Sunday, October 27, 2013

Samhain Ritual for Solitaries

With less than a week to go til Samhain, I figured it was time for a break from all the divination stuff (hopefully you learned something you can use Samhain night!) and get into the season.
I found this ritual in a PDF on my computer, and this site is noted on the final page, so I'll assume credit to them.
I may actually use this one myself on one of my nights of celebration. Enjoy!



Supplies

  • ·         Black and/or orange altar cloth(s)
  • ·         Quarter candles
  • ·         One white candle for the God
  • ·         One black candle for the Goddess
  • ·         One black candle
  • ·         Cakes and Ale
  • ·         Divination tool (Scrying bowl, tarot, pendulum, etc)
  • ·         Normally used ritual tools
  • ·         Offering Bowl or Plate
  • ·         Carved Jack-o-lantern or skull(ceramic, stone, etc) on altar
  • ·         Samhain Incense


Cleanse the area in preparation of the ritual as you normally would. You can mark the circle with pumpkins
or other things that remind you of Samhain. A nice touch is to have a jack-o-lantern mark each quarter.

Casting the Circle
Pick up your athame and kiss the blade. Starting in the East or North you point the athame to the ground
while you visualize a blue light coming from the blade to the ground. Begin to draw the circle moving deosil
(clockwise). Complete this circle three times. Each time use the corresponding line and say:

First time:
“I cast this circle in order to create a sacred space.”
Second time
“I cast this circle to contain the power. “
Third time
“I cast this circle as a barrier from all negative energy and spirits.” So mote it be!”

Calling the Quarters
Call the quarters starting in the east:
"Hail to the Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East, element of air. I do summon, stir and call you forth
that you may guard and witness me in my rites.” (Draw the invoking pentagram in the air with your
athame then light the quarter candle) “Hail and welcome!”

"Hail to the Guardians of the Watchtowers of the South, element of fire. I do summon, stir and call you forth
that you may guard and witness me in my rites.” (Draw the invoking pentagram in the air with your
athame then light the quarter candle) “Hail and welcome!”

"Hail to the Guardians of the Watchtowers of the West, element of water. I do summon, stir and call you
forth that you may guard and witness me in my rites.” (Draw the invoking pentagram in the air with your
athame then light the quarter candle) “Hail and welcome!”

"Hail to the Guardians of the Watchtowers of the North, element of air and Guardian of the doorway
between worlds. I do summon, stir and call you forth that you may guard and witness me in my rites.”
(Draw the invoking pentagram in the air with your athame then light the quarter candle) “Hail and
welcome!”

Inviting the Lord and Lady.
Calling the Goddess:
"Wise Crone, Dark Lady, Dark Mother this is your time to rule. Darkness and decay begins to envelope the
world and death knocks upon the door. Bring to me this night your wisdom and clarity and envelope me
within your love. Challenge me to look into myself and reflect upon what I find. Dark Mother I invite you this
night to join me within my circle. Hail and Welcome."

Light the Goddess candle.

Calling the God:
Light the Lords candle and say:
"Lord, though you leave me for a time, I now that you will soon return!

Extinguish the God candle and say:
While I mourn your passing I rejoice and await your return at Yule! Through your sacrifice I live and
understand that death is a natural part of life. You show me that there is no true death for we all shall be
reborn. The Wheel of Life forever turns. Hail and farewell!"

Circle Work
Read the Charge of the Crone or Dark Goddess.
Read the Charge of the God.
Bless the cakes and ale.

Light the black candle and place it near the offering bowl/plate and say:
"May this candle guide those who have passed before me. I welcome (speak their names) to this rite as long
as you bear no ill will towards me. Negativity energy will be repelled for only positive energies are welcome.
May this candle serve as a beacon to those loved ones who seek to be with me this night. So mote it be!"

Take a piece of the cake and dip it into the ale. Place it into the offering bowl or plate and say:
“I offer this food and drink to those who have passed before me. I offer this food and drink to my ancestors.
May it please you and sustain you this night. I honor you and I remember you.

Break off a piece of the cake and eat it then drink some of the ale as you symbolic share a meal with your
passed loved ones. Then sit quietly for a time and meditate and remember those who have passed.

After your meditations it is the time in which you perform divinations and attempt to speak with those who
have passed. There is no time limit on this part. Take as much time as you wish.
If you have results in your divinations then break off another piece of cake and dip it into the ale. Place it
with the previous offering and say:
"I thank you for your company and speaking with me. I offer you more food and drink. May it please you
and sustain you this night! Blessed be!"

Wait silently for a short period of time and when you feel it is time then say farewell to the ancestors:
”To those who have passed that I love. I thank you for joining me and I bid you farewell as you journey
back the Land of the Dead. Go in peace. Hail and farewell!”

Farewell to the Goddess
Face altar and say:
“Dark Mother, Wise Crone, I thank you for being here with me tonight and sharing your wisdom. Stay if you
wish, go if you must. Hail and farewell!”
Extinguish the flame

Dismissing the Guardians
Face the north. Using your athame draw the banishing pentagram while saying:
“Guardian of the Watchtower of the North, element of earth and Guardians of the gateway between worlds.
I thank you for your presence here this evening. Go in power. Hail and farewell.” Extinguish the flame on
the quarter candle.

Face the west. Using your athame draw the banishing pentagram while saying:
“Guardian of the Watchtower of the west, element of water. I thank you for your presence here this
evening. Go in power. Hail and farewell.” Extinguish the flame on the quarter candle.

Face the south. Using your athame draw the banishing pentagram while saying:
“Guardian of the Watchtower of the south, element of fire. I thank you for your presence here this evening.
Go in power. Hail and farewell.” Extinguish the flame on the quarter candle.

Face the east. Using your athame draw the banishing pentagram while saying:
“Guardian of the Watchtower of the East, element of air. I thank you for your presence here this evening.
Go in power. Hail and farewell.” Extinguish the flame on the quarter candle.

Visualize the circle you had drawn slowly melting away into the earth. Once it is gone the circle is open and
the ritual is done. Before leaving the area make sure you ground and center. Take the remaining cakes and
ale and offer them to the Goddess. Pour the ale onto the ground and leave the cake on the ground and say a
prayer of offering to the Goddess.


***Self Promo- Samhain Ritual Kit ***

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Divination Series - Part 7.5 - Rune Types and the Destiny Profile



Today we address types of runes and how to draw the "once-in-a-lifetime" 'Destiny Profile'! First up are Gothic Runes, found on the Gothic Monument stone know as the Kylver Stone. It is the oldest complete rune-row. Unfortunately, due to lack of Rune Poem, not a whole lot is known about their meaning. 

Then, according to my Source  "...around the middle of the 4th century Bishop Ulfila created a new alphabet, based on the Elder Futhark, to write Christian material in the Gothic language. For the names of the runes below I have listed the name Ulfila had given the runes as well as the Gothic name for the rune."  
(Runes Pictured Beneath List)
Faihu/Fe

Sound: “f”
Stands for: Well being
Casting meaning: This is a rune of prosperity, well-being, and fruitfulness. It represents the Mother Goddess as preserver and nurturer as well as the mythical cow Audhumla. It symbolizes the abundance gained through power, as well as the power itself.


Urus/Uruz

Sound: “u”
Stands for: Strength
Casting meaning: The rune Urus represents Urd, one of the three Norns, or fates, in Norse mythology. It denotes primal strength and the power of creativity.


Thauris/Thyth

Sound: “th”
Stands for: Thorn
Casting meaning: Thauris is a rune of defense, like the thorn it can resist an attack without a fight. The rune Thyth represents the power of enclosure and has the strength to breakdown disorder and chaos.


Ansus/Aza

Sound: “a” as in “car”
Stands for: Human decent from divine beings
Casting meaning: Ansus is a god rune showing us that humans are descendents of the gods. Aza is a rune that calls upon the divine beings and holds the power of creativity.


Raida/Reda

Sound: “r”
Stands for: Motion
Casting meaning: Raida simply means motion and it’s Gothic representation Reda adds to it the feminine power of the Mother Goddess.


Kusma/Chosma

Sound: “k”, “c” as in “cake”
Stands for: Knowledge
Casting meaning: The rune Kusma symbolizes insight, learning, knowledge, wisdom and enlightenment. Chosma shows us the duality between things such as the thin border between madness and genius.


Giba/Gewa

Sound: “g” as in “gift”
Stands for: The act of giving
Casting meaning: Giba and Gewa, like the Elder Futhark rune Gebo, stands for the gift given between two people as well as the act of giving and the bond that such a gift creates.


Winja/Winne

Sound: “w”
Stands for: Joy
Casting meaning: The last rune of the first ætt represents joy, harmony and a peaceful state of mind in a chaotic world.


Hagl/Haal

Sound: “h”
Stands for: Hailstone
Casting meaning: Like a hailstone, the rune Hagl/Haal represents restrictions and restraints. But like a hailstone melting, Hagl/Haal allows for the transformation form something so restricting to something more fluid and easy going.


Nauths/Noics

Sound: “n”
Stands for: Need
Casting meaning: This rune denotes the absence or scarcity of something as well as symbolizing a necessity or need. The Gothic rune of Noics also signifies the letter of justice.


Eis/Iiz

Sound: “i” as in “piece”
Stands for: Icicle
Casting meaning: his rune represents an icicle symbolizing unchanging existence.


Jer/Gaar

Sound: “y”, “j” as in “Frejya”
Stands for: Season (or Year)
Casting meaning: Like the changing from season to season or from one year to the next, this rune represents the characters of the cycles found in nature. It is a completion at the proper time with the chance for new beginnings.


Aihs/Waer

Sound: “e” as in “egg”
Stands for: Staff cut from a Yew Tree
Casting meaning: Aihs represents a double-ended staff of life and death cut from a yew tree. Waer symbolizes sacrifice.


Pairthra/Pertra

Sound: “p”
Stands for: A Pot (or a Womb)
Casting meaning: The rune Pairthra represents a pot which in turn symbolizes a womb. The Gothic representation of this rune stands for an unexpected resolution to difficult situations.


Algs/Ezec

Sound: “z”
Stands for: Power (of the elk)
Casting meaning: The rune Algs represents the power that is found in an elk. The Gothic rune of Ezec represents the fifteen starts of traditional European astronomy.


Saúil/Sugil

Sound: “ss” as in “kiss”
Stands for: Light overtaking darkness
Casting meaning: The runes of Saúil and Sugil stand for the power of the sun overtaking darkness. The Greek roots of Saúil referring to both the sun and the moon.


Teiws/Tyz

Sound: “t”
Stands for: Victory
Casting meaning: This rune symbolizes victory, goals attained, and earthly strength though male power.


Baírkana/Bern

Sound: “b”
Stands for: Birth (or Regeneration)
Casting meaning: This rune represents the power of woman, birth and regeneration. It also represents the birch tree (or twig) which is the favored wood used for runic divination because it is considered pure and absent of harmful influences.


Egeis/Eyz

Sound: “e” as in “egg”
Stands for: Horse
Casting meaning: Egeis represents the power and status of a horse. It was said that the gods used horses in divination, shamanism and royal pageantries. The rune Eyz signifies the aether, the medium prevading cosmos.


Mannaz/Manna

Sound: “m”
Stands for: Basic human qualities
Casting meaning: This rune represents the basic qualities that are found in all humans such as support, social abilities, happiness and cooperation.


Lagus/Laaz

Sound: “l”
Stands for: Water
Casting meaning: As water stimulates the growth of plant life the Lagus/Laaz rune stimulates growth in all of us. It also represents the fluidity and easygoing nature that we all strive to obtain.


Iggws/Enguz

Sound: “ng” as in “song”
Stands for: Generative power
Casting meaning: This rune symbolizes the potential power that we must learn to channel before we unleash it on the world. A generative power that is released in a single burst.


Dags/Daz

Sound: “d”
Stands for: Day
Casting meaning: The rune that stands for “day” is one that can be used for the protection of entrances. In a reading you may take this rune to mean a protection from new people or situations that enter your life or your present situation.


Othal/Utal

Sound: “o” as in “cold”
Stands for: Inherited land/property
Casting meaning: Like similar runes that represent land in its many forms this rune is one of a wealth that is passed on to us from our family. Like family knowledge or a family secret it is something we should carefully watch and guard over.


Quairtra

Sound: “qu” as in “quick”
Stands for: Flames of a fire
Casting meaning: Although it is part of the third Gothic ætt the rune Quairtra encapsulates all the other runes in this set. It symbolically represents the flames of a fire as the transform things from one form to another cleansing them as it changes their form.
 Armanen Runes
"After an eye operation Guido List claimed to have had a vision where he saw the “original” set of runes. He claimed that these runes were the runes that all other rune-rows were based on. Having 18 runes in his set, he identified each of his runes with one of the 18 spells in the Havamal1 in the Elder Edda. However, there was no evidence to support his claim."
 The Destiny Profile
Described  as a "useful technique to listen to ourselves", the Destiny Profile was created by Dr. Allan W. Anderson for use with the I Ching. The six question profile makes up a grid upon which the human life can be framed. The six questions are as follows, but note- This spread is meant to be performed only once in the course of one's life.
*What is my Nature
*Why Was I Borm
*What is my Vocation
*What is my Destiny
*What is my Cross
*What is my unified self

After drawing a rune, record it, then put it back in the bag. Each draw must be made from a full set of runes. When recording the runes, place them in a vertical line, first rune at the top, and record your thoughts. You may wish to add new insights later on, which is perfectly acceptable. 

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