January
Also called: Quiet Moon, Snow Moon, Cold Moon, Chaste Moon
spirits: Brownies, gnomes
herbs: majoram, holy thistle, nuts and cones
colors: white, blue-violet, black
flowers: snowdrop, crocus
scents: musk, mimosa
stones: garnet, onyx, jet
trees: birch
animals: fox, coyote
birds: pheasant, blue jay
Dieties: Freyja, Inanna, Sarasvati, Hera, Ch'ang-o, Sinn
Holidays:
Jan. 1: Celebration of the Sevan Dieties of Luck in Japan and the goddess Fortuna in Rome
Jan. 2: the birth of the goddess Inanna in ancient Sumeria
Jan. 5-6: Night ritual to honor Kore; held in the Koreion in Alexandria
Jan. 5: Birthday of Chinese god of wealth, Tsai Shen or Ts'ai-Shen
Jan. 6: Celtic day of the Three Fold Goddesses: Maid, Mother, Crone
Jan. 10: Day of Freyja, Norse Mother goddess
Jan. 12: Besant Panchami, or Dawat Puja, the festival of Sarasvati in India; or on the closest cresant moon. In Rome, the Compitalia to celebrate the Lares, household gods.
Jan. 18: The Theogamia of Hera, a woman's festavil for all aspects of this goddess.
Jan. 20: In Bulgaria, the Baba Den, or Gandmother's Day for the goddess Baba Den or Baba Yaga. In China an day of the Kitchen God.
Jan. 24: In Hungary, the Blessing of the Candle of the Happy Woman, a ceremony of purification honoring Fire Goddesses.
Jan. 27: The Paganalia, a day of the Earth Mother in Rome
Dieties to explore:
Freyja and Seidr
The Norse Mani
Blodeuwedd of Wales
Andraste of Britain
An orange candle to represent sudden change
A silver/gray candle to represent neutralization of bad luck
A black candle to represent the bad luck
A magenta candle to hurry the process
A candle to represent yourself (what ever feels right for you)
Anoint the candles with a blessing oil ( lotus, lavender, lemon). Anoint the black candle form the end to the wick to push bad luck away from you. Anoint the others from the wick to the end to bring in good luck. The candles must be able to burn completely out.
Light the candle representing yourself and say:
This is me, everything that represents me.
Light the black candle and say:
This is my bad luck. It now leaves me. I shed no tears over the parting.
Light the silver canlde and say:
This will neutralize any remnets of bad luck. They will desolve into nothing.
Light the orange candle and say:
This represents the changes for good that are coming into my life. I welcome them with open arms.
Light the magenta candle and say:
This is the astral energy that I need to speed up change.
Sit for several minutes meditating in front of the candles. Repeat to yourself several times :
I welcome change. I welcome the incoming good.
Leave the candles to burn completely out. If there is wax left afterwards dispose of it by buring it. Some people keep the wax to use in new candles but you must purify the wax first
A green candle
Pine incense
Symbol of your guardian
Pine cones, statues of animals, ivy, things that remind you of growth
Decorate the area around your symbol with the pince cones, ect... Light the incense and the candle. Stand before your guardian symbol and say:
Guardian spirits, I invite you to join me here. You are my friends and I wish to thank you.
Hold the incense and circle it around the guardian three times clockwise.
I thank you for the atmosphere you help to keep clean and pleasant in this home.
Move the candle clockwise around the guardian three times clockwise.
I thank you for the light you send to purify and dispel the darkness.
Move your hands around the guardian three times clockwise.
I ask for your continued help and protection for me, my family, my pets, and my property. I ask that you drive away trouble-makeres, theives, and others, physical and non-physical, who are bent on evil purposes. I thank you for you friendship and love.
Stand with your arms raised:
Lovely Goddess, Lord of the Green, I present to you the guardian of this house, the specail spirit I have invited into my home. I honor this guardian in this symbol of its being. Bless the guardian. And to your Blessings I add my thanks for its protection and friendship.
A black candle
A black robe/hood/towel to drape around your face
Patchouli incense
drumming music
Light the incense and carry it counter-clockwise around the room. Place it in the midle of the room infront of you. Light the black candle and carry it around the room counter-clock wise as well then sit it next to the incense. Turn out all the lights leaving only the candle for light. Drape the hood around your face so that much of the room is hidden. Start the music.
Close your eyes. Relax your body. Visualize yourself standing in a dimmly lit tunnel. Begin walking through the tunnel, the many twists and turns, lit by occasional lamps. Anfter walking you will find yourself at the opening to a large cave. In the center is a large cauldron with tall candles to the sides of it. Behind the cauldron is a huge throne. On this throne sits a silent figure with his face coverd. He holds a sword and becones you to come near. Walk to the figure. He will ask why have you come here. Explain what you want changed in your life and why you are unhappy. Do not say how you want the changes to occur. Listen closely to what the figure says and do as he commands. He may tell you to step into the cauldron. He may show you symbols that are important to you. You may be forced to relive old happenings.
When you come out of the trance lower your hood and look around the room. You may see or feel beings there, sent to help you. Sit and think about what you have seen for a few minutes. Pay close attention to any dreams you have after this each night until the full moon.
