Spider comes to us when we become conscious of our need for change. Invisible until the dawn’s light comes through the dark night of uncertainty, she reveals the brilliance of her dew-drenched web. Spider calls, “Wait patiently with me in this calm center, knowing that all you require has been woven into your life’s web along the weft of the lives of all the other beings, seen and unseen, who are your support. Trust that these attachments that hold the web of your intent are strong in their fragility; should they break or be shifted by winds or storms or other beings passing through, the supporting strands will be reconnected— the web shel- tered and safe, a secure place for nourishment to be received.”
Spider’s webs are everywhere in the harvest season. She reminds us that we harness our feminine power through the web of our conscious intent, gathering nourishment and support. Spider balances the insect population that would otherwise overrun the earth—a reminder of her sacred role in releasing what is out of balance in our lives. As harvest ends, we clear dusty cobwebs from our lives and allow a clear space for new webs of purpose to be spun.
Let us honor Spider in her physical form, releasing her presence from areas that are not suitable for her webs with respect and nonviolence. Let us teach young girls to be free of the fears and violence perpetrated against spiders and to recognize Spider’s value. Let us be mindful of her role as Keeper of the web of our purpose.
Spider~ Keeper of the Web of Life ~
2007 We’Moon Planner
by Wyldrose
The Autumn Equinox is one of the three Harvest festivals celebrated by modern Wiccans and Pagans. The first festival is Lammas, the second is Autumn Equinox and the last is Samhain or Sawain. In older text, and by traditional Wiccans, this time of the year is called Autumn Equinox and the word Mabon is a recent addition to The Wheel of the Year. Mabon is used mostly by American Wiccans while in Britain and Europe it is still most commonly referred to as Autumn Equinox.
Another name for this holiday is Harvest Home or The Feast of Ingathering. Harvest Home is a festival that has been celebrated since before Anglo-Saxon times much as we celebrate Thanksgiving. This is the time of the year where families gather, celebrate, and give thanks for the crops. Many villages in the British Isles have records of festivals and localized customs that were practiced during the festivals of Harvest Home. Often times a special beer or ale was brewed to use in village celebrations.
In some villages, a corn maiden, made from the last corn (a term also used for barley) was made with the last swath cut from the field. The corn maiden was taken to a family who took care of her and honored her throughout the winter so she could be replanted in the spring. Some villages had a corn man who was honored in much the same way. Many historians believe that this was a custom left over from days when a real human life was offered to make the crops grow. Sensational movies such as the Wickerman and many books have used this type of theme in modern times.
Songs traditionally sung at this time, such as John Barleycorn, talk about the sacrifice of a man to make the crops grow. However, after careful listening one learns of how to make ale or beer instead of hearing of murder and sacrifice.
Mabon is a time also of balance since the night and days (in theory) are equal in length. For many, this is a time to begin working on plans that were started earlier in the year. Our foremothers and fathers also understood that this is a natural time to socialize, celebrate and work together and accomplish these types of endeavors. Culturally, this is the time when we head back to school, finish up the garden and set aside food for winter, and start to look forward to the holidays. Projects for winter are started. Animals prepare for winter, and this is time of year when they are hunted.
I personally like the term Harvest Home and the images it conjures up of bonfires, cider and spending the evening in celebration with friends. Harvest Home also acknowledges those who have passed and in which ties us to the past as we talk and remember friends and family. This keep alive stories for the next generations to come. Many cultures practice a custom of setting aside a plate of food, often called a spirit plate, for the ancestors (or fairies) so that they may celebrate with everyone. In many cultures this plate was taken and placed in a cemetery on the oldest ancestral grave to be shared by all those who had died.
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Artemis; Greek goddess of wild nature, associated with the Moon as her twin brother, Apollo, is with the Sun.
Cynthia; A name for the Moon derived from Mount Cynthus on the Greek Island of Delos where Leto gave birth to Artemis and Apollo.
Diana; An Italian wood deity identified with the Greek Artemis and, like her, symbolized the Moon.
Hecate; A primitive Greek goddess of three realms—heaven, earth, and the sea. The Moon before rising, after setting, and for the three nights when it is lost from sight belong to Hecate.
Luna; A Roman epithet for the Moon goddess depicted as winged and driving a chariot drawn by two white horses.
Phoebe; When a bright Moon shines high n the sky, Artemis is called Phoebe as her twin Apollo becomes Phoebus in bright aspect.
Selene; The Moon goddess in the Greek legend who fell in love with the sleeping shepherd boy Endymion.
Trivia; The triple-form of Hecate and the Moon made the location where three roads met sacred—tri, three and via, road. The Romans knew Hecate as Trivia, goddess of witchcraft.
This last month we not only had, but were able to witness, weather permitting, a Lunar and Solar Eclipse. Both of these events were beautiful with magnificent energies. One being in Pisces and the other in Virgo. Also, I was granted the rare opportunity of having a clear Seattle sky on the evening of the Lunar Eclipse and was able to get pictures with the assistance of my best friend and semi-professional photographer Amie (thankyou!).
August 28: Lunar eclipse in Pisces Full Moons tend to amp up the emotional life in general and when the full Moon is also a lunar eclipse, the emotions are dialed up even more! Now add in the fact that this lunar eclipse is in Pisces, the most sensitive sign of the zodiac -- and, well, you get the idea. So first, don't over react to anything; dramatic events are a part of eclipse times, and this one won't be any different. With the Virgo Sun opposite the Pisces Moon, expect to hear about lots of situations having to do with health issues, whether it's people, animals or the planet.
Eclipses are highlighters and bring your awareness to what needs your attention. It is time to get a plan together to make the changes that will make you feel healthier, happier and more emotionally content. Get some time alone and slow down! Connect with your spiritual self; watch a sunset, meditate or listen to a beautiful piece of music. What inspires you? It's time to prioritize your dreams. This full Moon will most affect those born August 26-30, November 25-29,February 22-26, and May 23-27.
September 11: Solar Eclipse in Virgo Last September, in 2006, a solar eclipse in the last degree of Virgo reminded you (and the world) to take care of how you were taking care of yourself--whether it was food and water purity issues, or tending to your emotional, mental or spiritual health in some way. Now, a second Virgo solar eclipse brings your attention yet again to this area and you have a chance to see if you have been listening to yourself! Solar eclipses occur at the new moon, which represents new beginnings, and this is a big one since eclipses signal dramatic events.
Additionally, eclipses occur at the north or south lunar node with the north node representing the future and the south node, the past. Since this eclipse occurs at the south node, the past is highlighted and anything that requires your attention will be extra obvious. It is time to take care of those things you've meaning to get to that need your attention. Pay special attention to any overwork issues that can cause repetitive injuries and stress-related illnesses. What a great time to get an exercise program together and to eat healthy. It's time, isn't it? This eclipse contains a major aspect pattern called a mutable grand cross, which symbolizes people working at cross-purposes. Take your own inventory to help you avoid being unduly critical of others. This new Moon will most affect those born September 9-13, December 9-13,March 7-11 and June 7-11.
Goddesses of the Moon
The Witches Almanac Issue 26
Astrology 101
by Sha ~ Gods Dark Gift
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The Centaur
compiled by Sunwic
In Greek mythology, the Centaurs are a race of creatures composed of part human and part horse. They are depicted as the torso of a human joined at the (human's) waist to the horse's withers, where the horse's neck would be.
This half-human and half-animal composition has led many writers to treat them as liminal beings, caught between the two natures, embodied in contrasted myths, and as the embodiment of untamed nature, as in their battle with the Lapiths, or conversely as teachers, like Chiron. He was known for his knowledge and skill with medicine.
The centaurs descended from Centaurus, who mated with the Magnesian mares. Centaurus was the son of either Ixion and Nephele (the cloud made in the image of Hera) or of Apollo and Stilbe, daughter of the river god Peneus. In the latter version of the story his twin brother was Lapithus, ancestor of the Lapiths, thus making the two warring peoples cousins.
Centaurs supposedly inhabited the mountains of Erymanthus in Thessaly, or Clyon's countryside.
The Centaurs are best known for their fight with the Lapithae, caused by their attempt to carry off Hippodamia, and the rest of the Lapith women, on the day of her marriage to Pirithous, king of the Lapithae, himself the son of Ixion. The strife among these cousins is a metaphor for the conflict between the lower appetites and civilized behavior in humankind. Theseus, a hero and founder of cities, who happened to be present, threw the balance in favor of the right order of things, and assisted Pirithous. The Centaurs were driven off or destroyed.. Another Lapith hero, Caeneus, who was invulnerable to weapons, was beaten into the earth by Centaurs wielding rocks and the branches of trees.
Centaurs are thought of in many Greek myths as wild as untamed horses. Like the Titanomachy, the defeat of the Titans by the Olympian gods, the contests with the Centaurs typify the struggle between civilization and barbarism.
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The “planetoid” Chiron was discovered in 1977 and was named, as is the custom, by the astronomer who discovered it—in this case Charles Kowal. The chart for the discovery suggests that we are encountering something incredibly profound: The Ascendant corresponds to the center of the galaxy (26 degrees Sagittarius), while Pluto sits on the Midheaven and Chiron himself is a hemispheric singleton, retrograde, and grounded in the Fourth House in Taurus. Every other planet is above the horizon.
Astrologers were quick to use Chiron from the moment his presence was announced. Following the publication of early Chiron material by researchers such as Zane Stein, astrologers began placing this odd creature in charts and observing his behavior by transit. Since his discovery a mere fifteen years ago, he has become quite a hit.
Astronomers on the other hand, are not quite sure what to do with him, but several theories have emerges; those which depict him as an outsider who has been captured by our solar system seem to be the most common.
Because of his small size and peculiar location, as well as his unusual orbital path, the word “maverick” began to be applied to Chiron by astrologer—a maverick being one who acts independently of any social group and refuses to conform to any particular tradition, who lives by his own rules. Most importantly to our present purpose, however, Chiron is one of the first planetary discoveries to be assessed in terms of mythology from the very outset. Pioneering studies by Erminie Lantero and the late Tony Joseph approached Chiron as a true emerging archetype, drawing on mythic sources to determine what Chiron’s astrological influence was likely to be. This involved a fair amount of research, since Chiron’s story is found in obscure classical works like the Library of Apollodorus and the Argonautica of Apollonius of Rhodes rather than in the more familiar Homeric poems, Hesiod, or Ovid’s Metamorphoses.
In Greek myth generally, the centaurs were depicted as creatures of raw instinct, prone to drunkenness and uninhibited, sometimes violent, sensuality (much like the negative aspect of Taurus). Chiron, however, was an exception to the rule. The centaur king lived in meditative isolation in his cave on Mt. Pelion, a reclusive philosopher who occasionally emerged from his solitude to act as teacher to exceptional mortals. He possessed knowledge of celestial mechanics (i.e., astronomy and astrology), nature, medicine, and mathematics, and his expertise in these areas was respected even by the gods. Among his most famous mortal pupils were Actaeon, Aeneas, Achilles, and, most especially, Jason, whose relationship with Chiron is detailed in the Argonautica of Apollonius of Rhodes. Chiron trained all these men to become sacred warriors. He was also a teacher of Asclepius, child of Apollo and a mortal woman. Asclepius learned the art of medicine from Chiron—but being the son of a healing god (Apollo), he surpassed his tutor and became acknowledged as the patron deity of the healing arts. His symbol was rod entwined by a serpent, while the symbol of Asclepius features only one. In either case, the symbolism seems to represent the passage of the kundalini, or serpent power, up the spinal column, which in the case of Asclepius, suggests that it is the inner vital force which is the operative principle in all true healing.
All the components of Chiron’s mythic story have a strong relevance to the interpretation of Chiron in the birth chart, but it is his role as the healer which has most remarked upon. Chiron is connected with alternative rather than traditional methods of healing. At the time of Chiron’s discovery, heart, liver, and kidney transplants had extended human life to such a degree that they appeared to offer a serious alternative to dying—Chiron’s mythic confrontation with the lord of the underworld. But we had become dependent on technology for our very survival. At the same time, another interesting phenomenon was occurring in medicine—a strange new child called “holistic health care” was coming into prominence and twentieth-century medicine was being significantly challenged for the first time. The field is a burgeoning, multi-million dollar per year industry, gaining thousands of new followers annually.
Chiron
excerpt from “Mythic Astrology, Archetypal Powers in the Horoscope”
By Shawn MacDonald
In theory, the United States of America was founded on the concept of religious freedom. This is, of course, a wonderful concept and as far as the law is concerned, one can not be discriminated against because of their religious preferences. Great concept in theory. Unfortunately, the reality of religious tolerance in the United States is something quite different. Halloween is just around the corner, and while Halloween is a fun holiday for many of us it does, in reality, poke fun at a certain legitimate religion - the practice of Wicca. Cartoon witches are cute and funny - think 'Wendy' from the Casper-the-friendly -ghost cartoon. They make us laugh. And how many of us do not still chuckle when a rerun of 'Bewitched' happens to catch our attention? In reality, though, these caricatures of witches belittle the practice of witchcraft and the seriousness with which the practitioners of this religion take their beliefs. Actual witches do not wiggle their noses and turn their husbands into toads. Many of them would probably like to be able to perform that stunt - heck, most women in general would like to do that from time to time - but it does not work that way. Witches to not soar across the skies on their brooms, and they do not wear pointy black hats and cackle evilly when something bad happens. And witches do not wave a magick wand and make anything they want happen. Magick, to a witch, is a matter of finding his or her personal connection to the earth and all that is natural. It is a matter of living in balance with the forces of life itself, and taking joy in the world around us. Do witches and/or Wiccans use amulets, charms, and those types of 'mysterious' accouterments? Yes, much as Christians use crosses, alters, and wine in their worship practices. So when your child shivers with delighted terror at the depiction of the warty-nosed witch that you have hanging on your front door, it would not be a bad idea to begin providing a little education about what an actual 'witch' is, and what an actual witch does. There is probably a witch out there somewhere who actually has a wart on his or her nose, but it is not a requirement for the practice, and if you ever actually see a witch flying around on a broomstick ... well, you might want to see a doctor about those hallucinations. All in all, it is never too early to begin teaching tolerance, and even if you do not think that something is a legitimate religion, it does not mean that those who practice that religion think the same thing.
Teaching Your Child Religious Tolerance on Halloween
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The last sheaf of the harvest, dressed in a woman’s dress or woven into an intricate shape and decked with ribbons, is regarded as the embodiment f the spirit of the crop, the spirit of the growing grain itself. The safe keeping of this corn dolly over the winter insures fertility for the following harvest, provided that some portion of it is given to cattle and horses to eat, and some portion of it strewn in the field or mixed with the seeds for the next crop.
The practice of saving the spirit of the harvest is extensive throughout Europe.
In Northumberland, the corn dolly is attached to along pole and carried home to be set up in the barn. In some communities it goes home on the lastload. Sometimes it is fairly small. In parts of Germany, the heavier it is, the better.
On the Isle of Lewis in Scotland, the corn dolly’s apron is filled with bread, cheese and a sickle. In other parts of Scotland, the reapers hold races. The man who finishes reaping first designates his last sheaf the corn maiden; the one who finishes last makes his last sheaf into a hag.
In some localities, the corn dolly is made by the first farmer who finishes his harvest and then passed from farm to farm as each farmer finishes his harvest, ending up with the farmer who finishes last. In this case, no one wants the dolly as it is a sign of procrastination.
In Wales, others try to snatch the dolly from the reaper who carries it from the field. If he gets home safe, he gets to keep it on his farm for the rest of the year.
French, Slavonic, and some Germanic regions use the last sheaf to create a Kornwold, believed to hold a wolf-like spirit that resides in the last sheaf and provide the same life force for the next season. This is a fiercer version of the corn dolly and is sometimes use dot scare children.
Historically the word corn was applied to the small hard grain or fruit of a plant. It was used generically to refer to the leading crop of the district. In England, corn was wheat; in Scotland, oats; in the U.S., maize.
Today, Corn Dollies are seen as emblems of abundance.
For a step-by-step instruction on making a corn dolly and corn man from corn husks visit this MSN groups “Pagan Hearth Recipes” link:
Here are six principles that are so fundamental and far-reaching that they can help us to become liberated from our industrial-growth society to create a society that is more life-sustaining. Putting these principles into practice can transform our lives, and help to heal the world.
They spring from insights into the basic miracle of our existence--from Buddhist teachings and other ancient voices--that have broken upon us in the very century that has brought us to the brink of destroying our planet as a home for conscious life.
Here are the six basic principles of life-transformation for world healing.
1. This world, in which we are born and take our being, is alive. It is not our supply house and sewer; it is our larger body. The intelligence that evolved us from star dust and interconnects us with all beings is sufficient for the healing of our Earth community, if we but align with that purpose.
2. Our true nature is far more ancient and encompassing than the separate self defined by habit and society. We are as intrinsic to our living world as the rivers and trees, woven of the same intricate flows of matter/energy and mind. Having evolved us into self-reflexive consciousness, the world can now know itself through us, behold its own majesty, tell its own stories--and also respond to its own suffering.
3. Our experience of pain for the world springs from our interconnectedness with all beings, from which also arise our powers to act on their behalf. When we deny or repress our pain for the world, or treat it as a private pathology, our power to take part in the healing of our world is diminished. This apatheia need not become a terminal condition. Our capacity to respond to our own and others suffering--that is, the feedback loops that weave us into life--can be unblocked.
4. Unblocking occurs when our pain for the world is not only intellectually validated, but experienced. Cognitive information about the crises we face, or even about our psychological responses to them, is insufficient. We can only free ourselves from our fears of the pain--including the fear of getting permanently mired in despair or shattered by grief--when we allow ourselves to experience these feelings. Only then can we discover their fluid, dynamic character. Only then can they reveal on a visceral level our mutual belonging to the web of life.
5. When we reconnect with life, by willingly enduring our pain for it, the mind retrieves its natural clarity. Not only do we experience our interconnectedness in the community of Earth, but also mental eagerness arises to match this experience with new paradigm thinking. Concepts which bring relatedness into focus become vivid. Significant learnings occur, for the individual system is reorganizing and reorienting, grounding itself in wider reaches of identity and self-interest.
6. The experience of reconnection with the Earth community arouses desire to act on its behalf. As Earths self-healing powers take hold within us, we feel called to participate in the Great Turning. For these self-healing powers to operate effectively, they must be trusted and acted on. The steps we take can be modest undertakings, but they should involve some risk to our mental comfort, lest we remain caught in old, unsatisfying limits. Courage is a great teacher and bringer of joy.
Adapted from “Coming Back to Life”, by Joanna Macy and Molly Young Brown.
