We offset our carbon emissions by Eco hosting
 

Merry Meet Friends

Greetings and Witchy Blessings to you all!

The first of the harvest festivals has arrived again. A time to celebrate and acknowledge the fruits of our labours. Reaping the benefits of that which we have sown.

Although for many the hottest days of the summer are yet to come, the daylight hours are starting to shorten. The morning sky is darker a little longer each day. 

As we mentioned in our last newsletter we have decided not to sell calendars this year but rather put them online and ask for a donation to keep the site running. We have also included a link to information on the best times of the day for spell casting to assist you.

We are also adding to the selection of jewellery which is available via the shop. New items to be added shortly include pentacles in silver and gold and a selection of rings.

It is through donations and sales through the site shop that we keep the site available.

Lammas Greetings

Lughnasadh, or Lammas, - 2nd February Southern Hemisphere

This Sabbat is also known as the Festival of First Fruits, as the harvest season begins. The first of the harvest festivals, it also marks the waning strength of the God; the nights grow longer and the days moderate their warmth.

The Goddess, now fully enveloped in her Mother aspect, watches in sorrow at his diminishment, but finds comfort and strength in the realisation she carries the seed of the new year's Sun God within her.

This is the time of Thanksgiving for those of us in the Craft; a time to give thanks for all the forms of bounty the earth gives to us - the bounty of the harvest; the bounty of the bonds of love found among our family and friends; the bounty of our spirit. It is a time to recognise the lineage from which we come, and to honour the dying God's coming sacrifice.

Associated Deities: Ceres, Demeter, Corn Mother, Lugh, John Barleycorn, the Green Man
Associated Herbs: All Herbs and all Grains
Associated Crystals: Tiger-eye, Golden Topaz, Opal, Citrine, Ametrine

Decorate Altar with sheaves of wheat, barley or oats, fruit and breads, perhaps a loaf fashioned in the figure of the Sun or a man to represent the God. Corn dollies, symbolic of the Goddess, can be present as well. Appropriate Foods include bread, blackberries and all berries, acorns (leached of their poisons first), crab apples, all grains and locally ripe produce. A cake is sometimes baked, and cider is used in place of wine.

Ways to Celebrate:
• Kindle a fire of herbs and wood to commemorate the Sun’s passing.
• Bake magical bread in celebration of the harvest. Use a normal bread dough but knead in a tablespoon or two of fresh herbs.
• Perform a prosperity spell for the coming months by making a Witches bottle. Gather together a small bottle with a tight fitting cork, a fishhook, some clover, a bit of cinnamon, and a few coins. As you place the items in the bottle visualise money coming to you from all directions. Cork the bottle and seal it with a bit of wax from your altar candles. Bury the bottle near your front door.

“Money come alive and grow,
Pour down on me from high and low,
by herb, and hook, and glass and coin,
Let prosperity and I now join,
Paper money and coins that shine,
Come to me, for you are mine.”


Coming up:

02/02/05 Lammas
09/02/05 New Moon - Aquarius
24/02/05 Full Moon - Leo
10/03/05 New Moon - Pisces
21/03/05 Mabon

Other Events:

New Spirit Festival 13th February - Alexander Park, Auckland

Magick Earth Festival is on 19th and 20th March 2005 at Scoutlands, Lake Wiritoa, Wanganui.  Check out the website at:  http://magickearth.port5.com

Well on that note we will end this newsletter. Please let us know your thoughts and comments.
Until next Sabbat

Merry Part
Igrewl and Asrteia

For More Information Contact:

Witchaven
PO Box 93, Patumahoe, Auckland, New Zealand 1730
Tel:
FAX:
Internet: info@witchaven.com