PHOTO FRIDAY - Full Moon - Lunar Eclispe - Mourning Moon

 Merry Meet everyone!

Courtesy of Pixabay

This is our Mourning Moon and a Lunar Eclips. The eclipse should take place around 3:57 a.m. EST

You can see a map of viewing parameters HERE Enter your location and you'll get a pinpoint on the map. just pair up your location with the color bar on the right. I should have full visability. My challenge will be in either staying awake or being awake at that time. Maybe it's a camp out in the lawn chair kind of night.

I also found some lead-ins for how to honor the Mourning Moon HERE. Through a slide-show you're given four main points:

1 - Consider how you mourn

2 - Brave the Cold. 

3 - Cleanse

4 - Send a Message

All great steps in honoring any full moon, however the point about considering how you mourn and allow yourself a good cleansing cry is a superb idea.

Cry them out, write them out then burn them out are stellar ways to get rid of the excess baggage and words unsaid. 

Letting Go allows for more positive energy to come in.

Blessed Be

~Rain

PHOTO FRIDAY - National Chicken Soup for the Soul Day

 Merry Meet, everyone!

Courtesy of Pixabay

Today is National Chicken Soup for the Soul Day.

I researched to see if there were any of their books that would applly to our community. Sadly, there is not. As a writer, it has me thinking. I'll keep you posted. Maybe we need a book by us, for us. 

In the mean time, brew up a big pot of chicken broth. Add your special touches and let the food nourish your soul, and those you share the meal with.

Blessings

~ Rain

PHOTO FRIDAY - DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME!

 Merry Meet, everyone!

I know there is controversy surrounding Daylight Savings Time, proving you can't please everyone all of the time.

Courtesy of Pixabay

As a witch (and as a NanoWriMo participant) I look forward to Daylight Savings Time in the autumn. I gain an extra hour to write and to feel the blessings of my ancestors as they encourage me to reach for my dreams. 

Have you thought about what you would do if you could turn back time? Cher offers some suggestions in this official video classic:

What will you do with an extra hour?

Blessed Be

~ Rain

PHOTO FRIDAY - Lughnasadh

 Merry Meet, friends.

Today finds us a couple of days before Lughnasadh or Lammas. 

courtesy of Pixabay

We celebrate the first harvest. Give thanks to the corn/ wheat (or the ingredients), ask that the breads you make be blessed.

I want to try my hand at a rough sourdough as well as a brown bread.  If I do, I'll come back and show you the results. I think the rough sourdough would be perfect dipped into Tomato Basil soup made with ingredients from my garden.  Maybe a glass of Mead to go with. hmmmm 

How will you celebrate this turn of the wheel? Need some inspiration? Check out the article, by Patti Wigington from Learn Religions   (Wigington, Patti. "Lammas History: Welcoming the Harvest." Learn Religions, Aug. 26, 2020, learnreligions.com/history-of-the-lammas-harvest-celebration-2562170.)

Blessings

~Rain

PHOTO FRIDAY - Blessing Moon

 Merry Meet, friends.

Are you ready for tonight? A beautiful Full Moon - also known as the Blessing Moon - will shine bright tonight.

I always seem to be aware of the Full Moon. I'm teaching myself to be as aware of the other phases and their contribution to magick. 

Here's a piece about the July Full Moon  

I also enjoyed this article at Spirit de lalune

Blessings

~Rain

PHOTO FRIDAY - The Birch Tree

 Merry Meet, friends

You already know I live in Birch Tree, MO. We have a lot of birch trees on our property.

The following photo is from Pixabay:

Courtesy of Pixabay

Birch is good for fertility and birth magic. If you have access to Birch, or any other tree, check for downed limbs following a storm and add a bit of them to your magical cabinet.

Blessings

~Rain

PHOTO FRIDAY - New Moon

Merry Meet, friends.

Welcome to the New Moon. 

Many of you may not know that I am a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator. Hobby dem mostly, meaning I can sell to other people, I can recruit and treat it as a business but I signed up mostly to get product. I've had dems over the years but would never get word of new products coming out, special sales, etc. I was blown away by what I was never privy to as a customer (that I should have been). Forget about getting a catalog when new ones came out, or seasonal flyers (that I never knew were a thing!) Becoming a Stampin' Up! demonstrator was an education. 

After signing my contract, they gave me a demonstrator ID number... the three middle digits are 666. LOL That should have been a clue that while I needed to be cautious and focused, I was on the right track.  I just celebrated my 5 year anniversary. I have one dem under me. She's super talented and doesn't need me as a coach. Thankfully, she is also my sister-in-law so she knows I'm here if she needs me. 

I'd contemplated quiting recently until people started asking if I sold Stampin' Up!  The answer is YES... and I'm going to stay as a dem at least for awhile. 

Okay... Photo Friday...

Imagine my delight when this Utah company gave us a moon phases stamp set in our new catalog!!!

I was, for lack of a better term, over the moon.  LOL Here's a picture of the stamp set:

TO THE MOON 

PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET

My order should be here later in the week or early next and I can't wait to add this to my witchy journal bag.  If you are interested in this set and do not have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator you work with, my name is Kelly Henkins - Birch Tree, MO  I'd love to help you.

Enjoy the New Moon

Blessings

~Rain

PHOTO FRIDAY - National Space Day

 Merry Meet, friends!

Space and Astrology has always been a strong vein in a witch's practice. Many use astrology as their guide for everything in their practice.

I saw an interesting piece this morning that the largest Maypole was created in London for the return of Charles II... that pole was later used to hold the telescope of Isaac Newton. hmmm there was power there for sure!

I've never really gotten into the astrological aspect of the practice. Just seemed too complicated and I think I just need to find the right site to guide my sometimes simple brain. In the meantime, while doing a search for a link to share, I found this.  BIRTH CHARTS 101

Do you use astrology in your practice? Do you have a site I might want to look into for a better understanding? Please share in the comments below.

Blessings!

~ Rain

PHOTO FRIDAY - Earth Day Everyday!

 Merry Meet, my friends!

While yesterday was the calendular day for Earth Day, I feel we should celebrate every day. Where would we be without this planet we call home?

Pixabay Contributor

As I scrolled through pictures representing the Earth Day search, I found this to be a striking photo.  When I look at this stunning depiction of Earth Day, I feel an immense power and connection.

Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Blessings

~Rain