Lammas, Lughnasadh, and Tailtiu

Lammas

Northern Hemisphere: Aug 1st
Southern Hemisphere: Feb 1st
Colors: Red, Yellow, Gold, Brown, Orange
Decor: Wheat stalks, Grains, Oats, Corn, Apples, and other summer veggies and fruits.


Lammas is the Neo-Pagan holiday celebrating the last few weeks of summer. This is actually an Anglo-Saxon festival to mark the annual what harvest. However, it is important to note that this founded after the Christianization of the area, so while this is a Germanic Tribe, it's not actually sacred to these particular pagans.

So How Did it Become Anlgo?

This is a very easy explanation. In literally every culture all over the world grain is a staple, even today. It's used in so many different ways and was the main way to overcome starvation in the colder months. Without it, villages would be wiped out. In Egyptian culture it signified the cycle of life and death and even today, the scythe, can be seen on many Gods and Goddess and other religious relics, such as the Santa Muerte and Cronus. This time of the year was everything and so it was highly respected. It only makes sense that it would be seen in Europe.

Lughnasadh 

(Loo-NA-sah)

There is Lugh, the Celtic Master of Crafts, but he's more like the Roman's Mercury, not harvest. He is depicted with a ray of sunshine behind him and he does relate to making things, so... maybe, but it sounds more and more like a stretch. Now, there is lore that states his foster mother, Tailtiu who IS the Goddess of Agriculture. He was actually performing funeral rites after she died from exhaustion while plowing the fields for her people. It's also been suggested that this was more about the Goddess Eriu, who Lugh was intended to and during this time the older Kings would "marry the land" and look after her.

 The other Germanic denominations don't have anything either. So, it sounds more and more like an accidental linguistic barrier. The name of the month was Lunasa, so both words do have a similar root and like with many pagan traditions, the months and pantheons were often likened to each other. The more and more I read about him, though, the more and more I believe it had little to do with him as opposed to what he did.

So... The Anglo's?

Now we're tackling how this became the celebration of a harvest and not the solemn funeral of Tailtiu. It was likely they people could sacrifice the first of their harvest to her by baking bread and hoping for a better harvest the remainder of the harvest season. This was later adopted by the Anglo-Saxon Christians and continued to be carried on by the Catholic Church on through the Protestant separation.

How to Celebrate Lammas:

Now that we've better understood where this name for the Celt Holiday came from, let's talk about celebration. We found out its actually a funeral and possibly a wedding. We know that many articles will tell us a happy time, but this seems far more like we should be thankful and humbled. 

Break your bread and be thankful it came from the store and that there will be plenty more later. Drink some cider and be humbled by the fact that all of your ancestors are what made your life today through their seemingly small efforts and blight outlook, they worked and created. Invoke Lugh, or your pantheon's similar deity, and create beautiful corn dolls to represent your family. Create or purchase some beautiful wheat and corn decor. Hold a solemn ceremony and set out some bread for the Gods. If you're Norse or Germanic, like myself, pluck some sunflowers and mourn Baldr and start preparing for the coming harvest.

Here's a lovely video on how to create a corn dolly: 

and another on how to weave wheat:

© 2016, Copyright The Dame and The Devil Business Blog - Writer The Dame

sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lammas
 videos from youtube
Photo by Wesual Click on Unsplash

Midsummer - Lithasblot

So I've been dreading writing this blog because I know it'll turn into this huge debate like the one about Eostre. However, sometimes being the bearer of bad news is a necessity.

What is Midsummer?

This is the Summer Solstice neo-pagan and old Celtic celebration for the longest day of the year. Depending on your location it can take place anytime from June 20th up to the more traditional Norse and Upper Northern Germanic Religions July 14th. Today, using the Gregorian calendar, we centered the date on June 21-22. I think this is perfect because of the power number that 22 is. Scientifically speaking, this day changes from year up year simply because 1) the year is never just 365 days and 2) the seasons shift due to current climates and changes. In the more northern counties there is rarely any nighttime during this day. In the Southern hemisphere, this is time to celebrate Yule, the darkest day of the year.

How to Celebrate:

You would celebrate it the same way you would Litha; bonfires, fairy cakes, fertility and love spells. However, and this is where it gets disappointing, the Germanic Pagans DID NOT celebrate this holiday. In fact, they were often day too busy harvesting, planting, raiding, and hunting to have a real holiday. There's actually only three Blots recorded. What they did do was hold a very important meeting called the Allthing. It would last a good portion of the night and was very solemn. If they did hold a celebration, it was short and done after. Most likely by themselves at their homes, also. This is largely speculation because there isn't any evidence of a holy presence during this time. Now Freyja and Frey are said to work together to create the budding fruit from flowers and trees. However, at this time, we also usually honor the death of Baldr. In the story, Loki murdered Baldr with mistletoe, the only living thing that Freyja never made a pact with to keep them from killing get son. This is likely a reason why there wasn't a celebration. It was a funeral. Baldr was the most beautiful and most loved God by how Pantheon. He just simply couldn't do wrong and Loki used his blind brother to kill him.

Modern Midsummer

Do I think it's wrong to celebrate now? No! 

In fact, I would encourage it. Religion evolves. It's a living, breathing thing because of human faith. We proof of this as the religion moves from Proto-Germanic to Anglo-Saxon and then to Norse. In today's society we have a lot more time on our hands to give to the Gods. The Germanic Paganism is extremely Sun worship centered so making this an important time is proper and I support this movement to make it a holiday. Today, you'll see bonfires and flower picking as well. There's also one some who place a stuffed witch and burn it in honor of those who died before us. More and more, people are against this, though, and see it more as a undermining of the thousands of innocent lives lost.

I, personally, decorate my house in yellow and white flowers. I pull out my white and gold decor. I try to get my kids outside more and more in the mornings and really push my own Freyja worship at this time. I also try to draw from my ancestors and I do my best to work at this time, but instead my giving back to my community, planting, cleaning, and trying to keep my neighborhood kept up. We keep water in the car to hand out to the homeless when we come across them, simple things that give back and give thanks.

Ocean deities are also invoked at this time and likely we're back then because they would be raiding at this time. There was also a May Pole in some areas of Europe, but this rain is likely because if the difference of time in the ground thawing and growing grass.




 © 2016, Copyright The Dame and The Devil Business Blog - Writer The Dame

Timing and Spell Crafting - Weeks and Months

Timing and Spell Crafting - Weeks and Months

So today, were going to talk about how timing effects your spell work. I want to stay this of by saying, though, that this isn't something you have to use and it can vary from tradition to tradition. (Ie, how heathen's don't really use moon magick.) That's also not to say that you can't incorporate it into your practice if you want to and how you incorporate it can be completely different than how I do. First, we'll start off with days and seasons. I'll have another post discussing the monthly moon phases up next week with a little more insight into how technical witchcraft can really get. Then I'll explain actual hours and times of day which is probably the most lengthy.

Days of the Week

Monday

Ruled by the Moon (an old Anglo-Saxon reference), or Mani the God, this day can be tricky to use for spells. I hear a lot of people avoiding time, but I think it's just because they don't understand how to use this particular kind of energy. I suggest spells contacting spirits and mediumship on Monday. Trance, psychic development, scrying, and breaking in new cartomany decks are perfect for today. You can also practice mediation and working with all chakras. Some lesser known uses for today are kitchen magick of all types, reconciliation, theft, and even emotional journeys or binding spells. While all of these spells sound scary, the moon is also the Mother, so today would also be great for fertility magic as well. In Germanic practices this would be considered a Masculine energy.

It's colors and correspondences are

Silver, White, Grey, blues and purples on the darker shades, and even black.

Moonstone, Amythyst, Selenite, Flourite, and Ametrine

Jasmine, Deadly Nightshade, Sandalwood, Willow, Purple Tulips, Dahlia, Elder, and Wormwood

Tuesday

(Tyr's day) Is the day for things that are going to be a battle to overcome. Hot Foot spells and other more nastier works to force someone to comply or bend to your will are best performed on Tuesdays. With it's warlike agenda, these are also best for spells to protect as well as defend yourself. Lust, rather than love, also perform better, as do ones to enhance things like sexuality and potency. Other spells you can work include, ambition, strength (physical or inner), energy, passion, BREAKING hexes and curses, and anything that includes a victory like sports and competitions. 

It's colors and correspondences are:

Red, Orange, Pink, and sometimes Black

Bloodstone, Garnet, Ruby, Red Jasper, and Red Coral

Basil, Ginger, Black Pepper, Dragon's Blood, Patchouli, Red Peppers, Vinegar, Mustard, Birch, and Wolvesbane .

Wednesday

Wednesday's (Wodan/Odin's Day) is the day for travel spells, both physically and spiritually. Odin is well known for his eye that he sacrificed for the Wisdom of Ages, so today is also a great day to study, perform magicks that help you concentrate, work on goal making, focus, and alertness.  I would use this day to discover if anyone is working against you or getting to know your pantheon. Communication is also a great thing to work on, so light a couple of yellow candles and start a devotional with ancestors, or open up the pathways to better talks with people around you.

Its colors and correspodences:
Yellow, Purples, Green, sometimes Orange
Citrine, Agate, Adventurine, and Emeralds
Lavender, Eucalyptus, Sweetpea, Chrysanthemum, The Nine Herbs of Odin, Alder, and Forget-me-knots

Thursday

(Thunor/Thor's Day) While he is the God of thunder, there much more to him than the storms. They provided rain to grow the crops, so spells involving plants, planting, and growth (personal, spiritual, etc) are all practiced today. Luck, prosperity, and wealth spells will also do well. Other ones to consider are those concentrate around the home, hearth, and family life. You can also use today to add a boost to legal work, businesses (growth, start ups, etc), joy, writing, and also learning or teaching or other kind of leadership roles.

It's colors and correspondences :

Brown, Orange, Green

Smokey Quartz, Turquoise, Jade, Opal

Moss, Elm, Clove, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Bay Leaves, Sage, Oak, Marigold (Caledunla), and Geranium

Friday

Friday is for Freyja, the goddess of love and all things beautiful. You should specifically practice all types of love and beauty magick today, but also fertility, marriage, sex, and sexuality. Today is also a good day for reconciliation for any of these matters, like trying to reverse a divorce. Other forms of magick I would suggest are those involving the arts and any other creative form. She also very close to nature, so anything to do with plants, especially floral ones, are going to work extra well. 

It's colors and correspondences:

Red, Pink, White, Green, Gold

Rose Quatrz, White Quartz, Lapis Lazuli, Pink Tourmiline, and Aventurine

Cherry Bark, Rose, Yarrow, Hibiscus, Saffron, Safflower, Vanilla, Cacao, Dandelion, Adam and Eve Root, and Orchid

Saturday

Saturday is the only day of the week that doesn't have a Germanic background. It's named for the Roman God, Saturn. With that being said, its correspondences for spell work don't actually meet up with the God, himself. So, while you could use this as a day for his name sake (which would be another day of agriculture, wealth, and such), you can also use it for these more serious and darker workings. Saturday is the day of the dead, the day meant to work with those crossed over, to help get over a deceased loved one, and a day to deal with things like time, limitations, and longevity. You can also use Saturday to help you locate lost items and even people. Today is definitely the day to perform anything in regards to binding and banishing, getting over addictions or bad habits and behaviors, and other more malicious intents. 

It's colors and correspondences:

Black, Grey, White, Purple, and at times Blue

Hematite, Obsidian, Pearl, Pewter, and Jet

Cypress, Myrrh, Patchouli, Black Peppers, Salt, Oleander, Poppy, Primerose, Weeping Willow, and Grasses. 

Sunday

Sunday is the day of Sunna (in Germanic faiths). This is the day to preform spells that make you shine above all for things like promotions, public speaking events,and other such instances where you are the center of attention or want to highlight your skills and attributes. This day is also great for working warm, happy spells, such as those for friendship, courage, or self-improvement. Sunday is also the best day for wealth spells. In Heathenry, this is a feminine energy.

It's colors and correspondences are:

White, Yellow, Gold, and Orange - Sometimes even red (the colors of the sun)

Citrine, Diamonds, Tiger's Eye, Sunstone, Amber, and Carnelian

Cedar, Frankincense, Lemons, Sunflowers, and St John's Wort

Seasons

These are a little more vast and obvious. The way you can combine these two is not to think of them as the only time to perform these spells, but that they have a better chance at working or a heightened energy to them. 

Spring

Water elemental, new beginnings, fertility, herbs, plants, agriculture, children, starting over, cleansings, cleaning. goal setting, new things, money, prosperity, abundance, discovery, travel, and legal matters. This is a great time to try new techniques or pick up a new trade altogether. It is also a great time to start getting active again so you can work off all of those cold month worries and drear.

Summer

Fire elemental, sea magick, friendship, communication, emotional, personal growth, consequences, happiness, joy, sun magick, strengthening, courage, self-development, social activities, competition, passion, action, revenge, sexuality, sex, and love. You'll feel bolder and more fearless, but try to stay cool doing so. 

Autumn

Air elemental, spirits, necromancy, divination in all forms, spiritual growth, astral travel, finding lost things, transitional magicks and also reflection. This is a wonderful time to start working on things that need special attention to detail, communication skills, and to start studying things you've been putting off in the warmer months. Prepare the crops and do a little extra work in the kitchen with cooking magick. 

Winter

Earth magick, death, necromany, the darker arts (so to speak), binding, banishing, self-healing, reflection, planning ahead, moving forward, family oriented spells and things to raises the spirits and keep joy alive. This is the ending of the year, so start working with having old habits ending, closing loose ends, or ending disagreements. Completeness is a good way to look at Winter if you're wanting a lighter feel to the season. 

 © 2016, Copyright The Dame and The Devil Business Blog - Writer The Dame

Celebrating Spring

Celebrating Spring

It seems that my last post on holidays really riled up some of my followers, but that was not the purpose of the post. The point in my religious journey is finding the truth, or what is closest to it. With that being said, this is how my family and I welcome in the spring.

Food:

For the most part we still abide by a more Easter like dinner, but more because if the timing. In this part of year you would most likely see small animals like rabbits, dove, or pheasant being hunted. My grandmother's cookbook has recipes for squirrel, but I don't think I could find enough let alone find the patience to properly check and butcher them. My husband, who's family is from Mexico, would usually kill a goat, but it's a lot of meat and I'm not keen on the grease. So we're most likely going for a traditional ham unless I can find pheasant. Spring time is best for root vegetables, peas, beans, and leafy greens. For dessert, a nice pear or strawberry crumble is best for this really season. Now a days, these items would simply be as the best price in grocery stores, so stock up if you can.

Ritual:

This month we don't really see anything special going on ritual wise. Maybe the March of Nerthus would be appropriate, but I think giving an offering of grain and fruit to our tree in the backyard is plenty. I plan on making corn husk dolls of Nerthus with her veil and then sitting her high in the tree branches just barely seen. This will mostly be a very busy time in the old days because these are planting and harvesting months. Little time for anything outside of the usual monthly Thing. With that being said, take the month to decorate your altar and clean your house and worship space. Take a ritual bath. Start working out or dieting. This would be the opportune season to start new habits. Plant any new crops or plants and dedicate them to the Gods. Because the nights are often still cold, many may still be lighting fires to guide spring in. Light a white candle at night or use a battery operated ones and keep them in the window sills. Never leave a burning candle unattended and always extinguish it before going to bed.

Decor:

Tulips, daffodils, lilies, hyacinth, and bluebells are common flowers of the season. Pick up some fake ones for season long decor (or if you have allergies from Hel like I do) and place them in cases with long grasses or wheat. If you can afford it, change out fresh ones weekly. Create dollies, perfumes and oils, and besoms to hang. Use the besom to sweep ito negative energy and always keep the close to a main door. Baskets, eggs, small birds and animals are still a very common sight, so use them to brighten your home. I just bought some cute carrot garland and I'm working on my besoms now. The best colors are of course yellow, lavender, pink, and light blue, but also all greens and browns. Have fun and comment what you're doing to be creative and festive. ❤️

  © 2016, Copyright The Dame and The Devil Business Blog - Writer The Dame

Eostre - Myth or Mythology?

There is a lot of controversy surrounding this rather popular holiday, but why?

Bede: 

In his reconstruction of the faith, Bede talks about a possible Old Germanic Goddess, Eostre, from the name ôstarâ and the month ôstarmânoth, not Eosturmanoth in Germany. So the stretch isn't a long one, especially considering that in my own studies I have found that almost every month holds some kind of Blôt. The problem is, this is not backed up in any other known texts, such as Germania by Tacitus, or in any art from the time. In fact, the only other text to mention her was by Jacob Grimm, which was based off of Bede's reconstruction. However, it is plausible she existed in some form given that she was important enough to name a month after. Could it be possible that they were just naming the season though? We trace the root of her name to "East" often referring to dawn or spring time.

Grimm:

While some regard his book on German mythology to be a good reference, you'll find that much of it could be considered as influenced by his time and opinions rather than fact. He made the connection between Bede's shortly mentioned goddess Eostre and Easter then proclaiming her Ôstarâ. In fact, the earliest known story about her and a hare came about from the 19th century in the Ukraine. Now, while the Easter Bunny does trace back to Germany, this still isn't enough evidence to convince me that she was a goddess.

My Personal Conclusion:

I don't think Eostre was a Goddess. I believe that the Proto-Germanic tribes did worship the sun and fertility though, which is seen through their worship of goddessess like Freyja and Nerthus, along with the twins Alcis. I do think that this time was a celebration of the sun itself and the lengthening of days. We see around this time Nerthus being paraded and the Charming of the Plow, so it's very likely that this was just a continuation of that celebration. Or that one holiday was one month and the other this month, like I said they usually have something almost every full moon. There is also no known worship of any Goddess throughout the evolution of the Proto-Germanic Traditions and with something like that being rather important to the Germans, you'd expect her to show up in later forms such as through the Norse. So my conclusion is simple, celebrate spring, the dawn of the year.

©016, Copyright The Dame and The Devil Business Blog - Writer The Dame

Sites:
https://blogs.loc.gov/folklife/category/jacob-grimm/
http://www.koshabq.org/2012/03/09/celebrating-eostre/
https://archive.org/stream/tacitusagricolag00taciiala/tacitusagricolag00taciiala_djvu.txt