Litha, clocks, and Uri Geller.

Good grief, July ALREADY?  I had every intention of posting something for Litha, but I was in the middle of a very intensive change management course on the 21st and was just SOOOO tired!  Anyway,  I passed the exam, so it was all worthwhile.  I think.

The picture is from Avebury a couple of years ago;  sadly, this year the weather didn't co-operate but Litha 2010 was a scorcher;  we took part in a mass noonday ceremony in the circle, a totally wonderful experience!

It's hard to believe that we're now in the Holly King's half of the year, especially as the weather in the UK hasn't been exactly summery.  Let's hope July is a bit better.

I mentioned clocks.  Well, it's a clock, actually.  This clock - 

It belonged to my husband's grandfather and it didn't go.  Well, it would tick half-heartedly if you put it on a particular spot on the floor in the hall.  For about two minutes.  Maybe.  My husband really wanted to get it repaired, but nobody fixes clocks these days, so the clock sat there, stubbornly silent.

Well, a few years ago (2003, where does time go?) Uri Geller came to the Swansea Grand Theatre with his one-man show.  He talked about how he'd started a career in Israel, shouting "WORK!" at broken watches and clocks (and then, as the Israeli audience caught on to the possibilities, fridges and air-conditioners as well!)   He told us to try it for ourselves.  When we got home I heard my OH shouting "WORK! WORK!" at the clock.  Yeah, good luck with that, I thought.  A few minutes later I walked past the clock...it was ticking!  What's more, it kept on ticking, and even chiming, for weeks until we got fed up with it and let it run down!

I know sceptics hate Uri Geller.  They will claim that stage magicians can duplicate his "tricks",  thus proving that, obviously, he's cheating.  (There are people who believe that the Apollo missions to the Moon were faked.  They say that there are a number of ways in which the film footage could have been faked.  However, just because it could have been fake doesn't mean it was, obviously.  There's a double standard here) 

 Now, both the OH and I are interested, in an intellectual sort of way, in stage magic, and can usually figure out how a trick might have been managed.  I have seen stage magicians "duplicate" Uri's effects.  They don't do it the same way he does.  They just DON'T.  They cover up, misdirect, substitute.  I know the clock didn't work. I know that, then, it did. And I know that the only thing that was done to it was the OH shouting at it. I have no explanation, but it wasn't a trick.

When Uri Geller first appeared on British TV in the 70's, my niece bent every spoon and fork in the house.  ("Can you still do it?"  I asked her a few months later.  "Yes!" she said, and jumped up to demonstrate.  "No she can't!"  said my sister.)  She was about five or six years old at the time.  Again, I have no explanation.  Sceptics will say it didn't happen that way.

Except it did.

Full Moon in Scorpio

Bleassings everyone,

Tonight's full moon is at perigee  - it's at its nearest approach to Earth this year, so it should appear larger than usual.  Full moon is a good time for spellwork, of course, and tonight's full moon happens in Scorpio, so it's a good time for dealing with powerful emotions and working to reveal what is hidden.

The moon in Scorpio is not peacful; she manifests the Black Isis aspect of the Goddess, Kali-Ma, the Breaker in Pieces, not the tranquil Hathor aspect.  The energy clears the ground so that the new may come in, but this is no gradual change - this is the Tower of the Tarot in action. 

If you are undertaking spellwork today, then be careful what you wish for - you just may get it!

If you seem to be getting nowhere or a situation is "stuck", try the following unblocking spell -

Meditate upon the situation and determine where the blockage is - what needs to happen to move things on?  (Be as specific as you can - remember, be careful what you wish for...)

Charge a peridot, sardonyx or quartz crystal -
Expose the stone to the light of the full moon, while explaining what you want to the goddess," under grace and harming none"
Place the stone on your altar;  have candles and incense (if you wish) burning. White or silver candles work well with moon magic. 
Focus your desires on the stone.  When you feel that the stone is charged, you may extinguish the candles and leave the stone on your altar overnight.
Carry the stone with you in a charm bag or your purse.

Recharge the stone from time to time.

Murphy's Imps

We've all come across them - the Murphy's Imps (Murphy's Law - If it can go wrong, it will) who arrange for toast to fall butter-side down and keys to hide at the most critical moment possible.
They hate clear spaces. Have you noticed how, when you clear a desk or table, the next person who comes in will put something down in the space you cleared? I once worked in an office where the door would not stay closed for more than a few minutes. It was directly across from my desk and when it was left open an icy breeze would blow around my ankles. As long as I could stand the draught, nobody would come through the door. However, if I got up and closed the wretched thing, someone would come bouncing in within five minutes and leave it open. If, by some chance, they closed the door behind them, someone else would come along within seconds and leave it open. That door was infested with Murphys, I tell you.

Madeline Montalban, a ceremonial magician, who wrote for "Prediction" magazine on the Tarot and magick, wrote an article about them, which has stuck in my mind for more than 25 years.
Madeline wrote about her kettle, which she said harboured a Murphy. It was a whistling kettle which would fire its whistle across the kitchen, breaking any crockery or glassware that it encountered on its wild flight. In an attempt to curtail its activities, she hung a Tau cross (a cross in the shape of a "T"), symbol of the goddess Nortia, above the cooker. The kettle sulked for a bit, then shot it down.
Its crowning achievement then was to launch its whistle into a trifle which was being prepared for guests, where it "pulled the cream over itself" and hid until turning up triumphantly in the bowl of the guest of honour!

Murphys are adept at hiding things that you need at the time you most need them. I have had objects disappear and reappear in the place where you looked for them in the first place but where they definitely weren't the first time you looked. This would have caused me to doubt my sanity and my eyesight, were it not for the times that I've asked someone else to check that I haven't overlooked the item ("Look at this shelf and tell me if you can see my keys!")

I've given my Imp a name. I call him Pyewackett and he inhabits my handbag. Heaven help anyone who tries to take something out of my bag, Pyewackett will ensure that they can't find their nose to blow it. It took him about a year to get used to my husband - for a long time if I asked my husband to get something out of my bag he'd bring the whole thing over to me saying "I'm not touching that, not after the last time!" Pyewackett is feeling playful, appealing to him by name (with a bit of flattery) will usually get the missing item returned from wherever in hyperspace it's gone off to.
Once, my husband was at the dentist when the nurse said she couldn't find the pot of amalgam she'd prepared for his filling. He told the dentist, "Don't ask about what I'm going to do now...Pyewackett, put it back, please!" Lo and behold, the amalgam reappeared...and of course, the dentist asked "How the hell did you do that?" It's difficult to refuse an explanation to a man who has you at his mercy, as the dentist pointed out when David tried to get away without explaining...

A Circle-casting

Cast your circle in a deosil (pronounced "jessel") direction - that is, clockwise. (Anti-clockwise is called widdershins. All movement within the circle should go deosil.). Most people like to actually walk the perimeter of the circle, and tradition says you should go round three times (once for the maiden, once for the mother, and once for the crone). However, if you haven't the space, you can do it by visualisation. The key to all magick is imagination, remember!

This is a circle-casting I wrote;

I craft a net of golden light,

And cast it round this sacred space,

All sprinkled well with silver stars

To ward this place that is no place

Between the worlds, out of time’s flow,

For here we work our magic charm

Thus we invoke the Powers that Guard

That in this sphere shall come no harm.

Spirit of Earth, we call you in,

Lend us your strength this mystic hour.

Come from the North to join us here,

And bless us with your sacred power.

Spirit of Air, we call you in,

Lend us your wisdom in this hour,

Come from the East to join us here,

And bless us with your sacred power.

Spirit of Fire, we call you in,

Lend us your energy this hour,

Come from the South to join us here,

And bless us with your sacred power.

Spirit of Water, come you in!

Lend compassion in this hour,

Come from the West to join us here

And bless us with your sacred power.

Bright Lady, Queen of Heaven and Earth,

We ask your presence in this place,

In love and trust we ask you, come!

Empower this circle with your grace.

Lord of the Greenwood, hearken now

We call you here to take your seat.

With your great presence in this hour,

Our magic circle is complete!

This also calls the Quarters - that is, asks for the protection of the spirits of the elements- and invites the Lord and Lady.

(You will notice that I begin my circle in the north. Other traditions begin in the east. I was taught that "everything comes from the north", that is, from earth. North represents earth, midnight - which is when the day begins and ends. To me it makes sense. If you feel that east makes better sense, then begin in the east, but rearrange the rhyme accordingly.)

Beltane Blessings!

Happy Beltane everyone! 

Let's begin with a candle wishing spell, Beltane being a fire festival an' all!

To manifest your wish - choose a candle of the appropriate colour
Using a stylus, write your wish on the wax (or draw a symbol of it) and anoint it with a magical oil, diluted in a carrier oil, appropriate to the wish. The important thing is the strength of the magickal concentration so if you don't have the "approved" oil or the right colour of candle (white can be used for any purpose as it contains all colours) on hand. use whatever you have. While you anoint the candle, concentrate on your wish. Prepare your altar, having ready pen and paper and something fireproof (such as your cauldron - or a good- sized ashtray!) When all is ready, cast your circle, then write your wish on to the paper. (You did take the time to think it all out in advance, didn't you? Good!)

Light your wishing candle, and say the following rhyme;

Candle burning in the night

With your flame enchanted

By the pow'r of magic might

Let my wish be granted.

When the candle sheds its beam

At the mystic hour

Let fulfillment of my dream

Gather magic power

Flame of magic, brightly burn

Symbol of the fire

Let the wheel of fortune turn

Grant me my desire!

One, two, three - so shall it be!

Hold the paper with your wish written on it in the flame of the candle so that it catches fire. Drop it into your fireproof container and let it burn out. Extinguish your candle, then take down your circle etc.

Candle Colours & Correspondences

Black- Banishing, Crone Magick, Mourning, Loss, Meditation, Feminine Divine, Absorbing & Banishing Negativity, Samhain.

Blue- Peace, Healing, Tranquillity, Truth, Sleep, Prophetic dreams, Friendship, Physical protection, Hope.

Brown- Animal Magick, Home, Locate Lost Object, Grounding

Gold- Solar Deities, Honour Gods

Grey- Neutral

Green- Beauty, Employment, Fertility, Healing, Success, Good Luck, prosperity, Money, Re-invigoration, Masculine Divine.

Orange- Creativity, Attraction, Stimulate Energy, Legal Matters, Success, New Home, Samhain, Intelligence, Mental Clarity.

Pink-Love, Honour, Friendship, Fidelity, Femininity

Purple- Psychic Ability, Wisdom, Spirituality, Healing, Success, Independence, Spiritual Growth, Power, Healing, Feminine Divine.

Red- Lust, Strength, Courage, Power, Health, Energy, Vitality, Love, Nationalism, Will Power.

Silver-Remove Negativity, Encourage Stability, Psychic Protection, Honour Goddess, Telepathy, Clairvoyance.

White-Meditation, Healing, Truth, Peace, Spiritual Strength, Lunar Magick, Purity, Protection, Happiness, Masculine Divine. (Note - can stand in for any colour)

Yellow-Charm, Confidence, Attraction, Wisdom, Visions, Psychic Powers, Mental Powers, New Home.

Have a blessed Beltane, all!