The True Origins of Saint Valentine’s Day: Lupercalia is uniquely Roman, but even the Romans of the first century were at a loss to explain exactly which deity or deities were being exalted. The Feast of St. Valentine and the saint lottery lasted for a couple hundred years, but the church just couldn’t rid the people’s memory of Lupercalia. In time, the church gave up on Valentine all together. Protestant churches don’t recognize saints at all, and very few Catholic churches choose to celebrate or observe the life of St. Valentine on a ‘Valentine’s Sunday’. The lottery finally returned to coupling eligible singles in the 15th century. The church attempted to revive the saint lottery once again in the 16th century, but it never caught on.
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Imbolc
Imbolc, literally “in milk”, refers to the beginning of lactation in the farm animals, in preparation for the birth of the young. The name Candlemas traces to the practice of blessing the candles for the coming year, making way for the light to come forth. Lady Day is the name given in honor of the Lady, who returns from the underworld, bringing the light and warmth of the newborn Sun.
It’s A Blue Moon This New Year’s Eve 2009
December’s Full Moon is traditionally known as the Old Moon, or the Moon after Yule. And on New Year’s Even we’re going to call it Blue. No matter what it is referred to, it is still a lovely sight to watch it rise in its grey-scale glory and glide across the luminous night sky. But for some lucky viewers in much of Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia the Old Blue Moon after Yule will also partially eclipse!
Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and The Church of All Worlds
Oberon Zell-Ravenheart (born 11/30/42) has accomplished many things in his long and colorful career. A modern Renaissance man, Oberon is a transpersonal psychologist, metaphysician, naturalist, theologian, shaman, author, artist, sculptor, lecturer, teacher, and ordained Priest of the Earth-Mother, Gaia.
November 16, 2009 is “The Night of Hecate”
November 16, 2009 is “The Night of Hecate”, this year, it is also The New Moon and The Void of Course Moon (2:14 PM EST)
The Meaning Of Our Moon
Each Full Moon has a different meaning and magickal purpose. Because of this, it is a good idea to plan your Full Moon Rituals to work with the meaning and purpose of the Moon. The Full Moon is also a traditional time for divinations of all kinds, as the power of the Moon aids in such work.
MABON: ALL You Need To Know
ALL ABOUT MABON : History, Recipes, Correspondences, Activities and Much More! (A Diverse Collection of Mabon Information) Posted and edited by MAGICKAL WINDS (If viewing this post is difficult, please refer to http://www.magickalwinds.com or Magickal Wind’s MySpace Blogs). Mabon The Time of Change is upon us again – the Equinox comes, the Wheel turns… The [...]
Beltane
Beltane is an old Celtic Fire Ritual which celebrates, at the most fundamental level, the end of winter and the beginning of the warmer, lighter half of the year. It is the counterpart to Samhain, which marks the Pagan New Year and celebrates ancestors and the death of the crops (harvest). Beltane celebrates life. For the Celts, it was a festival that insured fertility and growth.
WICCA – An Old Religion in a New Age
For almost two thousand years, the major religions of the western world have seen deity as a single god representing the spiritual father. Statements and attitudes attributed to Him are male oriented and reflect the general social attitude of mid-Eastern societies. In the last few decades, a religion that had its start in Europe made it’s way into America. It taught that deity was made of both God and Goddess and that they were equal, neither superior to the other. It taught that mankind was not the owner of the world or the creatures of the world but instead that we were all brothers and sisters of all living beings. This religion is now called Wicca, but it embraces the teachings of many ancient religions.
The Elements And Their Correspondences
Water
Mother
Astrological Rulers: Venus, Moon
Keys: Love Principle, Fertility Gabriel (turns force into form)
Rules: emotions, love, sorrow, courage, astral planes, clairvoyance, tides, oceans, pools, streams, wells, womb Melancholic; Feeling; strong, excitatory
Virtues: compassion, tranquility, tenderness, forgiveness, modesty, fluidity in creativity, receptivity, influence
Vices: self-indulgence, negligence, cowardice, indifference, instability, moodiness, infatuation, easily put upon, delusions
Autumn & sunset
West, Zephyrus
Colour: blue
Symbols: willow, dolphin, fish, water snakes, sea birds, myrrh, ferns, rushes
Tool: cup or cauldron (depending on tradition)
Spirits: undines under Neksa (elusive at first, flowing & difficult to understand, watch politely and learn)