We will be entering a new lunar phase this week; the full moon. The Full Flower Moon in Sagittarius graces the skies amidst the vibrant blossoms of spring and right before the heat and activity of summer. This month in May we find the full moon in the adventurous, expansive, visionary, idealistic and freeing sign of Sagittarius. Unlike the New Moon, which is about starting something new, the Full Moon is about reflecting on what we planted almost six months ago now, and how it’s coming to fruition. It urges us to consider what’s next. You’re being pushed to pursue a LEAP of faith. Take a moment to get in touch with your true, deepest desires, and give yourself permission to dream bigger than you ever have. It’s a great time to reassess the year and see if your actions still align with your intentions.
The fullness of this sagittarius moon encourages us to pause and appreciate the moment as it is. It urges us to stop and smell the flowers blooming now around us. Sagittarius, is a sign ruled by Jupiter, which amplifies its adventurous spirit, quest for knowledge, and desire for truth. And this Sagittarius full moon on May 23, 2024; specifically urges you to connect with your inner voice and start living with more authenticity and truth to allow expansion and true freedom.
We spend much of our time “what if-ing” ourselves and envisioning the worst-case scenario; but during a sagittarius full moon your mind will start considering all the possibilities of a situation rather than just focusing on the potential roadblocks. The full Moon in Sagittarius has the power to help you understand which fears need to stay and which ones should go. Full moon’s always bring added illumination so pay attention to any breakthroughs you have around what’s stopped you moving forward with your plans. Full moons are also about release, so whatever has been stopping you from taking the leap, it’s time to kick it to the curb.
Let me show you in this post the flames of the full moon in the fire sign sagittarius. And how to connect to this adventurous, expansive, visionary, idealistic and freeing energy. You can use it to harness the most potent energy for us to release fears, find hidden truths, and manifest a life full of happiness, knowledge, and adventure today!
First, What is the Full Moon
Over the centuries, the Moon has played a significant role in different cultures and traditions. The full moon simply put is when the moon is completely illuminated in the sky and it has reached it’s peak in this lunar cycle in the sky. When the moon is completely illuminated it’s time for all to reach full expression. The full moon is the most powerful and potent time of the entire lunar cycle.
A full moon occurs when the transit (moving) Sun and Moon are in the exact opposite positions in the Zodiac (called an opposition). The full moon greatly affects humans and it’s no wonder it does because, there’s a scientific reason for this – we are made up of 60% or more of water. Full Moons are the peak point of the lunar cycle: at this time of the month, the light of the Sun is fully illuminating the Moon, and the luminaries are exactly opposing one another from our perspective on Earth. This potent alignment offers us opportunities to gain more awareness about what is moving in our inner and emotional world, and information previously uncertain or hidden could be revealed at this time.
With the moon being fully illuminated it creates this portal to some of the most potent energy to connect to for us to manifest our desires and dream life. This portal creates a connection to our peak creative energy and the deep seated creative passions we all have within us. This creative energy and power is the energy we need to actually do and create the things and lifestyle we need to manifest what we desire. With the new moon phase being about planting the seeds of what you want to manifest, the full moon is about actually doing the work and moving the energy to make your manifesting happen. The full moon allows you to bridge the connection between these energies and themes and bring them into your life while reminding you how important it is to have them in your life not only when the moon is illuminated in the sky for you to see.
There are so many ways to work with the full moon, to learn more about the basics of working with the full moon energy check out my blog post here. But, remember each full moon will be slightly different and have different practices to add and different ways to do it based on which zodiac sign the full moon is currently in at the time.
So, Who Is Sagittarius?
Sagittarius, represented by the Archer, is known for its optimistic, enthusiastic, and adventurous spirit. Sagittarius is represented by the symbol of the archer, who aims far, and the mythological creature, centaur, who is half man and half horse. It bridges the gap between the Earth and Heaven because the centaur is the learned healer whose higher intelligence forms a bridge between Earth and Heaven. Sagittarius is a mutable fire sign ruled by Jupiter, the planet of expansion and abundance, Sagittarius brings the energy of growth, exploration, and optimism into everything it touches.
As the mutable (adaptable) Fire sign of the Zodiac, Sagittarius rules over communication, action, and passion. Fire is all about passion and inner motivation, and Sagittarius sparks that inner drive within us to learn, experience, grow and inspire. It can be a good time to pick back up an old idea, an old big plan, or to reconnect with the big picture in ways we have before. This can be a good time to redo and revise.
Sagittarius was the one who would leave the zodiac, and wander far to obtain new wisdom, and perspective to bring back and teach others what they learned. They are driven by a constant search for knowledge, wisdom, and the meaning of life.They are the natural students and teachers of life. Purpose is a big theme for Sagittarius. It is not only about obtaining knowledge, it is about understanding the purpose of what life even means. Because of this, during the Full Moon, we are being called to release any limiting beliefs in regards to our purpose in life. Possibly even redefine what purpose means for us.
Sagittarius energy:
Encourages personal growth and development
Fosters open-mindedness and embrace new perspectives
Enhances intuition and insights during meditation practices
Promotes a search for higher meaning and purpose
Amplifies courage and boldness in pursuing goals and aspirations
Fosters a sense of freedom and independence
Sagittarius The Happy Sign
Sagittarius is the happy sign, the sign of opportunity and expansion, and wants to get out into the world and have new experiences. The Sagittarius Full Moon is a more optimistic Full Moon since Sagittarius is the happy sign. Full Moons tend to be emotional, but Sagittarius Full Moons don’t want to dwell on that. During a Sagittarius full moon we don’t want to deal with anything too serious, we are ready for a break after the few previous moons before this one. The sagittarius full moon, also opens up the door to believing the best can happen for us and too us.
Sagittarius The Sign To Celebrate Our Successes
The Sagittarius full Moon also wants us to dream bigger in our own lives, through celebrating how far we’ve already come. This full Moon in Sagittarius reminds us to celebrate and feel proud of our achievements, both past and current, in order to keep believing in our successes still to come.This Sagittarius Full Moon wants to help us anchor into that sense of positivity and possibility for ourselves and the world at large.
Full Moons are also times of release, and letting go, so that we can create the space for more of what we truly want. This Sagittarius full Moon urges us to release anything keeping us from feeling proud of and celebrating ourselves, along with limited beliefs around our own potential. So if you’re noticing any (old) negative self-thought patterns arising around this full Moon, please know this is the illumination to release it all and break that pattern.
Sagittarius The Sign Of Adventure
A Sagittarius full Moon will renew your sense of adventure, and you could have the desire to start something new up during this time. Sagittarius loves the idea of traveling and expanding their horizon. This can be something physical like traveling to a faraway place, or taking their mind on a trip with an education pursuit. The energy of Sagittarius is very expansive, free, and visionary. Cast your mind back and check in with any dreams you’ve had percolating to travel, learn or begin a new adventure.
Sagittarius The Ruler Of Higher Learning
Sagittarius is ruler of higher learning, so we can finish a course of study, and can be more passionate about learning, teaching, writing, and speaking. Sagittarius is the thinking sign associated with the quest for freedom from all restriction as well as idealism, religion and philosophy. At the highest level, Sagittarius is concerned with understanding, perception, and mental activity in the service of their high ideals for the benefit of mankind.
Sagittarius Ruler Of Our Beliefs
Sagittarius rules our beliefs, so we can be more passionate about what we believe in and stand up for ourselves and others. The Sagittarius full moon tells us now is the time for deep reflection and personal growth. It’s also a moment to ponder the stories we’ve been telling ourselves about who we are and the world we live in. The sagittarius full moon signals to us that some of our philosophies and beliefs may need revisiting. During the full moon in Sagittarius, the moon illuminates hidden truths, creating space for self-discovery which can allow our beliefs to either deepen or to shift and change. The full moon in Sagittarius, is the perfect time to rethink the beliefs and philosophies passed down by older generations and see how you might want to do things differently. It’s also a moment to ponder the stories we’ve been telling ourselves about who we are and the world we live in.
Themes Of Sagittarius
We have talked a lot about who sagittarius is and how sagittarius can affect you and benefit you. Now let’s list all the topics to consider that correspond to the full Moon in Sagittarius. Keep in mind that the full Moon relates to the continuation of your journey to manifest your desires and dreams. To release all the things that no longer serve us and create blockage to our manifesting. It is the time to really truly nurture the seeds of intention you had planted during the new moon so, they can bloom and thrive. So, try and have any of your workings based on these topics be grounded in those seeds of intention you had planted on the new moon.
Expansion
Freedom
Education
Independence
Travel
Adventure
Optimism
Athleticism
Humor
Spontaneity
Intelligence
Enthusiasm
Honesty
Exploration
The Outdoors
Searching
Questioning
Restlessness
Ambition
Generosity
Challenges
Higher Learning
Entertainment
Congeniality
Things To Look Out For With Sagittarius
Since Sagittarius is the sign that rules our beliefs and we can get really passionate about that. This can lead to fights if we don’t keep an open mind with others in our lives. So, we need to make sure we’re listening properly. If we are, this can improve communications and we can feel more understood. With sagittarius also being the happy sign of the zodiac we need to be careful that we don’t get too lost in feeling happy that we choose to not face reality and end up making situations worse than they need to be.
Sagittarius And Its Connection To Chiron
In astrology, the Sagittarius sign is represented by a centaur named Chiron holding a bow and arrow. Because of this, It is also sometimes called the archer sign.
First, what is a Centaur? Centaur’s were creatures in Greek Mythology that had the upper body of a human man and the lower body, including all four hooves, of a horse. Many Centaurs were wild and boisterous creatures known to allow their animal nature to have control. The Centaur is a great representation for Sagittarius because of it’s balance between the passionate, wild animal nature and the soul searching, purpose driven nature of humans. The most famous Centaur Chiron, from later Greek Mythology, was known to be a wise man and a healer. In Greek Mythology, it was Chiron who taught humanity the constellations. That’s huge. Chiron is our celestial teacher. On top of that, Many well known Greek gods and goddesses looked to him for spiritual advice, all of this is why he became associated with the sign Sagittarius. To learn more about his tragic story from beginning to end, who he is, and how the wounded healer can help you heal; you can read about him in my previous blog post here.
The Flower Moon
The May full moon is also called the Flower Moon for pretty obvious reasons. As we make our way towards summer, the trees and bushes seem to overflow with blooms. The name comes from the Algonquin tribes of what is now the northeastern United States, who called it the Flower Moon because of the abundant flowers that bloom at this time of year. While all full moons can be a time of great potential and magic, witches and spiritual teachers around the world often cite the Full Flower Moon as one of the most powerful. As Mother Earth is now in full spring bloom, this is a potent time for manifestation, intention setting, and new possibilities.
Sagittarius And Duality
Since, I am a grey witch every single energy I work with I look for the duality in that energy and how I can connect to it. This includes the full moon and the energy of the zodiac sign it currently is in. First, the full moon itself is all about duality as it is another time of transformation, transition, and rebirth. During this time we are pushed into a liminal space that forces us to look at the things, people, and places that have been obstacles or holding us back. This can be a thing of beauty and hope as well as a thing of pain and darkness which forces us into duality. Second, the energy of Sagittarius many would think is all just a positive, jovial, and optimistic energy. But, sagittarius is also about adventure and expansion which isn’t always a happy, optimistic thing. In order to actually truly go on an adventure we have to let go of any fear, and expectations, to allow us to just aimlessly wander, be present and experience the adventure. To let go of fears and expectations we must first acknowledge them which can be a rough and fiery thing for us do.
Correspondences For Sagittarius
First, what is a correspondence? A correspondence is an item or symbol that is meant to connect you to a specific energy thru it’s representation. It is seen also as an item to respect, honor, and venerate that energy as well whether it be a deity, an archetype energy , or the zodiac energy the moon is currently in like I will list below for you to use.
Stones/crystals- turquoise, topaz, sapphire, amethyst, diamond, citrine, lapis lazuli, blue agate, labradorite, smokey quartz, malachite, black obsidian,
Metal-Tin
Deities- Kali, Flora, Pan, Cerrenous, Bast, Venus, Artemis, Lord Vishnu, Crotus, Dionysus, Athena, Pele, Diana, Apollo, Zeus
tarot- temperance
Ruling House- 9th
How To Connect To The Sagittarius Full Moon
Now, that we have talked about the themes of this adventurous, expansive, visionary, idealistic and freeing Sagittarius full moon and how it is going to affect you let’s talk about how you can specifically connect to and work with this moon.
With this moon there are certain spells and rituals that will help connect you to this moon in the most effective way. Remember these are just some of the many ideas, follow your intuition and the energy of this moon. You can find more ways to connect to the moon and more information on many of these forms of magic on my pinterest page here and my facebook here.
Shadow work based on adventure, our happiness, expansion, our current successes, our core beliefs. If you would like to learn more about shadow work you can purchase my eBook here; you can book me for a 1:1 session as your guide here; You can register for my upcoming 6 week workshop series starting June 19th on the topic here; you can watch my free class previously taught on it through Divination here.
Do things that allow you to feel joy maybe create an optimism spell jar
Make a simmer pot to bring in aventure, optimism, and expansion
Reflection Topics For Sagittarius Full Moon
Every full moon is a great time for reflecting on those seeds you had planted during the new moon and how they are doing now at the end of the lunar cycle and how you can celebrate your success and adjust the future for even greater success. Whether you do it thru meditation, shadow work, or divination like tarot; below is a list of prompts and topics to connect with the energy of the Sagittarius full moon.
What New adventure am I ready to take on?
What fears, or roadblocks are stopping me from taking a leap of faith anywhere in my life?
What successes have I had recently I need to celebrate?
What part of my authentic self do I need to express more?
Where does my soul want to adventure to?
What is your relationship like with purpose and your purpose?
What areas of your life do you need to open your mind and broaden your horizons?
What topic or thing does your soul want to learn and study about right now?
What areas or situations in my life do I need to be more optimistic about?
What aspects of my life do i desire to improve?
What are my biggest dreams? How can i get there?
What values and principles do i want my life to align with to live my dreams?
What actions am i willing to take to make my dreams come true?
How can i explore myself, my life, and the world around me better?
Where am i being to restrictive or excessive in my life that are hindering my dreams?
Full Moon Prayers or Affirmations
Some prayers or affirmations you can state with the full moon are:
I release all that does not serve my highest good. I illuminate the things blocking my path to my desires. I release all negative energy, feelings and thoughts that are not serving me. I release the belief that I am not worthy or capable of manifesting anything that I want. I call in the energy of the full moon to cleanse my field of anything that is not aligned with my higher purpose.
Full Moon Fire Release
One fun way to combine the energy of the full moon and the element of fire under this Sagittarius full moon is by doing a paper burning ritual.
Sit quietly for a few moments and reflect on the intentions you want to set and what you would like to release, for this full moon cycle. Answer these journal prompts:
Identify Limiting Beliefs
What beliefs do I hold about myself or my abilities that might be limiting my potential? Are there any negative thoughts that frequently come to mind when I think about achieving my goals?
Explore Past Experiences
Are there past experiences that still affect my confidence or decision-making today? What events in my life have shaped my self-image, and how might they be holding me back?
Examine Fears and Doubts
What fears come up when I consider pursuing my goals, and where do they come from? How do these fears manifest in my actions or inaction?
Next, simply write down what you want to release with the full moon based on the questions you just pondered.
Then, over a fire safe bowl or cauldron burn your paper with a lighter or the flame of a lit candle. As the flame overtakes your paper, observe the way it moves and meditate on your intention of releasing.
Dispose of the ashes by offering them to the earth, burying them, or pouring them into a stream of running water. Or you can keep them to make into black salt later! ( To learn how check out my facebook page) For added potency you can do this at bonfire as well!
Fire Gazing Ritual
Fire gazing is a powerful ritual that will connect you to the energy of Sagittarius with clarity and intention. It can be used as a form of meditation, contemplation, manifestation, or simply to clear the mind. Fire gazing involves looking into the flames of a fire and allowing yourself to connect with your inner wisdom. It can help you gain clarity on what you want to manifest in the coming months, and look at the successes you have to celebrate from past months. What you see in the flames will guide you through your journey. Fire gazing also helps to bring harmony and balance into your life, allowing you to stay connected with yourself and those around you. Additionally, it can be used as a form of meditation, allowing for deeper levels of concentration and relaxation.
Fire gazing is a practice which involves sitting in front of a fire or flame and contemplating or connecting with the force within the flames. Fire gazing rituals are meant to help open up an individual’s spiritual self, allowing them to tap into powerful inner knowledge. It is believed to aid in elevating energy levels, calming the mind and putting oneself in a trance-like state.
Fire gazing is a form of meditation, but with an added layer of intensity. By allowing yourself to be fully present and concentrate on the flame of a fire, you are able to drift off from your physical reality, discover hidden parts of your soul and draw in inspiration from the otherworldly realm. Fire gazing can be an effective tool for connecting with one’s inner divinity, providing moments of peace in noisy environments and releasing negativity and guilt.
How to do fire gazing
First get yourself into sacred container and set up whatever form of a flame you are using whether it be a candle, fireplace, or bonfire. While setting up your source of fire and flame focus on the intention and goal you have for this fire gazing session.
Next, you should focus your attention on the natural light of the fire and allow yourself to enter into an altered state of consciousness as you gaze into the flames while engaging in rhythmic breathing techniques like boxed breathing for example.
Once you feel your attention is focused on the light of the flames. Then, you can relax yourself and stare into the flames. Allow your intuition and mind’s eye to find images and omens, and allow yourself to be open to the messages that come through.
You can also energetically toss your worries from the past month into the flame, letting them burn away and be released.
Intention setting Ritual To honor May’s Sagittarius Full Moon
This ritual can be used to get yourself into sacred container under the silvery illuminating rays of the moon. It will allow you to bring in intentions of adventure, optimism, expansion, learning, expression, authenticity, and purpose in your life. And also allow you to release any blockages not allowing you to take the leap of faith you need in your life under this sagittarius full moon.
Set up a sacred container: Find a quiet, outdoor location where you can be undisturbed. Create a sacred container by setting up a small altar with candles, crystals, and other objects that correspondence with the sign of Sagittarius.
Ground and center: Take a few deep breaths and allow yourself to connect with the energy of the earth. Visualize roots growing down from your feet and into the earth, grounding you and centering your energy.
Cast a circle: Cast a magic circle and invite the spirits of the earth, air, fire, and water to join you in your ritual. You can also include any other entities you would like to work with like the energy of Sagittarius and deities connected to the month of May.
Offer gratitude: Take time to reflect on the blessings in your life, and offer thanks to the divine forces that have brought abundance and prosperity into your world.
Set intentions: Use the energy of the Full Moon to set intentions for adventure, optimism, expansion, learning, expression, authenticity, and purpose in your life. Write down your intentions on a piece of paper and offer them to the Moon, or speak them aloud, allowing the energy of the Full Moon to amplify your intentions.
Release negativity: Take a moment to release any negative thoughts or emotions that may be holding you back. Visualize them leaving your body and being absorbed by the earth, allowing yourself to feel lighter and more free.
Dance and celebrate: Move your body in celebration of the Full Moon and all of your current and past successes, allowing yourself to connect with the energy of the universe and express your gratitude and joy.
Close the ritual: Thank the spirits for their presence and guidance, and close your ritual and circle with a prayer or other words of gratitude.
Conclusion
However you choose to work with, connect to, or celebrate, the full moon in the adventurous, expansive, visionary, idealistic and freeing sign of Sagittarius. Follow your intuition, and adventurous spirit to guide you the rest of this lunar cycle to finish growing your seeds of manifestation. Under the sagittarius full moon your fears,doubt, and obstacles will be released in a fiery burst of optimism, expansion, and adventure. Listen to the arrow of the archer and shoot forward the rest of this lunar cycle into new projects, new studies, and adventure to new places.
Don’t forget to make preparations for your full moon hangover you may experience after this lumination. If you don’t know what a full moon hangover is or how to deal with one you can read all about it in my previous blog post here!
The rain falls, the thunder rolls, the lightning strikes and then out comes the sun to shine. Bringing with it an arch of colorful delight a sight that humans have been charmed by for a long time; a rainbow. The rainbow is a sign of a wish and pledge, reminding us of the magic of kindness and blessings. The rainbow is the visible sign of the transportation of messages from Olympus to Earth, uniting immortality and humanity; the divine and the mortals. The radiant colors paint magnificent arcs of light, astonishing the world as the trials left behind from the celestial wings of the elegant messenger goddess of the Greek gods; Iris.
Iris, is the Greek Goddess of the Rainbow and Messenger of the Gods, and she has an important place in Greek mythology. Known for her vivid look and elegant presence, Iris is the divine connection between gods and mortals. But Iris is more than a messenger. She symbolizes the radiance, brilliance, and enchantment of rainbows, a sight that humans have been charmed by for a long time. Iris is different from other goddesses. Other gods sometimes meddle with human affairs out of fun or interest. But Iris is devoted to her mission. She shows loyalty and adherence to duty, never stopping in her mission to keep communication between Olympus and Earth open.
Let’s fly across the skies following the arch of the iridescent rainbow and discover the significance and impact of Iris’ divine message delivery and uncover the mystical bond she shares with the vibrant and awe-inspiring phenomenon of rainbows. Ride the rainbow with myself and Iris; bridging the worlds between the mortals and the divine and learn all about the Greek messenger goddess of rainbows, blessings, wishes, and communication together in this blog post
The Symbolism Of The Rainbow
Before we fly across the skies with Iris leaving behind us the enchanting and arching trail that is the rainbow. Let’s first briefly talk about what a rainbow symbolizes and means especially to the ancient Greeks; to help us understand who Iris is as we fly with her. The rainbow isn’t just a beautiful natural phenomenon; in Greek mythology and culture, it’s a symbol of hope, communication, and the link between heaven and earth. Since the rainbow appears to bridge the gap between the heavens and the ground a rainbow acts as a conduit between the divine and the human realm. They represent the bridge between divine and human realms, facilitating communication and bringing down the divine decrees to the mortals mostly from Zeus and Hera. The lively rainbow symbolizes Iris’s presence, bringing hope, along with better communication and understanding between different realms.
Who Is Iris?
Iris is a well-known figure in Greek Mythology. She symbolizes the rainbow and is the Greek goddess who served as a messenger for the Olympian deities. Even though she is most well known as the goddess of rainbows and messenger to the gods; she is also known as a goddess of the sea and sky. In some regions she is depicted as a virgin goddess and was believed by the coastal-dwelling Greeks to replenish the rain clouds with water from the sea. She was often described as Hera’s personal messenger and one of her handmaidens.
According to homer who writes about her in the Iliad; Iris was a pleasant goddess who acted as a bridge between the gods and mortals. She served as a messenger from the gods on Olympus and brought news from the summit until Hermes, eventually took her place. After that she continued to serve the gods on olympus by serving them nectar.
She is often depicted with wings of gold; resembling those of a butterfly and pitcher, some myths said Iris filled her pitcher with water from the River Styx – a mysterious body of water that serves as a symbolic boundary between our world and the hereafter. It is known as the river we cross ferried by charon in hades to get to our eternal destination. This is one reason Iris is closely connected to water, and another way she is seen acting as a bridge between other realms and earth.
Ancient Greece saw Iris as a revered deity, the messenger of gods. The Greek goddess Iris is believed to have helped answer people’s prayers as well as been associated with messages, communication, and new ventures. She either alerted the other gods about their needs or met those needs herself.
The Greeks believed that rainbows were created by Iris when she descended from Mount Olympus. They considered rainbows to be a sign of goodwill from the gods and a blessing for those who witness it. She was seen as the link between heaven and earth, and the rainbow-hued presence was thought to bring good health and favor from the gods.
Aside from her fundamental roles as a messenger & bridge between worlds, it’s worth knowing that Iris also has significance in Greek marriage rituals. Her delicate presence during these ceremonies is a lucky sign, blessing couples with love, joy, and oneness. This lesser-known detail adds more depth to Iris’ character and shows the multi-faceted nature of this mesmerizing goddess.
Iris: The Divine Messenger
When it comes to delivering messages among the gods or between gods and humans, Iris is your go-to deity. With her golden wings, she zips across the sky, serving Zeus and Hera as their loyal messenger. Delivering the divine will of Zeus and Hera, she didn’t just pass along messages. She helped guide the gods’ decisions by smoothly communicating across the pantheon. Her role was critical, connecting the divine with mortals, ensuring the gods remained in loop with human affairs. When mortals saw a rainbow, they knew Iris was reminding them of her presence, bridging the gap between humans and gods with her beautiful hues. The rainbow, created by Iris, wasn’t just eye candy either. It was a literal bridge between the divine and mortal realms. This rainbow bridge was no ordinary phenomenon; it was a reminder of Iris’s power and her unique role as a liaison.
While Hermes is the better known messenger to the gods today, Iris used to be the main form of communication between the gods and mortals and the gods themselves. During this time, Hermes was given a much smaller role of guide or guardian. Despite many stories where Iris is the main focus somewhere between The Iliad being published and The Odyssey there was a switch between the two messengers as Hermes became the main focus and Iris was left to the footnotes or just never mentioned again.
Later poets attempted to split Hermes and Iris’ roles in the pantheon, with Hermes serving as a messenger to Zeus and the other gods while Iris became Hera’s devoted servant. The Greek polymath Callimachus from the third century BC likens Iris to a hunting hound of Hera. He said that the goddess was ever there on Hera’s throne, ears perked up to hear her commands which is when you start to see her referenced more as Hera’s handmaiden. You see an example of her carrying out Hera’s wishes; In Euripides’ “Heracles.” Iris acts on Hera’s behalf by ordering Lyssa, the spirit of frenzy and wild fury, to drive Heracles mad so that he will kill his sons. Iris is also Hera’s messenger in Virgil’s “Aeneid.”
Iris A Goddess Of Transformation And Hope
Iris also represents transformation. Just like rainbows, she stands for the power that can arise from hardship. She has a role as a bringer of hope and change. Her messages from the gods bring hope and resolution. Even today, we speak of finding a silver lining or looking for the rainbow after the storm to inspire hope and change. Iris stands as a reminder that, even during tough times, there is potential for new beginnings.
Iris And Duality
Since I am a grey witch and live in the liminal spaces every single deity I work with I look for how they can connect to duality. How do they represent the universal concept of duality that every being is meant to achieve in the universe.
With a Goddess like Iris who is the personification of rainbows you might think there is no way she can be a goddess of duality. Rainbows; like we talked about are symbol of hope which many would consider simply a light or positive thing. But, is it really? When are we looking for hope? Usually, when we are in the pits of despair, times are tough or we need a new beginning and fresh start. Which is where we get the sense of duality in hope. Hope is the opposite energy we are reaching for to balance out of despair. So, if she is showing up to be a symbol of hope for you chances are she is the energy and force that is finally tipping you into a sense of duality and balance in your life and current circumstances.
With hope usually comes transformation which itself is a very dualistic process and thing. Involving a death, shedding, and releasing along with a growth, birth, and intention. Transformation is all about getting ourselves to the next phase or stage and we do that through change by bringing ourselves to balance and using all the energies we have available to us. So, as a goddess of transformation and hope Iris herself can be seen as a representation of duality.
Her role as a messenger not only between realms, but between the gods themselves screams being a goddess of duality. Iris connects different realms with her divine presence which creates a liminal space of duality itself. Being a messenger between realms allows her access to a duality most deities may not understand. It creates a deeper connection to mortals and an understanding since she spends so much time zipping around among us. It also gives her an understanding of the duality in the differences and similarities between the gods and mortals.
Also, being a messenger among the gods requires the ability to be diplomatic and create balance amongst the gods. In order to do this she has to be able to see things from many sides and be able to find an answer that creates balance and harmony amongst them.
Lastly, you see her connection to duality in the rainbow itself which she personifies and uses for her travels. A rainbows appear due to rain and sunlight; two necessary elements. The rainbow itself creates a link between two elements which is a dualistic energy itself.
Iris And Her Diverse Family
As we fly deeper into the world of Greek mythology, Iris’s connections reveal a great deal about her character. Her family and allies include some of the most powerful and important figures in the pantheon, showing just how integral she is to the divine workings of Mount Olympus. As with almost every single pagan deity their is debate among scholars, archeologists, and historians when it comes to her parentage, origin and family. I will do my best to mention all the differences I have been able to find for her here.
Her parents where Thaumas, a marine/ocean god, and Elektra, a cloud nymph/ Oceanid and this seems to be a fact that is mostly agreed upon. This makes her part of a fascinating lineage, with her father representing the wonders of the sea and her mother the brightness of the clouds. It’s easy to see where Iris gets her radiant beauty and swift nature from. I did find a few sources claiming she was Born from the sea foam caused by Uranus’ castration as well.
When it comes to the rest of the gods she is said to be related too, she finds herself amongst a very powerful and diverse family putting Iris in a unique spot, throwing her right in the middle of earthly and divine events. Some sources claim she is a sister to powerful gods like Zeus, Hera & Poseidon even. Many sources also say that Iris had sisters; the Harpies Ocypete, Aello, and Celaeno and these women are wild – part woman, part bird, and totally fearsome. I’ll do a blogpost in the future on them and how to work with them.
Even though a few sources claim them to be siblings most agree; Iris was married to Zephyrus, the god of the west wind. He’s the gentlest of winds, bringing spring and early summer showers to people. The couple had a son, a minor god named Pothos. Pothos is the God of sexual longing, yearning, and desire and was one of the winged love gods. Does he sound familiar? He should because, some sources state that their son’s name was actually Eros.
Some believe Iris is the sister of Arke as well, a Titaness who betrayed the Olympian gods and became a messenger goddess for the Titans instead. As a result, Iris and Arke were mortal enemies. Ancient records even claim that Iris is the fraternal twin of Arke. Her many powerful and diverse connections highlight her importance and versatile role among the gods.
Myths And Stories Involving Iris
Iris’s involvement in Greek myths and stories showcases her importance as a divine messenger and her role in the divine scheme of things. Let’s land on the ground and look into some specifics. Multiple Greek tales feature Iris, she was even present in during the Titanomachy. She was an early supporter of the Olympians, including Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon. During the Titanomachy, her job was to relay messages between Zeus, the Hecatonchires, and the Cyclopes.
Iris is seen in many other classic myths and stories such as The Iliad and Virgil. In the Iliad she is the only god relaying messages for Zeus and Hera to the other gods and mortals. She is the one who was sent to inform Priam of Zeus’s decision concerning his son’s body and who informed Menelaus of Helen’s abduction. Homer frequently alludes to Iris’s appearance during the Trojan War. The most crucial thing she performed was returning a wounded Aphrodite to Olympus following Diomedes. These were all small but rather vital roles in the story of the Iliad and the war. Possibly her largest role in the story, however, is when she autonomously granted Achilles’ prayer and summoned the winds to ignite his lover Patroclus funeral pyre.
You see her flying in again with Jason and the Argonauts. Before Jason and the Argonauts could save the blind seer Phineus from the Harpies’ wrath, Iris appeared to him. Since the Harpies were her sisters, she begged Jason to spare them, and the Boreads did not kill them but instead drove them away.
She is also briefly flies by in some versions of the story of The Exile of Demeter (or as it’s commonly known as the story of The Abduction of Persephone) where Zeus sent Iris to call the self imposed exiled Goddess Demeter back to Olympus after the abduction of Persephone. In this story you see Iris being pivotal to the return of spring for mortals; bringing hope and messages of renewal to humanity.
Iris played one of the key roles, in the myth of the Twin Gods birth, Apollo and Artemis. In Callimachus she is described as being one of Hera’s messengers, along with Ares, to threaten the cities from receiving Leto in the hopes that the other Goddess would be left with no one to deliver her children. Iris then reported the birth of the children to Hera and told her there was nothing more to do and went to sleep leaning upon Hera’s throne, incurring the wrath of her mistress.
It’s even said that a time of chaos existed in Mount Olympus once. Feeling the need for peace and equilibrium, Iris took it upon herself to mediate between Hera’s rage and Zeus’ authority. With her soothing words and divine grace, she brought calmness back to their heavenly realm. This story displays not only her diplomatic abilities but also her essential part in keeping balance and harmony among the gods. It shows her role not only as a messenger between the deities and the mortals but, also her role as a messenger across the pantheon as well.
Worship Of Iris
The only recorded cult of Iris was on “Hecate’s Island” close to Delos where her worshippers would make offerings of cheesecake. She was also tasked with travelling to hades to collect water to be used in sacred oaths. She has also generally been associated with the themes of winter, peace, protection, air, meditation, promises, and beginnings. She is often seen as representing hope and the calms after the storm.
The Awe-Inspiring Appearance of Iris
The ancient Greeks often ranked Iris as one of their most attractive goddesses. The goddess Iris often takes the form of a rainbow or a lovely young woman with wings. Her wings are either depicted as being gold or irredescendent like a rainbow. Mythology says her wings were so brilliant and magnificent that they could illuminate even the deepest cave. Iris’s moods are said to be reflected in her hair color. Her hair is wavy, her eyes are a light purple color, and she wears rainbow earrings. Her ethereal beauty mesmerizes all who encounter her. Once upon a time, it was said that this rainbow incarnate connected the clouds to the ground below.
Greek art also often depicts Iris as a beautiful young woman with golden wings, a water pitcher (oinochoe) or a caduceus. The caduceus, which is a symbol of heralds and messengers. The caduceus is a winged staff with two snakes intertwined around it and is also associated with Hermes, the messenger god. Sometimes, she would serve nectar from her jug while standing next to Zeus or Hera in the artwork.
Abilities And Powers Of Iris
Iris is a radiant young goddess whose main power is that of flight. The goddess Iris’s speed is so phenomenal that she can quickly get from Olympus to Earth or even to Hades. The ancient Greeks called her “swift-footed,” which implies that she could act quickly in response to demands. To get about, it’s said Iris rides the rainbows while other stories say she leaves the rainbows behind as a trail from her wings or her rainbow iridescent coat you can see her sometimes wearing. It’s said her wings allow her to soar to any part of the cosmos, as well as reach the bottom of the deepest waters. She can also travel to the depths of the Underworld (hades) much more quickly than any other deity including Hermes.
Iris is known to be able to change shape to fit any situation or environment during her missions. She can become a mortal, animals or even objects. This skill helps her blend into her surroundings while fulfilling her role as a mediator. Iris also has a special talent; she can manipulate light and colors! Rainbows’ beauty comes from light’s bending and dispersion. Similarly, Iris can manipulate light with her powers. As the embodiment of rainbows, she can infuse them with energy and communicate through their hues. The rainbow arcs convey emotions that words cannot express. In addition to this, Iris also has the power to control the size and intensity of rainbows by altering the moisture in the air or the angle of sunlight.
Correspondences To Connect To Iris
First, what is a correspondence? A correspondence is an item or symbol that is meant to connect you to a specific energy thru it’s representation. It is seen also as an item to respect, honor, and venerate that energy as well whether it be an archetype energy , or the zodiac energy the moon is currently, or a deity, like I will list below for you to use.
Planet- Earth and Sun and Venus
Animal- all birds, butterflies,
Element- Air and Water
Sex- Feminine
Symbol- Rainbow, Wings (golden or iridescent), pitcher, bridge, the sea, the skies, clouds, Caduceus, Sunlight, Raindrops, letters, feathers, postcards/ letters
colors- All of the colors, the entire rainbow, black, white, pink, brown
Themes- Hope, transformation, blessings, wishes, communication, renewal, bridges, rainbows, the gap between realms, travel, change, knowledge, balance, harmony, peace, the sea, the skies, serving others, repairing relationships, resolving conflict, diplomacy, speed, swiftness, messages
Chakra-All of them, Root, Womb, Belly, Heart, Throat,Third Eye and Crown
Foods- figs, cakes, wheat, honey, cheesecake, milk with cinnamon
Tarot card- Temperance
Why Work With The Goddess Iris?
Iris is a alluring goddess to work with and she has the ability to bring about so much change, hope, and connection when her rainbow arches across the skies of your life. She represents hope, vitality and the power of colorful communication with the Divine. When you choose to work with her in your life, and magical practices she brings you Harmony, balance, peace, happiness, Glad tidings, and color into your life. You can call on her to ask her to carry your hopes, dreams, wishes, and intentions to the heavens and your messages to the gods.
How To Know Iris Is Calling To Work With You
The call of Iris, the rainbow goddess, and messenger of the gods, may be easy and obvious to spot by seeing her rainbow dancing across the sky calling to you. Life can be busy, but if you’ve been witness to several instances of a rainbow’s arrival or a beautiful sky with cotton clouds, pay attention. Iris may be tapping you to work with her. Other things to keep an eye out for is if you see rainbows in media all around you, or they pop up in your dreams or meditations. If you feel your clares and psychic abilities tugging at you, or an unexpected need to reach out and communicate to someone else especially if you have lost contact with them. Follow where her rainbow leads you to a place of hope and mended communication.
Ways To Work With and Connect To Iris
Everyone’s relationship with deities is different and we all work with and believe in them differently. You might believe in multiple gods and goddesses and work with them each as though they are close, personal friends. Or maybe you believe the old gods are reflections of Universal energy and simply archetype energies that you can learn a lesson from. However you incorporate deities in your practice is up to you. If you need help to figure this out you can purchase my eBook here on the Introduction to working with pagan deities.
But here are some ideas to get you started on ways to work with Iris. Remember; it’s important to approach her with respect, reverence, gratitude and by building a relationship with her. Every time you work with a deity it is an even energetic exchange; which means what you put into your intention when working with them and building your relationship to them is what you get back.
Study, get to know her
As with every deity I have ever written about or taught about, The first way to get to know a deity, specifically a goddess like Iris is to study all you can about her. I’ll be honest finding information on her can be a little scarce but, you can start by going back to the mythology section of this blog and go read and the myths and stories she is in like; the Iliad and the story of the Trojan war. Learn about other deities she has close relationships to like Hera, Zeus, Persephone and her Husband Zephyrus. Learn about her sister the harpies. Study the culture, region, and worship of the people of Greece where she is from. The more you study and learn the better! When working with a deity it is all about building a true relationship with them and you do this first by getting to know who they are.
Connect with the Rainbow
Iris is the goddess of the rainbow and some even say the literal personification of the rainbow. So, what better way to work with her than to connect to the rainbow in your life and magical practices. There are so many ways to do this. You can add it to your life in your wardrobe with color magic, you can go cloud gazing, look for the rainbow after the rain, add the rainbow to your altar, smile and wave at rainbows, or use a hose to create one. You can also contemplate bridges between different aspects of life after it rains.
Communication Spells and Rituals
One of Iris’ key roles is to be the messenger of the gods and for the gods. This makes her one of the best if not the best deity to call on when you are doing any communication spells or rituals. She can help you in spells that have to do with creating clear communication, rekindling a lost friendship or relationship, sending messages to others, resolving conflict with another due to communication, and communicating your wishes and desires to another.
Be of Service to Others
Iris not only fills the role of the messenger but, if you look at many of the stories where you see her she is doing things in service to others. Iris really serves to embody the archetype of the servant within the greek gods. She steps up for the gods when there is chaos to serve them as a diplomat and keep peace. She serves both the gods and mortals facilitating messages between the two. And even after Hermes steps in as the primary messenger of the gods she continues to serve them on Mount Olympus serving them nectar, settling disputes, and serving as a handmaiden for Queen Hera especially. So, a great way to work with her and connect with her is by finding a way to be of service to others in your family, life, and community.
Dedicate Altar Space
Set aside some space in honor of Iris. This can be an elaborate large altar or as simple as a small shelf or corner of a counter. Place a representation of Iris there; be sure to cleanse the space before you invite her in. Include all of her colors, her symbols, and representations of rainbows and the sun, the clouds and any of her other correspondences you can use to connect to her. This will be a space that reminds you to connect with her and her energy. To bring you hope, and be a bridge to communicate with the gods. To learn more about altars and how to work with them in your practice you can read about it here in my study guide on my previous class taught on the topic; https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cY9IKfLJgV-YBI76DCAtPAuwC6tSXdzh/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=107019596187888016346&rtpof=true&sd=true
Offerings
Everyone loves receiving gifts, and that includes deities like Iris. You don’t have to give her offerings every day, but when you feel it is appropriate. You can place these offerings at your altar or on a window sill in your home dedicated to her where light will be shining in. You can also give her offerings when performing any work to connect to her like meditation, prayer, and visualization.
The best offerings for Iris include:
Cheesecake
Dried figs
Honey cakes
Collected sea water or rainwater
Colorful art
Notes of positivity and hope
A rainbow suncatcher
Rainbow Quartz
Iris flowers
milk with cinnamon
prisms
Stained glass art
Use Rainbow Suncatchers
Find a rainbow suncatcher and hang it in a window today to let Iris’s light brighten your home and give you a reason to feel optimistic. Buy a second one to keep you energized all day long, so you can bring it with you or have it in your car.
Place a Rainbow Crystal in the Window
Iris is also known for her healing colors. Some say that you can bring Goddess Iris into your house by placing crystal in a kitchen window or one that catches the sun to cast an array of rainbow-tinted lights and spots in your house. It will be more potent and powerful if you use a crystal or stone that is iridescent or rainbow in colors. Like opal, rainbow quartz, moonstone, etc.
Plant or work with the flower Iris
The goddess would send messages from heaven to earth on the arc of a rainbow, and she was also know to be a companion to female souls on their way to heaven. Because of this, Greeks will plant purple irises on women’s graves to help guide them to their final resting place in heaven. So, why not go and do the same at your local cemetery or add some to your flower garden and yard today to connect with Iris.
Use a Mirror to Create a Rainbow and Mirror Magic
Use a mirror to create a rainbow in your home, your sacred container or at your altar. You can then use that rainbow and mirror as an anchor and intention amplifier in mirror magic for protection, manifestation, and amplification of all other spellwork. To learn how to do mirror magic and add it to your life and magical practices you can watch my previous class taught with Divination Academy here, and read about it in my guide here.
Call on Iris and The Rainbow For Abundance
It might seem like an unusual thing to call on Iris for abundance. I honestly haven’t found it anywhere else that others work with this energy with her. But, for me it seemed pretty obvious. Iris is the deity that personifies the rainbow which symbolizes hope and wishes coming true. What does that sound like to you? For me it sounds like another way to say abundance. Plus we have the legend of there being pots of gold aka wealth at the end of those rainbows she rides on as well. So, use her like I have when working with the energy of abundance by bringing in the wish fulfillment of the rainbow. To learn more about how to work with the energy and magic of abundance you can read my extensive guide here.
Meditation, visualization and Dream work
One of the best ways to channel divine energy and tap into goddesses like Iris is through meditation, visualization and dreaming. These practices allow you to open up and receive/ connect to divine energy in a very intuitive, clear, and transformative way. You will find a plethora of guided meditations on YouTube that will lead you to your spirit guide or god/goddess.. Try those if you have a hard time meditating on your own. I have many classes on youtube as well on previous deities you can watch where I even summon and guide you to them in sacred container. In addition, ask Iris to visit you in your dreams and teach you lessons that you currently need to learn. Then record every encounter with her in your journal, book of shadows, or grimoire.
Prayers
One very powerful way to connect to a deity is through prayer. Things to Pray for: your messages to be delivered, better communication, positive new endeavors, receiving messages, aided communications/messages to your deities, rain, luck, rainbows, safe travels on water or flight, hope, help with struggles.
Goddess Iris,messenger of the Gods and Goddesses, hear my prayer. Grant me peace and harmony helping me cope with all that comes my way. Give me patience and temperance in all things I do.
Goddess Iris hear my plea Across the air And through the sea. I am in need of your sweet blessings, Energies and healings bring to me. Goddess Iris I give thanks to thee. As I will it so it be.
Shadow work
Just like with every other deity I have ever written or taught about shadow work is a phenomenal way to connect to and work with the goddess Iris. When doing shadow work with her you are going to want to focus on topics like areas you need to feel more hope or things that have made you feel hopeful before. Other topics to focus on with your shadow work and her will revolve around communication. You can focus on topics like how to communicate better with others, your communication patterns, resolving conflicts, how others communicate with you and relationships in your life that may need to be mended. When working with Iris during shadow work she has this ability to open her iridescent wings and illuminate the caverns of your soul and show you things that may have not been able to glimmer and you notice before.
Create a painting with a wide variety of vivid colors.
Try to get a glimpse of the rainbow reflected in the water while you tend to the plants outside.
Get some fresh air and take pleasure in the rain.
Listen to music that brings about a sense of serenity and revitalization within you.
Spend a day at the beach.
Go cloud gazing.
Decorate your room or workspace with fairy lights; extra points if you can find them in rainbow colors.
When someone needs a break, you should offer to run some errands for them.
Get yourself a sweet beverage, either hot or cooled.
Spend some time in the fresh air doing nothing in particular.
Gather the feathers that have an iridescent sheen to them.
Send a text message to people you’ve been meaning to get in touch with but keep forgetting about it.
Experiment with a different color of makeup.
Give your space (or rooms) a fresh coat of paint.
Always treat your interns and assistants with respect!
Take a look at the night sky and the stars; there are more colors in just two things than you are ever going to be able to see.
When you see a rainbow, be sure to capture it on camera.
Wear more glitter and sparkles.
Every time you see a rainbow, say thank you to Iris.
Ritual To Call on Iris and The Rainbow For Healing
Use this ritual to call on her for healing and energy throughout your entire energetic system. Let her vibrant rainbow colors soar into and through yourself, feeling the balance, healing and calmness she brings to each pocket of energy or chakra in your body. To do the ritual you will need to have an understanding of chakras, energy, your inner temple, and know how to cast a circle. If you need help with any of these skills you can click the links to learn more.
What you will need:
7 candles (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet one for each of the rainbow colors) and a cup or chalice of water.
How to do it:
First, light your candles in a circle with your cup of water in the middle.
Next, Start by getting into a meditative state and entering your sacred container. After this, Cast a magic Circle.
Next, invoke Goddess Iris be reciting below: Goddess Iris come to me Flying across the sky so swift and free. Leaving a trail of wondrous colors. Goddess Iris I am calling Thee To enter within my Circle Blessing and Healing Me.
Once you feel the rush of her presence in the circle. Ask for Goddess Iris’ Healing and Balance
Next, Sit or lie down Meditate and envision taking in each color of her rainbow into the corresponding Chakra: Feel her iridescent and illuminating energy entering each one of your chakras with vibrant, swift, hopeful energy.Moving through the Root, Womb, Belly, Heart, Throat,Third Eye and Crown. Let her vibrant rainbow colors soar into and through your own being, feeling the balance, healing and calmness she brings to each. Let the Brilliant iridescent Light flow through from the Crown to the Third Eye spiraling down the spine to each Chakra, balancing and replenishing your energy in every extremity of your body.
Thank Goddess Iris for bringing her healing colors to you and through you as you take your cup of water and drink the water.
Finish the ritual by closing your circle, giving thanks, blowing out your candles and taking note of anything that you need to remember from this ritual and experience.
Conclusion
Iris is more than just a messenger. She is a symbol of hope and renewal, often appearing at important moments to give solace or guidance. She intervenes in crucial events, using her charm to ensure justice and balance prevail. Let us appreciate Iris – a captivating figure of beauty and profound significance.
The Greeks said that while the goddess Iris was on her journey, she created the rainbow to bring beauty to the world. In the same way, when confronted with challenges in life, we need to keep our eyes peeled for the rainbow and try to look on the bright side of things no matter how dire the circumstances are.
Iris can show you how to make rainbows out of a storm. If you’re feeling that things aren’t going your way, maybe you need to take action (magickally or physically) to change your circumstances. Iris can help you figure out when and how to do this. Enjoy flying through the skies with Iris riding the rainbow bridging yourself to hope, the gods, and other realms.
The basis of life is in the five elements. We only live and survive because of earth, air, fire, water, and spirit. The earth is beneath us, provides us shelter, stability, and nourishment. A place to call home. We breathe the air around us, it fills our lungs and our blood with life-giving oxygen. Fire gives us heat, protection, and helps us cook our food. And water? Well, we are made up of over 60% of this element and need it to survive, as well. Spirit is the magical fountain within each of us; our individual source. Within Spirit, all the basic four elements come together to work in harmony with one another. These elements are also the foundation of modern natural witchcraft.
As practitioners of magic, we understand the power and significance of the elements in our craft. Understanding the elements and their energies can help us deepen our connection with the natural world and enhance our magical abilities.
Let’s learn how to use this knowledge to enhance our magical practice and deepen our connection with the natural world. I’ll do a sequence of articles on each element. This one will serve as the introduction to the topic.
Before we begin
Before we begin, it is important to note that elemental magic is a complex form of magic that requires a deep understanding of the elements and their properties. It is essential to approach elemental magic with respect and caution. It is also important to note that this guide is intended to serve as a starting point for your elemental magic journey. It is not an exhaustive guide, and you should continue to research and learn about elemental magic as you practice it. It is also important to note that not all witches, and practitioners use the same correspondences for the elements. It can differ from person to person, practice to practice and from culture to culture.
What is Elemental Magic?
Elemental magic refers to the magic of the elements of nature: earth, air, fire, water, and spirit.. Spells and rituals will typically consist of using a single element most related to the goal of the caster. They may also contain more than one, even all of the elements like when using them to cast a magic circle, working with the watchtowers, or creating an altar. Most elemental magic requires only basic ingredients that can be found anywhere: bowls of water, stones, candles, and so on. This makes it perfect for learning the foundations of magic.
Energy
Before we dive into the elements themselves we have to touch on energy. Energy is the foundation of all elemental magic. The words and actions accompanying a spell are the least important part. The words and actions of the spell serve only to guide your focus on the energy involved.
There are huge stores of energy in your body. You will learn to tap into this energy when doing elemental magic and to transfer it. When a spell calls for you to inscribe a rune into the dirt, the physical motion’s purpose is to help you transfer your personal energy. There is also the energy already present in each element which we will discuss later.
Depending on your practice and your magical journey this may not be news to you but, for others it might be. There are more than 4 elements to work with, there are at least 5! If you started your path and journey in wicca or alchemy or have studied Chinese, Japanese, Buddhist, Greek, some Indigenous north american tribes,some African tribes , and Babylonian cultures this won’t be news to you. If it is new for you we will go over the most commonly used five elements in rituals and spells; earth, air, fire, water, and spirit aka ether.
Each of these five elements is a fundamental building block of the universe and symbolically represents the various stages or forms of matter. Each of these elements also has its own qualities and correspondences. In most if not all traditions, each element is associated with very specific correspondences and used in specific ways based on their nature.
The five elements are most often invoked during the consecration of a magic circle, or at the very beginning of a ritual. Each element is linked to a cardinal direction. As each element is called and welcomed into the circle it is termed ‘calling the quarters’. Calling the quarters can be simple or it can be dramatic, poetic, and complex. It can work in a theme such as the human body if it is a ritual for healing or it can be written to target a specific pantheon of gods and goddesses. The possibilities are endless! If you need to learn more about how to cast a magic circle or calling the quarters you can read all about here; https://modgepodgemystic.com/the-magic-of-casting-a-circle/ and watch my previous class on it below.
Let’s explore the characteristics, correspondences, and how to work with each element below.
Up First, EARTH
The earth element is powerful in so many ways. The earth is our planetary home. It is where all life abounds and is the source of our sustenance. The natural cycles of the earth are growth, harvest, decay, and regeneration. A myriad of topographical landscapes are found all over the earth complete with diverse flora and fauna. But the earth is not simply the living things that inhabit it. The earth consists of deep caves, reaching mountains, and dense forests.
Depending on the tradition and even the individual, earth’s magical properties will vary. When the earth element means growth and grounding to one person, it may mean death and psychic abilities to another. In Wicca and other western magical traditions, it is one of the 5 major elements from which all life is sustained. The earth is inherently our mother.
Earth embodies the embodiment of stability, grounding, and material abundance. It is the fertile soil that nurtures life, the mountains that rise with unwavering strength, and the foundation on which we build our spiritual journeys. Just as the Earth provides sustenance for all living beings, this element enables witches to manifest their desires, anchor their intentions, and connect with the physical world. It aligns us with the rhythms of nature and helps us find balance, resilience, and prosperity.
Earth is often connected with the practical aspects of life, including abundance, prosperity, physical health, and fertility. It influences our connection to the physical body and the material realm. Earth magic is especially potent for grounding and centering oneself, establishing boundaries, and bringing stability during times of chaos or emotional upheaval. By harnessing the Earth element’s energy, witches can create foundations for their intentions and manifest their desires in a tangible and grounded manner.
From a blade of grass to a mighty mountain, witches use the earth element in their magic and spiritual practice for many different purposes. In spell work, Earth is often used for grounding and centering, to make a spell stick, or to bring abundance and prosperity. So, sit with the element and follow your intuition to use the element in the way the best serves you.
Earth Folklore
When it comes to the Earth, much of the focus of our folklore focuses on how our planet was actually formed. These myths shed a great deal of light on our magical associations with the element Earth, especially in regards to rebirth, fertility, and death. The name Earth comes from the Norse goddess Jord, pronounces “yurdth,” who was a personification of Earth. While she is not an official goddess of the Norse pantheon as she was a jotnar, it is believed she coupled with Odin to bear a son known as Thor. Jord was believed to be the life force of the planet, causing trees to fruit and seeds to sprout at her touch, thus strongly associating her with fertility, birth, and new beginnings.
Her personification was adopted by a number of cultures across Europe and eventually became known as Mother Earth or Mother Nature. Greek Mythology has a similar goddess known as Gaia. According to Greek creation myths, Gaia (the Earth) emerged from Chaos. Without assistance, she bore Uranus the Sky who then fertilized her. From this union, the Titans were born of which the Gods and Goddesses were born. As such, Gaia is the personification of Earth, the mother of all life. In Roman mythology she is referred to as Terra, meaning Earth. In the babylonian myth earth is literally the great goddess Tiamat’s body split in half.
Similar myths can be found in every culture around the world, but they all have two things in common, the Earth is usually a feminine figure associated with birth and life.
Apart from creation myths, Earth also appears as the golem. According to Jewish folklore, a golem is an animated human-like creature made of mud and clay. Through ritual work, a creature could be brought to life using clay and mud to do the life-givers bidding. Some reports say to bring the golem to life, the Hebrew equivalent of the word “shem” was written on a piece of paper and placed in the golem’s mouth while other reports say “emet” which means truth was written on the forehead of the golem. To “kill” the golem the paper was removed or the last letter of the word truth was removed to turn the word into dead.
The rest of our Earth folklore focuses on ley lines, a grid of Earth energies that circle the globe that connect important sacred sites. In the British Isles, these lines were sometimes referred to as “fairy paths” and it was believed to be dangerous to walk along them for fear of being snatched by the fairies. In general, these lines not only connected sacred sites, but also certain hilltops in the countryside, and were liminal places between realms. We still view them as such today, recognizing the energy found among them is potent as well as liminal.
Earth Correspondences
First, what is a correspondence? A correspondence is an item or symbol that is meant to connect you to a specific energy thru it’s representation. It is seen also as an item to respect, honor, and venerate that energy as well whether it be a deity, an archetype energy , or to connect to an element like I will list below for you to use.
Gender: Feminine
Planet: Venus, Saturn
Time: Midnight
Season: Winter
Direction: North (although if the closest body of earth to you is a different direction, use that instead)
The earth element works in conjunction with all other elements to sustain life on this planet. In fact, it IS the planet. Think about how earth works with the others: earth feeds fire, requires water for growth, produces air (trees/plants) in conjunction with water. But can also suffocate fire and air and impede water. We live on the earth, our feet and homes planted in the soil, and grow our food in the earth. Without earth, we would not survive. Earth is nurturing, grounding, loving, growing, replenishing, moving, sowing, and reaping.
Ways to connect to Earth
If you are an earth zodiac sign, your most powerful magic will facilitate the earth element to make change. Earth magic doesn’t have to be complicated, unless you want it to be. Here are some easy ways to cast earth magic and harness the energy of the earth element:
growing and maintaining a magical garden
making herbal infusions and brews
burying spells i.e. witch’s bottles and jars
using different kinds of dirt and sand in your spells
Air, the element of wisdom, communication, reasoning, logic, and breath. It is the perfect element to work with during the fall months because this shifting of the seasons often requires us to look inward and assess our situation; to take a deep breath and let go of what no longer serves us; to communicate our truths.
The air element is powerful in so many ways. The air is felt through the breath, the skin, and the view of the swaying trees. It is movement in the purest form as the wind travels around the globe spreading seeds for life, changing the landscape of the earth, and allowing the creatures of the sky to move amongst us. The air holds clouds, birds, and the stars above us.
Air is a force that is both seen and unseen, carrying the energies of communication, intellect, inspiration, and transformation. Just as the wind whispers secrets through the trees, Air symbolizes the realm of thoughts, ideas, and the power of the mind. It holds the potential for clarity, mental agility, and the swift currents of change. By tapping into the essence of Air, witches can amplify their intellectual capacities, enhance their intuition, and facilitate the free flow of energy within their craft.
Air magic encompasses themes of intellect, communication, inspiration, and travel. It aids in enhancing mental clarity, fostering effective communication, and seeking truth and wisdom. By working with the Air element, witches can harness its energy to stimulate creativity, promote clear thinking, and invite swift transformation in their lives. It serves as a conduit for ideas to take flight and for intentions to be carried far and wide.
Depending on the tradition and even the individual, air magical properties will vary. When the air element means communication or activation to one person, it may mean emotions and abundance to another. From a gust of wind to a gentle exhale, witches use the air element in their magic and spiritual practice for many different purposes.
Air Folklore
Much of the folklore associated with Air encompasses weather magic and the wind itself. In Greek mythology, the Anemoi were the four winds, each of them corresponding to the four cardinal directions. They were the children of Eos, goddess of dawn, and Aeolus, Keeper of the Winds.
The first of the sons was Boreas, the god of the north wind and bringer of cold winter air. He is often depicted with a beard in a short, pleated tunic and said to have a violent temper. When Orithyia, a princess of Athens, refused to marry Boreas, he stole her away to marry her in the clouds where they later had two sons and two daughters together. From then on, Boreas was seen as a relative by marriage and they called upon him for protection when attacked by neighboring kingdoms. In 480 B.C. Boreas supposedly sank 400 Persian ships that threatened the Athenians.
The second son, Zephyrus or Zephyr, is the god of the west wind. He is the gentlest of the winds, blowing in Spring and warmer weather. Zephyrus appears in a number of stories, each one often depicting a different lover both male and female. His amorous relationships make him a fertility god, which makes sense since he is said to bring in Spring, the ultimate icon of fertility.
The god of the south wind, Notus, is associated with the hot, desiccating winds of Summer that blew in after the Summer Solstice. It was him that brought late summer storms, destroying crops in his wake.
And finally, there was Eurus, god of the east winds, who was believed to be responsible for the turbulent winds during storms at sea. Seafarers would often try to appease Eurus to ensure a safe trip and would place protection charms on their ships to ward off ill will.
In other traditions, Air is deeply associated with breath, the life-giver. In ancient Greece, this breath of life was referred to as pneuma, which later became translated into soul or spirit. I’ll address pneuma in more detail in later posts, but I wanted to mention it here because, without breath, life ceases to exist, and as such a number of superstitions arose around breath. For example, when passing by a cemetery one should hold their breath to avoid breathing in the spirit of someone who recently passed. In multiple cultures around the world, we see tales of the night hag, a demon who sits on your chest and steals your breath away, a phenomenon now referred to as sleep paralysis. For centuries in England, it was believed cats should suck an infant’s breath away, causing the baby to die. In 1791, a jury in Plymouth, England convicted a cat of infanticide while in 1929 in Nebraska, a supposed doctor claimed to have witnessed a cat “lying on the baby’s breast, pay on either side of the babe’s mouth, the cat’s lips pressing those of the child and the infant’s face as pale as that of a corpse, its lips with the blueness of death.” This idea persists even in modern times, despite their not being any evidence that cats suffocate babies in this way. However, the idea that breath is linked to life is an important one, giving Air its association with life and death.
Air Correspondences
Remember, a correspondence is an item or symbol that is meant to connect you to a specific energy thru it’s representation. It is seen also as an item to respect, honor, and venerate that energy as well whether it be a deity, an archetype energy , or to connect to an element like I will list below for you to use.
If you are an air zodiac sign, your most powerful magic will facilitate the air element to make change. Air spells don’t have to be complicated, unless you want them to be. Here are some easy ways to cast air spells and harness the energy of the air element:
make a wish while blowing bubbles OR divine a message using bubbles
burn incense as offering to the gods and to manifest your intentions
write your air spell on a piece of paper, take it to the top of a cliff, let it blow away in the wind
keep a magical grimoire or book of shadows
make a wish and blow out the birthday candles
smoke-cleanse your home with burning herbs to rid it of negativity
blow a dandelion seed-head and make a wish
balloon magick (although not recommended for the environment nowadays)
storm magick: harnessing the energy of a storm to manifest your air spell
cloud scrying: divination using the patterns in clouds to tell the future
cloud bursting: moving air with the power of your mind
whispering air spells into the wind
working with air element fairies and spirits
volunteering your time or resources to a local bird rescue (the energy you offer to these creatures may help manifest your intentions)
automatic writing
writing and reciting poetry
learning and playing an instrument (particularly woodwind, flutes or stringed)
singing your intentions
chanting your intentions
daily words of affirmation
feather magick: divination or spells
The Unique Magic of the Air Element
The air element works in conjunction with all other elements to sustain life on this planet. Think about how air works with the others: air fuels fire, moves earth, makes clouds with water. You may notice how some of the air element’s magical properties and associations cross over with the elements. That’s because they all work together flawlessly in the circle of life. As for air, we inhale and exhale air, it cools us off, but it can also be destructive and blow down houses. Without air, we would not survive. Air is whirling, twirling, twisting, freeing. Whipping, swirling, caressing, calling, kissing, misting, clouding, flying. Speak it into existence, whisper it into the wind.
Let’s Dive into the Element of Water
The water element is powerful in so many ways. Humans are predominantly comprised of water. Water flows into and through our bodies and is necessary for our continued existence. We are suspended in a life giving liquid while growing inside of the womb. Water falls gently from the sky to nourish the earth and help the flora to grow and thrive. The water embraces sea creatures, an unexplored underwater landscape, and falls from the sky above to feed the earth.
Water, the element of fluidity and intuition, mirrors the ebb and flow of life itself. It represents the vast seas, serene lakes, and soothing rivers that nourish the Earth and all living beings. In the realm of emotions, Water governs the depth of our feelings, encouraging us to embrace vulnerability, intuition, and empathy. By connecting with the Water element, witches can navigate the currents of their emotions, tap into their psychic abilities, and embark on a journey of healing and spiritual transformation.
Water magic encompasses themes of emotions, intuition, healing, purification, and spiritual transformation. It allows witches to dive deep into their emotions, heal past wounds, and connect with their inner wisdom. By working with the Water element, practitioners can harness its energy to enhance their psychic abilities, facilitate emotional healing, and invoke a sense of divine flow and receptivity within their craft.
Water, the element of emotions, healing, purification, and renewal. It is the perfect element to work with during the winter months because it is during winter that we spend time reflecting and setting goals for the future. This reflection process often includes shadow work where we confront past traumas to heal and break bad habits. Shadow work is by no means easy and takes more than a little self-reflection to work, but Water can help with the process greatly, especially in the beginning stages.
From an ocean wave to a dew drop, witches use the water element in their magick and spiritual practice for many different purposes.Depending on the tradition and even the individual, water’s magical properties will vary. When the water element means dreams and emotions to one person, it may mean destruction and purification to another.
Water Folklore
Humans have always been deeply connected with water, which makes sense considering we are mostly comprised of water and need it to survive. Just a couple days without water and we die. Our ancestors knew this as well and discovered quite quickly that water had the ability to sustain and restore life, as well as take it away. Throughout history and across all cultures, water was revered, being associated with deities, spirits, souls, and the Otherworld. One of the most famous tales is of the River Styx, the river in Hades or the Underworld that separates the living world from that of the dead. To cross said river, you had to secure passage from Charon, the ferrymen, by paying him a coin. However, water folklore goes back even further.
Before the Roman invasion, much of Europe was inhabited by a series of tribes, united by a common language and similar spiritual beliefs, called the Celts. The Celts believed water to be sacred and viewed it as a liminal place, a place between our world and the Otherworld. As such, a series of myths arose around major water sources across Europe. When the Romans, who had their own set of water beliefs and rituals, invaded, they meshed many of the Celtic ideas of water with their own. These traditions were so prevalent and such a cornerstone of society, that when the Christians invaded sometime later, they found it impossible to squash the pagan beliefs. Instead of trying to stamp it out, they wrote over the pagan names with Christian names (much like they did with our holidays), thus preserving much of the folklore related to water, even to this day. From wells and springs to rivers and lakes to the wide-open ocean, folklore abounds.
Across Europe, especially in the UK, there are several sacred wells and natural founts or springs riddled with folklore. While different in location and water type, it was generally believed that these sources of water were imbued with healing properties that could cure just about any ailment. Archeological sites, folklore, and existing wells inform us that there were a number of sacred wells designated across Europe as healing wells.
But not all folklore surrounds freshwater sources. Being as vast and dangerous as it is, the ocean has played a dominant role in human history and thus has its own magical properties and folklore. You could write an entire book on sea folklore and witchcraft, and people have, so I am just going to give a brief overview here. The ocean played a major role in the development of civilizations around the world. For a long time, the ocean was impassible and untameable, which led our ancestors to tie the sea to destruction, instability, and chaos.
And these are all just bodies of water! There is numerous folklore about dew, mists, and rain! Again, there is absolutely too much folklore on these subjects to include in this post, so I’m going to very briefly summarize. Dew has long been a prized magical ingredient, especially in protection and glamour magic. Especially lazy and dirty women and children were believed to be taken away by faeries where they were carefully cleansed by morning dew becoming more beautiful upon their arrival home. Most famously, however, dew was often collected and applied before sunrise on May Day (Beltane) to heal and as a glamour. On the Summer Solstice, it was believed that dew would increase one’s strength. Across Europe, especially in Britain, dew was believed to have curative properties. It was often applied to the eyes to help eye pain or rubbed on warts and freckles to remove them. Dew collected from stones with depression or cups called Bullaun Holes were used by wise women and men in medicines to enhance their restorative qualities. Sometimes the dew was collected with a white rag and tied around the ailing part to help it heal faster.
While dew was often seen as a healer, mists were viewed as a magical veil that was used by spirits of the Otherworld to shroud themselves. Furthermore, Celtic folklore suggests that not only did the fae and other spirits arrive with the mist, but the mist could carry you away as well, bringing you to the water if you weren’t careful. With mist and fog, it is believed all manner of devilish creatures can walk the Earth. People often report seeing black dogs, an omen of death, in the mists or hearing the luring voices of women calling them out to sea. However, in the Haudenosaunee myth The Maid of the Mist, the maiden is a savor who warns her village of impending doom. In almost all legends, the mists act as a portal or gateway between realms, thus becoming an excellent hedge riding tool for astral travel.
Rain, on the other hand, as a complete set of unique myths, but in most cases, rain is associated with life, fertility, and healing. Originally, the rain was associated with spontaneous generation and was believed that frogs and worms came directly from rain, thus associating it with life, abundance, and fertility. Oden, a Norse god of fertility among other things, was also associated with the rain. I’m sure you can figure out what the rain was meant to be in this case. In Greek mythology, rain is believed to be the tears of Calandra, daughter of Hades, mourning the death of her beloved, Orestes, son of Zeus. Zeus and Hades, upon hearing of their love, struck down Orestes and locked Calandra in the clouds to mourn for all eternity. Rainwater has been used in all manner of magical ways, including spells for rejuvenation, healing, protection, cursing, and nourishment. Rainwater alone deserves a post of its own, which I’ll likely do this year sometime in April because “April showers bring May flowers…”
I’ve only scratched the surface of water folklore. There is plenty more from Asia, Africa, and the Americas that wasn’t touched on here. There simply isn’t enough time for me to cover everything in great detail, but this folklore provides a deeper understanding of how important water has been throughout human history. It is the bringer of life and death, a healer and a curse. Without water and all its amazing, properties humans would not be where we are today. It nourishes our bodies, helps our cells and organs function and while aiding plants in creating food. It helps us and our planet maintain a relatively constant temperature and allows cell membranes to form a double layer.
Water Correspondences
Remember, a correspondence is an item or symbol that is meant to connect you to a specific energy thru it’s representation. It is seen also as an item to respect, honor, and venerate that energy as well whether it be a deity, an archetype energy , or to connect to an element like I will list below for you to use.
Nature Spirits: Undine, nymph, mermaid, finfolk, lake ladies, water maidens, Cailleach, water horse, kelpie, bean-nighe, banshee, white woman, washerwoman, water cows, faeries associated with wells, streams, ponds, or lakes
Colors: Blue, silver, white, gray, seafoam, indigo, aquamarine, bluish-silver, black
Food and Drink: water, tea, apple, pear, coconut, strawberry, watermelon
If you are a water zodiac sign, your most powerful magick will facilitate the water element to make change. Water magic spells don’t have to be complicated, unless you want them to be.
The water element works in conjunction with all other elements to sustain life on this planet. Think about how water works with the others: water extinguishes fire or is evaporated by fire, water feeds the earth, water is made with and moved by air. We require water to live and our bodies are made up of at least sixty percent water. The planet is mostly made up of water. Water is our great mother, the creator, and yet in an instant becomes the great destroyer. But remember, where there’s destruction then after comes creation.
Next, The element of Fire
Fire isn’t just without. It comes from within. It’s as much a part of this world as it is a part of ourselves. Fire drives away the darkness. It warms our cold bones and stirs the passions inside of us. Fire does not have its own physical existence like the other elements. It comes into being as light and heat in a powerful and dramatic fashion and then once it has consumed an object, it disappears back into another realm. Fire is often linked to the masculine energies as it is protective. Fire is depicted in volcanoes, the phoenix, and transformations.
Fire is quite the element, associated with new beginnings, energy, courage, anger, passion, lust, war, and purification. It’s the perfect element to work with during the summer months when the Sun is at its strongest, the ultimate source of Fire. Fire is also the perfect element to work with when trying to enact change, especially social change.
Fire dances with an intense and captivating energy, embodying the qualities of passion, creativity, willpower, and transformation. It is the spark of inspiration that ignites our desires, fuels our ambitions, and drives us forward. Just as fire can both nurture and consume, the Fire element in witchcraft represents the potent force of change, the catalyst for spiritual growth, and the embodiment of personal power. By harnessing the essence of Fire, witches can kindle the flames of their intentions, manifest their desires, and embody the transformative nature of this element.
Fire magic encompasses themes of passion, willpower, courage, purification, and transformation. It empowers witches to ignite their creativity, fuel their ambitions, and embrace their personal power. By working with the Fire element, practitioners can tap into their inner strength, channel their intentions with fiery determination, and embark on a path of self-discovery and transformation.
From a candle’s flame to a bonfire, witches use the fire element in their magical craft for many different reasons. Depending on the tradition and even the individual, fire magical properties will vary. When the fire element means passion and success to one person, it may mean emotions and cleansing to another.
Fire Folklore
Fire has long been coveted by humankind as not only a life-bringer but as a source of transformation as well. How we first acquired Fire is debatable and we will likely never know, but the fact that we did allowed humans to prosper and ultimately dominate our surroundings. There are myths found in every single culture around the world explaining how humans first acquired Fire, from the Greeks to the Cherokee to the Hindus to the Aztecs. Almost all of these stories tell a story of theft, the Fire is stolen from some greedy source and given as a gift to humans. In Greek mythology, the titan Prometheus stole Fire from the gods, giving it to man along with the skill of metalwork because he loved humans more than the Olympians who had banished his family to Tartarus. This gift resulted in the progress of civilization and ultimately resulted in Fire temples across Greece.
In various Native American tribes in the Pacific Northwest and First Nations, Fire was stolen by Coyote, Beaver, or Dog and given to humans, while in Algonquin myth it is Rabbit that steals Fire from a man and his two daughters to share with other humans. The Cherokee myth, however, is my favorite of the Native American Fire myths. After both Possum and Buzzard failed to acquire Fire, Grandmother Spider weaves a web to sneak into the land of the light, where she steals Fire from the Sun and hides it in a clay pot. She brings the clay pot back, giving it to humans so they may see in the dark. In Rig Veda, a Hindu text, it is Matarisvan who steals Fire that had been hidden away from humans. All of these myths reveal the nature of Fire; that is it deeply associated with trickery and chaos, most likely because we may think we have control over Fire, but ultimately it is in control. Furthermore, Fire is extremely destructive but transformative, thus leading to the progress of civilization in all of these stories.
Fire was so revered by our ancestors that shrines, temples, and festivals were dedicated to Fire. In Ancient Greece, every private and public hearth or prytaneium was regarded as a sanctuary for the hearth goddess Hestia. In Greek mythology, Hestia was assigned the duty by Zeus to feed and maintain the fires in the Olympian hearth with the fat from animal sacrifices to the gods. As such, she was usually given the first offering during a sacrifice so that she may share a portion with the gods to maintain their Fire.
Hestia’s Roman equivalent, Vesta, played a much more prominent role in Roman culture. She was very rarely depicted in human form, but instead as a flame. Vesta’s temple in the Forum Romanum only allowed entry to Vesta’s priestesses known as Vestals. The Vestals tended the sacred hearth fires of Vesta which were believed to be indispensable for the preservation and continuity of the Roman State.
Across the ocean, two important Celtic deities were honored for their sacred flames. The first was Brigid, who later was Christianized St. Brigid. Brigid, who is deeply associated with holy wells, was also associated with sacred flames. In Kildare, Brigid’s sacred fire was tended to by priestesses since pre-Christian times. However, it wasn’t just Brigid who was associated with Fire in Celtic lore. Belenus (Belus or Baal), whose name means “Shining One,” was one of the most widely worshipped of the Celtic deities. He was the Celtic god of the Sun and was celebrated year-around, but honored specifically at Beltane, an ancient Fire festival on May 1st.
Other Sun gods from around the world, including Ra, Aten, Nanahuatzin, Helios, and Sol, were worshipped year around with the Sun’s heavenly movement. Early humans recognized that as the Sun traveled through the sky that it drove the changing of the seasons. From this knowledge, myths arose to explain what happened to the Sun god during each transformation. In modern Wicca, the equivalent of this story traces the birth and death of the God, who represents the Sun. These myths were so prevalent around the world that early Christianity adopted them and associated them with Jesus.
Apart from Fire’s association with deities, it has long been viewed as a protective force. This likely arose from the fact our early ancestors found that keeping fires lit through the night safeguarded against beasts of the night. Fire quickly became associated with warding off evil spirits, especially in the case of childbirth. Multiple cultures around the world light candles and lamps and keep them burning to ward against demons waiting to pounce on the newborn child and mother. This custom still persists in parts of Britain, Scandinavia, and Germany, where candles and fires are lit around the new baby to keep evil spirits away.
Fire has also been used as a form of divination and as an omen. As mentioned earlier, the extinguishing of Hestia’s and Vesta’s fires were believed to be ruin and bad luck. The Banyoro in Central Africa and the people of British New Guinea will not hunt the following morning if their fire goes out overnight, an omen of bad luck and death. In modern Greece, the behavior of logs in a fire is said to foretell the future. Crackling means that good news or a friend is coming, while sparks and ash flying are believed to foretell trouble and anxiety brewing. On the other hand, in parts of Britain cinders were read to predict major future events, such as births, marriages, and deaths.
The vast amount of folklore around Fire suggests a few things. First, Fire is an important source of life. It warms, cooks food, and inspires. Second, Fire is an important protector and purifier, yet has the ability to consume all that it touches. In modern times, witches use fire for these same reasons, often as in protection rituals, and to send messages to the spirit world.
Fire Correspondences
Remember, a correspondence is an item or symbol that is meant to connect you to a specific energy thru it’s representation. It is seen also as an item to respect, honor, and venerate that energy as well whether it be a deity, an archetype energy , or to connect to an element like I will list below for you to use.
Gender: Masculine
Planet: Sun, Mars
Time: Noon
Season: Summer
Direction: South (although in the Southern hemisphere, North may work better for you)
Tarot Cards: Wands or Swords (depends on belief system)
The fire magical properties are fueled by air. So, essentially, air can be used to fan or increase fire. Water may be heated by fire OR in larger quantities can put out the fire. Fire cooks or burns up earth or can be extinguished by earth.
People who are fire signs tend to be very passionate, driven people. They are sometimes easy to enrage, and love working with the fire element in their magick. If you are a fire sign, fire magic spells and charms will be your most potent form of witchcraft.
Candle spells
Sun-bathing / re-charging by sunlight
Burning papers with wishes/intentions in bonfires
Burning old belongings to release old habits and negativity
Hearth magick: cooking, brewing, baking, etc.
Fire scrying: divination in candle flames and bonfires
Smoke scrying: divination with smoke
Burning Incense and Smoke-cleansing
Storm magick, particularly harnessing the energy of lightning
Burning candles as offerings to gods, ancestors, spirit guides
Blacksmithing and forging
Working with crystals linked to the fire element
Following your passion in life
The Unique Magic of the Fire Element
Fire is creative and destructive. It warded off wild animals, intruders, and illness for our ancestors. It also kept them warm and provided a means of cooking. But it could also destroy entire villages and forests, destroying life as we know it. Fire dries/evaporates water, is fueled/extinguished by air, and is fueled/extinguished by earth. The interaction with fire all depends on the amount of each element used. Without heat and fire, our ancestors wouldn’t have survived and neither would we. In Greek mythology, fire was gifted to humans by a god. Let the fire element cleanse you of your past and prepare a path for the future.
Lastly, the element of spirit
This fifth element is not recognized by all paths. It has been known as Akasha or Aether. No matter what you call it Spirit or Ether (or Soul!) is the element of self-awareness, wholeness, and transcendence. It is a bridge that connects the spiritual and physical soul. It is often represented as white or purple. It is the crown chakra in eastern religious practices and the halo in Abrahamic traditions. Spirit is the element called forth in ritual as it is the force that connects us to the magickal realm.
Spirit is the ethereal essence that exists beyond the physical realm, encompassing the divine, the collective consciousness, and the interwoven tapestry of all existence. It is the universal life force that breathes energy into every being and every element. Spirit, in witchcraft, represents the connection to the divine, intuition, spiritual growth, and the transcendent nature of our existence. By embracing the essence of Spirit, witches can tap into the boundless wisdom of the universe, commune with higher beings, and embark on a transformative journey of spiritual awakening.
Spiritual magic encompasses themes of intuition, divination, spiritual growth, and connection to higher beings. It allows witches to tap into their innate wisdom, connect with spirit guides and ancestors, and seek guidance from the divine. By working with Spirit, practitioners can deepen their understanding of the unseen, explore their spiritual gifts, and experience profound transformations within their spiritual journeys.
Spirit Folklore
Spirit has always existed within folk beliefs, with some of the earliest forms appearing in animistic religions and spiritual practices around the world. Animism, which is derived from the Latin anima which means breath, Spirit, or life, is the idea that all things, living and non-living, have a Spirit within them. It is this Spirit or energy that modern-day witches use when working with magical correspondences, and it’s the foundation of nature-based spiritualities around the world.
Later, humankind began differentiating living Souls or Spirit from that of non-living objects through the use of blood. Prior to the reign of Psammetichus (664-610 BC), Egyptians equated wine with blood, saying it was the life force of those that had warred against the gods. For this reason, they didn’t leave wine as an offering and believed that drunkenness would drive a man mad for the drunkard supposedly had consumed the life-blood of their ancestors. We see modern manifestations of this idea in Christianity with wine being part of the sacrament as the blood of Christ. The idea that the Soul was derived from blood is also found in a number of myths around the world, including a Chaladae myth which says that humans and animals were born from the blood of a decapitated deity when it mixed with clay.
Later, the Soul became something intangible as the breath of life. In Genesis ii. 7 we see an allusion to this: “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.” In Greece, this breath of life was referred to as stoic pneuma, which originally meant “air in motion” or “breath” and later became religiously known as the Soul or Spirit. It was believed to be a mixture of Air and Fire that when combined created life. Pneuma was adopted by Judaism and Christianity, sometimes being used to describe the Spirit and other times to describe the wind. No matter the religion, however, Spirit is often a central focus, and protecting the Spirit or Soul is believed to be fundamental in ascending into the afterlife.
Other topics that can be considered tied to the folklore of the spirit or soul would involve soul eaters, demons, ghosts, mental illness and much more but that is for another time. If you want to learn more about demons though you can check out my previous class on them below.
Spirit Correspondences
Remember, a correspondence is an item or symbol that is meant to connect you to a specific energy thru it’s representation. It is seen also as an item to respect, honor, and venerate that energy as well whether it be a deity, an archetype energy , or to connect to an element like I will list below for you to use.
Crystals and Gemstones: Quartz, pearl, opal, amethyst
Animals: Dove, deer, cat
Ways to connect to Spirit
The spirit magical properties are fueled by everything. Every thread of energy, and everything in between weaving to hold the multiverse, universe, and collective together. The way we think of the spirit element today is rooted in the Greek thinking of Aether as the fifth element, it was literally the air the gods breathed. How to connect to those propeties will all revolve around your spiritual beliefs, and practices, and how you choose to connect to the divine both within and without yourself.
Spirit works with all the elements in the same manner: Spirit supports each of the elements and each of the elements supports Spirit. Spirit cannot be separated from the other elements as it is infused in all that we do.
We have talked a lot about the elements but, have you ever heard of the elementals? Or elemental spirits? Let’s take some time to talk about them now.
What are Elementals?
Elementals are considered interdimensional beings, which means that they can move through different planes. Likewise, they maintain a strong bond with Nature, which is why many cultures consider them protectors or guardians of the earth. Physician and alchemist Paracelsus (1493 – 1541) mentioned elementals in his works, highlighting the hybrid quality of these entities, as they are neither humans nor spirits
Each of these beings has the function of guarding and protecting everything that is within its realm of influence. They are considered lower spirits, incapable of incarnating in the material world, so they are generally invisible to us. However it has been claimed that they are capable of assuming human form and other appearances.
These guardians watch over our planet and can aid us in our spiritual journeys if treated with respect. Let’s explore all four types of elementals and see how you can invoke them in your practice.
Gnomes, the Elementals of Earth
Gnomes and gnomids are the elementals of the Earth. They look like old men with their long white beards and ceremonial charm, and reside in the underbrush found in trees, roots, and soil. They can live in the mines of the earth or take care of the hidden treasures that lie there. Gnomes are the guardians of all treasures and precious metals hidden under mountains and deserts.
As Earth elementals, they also like gardens, hence the custom of placing figures of gnomes around the green areas of the home, to call for their protection and wisdom. Though generally a bit grumpy, gnomes are happy to help humans in their earthly quests. They stand ready to impart deep wisdom upon us. As keepers of material safety, you can ask Gnomes for protection in physical matters, and for aid in doing what’s right for the planet.
Their planet is Mars and their zodiac signs are Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn.
To invoke an Earth elemental, salt can be used as an offering on a plate. You can also bury a coin in the soil to ask them to intercede with the spirits of the earth, so that prosperity and riches come to our lives. Spend time outside and let your intuition guide you to a spot that is special.
Undines, Water Elementals
Undines derive their name from the Latin word unda, meaning “wave”. They come in different shapes such as mermaids or nymphs, but are also thought of as the collective body of water itself. Undines are present in each drop of water.
Their presence represents beauty and dreams. They like to live in and protect the waterways and are relatively benign elementals, historically aiding sailors in safe passage. They are the most closely linked to humans and their appearance can be that of beautiful angels.
To keep Undines present in your daily life, think of water as a close friend. Treat it with reverence; never waste it. With increased honor for this sacred element, the Undine is sure to support your emotional life. Their planets are Saturn and Mercury, and their zodiac signs Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces.
Invoking water Elementals
To invoke the elementals of Water in your practice, work with the cycles of the moon. Perform rituals on full and new moons (also known as Esbats).Set up an altar with water at the center. Allow it to soak up the energy of the moon (Moon Water), and then mindfully drink or bathe in the water the next day.
Salamanders, Elementals of Fire
The Salamander does not necessarily appear as the slithery amphibian one might think, though it does often appear in a reptilian form, closely related to dragons. Fire elementals can appear as little balls of light that glide across water. They are thin and dry, very similar to the grasshopper or cricket, although much larger in size.
The Fire element is associated with two opposites: Creation and destruction. Salamanders can cause, control and extinguish fire. They can root out negative forces, hexes and curses that fall on a person. Fire elementals also have the ability to clean and purify all low passions and all vices, helping to make a change that allows improving everything that hinders one’s development. Their planets are the Sun and Jupiter, and its zodiacal signs Aries, Leo and Sagittarius.
Invoking Fire Elementals
Invoke the Salamander with a flame. Safely light a fire, burn a candle or incense, and practice gazing at the flame’s licks or at the smoke. Feel the warmth of the fire lighting your own internal flame. Call upon the Salamander to reignite lost passion, or give you the strength to carry through difficult tasks. The Salamander is ready to aid in your evolution.
Sylphs; the Elementals of Air
A Sylph, like air, is ethereal. It does not take on a physical form but is seen in wispy fancies, much like clouds. Though some folks actually see fantastical flurries of light and color, the Sylph can appear mentally, even in the thinnest of air.
These creatures of Air are said to look like very beautiful children with rosy faces. They can be the most mischievous in character and they represent thought. They are directly related to inspiration, knowledge, communication and travel.
The spirits of Air are the ones that cause the winds and shape the clouds, they have a preponderant role in the growth of plants, flowers in particular. Sylphs are carriers of the life-sustaining energy that nurtures all living things, the breath. On subtle levels, sylphs transmit the currents of Spirit from heaven to earth. Their planets are the Moon and Venus, and their zodiac signs Gemini, Libra and Aquarius.
Invoking Air Elementals
Working with Sylphs is all about intention. Because they lack form, the Sylph is greatly comforted by your faith alone. Pay respect to the Eastern sky, or pay extra attention to the breezes that caress your cheek. To invoke the Sylph in your ritual or spell, practice different forms of breathwork, or gaze at clouds and stars. Look to Sylphs for inspiration and clearing mental blocks.
Conclusion
While the five elements are linked with the beauty of the self and the natural world, each element also contains a darker component. It is through these components that change comes in drastic forms. The earth shakes with tremors, the water rises in tsunamis, the air rises as tornadoes, and fires rage out of control. Each element should be respected for its ability to exist in all forms and treated accordingly.
Take time to work with the powers of each element in your practice. As you journey down the pagan path, usually an element will feel natural to your own magickal working. Embrace it and relish in working with your element, but don’t forget that they all work in tandem with one another!
To expand your knowledge about this path and if you’d rather listen than read; you can watch my free class with Divination Academy on YouTube below!
We have entered a new lunar phase today, the full moon and this full moon in April is bringing us into the Sign of Scorpio. The Scorpio Full Moon is the most serious of the lunations. Full Moons are highly emotional and serious, and Scorpio is an emotional water sign and ruler of the serious. Scorpio is intense, passionate, deeply transformative and unrelenting, and we can have a hard time letting things go with a Scorpio Full Moon. We’re really invested, and we’re a bit stubborn about it, but we likely need to recognize that it’s not doing us any good, and it’s time to move on.
The Scorpio Full Moon is a moment of profound transformation and self-discovery. We likely need to work on a major transformation, and this can be intense, but ultimately leads to solutions and frees us. You may feel things a little more passionately, or you may be willing to go to extremes that you might not otherwise go to.
This is also a time of when you’ll look within to truly understand the depths of your feelings. This period of introspection could lead to greater self-awareness as well as an awareness of those around you. The ability to get in touch with the intricacy of your own emotions gives you the insight needed to understand others’ motivations. We do need to be mindful of frustrations boiling over with this Full Moon though, and especially coming after that Aries Solar Eclipse, you’ll react a little more sharply and with that stinger Scorpio is known for.. We need to bite our tongues and try to be rational and think things through before blowing up.
Let me show you in this post the depths of the full moon in the water sign scorpio. And how to connect to this unrelenting, transformative, serious and emotional enegy this full moon. To harness the most potent energy to connect to for us to manifest our desires and dream life today!
First, What is the Full Moon
Over the centuries, the Moon has played a significant role in different cultures and traditions. The full moon simply put is when the moon is completely illuminated in the sky and it has reached it’s peak in this lunar cycle in the sky. When the moon is completely illuminated it’s time for all to reach full expression. The full moon is the most powerful and potent time of the entire lunar cycle.
A full moon occurs when the transit (moving) Sun and Moon are in the exact opposite positions in the Zodiac (called an opposition). The full moon greatly affects humans and it’s no wonder it does because, there’s a scientific reason for this – we are made up of 60% or more of water. Full Moons are the peak point of the lunar cycle: at this time of the month, the light of the Sun is fully illuminating the Moon, and the luminaries are exactly opposing one another from our perspective on Earth. This potent alignment offers us opportunities to gain more awareness about what is moving in our inner and emotional world, and information previously uncertain or hidden could be revealed at this time.
With the moon being fully illuminated it creates this portal to some of the most potent energy to connect to for us to manifest our desires and dream life. This portal creates a connection to our peak creative energy and the deep seated creative passions we all have within us. This creative energy and power is the energy we need to actually do and create the things and lifestyle we need to manifest what we desire. With the new moon phase being about planting the seeds of what you want to manifest, the full moon is about actually doing the work and moving the energy to make your manifesting happen. The full moon allows you to bridge the connection between these energies and themes and bring them into your life while reminding you how important it is to have them in your life not only when the moon is illuminated in the sky for you to see.
There are so many ways to work with the full moon, to learn more about the basics of working with the full moon energy check out my blog post here; https://modgepodgemystic.com/working-with-the-practical-productive-and-nurturing-virgo-full-moon/ But, remember each full moon will be slightly different and have different practices to add and different ways to do it based on which zodiac sign the full moon is currently in at the time.
So, who is Scorpio?
Scorpio is one of the most misunderstood signs of the zodiac. Because of its incredible passion and power, Scorpio is often mistaken for a fire sign. In fact, Scorpio is a water sign that derives its strength from the psychic, emotional realm.
Scorpio is all about TRANSFORMATION, who you are becoming in relationship to life and the journey of embodying your true authentic power. Themes related to intimacy, control, power, money, and sharing will be a strong focus. This is an opportunity to WELCOME and honor how you are changing shape. It is Scorpio who companions us on the journey to the underworld as we look at the areas of our life that need our tender love and compassion.
This is a potent time for manifesting anything around mystical abilities, sex, love, intimacy, death, transformation, and rebirth. This sign rules over transformation, death, the occult, and sexuality. Scorpio can be a very intense energy, and this is partly because it’s a water sign, so it’s ruled by emotions. It is known as a time of deep introspection caused by the depth of our emotions. This period of introspection could lead to greater self-awareness as well as an awareness of those around you. The ability to get in touch with the intricacy of your own emotions gives you the insight needed to understand others’ motivations. Don’t be surprised if you have a few light bulb moments during this time.
It’s also ruled by Pluto, the planet of transformation, the underworld, and death. This means death in the sense that something comes to an end and transforms into something else (very similar to the Death card in tarot). I talk about this all the time in my classes. Death is crucial and central to every area of our lives especially when it comes to profound transformation, healing, and enlightment. A death of some kind must happen for something to be born Scorpio isn’t afraid to explore dark or deep things, making it a very psychic and sexual sign that isn’t afraid of topics considered taboo or to help you on journeys like shadow work into some of the darkest depths of who are.
The Full Moon in emotionally intense Scorpio is always a dynamic event. During any Full Moon we feel the tug of war between opposing signs, and in this case, the passionate waters of Scorpio counter the practical Taurus Sun. This illuminating event could put a spotlight on what it is you really need in your life and what it is that needs to go since full moons are also a potent time to release and shed all that no longer serves us.
We have talk about some aspects of who scorpio is; now let’s dive deep into the details of how scorpio can affect you and benefit you especially during a full moon!
Unlease your sexual desires with Scorpio
Scorpio is the sign most closely associated with sex: this is due to their enigmatic nature which is what makes them so seductive and beguiling. This sign even rules our reproductive and sexual organs! Sex isn’t solely about pleasure for these sensual scorpions though. They also crave the physical closeness, spiritual illumination, and emotional intimacy sex can provide.
When the moon is in the sign of scorpio it is oozing sexual passion, and desire. With it also being a time about going into your dark depths you may have some desires being illuminated you normally shy away from or simplely have not acknowledged. This is the perfect time to not run and hide from them but, to aproach them without fear and experience the waves of pleasure those dark sexual desires can bring you and your partner. Use this energy to expand and unleash your sexual pleasure with your deepest sexual desires coming to the surface.
Liberation thru transformation with Scorpio
This Full Moon in Scorpio brings to light all the problems you insist on hiding. But sooner or later, you will have to face them head-on to have them resolved and to overcome it. It will be responsible for putting you face to face with your greatest fear or trauma. Take advantage of this transformational moment and try not to run away from the darkness and the breaking apart. The intention is to break to rebuild. Scorpio has this ability to regenerate and transform like no one else and always comes out stronger from a battle.
I talk about this all the time. Things have to break to rebuild, die to be reborn, and burn down to sprout from fertile soil. This sign is all about transformation, transforming to align with our soul’s purpose and to do that we must face those dark depths and allow them crash over us with the forces of transformation. With transformation, comes healing, alignment, and complete liberation from your past, traumas, unwanted energies and all things that do not truly serve you. Being alive means engaging in a continual process of transformation. Nothing in the natural world stays the same so allow the energy of scorpio to guide you in this process.
As the sign of extremes, Scorpio energy can draw out both our darkest shadows and our most enlightened selves. This Scorpio full moon could bring some eye-opening awakenings for anyone who’s been refusing to deal with a lingering conflict. This transformational full moon can support deep processing and healing, if that’s what is needed and guide you into a complete sense and expierence of liberation.
The unrelenting, intense waves of emotion with Scorpio
Have you already heard that Scorpio is the most intense sign of the zodiac? This sign is all about deep and strong emotions. This is for a few reasons, one scorpio is tied to the element of water which is deeply associated to our emotions. And with the sign of scorpio we tend to dive deeper into the depths of our emotions where the water is darker, and seemingly endless. And like the depths of the ocean even if we come up for a breath Scorpio will pull you relentlessly back down. Down, into the depths of your emotions until you no longer fight the waves of your emotions but, succomb to the ebb and flow of the endless waves.
The second reason scorpio is so intenses is because, Scorpio is always looking inside like a detective. Its gaze is investigative and never fears the truth. So, Full Moon in Scorpio comes to invite everyone to closely examine what goes through your heart and mind.
Things to look out for with Scorpio
Since Scorpio has a tendency to bring anything hidden to the surface, your truth radar may be sending you additional communications. Listening to your gut instinct is important now, and especially due to the volatility of this energy. But, be very mindful to exercise emotional maturity if something needs to be addressed. It could be easy, during this window, to end up in emotional drama, conflict, or to simply blow up on others with our words. So stay conscious of your emotional awareness and use this powerhouse energy to fuel your desires instead of getting steeped in drama, conflict, and damaged relationships.
Themes of Scorpio
We have talked a lot about who scorpio is and how scorpio can affect you and benefit you. Now let’s list all the topics to consider that correspond to the full Moon in Scorpio. Keep in mind that the full Moon relates to the contiuation of your journey to manifest your desires and dreams. To release all the things that no longer serve us and create blockaged to our manifesting. It is the time to really truly nuture the seeds of intention you had planted during the new moon so, they can bloom and thrive. So, try and have any of your workings based on these topics be grounded in those seeds of intention you had planted on the new moon.
Sex / Intimacy / passion
Emotions
Depth and darkness
Love
Transformation/ Change
Psychic Abilities
The Occult—anything supernatural, mystical or magical
Intuition
Taboo Topics and desires
Death
Regeneration / Rebirth
Life
Relationships
Desire
Secrets/ Mysteries
Seriousness
Honesty/ Truth/ Investigative
Reflection / Insight
The Scorpio Myth
In Greek mythology, the constellation Scorpius was identified with the scorpion that stung Orion, the mythical hunter. The two constellations lie opposite each other in the sky, and Orion is said to be fleeing from the scorpion as it sets just as Scorpius rises.
In one version of the myth, Orion tried to ravish the goddess Artemis and she sent the scorpion to do away with him. In another version, it was the Earth that sent the scorpion after Orion had boasted that he could defeat any wild beast.
The Pink Moon Meaning
The Pink Moon is a name given to the April full moon, originating from the pink flowers, known as wild creeping phlox, that typically bloom during this time of year in North America. However, despite the name, the Moon itself doesn’t actually appear pink but instead takes on its usual golden or white hue.
Combining the Pink Moon’s energy with Scorpio’s intensity can create a powerful time for personal growth, transformation, and letting go of what no longer serves us. It’s a time to delve into our subconscious, release emotional baggage, and embrace change and renewal. This period invites us to embrace our vulnerabilities, confront our shadows, and emerge more robust and more self-aware on the other side.
Hebe Asteroid
We have another cosmic energy affecting us at this time as well on 4/22 Hebe asteroid 6 appeared vertical to virgo in the skies which will have an affect on us. Combined with the scorpio energy this aestroid could bring about some very deep traumas, emotions, and triggers for us especially around childhood traumas and rejection. So, let’s touch briefly on this asteroid and who it represents.
Hebe is the goddess of eternal youth. She served as the cup-bearer to the gods before Ganymede took her place. Her name comes from the Greek word meaning “youth” or “prime of life”. Hebe is associated with being of service; she can be a servant or even a slave. There are negative associations with abuse, probably from her elders or elites. She could also be about healing from childhood trauma, especially in the context of this Scorpio/Pluto moon energy.
There is an account that Hebe’s demotion as cup-bearer was because she fell, ripping her dress, shamefully exposing her naked body publicly. Hebe is also associated with the Fall in terms of the change of seasons. Similar to Demeter and Persephone, Hebe is the maiden version of Hera, her mother. So Hebe is the springtime Virgin goddess. Other positive associations with Hebe are elixirs that rejuvenate, eternal life, mercy and forgiveness.
Correspondences for the Scorpio full moon
First, what is a correspondence? A correspondence is an item or symbol that is meant to connect you to a specific energy thru it’s representation. It is seen also as an item to respect, honor, and venerate that energy as well whether it be a deity, an archetype energy , or the zodiac energy the moon is currently in like I will list below for you to use.
Now, that we have talked about the themes of this intense, serious, emotional, sexual, transformative, Scorpio full moon and how it is going to affect you let’s talk about how you can specifically connect to and work with this moon.
With this moon there are certain spells and rituals that will help connect you this moon in the most effective way. Remember these are just some of the many ideas follow your intuition and the energy of this moon.
connect to deities of the underworld, rebirth and transformation like persephone and hades
Transformation and rebirth magic and spells
Write down and release all things that no longer serve into a body of water
moonlight bathe in the nude
Ritual Full Moon Bath
Taking a full moon bath is an extremely soothing way to harness the power of this moon phase. A Moon bath can be an especially powerful practice when the Moon is transiting the water signs of Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. This is because the element of water is activated, i.e charged up – like a crystal, it has more potential to HOLD intention and frequency. So, this Full moon take a ritual bath to help you connect to your depth of your emotions in scorpio right now. I would recommend to have your items added to your bath right now be focused
Top tip: Using Moon water in your ritual bath will take it to the next level!
Self-love mirror gazing ritual
This is a very transformative ritual to be doing every single full moon but, I really like using this one during a scorpio moon. The feeling of self love and passion for myself I feel seems to be so much more amplified after acknowledging my deepest, darkest emotions needed to be addressed. This ritual helps remind me during a scorpio moon to remember that even while working through those deep, dark emotions and traumas I still am worthy to be loved and to have all my needs met. You can find the ritual below and to learn more about one of my favorite types of magic; mirror magic in general you can read about in my previous blogpost here; https://modgepodgemystic.com/mirror-mirror-on-the-wall-whose-the-most-magical-of-them-all-a-guide-to-mirror-magic/
Self -love mirror gazing ritual You will need: A mirror Under the light of the full Moon, do some stretching, shaking, dancing, or deep breathing, to bring your awareness into the fullness of your body.
Place the mirror beneath the Full Moon in the night sky, so that you can sit looking at your own reflection AND have moonlight falling on your face.
Look into the mirror at your own reflection. See, sense and feel the light of the Full Moon fall onto your face, and feel yourself soaking up her rays.
Now gaze into your eyes, holding the intention to both give receive more love. Say the words: “I am loved, I am held, I am whole” aloud.
Searching the depths with scorpio meditation
This meditation is all about helping being a guide for you while you dive deep into the depths of your soul and emotions with the scorpio full moon. The ideal time to perform this ritual day or night of the full moon. If possible do it under direct moonlight. or the day after the full moon.
You’ll need: 15-30 minutes of quiet and uninterrupted time Vessel of water Pen/pencil and paper Optional: amethyst
Meditation/Ritual: Create sacred space by grounding yourself and connecting with your breath and body. If casting a circle or calling in the quarters is in your practice, you could do this too. To learn how to do that you can do that by reading my previous blogpost here and watching my previous class on the topic with Divination Academy. https://youtu.be/MwDSVeNPjfs?si=mEMMrUwKy37bI-K0 Sit, close your eyes, and begin to connect with your breath and body. If you’re using amethyst you can hold it or place it near you to inspire your intuition. In this meditative state, ask aloud or in your mind, “Show me my soul’s deepest desire. show me where I have not been acting in alignment with my intention” Breathe and allow your mind to take you where it wants to go. Be open to visualizations, messages, or feelings that may arise. After spending some time with the first question, and when you feel ready, ask aloud or in your mind, “Show me my next steps to be in better alignment with my soul’s deepest desires?” Again, breathe and allow your mind to take you where it wants to go. Be open to visualizations, messages, or feelings that may arise. The subconscious mind often works through symbols. Be open and curious about anything that comes through to you, understanding that even though it may not make sense at the moment, it may later. When you feel ready to come out of your meditation, thank any guides who came through to offer guidance, then write down any insights that came to you. Place your paper in your vessel of water to remain there until the moon is new. Check in with your bowl of water with the paper in it each day to refill with water if needed, touch into the feelings you experienced, and as a reminder to take continued action towards your soul’s desires, even when it feels challenging. At the time of the next new moon, bury your paper outside and pour the water on top of it, trusting that you will be guided in your soul’s journey.
Sex Magic To enhance your sex life
With the full moon of scorpio being so deeply connected to our sexual desires, passions, and energy this moon is an extremely potent time for any type of sex magic and sex work. This includes doing spells to enhance your sex life. We can all use a little enhancement from time to time for many reasons and even if you don’t why not add some enhancement to increase your pleasure, your partners pleasure and have some really body alterating orgasims at that! I am passionate about sex magic and use it in my life, magical practices and my marriage ALL the time! To learn more about sex magic you can check out part two of class on the topic here and the study guide with divination academy here!
The spell below is a great spell enhance and intensify any of sexual pleasure sessions!
Carve your name and your partners name into your red candle
Anoint your candle with honey while thinking of all the passion, desire, and freedom you want to experience in your sex life.
Take your anointed candle and roll it in your cinnamon and sugar again viualizing all the passion, desire, freedom and climaxing you want to experience with your partner.
Be as specific as possible.
Light your candle during your next sex session together to ignite your passions and let it burn until it goes out on it’s own
Reflection topics and questions for Scorpio Full Moon
Every full moon is a great time to for reflecting on those seeds you had planted during the new moon and how they are doing now at the end of the lunar cycle and how you can celebrate your success and adjust the future for even greater success. Whether you do it thru meditation, shadow work, or divination like tarot; below is a list of prompts and topics to connect with the energy of the Scorpio full moon.
What is my soul’s deepest desire?
What emotions are sitting in the deep that I avoid?
What do I need to release from my past to fully transform?
Are there any mysterious about myself or others in my life i need to explore?
Where is my intuition trying to guide me?
Is there something in my life I need to listen to my gut about?
What parts of myself am I avoiding?
What are my deepest sexual desires, needs and passions? are they being met? Am I afraid to have them met? If so why?
What could I achieve if I stepped outside my comfort zone?
What areas of my life do I need to address to transform?
What fears and hidden emotions do I need to face?
What areas of my life do I need to transform to be in alignment with my soul purpose?
What emotions, wounds, or traumas coming up for me and how will I face them?
However you choose to work with, connect to, or celebrate, follow your intuition, and passion to guide you the rest of this lunar cycle to finish growing your seeds of manifestation. Use this full moon in scorpio and its unrelenting crashing waves of emotions, sexual passion, and desire to transform yourself!
The magic circle — also known as the magic circle of protection, ritual circle, witch’s circle, and even sacred circle — is one of the most iconic trademarks of magic. You hear over and over again about how we should know how to do one and when you attend ceremonies and rituals you hear the facilitator/ practitioner use one often but, do you really know why we cast a magic circle and what one really is?
What is a magic circle?
A magic circle is a sacred space that practitioners of magic believe contains energy. The magic circle is an area of non-physical space created and constructed of personal power. It creates an energetic and psychic container – a safe, protected space – for magic and healing to take place. When you cast a circle, you are said to be in a space between worlds – void space, magic space, liminal space, grey space, spiral space beyond linear time. It’s a magical environment in which the deities are welcomed and celebrated, and where rituals and magical workings take place.
Many magical practitioners create a circle as part of their magical ritual. The circle may first be marked out with chalk or paint, or drawn in salt or, more usually, it is visualized with no physical representation of the circle at all. All of the participants may stand around the perimeter of the circle or may stand in the center.
A solo practitioner generally stands in the center. The circle is established using the energy of the practitioner(s) using means specific to their tradition. The energy encircles the area horizontally as well as vertically, creating something more like a sphere or bubble of spiritual energy.
There are two main types of magic circles used. Those formed by ceremonial magicians are designed to protect the magician from the forces that he or she raises. While those formed by witches and wiccans, are mainly used to create sacred space in which to meet and commune with the Goddess, God and Spirits. The magic circle is essentially a magical seal or sigil. Circles may or may not be physically marked out on the ground, and a variety of elaborate patterns for circle markings can be used. A castor may even add tools, candles, and other items as well.
When it comes to casting a circle there really are endless possibilities to how you choose to cast one, when you choose to cast a circle, and what/if you call in to add energy to your circle as you cast it as well. Continue to read to learn all about the history of casting a magic circle, why you should use and when, and some of the many ways you can cast a magic circle and decide if this staple of magic workings will be added to your practice.
A Circling Group
A group of witches or magic users may sometimes refer to themselves as a Circle or Circling group rather than a coven. A coven implies the group’s shared set of beliefs and oaths. Using the term Circle to describe a group of magical practitioners implies that while the group performs magic together and gathers for some spiritual and social occasions, they do not necessarily share the same belief system and owe each other no oaths.
Circles are often formed for training purposes or for family groups and general fellowship and Circle members may be involved with other groups as well.
History of casting a circle
Manly P. Hall once said, “The most primitive and fundamental of all symbols is the dot [circle].”
They considered geometry holy teaching in antiquity. Scholars and wise men of old deemed the circle sacred and studied it along with other divine natural sciences in studying the stars and mathematics. At the time, they saw mathematics as a discipline to aid in communication with their gods. Ritual magicians utilized solving geometric equations like squaring the circle. We see this in the mystical teachings by Pythagoras.
Circle casting has been around for 1000s of years. We see evidence of it as far back as Sumerian culture. Evidence of its practice can be found in texts like the Lesser Keys of Solomon as well. It is mentioned in other “high magick” grimoires; many of dubious origin. In this early metaphysical literature, casting a circle was a means of containing spirits and energies conjured during complex rituals of evocation. The means of conjuring these spirits was risky to all involved and it’s easy to imagine that many spirits were not too happy with the mages doing the summoning. Circles also functioned as a way to protect the humans performing the ritual and were often combined with sigils.
Over time, the reason for casting a circle has changed. Most contemporary witches who cast circles do so to create a sacred space or vortex of power that sits between and connects the physical world with the spiritual. In this space, the witch is free to work with the energies they choose to evoke. The circle, no longer just a means of protection, has become an energetic focus and sphere of unadulterated power when properly created. This modern idea of circle casting began with the work of traditional English witches in the early 1900’s and was popularized afterward by Gerald Gardner, the creator of the Wiccan religion.
Mesopotamian Magic
In Mesopotamia, called by some the cradle of civilization, most people created rituals. Both individually and as a community. The Sumerians called the use of ritual circles Zisurrû.
Sumerians used a common technique in casting ritual circles. They drew the circle with flour or chalk. They spread the flour around figurines of deities and figures of protection entities. For example, I, An, and Enlil who were all gods of Mesopotamia and are within the seven gods. Sumerians believed they attributed to the gods with this ritual.
The type of flour was crucial as different grains held unique properties. Wheat flour specifically invoked deities. Barley encircled beds to protect against disease-causing demons, and šemuš-flour repelled ghosts.
Archaeologists have also discovered the use of magic circles. Similarly, not on the ground but in pottery. Written on the bowls, called “incantation bowls.” In spirals were magical words of invocation, multiple names of deities, and seemingly “nonsense” words that hold mystical power.
Greek Magic
In Greece, Magic circles were protective necessities. However, this motif of the circle as protection against negative spirits is a constant theme in all cultures.
The ancient Greeks used prayers from priests as a spoken magic circle.
Charles Stewart, the author of Magic Circles, says,
“An exorcism prayer for clearing a space of evil spirits describes how the priest’s blessing establishes a circular ‘boundary of fire’ within which all terrestrial, aerial, and astral spirits will be bound and rendered subordinate to Christ and the saints.”
Hermetic Magic, Golden Dawn, Thelema, and Others
A significant tradition exists within the magical Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. They named this tradition the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram or LBRP.
Physically, you will draw out pentagrams representing the four cardinal directions. The archangels are usually the magic circle and will not have markings. The figures you draw and envision form a protective circle around you.
Wicca
In the early 1900’s and was popularized afterward by Gerald Gardner, the creator of the Wiccan religion.
In Wicca, a magic circle is typically nine feet in diameter, though the size can vary depending on the purpose of the circle, and the preference of the caster.
Some varieties of Wicca use the common ceremonial color attributions for ‘quarter candles’: yellow for air in the east, red for fire in the south, blue for water in the west and green for earth in the north (though these attributions differ according to geographical location and individual philosophy).
Have you ever been told that you can’t enter a circle or leave a circle once it has been cast? That is a wiccan belief and actually doesn’t spread across all castors when it comes to magic circles. This is because wiccans believe the barrier is believed to be fragile, so that leaving or passing through the circle would weaken or dispel it. This is referred to as “breaking the circle”. It is generally advised that practitioners do not leave the circle unless absolutely necessary.
In order to leave a circle and keep it intact, Wiccans believe a door must be cut in the energy of the circle, normally on the east side. Whatever was used to cast the circle is used to cut the doorway, such as a sword, staff or knife (athame), a doorway is cut in the circle, at which point anything may pass through without harming the circle. This opening must be closed afterwards by reconnecting the lines of the circle. The circle is usually closed by the practitioner after they have finished by drawing in the energy with the athame.
Purposes
Casting a circle can have many purposes to benefit your magical workings and practices. What purpose you are meaning to use it for as well will help you determine when and how to cast one in your magical workings, practices and even in your daily life.
Create Intentional Space
Part of casting a circle is about mindset. It allows us to shift out of the mundane world and into the sacred. As you get used to casting a circle, it will start to signal to your body and brain that you’re entering into a ritual space, and your energy will likely begin to shift automatically. Your body, brain, soul, and spirit will automatically shift into a more grounded, mindful, and energetic state.
Protection
When you open yourself up to working with energy, it’s important to protect yourself from unwanted energies. Working with magic and ritual, especially any astral or Akashic work, it can leave us vulnerable to unwanted energies coming in. When you cast a circle you are creating a potent extended barrier of energy around you and your space to help you filter the energies you are allowing in. It can be even more potent if you add deities, other entities, guides, the watch towers, elements, and more.
Focus the energy of your workings
Casting a circle isn’t just about keeping unwanted energy out; it’s also about keeping the desired energy in. Our magic is more powerful when we can focus it in a specific direction, rather than let it scatter and diffuse. An energetic circle helps us gather and concentrate more energy to support the purpose of our magical workings!
When to cast a circle
So, when should you cast a circle you ask? Again, the possibilities really are endless and there isn’t just one answer to when you should be casting a magic circle. For example, you can cast a magic circle of protection around yourself before you leave on a long trip in your car or flying in a plane. Or you can do one when you are taking a ritual bath, calling down the moon, creating a spell jar, on Samhain, and even during meditation. The list really is endless. You can cast a circle whenever you feel you need to use its magical and energetic purposes in your life. Here is a list of some more idea below;
Any pagan holidays or festivals
When honoring the Wheel of the year
When doing divination
While calling down the moon
Shadow work
During cleansing
Meditation
Spell work/ Casting
When working with a deity
Coven/ group work
When in need of protection
When you need to focus
For amplification purposes
Astral travel
Akashic/ Spirit Work
As Protection magic
When working with the Elements and/or planets
property/home magic
Where to Cast a Circle
I feel like I am going to sound like a broken record here but, guess what guys? Your possibilities for where to cast a circle are again going to be endless. You can cast one one your way to work in your car to help you with dealing with coworkers, you can cast one in your living room, your front yard, your bedroom for enhanced sex magic, literally the list could go on. It all just depends on the purpose you are using the circle for, the time you have to cast it, and how you want to do it. Then you just make sure your location fits all of those needs.
Do you have to cast a circle?
Is casting a casting a circle you have to do each time you cast, or do deity work, or celebrate Samhain? No, you don’t. Casting a circle is completely up to you. You can choose when you cast a circle, and if you even cast a circle at all. Most of the times when I am working with a deity I cast a circle but, not every time. Other magic workings like when I am making spell bags I have never cast a circle when doing. This is going to all be up to you and what you decide. One of the many beauties of this path.
What you’ll need to Cast a Circle
Depending on your practice, purpose, and space this could mean many different things. You could need nothing to cast your circle but yourself and a quite space alone or in a group. Or you may need representations of the four elements, a deity, the four directions, and the list could go on. So, this is really going to be up to you.
Some common items you may need when casting a circle will be listed.
A bowl of salt or herbs to represent earth
A chalice of Water
A wand or Athame
Incense or feather to represent Air
Candles to represent fire
Crystals
Images of deities
Statues of deities
Offerings
Anything you can use to outline your physical circle if you choose to like flowers, salt, flour, branches, rocks, etc.
Prep for your circle
So, you know you’re going to be casting a magic circle. Is there any prep for casting one? Yes, for every type of circle casting there is at least a little bit of prep. I say this because, even if you are doing a quick one in your car or a daily one in the mirror at home you still have some prep work.
Your prep work for casting a circle will look different every time as a whole but, each time you need to decide what is the purpose of your circle you are going to cast, do you need to cleanse and prep your space, will you be physically drawing your circle and do you need any tools? Once you answer those questions then you do what needs to be done. You decide the purpose, you grab any tools if needed and you cleanse the space if you need to. If you decide to cleanse I like just doing a simple smoke cleanse with incense or an herb bundle. After that your next step to prep work is to go to your chosen space, physically draw your circle if you chose and than get grounded, enter sacred space, take some deep breaths and get ready for your visualization and circle casting.
How to Cast Circle
There are so many ways to cast a circle. It’s my belief that magical practice is always more powerful when it is YOURS. When you take the time to study it, sit with it, experiment with it and develop it to be your own personal magic and style. However you choose to cast your circle, one thing is common: you’ll work with visualization and energy.
Below is one example of how to cast a circle using the four directions and elements;
Center yourself with a few deep, grounding breaths.
Let your eyes close and start to call on the elements.
Starting in the East, with the element of Air, speak aloud to invite the energy of Air, of breath, of voice, of mind, to hold the circle.
Then turn your focus to the South, the element of Fire, and speak aloud to invite the energy of Fire, of transformation, of passion, of the sun, to hold the circle.
Turn your focus again to the West, the element of Water, and speak aloud to invite the energy of Water, of feeling, of surrender, of the ocean, to hold the circle with you.
Lastly, turn your focus to the North, to the element of Earth, and speak aloud to invite the energy of Earth, of holding, of soil, of forests, to hold the circle.
Feel the shift in your body and your space as the circle forms. Visualize a golden circle of light around you, supported by the powerful energy of each of the elements, holding a sacred and safe container for you.
When you feel ready, say out loud: “The circle is now cast.”
When you need a quick circle for protection in public places, here’s how to cast a simple circle:
Relax your body and mind as much as possible.
Cleanse your body with 5 deep breaths and allow the tension to leave your body.
Close your eyes (if you can) and visualize a bright white light bursting from the top of your head.
Continue visualizing – this white light now showers over your body, forming a circle from head to feet.
Hold the image of an impenetrable, shining white bubble. This circle protects from energetic intrusion. Hold the image as long as you can and it will protect you for the day.
How to Cast a Circle for Pagan Rituals (AKA Calling the Quarters)
For pagan rituals and sabbats, after cleansing and preparation
Stand at the North point of the circle (have your wand/athame ready, if you use one.) Turn and draw a circle with your wand, ending where you are standing in the north.
Then, take a breath and envision a cave of impenetrable crystals encircling you.
Face the north, raise both arms, and say, “I call on the element of Earth. Nourish and protect us this magical night.”
Walk towards the east. Envision a powerful, illuminated wind encircling you.
Face the East and say, “I call on the element of Air. Inspire and guide us this magical night.”
Turn from the east and walk towards the south. Envision a fire that ignites passion and power from deep within you.
Stand facing the south and say, “I call on the element of Fire. Ignite our spirits and empower us this magical night.”
Now turn and walk towards the west. Envision a gentle rain falling all around.
Stand facing the west and say, “I call on the element of Water. Give us powers of dream and intuition and purify us this magical night.”
Next, stand in the middle of the circle and visualize a white bubble of light where you walked the circle. This circle isn’t just one dimensional – it reaches above your head and below your feet forming a perfect sphere.
At this point, you may call the ancestors or gods of your choice (this is optional).
Say, “The circle is cast. Let no one enter or leave the circle until it is released.” Proceed with the ritual.
An example of one of my circle Castings
My circle castings change every single time I do one. When I am casting for my home and property I will physically create one with the points of my property and items, when I do shadow work I at times will invoke deities, sometimes I use just my energy and others I use crystals and all the elements. I follow my intuition and the purpose I have for this particular circle.
Below is a short example of what I usually include in a circle casting in most of classes and rituals; ( Each element part changes each time)
I call to the spirit and guides to each and every soul in this circle.
I ask that you encircle us in protection, guidance, connection, and wisdom.
I call to guardians and gatekeepers of the four directions and I thank you ever so much for turning your gaze towards us and I ask for you to join us.
I call to the direction of east and the element of Air
For you are the breath in my lungs the reason I can breath
You bring transformation and wisdom on your wides of change each time you blow through my life.
I honor your breath, your power of change and that you are my breath of life.
I ask you element of air to hold the eastern gateway
I call to the direction of south and the element of fire.
You are my passion, my spark, and the ember in my soul for motivation.
You teach me to blaze and burn brightly to be a guide in the dark and warmth to those who seek my shelter.
To have passion and desire and also to know when to use my flames to burn those who need to be taught a lesson
I ask you element of fire to hold the southern gate.
I call to the guardians and gatekeepers of the direction of west and the element
Of water.
You teach me water that your depths are vast and deep and moving in your tides can cause your to drown or float just like our emotions.
You teach me to swim with grace when I need to and float when your depths call.
You are the life force for each living being and the reason earth is so very unique.
I call to you element of water and ask you to hold the western gate this evening.
I call to the guardians and gatekeepers of the direction of north and the element of Earth.
You are the home of every living being.
You are the resting place of every ancestor of every line and every generation.
You are where we all begin and where we all end.
You are the populated cities and the vast uncharted territories yet to be found.
I call to you element of earth and ask you to hold the northern gateway.
I call to the guardians and gatekeepers, spirit guides, inter dimensional beings, elementals, any deities, and all other entities willing to protect, guide and assist of both above and below and thank you so very much for holding those gateways.
Amen. Aho. So mote it is
Other ways to Enhance a Circle
You can make casting a circle as simple or as complex as you’d like. Here are some other ways you can choose to enhance and cast your circle.
Place your Ritual Deck element or direction cards around you in each of the corresponding directions.
Place physical items representing each of the elements around in the corresponding directions. Learn more about how to represent each of the elements here.
Place four crystals around you in each of the corresponding directions. Hematite or snowflake obsidian work well for Earth/North, amethyst or kyanite for Air/East, citrine or pyrite for Fire/South, and moonstone or carnelian for Water/West.
Place four lighted candles around you in each of the corresponding directions. A black or brown candle for Earth/North, a yellow or purple candle for Air/East, a red or orange candle for Fire/South, and a blue silver candle for Water/west
Walk the circumference of the circle.
Use a wand or athame (ritual knife) to draw the circle around you.
Physically draw your circle using salt, sugar, or flour
Add offerings and image of deities or other entities
Add sigils at the four directions and/or corners
The Elements Vs. The Guardians of the Watchtowers
Some people prefer to invoke the elements when casting a circle, while others call on the guardians of the watchtowers. What’s the difference between the two? When the elements earth, air, fire, and water are invoked to cast a circle, we are calling those elements specifically and the energy they bring. When the guardians of the watchtowers are called, we invoke the highest beings that watch over each directional point and related element. These are sometimes seen as gods and goddesses, sometimes seen as angels.
Breaking a Circle
Have you ever been told you can’t enter a circle once the castor has begun or that if you leave you can not re enter or you will be ending the circle for everyone? Are these things true? I am not going to say it’s a definite no. For some the answer is yes. For others like many wiccans, you have to open a door by cutting one in the circle using your left hand and athame. For others like myself I don’t think it is true unless I make the decision for it to be true. I believe your circle is being constructed with your energy which means you get to decide if no one else can enter, if they can under certain circumstances, or if anyone can enter at anytime.
Closing Your Circle
You cast your spell, meditated for shadow work, focused your energy, or cast protection now what? Now, you have to make sure to do one more important thing, close your circle. Your circle is a sacred energetic space you created and you are also energetically keeping it in existence. When your circle has served its purpose and intention do not forget to thank your circle for how it assisted you and then ask it to be released/ dispelled and your energy to come back to you or go to where it came from.
Wrap Up
Casting a circle in magic has a long history across many cultures and practices and how you choose to cast yours is up to you. Remember it may change each time as well. Experiment with it and decide what works best for you, using the elements, tools, the directions, a deity, or just yourself. It really is up to you! And remember you can decide to never cast one as well and that’s okay though I really think you should give it a try the benefits are worth it!
To expand your knowledge about this magic or if you’d rather listen than read; you can watch my free class with Divination Academy on YouTube below!