Candle Color Correspondence

I honestly don't remember where I found this, but this has been in my Book of Shadows for years. I thought I'd share it here. If anyone knows the originally source, please let me know and I'll give credit where it is due.

Proper colors for a spell
Make the work extremely well
This list will make your magick strong
So study carefully and long
The candle colors listed here
And all of your spells will bring you cheer
For lustful love and hot desire
Use a candle as red as fire
If tranquil peace you now pursue
Burn a bit of palest blue
For protection you may use the same
Likewise if you health is lame
Pink for Harmony and love
And perfect union from above
If to attract is your intent
Orange is what is heavens sent
If your hold on things go sour
Use purple to regain your power
To increase your bank account
Light green candles all about
To ground yourself and make it stick
Brown candles always do the trick
To organize use deepest blue
For stress relief a lavender hue
Use teal for balance, peach for friends
Black puts bad habits to an end
Use white if you must substitute
If contains all hues of colors suit
If you burn white instead, its true
You must concentrate on the proper hue
Use these wisely, learn them well
For each every time you spell
You weave a dream that you create
Into a realistic state
The Universe will not say no
But confusing it may cause you woe

History of the Yule Log

A Yule log is hard piece of wood, usually from an oak, birch or elm tree, that would be burned in the fireplace to celebrate Yule, the Winter Solstice, and Christmas Day.

This was originally a pagan tradition found in Northern Europe in places such as Germany, France and Great Britain. The tree was chopped down, and often the whole tree was brought into the house with some ceremony. Later it became just a piece of wood from the tree. The Yule log was representative of bringing the light into the house as part of celebrating the Winter Solstice. The Yule log was a symbol of light, representating that we are moving into a period of light and sun, as the days grow longer.

A piece of the log was always kept to be used to light next year's Yule log. The piece that was kept was also said to bless the household with protection and prosperity in the new year. The ashes from the fire were often used in plants and crops to bless them in hopes of producing great crops.

The Yule log later became an adorned piece of wood that often served as a table centerpiece (as seen above) or for people who did not have an hearth or fireplace in the house. A piece of wood is decorated with greenery, pinecones, etc and holes are drilled into the wood to hold three candles that are lit throughout Yule celebrations.

Happy Yule and Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice and Yule

Winter Solstice: The Return of the Oak King


The Winter Solstice is marked as the day beginning Winter, and has the shortest period of daylight, and the longest night of the year. We celebrate that the sun will rise again tomorrow, and eventually we go back to longer periods of sunlight and daytime. The Winter Solstice usually falls on December 21st in the Northern Hemisphere. We also celebrate Yule at this time during the Solstice.

The celebration of Yule is believed to have been started by German, Nordic, and Celtic pagans as a way to honor the transition of ruling from the Holly King to the Oak King. This was also a time to honor light and the sun, as light and dark struggled in battle, and this is a period where light wins out, so we honor that at Yule. It is often viewed that the Oak King and the Holly King battle each other for control, the Oak King wins and rules until Midsummer.

The Oak King and the Holly King are seen as dual aspects of the Horned God, and there for are two parts of a whole, often depicted in different ways as well. The Oak King is often seen as a god of fertility similar to the Green Man or Cerrunnos, while the Holly King is often depicted very similar to what we know as Santa Claus or Father Christmas.

One of the most popular ways to celebrate Yule is with the Yule log. The Yule log was usually a large wooden log, often from an ash tree, that was given as a gift to a neighbor or family member. The log was burned in the family hearth, having been lit from a piece of last year’s Yule log. The log symbolizes prosperity for the New Year and protection for the home from evil.

You can honor the passing of the Holly King by decorating the home in evergreens such as Holly, Rosemary, and Mistletoe, as well as red candles. Leave out a bowl of clove studded fruit such as oranges. Christmas or Yule trees are another way in which to honor the Holly King during Yule. Candles and sparkling ornaments adorning the mantle, trees, and windows help to bring as much light into the home as possible; this honors the light as we move into a time with longer days and the reign of the Oak King. Some people celebrate Yule or the Solstice by turning all off electric from Sundown to Sunset and just letting the Yule log, and candles burn over night. Again this representing bringing light into the home and your life.

Feasting is certainly a way we all love to celebrate any holiday and Yule is no different. Make a big breakfast including eggs (representing the sun with their yolks) and watch the sun rise with your family. The celebratory dinner can include ham, leg of lamb or other roasts, roasted veggies, stuffings and homemade breads and desserts. Eggnog, Ciders and Wassail are drank and used to toast family and friends at the feast. Don’t’ forget to set a place for the God and Goddess (or whatever deity you would like to represent) in their honor.

Yule is a time to celebrate the light of the world with family and friends. Have fun with decorating your home, bringing in the light, cooking a hearty meal to warm you up on the cold days, and give out gifts to honor and respect your loved ones. Everyone can gather around the Yule log, fireplace or a candle and give thanks for all they have received in the past year. This is a time to meditate and focus on what you want to bring to light in the upcoming year. Use this time of introspection and put your energy into welcoming the positive into your life. Focus on any goals or things you want to achieve in the next year.

Any spells done during this time should focus on abundance, peace, harmony and positivity.

I'm Back Witches!

Reclaiming this blog, and I have some cleaning up to do.

Super Moon

Tomorrow's Full Moon will be one of the biggest and brightest we've seen in a few years, also known as a "Super Moon" due to the fact that the Earth will be closer to the Moon that it has been awhile. The Earth, Moon, and Sun will all be in alignment, and the Moon will be at it's nearest approach to Earth.

Some believe that the effects of a "Super Moon" are responsible for the effects of Earth and it's tides, etc. Some even believe that recent earthquake and Tsunami in Japan were a direct effect of the Moon being so close to Earth and how it's gravitational strengths effect our planet.

So what does this mean for Magick? Well nothing really. However, this "Super Moon" full moon is known as the Worm Moon or the Sap Moon. The name Worm Moon comes from the fact that has the days get warmer and the ground thaws that Earthworms begin to make their appearance. The name Sap Moon comes from the fact that this is the time that trees are tapped for Maple Syrup.

Not only do we have a "Super Moon" and a beautiful Worm Moon Esbat to celebrate, but Sunday is also Ostara. Ostara is the Spring Equinox Sabbat that is named after the German Goddess of the Spring. This is a time to focus on the Spring, the Sun and new beginnings. I will be doing a separate upcoming post on Ostara! It's going to be a very magickal weekend!

Kuan Yin

Kuan Yin is a Bodhisattva that is popular in Chinese Buddhism. She is also known as the Goddess of Mercy and Compassion, and there for is often compared to the Christian Mother Mary. In earlier times she is depicted as a male, and no one knows when or why she changed sex. Now is she known as a Bodhisattva or female Buddha.

One story related to Kuan Yin is that she was the daughter of a very cruel King, who wanted to marry her off at an early age. Kuan Yin refused. He forced her into hard labor and hoped to break her to marrying the wealthy man he had picked out for her. She fulfilled the tasks well and with pleasure which angered her father.

He then placed her into a monastery and told the nuns to give her the hardest tasks to perform in hopes that she would want to come home and marry the man. Kuan Yin performed the tasks well and asked to become a nun so she could help ease human suffering. He father forbade that and burned down the monastery killing many monks and nuns.

Kuan Yin cursed her father and then later healed him when he agreed to rebuild the monastery and help others to become enlightened monks.

Kuan Yin was on her way to nirvana when she heard the cries of suffering of others. She decided to stay on the earth as a living female Buddha in order to help the others break the cycle of samsara or reincarnation.

In China especially, Kuan Yin is associated with Vegetarianism and often depicted in restaurants. Not only is she the Goddess of Mercy and Compassion, but she is seen as a fertility Goddess who can grant children to mothers and watch over them. She is a protectoress of children and seamen. Call upon her to be patient and compassionate with others.

Her mantra or prayer is "Om Mani Padme Hum", which means "Hail to the jewel in the lotus" as she often depicted sitting atop a lotus blossom. Many people honor her by decorating their home with lotus flowers and statues of her.