My Personal Grimoire @talesofasufferingwitch - Tumblr Blog

Lammas, The Harvest Festival, August 1st-2nd

It is high summer, or in my case, the tail end of summer (Canada has some crazy weather in our provinces). This is the time of the first harvest, and it is a time to gather with friends and family and give thanks for all that the earth has given us. The first harvest, Lammas, is the Grain Harvest. Mabon, the Autumn Equinox, is the second harvest of Fruit, and Samhain is the third and final Harvest of Nuts and Berries. The word “Lammas” is derived from “loaf mass” and is indicative of how central and honoured the first grain and the first loaf of the harvesting cycle is. This is also the great festival of Lugh, the Celtic Sun King and God of Light. Feasting, market fairs, games, bonfires, circle dancing, reflecting the movement of the sun in sympathetic magic was popular, as well as all community gatherings. August was considered an auspicious and promising month for handfasting and weddings. However, there was the underlying knowledge that the bounty and energy of the Sun is now beginning to wane. It is a time of change, active growth is slowing down and the darker days of winter and reflection are beckoning…

At Lamas, the Goddess is in her aspect as the Grain Mother, Harvest Mother, Harvest Queen, Earth mother, representing the ripe corn and the bountiful harvest. The fullness of the present harvest already carries the seed for the future harvests, as a pregnant woman, with her unborn daughter already holding the ovaries containing all the eggs her daughter will ever release. The pregnant woman is already mother, and grandmother, and beyond, when given the chance to flourish.

Herbs and Plants of Lammas All grains (wheat, barley, oats, rye, all representing fulfillment and potential). Meadowsweet, also known as Queen-of-the-Meadow, and Bridewort, it is one of the most sacrad herbs of the Druids. It was often worn as a garland for Lammas celebrations and was a traditional herb for wedding circlets and bouquets at this time of year. Also used for love spells and can be strewn to promote peace, and its scent eases the heart. Mint is another one of the revered herbs of the Druids (vervain being the third). Its magical properties are both healing and protection and, at this stage of the year, its properties of drawing abundance and prosperity are most appropriate. Sunflowers, as they represent fertility. Calendula, little suns, in all their shades of orange to yellow. Colours of Lammas: Still green, with every shade of the sun and harvest, from gold to the deepest of oranges.

Lammas Altar: Wheat and all grains, bread, sunflowers, marigolds, calendulas, yellow candles

For all the effort we go to, to avoid food and make sure we do starve, we need to remember back to the days when it wasn’t a choice. When people were dying out from not being able to acquire food. Today, just give thanks that we have the option at this point, at least most of us do. Find a way to honour yourself and your earth, because she has produced what we need to survive.

Love, your friendly neighbourhood witch,

XX

talesofasufferingwitch

Litha, the Summer Solstice, June 21

Also known as Midsummer, Midsummer’s Eve, Gathering Day, and St. John’s Day, this is the time of abundance, growth, masculine energy, love, and of course, magic. Litha is the name given to the Wiccan Sabbat, the ones that I celebrate. This is the longest day and the shortest night of the year, marking the apex of the Sun’s power to fuel the growing season. From here on out, the Sun will set a little earlier each night until Yule, and so we recognize and give thanks for its warmth throughout the next couple of months.

Though typically celebrated on June 21st, the exact moment of the Summer Solstice varies from year to year, so depending on where you live, it may fall the day before or the day after. For this reason, on the wheel of the year, it is typically listed as June 20-22. As the Sun reaches its highest point in the sky, the masculine energy of the world is now in its full power, and the feminine energies of the earth are bringing forth the greatest abundance of the year. Crops are reaching their full maturity and forests are bursting with lush growth and life. In a few short weeks, the harvest season will arrive, but for now we pause to celebrate the manifestation of what was planted in the early weeks of spring. There is a focus on the Element of Fire in honour of the Sun Gods (Apollo, Sol, Helios, Lugh, Mithras, Ra), and recognition given to the Horned Gods of the forest and its wild animal life.

Ancient pagans celebrated the Solstice with torchlight processions and giant bonfires to ritually strengthen the Sun. Another tradition found among European cultures was centred on the need for balance between the elements of Fire and Water. Large wheels were set on fire and rolled downhill into creeks, rivers, or lakes, perhaps as a charm against summertime drought. This is also the traditional time for gathering wild herbs for medicine and magic, as most are fully grown by Midsummer and the power of this particular day will add to their benefits. So, to celebrate Litha this year, decorate your altar with summer flowers, herbs, and fruits, and summer colours like yellow, green, and blue. This is a traditional time for rites of re-dedication to the God and Goddesses, as well as divination related to love and romance. Keep at least one candle lit throughout the day to honour the sun, and if possible, hold your Litha rituals at noon, when the Sun is at its highest point in the sky. Have an outdoor picnic feast of fruits and vegetables, bask in the warmth of he day. This is also a particularly good time for magic related to masculine energies, and any situation that needs to be “fired up” in your life.

In the Southern Hemisphere, our fellow pagans are celebrating their Winter Solstice, lets also take a moment to wish our kin a blessed Yule.

Now, for the ones trooping through this post and being absolutely wonderful. For us sufferers, this is the time to rededicate ourselves to nourishing our bodies with healthy foods when we need to eat, and getting our asses back on track to be skinny. This masculine energy, this fire inside of us, it is burning so brightly. The same way that our bodies follow the cycle of the year, is the same way we need to be treating our bodies. You cannot grow a flower by giving it solid food, you have to give the flower what it needs, water. And we need to focus on what our bodies need to get us where we need to be. Changing our diet, going vegan/vegetarian/pescatarian, adding movement, losing that extra weight that is literally and metaphorically holding us back. Go throw out those treats you’re hiding away, and renew your promise to yourself. You will be ethereal, you will be lithe, you will reach your goals.

Sending much love to everyone on this day of magic, Your friendly neighbourhood witch xx

cleopatronising

i think the only thing wrong with some of us is that we’re being robbed of traditional jobs like woodworking artisans and witch doctors and being forced to like… write a cv and breathe stale air conditioner air when we should be barefoot hauling oranges from an orchard…

forndom

Fagra sommar - IV © Forndom

actthenpens-deactivated20150730

talesofasufferingwitch

Gaia, The Earth Goddess, Ancestral Mother

Gaia, quite simply, is life. She is all, the very soul of the earth. She inhibits the planet, and provides life and nourishment to her children. In ancient civilizations, she was revered a mother, nurturer and giver of life. It’s she who created and sustained us, and to whom we are returned upon death. Every culture has their own version of the Earth Goddess. Greeks called her Gaia, Incas know her as PachaMama, and in some cases, she predates writing: ancient, pre-language references to her have been found alongside shrines, statues, and paintings of her in every corner of the globe. She is the first Goddess, the primeval one, creator or life and the fullness of her legacy is still being regained after the patriarchal suppression she has gone through. To the Greeks, Gaia was the ultimate goddess of raw, maternal power. In the beginning, there was chaos, nebulous ethers waiting to take for. This primordial landscape awaited direction; it’s then that the spirit of Gaia arrived to give structure to the formless, and such, the earth was born. She became the earth, birthing all form of landscape, plant, and creature. She longed for love, as any mother does, and created the sky with whom she mated, igniting a creative force which birthed countless offspring: Time and the Fates, the Muses and the oceans, to name a few. She is considered the primeval mother of whom all gods- and life- is descended. She is my Goddess, my Mother, my comfort, and to whom I will return to upon death Credits to the artist, I do not know who you are but your work is majestic

Samhain, Hallows Eve, Celtic New Year, October 31st

In Celtic Ireland, 2,000 years ago, Samhain was the division of the year between the lighter half (summer) and the darker half (winter). This was considered the Celtic New Years Eve, and was the most important of the 4 major festivals. At Samhain, the division between this world and the otherworld was at its thinnest, allowing spirits both good and bad to pass through this realm and walk among the land. Families honoured their ancestors as they came back and walked beside them once again, they invited in kind spirits while donning costumes and masks to disguise themselves from the harmful spirits. Bonfires and food were huge parts of the celebration, and the bones of animals were tossed into the communal fire. Families extinguished their household fires and restarted them as the night donned from the communal fire for added protection to their home. Food was prepared for the living and dead, but since the dead could not eat the food, it was ritually shared with the less well off (going door to door giving food to the community, sound familiar?)

Christianity took the festival and changed it to All Saints (All Hallows) Day on November 1st and All Souls Day on November 2nd. The wearing of costumes and masks to ward off harmful spirits survived as Halloween costumes. The Irish emigrated to America in large numbers during the 1800′s, especially around the 1840′s. They carried their traditions with them to America, where it is now a major holiday. Nowadays, however, the gift of sharing what you have is less appealing to our unfortunately capitalist society. No one wants to go out of their way to give, so now, children go door to door to get free candy.

Decorate your alter with fire and symbols of the afterlife, and honour your ancestors and the ancestors of our faith. Celebrate the end of the harvest and the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Remember those who history has forgotten.

Cast your circle, meditate on our natural cycle. If you are a solitary practitioner, try ‘hosting’ a Dumb Supper, setting aside time to ‘talk’ with the dead, and light a bonfire (or a candle if you don’t have the ability) as our ancestors did to keep away the fair-folk and hostile spirits. This is also a prime time for divination and scrying.

...And as always, lets take a moment to wish our friends on the other side of the world a Blessed Beltane, and our pagan relatives in the east a happy Diwali.

#samhain #Pagan #Wiccan #Spirituality #Festivals #Hallows Eve #Celtic New Year

leodrune

the ultimate self love ritual

this is a powerful ritual that focuses on everything that goes into self-love and self-acceptance; overcoming guilt, ridding yourself of harmful habits and thoughts, seeing your own beauty, having confidence and courage, and harnessing your inner magick. best done on a full or waxing moon.

❀ three candles: one white, one pink, one red

❀ yarrow (rekindling love, confidence, psychic opening)

❀ cloves (courage and self confidence)

❀ lavender (inner peace, tranquility, self love)

❀ a pen

❀ a bowl made of glass, wood or clay

❀ a mirror on a stand, or one that can lean on furniture

before you begin your ritual, take some time for self-care that makes you feel good about yourself, your face and your body. put on some music you like, gently brush your hair, do your makeup (or gently wash your face and moisturize it, if you don’t wear makeup), wear comfortable clean clothes you feel cute and/or cozy in. if you want, anoint yourself with a fragrance or essential oil that makes you feel desirable, intoxicating, or alluring.

rest comfortably on the floor (with a pillow underneath you). ensure the mirror is in front of you and that you can see yourself in it. arrange the three candles so that the white and red candles are to either side of the mirror, and the pink candle is right in front, between you and your reflection.

light the white candle, whispering, “may you cleanse my mind and heart of self-negativity and sorrow.” light the red candle, whispering, “may your flame spark newfound self-passion.” light the pink candle, whispering, “may you inspire tender self-admiration and respect.”

look at yourself in the mirror. take a moment to really inspect your face and pinpoint the things you like about it; its smoothness, its hues, its shapes. after a moment of this, cup your hands together and hold them above the flames of the candles in the order you lit them, letting your hands grow warm. gently run your warmed hands over your forehead, cheeks, nose, chin, and slowly gliding them down your neck.

re-warm your hands with each candle, and gently press them on the places on your body you tend to dislike. show yourself care and love with hands warmed by magick.

place the bowl in front of you, close to the pink candle. take the yarrow in your hands, whispering “may you grant me the power to love myself,” and place it in the bowl. take the cloves, whispering “may you bring me confidence and courage to overcome my harmful thoughts”, setting them in the bowl.

finally, take the bay leaf and pen and write out a wish that addresses something specific regarding self-love that you want to manifest; for example, “body acceptance”, “seeing inner beauty on the outside”, “emotional healing”, or some such thing. place it in the bowl.

let a little wax from each candle drip onto the herbs in your bowl, and leave the mirror and bowl where they are for three days and three nights. each morning and evening during this time, look into the mirror for a moment and think a kind thought about yourself. on the third night, dispose of the herbs and put the mirror away.

talesofasufferingwitch

6 Most Common Natural Appetite Suppressants.

There are a lot of things going around about appetite suppressants, weight loss pills, etc. I am going to breakdown the most common natural appetite suppressants and why they work, as no post I ever see says why. They work in different ways, by either reducing your appetite, blocking the absorption or certain nutrients, or increasing the number of calories you burn.

1. Fenugreek. Fenugreek is an herb from the legume family. The seeds are mostly used. Fenugreek contains soluble and insoluble fibre. The majority of the fibre comes from galactomannan, a water-soluble fibre. This means that it is more easily absorbed by the body and you can better able reap the benefits of the fibre, such as blood sugar regulation, cholesterol reduction, and appetite control. Fenugreek works by slowing down the stomach emptying and delaying carbohydrate and fat absorption. This translates to decreased appetite and better blood sugar control. A study of 18 healthy obese people found that consuming 8 grams of fibre from fenugreek reduced appetite more effectively than 4 grams and participants also felt fuller and ate less at the next meal. Another study showed 12 healthy men taking 1.2 grams of fenugreek seed extract decreased daily fat intake by 17%.

2. Gymnema Sylvestre An herb most commonly known for its anti-diabetic properties, could also help with weight loss. Gymnemic acids have been shown to block the sweetness of food, in other words reducing the taste of sugar in the mouth and fighting sugar cravings. A study done on people who were fasting found those that took it had lower appetite levels and were more likely to limit their food intake compared to those who did not take the supplement. Similarly, gymnemic acids can bind to sugar receptors in the intestine, preventing the absorption of sugar in the blood. This could help maintain low blood sugar levels and avoid carbohydrate storage as fat.

3. Green Tea Extract Green tea contains two compounds that contribute to weight loss: caffeine and catechins. I addressed green tea catechins on a different post but here is the gist; catechins are antioxidants that help the body expel free radicals and prevent cell damage. Caffeine is a well known stimulant that increases fat burning and supresses appetite. Catechins, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), have been shown to reduce fat and boost metabolism. This combination works together to make the body more effective at burning calories. A study of 10 healthy people showed a 4% increase in calories burned after consuming a combination of EGCG and caffeine (eg; white tea or green tea).

4. Garcinia Cambogia Comes from the fruit called Garcinia Gummi-Gutta. The peel of this fruit contains high concentrations of hydroxycitric acid (HCA, and also marketed as Hydroxycut), which is proven to have weight loss properties. Human studies have demonstrated that Garcinia Cambogia is also effective at reducing appetite, blocking fat production and decreasing body weight. There is also speculation that Garcinia Cambogia can raise serotonin levels, which act on brain receptors in charge of satiety signals, thereby reducing appetite. It relies completely on the individual, with some reporting no changes at all.

5. Yerba Mate Plant native to South America, and is known for its energy-boosting properties. Animal studies have shown that consuming yerba mate over a 4-week period significantly decreases food and water intake. Long-term consumption helps decrease appetite, food intake, and body weight by increasing glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and leptin levels. GLP-1 is a compound generated in the gut that regulates appetite, while leptin is the hormone in charge of signaling satiety.

6. Coffee! Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world. Coffee and its high concentration of caffeine are known to have many health benefits. Studies on coffee show that it can help weight loss by increasing the calorie burn and fat breakdown. Additionally, coffee suppresses appetite. Ingesting coffee 0.5-4 hours before a meal may influence the stomach emptying, appetite hormones, and feelings of hunger.

talesofasufferingwitch

So, I am doing a 48h fast

And I am drinking green tea. I was wondering the benefits and love studying these things so, I will put them here.

Green tea contains bioactive compounds that improve health. It is 30% polyphenols, including large amounts of catechins called EGCG. Catechins are natural antioxidants that help the body expel free radicals and prevent cell damage.

Green tea also improves brain functions. In a study done with 80 patients with Alzheimer’s, 40 were drinking 3 cups of green tea a day while the other group was drinking black tea. The group drinking the green tea had a significant cognitive function increase. Green tea not only includes caffeine, but it has an amino acid called L-theanine which increases the amount of GABA, a chemical secreted that helps with anxiety and insomnia, so instead of the jittery energy you typically get from coffee, it is a more clear headed and productive buzz. GABA also increases dopamine production, so green tea has an anti-anxiety effect.

And as we all know and praise, green tea increases fat burning and improves physical performance by increasing metabolic rates. It has been shown to lead to a decrease in body fat when consumed consistently, especially in the abdominal area.

So, White tea vs Green tea

Well, they both come from the same plant. Camellia Sinesis. White tea leaves are just harvested sooner and are less processed, so they are higher in antioxidants like those polyphenols and lower in caffeine. However, it is more expensive. Due to the higher processing times, green tea is also more bitter.

Drink away, lovelies!

Mabon, the Autumn Equinox, 2nd Harvest, September 21st.

The Autumn Equinox divides the day and night equally, and we take a moment to pay our respects to the impending darkness of winter that is coming. We also give thanks to the waning sunlight, as we store our harvest of this years crops. The druids call this celebration Mea’n Fo’mhair, and honour the Green man, the God of the Forest. Wiccans celebrate the aging Goddess as she passes from Mother to Crone, and her consort the God prepares for death and re-birth.

Although temperatures may still be warm during the day, summer has come to an end. Leaves on trees are turning colours and are falling to the ground, and there is a chill in the evening air. The days were longer than the nights until this moment, and after this the nights will begin their reign. The God, the masculine energies, is making his symbolic exit from the stage of the seasons, heading toward his symbolic death at Samhain in a few short weeks. As with Ostara, the theme of balance is highlight, reminding us that everything is temporary, that no season lasts forever, and that neither dark nor light ever overpowers the other for long.

Mabon symbolizes mystery, equality, and balance. Celebrate by decorating your altar with acorns and pinecones. Candles and altar cloths in autumn colours like maroon, orange, brown, and deep gold are appropriate. If you have a feast, include seasonal vegetables like onions, potatoes, carrots, and other root vegetables.

For those who suffer with seasonal depression during the fall and winter months, use this time to set an intention for inner peace and strength, even make a talisman or sachet for this purpose.

Symbols of Mabon: Wine, gourds, pine cones, grains, corn, apples, pomegranates, vines, dried seeds, and horns. Herbs of Mabon: Acorn, benzoin, ferns, grains, honeysuckle, marigold, milkweed, myrrh, passionflower, rose, sage, Solomon’s seal, tobacco, and thistle. Activites of Mabon: Making wine, gathering dried herbs, plants, seeds, and seed pods, walking in the woods, scattering offerings in harvested fields, adorning burial sites with leaves, acorns, and pine cones to honour those who have passed over. Deities of Mabon: Epona, Persephone, the Muses, Thor, Hermes, and the Green Man. Spellworkings of Mabon: protection, prosperity, security, self confidence, harmony, and balance.

Mabon is considered a time of balance, it is when we stop and relax and enjoy the fruits of our personal harvests, whether they be from toiling in our gardens, working at our jobs, raising our families, or just coping with everyday life. For those of us struggling with Eating Disorders, this time of year is very hard. Thanksgiving is coming up quickly and large get togethers are most anxiety fuelling. Take a few moments here to charge your energy, charge yourself for the coming few weeks until Samhain. The days may be getting shorter, but the Goddesses nurturing love washes over us when we ask for it. This is also the time to reflect on our previous “failures”, like our binges and what has led us to not be where we want to be. Write it down, and vow to make the changes necessary during the coming dark months. With much love, your friendly neighbourhood suffering witch xx

#Mabon #wicca #paganism

madsiemoon

Hangout room? 🌙🕯💜

Credit: FFO Art

talesofasufferingwitch

Lammas, The Harvest Festival, August 1st-2nd

It is high summer, or in my case, the tail end of summer (Canada has some crazy weather in our provinces). This is the time of the first harvest, and it is a time to gather with friends and family and give thanks for all that the earth has given us. The first harvest, Lammas, is the Grain Harvest. Mabon, the Autumn Equinox, is the second harvest of Fruit, and Samhain is the third and final Harvest of Nuts and Berries. The word “Lammas” is derived from “loaf mass” and is indicative of how central and honoured the first grain and the first loaf of the harvesting cycle is. This is also the great festival of Lugh, the Celtic Sun King and God of Light. Feasting, market fairs, games, bonfires, circle dancing, reflecting the movement of the sun in sympathetic magic was popular, as well as all community gatherings. August was considered an auspicious and promising month for handfasting and weddings. However, there was the underlying knowledge that the bounty and energy of the Sun is now beginning to wane. It is a time of change, active growth is slowing down and the darker days of winter and reflection are beckoning…

At Lamas, the Goddess is in her aspect as the Grain Mother, Harvest Mother, Harvest Queen, Earth mother, representing the ripe corn and the bountiful harvest. The fullness of the present harvest already carries the seed for the future harvests, as a pregnant woman, with her unborn daughter already holding the ovaries containing all the eggs her daughter will ever release. The pregnant woman is already mother, and grandmother, and beyond, when given the chance to flourish.

Herbs and Plants of Lammas All grains (wheat, barley, oats, rye, all representing fulfillment and potential). Meadowsweet, also known as Queen-of-the-Meadow, and Bridewort, it is one of the most sacrad herbs of the Druids. It was often worn as a garland for Lammas celebrations and was a traditional herb for wedding circlets and bouquets at this time of year. Also used for love spells and can be strewn to promote peace, and its scent eases the heart. Mint is another one of the revered herbs of the Druids (vervain being the third). Its magical properties are both healing and protection and, at this stage of the year, its properties of drawing abundance and prosperity are most appropriate. Sunflowers, as they represent fertility. Calendula, little suns, in all their shades of orange to yellow. Colours of Lammas: Still green, with every shade of the sun and harvest, from gold to the deepest of oranges.

Lammas Altar: Wheat and all grains, bread, sunflowers, marigolds, calendulas, yellow candles

For all the effort we go to, to avoid food and make sure we do starve, we need to remember back to the days when it wasn’t a choice. When people were dying out from not being able to acquire food. Today, just give thanks that we have the option at this point, at least most of us do. Find a way to honour yourself and your earth, because she has produced what we need to survive.

Love, your friendly neighbourhood witch,

XX

talesofasufferingwitch

reposting this as the time gets closer, and to remind myself of where i need to be by the time this festival comes around

darkoctober

Temperance. Temperance is the card for bringing balance, patience and moderation into your life. You are being invited to stabilise your energy and to allow the life force to flow through you without force or resistance. It’s time to recover your flow and get your life back into order and balance. This card calls on you to remain calm, even when life feels stressful or frantic. Maintain an even temperament and manage your emotions. You have learned to keep composed in stressful situations. Little things don’t get to you, thanks to your seemingly abundant source of patience. Your respect for balance and tranquillity is what will help you achieve and experience fulfilment in your life. Temperance asks you to take the middle path and accommodate all perspectives. Now is not the time to be highly opinionated or controversial. Be the peacekeeper and take a balanced and moderate approach, avoiding any extremes. Include others and bring together diverse groups of people to create harmony and cooperation. By working together, you will collectively leverage the right mix of talents, experiences, abilities and skills. There is alchemy within Temperance. This Tarot card is about blending, mixing, and combining diverse elements in a way that creates something new and even more valuable than its separate parts. ‘Blending’ can take on many forms; for example, a blended family, an artist who blends different materials or techniques, a bartender who mixes new and exciting cocktails, or a chef who combines different cuisines and cooking styles. The Temperance card shows that you have a clear, long-term vision of what you want to achieve. You are not rushing things along; instead, you are taking your time to ensure that you do the best job you can. You know you need a moderate, guided approach to reach your goals. Finally, this card reflects higher learning. You are learning a great deal where you are now and are at peace with what you are doing – it is all coming together well. Your inner voice is guiding you to the right outcome, and you are patiently listening and following.

#tarot #pagan #temperance

Trending Blogs

Recently Viewed Blogs

My Personal Grimoire