Symbols of Halloween October 12, 2009
Posted by frootbat31 in Uncategorized.Tags: celtic, pagan, sabbat, witch
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Black Cats- Black cats originated with the belief that witches kept an ‘imp’ or demonic spirit to serve them in their magic. All black animals, not just cats, were seen as a bad omen.
Pumpkins- Originally, the Jack-O-Lanterns were carved in Turnips, being that Pumpkins are indigenous to America. There is a story of Jack of the Lantern, where a man named Jack tricks the devil and ends up spending eternity walking the earth with only a coal form the pits of Hell to light his way. The belief of the jack-o-lantern is that the scary faces will ward off and confuse evil spirits.
Ghosts on Halloween- According to the Celtic calendar, October 31 belongs to neither the old year or to the year ahead, thereby allowing the Veil between mortals and the dead to thin. Thus, allowing ghosts and spirits to walk among us. These can be both good or bad ghosts.
Tarot reading and other divination practices- Being the Veil between the worlds is thinnest, what better time to ask the spirits for their guidance?
Bobbing for apples was one of many games traditionally was a fertility game. Apples are symbolic of love and fertility. The first person to bite the apple will be the first to marry.
Trick or treating is nothing that it was originally. Originally, begging for soul cakes or other food on All Hallow’s Eve. Dressing up in costumes were to confuse or placate the spirits.Years ago, if you didn’t give the treat, the trick-or-treater would play a trick such as soaping windows or spreading toilette paper on your lawn.
Midsummer: The Sabbat of Litha May 13, 2008
Posted by frootbat31 in sabbat.Tags: celtic, crafts, holly king, litha, mead, midsummer, oak king, pagan, recipes, ritual, sabbat, wicca
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By the old folk calendar, summer began on May Day and ends on Lammas (August 1st). This puts the celebration of Litha right in the middle, making it ‘midsummer’. This is the longest day of the year, the height of the growing season, and the time the Sun God has reached his strength. The Holly King fights the Oak King for his throne, returning rule at the time of Yule. Click here for more on this…
The Goddess is seen heavy with child, and at the height of her power. The Sun God also is at his height, so energies and Life abounds at this time of the year. Litha is a time for full celebration and enjoying of Life and all that its providing you.
Some activities you can do to celebrate:
*Feasting with foods such as
*Cleansing and ridding oneself of negative in your life. Make a small pouch of natural materials such as wool or cotton. Fill this with a combination of midsummer herbs. Tie the pouch with a red string. Focus on any problems, pain, or illness you with to be rid of and concentrate to the bag. Now throw the bag into the fire to be transformed into something positive.
*Jumping the fire. Put some herbs/incense in a small cauldron. Jump over the smoke and name what you wish to leave behind.
*This is a fire festival so bonfires are common. Another tradition is burning wheels but be very careful with this- this can set a field on fire. Wheels were covered in straw then set alight. The burning wheels represented the sun’s travel across the skies. Rolling downhill, it was said if the wheel continued to burn the entire way down, this meant a bountiful harvest in the Fall.
*Making flower or herb wreaths can be fun. Mixing the plants can create a beautiful and aromatic decoration to wear.
Some Midsummer rituals:
Some Crafts:
Make a sundial (also includes how they work)
Eye of God(or Goddess) Many pagans make these on Midsummer
Finger knitting (video)I often make cords from embroidary thread in this same method
Some Recipes:
Pagan tattoos April 1, 2008
Posted by frootbat31 in coven, wicca.Tags: celtic, design, pagan, symbol, tattoo, wicca, witch
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I really began to notice tattoos years ago when I attended a clothes-optional festival. There you could meet pagans, mystic Christians, Buddhists, and pretty much any open-minded ‘flavor’ of religion that accepts others. And being clothes-optional also left bodies open to scrutiny. Some amazing works of art had been needled onto skin. Even more fascinating were the stories that went with them.
One woman told me of the tiny Ladybug tattoo over her heart. During a time where she felt so insignificant in life, where life had little meaning, she found herself hiking through the Redwood forest. She told me how even more small and insignificant she felt being amid trees hundreds of feet tall, hundreds of years old. Its dark there, she continues to explain, where the forest branches nearly block out the sun. Yet, somehow a single beam of sunlight managed to break through to touch the base of one of these trees. There, taking advantage of the warmth and light was a mess of Ladybugs. These bugs were smaller than I was, but nothing hid the beauty they had right there. To honor the lesson of the Ladybug, that even the smallest of insects matter, she had it tattooed over her heart.
I find with most pagans, the markings on them not only hold a story, but a powerful meaning behind the symbolism. Some choose a god or goddess, while others may pick an animal or totem, while others might have a design from the heritage of the Celts, Nordic tradition, or Native American; whichever calls to them.
My coven all have the same spiral Celtic design to symbolize our unity and being such a close knit family. We picked different sizes, colors, and different parts of our bodies, but everyone has the mark somewhere on them. The artists that did them for us said how amazed they were that our group did this all in one day, in a circle cast for protection and in love and trust, and took turns being there through the painful process. Some drummed, others held a hand, while others still spoke words of encouragement.
Our group doesn’t demand members to have a tattoo, but nearly all members had it done just the same.
I can provide a bit of advice after having one done.
- Avoid anything with words such as names. Relationships change over time. Removing tattoos is just as painful as having one put on.
- Do not get drunk beforehand. You want a clear head when you decide.
- Avoid tensing or holding your breath with the pain. Long, steady, slow breaths help control pain.
- Different parts of the body have different tolerances of pain. Near bones or joints hurt more than the fleshier parts of the body.
- “Fill in” areas hurt more than having lines drawn.
- Not every artist induces the same amount of pain. Mine used short bursts while drawing, while the other tended to use longer strokes (which hurt more).
- Research the artist before deciding. Choose one with a great reputation, who is clean, and has a code of ethics. For instance, the artist who did mine refuses to tattoo pregnant women or anyone who is drunk.
- Take your time in choosing the design and place of your tattoo. This will be permanent.
Mine will always remind me of my brothers and sisters in the Craft, as well as my relationship with the triple goddess.
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