Retrograding Planets - what to expect as it happens.

Throughout the calendar year, planets tend to go retrograde. There is so much going on out there in the vast universe with astrology/astromomy and most people don't even tend to give the planets a second thought. However, as these planets move on their course - they do, can and will have an effect on you.

Venus is retrograde until the 27th of June. This tends to cause communication setbacks in relationships. Venus is associated with harmony, love and reconciliation as well as beauty, joy, finances and friendships. Venus also relates to your body's receptors - sight, taste, smells, sound and touch. When Venus is retrograde, relationships and money concerns seem to become delayed, overlooked, muddled and mis-communicated. Venus supplies us with our favorite people, places and things, however when she is retrograding, you may not see your friends as much or be in your comfort zone. You may notice changes in chit chat, behavior and contentment issues. But don't worry, once she goes direct, things will get back to normal and you can get some much needed catching up done.


Saturn is retrograde and will go direct on June 25th. Saturn represents authority and he heads up the Boundaries and Rules Dept. like withholding and resistance to change. Saturn deals with your discipline, teaches you to respect your elders, follow rules, do things correctly the first time, don't act inappropriately...be in control, respectful and conservative. When Saturn retrogrades-all that flies right out the window. You lose control of emotions, can be disrespectful, harsh and short with people, may do some impulse buying or do things half ass, which will come back to bite you and you will end up having to redo all over again. You may notice your desk is messy and not as organized and that short cuts may be taken when guidelines are dealt with. Saturn also relates to skin and bones-the structure that holds your body together so if you notice rashes, aches and pains....there you go.

As of June 4th, Neptune is retrograde. Neptune is in charge of romance, nostalgia and magic. This planet has an official title as of the head of the Dept. of Avoidance and Fantasy. If you hear yourself sigh or slip into a daydream, well this is Neptune. Neptune is one of the most creative energies that you, yes you, own. It helps you delight in glamour and illusion and helps wishes for dreams to come true. You may feel compassion and sensitivity for beings and creatures less fortunate than yourself. The combination of sensitivity and harsh reality doesn't always mix well and when Neptune is retro, well think the opposite. You may try to escape the real world at times but now you just can not escape, you compassion level is no where near compassionate. Neptune may release the poisons, toxics and virus's that infiltrates the body's immune system and things go haywire. When Neptune is retro, every thing seems to be at it's opposite. Get ready for a ride.

Pluto is also retrograde at this time until September 18th. Pluto is the Dept of Death, Destruction and Decay....disposing of situations that have gone past the point of no return and the only solution is to 'let go' of things, whether it be a relationship, career, dream. Pluto is master of sex, reincarnation, recycling, regeneration and rejuvenation. Pluto can bring about turmoil or evolution-meaning that whether you like it or not, there will be an ongoing change and life will and does go on even after tremendous loss. So if you find yourself bouncing between, should I or should I not.....you will know why. It's all Pluto.

**Just a little info to help you prepare and understand what is going on.

Fairies...how to bring them to your environment.

Okay, I've had quite a few emails based on people wanting to know more about Fairies. First off, Fairies are nature spirits and they are always present where there are plants, trees-well basically where all green things that grow are. They are naturally attracted to gardens - however, creating a sacred space designated just for a fairy garden can be a beautiful place to meditate, study, and learn more about these magical creatures.

What to consider when it comes to a Fairy garden:
When designing a fairy garden, there are several factors to consider. First, consider the location.....Fairies are attracted to nature, not noise, so the space you choose should be in a fairly private spot. I would opt to say its not a good place to be at the front of the driveway where it has constant noise and activity, nor in an area where children and pets might travel frequently, such as next to a swimming pool, play ground, sand box or swing set. Choose an area in the back corner of your yard, in a quiet secluded area or underneath a large tree away from the house. If you happen to have property bordering woods or fields, plant your fairy garden close to that so that the border of your fairy garden can run wild.

Keep in mind when designing your fairy garden that you should try to leave the area as natural as possible, and use as much organic material as you can. Avoid heavy machinery, chemicals, or any sort of decoration or container containing iron, as these are extremely unattractive to nature spirits. In addition to plants, make sure to include things that will attract wildlife such as ladybug houses, bird baths, bird feeders, a water feature such as a fountain or small pond. Rocks, crystals and small statues should be included and will provide little nooks and crannies for the fairies to inhabit.

Choose plants that compliment or grow naturally in the area for where you live. For example, spring consists of tulips, daffodils and pansies. For summer, I have roses snapdragons, impatiens, marigolds, hydrangea, hostas, (and that's just to name a few), for autumn, there are chrysanthemums, marigolds and pansies. Bell shaped flowers (snapdragons, bluebells, foxglove, tulips) are traditionally associated with fairies, as are fragrant plants such as lavender, jasmine and gardenia. I tend to include bird feeders, hummingbird feeders, statues and garden art as well as a bowl of water for frolicking.


Helpful hints to create a Fairy Garden in a designated spot:

•1. Choose a specific spot for your fairy garden. You can measure the area for the square footage so that you know how many plants you will need (if you should wish to or need to in order to get an idea). If you are new to gardening, test the soil to see what will grow well in your garden, or what you might need to add to the soil to make it viable. Soil tests kits are inexpensive and are available at most nurseries and in the garden center at Wal-Mart, Lowe's and Home Depot. Determine how much sun the area gets. If it has 6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day, it's called 'full sun.' An area that gets 3-6 hours of sun a day is called part sun or part shade. Full shade means less than 3 hours of sun a day, such as under a tree, a patio or against a wall the blocks most of the sun. Determine how the plants will be watered. Example, rainfall or will you manually water the plants.
•2. Using a ruler on a piece of  paper, try drawing the design of your garden or just jot down what you see in your head. If you are not sure how many plants you need, take the garden design with you to a nursery and ask for help. Most people who own or work at nurseries are more than happy to help you determine how many plants you need and what will grow best based on the amount of sun and water they will get. They can also help you determine what sort of fertilizer or compost material you might need to add based on the results of your soil test. As you are choosing your plants, mark down on your paper design where they should go, and how much room they will need to grow properly. This will keep you from buying more plants than can thrive in your designated space.


•3. Till or hoe the soil in the area to loosen it for planting if you are directly planting the plants in the designated spot. If your soil test determined that fertilizer or compost needed to be added, mix it in with the tiller or hoe as you are loosening the soil.

•4. Using your paper guide, set the plants where they will go while they are still in their nursery pots. This lets you see how the finished garden will look before you plant, and give you the opportunity to move or change anything before planting them permanently.

•5. Now you can permanently insert the plants into the ground. In general, the correct depth will be about the same depth as the nursery pot they came in. (You can also use the black weed blocking material or newspaper to put down to keep weeds from growing and overtaking your garden. Unless you plan on weeding everyday, then it may be a good idea to use some preventative measure to block weeds. I strongly recommend that you stay away from pesticides and keep the garden organic and healthy).

•6. After you are done with your planting, water the plants thoroughly. If you have additional items for your garden, such as bird baths, stones, statues or fairy houses, put those in before you water.

The following is a spell to bless your fairy garden. It is best done under the full moon, but can also be done at dusk during the waxing moon.

With flower, plant, soil and stone, I merrily welcome you to your new home!
Fairy folk affect your thrall, Help nurture these plants to grow strong and tall.
Bless this place made especially for thee, Let fairy joy flow about and around - fast and free.
Fair faced magickal folk with dancing wings, We honor what your presence brings.
I set this spell with love three times three, As I will it, so mote it be.

How will I know if the Fairies are there or if they are happy and content in this space?
You can be sure that the fairies and nature spirits/sprites are happy with their new home if you see rings of mushrooms appear (called fairy rings) or if you see an increase in small animals and insects (often associated with fairies) such as frogs, birds, butterflies and ladybugs. You may also hear music that has no discernible source, or even smell strong sweet scents that are not associated with the flowers in your garden. The garden will have a very peaceful energy and sense of calm, and you may even see or notice flashes of light within the shadows in the nooks and crannies of the garden.

Enjoy and brightest blessings to all.



 

Feng Shui and gardening? YES, what a great pairing!

I am certainly not the only witch to use Feng Shui in my spiritual practice. After all, well known author Scott Cunningham discusses it in 'The Magical Household' and Raymond Buckland in 'Wicca for Life.' Even Donna Stellhorn is the author of several books and a world renowned astrologer and Feng Shui consultant. Much of the information I reference in my articles are what I was taught or read in certain books from way back when-over three decades ago. A good book, if you are interested in Feng Shui would be Donna's book - Feng Shui Form.


Why does Feng Shui seem to meld so well with witchcraft and Wicca? At its core, magick is about using energy to manifest our desires. Feng Shui is about creating the environment for that same energy to flow unencumbered in the proper direction to manifest those desires more quickly and easily. It can be compared to the difference between driving on the open highway and driving through a construction zone. On the highway, it is easy to speed along at 65mph, bopping along to the radio, enjoying scenery, and arriving at your destination quickly and easily all while being on time. In a construction zone, you are constantly stopping, slowing down to get around obstacles or doubling back to get around a detour. Energy, according to Feng Shui principles, works the same way. Creating a free flow of energy by moving and arranging objects in a certain manner keeps that positive energy from being blocked, slowed down or detoured, therefore allowing us to see and experience the positive results....sooner.

Gardening, including indoor and outdoor plants and their placement, is an important part of Feng Shui. Often there are immobile objects - meaning buildings, walls or large furniture - in the way of qi, objects called 'cures' are used to redirect the energy around the object. Plants, along with mirrors, crystals, statues, and other objects are often used as cures.

For instance, when houses or other buildings are set at angles to each other, it creates what is called a 'poison arrow' in Feng Shui. This is especially common in coves, cul-de-sac neighborhoods, trailer parks, high rise apts/condo's, etc. If the people who live in the home at right angles to yours are particularly nasty or troublesome, the 'poison arrow' is directing all of that residual negative energy directly at YOU. To 'cure' this problem, plant a tree or shrub between the arrow and your home. This effectively blocks the arrow, and therefore, the negative energy being directed your way. Alternately, if there is any sort of large foliage, such as shrubs or trees blocking the exterior doors or walkways of your home (even if it is one you do not use), then trim them back or relocate them to a different spot in the yard. Positive qi must have open access to the entrances of your home or business to insure good luck and prosperity. The same principle goes for front and back porches......if they are covered in broken furniture and dead plants, what sort of energy do you think they attract? Remove or replace broken pots and dead plants with live ones that represent the sort of energy you want to attract.


For instance, an example would be that brightly colored flowering plants are used in Feng Shui to attract joy and positive energy. There is no better place for this cure than on your front porch. A low maintenance easy care plant that I recommend for porches is the dragon begonia, impatiens or snapdragons. They have beautiful coloring, coming in white, pink or red, grow well in the shade (indirect light), and require almost no maintenance. These type of flowers will shed its olds flowers as new ones are produced, which eliminates the need for pruning or dead-heading (removing wilted blooms by hand), is inexpensive and is readily available at most nurseries. These are excellent plants for apartment balconies, window boxes, and any size pot in front of your home or business. In cold climates, they can be brought indoors to a sunny window during the winter, and will continue to bloom.

Some other popular plants for outdoors used in Feng Shui:


•Aloe Vera - along with the amazing healing qualities of this plant come an added benefit....because it has long spiky leaves, it also provides protection from evil. It is perfect for people who live in dry desert environments, such as the American Southwest, and requires an outdoor growing environment similar to a cactus. In places that have freezing temperatures, it should only be grown indoors.

•Azaleas - this flowering shrub is a member of the rhododendron family, and comes in a riot of different colors. It will thrive in a variety of growing conditions. They attract energy for beauty and sexual potency. There are too many varieties to mention - check with your local nursery to see what grows best in your area.

•Chrysanthemum - Mums are always the showstoppers in my fall garden. I plant them side by side with pansies at Samhain, and they will bloom here in West Tennessee almost all winter long. Mums symbolize a life pleasure leading to a happy retirement.

•Ivy - Ivy, commonly used to camouflage ugly walls and stop erosion, is an easy care plant that comes in many varieties. Ivy has a mind of its own, and left to its own devices, will climb up pillars and walls, and spread out over the ground. There are dozens of varieties, and it will grow in a variety of climates. Ivy encourages fidelity in relationships, and is a guardian plant. (It can grow rapidly and really spread out so be cautious).

•Jasmine - One of my favorite plants, sacred to Diana (Artemis), Rhiannon (Epona), Devi, Kama, Shiva, Vishnu, and others, blooms at night and is representative of our relationship with the moon and all of its magic. Jasmine attracts strong love energy, both sexual and emotional. Dry the little white flowers for tea and charm bags. Jasmine will tolerate a variety of soil conditions, but requires a great deal of sun. Jasmine gets quite large, so a few plants will eventually cover a large area.


•Lavender - Used in magic for peace, tranquility, and restful sleep, lavender is another plant that provides a wonderful aromatic outdoor plant. It is a natural insect repellent, and grows in a wide variety of conditions. Left alone it will cover a hillside in no time, helping to prevent erosion. Dry the flowers for use in potpourri, charm bags, and oils.

•Mint - Many varieties of mint, including catnip, are beautifully suited for growing outdoors in beds, planters, or pots. Mint attracts money and prosperity. Mint can be grown in the same way as basil, explained in last week's newsletter. Dry the leaves for use in charm bags, teas or tonics, or use fresh in beverages or food. (Mint tends to spread out quickly. You may plant it in one area and the next year, it will be in other areas as well. Be cautious with this plant. I tend to put it in a container).

•Roses - Roses are by far my favorite thing to grow - I have a gorgeous rose collection and yes, roses can be finicky, and are not for the faint of heart. They require pruning, dead-heading, fertilization, and watering to thrive. Roses are subject to a number of different pests (beetles) and diseases (black spot). There are many types of roses and there are now horticultural societies that provide education on which grow best in your area. You can also visit local nurseries to find out what they recommend for your garden. A friend of mine has used Emerald Goddess Gardens and loves them, plus recommends them for the heirloom and old stock varieties that are hardy and resistant to many types of diseases. Roses attract love and friendship, but should not ever be placed next to the entrance of the home, as the thorny bushes create disharmony for those who enter. Dry the petals for use in oils, charm bags and potpourri.

•Trees - Trees are our connection to Mother Earth and they provide oxygen for us to breathe, as well as creates beauty and balance wherever they are planted. All cultures have tree lore - the ancient Celts named their months after trees. For more on trees, their meanings and magical purposes, I recommend the chapter entitled "Living Cures" in Feng Shui Form by Donna Stellhorn. Here is just a few:

Apple - peace
Beech - learning and wisdom
Cherry - beauty, abundance and joy
Elm - attracts positive energy
Holly - protects from evil spirits
Oak - strength and masculine energy, personal power
Peach - long life, and symbolic of the divine
Pine - longevity, protection from evil spirits
Willow - protection from evil and gentle, peaceful energy

These are just a few of the plants commonly used outdoors for magical and Feng Shui purposes. I hope this helps to give you some idea's and sparks your creativity. Happy gardening and blessed be.

The magic, enjoyment and love of gardening.

Tis the season to start your garden! Gardening is such an amazing and magical thing. There is nothing like working so closely with Mother Earth. The smell of the dirt, the feel of earth under your feet and within your hands....the beauty of what comes forth from the fertility of earth...simply stunning. After all, we can spring a wide variety of life and growth from the earth.


One doesn't pursue the path of witchcraft for long before understanding the relationship that we have with Mother Earth and feeling the need to be part of it. That need is sometimes exactly what draws someone to learn more about Wicca, Witchcraft, and other pagan paths. For many of us, the feelings of our hands in the Earth, and the nurturing of plants for sustenance, beauty, and use in magick is paramount to our craft. For me, gardening was and is more than a passion....it's practically a driving need, keeping me connected to the Earth in a way I cannot truly explain. It's just something that I do and allows me to feel connected and close to her and all she stands for.

Plants are used in magick in such diverse and infinite ways, and it stems back to having been since the beginning of time. Flowers always adorned ancient altars, and sticks/leaves thrown into a fire were the first form of incense. The shaman or village wise woman used herbs and plants to heal-concocting brews and potions which were used and ingested to open the mind and spirit for rituals and divination. Even now, we use many of those same plants for the same purposes as well as for health benefits. Many modern life saving medicines come from plants, fresh fruits and vegetables - all of which are a vital part of staying healthy.

Let's explore a bit into a witch's relationship with the plant kingdom. There is such a wide variety of gardens you can decide upon and grow including Goddess Gardens, Fairy Gardens, Water Gardens, growing herbs and flowers for magickal use. You can grow a garden in any environment - city, country, lots of land, very limited space, urban, rural and non-urban environments....it doesn't matter. All that does is the want, need and a compelling feeling to do so. This is how it starts, by wanting to and feeling an urge to do so. You can grow a bounty of vegetables and herbs for the witch's kitchen. Try to 'grow green' (organic and environmentally friendly), but I know that isn't possible or practical for everyone. Also, plants that grow well in hotter climates may not grow so well in areas that experience winters. Each plant has it's own needs and will have a completely different growing season, depending on your city/state. Plus, certain plants may not be available at all in Mexico, New Zealand or certain countries. I am by no means a gardening expert. What I learn comes from trial and error but it all stems from doing and having tried.  Everyone will fumble along while learning and that process has been, can be and will be enjoyable. Eventually, you will become comfortable with it and will learn to understand the plant and it's needs.
A common activity at Ostara (the Spring Equinox Sabbat-also known as the Vernal Equinox Sabbat, Festival of Trees, Alban Eilir and the Rite of Eostre) is blessing the seeds to be planted the coming years crops, plus doing spells/rituals for fertility and abundance through the growing season. Ostara is celebrated on the first day of Spring. For those of you who haven't tried their hand at magical gardening, this is a great way to start. It really is an incredibly enjoyable activity plus it really gets you siked for the coming season.

If you are interested, let's start with something simple like Basil. Since Basil is very easy to grow and has so many uses, both magical and mundane, that is what I will use as an example. Basil is typically used in magic for prosperity, wealth and as love magic. It is often sprinkled on the floor or windowsills for protection. Basil is hearty and tolerates a variety of soil and moisture conditions, but to thrive needs 6-8 hours of direct sunlight a day. A window, corner of the patio or a spot outside in the south facing direction of your home would be a good place to start. When watering basil, water the soil, not the leaves. Keep the soil moist, but not damp. If not sure about what moist means, you can let the soil dry but once you notice it's dry to the touch, water it. Don't saturate it to the point of drowning it, but give it a good drink.

What you will need:

•A medium size pot - the plain terra cotta ones are perfect for this. If you are growing this in the house, you will need a drainage dish underneath the pot. Terra cotta pots also lend themselves to all sorts of decorating. They can be painted with symbols such as suns, moon, pentagrams, or the triple moon, and a hot glue gun can be used to attach crystals, gemstones or other shells to the outside of the pot. Decorate it to your taste.
•Potting soil - I recommend Miracle-Gro Organics, available in small bags at most any nursery, Lowe's or a big box store like Walmart or Target. This brand also includes a time release fertilizer that lasts for three months, so one less thing to worry about.
•A handful of rocks or coarse gravel or a coffee filter.
•Basil seeds - widely available at nurseries or anywhere that sells plants and seeds

Place the coffe filter in the bottom of your pot and put the rocks or gravel on top of it. This insures proper drainage for your plant. Fill the pot with soil. The night before you plan to plant the seeds, put them in a small dish outside under the moonlight. If there is any sort of breeze, put a piece of clear plastic, glass lid, or a screen over them in the dish.

Just before you plant, hold the seeds in your left hand, and say the following words:

Seeds so blessed by the pale moonlight,
Come forth now in the sun so bright!
Lord and Lady hear my call,
Make these plants grow strong and tall.
Basil so sweet, strong and bold,

Bring blessings now to my abode.
I set this spell three times three
As I will it, so mote it be!

Scatter the seeds over the soil in your pot, and lightly cover them. Water immediately and set in your sunny spot. Your seeds should sprout in 8-14 days.

Hope this helps give you a great understanding of the power and feeling of gardening. Blessed be!