Friday Form A Circle - Seed Blessing and Indoor Planting Ritual

Unfortunately for me, this is a ritual I, personally would never attempt. Not only do I not have a green thumb, I have a decidedly black thumb. Yeah, some witch I am! I kill mint! You know, mint…most people drop a small clipping in their yard, on the way into the house and two weeks later have a yard overrun with mint. Not me! I try to grow it & it dies. Every plant I even so much as touch dies! Well, that’s not entirely true…if I want it to go away, like the wild onions which essentially made up the front yard at our old house, they will reproduce and spread rapidly. Yes, it sounds an exaggeration, but really, it’s not. Even my co-workers who sit near me have learned to keep their plants from dangling over the top of their cubicles into mine, as the part that finds itself on my side of the wall soon starts to turn brown & wither….oh well, such is life :) I am relegated to buying what herbs & plants I need, or convincing Hunny to grow them – he has a very green thumb, but very little free time to take advantage…Anyways just because I can’t do it, doesn’t mean you can’t, so here goes :)

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* Seed Blessing and Indoor Planting Ritual *
adapted from rituals in Silver RavenWolf's To Light a Sacred  Flame &
Pauline Campanelli's Wheel of the Year
from RainForest – (unfortunately this link is dead, but I did find it also posted at Earth Witchery which seems to be just chock-full of good information :)

Seeds that were gathered at Mabon or that you have purchased in packets can be blessed and started indoors at Ostara. This ritual should be conducted in the dark, as we are asking the Mother to bring the seed's light from the darkness of the warming earth.

You will need:

• Seeds
• Flower pots
• Soil
• A green marker
• Popsicle sticks (optional)
• Four candles, one for each of the four quarters
• Priapic Wand (an oak wand with an acorn or pine cone tip)

Place your supplies on the altar. Cast a circle by walking clockwise, with index finger pointing down, saying:

"Creation flows from the arms of our Mother Goddess.
Creation flows from the strength and light of our God.
Creation is the mission of the human spirit.
From my lips the oath was sworn,
From my hand the circle is born
The earth, the air, the fire, the water
Return, return, return.
And the gifts of the land return.
Behold the circle is cast."

Ask special blessings from each Quarter as you call them. Lighting candle at North, say: ***

"Elements of the North;
Rich earth, comforting soil
Bless this ritual with your gifts."

Lighting candle at East, say:

"Elements of the East;
Sweet breath, carrier of gentle spring rain,
Bless this ritual with your gifts."

Lighting candle at South, say:

"Elements of the South;
Caressing sun, warming creation,
Bless this ritual with your gifts."

Lighting candle at West, say:

"Elements of the West;
Pure water, transformation energy
Bless this ritual with your gifts."

Using the priapic wand, tap each seed packet three times, saying:

"Now is the dark half of the year passing
Now do the days grow light, and the Earth grow warm
I summon the spirit of these seeds
Which have slept in darkness
Awaken, stir, and swell
As you are planted in the Earth
To grow and bring forth new fruit.
Blessed be!"

As each seed is blessed, visualize that particular plant in full bloom or full fruit. At this point, you may charge the seeds with blessings you hope to "sow" in the year ahead -- things like wisdom, prosperity, understanding, or certain magical skills. Next, draw the Birkana rune

(a B with points instead of curves),

the rune of new beginnings, on the Popsicle sticks or on the flower pots. Add soil. Plant the seeds and water. Thank the Goddess and God. Dismiss the Quarters and close the circle. Tend your seeds carefully in the coming weeks. If desired, plant the seedlings outdoors when the danger of frost has past.

***As I’ve said before, these are not the directional associations I use. If you choose to follow it as written, and it works for you, that’s fine :) If I were to do this ritual as laid out, it would be ineffective, because I don’t believe the direction/element associations are correct, and Magic is funny that way. Your beliefs influence the outcome of everything you do, very strongly. Therefore, you must do what works for you to be effectual. This is one of the reasons any good mentor or teacher will make very clear that using a pre-written spell or ritual isn’t the way it’s done. Don’t get me wrong, it may very well work, but not necessarily as you want it to, and rarely as well as it would if you “tailor” it and add your own touches…

Disclaimer: No one involved in this blog or its contents may be held responsible for any adverse reactions arising from following any of the instructions / recipes on this list. It is the reader's personal responsibility to exercise all precautions and use his or her own discretion if following any instructions or advice from this blog

Thursday This is Your Spell - Enchanting an Item

Enchanting an Item
The purpose of carving Runes on specific objects is to essentially bless and dedicate them to their specific tasks. The Runes are  of invocation to make their attributes purer, stronger, and more reliable. Enchanting ones drinking horn or sword was an extremely common practice. Drinking horns were carved to enchant the drink it held, or to detect poison. Usually sounding horns were carved to sound true and over long distances.
For Swords, the enchanting normally called upon its strength, sureness of stroke, sharpness, etc.. Blades were also named, for naming a thing gave it it's identity and personality. To this end we have essentially created something which is partially "aware" in the astral realm. A sword's name usually corresponded with its function or desired result. "Helm Splitter", "Ever Bright" , etc.. In the case of my ceremonial sword, I have named it "Veil Cleaver" for its ability to define and cut through the "veils" of reality and the planes on which we work.
Start with candle light, incense, and low playing music. Music for this type of work may be a Richard Wagner piece.. (that's pronounced Rikhard Vaagner). With all elements and tools within your reach, create your Sacred Space. Open a path to your patron deity and ask for their guidance. Offer up the item and call upon those you wish to help enchant it. Each deity has their own particularities and qualities -  remember the path you chose and why you are dedicating this. Next, smudge the item with the incense. This should be prepared for cleansing the item and help bias it with the properties you will later instill (i.e. Astral, Truth, Defense, Healing). Hold the object close and let your energy wash it. Fill it with the energy you wish it to have. Like the candle or the oils, what we need to possess qualities we must first place therein.
After charging the item, meditate on it. Visualize your use of it. Walk though its properties and how it helps you. Pick it up again and continue to reflect on these visions, the feelings. We are programming it, making it our own, and fashioning its purpose. Once done, paint or carve the Runes you have already designed. Unless your instinct is well defined, I strongly recommend thinking very carefully before marking any object irrevocably. Not only physical marks, but the astral marks it will bear from the energy you are etching upon it.
Upon finishing the Runes, seal it with an oil or the drop of wax. This in effect states you are clearly finished with that phase of the rite, putting the period to the binding of the Rune. Sit a while, meditate, clear your mind and feel the object. Sense it in the now, and beyond. Open your channels and see how it moves energy. After satisfactory calm and meditation, lay the object down, clean your circle, and close.
Let the object "cool" overnight.
Other Tips:
As I stated previously, all the efforts you put into something is what you
can expect back. IF you feel comfortable, you can start more complex rituals
and Rune Magics by tying them in with other elements such as Moon phases,
Astrology, Crystals and stones, group circle rituals, etc...

I'm am not sure where this was acquired, if it is yours, please contact me so I can give you credit :)

Disclaimer: No one involved in this blog or its contents may be held responsible for any adverse reactions arising from following any of the instructions/recipes on this list. It is the reader's personal responsibility to exercise all precautions and use his or her own discretion if following any instructions or advice from this blog.