The veil thinning and hunters moon

 

This is a time of Samhain, with the thinning of the veil, or to be more detailed, when energies become stronger and humans are more sensitive to the world. The full moon lies on the 28th this month and it's called "Hunter's Moon". This is near Halloween/Samhain/Alfablot and the full moon's influence will be strong. Other October moons are also called Blood Moon and Red Moon, which is symbolic of the season, the Autumn leaves and the warmth of food and hearth. Samhain is the last of the three harvest phases, and it's best to go for a walk and pick food carefully, foraging and cleansing. 

Here is a page at Farmer's Almanac about Hunter's Moon: Follow this link

It's a time you can choose to honour ancestors. You can remember them by lighting a candle, leaving red roses for them, walking through a graveyard, meditating and placing an apple under a tree. It shows your thanks for them, and that you keep them in your thoughts. You can also look at old family photos of loved ones, looking at your family tree, researching your ancestry, and carry dark coloured stones with you. Enjoy the season.

Storm Valkyrie   

Autumn news

 

There's a few minor things to discuss briefly on a quarterly news round-up, about things happening this Autumn so far in 2023. This concerns the state of plants, harvest news, astro news, magical news and interesting findings news. 

It's been observed that many tree leaves have gotten black spots and some look like small burns, with holes appearing. It seems to happen around a span of several miles from the river, and alongside it each side are lush gardens that grow a variety of fresh flowers and exotic flowers but mostly rose bushes. It seems possible that the disease Rose Black spot has spread to other plants in the wild. This rose disease is caused by a fungus and it can be treated. So please go outside and check out your local tree leaves and report any sign of spots and disease.

Due to a damp summer this year, it was predicted that it could make a bad harvest, well, as if by magic, harvests across the country has been successful. Vineyards have noticed an abundance in berries and grapes. It's believed it was caused by a very warm September, as many call it an Indian Summer, which saw a rise in temperatures. Many pumpkins have been growing a lot in moist warm conditions and it's expected that large pumpkins will be ready in time for Halloween.

For astronomy news this October, the website Astronomy.com mentions a number of starry events that will happen this month. If this interests you, click on the link and it will open in a new window. HERE: Sky this month October 

On magical news, there's a development in the University of Exeter offering studies in witchcraft and magic. It's going to be a multidisciplinary degree, will begin next year and it will cover many aspects of magic as through the lens of  academia and science. This was in reaction to the growing public interest in folklore. 

Discovery news, there's something in the Oz fantasy saga, written by L Frank Baum, with regards to the yellow brick road. They found something amazing and similar to that in a recent dig in Dartmoor near a sacred site. It's an ancient path made of crystals! That must've led to somewhere magical.

This is all for now.

Storm Valkyrie    

Happy Autumn equinox

This time is also when the hours of light and dark are at parallels, and another similar event occurs during the Spring equinox. The Autumn equinox is when there is a shift and the changes in the Earth, and Summer has become Autumn and Autumn will evolve in stages before Winter. It's a time that is given the name of Mabon, who traditionally follow Wicca paths, Oktoberfest in southern German lands such as in Bavaria, and also Ing Gathering, Harvest Home, Alban Elfed and Harvest Festival. This is customary to celebrate with apples. Have a lovely Autumn equinox. 

Here are ways to celebrate the season of Autumn equinox: https://www.pagangrimoire.com/what-is-mabon-how-to-celebrate/ 

Storm Valkyrie

Moon magic

The best time for spells is during a certain moon phase. Full moons are well known to inspire feelings and emotions. Crescent moons are associated with youth and wisdom. New moons are seen as dark beginnings or ends. So what exactly does each phase do? I shall begin with the full moon in a clockwise cycle to the waning and the New Moon and then the waxing.

Image of the different moon phases at Witchcraft Wiki HERE

Full moon is the best to learn, gather reading materials, study, begin to read a book. It's when to do cleansing and clearing. Clean the spaces, rooms, declutter. Inner knowledge, clarity, insight and confirmation of all things that interest you. It's when to build relationships, begin ventures, romance, love rituals. Getting healing and resting, making way for fresh and full energy.

Waning gibbous, is the best to step away and withdraw from difficulties. Leave aside tough work for the moment and pause. The most interesting time to work on mistakes, by patching up broken places, whether it's material or emotional, and fixing problems, untying knots or undoing connections. Also cleansing rituals can happen. Removing dark entities, get rid of unpleasant rumours, break curses.

Last quarter, a special time to finish negative dramas, cease any harmful and unhealthy activities, give up bad habits. Step down from toxic circles or bad crowds. Remove a sour bitter idea. Break ties with unpleasant situations. Send away intrusive thoughts, curses and misery such as curses, bad habits, ill luck, misfortune and hopelessness. 

Waning crescent is a phase to find calm, peace, balance and stillness, even look for a state of tranquillity. Spells for fortune, good luck and success. Learning deeper more esoteric wisdom, finding your own inner knowledge and locate the true meaning of your dreams. Making amends, soothing, apologising, forgiving and redeeming. Illnesses that begin here, and can be healed here.

New moon, a phase of the dark moon, is a strong time to undo wrongs.

Waxing crescent is a phase to start new adventures, create fresh beginnings, making new pacts, creativity and expression. It's when to meet others, meet new, build relationships. Attracting the energy, getting hope, pulling vibrant and loving situations, joining and sex magic. Creation of energy, wealth and happiness. Friendships and lovers. 

First quarter phase is more vivid creatively, as it helps divination and psychic abilities. Willpower and determination can be earned and made. A time for being calm, at peace, meditation, visualisation and inspiration. Physical and emotional stamina, vigour, motivation and strength. Develop goal setting, make positive dreams come true, work on those pleasant ideas.

Waxing gibbous is when to feel the urge to start new things. The law of attraction, health and healing. Achieving ones dreams and being successful and yet helpful and kind. Spells and rituals for better health and healing. 

Storm Valkyrie