The Desert Path

The Dusty Ramblings of a Desert Pagan

Celtic Tree Month of Alder March 18th to April 14th

Posted on March 18, 2018 by Cat

old-tree-1-1315209

Celtic Tree Month of Alder ( Ffearn (FAIR-n) runs from March 18th to April 14th.

Alder is a member of the Birch family and is native to the British Isles, Europe and North America. These trees require a great quantity of water and can reach 65 feet or more if left to grow undisturbed. The tree itself grows in a rough cone shape with branches that are evenly spaced down its long trunk, The leaves are roundish and finely toothed and in the spring it produces flowers and catkins. The wood from this sacred tree comes in a number of colors. When an alder is cut down the wood changes from white to reddish-yellow that bears a remarkable resemblance to blood. This caused our ancestors to believe that the tree bled when cut and therefore it was considered unlucky to cut one down. The wood is oily and water resistant and in past times was used for shields, the foundations for houses and is still used today in cabinetry and door making.

In healing alder has been used as a substitute for quinine. It has also been used to treat parasites, inflammation coughs, poison ivy, toothache, sprains and strains. On an interesting side note the inner bark is a great natural pesticide.

In Myth & Magick

The time surrounding the Vernal Equinox is and was important in the wheel of the Celtic year. The alder represents free will and liberty. In some places today it is still a crime to cut down this sacred tree. The person who is dumb enough to cut one down is seen as the cause of any trouble that happens in his neighborhood. The alder tree is also associated with courage and the evolution of spirit. This tree spirit can be called upon for help during disputes, where you need to see clearly to make the right decision or when you simply need to draw and bring forward you own inner strength.

Alder is associated with all four elements ( earth, air, water, fire) and is great for elemental magick. Flutes can be made from the wood and whistles from young alder shoots can be made to summon air elementals. It is also considered sacred to the Fae and as such is good for fairy magick. The leaves and twigs can be used in charms and talismans for protection. Dyes can be made from the bark, flowers and twigs to dye ritual robes. Red: Bark/ Green: Flowers/ Brown: twigs.

Alder People:

People born in the month of Alder make excellent oracles, they can tell you like it is and manage to do it gently. However, alder people must remember not to abuse their power, and just like the tree itself they tend to mature slowly. Alders are powerful and make steadfast allies, they are trailblazers who set the pace for others to follow. If you are an alder person, just remember to slow down once in awhile and take a good look around you.

As a magickal name Alder works well for people who tend to be secretive and changeable or for those with fire signs. Choosing this name can bring out sensitivity in people who have trouble letting it show.

Other Correspondences:
Names: Tree of Fire

Deity: Bran, Proteus, Branwyn, Freya, Cailleach, Teutates and Ares.
Animals: Snake,Fox, Hawk, Gull, Raven

Use in Spells for: Weather, Spiritual growth, Teaching, Banishing, Protection, Healing

Written by L Bolotin from the following sources: dutchie.org crystal-forest.com Flower and Tree Magic, Richard Webster Whispers from the Woods, Sandra Kynes Old Tree Photo from stock-xchng.com

Cat’s Morning Bits for March 16, 2018

Posted on March 16, 2018 by Cat

Cat’s Morning Bit’s for March 16, 2018

Good Morning, grab a cup of your favorite morning brew and start things off with “Today’s Inspirations”. I hope you find something here that will make you feel good or help you on your path today.

Blessings, Cat

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All Nature seems at work. Slugs leave their lair
The bees are stirring, birds are on the wing
And Winter slumbering in the open air,
Wears on his smiling face a dream of Spring!

Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834)

almanac.com

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Beliefnet: Five Tips for Loving Every Bit of You

The human experience can be challenging, particularly when we realize that garnering unconditional acceptance for who we are is difficult. America’s Next Top Model creator Tyra Banks understands this all too well, which is why she regularly embraces what others have deemed flaws, including the forehead she claims is so large it should be called a five-head.

Cat’s Morning Bits for March 14, 2018

Posted on March 14, 2018 by Cat

CMB Flowers and Coffee

Cat’s Morning Bits for March 14, 2018

Blessings, Cat

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There’s a path that leads to Nowhere
In a meadow that I know,
Where an inland island rises
And the stream is still and slow.

Corinne Roosevelt Robinson (1849-87)

almanac.com

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Mind Body Green: A Holistic Sleep Reset To Set You Up For More Energy This Spring

This Sunday’s daylight saving time brought with it an extra hour of light and the promise of spring for those of us in the northern hemisphere. But the spring forward also means one less hour of sleep and a seasonal transition that may take some getting used to. This is the perfect time of year to revisit your sleep routine and implement new habits. Here is your ultimate guide to maximizing rest for your most energetic spring yet.

Cat’s Morning Bits for March 13, 2018

Posted on March 13, 2018 by Cat

CMB Flowers and Coffee

Cat’s Morning Bits for March 13, 2018

Good Morning!

Grab a cup of your favorite morning brew and start things off with “Today’s Inspirations”. I hope you find something here that will make you feel good or help you on your path today.

Blessings, Cat

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Black boughs against a pale, clear sky,
Slight mists of cloud-wreaths floating by;
Soft sunlight, gray-blue smoky air,
Wet thawing snows on hillsides bare.

Emma Lazarus (1849-87)

almanac.com

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Mind Body Green: New To Plant Medicine? Here Are 10 Perfect Herbs For Beginners

Feeling called to the herbal world? Confused about where to start? As we see a resurgence of collective interest in traditional plant-based healing, we’re simultaneously inundated with a flood of information, recommendations, and herbal products. For serious or chronic health issues, it’s a good idea to seek out a trained herbalist for an in-depth assessment, and for specific questions about herbs and dosing, seek out places that have herbalists on staff as well as regular herb-focused classes and workshops.

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Beliefnet: Colors That Will Cheer You Up

Alternative therapy can offer a breakthrough for people struggling depression. There is art therapy, animal therapy and storytelling therapy. There is an arm of therapy that is used to help people with depression that is often not talked about or perhaps never heard of–it’s called color psychology. Color psychology is the study of different hues and its impact on human behavior.

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Did You Know?

Children actually grow faster in the spring than during other times of the year.

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A Bountiful Moment

The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything. ~Theodore Roosevelt

Daily Thought

Looking at mistakes made as growth will change the direction of your actions and emotions. It allows the challenge to become part of what you need to learn within the journey. Sometimes you are not able to achieve the goal you set on the first try, all that means is you need change the way you address it. A mistake never really means defeat until you give up.

Daily Practice

Take another look at what you view as a mistake made and reframe it as something positive. What did you learn or get from the path taken and mistake made? Did it make you stronger, more committed, or have you given up because you felt defeated? Look again at what you were trying to accomplish and change direction to reach the same goal by acting in a different way?There is no such thing as a mistake when you are trying

Have a Great Day and Believe in Yourself!

Dr. Juliann (my child therapist.com)

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EarthSky News: Tonight … A tangle of stars in Berenices’ hair

Berenices’ Hair – aka Coma Berenices – requires a dark sky to be seen. But it’s worth the effort, a wonderful star cluster!

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About Cat’s Morning Bits: These daily post are reblogged from various email newsletters that I receive each day.

I invite you to check out my websites!

The Desert Path: The dusty ramblings of a desert pagan. https://thedesertpath.com/

Cat’s Treasure Trove …. an eclectic collection of jewelry & gifts! . Visit Our Store

Sacred Spirals (the place where all paths meet)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SacredSpirals/

Cat’s Morning Bits for March 6, 2018

Posted on March 6, 2018 by Cat

CMB Winter and Coffee

Cat’s Morning Bits for March 6, 2018

Blessings, Cat

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We like March, his shoes are purple
He is new and high;
Makes he mud for dog and peddler,
Makes he forest dry.

Emily Dickinson (1830-86)

almanac.com

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Mind Body Green:

4 Nature-Based Spiritual Rituals (Because Spring Is Just Around The Corner)

Grief isn’t something you can think your way through. It is instead an experience you must feel your way through. As a psychic intuitive, I regularly help clients who are grieving a lossï¿½a marriage that is ending, a career that’s no longer fulfilling, the death of a loved one, or the loss of a specific dream they had for their life.

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Beliefnet: Entering the Deep End of the Ocean

Experience the peaceful rhythms of the sea with a new moon meditation.

Each New Moon signals the time to reset our inner clocks to nature’s timetable. This is especially true at the annual Cancer New Moon, when we can align our rhythms with the waxing and waning cycles of the Moon. Cancer is a water sign; it is the Moon that measures out the ebb and flow of the ocean’s tides. As old as the moon is the ocean – watery womb and source of life. The inner knowledge of nature’s rhythms is the key to life: to move instinctively in concert with the rise and fall, the emptiness and fullness,

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Patheos-Pagan: Embrace the Power of Offerings

If you asked my students what the single greatest game-changer for improving their Magic that they got from my teachings, most of them would say offerings. A lot of you reading this might already be well acquainted with offerings to spirits; some of you are surely initiated into Vodou, Candomble, or another African traditional religion where offerings play a huge role

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About Cat’s Morning Bits: These daily post are reblogged from various email newsletters that I receive each day.

I invite you to check out my websites!

The Desert Path: The dusty ramblings of a desert pagan. https://thedesertpath.com/

Cat’s Treasure Trove …. an eclectic collection of jewelry & gifts! Visit Our Store…

Sacred Spirals (the place where all paths meet)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SacredSpirals/

Cat’s Bits for Dec. 24-30: The Celtic Tree Month of Birch: December 24th – January 20th.

Posted on December 24, 2017 by Cat

CBP Snowy BC

Cat’s Bits for Dec. 24-30: The Celtic Tree Month of Birch: December 24th – January 20th.

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December Events:

Dec. 24 Christmas Eve and Celtic Tree Month of Birch begins

Dec. 25 Christmas Day

Dec. 26 – Jan. 1 Kwanzaa

Dec. 31 New Years Eve

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“In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter,
Long ago.”
– Christmas Carol

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forest-grove-1-1382093

The Celtic Tree Month of Birch: December 24th – January 20th.

BIRCH LORE

Birch is the beginning of all things (life) and it is opposite of last months tree Elder (death). This month is symbolized by the unconscious self and raw wild force of the natural world. The tree itself is a symbol of birth, initiation and sacrifice. It is also associated with horned animals like goats and stags as well as the Horned Gods like Cernunnos, Dagda and Pan. Other names for this tree are Tree of Birth, Lady of the Woods. The Irish Gaelic word for this tree is “Beith”, which is derived from “Achadhbeith” meaning “the field of birch trees.

TREE INFORMATION

This tree is very common in Europe where it is known as the Silver Birch, it is also grown in North America under the name “weeping birch”. The leaves are long and egg shaped with notched edges. The slender trees have silvery white bark which is close to the color of poplar and aspen and to the untrained eye these trees may look the same. Birch can grow up to 100 feet in height and will do so unless they can take over their favorite soil which tends to be sandy, in which case they like to spread out in low clumps. In fact birch trees grow so well that they are the first new trees to sprout up in cut areas. This may be the reason that they are associated with rebirth and birth.

BIRCH IN HEALING

This tree does have a few healing properties. The inner bark is said to be a good pain reliever as are the leaves which as tea, can be used for rheumatism. The sap produces syrup and from the bark comes flour and beer.

BIRCH IN MAGIC & MYTH

Birch is particularly useful for spells involving healing, fertility, new beginnings, blessings, protection, growth, love, and creative inspiration. It is also one of the nine sacred woods used in the sabbat fire and is a representation of the Goddess. Charms made of birch twigs were given to newlyweds to promote fertility and cattle were lightly struck with birch rods for the same reason. Brooms were traditionally made from birch, the twigs were called “Besom twigs” and love spells can be written on strips of birch bark that have been gathered during the new moon. This tree also plays an important role in the pagan tradition of jumping the broomstick which is part of the handfasting ceremony.

The birch can be found in folklore as well. Baby cradles were made from birch wood because it was thought to protect the innocent. On the Isle of Man criminals and lunatics were “birched” in a serious effort to drive out evil.

In Wales during the 13th-14th Centuries lovers were said to meet under these trees in the “house of leaves”. As a token a remembrance for these occasions wreaths would be made from the leaves of the tree. There is also and English/ Irish custom that took place on December 26th called “the huntin gof the wren.” The old year or the “wren” was hunted down by the new year which was symbolized by the robin, and was said to carry a birch twig in it’s claws.

To choose Birch as a magical name is cleansing and promotes your inner light. It would be a good name for a caregiver or for someone who seeks to make positive changes in politics for social issues.

ABOUT BIRCH PEOPLE

Birch people have a marvelous ability to be uplifting to others. They do not care for excess in any areas of their lives and like to promote a calm and content atmosphere where ever they go.

CORRESPONDENCES

Deities: All Horned Gods, Pan, the Dagda, Cerrnunos, Thor, Freya, Frigg, Cewrridwen
Sacred Stones: Quartz Crystal, Fluorite
Colors: White and Dark Green

Bright Blessings for a Magickal Week!

Cat

sources:

the dutchie.org, The New Book of Magical Names, Phoenix McFarland
Cunninghams Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, Scott Cunningham
Flower and Tree Magic, Richard Webster
crystal forest.com
treetotem.com

Forest Grove photo: Benjamin Earwicker/ freeimages.com

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Laura (Cat) Bolotin has been following an eclectic pagan/spiritual path for over 25 years. She currently lives in Western Colorado where she enjoys communing with nature, desert crawling, belly dancing, nature photography, jewelry crafting and writing stuff she hopes will help others along their path. She is married and owned by a “clowder” of cats.

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Please feel free to check out my websites!

The Desert Path: The Dusty Ramblings of a Desert Pagan. https://catsister.wordpress.com

Sacred Spirals on Facebook: The Place Where All Paths Meet https://www.facebook.com/groups/sacredSpirals/

This page may be shared with others as long as no changes are made, and ALL credits, links, photos and copyrights remain intact.

Thought For The Day: Dec. 21, 2017 “Winter Solstice Blessings”

Posted on December 21, 2017 by Cat

Happy Thursday,

The Winter Solstice is not only the first day of winter it is a time to welcome the returning light. Our ancient ancestors saw this day as new beginning and proof that life would continue. Today while we understand that this is astronomical event we also honor the symbolism of the return of light in our lives after a period of darkness. Embrace this new season with hope and let yourself create something magickal in this new cycle. Brightest blessings to all of you!

Daily Thought

I invite you to check out my Facebook group, Sacred Spirals: The place where all paths meet at https://www.facebook.com/groups/SacredSpirals/

December’s Full “Cold Moon” on 12-3

Posted on December 2, 2017 by Cat

December’s Full “Cold” Moon

Sunday December 3, 2017 10:47 am EST / 8:47 am MST / 7:47 am PST

The moon will be sitting in Gemini, influenced by Neptune and shaking hands with Mercury in Retrograde (until Dec. 22nd). This means that mischief is afoot and deception is the keyword. Be careful of taking things at face value as they may not be what they seem. Keep your energy close and be careful of whom you share it with. Oh, and did I mention that this is a Super Moon?

The final full moon of 2017 seems to have fewer names than other months. However our ancestors called this moon the Cold Moon, The Bitter Moon, Long Nights Moon, and the Big Winter Moon. It is during this month that the nights are at their longest and winter blankets the land in it’s cold grip. This is probably where the name Long Nights Moon originated. Our Old English/Anglo-Saxon ancestors called it the Moon Before Yule. Both names are appropriate for this season. The time of midwinter is indeed long and the moon sits just above the horizon for what seems like forever.

The Cold Moon honors deities like Minerva, Osiris, Athena, Persephone and Hades. It is the perfect time to finish tying up loose ends and working through any remaining darkness from the past year. Take time to acknowledge the hardships and struggles that you have gone through and embrace the cycles of life, death and rebirth. It is through the experience of the dark times that we learn sun and warmth will alway cycle around and we will survive and continue, changed in ways that aid our personal cycle of growth. The work we do during this full moon will help us to welcome the rebirth of the Sun with open hearts. To celebrate this full moon try wearing the triple goddess colors of white, red and black and adorning yourself with rubies, moonstone, serpentine or obsidian.

KODAK Digital Still Camera

December Moon graphic and photo (C) L Bolotin

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Please feel free to check out my websites!

The Desert Path: The Dusty Ramblings of a Desert Pagan. https://catsister.wordpress.com

Sacred Spirals on Facebook: The Place Where All Paths Meet https://www.facebook.com/groups/sacredSpirals/

This page may be shared with others as long as no changes are made, and ALL credits, links, photos and copyrights remain intact. All written work and are created by and copyrighted to LBolotin/Cat 2007-2017

Cat’s Bits for Nov. 25 – Dec. 2 The Celtic Tree Month of Elder

Posted on November 25, 2017 by Cat

CBP November

Cat’s Bits for Nov. 25 – Dec. 2 The Celtic Tree Month of Elder

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November Events:

Nov. 25 Celtic Tree Month of Elder begins

December Events:

Dec. 3 Full Long Night’s Moon at 10:47 am EST

Dec. 3 Mercury is Retrograde at 2:34 am EST until Dec. 22

Dec. 13 -20 Hanukkah

Dec. 21 Winter Solstice / Yule and Sun enters Capricorn at 11:28 am EST

Dec. 24 Christmas Eve and Celtic Tree Month of Birch begins

Dec. 25 Christmas Day

Dec. 26 – Jan. 1 Kwanzaa

Dec. 31 New Years Eve

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The Celtic Tree Month of Elder: November 25 – December 22nd

The theme for this month is death, rebirth and the return of light. The month begins with the dark time of the year and ends with the birth of the sun at the Winter Solstice. Other names for this tree are Frau Holle (German), Eldrum, Ellhorn, Boure Tree, Lady Ellhorn. The word Elder comes from the anglo-saxon word “aeld” meaning fire. Evidently the young branches have hollow stems which make them useful in making a fire.TREE INFORMATION

The elder tree is both a tree and a shrub and are members of the honeysuckle family. The shrub grows to about 30 ft. while the tree grows to around 50 ft. Both varieties like damp places along the woods edge. Elder has incredible regenerative power and can quickly regrow branches and roots. The tree has beautiful white flowers in the spring, growing in formations that resemble a bridal wreath. The flowers become reddish-black berries and make the most wonderful jellies, jams and syrups. The branches of the elder tree have a strong resemblance to bones when peeled of their bark. In the middle of the branches is a spongy center that looks similar to marrow. An unsuspecting person might actually believe the bare branches to be human bones!

ELDER IN HEALING

Elder is also a medicinal plant, the berries and flowers have many uses. However, it’s good to point out that the on the whole elder is considered poisonous. The dried berries and flowers make wonderful tea which is high in vitamins A, C, iron, Calcium and Potassium. This makes it beneficial for colds and sore throats. A distilled version of the flowers is good for treating cuts, burns and scrapes. Please keep in mind that if you pick elder berries make darn sure that they are ripe. Unripe elder berries cause severe diarrhea.

ELDER IN MAGIC & MYTH

The Elder has long been associated with Witches but it appears in Christian myths as the tree of doom. Judas was said to have hung himself from one and the cross of Jesus was made of Elder wood.

The Celts believed that these trees were homes to the Sidhe and treated them with respect, when cut the tree produces a reddish sap that made people believe that the spirit within the tree had been hurt. It is considered very bad luck to harm one but if you must cut or prune an elder tree one should always ask permission first. It is also bad luck to make a cradle for a baby out of elder, this is because of the trees association with death. Planting an elder tree near your home will create good relations with the fae as well as bringing prosperity to the home and it’s inhabitants. Even today there remain some taboos against burning the wood. Placing elder wood on your windowsill will keep vampires away, you can also wear it to the same effect. The folk lore about vampires is said to be much older than the the use of garlic.

Use elder for spells of banishing, faery magic, healing, protection and prosperity. Elder wood is also good for making magical tools, but remember to ask first!

As a magical name Elder is good for the person who is serious about magic. It also invokes mystery, luck and a sturdiness of character.

ABOUT ELDER PEOPLE

People born in the Month of Elder can be wonderful healers and seers as well as gifted musicians. They are slow to mature and waste time and energy on things not worth while. They can be very curious about profound subjects and study these things intensely. As healers or seers, elder people must choose their words carefully as they can be very persuasive with their speech. They must be careful not to sway the thinking of others and let them make their own decisions.

Correspondences:

Deities: The White Goddess, Danu, Cailleach, Boann, Hel, Frey, Vulcan, Venus
Animals: All white animals, raven, pheasant
Sacred Stones: Red Jasper, jet, bloodstone

Bright Blessings for a Magickal Week!

Cat

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Elder Tree picture by Michael & Christa Richert/freeimages.com

Compiled and written by Cat from the following sources:
the crystal forest
controversical.com
dutchie.org
The New Book of Magical Names, Phoenix McFarland
Cunninghams Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, Scott Cunningham
Flower and Tree Magic, Richard Webster

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Please feel free to check out my websites!

The Desert Path: The Dusty Ramblings of a Desert Pagan. https://catsister.wordpress.com

Sacred Spirals on Facebook: The Place Where All Paths Meet https://www.facebook.com/groups/sacredSpirals/

November’s Full “Mourning” Moon

Posted on November 2, 2017 by Cat

Nov Moon

November’s Full “Mourning” Moon

November 3/4, 2017
10:22 pm PST/11:22 pm MST/ 1:23 am EST

After Samhain we enter the dark time of year. Mother Earth begins to slow down as she prepares for her winter’s sleep. It was during this time that the ancient people also readied themselves for the coming winter. The last harvest was over and they prepared their final provisions and made their homes as winter-proof as possible.

In the Pagan traditions the November moon is called the Mourning Moon. it is a time to let go of old things and habits so that the New Celtic Year can welcome new blessings. It is a time of mourning as we join the Goddess in remembering her love who has gone on to the Otherworld. But is also a time when we must also remember that all periods of mourning DO come to an end. The Crone is now the womb and will become the Mother in about six weeks time. While the “outer growth” is slowing down, we find it a good time to work on inner growth. While the Earth Mother rests it is a good time for tying up the loose ends in our lives. Let go of what no longer serves us and say farewell to bad relationships and habits. It is also a time of contemplation when we can strengthen our personal connection to the Divine Source.

Other names for this moon are: the Beaver Moon ( Colonial. Farmers Almanac says this was the last time to set beaver traps before the ponds froze over, however, the beavers themselves were making ready for the winter just as the people were!) White Moon (China), Trading Moon (Cherokee), Sassafras Moon (Choctaw), Moon When Horns Are Broken Off (Dakota), Dark Moon (Celtic), Snow Moon (Medieval English), Tree Moon (Neo-Pagan), Fog Moon, Frosty Moon, Full Frost Moon, Hunter’s Moon.

November’s moon also honors dark goddesses like Kali, Hecate, and Bast. Use purple candles for your Full Moon observance and burn Full Moon Incense of anise, lavender and rosemary or single blends of patchouli or mugwort. This is also a good time to cleanse and charge your moonstones, just place them on a windowsill during the night of the full moon.

To celebrate this full moon try wearing colors in grays or blues and adorn yourself with lapis, turquoise, moonstone or topaz.

May the Goddess bless you in this new cycle!

Cat

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Please feel free to check out my websites!

The Desert Path: The Dusty Ramblings of a Desert Pagan. https://catsister.wordpress.com

Sacred Spirals on Facebook: The Place Where All Paths Meet https://www.facebook.com/groups/sacredSpirals/

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