and open to Her Wisdom."
17th Day of the 3rd Lunar Cycle
Ruled by Gaia
Lunar Tree Cycle ~ Nion/Ash
12th Day of the Celtic Tree Cycle ~ Nion/Ash
Moon Phase: Waning Gibbous Moon
Moon sets: 7:03AM EST
Moon rises: 7:51PM EST
Moon in Virgo v/c 5:38PM EST
Moon enters the Cardinal Air Sign
of Libra 7:31PM EST
Rhiannon's Cycle of the Moon
Lunar Meditation: The release of forgiveness
Sun in Pisces
Sunrise: 6:54AM EST
Sunset: 6:10PM EST
Solar Question for the Day: "What is being
initiated in your life at this time?
Imbolc (Gwyl Mair) Quarter of the Year
March 1st, 2010
There are Major magickal energies today for Balance rites/spells.
LIVING BY THE MOON
[From: Cassandra Eason's "Natural Magick: Easy, Natural Spells for the Solitary Witch"]
The first calendars were lunar ones, calculating time from full moon to full moon. Amoung the hunter gatherer societies, simple markings on rock or bone would indicate particular full moons to anticipate the coming of the herds after the long winter or the migration of flocks of geese. We have indications of this from the moon calendar names of later hunter gatherer societies in native North America, though research from footprints in 2005 has suggested the first people inhabited the Americas many thousands of years before it was previously thought. The September/October full moon is called nut time, a recognition that the moon heralded the time when nuts could be more readily gathered to store for the winter. At the same time, migratory flocks of geese would be passing overhead.
Agricultural societies, such as the Celts and those of Native North America, marked the agricultural year by moons and in both hunting- and agaraian-based societies carried out full moon rituals to encourage abundance.
On Silbury Hill in Wiltshire, the tallest prehistoric monument in Europe and one of the world's largest manmade mounds, was started around 2,600 BCE. Here offerings were made to the Celtic sun goddess Sulia at the beginning of August and the full moon shining in the water of the moat round the hill was said to represent the mother's milk and promised a rich harvest.
There is nothing to stop you marking the full moons for the 12 months ahead in your journal/dairy (usually 13 moons, the goddess number) and naming them after events in your life or your local natural conditions. This can make every full moon celebrationi subtly different. In modern magick, old Moon names are a good way of connecting with the powers of nature that, unlike seasonal energies that operate on a monthly basis, are magickally strongest on the actual eve and night of the full moon and the days before and after the full moon. So Moon names can give a focus for magickal purposes at the right time in the yearly cycle, as they emphasize the preveiling energies that different peoples have interpreted according to their own seasonal treands. Sadly, we no longer top up our psychic batteries in the same way, and the further we move from nature, the harder it gets to access these helpful powers.
The night of the full moon is good for solitary practitioners and groups as well as formal covens, to tune into the full force of the monthly energies. Did you tune in last night?
If you want to read more about Silbury Mound here is a good website: http://www.stonepages.com/england/silburyhill.html
And over at this blog: http://kerrdelune.blogspot.com/2010/03/hunger-moon-of-february.html there is an excellent post regarding the Full Moon last night and she gives several names for this moon. I suggest you read through if you are interesting in starting the above mentioned project about giving each of your full moons for the rest of the year and beyond names to associate them with their magickal energies.
AIR MEDITATION:
As the Moon transits into the Cardinal Air Sign of Libra this evening, perhaps you might want to do an this meditation to 'tune in' it's energies which will be with us till Wednesday afternoon.
Together with spending time experienceing the Elements in nature, meditation and visualization are excellent ways of gaining a greater understanding of them. This Air meditation is best performed outside where you can feel the Air around you, but not at the risk of getting badly chilled. Use this meditation to hone in your skills you've reading about here regarding the Meditation and Visualization exerciese and tips from "The Inner Temple of Witchcraft."
Sit comfortably, close your eyes and take several deep breaths to relax. Imagine yourself at the top of a high hill, with a gentle breeze brushing your skin and the Spring sun warming the land. Focus until you can actually smell the moist fertile earth, and the young green plants just bursting through the soil. Listen to the sounds of the birds seeking partners and making nests; hear the sounds of new life all around you. Now let the breeze enter you and carry you high over the earth. Soar like a bird, feel the currents of Air carrying effortlessly as high as you wish to go. See the land spread out before you, like a huge patchwork quilt. Fly through the clouds, swoop and dip and let your Spirit guide you. Feel the Air begin to gather strength and dive down to the refuge of the forest. Settle yourself safely beneath a sturdy tree and listen to the wind gathering power, rustling the leaves and branches. Hear the sounds of old wood dropping to the ground and make way for new growth, providing homes for the smaller creatures of the woodland. Hear the wind subsiding and feel yourself returning to the here and now. When you are ready, open your eyes and have a little to eat and drink to ground you.
[From: "The Real Witches' Year" by Kate West]
