Mabon Balance Mediatation

Mabon is one of those times of year that affect people in different ways. For some, it's a season to honor the darker aspects of the Goddess, calling upon that which is devoid of light. For others, it's a time of thankfulness, of gratitude for the abundance we have at the season of harvest. No matter how you see it, Mabon is traditionally a time of balance. After all, it's one of the two times each year that has equal amounts of darkness and daytime.

Because this is, for many people, a time of high energy, there is sometimes a feeling of restlessness in the air, a sense that something is just a bit "off". If you're feeling a bit spiritually lopsided, with this simple meditation you can restore a little balance into your life.

Setting the Mood

Now that fall is here, why not do an autumn version of Spring cleaning? Get rid of any emotional baggage you're dragging around with you. Accept that there are darker aspects to life, and embrace them, but don't let them rule you. Understand that a healthy life finds balance in all things.

You can perform this ritual anywhere, but the best place to do it is outside, in the evening as the sun goes down. Decorate your altar (or if you're outside, use a flat stone or tree stump) with colorful autumn leaves, acorns, small pumpkins, and other symbols of the season. You'll need a black candle and a white one of any size, although tealights probably work best. Make sure you have something safe to put them in, either a candle holder or a bowl of sand.

Light both candles, and say the following:

A balance of night and day, a balance of light and dark Tonight I seek balance in my life as it is found in the Universe. A black candle for darkness and pain and things I can eliminate from my life. A white candle for the light, and for joy and all the abundance I wish to bring forth. At Mabon, the time of the equinox, there is harmony and balance in the Universe, and so there shall be in my life.

Meditate on the things you wish to change. Focus on eliminating the bad, and strengthening the good around you. Put toxic relationships into the past, where they belong, and welcome new positive relationships into your life. Let your baggage go, and take heart in knowing that for every dark night of the soul, there will be a sunrise the next morning.

~Source

Yule Ritual for Solitaries

The candles should be Green for the North, Red for the South, Silver for West and Gold for East, the candles should remain unlit for the time being.
Set up the altar as is most comfortable for you; a gold pillar candle should be unlit on the altar as well.

When you are ready, stand facing the North and say:
“Tonight I honor the darkness, for from darkness is born the light. From the void, the darkest night of the year is at its threshold. And the Sun is born again.”

Face east and light the Gold Candle (not the one on the altar), saying:
“Powers of Air, come forward from the darkness Enter my circle, as dark gives way to light. Bring with you the essence of the pine trees, Remind me of Spring on this Solstice Night.”

Going to the South, light the Red Candle and say:
“Powers of Fire, come forward from the darkness, Enter my circle, as dark gives way to light. Bring with you the first glint of tomorrow, Remind me of Summer on this Solstice Night.”

Move to the West and light the Silver Candle, saying:
“Powers of Water, come forward from the darkness, Enter my circle, as dark gives way to light. Bring with you the bittersweet memories, Remind me of Autumn on this Solstice Night.”

Face the North and light the Green Candle and say:
“Powers of Earth, come forward from the darkness, Enter my circle, as dark gives way to light. Bring with you the land that now sleeps, Remind me of Winter on this Solstice Night.”

Finally, take up the Athamé and facing East, the direction of the Rising Sun, take a moment to center yourself and begin to cast the Circle. Visualize a white light coming from the tip of the athamé and with arms straight out, turn the blade point out, slowly turning clockwise the light following you.

When you return to the East bring the athamé back to you and say:
“As above, so below.”
As you say this, visualize the light going above you and below you forming a perfect sphere.

Invoke the God and Goddess
“Goddess of all seasons, I see You now as Mother with Child. Be with me tonight.”
“God of all seasons, I see You now as the dying Sun, and also as a tiny Baby, the Sun Reborn. Be with me tonight.”

Begin the Ritual
“As the darkness grows, I felt the passing of the Sun King. Yet, in the darkest hour of Winter, He is reborn as the light of the Infant Sun. The Great Mother who gives birth to Him, Who brought the Child of Promise to the Earth. It is the Lord of Light and Life who is born once more!”
“Awake now Mother – Awake now Goddess of Life, Death and Rebirth! Awaken, Lady, look upon Your Divine Child, His rebirth while you slept was subtle and silent. The Sun Lord awaits Your wakening!”

Light the gold candle on the altar at this time and say:
“Hail the Oak King, His rebirth a promise! Hail the Divine Child, Giver of Life Hail the Blessed Sun, reborn of the Mother For He retakes His throne at the end of Solstice Night!”

Meditate for a time on the meaning of the Winter Solstice and the return of the Sun. When you are done, thank the Goddess and God:
“Lovely Mother and Tiny Child, Thank you for blessing me with your presence tonight. As the days grow longer, I will know you are always with me.”

Take in the Circle in whatever manner is appropriate for you, and release the Quarters by saying:
“Carry tidings sweet around the world and beyond, I change as Messengers Earth, Water, Fire and Air Let all rejoice loudly in the Sun King’s return Teach all that you meet with tidings that you bear.”

The circle is ended.

Job Seeking Spell

What you need:

Four candles: One yellow, an astral colour to represent the self. One green for prosperity, a Black candle to remove obstacles and a Brown one for the job itself.

Patchouli oil, and Cinnamon oil.

Four slips of paper and a marker pen.

A chalice or other receptacle for the ashes.

This spell is best worked during the waxing phase of the moon. It can be performed with or without a circle depending on whether you intend to call on the deities.

Preparation:

While visualising the job you are seeking or the type of work you wish to do anoint the black candle with patchouli oil, working from the base upwards to the wick and place in a holder. Wash your hands of all traces of the oil before using the other candles. Still visualising anoint the other three candles with the cinnamon oil, this time from the wick to the base and place in holders. Wash your hands of all traces of the oil and set up your altar. Place the black candle in the centre of the workspace with the yellow candle above it to the north, the brown candle to the left in the west and the green candle to the right in the east. The chalice can be placed wherever convenient but within easy reach, don’t forget the matches or lighter.

Before starting your rite, you may wish to meditate for a while on how to achieve your goal. Burning a prosperity incense (Benzoin, Cedar, Cinnamon or a mixture) may also help.

The Working Ritual:

Form a magick circle (if your using one) and call the Goddess and God to aid your spell. As you light each candle focus your intent. Start with the yellow astral candle, light it and say something like:

“I seek to change, for what feels right. Open the way and clear my sight.”

Visualize yourself reading through and selecting jobs out of the vacancy sections in the local newspaper or looking through the notice boards at the job centre. Write on a slip of paper a single word or brief description symbolizing your intent (in this case it might be “Change”). Light the paper in the candle and as it burns push out your thoughts and see yourself finding what you are looking for. Place it in the chalice and let it burn out. Light the black candle and say something like:

"Negate bad luck, Let obstacles fall. Break-down barriers, Heed my call!"

Visualise yourself filling in application forms or mailing out your C.V. to prospective employers. See your mail-outs arriving at their destinations being accepted, and your name being added to interview lists. Write on a slip of paper your intent (“Break-down barriers”). Light the paper from the candle, push out your thoughts and see interview appointments being made in your favour. When it’s burned out, light the green candle and say something like:

"Bring Prosperity, Security too. Just rewards for the work I do.”

Visualise yourself arriving for interview calm, confidant and smiling. See yourself shaking hands with the interviewer and discussing and agreeing to details. Write on a slip of paper the intent (“Just Rewards”). Light it from the candle, push out your thoughts and see, feel and know the interview has gone well. When it’s burned out, light the brown candle and say something like:

"Opportunities, work and rewards I see. As I will, so must it be!"

Write the intent (Opportunities, Work, Rewards) on the last piece of paper. Light it from the candle and visualise yourself in a successful new job receiving your first pay packet, push out your thoughts to make it real and happen.

When you have finished thank the deities for their help and close the circle. Leave the candles to burn out completely. Remember a spell won’t work on its own, you need to actively seek a job. Listen to all your hunches and follow up on any leads. Each night for a week, burn a 2nd brown candle for 10 minutes while meditating in preparation for the job and the good you will gain from it.

~Courtesy of A Miscellany Collection of Spells

Casting A Solitary Circle

I hope this helps you if you are new to the Craft or want a little different take on a basic ritual.

Casting the Circle: Place white or appropriately colored candles at the compass points, the altar may be at the center of the circle. A small white or beeswax candle, two larger candles, the censer with unlit incense, the Athamé, a dish of salt, a goblet of water, small cakes or cookies for "cakes and ale," a goblet of wine, an offering dish and any items for work to be done within the cast circle.

Take a short moment, eyes closed, to become "At peace" before standing before the altar.

Light the small candle and walk toward the east. Light the yellow or white candle from the small candle, saying

"Here I call forth the powers of air from the east, that I may be like the air, unfettered and pure."

Take a moment to remember the air visualization, and to contemplate the meaning of the east, air and freedom before continuing onward.

Light the red or white candle to the south with the small candle saying.

"Here I call forth the powers of fire from the south, that I may be like fire, enduring all hardships to become strengthened."

Recall your own "trials by fire" and contemplate the possibility of more, the meaning of the words spoken is thought on, and the caster continues.

Light the blue or white candle to the west, saying,

"Here I call forth the powers of water, that I may be like water, supporting and protecting all that I encounter,"

Contemplate the water visualization and the meaning of the west in your life.

Move on to the North, lighting the green or white candle, saying

"Here I call forth the power of Earth, that I may be like earth, grounded at all times."

Here ground and think before moving to the east to say.

"Welcome Air, Fire, Water, Earth, shine your light and lend your strength to this my circle to night/day."

Still moving clockwise, return to the altar, and light the incense saying.

"Negative forces begone, you are not welcome here."

Breathe deeply of the incense and banish away negative forces within before circling clockwise thrice with the censer, visualizing hate, jealousy and the like fleeing from the smoke.

Returns to the altar, pick up the Athamé and pick up a measure of salt with its tip. Inserting the tip of the blade into the water saying.

"As man to woman so blade to chalice, I purify this water with love, light and power."

Walk around the circle, sprinkling the salted water about the circle thrice. Returning to the altar, raise the Athamé to the sky and visualize a beam of blue light filling it, walk once around the circle, using the Athamé and its light to "cut" a space between the worlds.

This done, move to the altar and light the two candles.

"Lord and Lady, I invite you to this my worship, that you may look upon my devotions and celebrations and be heartened and strengthened by them."

Turn toward the west and announce.

"Now is my circle cast, unbreakable and without harm. Thus is sacred space decreed, and no act goes unnoticed. So mote it be."

Closing the circle: Thank the Gods for their attentions, snuff their candles. Dismiss individually each element and thank it for lending its strength, Walk around the circle, drawing the blue light back into the Athamé, breathe deep, and take some of the power back. A closing statement usually follows, ending in,

"The Circle is open, but ever unbroken...So mote it be."

How To Make A Scrying Mirror

Samhain is a time to do some serious divination - it's the time of year when the veil between our world and that of the spirits is at its thinnest, and that means it's the perfect season to look for messages from the metaphysical. Scrying is one of the best known forms of divination, and can be done in a variety of ways. Basically, it's the practice of looking into some sort of reflective surface -- such as water, fire, glass, dark stones, etc. -- to see what messages, symbols, or visions may appear. A scrying mirror is a simple black-backed mirror, and it's easy to make one yourself.

To make your scrying mirror, you'll need the following:

• A clear glass plate
• Matte black spray paint
• Additional paints (acrylic) for embellishment

To prepare the mirror, first you'll need to clean it. Use any glass cleaner, or for a more earth-friendly method, use vinegar mixed with water. Once the glass is clean, flip it over so that the back side is facing up. Lightly spray with the matte black spray paint. For the best result, hold the can a couple of feet away, and spray from side to side. If you hold the can too close, the paint will pool, and you don't want this. As each coat dries, add another coat. After five to six coats, the paint should be dense enough that you can't see through the paint if you hold the glass up to a light.

Once the paint has dried, turn the glass right side up. Use your acrylic paint to add embellishments around the outer edge of the plate -- you can add symbols of your tradition, magical sigils, or even your favorite saying. The one in the photo says, "Thee I invoke by the moonlit sea, the standing stone, and the twisted tree." Allow these to dry as well. Your mirror is ready for scrying, but before you use it, you may want to consecrate it as you would any other magical item.

If your tradition normally requires you to cast a circle, do so now. If you'd like to play some music, start your cd player. If you'd like to light a candle or two, go ahead, but be sure to place them so that they don't interfere with your line of vision. Sit or stand comfortably at your workspace. Begin by closing your eyes, and attuning your mind to the energy around you. Take some time to gather that energy.

When you are ready to begin scrying, open your eyes. Position yourself so that you can look into the mirror. Stare into the glass, looking for patterns, symbols or pictures -- and don't worry about blinking, it's fine if you do. You may see images moving, or perhaps even words forming. You may have thoughts pop spontaneously into your head, that seem to have nothing at all to do with anything. Perhaps you'll suddenly think about someone you haven't seen in decades. Use your journal, and write everything down. Spend as much time as you like gazing into the mirror -- it may be just a few minutes, or even an hour. Stop when you begin to feel restless, or if you're getting distracted by mundane things.

When you are finished gazing into the mirror, make sure you have recorded everything you saw, thought and felt during your scrying session. Messages often come to us from other realms and yet we frequently don't recognize them for what they are. If a bit of information doesn't make sense, don't worry -- sit on it for a few days and let your unconscious mind process it. Chances are, it will make sense eventually. It's also possible that you could receive a message that's meant for someone else -- if something doesn't seem to apply to you, think about your circle of family friends, and who the message might be meant for.

**About.com: Paganism/Wicca**

Essential Oil Recipes for Magick Spells, Sabbats and Chakras Share

Add the essential oil recipes to 2 oz of any base oil, or as recommended:
Hazelnut, sweet almond or grapeseed. Olive oil and Sesame oil are heavier, although they are also used at times. Visualize as you blend and smell, this will put your personal spiritual intent into the mix. Do not use synthetics if you want results. I recommend pure essential oils.

Altar Oil 4 ml Frankincense 2 ml Myrrh 1 ml Cedar Anoint the altar with this oil at regular intervals, calling your Deity (Deities) to watch over it. Mix with 4 oz base oil. Recipe is for a year of 13 Full moon phases, keep the blessing oil in tightly capped dark glass bottle.
Anointing Oil 5 ml Sandalwood 3 ml Cedarwood 1 ml Orange 1 ml Lemon Use for most ritual anointing purposes, mix with 4 oz oil. Recipe is for 12 or more uses.
Astral Travel Oil 5 drops Sandalwood oil 1 drop Ylang-Ylang oil 1 drop Cinnamon oil Add ingredients to 2 oz almond oil and mix. Anoint the stomach, wrists, back of the neck and forehead. Lie down and visualize yourself astrally projecting.
Beltane Oil 4 drops Lily Of The Valley Oil 2 drops Violet Oil 2 drops Honeysuckle Oil Pinch of Lemon Balm herb Mix with 2 oz olive oil and tightly bottle. Annoint your altar and candles.
Citrus Purification Oil 3 drops Orange 2 drops Lemongrass 2 drops Lemon 1 drop Lime Mix with 2 oz of grapeseed oil. Anoint white candles and burn in the home to purify and clear ares of negative forces. Energy Oil 4 ml Orange oil 2 ml Lime oil 1 ml Cardamom Wear when feeling depleted, when ill, or just to strengthen your own enery reserves. Especially useful after heavy magickal ritual to recharge your bodily batteries. Blend into 2 oz hazelnut oil, and keep in glass vials.
Healing Oil 4 drops Rosemary 2 drops Juniper 1 drop Sandalwood Blend with 1 oz each Oilve oil and Hazelnut oil. Wear to speed healing.
Initiation Oil 3 drops Frankincense 3 drops Myrrh 1 drop Sandalwood Use for mystic initiation ceremonies and to increase awareness of the spiritual realm.
Litha (Midsummer) Oil 1 part Hazelnut Oil 1 part Elder Oil 1 part Lavendar Oil 1 part Rosemary Oil Mix in bottle. Annoint on altar and candles.
Lughnassadh (Lammas) Oil 1 part Sunflower Oil 1 part Hazelnut Oil 1 part Heliotrope Oil 1 part Fir Oil 1 part Basil Oil 1 part Rose Oil Mix in bottle. Annoint on altar and candles.
Mabon Sabbat Oil 1 part Hazelnut Oil 1 part Almond Oil 1 part Crushed Walnut Shell Tsp of Marigold Leaves Add small Yellow Agate or golden crystal. Annoint your altar and candles.
Ostara Oil 1 part Almond Oil 1 part Violet Oil 1 part Elder Oil 1 part Patchouli Oil 1 part Lavendar Oil Blend oils in a glass bottle. Annoint your altar and candles.
Protection Oil 4 ml Basil oil 3 ml Rose Geranium oil 2 ml Pine oil 1 ml Vetivert oil or 1/2 tsp herb Blend with 4 oz Sesame oil. Wear for protection against all kinds of attacks. Also anoint windows, doors and other parts of the house to guard from bad influence.
Purification Oil 4 drops Frankincense 3 drops Myrrh 1 drop Sandalwood Add to the bath or blend with 2 oz almond oil to wear and rid yourself of all negativity.
Psychic Visions Oil 4 drops Lemongrass 2 drops Bay 1 drop Nutmeg Mix in 1 oz Hazelnut oil. Anoint the forehead to produce psychic awareness and dreams.
Sabbat Oil 3 drops Frankincense 2 drops Myrrh 2 drops Sandalwood 1 drop Orange 1 drop Lemon Add to an olive-oil base and wear to Wiccan Sabbats
Sacred Oil 3 drops Frankincense 2 drops Sandalwood 1 drop Cinnamon Blend in 1 oz almond oil. Anoint your body prior to religious rituals to stimulate spirituality. Also, anoint others during mystical group rites.
Samhain Oil (Sow-in) 4 drops Pine Oil 2 drops Frankincense oil 2 drops Patchouli oil 2 drops Lavendar oil Blend with 1 oz oilve oil in bottle. Annoint on altar and candles.
Yule Sabbat Oil 1 part Pine Oil 1 part Fir Oil 5 part Almond Oil 1 cinnamon stick 1 drop Musk Oil 4 Cloves Mix 1 oz almond oil in bottle. Annoint on altar and candles.

Chakra Oils:
7th Crown: Myrrh, Lotus, Frankincense, Camphor
6th Head: Carnation, Lavender, Rosemary
5th Heart: Cedarwood, Mimosa, Rosemary, Clove
4th Throat: violet, Vanilla, Yland Yland, Eucalyptus
3rd Belly: Frankincense, Honeysuckle, Galangal, Lemon Verbena
2nd Spine: Orange, Oakmoss, Sandalwood.
1st Base: Civit, Muguet, Ambergris, Cinnamon, Musk
Chakra Balancing Oil: Lemon, Orange, Lavender, Myrrh, Clove

Magical Blended Oil Uses:
Astral Travel: Frankincense, Myrrh, Cypress, Jasmine
Attraction: Musk, Cassia, Sandalwood, Myrrh
Blessing Oil: Myrrh, Cedarwood, Amber
Divination: Musk, Ambergris, Vetivert, Violet, Lilac
Fast Luck: Patchouli, Carnation, Mimosa
Gambler’s: Lily of the Valley, Rose, Sandalwood, Mimosa, Cinnamon
Love: Gardenia, Jasmine, Muguet, Sandalwood, Musk
Money Drawing: Patchouli, Pine, Bay
Needed Changes: Sandalwood, Mimosa, Hyacinth, Cinnamon
Prosperity: Patchouli, Gardenia, Cinnamon
Protection: Frankincense, Sandalwood, Amber
Psychic Power: Cedarwood, Myrrh, Violet, Musk, Ambergris
Success: Heliotrope, Patchouli, Lavender
Uncrossing: Rose, Carnation, Bay, Clove

Blessed be~