~ Spell of the day ~

[Neamhain Riona]

Speak your Mind
February 3rd, 2009

Color of the day: Red
Incense of the day: Cedar

Many of us have found ourselves feeling tongue-tied when it comes to speaking our minds, either with public speaking or in personal conversations. Here is a spell on this day for “Blessing of the Throats” that will clear up blockages from your throat chakra and allow you to bravely express yourself. First dip your finger in a dish of water and draw a pentagram at the base of your throat, saying this blessing:

I hereby bless my throat in the name of the God and Goddess.
May they guide me to express my thoughts well, communicating with strength and conviction, always tempered with wisdom.
By my word, so mote it be.

Now hold your hand over your throat as you visualize a bright-blue light swirling around in your throat, destroying your fear of speaking your mind. Remember, your words and thoughts have value.


By: Mickie Mueller

 

[Neamhain Riona]

The Impulse of Empathy
February 4th, 2009


Color of the day: Yellow
Incense of the day: Bay laurel

Using a thick needle, poke a hole in both ends of an egg and drain out the contents by blowing on one end (exhaling with your mouth to the hole). Allow the shell to dry. Open a bottle of champagne and pour some into a bowl. Place your fingertips into the bowl and feel the bubbles tickle your fingers. Chant the following 64 times to evoke the energies of Venus: “Love tickles my soul.” Submerge the shell within the bowl until it is almost full of this enchanted champagne. When done, plug the holes with your fingertips and carefully dry and seal the ends of the shell with candle wax. To evoke the subtle magic of empathy, shake the egg and feel the bubbles reach out to you through the shell. Know that this is a tantalizing layer of emotion charged with all the associations of passion and raw love and that, like human empathy, it delicately communicates with us on the subtle vibratory planes. Shake your egg throughout the day until the energy is depleted, then bury it in a special spot before bedtime.




By: Estha McNevin

 

[Neamhain Riona]

Chant to the Goddess
February 5th, 2009

Color of the day: Coral
Incense of the day: Violet

The world is in bloom, and the energies of the earth goddesses are alive at this very magical time of year. Step into a secluded natural place and breathe seven times into your heart chakra. Open yourself fully to the beauty and the power of nature in its many guises and manifestations. Speak or sing aloud this invocation of the divine feminine in her magical flowering in spring:

Flower-garland of the earth
Flower-garland of the sea
You are the bounty of the earth
You are the treasure of the ocean
Flower-garland of the stars
Flower-garland of the skies
You are the eye of morning
You are the Sun of creation
I call to you,
In your flowering
Queen-Maiden of compassion
For you are
The vessel of fullness
And you are
The cup of wisdom.
As I revel in your beauty
May I drink
From your cauldron
For you are the fulfillment
Of all the world’s desire.


By: Sharynne NicMhacha

 

[Neamhain Riona]

Breaking a Bad Habit
February 6th, 2009


Color of the day: White
Incense of the day: Violet

It’s easy to make New Year’s resolutions, such as giving up smoking, on January 1. But are you keeping them? This would be a good day to revisit those resolutions to break bad habits. If you haven’t kept to your resolutions as well as you would like, here’s a spell to help you. Find a twig of some kind. Name it with the bad habit you would like to break by writing the habit on a piece of paper and fastening it to the twig. Cast a circle, if you wish, and stand facing east with the ends of the twig in your hands. Loudly declaim, “I break the habit of smoking” (or whatever habit you wish to break) as you break the twig. Next, bury the broken twig. Putting it in compost is okay, but don’t put it in regular garbage. As the twig rots, the habit will go with it.

By: Magenta Griffith

 

[Neamhain Riona]

House Blessing
February 7th, 2009


Color of the day: Black
Incense of the day: Ivy

The Japanese have celebrated this day as the beginning of spring for more than a thousand years. Begin this spell, as the Japanese do, with a good house cleaning. As you vacuum and dust your floors and furniture, visualize the winter doldrums vanishing with the dust and being replaced with good energy. As you clean, chant:

“In with good luck, out with the demons.”

When you’re finished cleaning the room, scatter dried beans on the floor, imagining you’re hitting the demons that represent low energy, illness, and depression. The beans themselves represent good fortune. Light new white candles throughout your home and place a bowl of white flowers on your kitchen table. Gather the scattered beans in a white ceramic bowl and place on your altar. End the spell with a prayer of thanks that the back of winter is finally broken.



By: Lily Gardner

 

[Neamhain Riona]

Spell for Remembrance and Hope
February 8th, 2009


Color of the day: Orange
Incense of the day: Heliotrope

This day marks the anniversary of the start of the Salem Witch debacle. With that in mind, this is a good time to remember those who have suffered and died for the practice of their beliefs or simply for being accused of those practices, as well as to thank the universe for those who work tirelessly for legal recognition of our beliefs. Set up a white candle for remembrance, a pink candle for healing, and a blue candle for mental clarity. Light the white candle, honoring in memory and remembering with loving thoughts those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for being called “Witch.” Light the pink candle, focusing on those who continue to work for the rights of those who practice “alternative” spiritual paths. Send them healing energy, strength, goodwill, and blessings of love in spirit of light to counteract the hatred and anger they face. Light the blue candle, focusing positive energy into the world for all to open their minds to the ideals of acceptance and tolerance. Send these thoughts out into the universe as you complete your meditation.



By: Winter Wren

 

[Neamhain Riona]

Kick the Cold Tea
February 11th, 2009


Color of the day: Brown
Incense of the day: Honeysuckle

This time of year can bring more than its fair share of colds and flu. Mix together equal parts of peppermint, elder flowers (or berries), cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, orange peel, and rose hips (approximately 4 ounces total dried herbs), and place them into a special glass jar. Before placing the lid, hold your right hand over the dry tea mixture and say:

Warmth now I hold,
Away with you, Cold!
I find myself strong,
All Season long!

Brew a cup of the tea with honey and lemon once or twice a day all through the spring season to stave off those “nasty bugs.”


By: Calantirniel

 

[Neamhain Riona]

Diana’s Day
February 12th, 2009


Color of the day: Green
Incense of the day: Balsam

This is a day that was sacred to the Roman Maiden goddess of the hunt, Diana. Here is a call to Diana and a request for the courage and cunning to face any challenges you may encounter this winter. Diana is pictured as a young, athletic woman wearing a silvery tunic and carrying a bow and arrows. She was crowned with a crescent Moon on her brow and was typically accompanied by her hunting hounds. Try lighting a silver candle for Diana, and ask for her assistance:

Diana, you walk the woods unafraid and stand tall and true.
Hear my plea and grant me courage, in all that I say and do.
The candle’s flame is a symbol of my confidence spell.
For the good of all, with harm to none, may it turn out well.




By: Ellen Dugan

 

[Neamhain Riona]

The Call of the Owl
February 16th, 2009


Color of the day: White
Incense of the day: Rosemary

In rural areas, the frigid stillness of February nights is shattered by the mating call of the Great Horned Owl. It is an eerie, unearthly sound. Some cultures feared the owl as a harbinger of tragic events and death. But many shamans considered owls to be intelligent and would listen for their calls so they could time their magical work accordingly. The owls are creatures of the night and you may invoke their power to aid you in dream work, visions, and works requiring creativity. To call on the owls, select a night when you’ll be alone. Light a single black candle. Decorate your altar with tokens of winter, such as pine cones. Gaze into the flame while you visualize an owl flying gracefully and silently through the frozen woodland. See it lead you to your goal. Return slowly from your vision of the owl to the here and now. Tonight, you’ll likely have a vivid dream relating to your quest.


By: James Kambos

 

[Neamhain Riona]

Removing Obstacles to Abundance
February 19th, 2009

Color of the day: Crimson
Incense of the day: Mulberry

Sometimes we can’t figure out why we’re having trouble bringing abundance into our lives. What’s blocking the path to abundance? Removing those obstacles now, before planting season begins, will allow your finances to grow unobstructed during the fertile season to come. On a slip of paper, write habits, doubts, or fears that may be preventing the bountiful abundance you seek. Fold this slip of paper several times, dip it in water, and freeze it. This represents the barriers on the path to your abundance, locked in ice. Build a fire in your fireplace or barbecue grill. Toss the frozen slip of paper into the flames and say:

Remove these obstacles from my path,
Clear the way as abundance comes back,
By ash and soot, flame and steam,
Abundance now freely flows to me!

As spring approaches, plant your seeds of abundance unhampered by obstacles of the past.




By: Mickie Mueller

 

[Neamhain Riona]

Transportation Appreciation
February 21st, 2009

Color of the day: Indigo
Incense of the day: Sage

In our hectic day-to-day lives, it can be hard to remember to truly appreciate some of the commonplace things. Today, let your thoughts center on your means of getting about. Start with the most used method of transportation—your feet. Take time to give your feet a special treat today. This could be a simple soak and lotion or a spa visit for a good reflexology session or perhaps some new socks or shoes. Send healing and rejuvenating energy to each part of your feet. Next, consider your mode of getting about—public transportation, a bike, your own car, whatever it may be. Send thanks and blessing energy to that source for giving you the means to accomplish your tasks. Strengthen protections around your vehicle or take time to smile and thank your bus driver or train conductor. If it’s time to change your mode of transportation, send out energy into the universe that you may find what is right for you, something that both meets your needs and is kind to the environment.

 

[Neamhain Riona]

Mojo Bag for Prosperity
February 26th, 2009


Color of the day: Purple
Incense of the day: Myrrh

Work this spell if you’d like more abundance in your life. You’ll need a 10-inch square of dye-free muslin fabric (cotton may be substituted), a piece of green ribbon, three dimes, and at least two of the following herbs: patchouli, mint, cinnamon, cinquefoil, or pine. To begin, lay the fabric flat and pile about two tablespoons of each herb in the center of the fabric. Drop the three dimes on top and hold your palms over the mixture as you say this incantation:

By coin and herb my voice be heard.
I draw into my life more prosperity.
With harm to none, my will be done.

Visualize your life with happiness and prosperity. Pull the edges up and tie the mojo bag closed with green ribbon. Keep the mojo bag by your purse or wallet.




By: Gwinevere Rain

 

[Neamhain Riona]

Day of Knowledge
March 2nd, 2009


Color of the day: Lavender
Incense of the day: Narcissus

Knowledge is one of our most important tools of growth. Those who oppose growth want to keep knowledge out of our reach. Everyone has the right to take a day off occasionally to appease the hunger of the mind. Instead of taking a “sick day,” take today as a “well day.” Use the day to indulge and improve your mind. Go to the library or the book store. Take your time and browse. Pick whatever book appeals to you most, especially if it is something you wouldn’t normally read. Spend the rest of the day reading your book in a quiet space, such as the library, an almost-empty café, a park, or curled up in your favorite chair. You can dedicate the day to Hypatia, a woman who taught mathematics, astronomy, and astrology in ancient Greece; Athena, the goddess of wisdom; or the muses. You will return to the world tomorrow refreshed.


By: Cerridwen Iris Shea

 

[Neamhain Riona]

Celebrate Life Spell
March 4th, 2009

Color of the day: Brown
Incense of the day: Lavender

“Happy Birthday to You” was first published on this day in 1924. Time to throw yourself and your friends a celebration of life spell! Have each person you invite bring a picture of themself when they were young and any others from important times of their life. Place the pictures on the altar and, while calling the directions, say:

From our beginning to our end, we celebrate our lives and our achievements.
Great Goddess, we give thee thanks for all the lessons learned, all the richness of experience and the joys bestowed upon us.
May our life continue to be a celebration of life. Blessed be.

Later, have each person write a secret wish on a birthday card and place them in a sealed envelope. In the next year to come, revisit these wishes with your friends, opening the cards and sharing stories. End the celebration with a birthday cake.