a lot of things magical I want to share just now! I will be updating more regularly from now on and I will start with a link to a very good article on 'New Moon Super Power Tarot Spread' from Tarotize.com :) I will be trying this next New Moon to find out my Super Power!

Again, Pagan Dreams are hosting an online gathering, this time it's Yule, and by the looks of it, it's going to be the biggest one yet! Get more information and your celebration pack at Pagan Dreams today. This is a great opportunity for solo practitioners to connect to a wide network of other Wiccans to celebrate the holidays! You can also follow them on Facebook to get the latest deals and the latest info on the event.

As the nights darken and the chill sets over the landscape, I have settled back into cosy nights in in front of the fire. I have had so much going on in the last year and a half and I have drifted away from my beloved Craft. Today I sat down, dusted off my altar, set it for my Halloween celebrations (photos on Halloween!) and held a re-connection ritual. I feel so much better - the Magic once again effuses through my house! I am working on some pages for the blog, like an e-Grimoire. But now I have to pay some attention to the cat as he is feeling neglected after the big clear up :)

Ostara brought snow for us in the UK; now unknown to happen but it certainly dampened the feeling of new life and sunshine! As a holiday who rejoices in the return of the Sun on the Spring Equinox and return of life to the Earth after winter, symbols of Ostara include eggs, lambs, baby rabbits and spring flowers and budding branches. I like to hang colourful eggs and feathers in small budding branches and serve up lovely chocolate eggs. I also have a penchant for chenille chicks as you can see! I love organising an egg hunt (fun for adults as well as kids!) with plenty of chocolate and sweets, and drink cider or apple juice. Making crafts such as colouring eggs is lovely and totally ties in with the spiriti of the season. And if you live with a mainly secular or Christian circle of friends and family, you can sneakily do these things at Easter to tie in with the more mainstream celebrations and holidays!