Celebrating Spirituality - 1/16/13

Celebrating Spirituality

On this day: To the ancient Romans, the Goddess Concordia was the personification of concord (an agreement between members of the state or between members of groups within a guild) and sometimes associated with the Greek Goddess Homonoia – the incarnation of harmony.

On this day, considered to be the center-post of the first month of the new year, Concordia was petitioned to help with the formation of favorable partnerships with business as well as with love and friendships.

Magickal Activity:

Circle of Friendship Spell

Items needed: One pink candle for each person you wish to befriend; one gold candle to represent yourself; one sprig of rosemary; one sprig of lavender.
Begin by placing each pink candle, evenly spaced, in a circle.  In the center of the circle lay the rosemary and lavender sprigs in a cross formation.  Place the gold candle next to the center of the cross.  Take a few moments to relax.  Visualize yourself and your circle of friends having a wonderful time.
Light the gold candle first, and then in a clockwise direction light each of the pink candles.  Chant the following once for each friendship candle:

As the stars above in darkness shine,

With a light that fills the heavens divine,

So bright with radiance our friendships glow,

Outshining the sun and dimming all foes.

Allow the candles to burn for one hour and then extinguish.  Repeat the spell every evening until the candles have burned out.  Save the rosemary and lavender.  It can be used later for friendship amulets.

Medical tip of the day: Folk Medicine for Insomnia

Honey – This is highly recommended in Japan: take 2 tablespoons of honey followed by a glass of hot water.
Herbal teas – Chamomile, lime flower, and passionflower tea are all soothing before bedtime.  Traditional soothing teas include ginger, mint, hops, rosemary, or lavender.  Use a teaspoon of the dried herb (or a teaspoon of grated fresh ginger root) to a cup of freshly boiled water.  Allow to steep for about 5 minutes.
Lavender – Add a few drops of lavender oil to a bath before bedtime
Garlic – An old-fashioned remedy for a child, who often wakes in the night frightened by bad dreams, is to rub garlic on the soles of the feet.
Hops – Pillows stuffed with hop flowers have been used as a remedy for sleeplessness for many centuries.
Skullcap – For a relaxing medicine, pour a cup of freshly boiled water on to a teaspoonful of the dried herb, and allow this to stand for 10 minutes.  This may be combined with a standard infusion of valerian root.

Herb of the day: Willow

Gender: Feminine

Planet: Moon
Element: Water
Deities: Artemis, Ceres, Hecate, Persephone, Hera, Mercury, Belili, Belinus
Powers: Love, Love Divination, Protection, Healing
Ritual Use: Burial mounds in Britain which are sited near marshes and lakes were often lined with willows, probably for symbolic associations with death.
Magical Uses: Willow leaves are carried or used in mixtures to attract love, and the wood is used to fashion magical wands dedicated to moon magic.  If you wish to know if you will be married in the new year, on New Year’s Eve throw your shoe or boot into a willow tree, if it doesn’t catch and stay in the branches the first time, you have eight more tries.  If you succeed in trapping your shoe in the tree you will be wed within 12 months – but you’ll also have to shake or retrieve your shoe.
All parts of the willow guard against evil and can be carried or placed in the home for this purpose. Knock on a willow tree (“knock on wood”) to avert evil.
The leaves, bark and wood of the willow are also utilized in healing spells.
If you wish to conjure spirits, mix crushed willow bark with sandalwood and burn at the waning Moon outdoors.
Magical brooms, especially Witch’s brooms, are traditionally bound with a willow branch.

Stone of the Day:

Sardonyx

Sardonyx- Stone of strength and protection.  It invokes the search for a meaningful existence and promotes integrity and virtuous conduct.

Bringing lasting happiness and stability to marriage and partnerships, Sardonyx attracts friends and good fortune.  It can be gridded around the house and garden to prevent crime. (A stone can be placed at each corner, and at doors and windows, but it is more effective to dowse for exactly the right place.)

Psychologically, Sardonyx supplements willpower and strengthens character.  It increases stamina, vigor, and self-control.  This stone alleviates depression and overcomes hesitancy.  Mentally, Sardonyx improves perception and aids the process of osmosis and processing of information.

Healing: Sardonyx heals lungs and bones and resensitizes the sensory organs.  It regulates fluids and cell metabolism, strengthens the immune system, and aids the absorption of nutrients and elimination of waste products.

Black Sardonyx – Absorbs negativity

Brown Sardonyx – Grounds energy

Clear Sardonyx – Purifies

Red Sardonyx - Stimulates