Lily’s And Alerisa’s Yule Altar and Yule Log
:)
This is absolutely beautiful….
Threefold
I was originally going to post about Sekhmet, the Lion-headed Egyptian Goddess, but something else has taken my attention, although not in a good way. I’m a co-founder of a Wiccan group on DA and very recently someone has posted that they intend to put a curse on an animal abuser and that they encourage everyone to “bring this motherfucker down”. I tried very hard not to explode over the internet and calmly dealt with the entry. Why would she even consider cursing someone she’s never met before? I understand everyone’s complete frustration with animal abuse, because let’s get real here, it’s horrible! And this is coming from the girl who cries when an ASPCA commercial comes on. So, don’t get me wrong, because animal abuse is awful, but to put a curse on a complete stranger? Really? Are we forgetting the Threefold Law? Is she aware that whatever negative energy she sends out will come back to her as many times necessary for the lesson to be learned? She could hurt herself along with the stranger. And I understand binding, but it also influences freewill which doesn’t sit well with me. I encouraged her to chant a few spells and such for the animals being abused, but not to put a curse on the stranger she’s never seen before. Like I said, whatever he’s done will come back to him and it’s not our place to make that decision and try to influence it. I apologize if this angers anyone, but I just do not understand why people feel the need to harm each other…
*Sunny*
The ancient Egyptians often used honey as an antibacterial when applied directly to cuts and scrapes. They discovered its astounding medical uses and put them to work on their injuries. The Egyptians also consumed the honey to help with digestion and to heal stomach aches. Jars of honey were also found in tombs as gifts for the afterlife. The Egyptians thought very highly of the healing abilities of honey and, coincidentally, the honey may be one of the only things still of “able” use in the afterlife. Scientists have discovered that even after being crystallized, honey retains its healing abilities after thousands of years.
When bees pollinate honey, they bind the remaining water within the nectar, leaving virtually no room for bacteria to thrive. The honey actually acts as a bacterial killer. I often place a drop of honey on the clothed side of a band-aid to act in place of a smelly medicinal wound wash. Honey is natural and will most thoroughly do the trick.
*Sunny*
My celebration of Litha or Midsummer will continue on for three days, June 20-22. Yesterday, the longest day of the year, I celebrated solo, but I plan on Friday, celebrating with a good friend of mine. We’ll be cooking, chanting, dancing, etc.
Around 3 or 4 o’clock, when the sun was at its highest, I began my rituals. They weren’t as “extravagant” as they will be on Friday, but they were quite relaxing and fun! I began by opening the circle and lighting the candles and incense in the pictures above. The owl holder symbolizes my power animal, so it felt only natural to celebrate it in Midsummer. The white candle obviously represents the Goddess and nagchampa happens to be one of my favorite smells :D I began by cleaning my body of excess energy. First, I made sure I was laying down, then I closed my eyes and envisioned a white ball of light soaking into my head and traveling throughout my entire body. Once it had reached everywhere possible, it excited through my feet, clearing away all unwanted energy.
Then, it was time to mediate and bring forth a psychic shield. A psychic shield is created to prevent yourself from being affected by other people’s emotions, which believe it or not can be quite annoying, especially if you’re having a good day. I imagined the Goddess’s white, loving light flooding into me. Once it had filled my entire body, I imagined it ebbing out around me, until it surrounded the outline of my body. It began to glow and grow until it was a giant orb surrounding me with the Goddess’s love and protection. It slowly faded away, but I knew it was still there.
After successfully achieving the psychic shield, I recited a few solstice spells.
Litha Spell:
Warmth of the Sun
Love of the Moon
Clear waters of the stream
It is summer soon
The Earth at its peak
The sky bright with light
Give me the strength
On this Litha night
Solstice Poem: Aspect Mother
I have slept for ten thousand years
Now I stretch and waken
They are calling, calling me, and my
Heart leaps to greet them
My forests my hair, the grasses
My heavy eyelashes
They call me and I waken
My body bedecked with a million flowers
And these many breasts of mine,
The mountains joyfully rear their tips
I long to suckle my young
They are calling
They will know me!
I want to embrace all the sad and lost
All the wrongs that have been done
To me and to my children
My hands shall doom them to death
And make them right
I am the defender of every mother
As I am the defender of my holy self
Earth, mother am I , the only one
Life springs from me
I carry the seed of creation
And I awaken!
Solstice Poem: Aspect Father
Since mid winter I have grown
Sunk in roots
And reached branches to the sky
Each year I leave my seed
Weaving myself into her cycle
I am that which fertilizes her
I mark time by my life, and death
Tonight I will fall
The outstretched arms of the sun
Will lessen and night
Will take over my reign
Just as my strength shall wane
But as each fruit
And grain is gathered
Seek out the seed
And the Knowledge
That I will
Be born mid winter
Again
Know that I did not write these solstice poems.
I thanked the Mother and Father, and after meditating more, I decided to leave an offering to the Fairies. The picture above shows what I pulled together :) Blueberries and Honey left out in the garden for them to do what they will. The blueberries were an offering of self-determination. I needed a little boost to get started on a project I’ve had in my head and I was hoping the fairies could help with that. The honey was for good fortune and love….and who doesn’t like the sweet taste? It was also local honey, making it ten times better :D
Share with me how you celebrated this Midsummer! I would love to hear :D
Blessed Be )O(
