BoS Prompts 16: Deity Offerings & Fae Offerings

Link to previous prompts: http://ppwwmm.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/cauldroneers-bos-prompts.html

There's now a dedicated facebook page to support these blog posts @ https://www.facebook.com/BookOfShadowsPrompts/

Thank you all for the support.  I've now made a dedicated facebook page https://www.facebook.com/BookOfShadowsPrompts/ so if you go there turn on all notifications you won't miss these blog posts!! 

Prompt 16. Sunday 11th March 2018 - The 16th prompt will be..  Deity Offerings & Fae Offerings (another more hands on).  

Advanced note.  If you don't know what Deity is you might want to check out this blog post HERE also if you want to know more about God/Goddess check out this blog post HERE and finally if you want to know more about the Elements & Deity check out this blog post HERE.  If you've already read those posts or are not a beginner you'll probably want to skip those blog posts!!

Another one completely open to your own interpretation and beliefs.  It is important to note this is my take and my understanding..  A lot of people have different views and similar views and the same views in fact. 

Offerings.

This blog post looks at SOME different types of offerings not just Fae & Deity offerings.  I also want to point out that this blog is not just for those believers in the fantasy, mythical and even legendary beings we’re not looking at The Fae, Fairies, Pixies, Gnomes, Elves etc..  Nor Mermaids or Sirens, Unicorns or Griffins in these blog series (so feel free to look into any of that at your own leisure!) This week we will be looking at offerings with a mention of The Fae, God, Deity, Ancestors, Spirits, Beings, Other Realm Dwellers etc..

For the purposes of this blog post I will be referring to ALL ‘little people, pixies, elfs, elves, gnomes, fairies etc.. etc..’ as Fae or The Fae.

So this week is a lot more open focused.  I know not all Pagans follow this kind of belief / system, nor do witches, other spiritual people, mundanes etc partake in offerings of any kind.  Some take part in multiple kinds of offerings depending on beliefs and views same with Religious people..!!

  

There are many different types of offerings throughout religious and non-religious faiths and cultures.  Often offerings are given to honour, show thanks, respect, gratefulness, appreciation etc and in hope to continue being watched over and receiving luck, love, money, good health, abundance, guidance etc.  Some offerings are made almost as a payment for their requests it's like a good faith payment in hope that a certain Deity / Deities / Being will lend themselves and/or their specialities to the situation at hand.  Some offerings are made in the name of others.  Offerings can be made in exchange for physical items too such as when you take something from nature be it a herb, shell, pebble, flower, feather, stone, water etc.. be it for any reason, but especially if you’re hoping to use it in magickal workings, it’s a kindness to leave something in return.  Offerings would also be given by Tribes to their Spirit Animals, Spirit Guides & Totem Animals and such.  - You can read more about them in my blog post here.

I personally have left 1 pence coins, 1 pence coins with pentagrams/pentacles drawn on them, light a candle (but do not leave fire unattended), incense, herbs, left fruit and drink, another idea I have done is to buy a bag of small semi-precious stone chips or beads and leave one of them, seeds you have purchased (planted or left), baked Fae stones (I’ll leave some YouTube links further down this blog!), bread or other baked goods and I'll go on to mention a few others..  Offerings aren't always left in exchange for goods while out and about though!  Some offerings are done at home, a place of worship and/or other locations..

This can be anything from a kind gesture such as donating your time, goods or finances to a worthy cause to aid others. 

This could be putting out bird seed in your garden / planting seeds in your garden or planters in your home for The Fae, birds and other creatures.  Planting seeds and flowers could also be an offering to Deity(s) / God(s) or even ancestors and other beings.  - I know in my garden I have planted some Sweetpeas and some Livingstone Daisies because they were always in my Nana & Granddads gardens, they loved them and since sadly both are deceased I thought it would be a lovely way to keep them alive.  So honouring my ancestors in a way as well as the sustenance they provide to a variety of creepy crawlies.  – Plus I harvest them (and other plans such as Lavender and Rosemary that I have planted myself) for incense and other ingredients.  – Sweetpeas that I know of have no noted magickal properties but from what I have read they do have connections to Fairy magick and offerings plus the sweet airy fragrance has correspondences with Air element.

This could be to the Elements or using the Elements!  Some creatures / beings / deities may have certain elemental correspondences or like certain smells so your could leave an elemental type offering with water such as perfume, oils, sharing of ingested items wine, tea, fruit juice etc..  It could be a fire offering such as cooking something over a fire, lighting a candle, cauldron offering.  It could be a wind offering such as something made or purchased such as wind chimes, bells, incense (which could also represent Earth and/or Fire), feathers etc.  Finally it could be an Earth elemental offering such as herbs, or as mentioned incense, flowers, seeds, planting etc.  There are many many types of elemental offerings.  I think by far lighting candles or herbs and/or incense are the most common though.

Other offerings may include sharing of foods such as ‘breaking bread’, soup kitchen, setting a meal place for the dead, sharing of the harvest, food donation, sharing what you have with deity, pouring wine on the ground or in the sea..

Offerings to The Fae may include honey, fruit juice, fruit, and other sweet tasting food and drink.  Some people offer bird seed, other seeds and/or nuts.  Smaller items like setting up a fairy house, garden, nook.  You could make miniature furniture or other items to give to them in offering as gifts that aren’t food or drink based, or that as dedicated to containing said food and drink.  I mentioned earlier Fae Stones / Offering Stones which are biodegradable, green for the environment and can be made in a multitude of ways.  I prefer to use all natural products including edible glitter as opposed to real glitter which is tiny shards of glass that can damage and hurt animals and other creatures.

• Making Offering Stones YouTube Tutorial By TheEarthchick

• Making Offering Stones YouTube Tutorial By CuteWitch772

• Making Offering Stones YouTube Tutorial By WitchCraftin' 

Offerings to deity, ancestors, spiritual beings and entities, etc..  May include things I’ve already mentioned other material items such as dedicated items, trinkets, personal or sentimental items, jewellery, altar space, your time, your thoughts, your energy, your thankfulness, artwork / crafted items and the list goes on..

Some people set up whole altars dedicated to an ancestor, deity, the dead, etc.. as an offering.  These may be added to over time, sat at while praying, giving offering, showing respect or doing workings etc..  Some place fresh flowers or herbs or food/drink daily or fresh candle burnt daily.  I absolutely love looking at Tumblr blog 'Fuck Yeah Altars' and also pinterest for altar ideas, offering ideas, or just to see what everyone else is making and doing.  Not that I like to copy but I love new ideas, learning and seeing what other people are doing.  - You can see my main altar and other things I post on my  main Instagram @ https://www.instagram.com/missimoinsane/.

I also mentioned before about Gardens and how setting up a Garden could be an offering.  You could also set up a Moon Garden (as mentioned in my Moon blog post) in a dedication / offering to The Moon - A Moon Garden, in this sense of the term, is a garden created using white plants and/or white flowering plants only.  So as the white reflects the glow of The Moon.  - You could also follow the Perpetual Moon Calendar which would make this Moon Garden dedication / offering a lot more personal.  I also have a free printable I designed on that blog I just mentioned.

Note. Some Gods / Goddesses, Saints, Beings, Entities, Fae etc etc may be dissintereded, dislike or even offended by your offering so it really does pay to do your research.  While I'm sure MOST would appreciate any natural gesture that came from your good will and intentions some may like it even more if you took the time to do the research and find out what they like.. It may bode well in your favour.

Activity..

• Research about various types of offerings.
• (Optional) If you have a Deity or particular Faith / Religion / Belief why not look up what your particular God/Goddess/Belief correspondences are for types of offerings they might like to receive.    
• (Optional) Create / Buy some offering pieces. 
• (Optional) Journal about your offerings / thoughts and how they worked out.

Book Activity..

• (Optional) Copy down any information from above you think you will find useful.. especially offering ideas, types of offerings and if you did the research on your particular Deity/Deities or other beings that you work with and found out what they like and don't like it might be a good idea to note that. 

Interact with me Activity..

• (Optional)  Share your offering ideas and experiences in the facebook group and/or with me.
• (Optional) on the Fb Page https://www.facebook.com/BookOfShadowsPrompts/ feel free to add any information you deem worthy..  
  
  
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  Thank you all for the support.  For anyone wishing to share, ask for help, talk about BoS / their book and relevant content (or for more information, ideas and unmissable blog posts go to new Fb group https://www.facebook.com/groups/BoSPrompts/  Also as previously mentioned you can go on the website version of this blog over on the left there’s a ‘subscribe by email’ so you don’t miss a single post from me.  If you’re on the mobile version scroll right down to the bottom and click ‘view as website’ and that should take you to the website version where you can expand, navigate to the left and subscribe by email :)  I will continue to share this on my Patreon *for free* and also on my Twitter and in various facebook groups..  & Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/BookOfShadowsPrompts/
  

Imogen x

Next weeks prompts No.17 - Different types of Witches.

BoS Prompts 7: Enlightenment & Deity..

Link to previous prompts: http://ppwwmm.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/cauldroneers-bos-prompts.html

Prompt 7. Sunday 07th January 2018 - The 7th prompt will be...  Enlightenment & Deity!

I hope you all had a wonderful Seasonal time..  And all the best for the New Year.

There's now a dedicated facebook page to support these blog posts @ https://www.facebook.com/BookOfShadowsPrompts/

Thank you all for the support.  I've now made a dedicated facebook page https://www.facebook.com/BookOfShadowsPrompts/ so if you go there turn on all notifications you won't miss these blog posts!! 

Enlightenment & Deity

This week is VERY open to you; your religion / belief /spirituality, practice etc and such forth.  Not everyone believes in the same deities aka God(s) and/or Goddess(s) even people who are following the same belief system or path may not believe, worship or follow the same deity(s).  Which makes this week for me a difficult for me to write and for you super easy..!

• So let's start with do you have a god? goddess? none gender identified deity / spirit / being / entity / angel / etc..?
• Do you follow a religion or set belief system that dictates of a specific God or Goddess (or multiple)?
• Do you follow an open path adopting what feels right to you?
• Do you simply believe the God to be the sun, the Goddess the moon and everything else to be the Divine?
• Have you adapted your beliefs to adopt other cultures / religions / faiths etc..s deity?

Maybe I should back up a little..  

What is "Deity"?

Deity is the collective term for God, Gods, Goddess, Goddesses, Divine Being, Celestial Being, Supreme Being and the list goes on.  So whatever you believe spiritually, religiously etc the 'top dog', 'main boss', 'the top of the food chain'.. that is Deity.  That said for some, especially in the Pagan community, Deity is the Divine and the Divine is energy and energy is everything.. so to speak.

So what is enlightenment?

Enlightenment can mean a great many things.  For some cultures such as most Western Cultures enlightenment is 'to understand' or "intellect and knowledge".  In Buddhist culture is can mean "awakening" in other religions, faiths, spiritualities  and cultures it can mean "finding your religion/faith/spirituality belief / path"

So how do/did I find my religion / faith / spirituality?

For a lot of people they are born into a family who has a practicing or at least an adoptive religion.  For example my family are not religious..  Yet I and my brother were christened and welcomed into the Christian church as babies.  

The infant school we attended (nearest to our house) was next door to the church my brother was Christened at and had the same name and practicing viewpoints.  In fact daily the vicar would give assembly speeches and hand out apples and juice or milk.  

Upon moving towns I attended a junior school that was semi-religious in that about twice a week our teachers would do moral assemblies based upon bible stories and we would sing bible hymns.  

Upon attending secondary school we pretty much lost religion entirely aside from Religious Education class (or as I like to call it ART Practice / Band Lyric Writing or generally Mess About Class).  I remember a few assemblies where a Vicar would come give talks, the last experience of which the Vicar jumped off the stage shouting "SEX, DRUGS, ROCK AND ROLL" and was never seen or heard from again!!  I then went to a different secondary school which was not religious what so ever and before finishing my schooling I went back to my other secondary school which proceeded to be not really religious..  

Finally college and both colleges I attended were not religious nor was the Open University.

That said somewhere during the first 2 years of secondary school I was researching spiritual activity (ghosts, poltergeists, spirits etc) which lead onto various things such as 'the Salem Witch Trials'.. and.. wait...  wait a minute..  I CAN ACTUALLY BE A WITCH?  FOR REAL? !!  - And thus my crazy journey started!  It started with research as scepticism and fantasyful ideas..  Which moved onto an education and fassicantion..  Especially of the different ways people practice the same thing, different beliefs, viewpoints, history, concept..  I soon learned about Wicca (because as most people do they assume to be a witch you must be Wiccan or something!) and I quickly learnt that not all Pagans are Wiccans, But all Wiccans are Pagans and not all Pagans are Witches..  But the two coincide quite well and to be honest everything I read, did and practiced just felt so natural.. to me..  

Over the years I still cling to 'God is the Sun', 'Goddess is the Moon' and 'Deity / Divine is everything'. - This works well for me.  I touch in previous blog posts upon this.  Likewise I also mentioned in my last blog "The Moon" and "Sabbats and Wheel of The Year" how the Goddess is one being and the God another and different names portray the different aspects.  For example The Morrigan, Hell, Hecate, Mother, Maiden and Crone are all separate aspects of the same one Goddess - To me.  Not everyone sees it this way some believe them to be separate and different deities.   Each to their own.  For me I don't have a Pantheon or set of God(s) and/or (Goddess(s).  This works for me.  For others they may need a whole Pantheon to aid their practice and journeys.

Side note.

What is a Pantheon?

Collectively all the God(s) / Goddess(s) of a religion, faith, spirituality etc.

For me my journey has worked out well thus far although I'm more and more creeping away from Wicca, this is now something I call Eclectic Wicca which is more or less very Wicca based but I take parts from all religions, faiths, spirituality, practices etc that I feel are right for me and apply them to my practice / life.  I, more recently, stumbled upon a book called "Goth Magick" which is pretty much a jumping off point from Wicca but the whole time I was reading the book I was like "Oh My Goddess This Is ME!!" - No not the dark black magic stereotypical satanic BS most people jump to the conclusion of.   

Book Recommendation:  Goth Magick: An Enchanted Grimoire - by Brenda Knight

Aside from this my only other experience with religion would be again Christianity.  During my life I was in the school quire singing at both my local church and also at Lincoln Cathedral here in England.  I also attended a few weddings, a few christenings, a few funerals, one communion, a number a christmas carol / midnight mass on christmas eve and the odd other times with friends for various reasons.  Alongside a new life church youth group and handful of times as I helped out as a youth worker at one point. 

Enough about me (me)..  What am I (you) supposed to do?

Activity..

I'm going to assume you have some kind of religion, faith, spirituality, practice or something..  If not then you might want to research some of your interests and beliefs and see where you feel you belong.  It's a long journey not something that will happen overnight.  You might believe in one or more, which is totally fine..  Christopagan (Christian / Pagan) is a thing - I'm unsure how but I have friends who practice both.  So lets start off by finding a footing to a path.

Following this deity?  What, if anything, do you believe in?  - In a notepad write down your thoughts and feelings.  Research.

Research different Deities..  Step out of your 'what you know' and learn about other cultures, other religions both old and new.  Learn about how the Greek, Roman, Norse and such's Pantheons relate or are similar takes.  Learn about the incesous ties, romance, relationships, love.  Learn about their aspects and what they're the God(s) / Goddess(s) of and why and what that can bring to your practice. 

Book Activity..

In your BoS why not create a page / pages for each of the God(s) and/or Goddess(s) you follow, maybe write the main ones.  This might be a good spot or time to do a Deity Dedication / Prayer / Calling etc..  Or Offering this can be a poem, pressed leaf or flower, photograph, drawing.  It could be a drawing you did of that Deity.  

The point of this section is to believe in something, or nothing.  But know what you believe in, or don't.  And pay tribute and honor that part of yourself as well as what that means to you.  Look at your path and your journey, maybe write about that.  If not in your BoS then feel free to blog about it, comment below (on this blog or facebook post) or IM me if you want it to be private..

As said this week is very subjective and open to YOU and what YOU believe and YOUR practice.  

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Thank you all for the support.  For anyone wishing to share, ask for help, talk about BoS / their book and relevant content (or for more information, ideas and unmissable blog posts go to new Fb group https://www.facebook.com/groups/BoSPrompts/  Also as previously mentioned you can go on the website version of this blog over on the left there’s a ‘subscribe by email’ so you don’t miss a single post from me.  If you’re on the mobile version scroll right down to the bottom and click ‘view as website’ and that should take you to the website version where you can expand, navigate to the left and subscribe by email :)  I will continue to share this on my Patreon *for free* and also on my Twitter and in various facebook groups..  & Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/BookOfShadowsPrompts/

Imogen x

Next weeks prompts No.8 - Zodiac

BoS Prompts 6: The Moon!

Link to previous prompts: http://ppwwmm.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/cauldroneers-bos-prompts.html

Prompt 6. Sunday 31st December 2017 - The 6th prompt will be...  The Moon!

I hope you all had a wonderful Seasonal time..  And all the best for the New Year.

There's now a dedicated facebook page to support these blog posts @ https://www.facebook.com/BookOfShadowsPrompts/

Thank you all for the support.  I've now made a dedicated facebook page https://www.facebook.com/BookOfShadowsPrompts/ so if you go there turn on all notifications you won't miss these blog posts!! 

So where do we start?  

The Moon..  More than just the big white rock in the sky..  There is so much to cover here but as with my other posts I don’t want to do all the work for you.  As said there’s so much I can tell you about The Moon but I’m not going too!?

The Moon has so many different aspects that you can be studied from an Astronomy study, Astrology side, as a physical manifestation or symbol of The Goddess, Gardening by The Moon, Cleansing and purification by The Moon, Moon spells, rituals and other workings, Esbats (Celebrating The Full Moon each month), Moon phases and cycles including New Moon, Waxing and Waning Moons and well the list does indeed go on..

The Moon itself has a great effect on the earth but more specifically on water and the tides among other things.  Thus The Moon has a great effect on us, not just as Witches, Pagans or other Spiritual Practitioners, Astrologists, Sky gazers and Moon lovers etc.. but also physically as the adult human body is said to be made up of around 60% water.

Did you know not everyone in the world experiences The Full Moon on the same night?  Depending on if you live in North, South, East or West Hemisphere and such.  For example: (Me) here in England usually experiences The Full Moon the night after my friends in America.  Not always, but most of the time!  It is there for good for you to know what The Moon is doing in YOUR location..  I found a good website for this to be https://www.timeanddate.com/moon/ simply enter your own location timezone also if you're buying diaries which are Moon based make sure they work for your timezone.  For example: (Me) here in England it is pointless getting a Llewellyn's Witches Datebook, calendar or almanac but I found a good alternative to be Astro Moon Diary by Astrocal https://www.astrocal.co.uk/ A5 but available in different bindings..  Also available on amazon and ebay - very friendly and lovely people..  I did a video on my YouTube about it..  I got the new style binding which they're no longer doing (thankfully) and I did a blog on how to alter the binding.

None magical Moon book recommendation:

'The Book of The Moon' by Rick Stroud. 

Art and Poster by Cammerel Dixon on Redbubble

Goddess:

The Moon is said to be the physical representation or symbol of The Goddess, like the Sun is of the God, sometimes A Triple Moon (Waning, Full and Waxing) is used as a symbol of The Triple Goddess; which as mentioned in my last blog post Wheel of The Year & The Sabbats  is the three aspects of The Goddess known as Maiden, Mother and Crone.  

Esbats: 
If you read my last blog post on the Wheel of The Year & The Sabbats you’ll know I mentioned Esbats, this is something which frequently comes up but surprisingly a lot of people get confused with what Esbats are..  So once again I’ll tell you!  Esbats are the celebration of the monthly Full Moon.  They are celebrated in different ways and traditions according to each practitioner, coven, religion, faith, practice etc.  Typically there’s 12 of these a year (one every 28 days) however on rare occasions a year can hold 13 New Moons (for example 2018!).  - This is not to be confused with a supermoon as a supermoon is when a Full Moon coincides approximately within the closest distance to Earth with in its elliptic orbit, resulting in a much larger appearing moon in the sky. 

Moon Names:

Did you know that The Full Moons have names? And sometimes when there is a second moon in the same month this is known as a Blue Moon!!  These don't happen every year..  (Which I believe is where the phrase "once in a blue moon" comes from!) -   Maybe this is something else you might wish to look into..  It might also be something you wish to include in your Books - for me I'm adding photo corners so I can change out a card that has The Moon dates and names for each year!!  I MIGHT add a pocket on the opposite page to contain the previous year’s cards..

Waxing and Waning: 
Again something else I have covered before, but something you may wish to make a note of in your books.  You know the statement ‘Wax on Wax off’ well I found an easy to remember ‘Wax on Wane off’.  

• New Moons are good for new beginnings.. 
• The Moon phases from New Moon to Full are Waxing – This is a great time to do ritual and spell work to attract, bring, amplify, grow, build, gain etc.. 
• Full Moons (aside from celebrations, charging and all that good stuff) are generally good all-round for almost any spell, ritual or other working especially powerful ones such as protection.
• The Moon phases from Full Moon to New are Waning – This is a great time to do ritual and spell work to banish, get rid, remove, repel, push away etc..  

Cleansing / purification and charging by The Moon: 
Most practitioners who work with The Moon will use The Full Moon (and sometime new or other Moon phases) as a time to cleanse and purify those energies from items such as crystals and magickal working tools.  And/or charging those items to give them or restore the powerful energies of The Moon, The Goddess and other energies.  – I briefly covered this in my blog about Cleanse, Consecrate and Charge (The Three C’s).  This again can be done in different ways however typically items are placed outside on a tray or inside on a windowsill and left under The Full Moons glow (even when The Moon is hidden behind clouds).  Water collected and/or charged on Full Moons can be used as powerful water in later workings.  – As previously mentioned be careful how items react to elements eg. Some crystals will fade under sunlight while others may get damaged when wet ie rain water.

Garden: 
Another use for The Moon, and Moon phases, is Gardening by The Moon.  This is so uncommon these days yet such a simple and crazy powerful tool to literally everyone's arsenal no matter whom you are!!  Not just farmers purchase almanacs!  Now you might of heard of Gardening by The Moon or even Perpetual Moon Calendars but regardless / or if you haven’t then I am going to tell you and show you here.  So Gardening by The Moon and Moon Gardens are not the same thing.

First a Moon Garden can be an indoor or an outdoor garden which is specifically designed and created to only house white flowering plants, these plants are said to reflect the whiteness of The Moon and thus be a Moon Garden.  Moon Gardens are used for many different uses from dedications, honouring, memorial, peace and meditation, spell work and much more or simply as a decorative garden.

Gardening by The Moon is literally that..

Line up The Full Moon with the correct date of which The Full Moon lands upon that month.

2 days before, New Moon day and 2 days after:  New Moon are Rising Vitality - this is a good time to Dig and Cultivate.  - This is a time to prepare for very fertile time and you should delay sowing anything other than grass seed.  This is a good time to do odd jobs.

The next 9 days: This is the most prolific for sowing and planting all that produces above ground (Peas, Beans, Cauliflowers, Cabbages, Tomatoes, Pumpkins, and Flowers/Plants etc).  - Don't prune as this will cause dieback.  - Take cuttings.  - Good for grafting. - Do not plant root crops as these will go to seed.

The next 2 days: They are good for liquid manures.

The next 4 days: They are cultivating only days for quick germination and weak spindly growth.

The next 2 days: They are good for root crops especially onions & potatoes.  Grass can also be sewn.

The next 5 days: This is a barren period *low sap run *harvest all.  - Low vitality avoid planting and sowing.  Remove weeds and do pruning.

Next 2 days: Plant all root crops especially swedes, carrots, flowers and grass seed.  Continue pruning during this time.

and repeat..

I believe you can buy a Perpetual Moon Calendar from - https://www.garden-objects.com/collections/new/products/Moon-calender however at $12 plus shipping, plus import fees to the UK I decided to spend several hours and make my own.  - I printed one out in full size and used a tiny washer and a brad to make the two parts rotate.  When I get round to it I will be doing a smaller version of this to stick into my Book of Shadows / Grimoire as an interactive page.  This is something you might want to do and then journal on the opposite page the information I posted above.  Here is what I designed (you may print and use if it is of use to you).  If designing your own remember there's only 28 days in a Moon cycle.  - How to use:  Simply move The Full Moon picture to the corresponding day of the month and then follow the 28 days gardening by The Moon. 

(cut inside the numbers on the image to the right and outside the numbers for the image to the left)

A better Perpetual Moon calendar explanation - Q&A: All About Moon Gardening. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGZaP8HrCaQ&t=216s video by Paper Tams

Another interesting take - Planting by the Moon  explained. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYtnZPuP4zk&t=1s video by Full House Homesteaders W/ Homestead Mama

Activity:
It should go without saying that the prompt this week is to read this information, go study more about the different things mentioned here and indeed The Moon.  - If you like you can also leave comments below this blog or on Facebook comments with other ideas / notes for Moon studies and prompts for other users!!  - Research.

Book Activity:
Then create in your book...   This could be anything from using aliexpress.com Moon stickers, other Moon stickers, or drawing them free hand or painting, or using the aliexpress.com Moon stamps, or Moon sticky notes, printing out royalty free images, purchasing Moon artwork..  List goes on.  Using those elements to create a layout or two or three.  As said how I am going to use photo corners for replaceable images and/or pockets. You could use no imagery and just journal..  Use Moon washi tape..  it could be monochrome or colourful.  It could include a Triple Moon and information on the triple goddess (though that is next weeks prompt).  You might want to print out and create a Perpetual Moon Calendar interactive page or write out the information about how to garden by The Moon.  You may wish to create a Moon garden and include a photo of it in your book or journal about the types of flowers and plants you might / have included.

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Thank you all for the support.  For anyone wishing to share, ask for help, talk about BoS / their book and relevant content (or for more information, ideas and unmissable blog posts go to new Fb group https://www.facebook.com/groups/BoSPrompts/  Also as previously mentioned you can go on the website version of this blog over on the left there’s a ‘subscribe by email’ so you don’t miss a single post from me.  If you’re on the mobile version scroll right down to the bottom and click ‘view as website’ and that should take you to the website version where you can expand, navigate to the left and subscribe by email :)  I will continue to share this on my Patreon *for free* and also on my Twitter and in various facebook groups..  & Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/BookOfShadowsPrompts/

Imogen x

Next weeks prompts No.7 - Enlightenment & Deity.

BoS Prompts 5: Sabbats & Wheel of The Year.

Link to previous prompts: http://ppwwmm.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/cauldroneers-bos-prompts.html

Prompt 5. Sunday 17th December 2017 - The 5th prompt will be...  Sabbats & Wheel of The Year.

At the time this was published, Christmas eve is a week away meaning next Sunday I will not be posting a Prompt because 1. I don't know if people will have time to read this one let alone one the night before Christmas.  2. I don't really want too!!  Hehe..  If I find time there is a video I want to get done which will fall well into these posts..  If I find time.  Seasons Greetings, Happy Hanukkah, Divine Saturnalia, Blessed Yule, Merry Christmas etc..

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P5A:  Different between Sabbats and Esbats?

Sabbats: 
Sabbats are eight seasonal marks throughout the year.  Some are fixed dates such as Samhain is on the 31st October every year whereas others move slightly like Yule can fall on 19, 20, 21, 22 or 23rd December.  Sabbats mark the changing of the 4 seasons and also the story of the birth, life and death of God and the changing of the Goddess.

THE GODDESS

The Goddess goes through a three part  change each year as part of the yearly cycle.  In the Springtime she is said to be the Maiden aspect as she is reborn and revived full of new life, she is said to be fresh, pure and have that young innocent everything is new excitement..  In the Summer the Goddess becomes the Mother aspect (mother-earth) and as such she is now imbued with new developing life,  she is entering and developing in motherhood and she is glowing and giving life to the world..  In the Winter again she changes to become the Crone aspect as she reaches the end of her cycle.  As she has aged now knowing and being wise.  She dies only to be reborn again in the Springtime when she once again becomes the maiden.

In Paganism this triple aspect or triple Goddess is often shown in pictures as 3 separate Goddesses / Women however we actually we see her as just the one and is therefore called ‘the Goddess’.  – This title of ‘The Goddess’ is a none-specified name covering all female deity forms.  While some will call her by a specific name referring to her different aspects that correspond to them or perhaps their working.

THE GOD

Like the Goddess, the God has a yearly cycle and change for him he is born at Yule and grows into a child, young adult, very fertile young adult, adult, and through to being elderly and through to death where he is then reborn again from the Goddess at Yule. 

Again, like the Goddess, we often use the term and name 'the God' which is a none-specified name and as said more specific God names can be given to speak to a specific aspect of The God. 

Esbats: 
Esbats are celebrations of the full moon; there are 12 (rarely 13) of these a year.  - I will cover this in the next BoS Prompt which is about the moon!

Physical & Book Activity:

Optional - You might want to write that down, or at least remember it, in your book or at least make a note of it.  The next blog installment will be about the moon so you might want to hold off till then..

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P5B:  What are the Sabbats?
As said there are eight.. 

• Yule (Winter Solstice) December 19, 20, 21, 22, or 23
• Imbolc (Brigid, Candlemas, Imbolg, or Brigid’s Day) February 1 or 2
• Ostara (Spring Equinox, Eostar or Oestarra) March 20, 21, 22, or 23
• Beltane (May Eve, Beltaine, Bealtaine, or May Day) April 30 or May 1
• Litha (Summer Solstice, or Midsummer) June 20, 21, 22, or 23
• Lammas (Lughnasad or Lughnasad) August 1
• Mabon (Fall Equinox or Home Harvest) September 20, 21, 22, or 23
• Samhain (All Hallow’s Eve, Hallowmas or Halloween): October 31 (some celebrate November 1)

Yule aka Winter Solstice

Since to most Pagans God is represented by the Sun and the Goddess by the Moon. Yule is a very symbolic time as it not only marks the shortest day of the year.  But it is a time that shows the death and rebirth.  Yule is where The Goddess gives birth to a son, The God.  Following this seasonal time The Sun (God) stays up in the sky for a short time although as the seasons continue to change and God (The Sun) stays up longer and longer, just as the sun literally is in the sky longer and longer, this is a symbolism of how he grows into a boy and then a man and then an elderly man and eventually his death throughout the seasons.

Ways in most Pagans celebrate Yule usually has us look upon the death and darkness of winter but with great hope of new life and fertility in the Spring time.  We often celebrate this by lighting candles, and decorating evergreen trees to welcome back the greenness of our lands and to welcome God as he grows giving us those longer days and shorter nights.

Imbolc (Pronounced Im-ulk)

Imbolc is the sabbat that marks the early beginnings of spring time.  

The longer days and new growth the Goddess is recovering after giving birth to the God.  It is also the sabbat that brings us warmth from the Suns new fertility as he has matured, causing the seeds of life to germinate and sprout.

Imbolc is a celebration of surviving the dark freezing death of winter, and beaming with new life, longer days, new beginnings, growth, and new light.  It is a time when most Pagans literally clean their living spaces and is most powerful to cleansing, cleaning and concentrating workings.

Ostara aka Spring Equinox

(Equinox meaning day and night are the same length.)  The Spring Equinox is the festival that marks the first true day of Spring time. 

It is this part of the year that God has reached his maturity and entering into young adulthood where he is most fertile.

We celebrate Ostara as the light that has taken over the darkness.  It is considered by Pagans and Witches alike to be the best time of year to do workings for future gain.

Beltane aka May Day

Beltane is the Sabbat where the Goddess and God lay together and unite as one. It is also a time for marriage and union.

This is often celebrated with dance, or more specifically the dance of the May Pole – The May Pole is used as a symbol of both the flame of the Sun (God) and also that of the fire of the cauldron (Cauldrons are often a symbol of the womb or goddesses womb).  – And the weaving in and out of the May Pole is a symbol of the the Goddess and God coming together as one.

We also celebrate this Sabbat with a lot of plants.   It’s said to be the best time to do workings of fertility and love.

Litha aka Summer Solstice aka Midsummer

This day marks the longest day of the year and is the sabbat where nature is at its highest peak and absolutely flourishing with life. 

Litha is often celebrated literally from sun rises to the point where the sun sets and this is demonstrated with magic of all kinds - a very powerful day.  Many Pagans celebrate this sabbat around a fire to represent the sun.

Lammas / Lughnasah (Pronounced Loo-na-sad)

Lammas is the marking of the Harvest festifval, it is where the first harvest of the year takes place and we celebrate this as a sign of being thankful to both the God and the Goddess for providing us with such a bountiful crop.

It is the time where God is now reached that elderly adulthood and is slowly fading and is beginning to die, though he live on within the womb of the Goddess don’t forget!!

This sabbat is where we reflect and show how we are thankful and in thought of nature and the world and all that it has given us this year and how each meal is such a gift.  Most Pagans celebrate this sabbat only with food this is often a meal containing and also offering a symbolism of the harvest such as bread as a token of thankfulness and appreciation, it is also to honour.

Mabon aka Autumn Equinox

(Like Spring Equinox, Again the Autumn Equinox is when day and night are the same length)  At this time of the year the Darkness once again takes over our lands and the seasons shy away from the light.

The God gets ready to leave his physical body now until he is reborn, from The Goddess at Yule.

Samhain (Pronounced Sow-Hane)

Samhain is said to be the Pagan / Witches New Year.  It marks the start of winter and of death and darkness.  It is one of the most important times; as it is a time of the year for reflection, not just of ourselves, but to remember those we have lost and pay our respects to them, to our ancestors it is also a time to celebrate what has been accomplished over the year and be thankful for the harvest and all what we have.

We celebrate this Sabbat in may ways which may include setting a dinner place for the dead at your table, visiting the resting places of ancestors past, lighting of candles and more.

As said it is also a time of personal reflection, a lot of shadow workings are done around this time especially entering into the darker months.

Physical Activity:

Optional - There are many different ways in which the Sabbats are celebrated..  Perhaps research them maybe even mock practice them? 

At the time this blog post was released it is the week before Yule..  Also since this is technically the Birth of God it truly would be a good place for you to start your study.

Book Activity:

Journal about each Sabbat.  Like the Elements this could be a page or two pages for each or it could simple be just a list with basic information.  You could make it bright and colourful or have each part represented by its attribute (birth / life / death).  You might want to journal this after your wheel of the year, or before..  Be creative.

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P5C:  What is the wheel of the year?
The wheel of the year is best described as a round calendar.  From it's centre point if you rotate it round so each Sabbat is at the top.  Often these 'wheel of the year' calendars show pictures of symbolism relating to that time, it should incorporate the dates (some dates are fixed whereas others move slightly), The name of the holiday and any other information you deem fit.

Here's some examples I pulled off of the internet...

Purchasable Print from Etsy

Image can be found on this website.

Image can be found on this website.

Physical & Book Activity:

Research more about The Wheel of The Year and then purchase/print your own OR even better I challenge you to make your own Wheel of The Year!!  Simply draw a circle and then divide this into 8 segments and use the information I have given you here to create your own.  I would absolutely love to see these.  Feel free to make it and stick it into your BoS or if you're feeling confident draw it straight in.  You could also be extra creative if you attach it with a brad (paper pin) so you can move it round and have an interactive BoS page! 

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Imogen x

Next week there will be no prompt as it's Christmas but the week ager prompt No.6 - Moon Stuff.