Remembrance Potpourri

Good Witches Homestead

Memories of those we have loved and lost are always with us. With time, hopefully, we smile instead of cry when a particularly poignant memory is triggered. And sometimes we intentionally evoke memories with special objects that remind us of those who have passed on to the Summerland. This special remembrance potpourri is one such object. Made from dried flowers from the funeral of a loved one, as well as special herbs and flowers that have ages-old connections to death, bereavement, and funerals, it serves to help one not only remember the deceased but also to honor their life and hopefully ease the grief that comes with such loss.

This project came about as a special way to honor my father. As is often the case, there were plenty of beautiful flower arrangements present at the funeral, including those from us — his immediate family. In some families, like mine…

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Samhain: Honoring Ancestors of Craft and Tradition | Coby Michael Ward

Good Witches Homestead

Samhain, the season of the witch, is a time for us to honor the powers that underlie our Craft. The hidden powers behinds the scenes, guiding our movements and our inspiration. The Dead guide us; they are present when we weave our magic. Those who have laid the foundations for our Great Arte, fertilizing our holy ground with their blood. The Dead are always with us, but this is their time. The mothers and fathers of our traditions, great witches, teachers, and keepers of lore make their presence known, returning to celebrate with us. Hallowmas is the great twilight when the worlds of the living and the dead move as one. The fires we light shine like beacons in the spirit world. This is also the time to honor spirits of tradition, the collective familiar spirits called egregores that are the manifestation of us coming together.

Honor the Witch Within

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A Journey through the Senses: Breathe Deeply

The Druid's Garden

An Ancient Black Oak

Over the summer, I spent the weekend at a beautiful farm with my family for a family reunion. That land had gifted me, and all of us, much that weekend. I had found some stunning new stones for pigments, I had spent tranquil time on the lake, and I had talked with many of the trees there. So, as I was preparing to leave, I walked up to a giant oak on my way out. I gave it a big hug. It had rained the night before and the trunk was covered in lichen. I took a breath and the smell was that sweet and earthy smell of lichen. I remember the smell the first time I smelled such a lichen. It was down in Louisiana, and I had visited an ancient live oak with some druid friends. A branch had fallen on the ground…

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Urim and Thummim

Samhain in the Devil’s Garden | Coby Michael Ward

Good Witches Homestead

All Hallows Eve is quickly approaching. The darkness is creeping closer every day. You can feel the cold grip of the coming winter slithering its way back up from its yearly resting place deep in the Underworld. The excitement and anticipation on both sides of the veil are tangible. It is during this time of year that most witches are at their witchiest, reveling in the sensory delights of the coming holiday. For me, Samhain/Halloween (because I celebrate both) is an entire season, not just one day. It begins at the autumnal equinox when the scales begin to tip in darkness’ favor. Then there is the October full moon known as the Hunter’s Moon or Blood Moon. I look at Samhain October 31st as the culmination of this strange energy that has been building which bleeds into November. The Sun hangs low in the sky, crows can be heard cawing…

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Full Blood Moon in Aries – To Summon The Spirit of A Loved One

This Full Moon in Aries can feel a little bit intense! Full Moons always heighten emotions, but this full moon is square Pluto and Trine Jupiter. This dynamic energy gives us opportunity to see through whatever crisis we might have been, or currently are facing with the perspective of growth and transformation. Emotions might be a little intense right now… but the heaviness is soon lifting. Pluto wants to uncover what has been hidden and keeping you from your growth, while Jupiter is pushing you to keep stepping into your potential.

Full Blood Moon in Aries Spell to Summon the Spirit of your loved ones and ancestors for Samhain

Many souls have been going through this period of transformation and we are needing to trust in the darkness that precedes rebirth. We have felt the urge for inner and spiritual growth by making positive changes in our daily lives, and this is the time to maintain that and keep those new habits up.

This full moon holds power for deep transformation… your intuition is heightened and you are being asked to step into your full power. Spiritual and personal growth are important right now if you want to see anything else grow in your life!

The full moon is in Aries which lends us extra inspiration and aids in the fires of rebirth and transformation. Aries wants you to face things head on and trust that your inner fire will light the way.

This Blood Moon takes place on the 13th of the month once again… While it’s not Friday the 13th, this is still a lucky and magical day.13 is the number of the Goddess and is often associated with witchcraft. Magic made on the 13th is extra potent!

As we get closer to Samhain and the next turning of the Wheel of the Year, the veil between realms thins as our ancestors and the spirits of our loved ones walk with us, feeling closer than ever. There are subtle but powerful forces walking with us and guiding us right now.

Your ancestors and guides are calling to you to help you awaken to your true power! Invite them in, listen to what they may be telling you during this transformational time. We are not here to walk this path alone.

Complete article at: Spirit de la Lune ~ Full Blood Moon in Aries – To Summon The Spirit of A Loved One

Sacred Tree Profile: Chestnut’s Magic, Medicine, Mythology and Meaning (Castanea dentata)

The Druid's Garden

Basket of abundant chestnuts!

Just a few weeks ago, I went and checked the local chestnut trees that are in a field near where I live. Ever since I moved to the new homestead, I have been eagerly visiting these trees. Last year, they dropped plenty of husks but with only shriveled nuts inside. This year, I was extraordinarily pleased to find that both trees had produced a bumper crop of the delicious nuts–some almost 2″ across, but most smaller, almost all worm-free, and delicious. I eagerly filled my basket with the nuts, stepping carefully around the extremely prickly husks. I sat with each of the trees and we conversed as I harvested the nuts. I took home 25 lbs of nuts that day, and these nuts will sustain myself, my geese (who love them), and my friends and family for many a Samhain, Thanksgiving, and Yule feast! Chestnut trees…

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Shoes

Many people take their shoes off to keep the negative energy from the day out of their house.

I don’t know if it’s still a practice, I’ve been married nearly 35 years, of tying tin cans to scare off evil spirits and shoes to the bumper of the transportation the newlyweds use to leave the wedding beginning their new life together.

ACTIVATING THE SACRED WARRIOR WITHIN: CRYSTAL RITUAL FOR THE ARIES FULL MOON

Activating the Sacred Warrior Within: Aries Full Moon Crystal Ritual / www.krista-mitchell.com

This month’s crystal healing ritual is inspired by the energies of the upcoming Aries full moon, but also some guidance I’ve been receiving while channeling from stromatolite (pictured above).

I’ve been privately channeling from stromatolite for a while. Geologically stromatolites are significant because “they provide [geological] records of ancient life on Earth” (wikipedia). What I have found is that they also provide us with records of wisdom from ancient life on Earth.

Just as crystals can be record-keepers, so can fossils, and this fossil in particular connects us with old Earth wisdom and teachings that can be of service to us now.

Each time I channel, I feel as though I am met with an ancient circle of spirit elders: sages, healers, teachers, and guides from human history. I often vision them as sitting in a circle round a fire.

One of the messages that came through was the need to activate and engage with the sacred warrior. And as I sat here and contemplated the energies of the full moon in Aries, I realized it fit!

Aries is the warrior and the defender, and this full moon’s energy is empowering us to face our challenges and fight for what we believe in. To become the sacred warrior.

As human beings we embody all known archetypes, and we can call on or activate any given archetype within us whenever we need.

When facing any kind of challenge in our lives, if we wish to take a loving, empowered, healing approach, we can engage our inner sacred warrior to help embolden us and lead the way.

Could you use a little sacred warrior energy right now?

Or is there a sacred warrior in you who’s ready to take a stand for something in your life, or world?

If so, keep reading…

Complete article at: Krista Mitchell ~ Activating the Sacred Warrior Within

FULL MOON FOR OCTOBER 2019; THE FULL HUNTER’S MOON

Good Witches Homestead

While the Full Hunter’s Moon will reach peak fullness on Sunday, October 13, 2019, the Moon will appear full for roughly three days, from Saturday morning to Tuesday morning.

It’s the only night in the month when the Moon is in the sky all night long—visible in the sky at sunset and setting around sunrise the next day!

Because the Hunter’s Moon rises from the horizon around sunset, it may appear bigger and more orange—how perfect for the fall season!

Some folks believe that this full Moon was called the Full Hunter’s Moon because it signaled the time to go hunting in preparation for winter. Since the harvesters had recently reaped the fields under the Harvest Moon, hunters could easily see the fattened deer and other animals that had come out to glean (and the foxes and wolves that had come out to prey on them).

The earliest use of the term “Hunter’s…

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