Curious Gemini

First Half: May 20–June 4

Moss agate, quartz with a plantlike pattern caused by metallic crystalline grains, is the power stone for first-half Geminis and represents the dualism of this sign of the twins. The ancients thought the dark-green markings inside the stone were fossilized moss. They used moss agate for water divining, so it was especially sacred to farmers. It is associated with the metal-rich planet Mercury and makes a great grounding stone for members of this air sign, who need to keep their feet on the ground.

The heart stone for early Geminis is staurolite, derived from the Greek word staurus, which translates to “cross.” Staurolite forms a natural crucifix because of the way the iron molecules in the stone line up. Bright red is one of the colors associated with Geminis, and staurolite most commonly appears in this vibrant color, causing it to be mistaken for garnet. This stone can help Geminis align with their true purpose, so they will benefit from keeping it at their bedsides or on their desks.

Second Half: June 5–June 20

Cat’s-eye, the lovely golden-yellow gem, is the special soul stone for late-born Geminis. The ancient Greeks, who called this crystal cymophane, meaning “waving light,” believed this stone guarded against danger to the soul and the body. The iridescent surface of the stone causes it to appear in different colors; the shade depends on the angle from which the cat’s-eye is being seen. This mutable stone reflects back to Geminis their changeable nature and helps them to acknowledge their quicksilver personalities and to grow from that deep recognition. Geminis, wear a cat’s-eye ring and see your soul reflected back at you.

Geodes, which usually come in two split halves, are the ideal heart stones for later-born Geminis, but they must have both halves to help integrate the two parts of their nature into a complete, whole person. Geodes are formed from old volcanic bubbles and are usually solid agate on the outside with a center of gorgeous amethyst, opal, or rock crystal. If you are a Gemini, I recommend keeping one of the geode halves at home on your altar, or in a special spot where you can see it every day, and the other half at your place of work, to reflect on and connect the two parts of your nature.

Tenacious Taurus

First Half: April 19–May 2

The power stone for this group is another gorgeous green stone: malachite, which also corresponds to the planet Venus. An earthy rock, it is befitting for this earth sign of the zodiac and has many magical tales to its name. A malachite heart pendant or paperweight is perfect for early Tauruses.

Pyrite, or fool’s gold, is the heart stone for people in this family, who tend to be bankers and money managers. Stunning and shiny, pyrite has a hardness of six, the number sacred to Venus. Pyrite brings great luck to early Tauruses, along with abundance and an atmosphere conducive to joy. Delight everyone at work by keeping a chunk of fool’s gold on your desk.

Second Half: May 3–May 19

Andalusite is the precious soul stone here, a magically metamorphic crystal. Tauruses are deeply rooted to the earth, and andalusite represents that elemental energy through its range of colors, from earthy black to clear and watery. In fact, andalusite comes in nearly all the colors of the rainbow (yellow, green, red, purple, brown, and gray), manifesting another Venusian quality—glamour.

Jadeite, the power stone for later Tauruses, also comes in many colors. Jadeite is a symbol for abundance and permanence. It rings with a lovely tone when struck, representing the natural musical talent possessed by members of this sign. A jadeite bracelet, ring, or bowl is essential for the May-born.

Confident Aries

First Half: March 20–April 3

The sunstone is the power crystal for these Aries folks. Appropriately red with an iridescent glow, sunstone is a gold-flecked good-luck charm for the Mars-ruled. Jasper and heliotrope are the other power stones for this part of the year. These red rocks will amp up your lust for life. The heart stones for these zodiac pioneers are dolomite, rose quartz, and cinnabar. So, Aries, put a rose quartz by your bedside for self-esteem, self-love, and spiritual comfort.

Last Half: April 4–April 18

Alexandrite is the designated soul stone here. It is very precious indeed—the scarcest of the chrysoberyls. Usually a dark green, alexandrite shows red under certain types of light. This royal stone is fitting for the first sign of the zodiac. Another soul stone for later-born Aries is rhodonite, a pinkish red crystal that’s a favorite of Carl Faberge’s.

The power stone for this half of Aries is bowenite, a stone of great strength in a mossy green. While many of the crystals assigned to late Aries are red or pink, this one is green, signifying the other side of the planet Mars. Bowenite is especially precious and sacred to the Maori of New Zealand, where some of the finest specimens come from, and was highly prized by the ancient Indians and Persians.

The Twelve Stones of the Zodiac

Birthstones are very special stones that have traditionally been correlated with each month of the year. Hallmark didn’t invent the concept of birthstones; it came from the Bible! In Exodus chapters twenty-eight and thirty-nine, there is much discussion about a burnished and stone-set breastplate of the High Priest of the Hebrews. Here is the biblical description of the breastplate:

And he made the breastplate, artistically woven like the

workmanship of the ephod, of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet

thread, and of fine woven linen. They made the breastplate

square by doubling it; a span was its length and a span its

width when doubled. And they set in it four rows of stones:

the first row with a sardius, a topaz, and an emerald; the

second row, a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond; the

third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; the fourth

row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They were enclosed in

settings of gold in their mountings. There were twelve stones

according to the names of the sons of Israel: according to

their names, engraved like a signet, each one with its own

name according to the twelve tribes.

—NKJV, Exod. 39:8–14

These twelve stones from the famous breastplate became linked with the twelve signs of the zodiac, resulting in our cherished modern tradition of birthstones. The long history of birthstones has many more chapters, but an important point to know is that your birthstone is yours by divine right and birthright. I know I was thrilled when I found out amethyst was mine, even though it was ranked as semiprecious. All I knew was that it was purple, my favorite color.

Your birthstone is a major power source for you. You should have at least one piece of jewelry made from your birthstone and must treat it like the special stone it is. You should also keep this sacred personal stone around in other forms as well. I have a candleholder made of a large amethyst geode on my mantelpiece surrounded by candles. Just lighting the candle immediately calms and centers me. I realize you can’t do that with diamonds, although Herkimer diamonds can be substituted nicely. If you are a January Capricorn, for instance, and your birthstone is garnet, you can have an entire set, or parure, of garnet jewelry—ring, earrings, bracelet, necklace—for the fullest expression of birthstone power. Surround yourself with your birthstone energy and you will feel at peace, filled with well-being from your gem-fired glow.

Here is the classic list of birthstones by month.

• January: garnet, a stone symbolizing a light and loyal heart and lasting affection

• February: amethyst, a sexy and sensitive stone; Cleopatra’s royal ring

• March: aquamarine, long known as a soothsayer’s stone; and bloodstone, long known as the martyr’s stone

• April: diamond, the traditional engagement ring, which represents the power of love

• May: emerald, a lovely green stone of protection

• June: pearl, moonstone, and alexandrite—all moon and sea stones powered by water

• July: ruby, the most highly prized gem of all and a symbol of the essence of life

• August: peridot, the ancient symbol of the sun; and sardonyx, an intelligence-enhancing stone

• September: sapphire, a true-blue gem that represents the purity of the soul

• October: opal, said to contain the beauty of all other gems; and tourmaline, a stone of inspiration

• November: topaz, a stone of royalty, named for the Sanskrit word for fire

• December: turquoise, which brings luck; and zircon, the traveler’s stone

While the classic birthstones are, well, classic, each zodiac sign has “early” and “late” divisions, and each of those has heart-, soul-, and power-correlated stones. Check for your and your loved ones’ birthdays below to see which gems will rev up different areas of your lives!

Do-It-Yourself Altar Candelabra

Candelabras are an excellent addition to your altar to hold your ritual candles as well as to set the mood. Both elegant and romantic, with molten wax flowing down the sides, they can be nothing less than splendid. While you can always buy a candelabra, it is much better to make them yourself and place your imprimatur and your own special kind of magic in them. The following are the steps I learned from the one and only Aurelio Voltaire, who is a writer, musician, animator, graphic novelist, comic, and all-around Renaissance man.

Supplies:

• Empty wine bottles
• Black spray paint (or a color of your choice)
• Spray adhesive
• Paper images or stickers
• Candles

Directions:

    1. Have fun by emptying some bottles of wine, preferably by drinking their contents! If you do not             imbibe, you can get bottles from friends or from a recycling center.

    2. Give the bottles a good spraying with the flat black paint and let them dry.

    3. You can stop here, but it is even better to refine your design with your own art, stickers you                     particularly love, or even decoupaged (or spray-glued) photos evocative of your mood and magic.              Voltaire recommends the “Bandelabra,” featuring photos, stickers, lyrics, or an image representing your      favorite band, such as Dead Can Dance’s beautiful images of hands and serpent coils from their CD            covers, or a particularly spooky-looking shot of Siouxsie Sioux, of The Cure’s Robert Smith, or maybe      even of the beautiful and very talented Voltaire! Personally, I like to use still shots from movies that I          feel reflect my personal pagan energy. Some examples for a dark pagan might be any and all Dracula          movies, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Crow, The Nightmare Before Christmas, or The Book of      Life. As long as these are for your own enjoyment and edification, you do not have to be concerned            about copyrights, but if you suddenly decide to start eBaying your handcrafted candelabras, you must        get legal clearance.

A personal favorite of mine is Francis Ford Coppola’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula; and above all, my favorite moment in this gorgeous visual feast is the absinthe-inspired section with verdant greens, light and shadow play, and yearning past-life romance. So, I suggest leaving the wine bottle in its native green state and going for green candles with a touch of green glitter and emerald stick-on stones to evoke the green fairy.

This is the easiest candelabrum of all—just place a candle inside the neck of the bottle, light it, and you have a very elegant and dreamy-looking light source.

Create Stained-Glass Decorated Candles

To enhance the magic of your ritual candles, you can create your own, filling them with your energy and intentions! You can adorn them with big sequins, curio crosses, symbols such as the Egyptian ankh, faux pearls, or anything lovely and suitably glittery that can be added to the sides of the candles to create a “stained glass” appearance. Another technique is to mix in your magical objects, stirring them into the melted wax inside a mold. An even easier way to do this is to take a soft beeswax pillar candle and “stud” the sides and the candle top with tiny crystal pieces that cost just pennies per pound. You can save them after melting the candles down and reuse them again and again. Nowadays, candle-making classes abound, and you can get leftover or “recycled” wax to use, melt, and pour into glass votives for your own uniquely magical candle creations. 

Uplifting and Calming Essential Oils for Candle Making

Traditionally, these oils are considered to have emotional healing properties as well as simply smelling marvelous on your skin and in your home. Just burning candles scented with these oils will be magical!

Cedarwood oil has a woody and pleasant aroma and can also act as a natural sedative. Studies indicate it stimulates the production of melatonin, regulates sleep patterns, and brings a sense of serenity. A pre- sleep massage with cedarwood oil is truly therapeutic and will allow you to rest deeply and awaken refreshed and ready for anything.

Clary sage essential oil not only has a splendid smell, but has been shown in studies to positively influence the levels of the happiness-stimulating chemical dopamine in the brain. Perfect for uplifting the mood, clary sage helps to ease feelings of anxiety by calming the mind while boosting confidence and self-esteem.

Jasmine oil has been widely noted to be among the best at calming the nerves and overcoming stress. For centuries, jasmine oil has been used as a natural remedy for anxiety, melancholy, sleeplessness, and even low libido. Jasmine dissipates negativity and helps stimulate a return to positivity in life.

Lime essential oil, as you perhaps guessed, smells just like the real fruit, wonderfully fresh and citrusy. Lime works well to refresh and uplift the mood, and it is lightly invigorating, which can work wonders for those suffering from the stress of fatigue, grief, and a sad and heavy heart. Using this essential oil in a massage at any time of day will help you to see the bright side of life.

Rose oil is not just for romance, it is also highly effective for stimulating the mind and promoting a sense of peace, tranquility, and well-being. If someone is dealing with feelings of depression or worries or is just down in the dumps, rose oil in a massage candle will promote feelings of joy and hope.

Sandalwood essential oil supports mental clarity and the ability to focus. With a lightly sweet and woody scent, it is also supremely grounding. When you’re dealing with the challenging demands of a hectic work schedule and long hours, taking time for a massage is essential for your overall well-being and mental health. Sandalwood essential oil offers balance along with feelings of harmony and inner peace.

Soothe Your Soul with Homemade Massage Candles

Making massage candles is very similar to making any other type of potted candle. I recommend using soy wax as it is so gentle on the skin. Soy is also nice and soft, so it melts easily and stays together in a puddle after melting and can be reused by thrifty crafters. It won’t irritate your skin unless you have a soy allergy; if you have an allergy to soy, you can use beeswax instead, which is widely used. (For example, beeswax is in nearly every single Burt’s Bees product.) The addition of the oils prevents it from hardening again and enables your skin to absorb it. Essential oils or cosmetic-grade fragrance oils are also added to create a soothing atmosphere. All soap-making fragrances, which are also soy candle safe, are perfect choices for scenting your massage candles. Try the basic directions below to make your first candle. For every three ounces of wax, you’ll add one ounce of liquid oil and one-quarter ounce of fragrance. I suggest making two candles in four-ounce metal tins while you master this craft.

You will need these elements:

• 2 ounces sweet almond oil or vitamin E oil
• 6 ounces high quality soy wax
• 1⁄2 ounce essential oil
• 2 four-ounce metal tins
• 2 six-inch candle wicks

Steps:

1. Melt the soy wax and oil in a double boiler over simmering water.

2. Add the essential oils and stir gently to avoid bubbling or spilling.

3. Once the wax has cooled somewhat but is still melted enough to pour, place the wicks in your containers and pour the wax.

4. Allow several hours for the candles to set and harden.

5. Trim the wicks to one-quarter of an inch above the top of the candle, and they’re ready to use.

Yule Ritual

Build a fire at five o’clock in the evening and have it burning brightly as your guests arrive. Place a big bowl of herbs, flower petals, and incense near the fire.

Create a circle around the fire and ask the eldest in the group to slowly draw a circle of sugar around the fire.

When the elder has moved back into place in the circle, each person should light his or her candles from the fire and place it in the sugar circle, creating a mandala.

Ask the youngest person to lead the group in this chant:

My life is my own I must but choose to be better,

vital breath of life I breathe

no more pain and strife!

Wise ones, bring us health and life

bring us love and luck

bring us blessed peace

on this Winter’s Day.

Into the fire, we toss the old,

into the fire, we see our future

on this, our longest night.

Harm to none and health to all!

Everyone should rattle and drum away, making merry and rousing the good spirits. The spirits of the wise elders will join you.

After the drumming, start around the circle, beginning with the eldest. Allow people to speak about what they want to release from their life, and have them toss their “letting go” paper into the fire. Then the eldest person should lead the group in a prayer for collective hopes for the coming your, and anyone who wants to add something should also speak out wishes for positive change, for themselves and for the world.

Thank the wise elders and ancestors for their wisdom and spiritual aid by throwing some chocolate into the fire. Be sure to keep some for members of the circle to share and enjoy. The Mayans held the belief that a plentitude of offerings to the ancestors would bring more blessings. They also believed that fire ceremonies helped support the planet and all the nations of the word. Gifts to the fire signal to the elders that they can return through the door and to the other world, until you call upon them for help in the future.

The Longest Night of Winter: Fire Ceremony for Yule

December is named for the Roman goddess Decima, one of the three fates. The word Yule comes from the Germanic jol, which means midwinter, which is celebrated on the shortest day of the year. The old tradition was to have a vigil all night at a bonfire to make sure the sun did indeed rise again. This primeval custom evolved to become a storytelling evening, and while it may well to be too cold to sit outside in snow and sleet, it is important for your community to congregate around a blazing hearth fire, feasting and talking deep into the night, to truly know each other, impart wisdom, and speak to hopes and dreams. Greet the new sun with stronger connections and a shared vision for the coming solar year. 

What you need:

• Candles in the following colors: red, yellow, green, blue, white, and black
• Herbs: tobacco, rosemary, lavender, cedar, sage, and rose petals
• Incense: copal, myrrh, frankincense, or any resin-based incense
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 chocolate bar per person
• Bells, rattles, drums, and other noisemakers
• A firepot, fireplace, or other safe place for an outdoor fire
• Paper for written intentions

The candle colors represent the six directions: north, south, east, west, up, and down (or sky and earth). They also represent the different peoples of the world.

Gather your friends together at dusk on the shortest day of the year and ask them to bring a colored candle (assign each of them a color), a noisemaker, and an open mind. Ask them also to write out what they want to purge from their life and bring the paper into the circle. The Solstice Fire Ceremony serves to bring positive new influences into our lives and to dispel what no longer serves for good. This “letting go” can be anything. For me, one year ago, it was cancer, and this year, it was too much clutter. For you, it could be an unhealthy relationship, a job that makes you miserable, or a cramped apartment.

The Sun Returns: A Winter Solstice Ritual

Winter solstice rituals traditionally celebrate the rebirth of the sun. In a safe place outdoors, build a bonfire and create a solstice altar to the east of it. Place a small cauldron with a candle in it on the altar, and surround it with mistletoe, ivy, and holly. Participants should also wear crowns woven from these evergreens. If it is too cold or snowy where you live, you can gather indoors and form a semicircle either around the fireplace or around the altar.

Begin the ritual by holding hands around the fire. Hum softly, gradually building the hum to a shout. This shout represents the cries of the Goddess giving birth once again to the sun, and to the new year. The ritual leader says:

    All bow to the East! Hail to the newborn Sun, and to the Great

    Goddess who has brought him forth!

Everyone bows to honor the Sun God and the Mother Goddess. The ritual leader chants:

    Brigid,

    Diana,

    Morgan,

    Cerridwen,

    Heaven’s Queen,

    by the light of this moon

    in this dark night,

    teach us the mystery of rebirth.

The ritual leader lights the candle in the cauldron while everyone else remains perfectly still. Now is the time when the Goddess will reveal herself privately to each participant. If you are outdoors, listen and look carefully for a sign. Traditional omens are a sudden wind, shooting stars, the screeching of an owl, or the appearance of a deer. Even if you are indoors by the fire, the Goddess will still make herself known in your heart. When the time feels right, the ritual leader says:

    Queen of the Stars,

    Queen of the Moon,

    Queen of the Earth,

    Bringer of Fire,

    the Great Mother gives birth to this new year

    and we are her witnesses.

Everyone shouts:

    Blessed be!

Pass the lit cauldron to each participant so they can speak a blessing for the new year and the newly reborn sun. Place the cauldron with the candle back on the altar. The ritual leader closes the ritual with this final expression of gratitude to the Goddess:

    Blessed be to the Mother Goddess.

    Thank you for the sun that gives us life

    without beginning and without end

    everlasting in eternity.

    this ritual is now done!

A toast to the new sun should take place with hot cider or mead and warm festive foods.

Pagan New Year: A Solo Ritual for Samhain

Samhain, also known as the Celtic New Year, is the most profound, important, and best known of all pagan sabbats. Samhain is perhaps the favorite Celtic high holiday of all. After all, it is the witches’ New Year celebration and the time to honor and commune with your elders and family members who have passed on to the other side, as well as the time to celebrate the passing year and set intentions for new blessings in the new year to come.

Supplies:

• Altar space
• 8 candles
• Powdered incense
• Bread
• Salt
• Wine

1. Prepare for this most holy night and rite by setting up an altar. Place three candles on a stone altar to represent the Triple Goddess and five to represent the points of the pentagram. The star of the pentagram should be drawn with powdered incense of the self- lighting variety to be lit later. Gather together bread, salt, and wine for the sacrament.

2. After you have made your preparations for the altar, ready yourself by bathing and meditating. Anoint your body before dressing in a robe or gown befitting this night when the veil between the worlds is the thinnest. As you ready your body, mind, and spirit, consider what has taken place in the preceding year. Cleanse your mind and heart of old sorrows and most especially of angers and petty resentments. Bring only your best into this night. After all, this is New Year’s Eve for witches, and you want to truly connect with those who have gone on to the other side.

3. Walk alone to the place of the ceremony and kneel before the altar. Before lighting the candles on the altar, say aloud:

    This candle I light for the Maiden’s brightest glory.

Light the candle and bow to the Maiden.

    This candle I light for the power and passion of the Lady, the Queen.

Light the candle and bow to the Queen.

    This candle I light for the unsurpassable wisdom of the Crone.

Light the candle and bow to the Crone.

4. Light the incense, and then gazing at the candles on the altar, say:

    These do I light in honor of the Triple Goddess

    on this sacred night of Samhain.

    I create this holy temple

    in honor of the Goddess and the God

    and all the ancient ones.

    From time before time,

    I pay my tribute and my devotion

    In love and greeting to those beyond the veil.

5. Now light the candles that represent the power of the five-pointed pentagram. Rap three times on the altar with your hands or with your wand. Then say:

    This is a time outside of time

    in a place outside of any place

    on a day that is not a day

    between the worlds and afar.

6. Pause and listen to your heart for thirteen beats, then hold your hands in benediction over the bread, salt, and wine. Now say:

    For this bread, salt, and wine,

    I do ask the blessings

    of our Maiden, our Queen, and our Crone

    and of the God who guards the Gates of the World.

7. Take the bread and sprinkle a bit of salt over it, saying:

    I ask that I and all whom I love

    have health and abundance and blessings.

Eat the bread, and hold up the goblet of wine, saying:

    To a spirit that remains strong and true!

Drink the wine and declare:

    By the Triple Goddess and her godly consort, so mote it be!

8. At this point, a danse macabre to any dark folk or Gothic music of your choosing can end the ritual—I suggest any music by the band Dead Can Dance. You should also spend time meditating or allowing yourself to ease into a trance state to communicate with your beloved dead. Hear the messages they have for you and let them know you.

9. When you feel the ritual has ended, quench the candles, and then say:

    Though these flames

    of the material world

    be darkened,

    they shall ever burn

    in the world beyond.

    This rite is ended.

Diwali Ritual to Release Old Resentments and Welcome in the New Light of Hope

Diwali offers us the opportunity to vanquish our own demons and start anew. The symbols of light and sweetness are used here to represent the intention to replace resentment and bitterness with hope and the balm of healing and positive energy. Essential elements of this ritual are plenty of candles, a new piece of clothing (such as a scarf) or a new item of jewelry, and a plate of sweet cakes, confections, or candy.

Light as many candles as you can in the room where you are performing this ritual. Create a circle of candles, and create sacred space by having a symbol of each element in your circle: a dish of salt or earth, a cup of water, incense, and a candle. Sit lotus-style in the center of your circle and relax in the flickering candlelight, feeling the center of your circle. Feel the presence of the four elements and the balance they create. Notice how warm and alive the room feels. Notice how the gentle, flickering candlelight makes you feel safe. Now think back to all the difficult situations you have experienced over the past year, including the people who have angered or hurt you. Imagine them surrounded by the warm, loving candlelight, and say to each of them, one by one:

    I release you. May the lights of Diwali bless you.

As you release each person or situation, visualize their image melting into the candlelight. While the image fades from your mind’s eye, place a bite of the cake or confection in tour mouth. Allow the treat to dissolve, spreading its sweetness across your tongue. Visualize and feel that sweetness spreading through you, counteracting any of the traces of pain or bitterness that might remain. This is the sweetness that your new life holds, untainted by these bitter demons that have held you back. When you have finished releasing your demons to the light, purify the new piece of clothing or item of jewelry by passing it through the smoke of the incense. Put on your new piece of jewelry of clothing, saying:

    With this act, I declare the past gone, and I see the future bright with hope.

Stay within your circle of light as long as you desire. Leave some of the cake or sweets as an offering to the gods in thanks for your new life.

Sacred Altar of Autumn: A Fall Equinox Ritual

Establish one room in your house as the temple. Ideally, it is the room in which you normally keep an altar or sacred shrine. In any case, you should create an altar in the center of the space. Place four small tables in the four directions, which may be closest to either the walls or the room’s corners, and place four evenly spaced candlesticks between the tables. Place a loaf of freshly baked bread (bread you have made with your own hands is best) in the east, a bowl of apples in the south, a bottle of wine in the west, and a sheaf of wheat or a bundle of dried corn in the north.

Upon the main altar, place a candle, a plate of sweet cakes, and a goblet. Light incense and place it in front of the cakes. Before your ritual, take some time for contemplation. Think about what you have achieved during this busy year:

• What have you done?
• What do you need?
• What remains to be done?
• What are your aspirations?

Write down your thoughts and feelings and the answers to those questions. Read what you have written and ponder it. Look for continuing ideas or themes, and make notes of these on a piece of paper. Next, take a calming and cleansing quiet bath, and snip a lock of your freshly washed hair and place it on the paper where you wrote your notes. Dress yourself in a robe that feels right for making magic and enter your temple space. Light the candle on the altar, and use this candle to light all the other candles in the temple. Speak the traditional Hebrew words of self-blessing:

    Ateh, Malkuth, Ve Geburah, Ve Gedulah, Le Olahm, Amen:

    through the symbol of the pentagram in the name of Adonai.

Repeat this facing each corner, and then face your altar and say:

    In the east, Raphael; in the south, Michael; in the west, Gabriel;

    in the north, Uriel.

    Welcome to this place in the name of Melchisedec, the High Priest

    of the Godhead.

Then go to the east, and raising the loaf of bread in a gesture of offering, say:

    Raphael, Lord of the Winds of Heaven, bless this bounty born of sun

    and air and earth.

    Let us feed the hungry and bless the hand that gives it.

Place the bread back into the bowl and go to the southern corner. Raise an apple in offering and state:

    Michael, protector of the weak and the oppressed, bless this sun-

    ripened fruit,

    and let it be not the fruit of temptation but the fruit of our

    knowledge,

    so we know how to make our choices and understand the measure

    of both good and evil.

Place the apple back into the bowl and go to the western corner. Lifting up the bottle of wine, say:

    Gabriel, bringer of the word of God, bless this wine that we may

    take into our body

    the wine of life shed by all saviors since time began.

Place the bottle back on the western table. Turn to the north, and raising the corn or wheat as an offering, say:

    Uriel, Lord of the Earth and all its bounty, bless this crop

    that it may be plentiful all over the earth,

    that this may be a year when all humankind

    will know the comfort of food and hearth.

Now return to the altar in the center of the temple. Light the incense and place some bread and the chalice of wine on the altar. Dip a piece of bread into the blessing wine. Proclaim:

    Melchisedec, priest of the most high God, in the desert after the battle

    with the kings of Edom you brought bread and wine to Abraham. In

    this communion shared between man and priest of the most high God,

    a covenant was made. I pray that this coming harvest makes bread

    for the world. In token of the ancient custom, I take this bread and

    wine into my body. Now in this sacred place, guide and teach me,

    show me how to pursue knowledge for the power of good. Help me to

    grow in wisdom. Bless me. Bless those who share my life. Bless all of

    those with whom I work. Bless this earth, this sweet, green world that

    gives us all the blessings we enjoy—all the water and wine, all the corn

    and wheat, all the joys of life in this body. Bless my home.

Take a lock of hair, light it from the candle, and burn it in the bowl of incense, saying:

    This is the offering of myself.

    In the east—blessings to Raphael.

    In the south—blessings to Michael.

    In the west—blessings to Gabriel.

    In the north—blessings to Uriel.

    Blessed be to all.

Now go around your temple space in reverse order, extinguishing all candles. Then declare your temple closed. The common wisdom is that you should place the apples, bread, and wine in your garden the next day as an offering and a blessing to all of nature.

Lammas Day: A Ritual of Gratitude for the Changing Seasons

Essential elements for this ritual are sheaves of grain (such as wheat or barley), a cauldron, water, one floating candle, one candle for each person present, and essential oils of rose, lavender, or other summer flowers.

Your Lammas Day ritual should be held on August first, the beginning of the harvest season in the ancient cycle of the year. To create the sacred space of the ritual, arrange the sheaves of grain in the four directions around a cauldron. Fill the cauldron three-quarters full with water, then add essential oils of the flowers of summer. Cast your circle in the usual manner. 

At this point, the leader of the ritual should light the candles and then hand them to each person and guide the participants to form a circle around the cauldron. Now the floating candle should be lit and placed in the cauldron by the leader, who says:

    O Ancient Lugh of days long past,

    be here with us now

    in this place between worlds,

    on this Lammas Day.

Rap three times on the cauldron and say:

    Harvest is here and the seasons do change,

    this is the height of the year.

    The bounty of summer sustains us

    in spirit, in soul, and in body.

Now the group circles five times around the cauldron. All present should then speak their gratitude for the gifts of the season and the riches of the summer’s bounty. Storytelling, singing, and dancing should all be a part of this rite; when the tales have been told and the songs have been sung, the leader determines when the rite is done by putting out the candles and proclaiming:

    This rite is done!

Close the circle.

You can create your own variations on this Lammas Day celebration, incorporating your own views on the summer season and how you show appreciation to nature and spirit. One lovely way to celebrate Lammas Day, anciently named Lughnasa in Celtic cultures, is to have a feast that begins and ends with gratitude and blessings for the food and wine, with a place set and food set aside for the great godly guest, Lugh.

Midsummer Day: A Summer Solstice Rite

Essential elements for a Celtic-inspired Midsummer ritual are a wooden wheel, fallen branches and firewood, multicolored candles (and also torches, if you can acquire them), multicolored ribbons, food and drink, and flowers for garlands. This ritual should be performed outside, ideally on a hill or mountaintop at dusk. Call the local fire department to verify the fire laws in your area. You will likely need a special permit to light a bonfire, and certain areas may be restricted. Always clear the grass and brush away from your fire area, and make sure to dig a shallow pit into the ground. Circle the pit with rocks to help mark the edge of the fire pit as well as to contain the accidental spread of fire. Have a fire extinguisher, a pail of sand, and water bottles nearby in case the fire gets out of control. One person not directly involved in the ritual who is designated as the fire-tender should be on hand to watch the fire at all times; be sure to find a constant and observant volunteer for this quiet yet vital duty. Make sure the fire pit is far enough away from surrounding trees and other landscape features to allow room for a group to dance around it.

Lay the wooden wheel down in the circle of stones, and arrange the fallen branches and firewood around the edge of it. The wheel represents the turning of the year, and the sun on its daily and yearly cycle. Tie the colored ribbons on the nearest tree. While these preparations are being made, the priestess to lead the ritual should meditate in the area where the ritual will be held, focusing on connecting to the goddess. The gathered celebrants should weave garlands of flowers while the sun slowly sets. Just before the sun vanishes completely, the priestess should direct participants to ready their candles, or even better, torches. The priest lights them, declaring:

    The fire festival is begun.

    Under this longest day of the sun.

    Let us go forth and make merry.

    The god and goddess are here!

All say:

    Blessed be!

The priest leads the celebrants into the circle where the priestess waits and directs them to throw their torches and candles in the bonfire. The priestess raises her arms and invokes the Goddess:

    Great Earth Mother and Lady of the Forest,

    be with us here and now!

    On this night the Goddess reigns supreme.

    On this, our Midsummer’s night!

All say:

    Blessed be!

All should dance in the direction of the sun (clockwise) around the fire, raise their arms, and clap and shout for joy for as long as they want. When people begin to tire, it is time for the feast. The priest directs the blessing of the food:

    Blessed Lady of the Forest,

    Old gods of the animals, spirits of the wild,

    bless this food and drink,

    that it may strengthen us in your ways.

All say:

    Blessed be!

Everyone should share in the refreshments and eat, drink, and make merry. Another round of dance and song is in order. When the bonfire has turned to ash, the priestess declares the ritual to be over and says:

    Our revelry this day is done, dear one.

    Gods of the old and spirits of nature,

    we thank you for your blessings this night.

    This rite is done.

All say:

    Blessed be!

Make certain the fire has completely gone out before you leave the ritual site. Soak the ashes with water and clean up the site. Always leave a natural area cleaner than you found it.

The Spring Equinox: Ritual for Ostara

At this time, celebrate the festival of Ostara (a.k.a. Eoster), the Saxon goddess who is the personification of the rising sun. Her totem is the rabbit. Legend has it that her rabbit brought forth the brightly colored eggs now associated with Easter. At this time the world is warming under the sun as spring approaches. Every plant, animal, man, and woman feels this growing fever for spring.

This ritual is intended for communities, so gather a group. Tell everyone to bring a “spring food” such as deviled eggs, salads with flowers in them, freshly made broths, berries, mushrooms, fruits, pies, veggie casseroles, and quiches. Have the food table at the opposite side of the area away from the altar, but decorate it with flowers and pussy willow branches that are just beginning to bud, the harbingers of spring.

Essential elements for this ritual are an altar table; a cot; bay laurel leaves; bowls of water; multicolored crystals; candles; a jar of honey; fruits of colors including yellow, red, white, and purple; musical instruments; and one bowl each of seeds, leaves, flowers, and fruit.

Create your own Ostara altar in the middle of the ritual area by covering the table with a cloth in a color that represents spring to you. It could be a richly hued flowered cloth or a light green one in a solid color. The cloth should represent new life. Scatter bay laurel leaves around the table. Place goddesses on the altar table, too, with Ostara at the center. Put colored eggs, chocolate rabbits, candles, and crystals around the goddesses. In the east, set a yellow candle and crystals of amber, gold, and yellow such as citrine or agate. Place yellow fruit such as pears or bananas in front of the candle as an offering to the energies of the east. In the south, set a red candle and red and orange stones such as garnet or the newly available “rough rubies,” which cost only a few cents each. Apples and pomegranates are excellent red foods to place in front of this candle. In the west, set a purple candle with amethysts in front of it. Sweet plums are a perfect fruit to place in front of the candle, perhaps with some purple berries. In the north, set a white candle and a clear quartz or white crystal. Honeydew melon is an appropriate selection for the fruit offering.

Choose four representatives to invoke the directions.

East—Everyone faces east. The representative for the direction should weave a story and create a vision that can be shared by all that evokes new beginnings, such as the rising of the morning sun. Spring is the time for renewal and growth in nature. The speaker can, for example, take the bowl of seeds and tell the tale of the seeds sprouting in the dark moist soil of Mother Earth. Pass the bowl of seeds around to everyone, and urge them to take some seeds home to plant.

South—Everyone faces south. The speaker for this direction should invoke the power of the leaf. Leaves draw in the energy of the sun through photosynthesis and help keep an important cycle of life moving. Leaves grow throughout the summer season, drinking in the water of life and using the power of the sun for photosynthesis. Pass the bowl of leaves around to everyone in the group.

West—Everyone faces west. The speaker for this direction should invoke the power of flowers. Flowers bud and bloom. They follow the sun and are some of nature’s purest expressions of beauty. Flowers bring joy to people, and many flowers become fruit. Pass the bowl of flowers to the group and urge everyone to take some.

North—Everyone faces the north. The speaker for the north should invoke fruit and harvest time. Fruit is the result of nature’s generosity. Fruit also contains the seeds for our future. Pass the bowl of fruit around and suggest everyone take one and eat it, meditating on the glory and deep meaning it contains. If it is appropriate, you can also offer juice or wine as part of the fruit invocation. Wine is the glorious nectar of fruit.

Now it’s time for the ritual enactment. Everyone takes a seat around the altar. Drummers should start to play a gentle rhythm. Chanting, singing, and ululating are also encouraged, however people feel comfortable expressing themselves.

Each speaker should in turn light a candle and invoke the ancestors of the group. Remembrances to people who have died in the past year are an important respect that may be paid to the community at large.

Next is the honoring of the moon. Ask people to speak about the moon, reciting their favorite moon poems or moon memories.

Anointing the third eye blesses your insight for the coming year. Pass the bowls of water and laurel leaves around. Take a leaf and dip it in the water, then touch the wet leaf to your third eye. Pass the bowl on to the next person. When the bowl has made its way back to the ritual leader, sing and dance in celebration of spring.

Everyone should get in a line and hold hands and dance around the circle like a plant moving and growing, flowering and fruiting. When the four speakers feel that the energy has reached a climax, each one should clap and say in turn:

    And now it is done; now it is spring!

They open the circle by saying together:

    It is spring in the East, it is spring in the South, it is spring in the

    West, and it is spring in the North!

Reveling in Love and Lust: A Beltane Tryst

Beltane is the sexiest high holiday for witches and one that is anticipated all year. I always look forward to having a joyful “spree” every May. Witches begin to celebrate Beltane on the last night of April, and it is traditional for the festivities to last all night. This is a time for feasting, dancing, laughter, and lots of lovemaking. The Celts of old made this day a day of wild abandon, a sexual spree, the one day of the year when it is okay to make love outside your relationship. On May Day, when the sun returns in the morning, revelers gather to erect a merrily beribboned Maypole to dance around, followed by picnicking and sensual siestas.

Ideally, celebrate outdoors, but if you are stuck indoors on Beltane Eve, pick a place with a fireplace and have a roaring blaze so celebrants can wear comfy clothing and dance barefoot. Ask them to bring spring flowers and musical instruments, including plenty of drums! Place pillows on the floor and serve a sensual feast of foods from the following list, under the title “Oral Fixations,” along with beer, wine, ciders, and honeyed mead that you can make or obtain from a microbrewery. Gather some of spring’s bounty of flowers—roses, tulips, and my favorite, freesias, in your favorite colors, or whatever is blooming with the most vitality where you live. Set out candles in spring colors—yellow, pink, red, green, white, purple. With your arms extended, point to each of the four directions and say, “To the east, to the south, to the west, and to the north,” and recite this Beltane rhyme:

    Hoof and horn, hoof and horn,

    tonight our spirits are reborn. [repeat thrice]

    Welcome joy into my home,

    fill my friends with love and laughter.

    So mote it be.

Have each guest light a candle and speak to the subject of love with a toast of Beltane Brew. Drumming and dancing is the next part of the circle. This is truly an invocation of lust for life and will be a night to remember for all. Now rejoice!

February 2nd Ritual for Candlemas

Candlemas, the highest point of spiritual power between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, is also known as Imbolc, Brigid’s Day, and the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin. Many Wiccans use this sabbat (holy day) as the special day to initiate new witches. Brigid, the Celtic goddess and saint honored on this day, is connected with both the elements of fire and water, both powerful powers of purification.

Essential elements for this Candlemas ritual are a cauldron, white candles, a bough of cedar, a small bough of pine, a small bough of juniper, a small bough of holly, incense, red cotton thread or yarn, a stone for an altar, and a bowl of water.

The leader of the circle should purify the circle with the fire of the incense while invoking the four directions to raise power. Place your altar stone north of the circle, and place white candles on and around the altar. Cast the circle:

Face east and say:

    Welcome, Guardians of the East, bringing your fresh winds, the breath of life.

    Come to the Circle on Candlemas.

Face south and say:

    Welcome, Guardians of the South, bringing us heat and health.

    Come to the circle on Candlemas.

Face west and say:

    Welcome, Guardians of the West, bringing the setting sun and nourishing gentle rains.

    Come to the circle on Candlemas.

Face north and say:

    Welcome, Guardians of the North, bringing life-bringing rains and snow.

    Come to the circle on Candlemas.

While meditating on the concept of purification, make a bouquet of the four branches and wrap it near the bottom with the red cord. The red symbolizes Brigid’s fiery aspect, while the four trees stand for purification. Bow with it to each of the four directions. Bow last to the north, over the altar stone, and say:

    Bright Brigid,

    Sweep clean our homes and spirits on this sacred day.

    Purify our souls of the dullness of winter, and help us prepare for

    the light of summer.

    Brigid of the white hands, Brigid of the golden curls,

    Bless us all. So mote it be.

All respond:

    So mote it be!

The ritual leader dips the tips of the branches in the water and sprinkles the circle and each participant, saying:

    Blessed Brigid, may your water heal us and make us whole.

Leave the bouquet on the altar stone as an offering to Brigid.

Oral Fixations

Food can be foreplay, a wonderful prelude to a night of love. I recommend consuming these aphrodisiacs for your pleasure:

• Almonds, or erotically shaped marzipan
• Arugula, also called “rocket”
• Avocado, referred to by the ancient Aztecs as the “testicle tree”
• Bananas and banana flowers
• Chocolate, quite rightly called “the food of the gods”
• Honey, as the term “honeymoon” came from a bee-sweetened drink served to newlyweds
• Nutmeg, the traditional aphrodisiac for Chinese women; eat enough and you will hallucinate
• Oysters, prized by the Romans for both their effect and their resemblance to female genitalia
• Strawberries, often mentioned in erotic literature
• Coffee, a stimulant for many things
• Garlic, the heat to light the flame of desire
• Figs, another symbol of ultimate femininity; just eating one is a turn-on
• Vanilla, captivating for both its scent and its flavor