Category: prosperity

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Celebrate the Chinese new year with the wood snake

The 2025 Chinese new year celebrated alongside the lunar new year falls on January 29th . Marking the end of winter and the beginning of the spring season, Chinese New Year celebrates looking to the future for new beginnings with themes of happiness, health family, and good fortune. This Chinese new year marks the arrival of the Wood Snake, a rare and meaningful combination that appears only once every 60 years. This year of the Snake signifies introspection, subtle power, and transformative growth. It embodies a quiet yet potent and sometimes lethal energy capable of illuminating hidden paths and fostering deep emotional and spiritual understanding. Its strategic, resourceful nature makes it an excellent year for long-term growth. Come with me and slither through this blogpost to learn how to welcome the lunar new year and coil up with the energy that it holds.

First, what is the Chinese new year

Of all the traditional Chinese festivals, the new Year was perhaps the most elaborate, colorful, and important. This was a time for the Chinese to congratulate each other and themselves on having passed through another year, a time to finish out the old, and to welcome in the new year.

The Chinese New Year is a festive celebration at the beginning of the Chinese calendar new year. It has a long and exciting history, and there are many wonderful traditions, meals, and activities to be enjoyed during the holiday. It is also a chance for families to clean their homes and set forth their intentions for the new year. 

The Chinese New year can also be called by other names as well, like the spring festival due to it’s timing with the changing of the seasons and it ushering in spring. It also known as the lunar new year since it starts on a new moon and is based on the lunar calendar.

When is the Chinese new year celebrated?

The Chinese New year is celebrated on the first day of the First Moon of the lunar calendar. The corresponding date in the solar calendar varies from as early as January 21st to as late as February 19th. This year it falls on January 29th 2025. Chinese New Year, just like the Western new Year, signifies turning over a new leaf and starting something new. Socially, it is a time for family reunions, and for visiting friends and relatives. This holiday, more than any other Chinese holiday, stresses the importance of family ties and bonds.

 Traditionally, the holiday lasts sixteen days. The first week is considered a public holiday, and the sixteen days are split into different parts of the celebration. For example, the Lantern Festival is generally hosted on the 15th day, and is one of the most looked-forward-to events. The Chinese New Year is teeming with unique traditions and mythologies. The celebrations includes beautiful outfits, delicious food, and lots of colorful decorations and entertainment. Each region of China and Chinese cultures around the world have their own unique traditions and ways of encouraging hope, prosperity, and positivity for the new year. 

History of the Chinese New Year

The history of Chinese New Year dates back over 3,500 years. Each unique religion and culture around China has its own mythology and tradition related to the Chinese New Year, but most stories agree that it has to do with appeasing ancient deities.

One of the most popular myths associated with the celebrations of the near has to do with a mythical beast. Nian, a mythical beast, would appear during the Spring Festival and eat the villagers every single year. Than one year an old man appeared in the village and hung red paper lanterns and decorations, and set off fireworks to scare him away. When the villagers returned to the town, they saw that Nian had not destroyed it, as in previous years. Red decorations and clothing became associated with the holiday, and thus, the tradition of setting off fireworks for the holiday evolved, as well.

Much of the history is also rooted in praying to the gods for a good harvest since Chinese culture is deeply rooted in agriculture.

Common traditions for the Chinese new year

Sweeping of the Grounds

Preparations for the Chinese New Year in old China started well in advance of the New Year’s Day. The 20th of the Twelfth Moon was set aside for the annual housecleaning, or the sweeping of the grounds Every corner of the house must be swept and cleaned in preparation for the new year. Spring couplets written in black ink on large vertical scrolls of red paper, were put on the walls or on the sides of the gate-ways. These couplets, short poems written in Classical Chinese, were expressions of good wishes for the family in the coming year. In addition, symbolic flowers and fruits were used to decorate the house, and colorful new year pictures (NIAN HUA) were placed on the walls (for more descriptions of the symbolism of the flowers and fruits.

Family Celebration

On the last day of the old year, everyone was busy either in preparing food for the next two days, or in going to the barbers and getting tidied up for the New Year’s Day. Tradition stipulated that all food be pre-pared before the New Year’s Day, so that all sharp instruments, such as knives and scissors, could be put away to avoid cutting the “luck” of the New Year. The kitchen and well were not to be disturbed on the first day of the Year.

The New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day celebrations were strictly family affairs. All members of the family would gather for the important family meal on the evening of the New year’s Eve. Even if a family member could not attend, an empty seat would be kept to symbolize that person’s presence at the banquet. At midnight following the banquet, the younger members of the family would bow and pay their respects to their parents and elders.

Lai-See

On New Year’s Day, the children were given Red Lai-see envelopes , good luck money wrapped in little red envelopes. On New Year’s day, everyone had on new clothes, and would put on his best behavior. It was considered improper to tell a lie, raise one’s voice, use indecent language, or break anything on the first day of the year. Starting from the second day, people began going out to visit friends and relatives, taking with them gifts and Lai-See for the children. Visitors would be greeted with traditional New year delicacies, such as melon seeds, flowers, fruits, tray of togetherness, and NIANGAO, New Year cakes.

There are a few guidelines for the money in red Lai-see envelopes. Only clean, unwrinkled bills should be put in red envelopes; it’s considered in poor taste to include old or wrinkled bills. Red Lai-see envelopes should contain even amounts of money and certain numbers are considered more auspicious than others. The amount of money shouldn’t have the number four in it (eg. 4, 40, 44, etc), because the word for “four” sounds like the word for “death” and is considered unlucky. However, it’s considered lucky to have amounts of money with the number eight in it, because the word for “eight” sounds like the word meaning “to prosper”.

Firecrackers Are Set Off
At the beginning of the legend, firecrackers were used to scare away the monster Nian from the village in order to protect the villagers. Many of the Chinese legends tell of using fireworks to scare away”evil” spirits and to prevent poor luck in the new year.

In modern times, fireworks are used to both symbolize the ancient tradition and also to evoke a celebratory mood. All of the firecrackers set off during the Chinese New Year celebration are red, to invite all the good luck. It is also a way to express happiness and joy. In fact, Chinese New Year is the event with the greatest number of fireworks released every year—upwards of a billion!

Lion dance

The lion dance is another one of the Chinese New Year symbols that originated from the story of Nian. Except in this version of the story, instead one one man scaring away the monstrous Nian, the whole village came together to bang on pots to make noise, and to create a large lion that would scare Nian away. The Chinese New Year lion dance honors this story by having people play percussive instruments (drums symbols and gongs) while two people perform a dance in an elaborate lion costume. One person acts as the head of the lion, and the other person acts as the body, performing acrobatic movements to mirror way a lion would move in time with the music. The dance begins with the lion asleep. Once he is woken up by the instruments, the lion shakes, gets up and beings playing.

He then becomes hungry and begins to search for food. This hunt for food is called “plucking the greens”, during which he searches high and low to retrieve auspicious foods like lettuce and mandarin oranges which are attached to red envelopes. He eats the lettuce and oranges and “spits out” good fortune to everyone nearby, keeping the red envelopes for the dancers. The lion dance is thought to ward off evil spirits and bring prosperity and good fortune to everyone nearby, especially those who catch the food that the lion “spit out”

Dragon dance

Like the lion dance, the dragon dance is another one of the Chinese New Year symbols that ushers in prosperity and good fortune for the coming year, and wards off evil spirits. While the dragon dance also involves music and movement the two dances are very different. Instead of using two people like the lion dance, the dragon dance uses many people. The size of the dragon dances vary, but usually have over 9 people.

Each person is holding a pole which is supporting part of a serpent-like dragon body. One person stands in front of the dragon, holding a ball attached to pole which represents a “Pearl of Wisdom”. The person holding the pearl uses it to lead the dragon around on a quest for wisdom, knowledge and truth. The people puppeteering the dragon body have to follow the pearl, in time with the percussive elements of the music.

Lucky Chinese New Year foods

Gathering with family to share a meal and leaving food offerings for ancestors are important traditions during the Spring Festival. All of the foods chosen are Chinese New Year symbols that each have a special meaning that corresponds with a wish for the new year.

  • One important Chinese New Year foods you’re bound to see is fish. The word for “fish” sounds like the word for “surplus” so whole fish are eaten to usher in abundance in food and wealth for the coming year. In addition to being served whole, images of fish are also used as decorations to attract abundance.
  • The shape of dumplings (also called jiaozi) resemble the yuanbao, which was a type of ancient currency made from ingot (silver, gold or other metal). Eating dumplings is thought to attract wealth. The more you eat, the wealthier you are believed to become.
  • Tang yuan is a traditional Chinese New Year dessert which is served during the Lantern Festival consisting of sweet rice balls with a black sesame filling. Their name and round shape signify family unity and togetherness.
  • Tangerines and oranges on Chinese New Year are believed to bring luck and wealth for the coming year because the word for “tangerine” sounds like the word for “luck”. The golden color of oranges and tangerines also correlates to wealth.
  • Another golden food that symbolizes wealth is the spring roll, also called chun juan. Not only does their color resemble wealth, but their shape is also looks like gold bars.
  • Make sure not to cut your noodles if you normally do so, because eating long, unbroken noodles in the dish called longevity noodles is believed to encourage longevity in life. It’s also bad luck to cut anything during Chinese New Year, because it is viewed as cutting off your luck.
  • Fa gao, also known as “prosperity cake” or “fortune cake” is a popular dessert made from rice flour and steamed until the top splits. The more sections formed by the split in the top denotes how lucky a person will be in the coming year.
  • Another lucky dessert, nian gao or “year cake” is made from sticky rice flour and can be sweet or savory. The name of this dessert sounds just like the words for “higher year” which symbolize progress, success and a better year than the last.

The importance of wearing red

Red is associated with the colors used to scare away the monster Nian, but it also has other meanings as well. Traditionally, it stands for good luck in Chinese culture and is used to keep away any spirits who might harbor bad fortune. Wearing red is traditional for Chinese New Year, in order to welcome in the new year with good fortune, but you can also wear bold or bright colors for the celebratory mood, as well. You’ll also want to decorate with red around your home. Decorations include paper cuttings, which are intricate and narrative. They often represent symbols from mythology or of good blessings for harvest. Other decorations include Door Gods, red lanterns, calligraphy fortunes, paintings, and more.

The importance of the FU character

The Chinese fu character, meaning good fortune and blessings, is one of the most commonly found Chinese New Year symbols. It is written on a red, diamond shaped piece of paper, which is often hung upside down on the outside of the front door. The reason these fu papers are hung this way is because the word for “upside down” is similar to the word “arrive”. Hanging the fu character upside down signals that good fortune and blessings will arrive at your home for the new year.

The Chinese Zodiac

Chinese Zodiac animals are another one of the important Chinese New Year symbols. Each year is assigned one of the twelve animals in the Chinese Zodiac in a very special order. This order is determined from one of the most well known Chinese mythological tales. The twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac are; the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. The tale that tells us their order is the great race and it goes like this. The story goes that the Jade Emperor, the ruler of heaven and earth, held a race to create a calendar and a way to measure time. This race was a call to his dear animal friends to race across the river to him when upon their arrival they would a special meal and celebration together. There are a few different version for the telling’s of what actually happens during the race. But below is the most commonly accepted version for the results.

The rat and the cat were good friends, but they were poor swimmers. They asked the ox to carry them across the river, and he agreed. However, the rat tricked the ox by pushing the cat into the river and then leaping onto the ox’s head to finish first. The ox came in second place followed by a wet tiger after that. The rabbit was having a hard time hopping from stone to stone across the river, when suddenly a log floated by. The rabbit hopped onto the log and it drifted him quickly to shore. Little did the rabbit know that just behind him was the dragon. The dragon saw the little rabbit in need and graciously blew wind to carry the log all the way to shore. The Jade emperor was curious and asked the dragon why it came in fifth place when it could fly. It turns out, the dragon had been distracted from the race by a village that was in drought. The dragon provided rain to save the village then continued the race and was declared the fifth zodiac animal by the emperor. The snake, hid in the horse’s hoof to cross the river, then jumped out to scare the horse into seventh place. Next, a raft floated up to the finish line carrying the friendly ram, the playful monkey and the talkative rooster. The three of them had teamed up and crossed the river together. So, ram was eighth, monkey ninth, and in tenth place was the rooster. The dog, made it across the river, but spent too much time playing in the water and came in eleventh. The pig Stopped to eat and fell asleep, finishing in last place. The Jade Emperor assigned the pig the final space in the zodiac

It may sound odd but, if you want to get a really deep look at this tale and how each zodiac animal really manifests in humans there actually is a really amazing anime about it. Go check out fruit baskets.

The year of the snake

The snake, being the sixth animal in the zodiac, is set to take center stage in 2025. The Year of the Snake is associated with transformation, renewal, and spiritual growth. Snakes are known for their ability to shed their skin, symbolizing the process of letting go of the old and embracing the new. Snakes are everything you aspire to be: smooth, sneaky, and completely unbothered by the opinions of others. They’re the passive-aggressive MVPs of the animal kingdom. They slither through life with the grace and determination to get to there next goal. Never being afraid to strike out with a venomous bites to protect yourself and your way of life. The snake is also a symbol of wisdom, cunning, and adaptability. This year with the influence of the snake you can expect new opportunities and challenges that will test our skills and resilience. This year of the Snake signifies subtle power, and transformative growth. It embodies a quiet yet potent energy capable of illuminating hidden paths and fostering deep emotional and spiritual understanding. Its strategic, resourceful nature makes it excellent for long-term growth. I am just about done with a special guide to dive into this snake energy for the year specifically. So, keep an eye out for that coming in just a bit!

How the element wood affects the snake

When it comes to the Chines New year not only is there an animal associated with each year but, also an element that dominates that years energy. This year we find ourselves in the element wood alongside the snake. Wood represents the energy of growth, and is known for it’s flexibility that paired with the energy of the snake makes this a year of massive transformative energy. The last time we had a wood snake year was 1965 — the Vietnam War, the space race and the first space walk, Malcolm X’s assassination, the civil rights movement and the race riots, and the Beatles and the Rolling Stones tour the world. The snake’s strategic and introspective nature is complemented by the element of wood, which fosters growth, balance, and connection with nature. In the Year of the Wood Snake, the “Wood” element signifies a period of increased growth, flexibility, and creativity. Essentially, the Wood element softens the Snake’s typically reserved nature, adding a layer of compassion and a desire to nurture new beginnings. The influence of wood encourages our creative and innovative sides while the snake’s energy provides us with the strategic insights necessary to achieve our goals.

The Chinese new year and duality

Since, I am a grey witch I look for the duality in every single energy I work with including sacred times like the Chinese new year. Even though this is a holiday and celebration focused on family, good luck, and prosperity which is a very wanted energy there is a duality to this celebration. Remember the myth we talked about with Nian? The mythological beast that came up from the ocean each year to eat villagers. That story reminds us that this time of the year is a liminal time where the veil is thin and protection from unwanted entities and spirits is needed. It also reminds us that often when we are celebrating our precious time with our families we are also reminded of a time we almost lost them or the ones we did lose already.

Correspondences for the Chinese New year

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, the zodiac energy the moon is currently or for A holiday or sacred time like the Chinese/ Lunar New year. I will list below for you to use. Remember this is not an all encompassing list and there may be other correspondences to use. Just follow your intuition and use what calls to you.

  • Planet- Jupiter
  • Animal-Snake
  • Element- wood
  • symbol- lanterns, zodiac animals, lai-see envelopes, couplets, fireworks, fu character, plum blossoms
  • colors-red, gold, white, black
  • Herbs/flowers-bamboo, fennel, cinnamon, star anise, Szechuan pepper, cloves, ginseng, Chrysanthemum, goji berries, peace lily, money plant, Anthuriums, bay leaves, Jade plants, peach, plum, Kumquat
  • Stones/ crystals-ruby, garnet, citrine, amethyst, peridot, jade, sapphire, clear quartz, aquamarine, black pearl, moonstone
  • Deities-The Year God: Also known as Tai Sui, Door Gods: Also known as Menshen, The Three Star Gods: Also known as Sanxing, The God of Wealth: Also known as Caishen, The Kitchen God, The City God, who is said to be the reincarnation of a human official from an earlier time
  • Food/drinks-Tang yuan, fish, dumplings, spring roll, also called chun juan, Fa gao, also known as “prosperity cake, nian gao or “year cake”, tangerines, plums, peaches, fruit, shrimp, chicken

How to celebrate the Chinese new year with the snake

Marking the end of winter and the beginning of the spring season, Chinese New Year celebrates looking to the future for new beginnings with themes of happiness, health, and good fortune. The New Year is frequently regarded as an occasion to gather and feast together as a family at a reunion dinner to honor household and heavenly deities, as well as ancestors. However, you choose to celebrate the chines new year and work with its energy just follow your intuition and do what feels right for you. Let’s take a look at some of the many different ways you can celebrate and work with the energy of the Chinese new year.

  • create an altar for your ancestors and leave offerings for them
  • Graveyard magic
  • Spread prosperity and good luck by handing out lai-see red envelopes
  • Read the myths and legends of the Chinese zodiac
  • Learn about the culture and region of the China
  • Perform lunar magic to welcome in the lunar new year
  • Sweep your entire home, declutter, deep clean, reorganize
  • hang up decorations like paper lanterns, couplets, and the color red
  • Practice calligraphy and you can even use it to create sigils to welcome in the lunar new year
  • Host a family get together eating traditional lucky foods
  • Cleansing and purification magic
  • Transformation spells
  • Do release work to let go of the past year and shed your old skin
  • work with the snake in your spells, rituals, and represent it on your altar
  • introspection and reflection based on transformation, creativity, and shedding old skins like shadow work.  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; and you can watch my free class previously taught on it through Divination here.
  • Set off some fireworks
  • Attend a lion or parade dance if you can
  • Divination like pulling cards
  • Good luck and abundance spells
  • host a family reunion
  • Give thanks and practice gratitude for the past year
  • Use the venom and bite of the snake to protect yourself with protection magic and baneful magic like hexes, curse, binding
  • Creativity express yourself with the snake
  • be flexible and adaptable with your plans and way to reach your goals like the wood and snake
  • Bathe in the moonlight

Final thoughts on the energy of 2025

2025 isn’t here to hold your hand or sing you a lullaby. It’s here to remind you that you’re a witch. You are a powerful and sovereign entity dammit, and sovereign beings don’t crumble, they conquer. So shed your old skin, step into your power, and slither into this year like the unapologetic, venomous conqueror you were always meant to be. Remember while you do this to never be afraid to show your teeth and strike with a venomous bite if someone gets in your way and threatens your way of life. Be fluid and slither with grace to get to where you need to go and don’t be afraid of the paths in the shadows. The shadows may be mysteries and dark but, in them wisdom can hide. We have a big year full of so much energy that is dynamic, and confrontational unfolding in front us. We won’t be able to slither and hide in the shadows from our purpose, our power, and our true identities anymore. But, we can use them to heal, transform, and find new paths in the dark. This is a year we will be forced to remove masks by completely shedding our skins. We will be forced to uncoil from a place of safety and warmth to find our true way in the world in and new creative way. We will be forced to stand up show our venomous bite and even strike back with a lethal blow when the timing is just right.

Have you been feeling stuck, emotionally unstable, missing joy in your life, or having a hard time connecting to yourself and your magic? Do you want to start the new year from a different headspace? I have the answer for you to start out this new year from a place feeling grounded, present, and ready to manifest your dream life. Come join me for this special one time only two day event teaching you how to integrate the practice of Mindfulness to your magic and life!

What is mindfulness? Mindfulness is the practice of purposely bringing one’s attention to the present moment without judgment. It allows you to move from just existing in life to thriving, get back to wise mind, create a place to heal and grow in, and most important of all, align you with joy while creating a life where you truly thrive! This skill is a core skill in DBT, the therapy that changed my life! To register for this special two day event visit the link below! https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/JY5UBMB2TA27L

Come join me for community, knowledge, and to restore the enchantment of magic in yourself and life today!

Don’t forget to head over to the shop today for eBooks, workshops, resources, and 1:1 services with me!

Facebook
Patreon
Pinterest
Email

About Me : I have been a solitary grey magic practitioner for 15 + years. First and foremost, I consider myself a mystic and seeker of all knowledge. I am dedicated to the restoration, and re-enchantment of Magic in society, across this realm, and in each and every soul I come across in life! I am here to create a container that promotes healing, duality, and raw authenticity. I do this by guiding you on your personal journey to understanding your unique magic and sacred contracts. I facilitate this for you through embracing your shadow, duality and learning to live in energetic balance while not wearing a mask. When you work and learn from me you do so from your “darkness” as much as your “light” and in a way to truly harness and accept it not to just go thru it on the way to your light. But, I teach you how to truly embrace it, work with it, and use it alongside your light as a partner. I hold up a mirror for you to be able to see your authentic reflection looking back. Then have the courage to take the next step and do the uncomfortable but vital inner work to completely remove your mask. By facing all of your past wounds, traumas, and hurts. Allowing you to see both the dark and light within your story and take each chapter and alchemize it into something that is so powerful. your unique internal flame will shine so bright you will always be able to go within and find it on a dark cold night. You will learn how to truly live in duality and energetic balance to allow growth, and alignment with your sacred contracts and purposes. to finally move on and truly let the things that hold you back in this life from healing and manifesting go. To see everything I offer; like personalized shadow work sessions, womb healing, eBooks for you to work through on your own, Tarot sessions for guidance and more! Go to my shop!

© 2025, modgepodgemystic LLC

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Celebrate New Years Eve with abundance, renewal, and protection Magic

New Year’s Eve is a liminal time exploding with the energy of renewal, transformation, and change. Marking the end of one calendar year and the beginning of another, it offers a secular reason for people to celebrate together. As we look upon a new calendar year full of possibilities and opportunities, it is important to start off the right way. Along with making resolutions, I like to ring in the New Year with a bit of magic aimed at accomplishing my goals. removing obstacles over the next twelve months, calling in abundance, and protection. This is a time for celebrating the changing seasons by incorporating spells into your New Year’s Eve festivities. Doing this can set the tone for a vibrant, abundant, and magical calendar year ahead.

What is the new year?

The new year is a symbolic time to say goodbye to the old and welcome the new. The new year is the beginning of a new calendar year. The new year is celebrated on January 1st in most countries that use the Gregorian calendar, including the United States. However, the new year is celebrated on different dates in other calendars, such as the Chinese, Jewish, and Islamic calendars.

History of the New year

While it seems secular now, New Year’s is actually very much tied to ancient pagan celebrations. Many of our modern traditions are passed down to us from the ancients cultures and peoples. New year celebrations go back at least to the Babylonians. The Romans took these celebrations to the next level with copious amounts of drinking, feasting, and partying.

The new year hasn’t always been celebrated on December 31st/ January 1st. In 2000 B.C. the new year was celebrated around the time of the vernal equinox, in mid-March, in Mesopotamia. Today, most New Year’s celebrations start on New Year’s Eve, December 31, the final day of the year on the Gregorian calendar, and continue through New Year’s Day on January first.

The New Year a Liminal Time

As the old year fades away and the new one begins, we find ourselves in a liminal space. This is a time of transition and transformation, when anything is possible. It’s a time when we sit on the edge of one calendar year turning a page for another one to begin. The liminal space between one year ending and another beginning is a special time that should be embraced fully!

The New Year a time of abundance

When the calendar new year comes again it opens up a portal of abundance and wealth. The transition from one year to the next is seen as a chance to “clean the slate” and start anew, creating an optimistic outlook for the future. This includes the abundance of having all our needs met in life. This is a time when we set our intentions for the year ahead and what we all want to manifest. So, on this new years eve we do our best to have our life look like what we wish to manifest in the year ahead. We surround ourselves with an abundance of feasting, drinking, being around community, and loved ones as we ring in the new year ahead. We show the universe and the gods and goddesses all we wish for them to give us in the year ahead.

The New Year a time of reset

The calendar New year is the closing of one new year and the opening of another opening of a new one. This new start comes with a naturally feeling of renewal and reset. It is a chance to press the reset button on our lives, a chance to get it right this time. This is a time to relook at all the past year and reset for something brand new you have never seen before to unfold in front of you. If you want to learn how do to reset your entire life this new year’s eve check our my guide here.

Common folklore traditions

There are many different folklore and traditions around the world for how to celebrate New Year’s Eve. New Year’s Eve is usually celebrated by most with gathering alongside friends and family. Popular rituals include serving food that symbolizes good fortune and making resolutions focused on what one hopes to accomplish in the next year. Along side doing things to draw in good fortune and to protect yourself and the home from unwanted spirits to come into your home. Let’s take a look at some of the many but, certainly not all, of the ancient traditions and folklore from across the earthly realm I have found below.

  • Ancient Babylonians celebrated the new year with feasts and returning farm equipment that had been borrowed from others.
  • In Norse traditions, Yule celebrations ended around the new year. The last feasts of the Winter Solstice were huge on this final night to celebrate the turning of the wheel.
  • In both Ancient Egyptian and Greek societies they paraded a baby around to symbolize the beginning of the new year.
  • The romans would kiss each other at midnight to bring love and prosperity into the next year plus to also ward off unwanted and malevolent spirits.
  • For the Aztecs, this was a time to sacrifice children by drowning in order to buy the favor of the rain gods.
  • DON’T do any laundry on New Years Day. In china it’s thought if you do laundry on New years you are setting up your next year to be full of cleaning
  • Do NOT cry, crying on January 1st instills a sad and negative mood throughout the next 12 months.
  • Make sure you wake up at dawn. In fact, according to a Polish tradition, getting up early on New Year’s Eve will make you wake up to the crowing of the rooster (and without the slightest effort) for the rest of the year.
  • If your dream for the next year is to travel the world on New Year’s Eve in Colombia, people go around with an empty suitcase which, according to ancient superstition, would ensure a nice trip within the year.
  • Eat 12 grapes (one after the other) just like they do in Spain, where they are said to bring good luck.
  • Have black cabbage and lentils be apart of your new years feast like the do in the southern United states to call in good luck, prosperity, and wealth
  • According to the ancient Chinese tradition, on New Year’s Day, you should not clean the house, as removing the dust or sweeping the floor would literally “sweep” away the good luck and the good vibes that would have been attracted by the celebrations and decorations dedicated to the new year.
  • Observe the weather in the very early hours of January 1st; if the wind blows from the south, the new year will be rich and prosperous; if instead, it comes from the north, then the new year will be problematic and turbulent, so better fasten your seat belts. The wind from the east also brings famines and calamities, while the wind from the west means that the new year will be rich and lush.
  • According to an Italian tradition, men and women should wear red underwear on New Year’s Eve if they want to find love, passion, good sex, and good luck in the next year to come.
  • If you live or are celebrating near a lake or ocean, try out this Brazilian ritual on New Year’s Eve, which involves jumping seven waves. With each jump, you make a wish for the upcoming year.
  • An ancient Persian New year’s tradition that is still celebrated by some in Iran is to light a bonfire and once you do you jump over it twice. On the first jump you say a blessing releasing your past years pain into the flame and then on the jump back. You say a blessing asking for the health of the flame to bless your life in the coming year ahead.
  • Eat round foods. In many cultures, eating round foods on New Year’s Eve is believed to bring prosperity and abundance in the new year. In Europe and the United States, people eat 12 round fruits to represent each month of the year. In the Philippines, people eat 13, which is considered a lucky number.
  • Smash pomegranates. In Ancient Greece, pomegranates were viewed as a symbol of abundance and luck. On new years eve people were seen smashing pomegranates outside their doors to bring good luck to the new year. The more pomegranate seeds spilled in the smash, the more luck you’ll have for the new year.
  • In Denmark, they break plates this tradition is done to ward off malevolent spirits and is symbolic of a fresh start to the new year.
  • Preparing mochi, which is a Japanese rice cake, on New Year’s is symbolic of renewal and is seen to bring about blessings for the year.
  • Grab some bread and bang the bread against the walls. The Irish believe that doing so wards off malevolent spirits and brings abundance to the coming year.
  • Danish tradition includes standing on the chair and “jumping” into the new year at midnight. It’s also believed that if you forget, it’s bad luck. ( I do this one every year)

The New Year and Duality

Since, I am a grey witch I look for the duality in every single energy I work with including sacred times like New year’s eve. I have always loved New Year’s Eve for it’s duality. It’s a time of reflection for me and a time to set my intentions for the new year. It’s a time to reflect on the past while looking towards the hope of the future ahead. It’s a time to not just look at what I want to change and let go of but, to congratulate myself for the all the mountains I climbed. It’s a time when I take a look at what worked from the past year and what didn’t. I am reminded of the constant ebb and flow in life, the constant change, and how to live in the balance of liminal transformation as one chapter ends and a new one begins.

Correspondences for the New year’s

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, the zodiac energy the moon is currently or for A holiday or sacred time like the calendar New year. I will list below for you to use. Remember this is not an all encompassing list and there may be other correspondences to use. Just follow your intuition and use what calls to you.

  • Planet-Jupiter, Mars, Venus, and Saturn
  • Animal-Deer, opossums, whichever Chinese zodiac we are in that Chinese New year
  • Element- All elements
  • symbol-sparkles, babies, fireworks, glitter, the clock, the Gregorian calendar, father time
  • colors-Silver, gold, red, white, black
  • Herbs/flowers- rosemary, clover, thyme, pine, cinnamon, Lavender, Basil, Oregano, Spearmint, Patchouli, bay leaves, sage, fennel, rose, Cardamom, mugwort, orange, apple
  • Stones/ crystals- carnelian, rose quartz, lapis lazuli, citrine, amethyst, malachite, tourmaline, clear quartz, smokey quartz, onyx, black jet, jasper, fluorite, moonstone, sunstone, pyrite, jade, amazonite, tigers eye
  • Deities-Janus, Celtic Holly King, Cronus, Strenua, Marduk, Tiamat, Hotei, Nehebkau, Osiris, Ganesha, Amun-Re, Odin, Frigg
  • Food/drinks- wines, beer, mead, collards, lentils, black cabbage, pork, soba noodles, mochi, rice cakes, fruits, round shaped foods, NO CHICKEN

Ways to work with the energy of New years

However you choose to work with the New year’s eve magic and energies make sure to follow your intuition where it leads you. Make sure you tap into the energies of abundance, renewal, and the closing of one chapter, and the opening of a new one. In your everyday life, you can work with any affirmations, mantras, and visualization work for abundance, new beginnings, endings, reflection, and the changing of the calendar year. Let’s take a look at some of the many different ways you can magical work with the energy of New year’s eve.

Imagine and set your New year SMART goals

One of the number one ways to celebrate new years eve is to sit down, let your imagination run wild and think of all the biggest and wildest goals you wish to set for the year ahead. This is the eve when you are observing the calendar year that you can really think big, let the walls down and don’t think about what you can’t have but, come from a mindset of abundance and focus on what you can have. But, don’t forget to not only let your imagination run with your goals but take the time to set them in a specific way by making them SMART goals. If you have been with me the last year I have written about SMART goals many times, but I do so because using this method changed how I was able to take those goals in my imagination and bring them to life. To learn all about SMART goals and how to set them this New Year’s eve head over to my guide here now!

Visualization

Visualization is great way to set intentions for the new year. This is going to be the practice I am really intentionally committing to this New years eve and all 2025 long. I’ve come to learn with my manifestation work in the past year just speaking things out loud is not enough. I must see myself already having what I want in my hands. So, close your eyes and imagine yourself surrounded by all of the things you want to manifest in the new year. Picture yourself living out your dreams, achieving success, and feeling fulfilled by all that you have accomplished. Hold onto this image as you move forward into the new year, knowing that it will come true if you put in the effort and stay focused on your goals.

Cast protection spells

New Year’s Eve is a liminal time where the energies around us are more susceptible to change. As we look upon a new year full of possibilities and opportunities, it is important to start off the right way. Protecting ourselves, our family, and our space is something essential to do before we commence into the new year. A New Year’s Eve Protection Spell can be a powerful tool to keep us safe and supported as we let go of the old year and prepare for the future. So cast those protection spells this New Year’s eve to protect you home, your family, and your life all year long. Ps. don’t forget to cleanse yourself, your tools, and your space as well before you cast your protection spells.

Reflection through Shadow work

Remember how New years eve is a liminal time. It is time when we are sitting on the edge of change and transformation. In order to move onto the next stage of evolution and change that we are greeting in the new year ahead we must first look back. We must look at the highest heights we reached and lowest depths we sank to down deep. We must decide what we want take from one chapter into the next and what we wish to leave behind. The best way to do this for me is through shadow work. 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; and you can watch my free class previously taught on it through Divination here.

Release work spells

As we go into the new year ahead with hope for a bright future we have to make sure we have left the things we no longer need in the past. One way to do this is to make sure we energetically and magically release the things from the past year. One of my favorite ways to do this on New year’s eve is to write down the things I wish to release. The patterns in the past year that no longer serve me and I no longer wish to repeat. Along with the blockages I met during the past year to align with the correct energies to manifest all of my goals being met. Once I write them down I wait until the clock strikes 12 then I read them out loud and burn them in fire to release the blockage from life. To no longer carry any of that into my new chapter of life.

Abundance and good luck spells

With a New calendar year unfolding before us on New Year’s Eve this is a day we can set ourselves up for a long and prosperous year ahead. We can tap into that unlimited potential this magical unknown year has for us. There are countless different traditions you can do like some we talked about above from around the earthy realm that will bring in abundance and good luck. Along with just as many spells. One really poplar one I like is to place a bowl of coins outside my threshold. When you return home for the first time in the new year (perhaps after a late-night party),bless them for everything you want in the new year to come. To get more ideas for abundance and good luck spells head over to my Pinterest where I have many or check out my abundance guide and my guide all about Thursdays magic.

This spell is my favorite one to do every single New Year’s Eve. It masters the liminal space and energy of change on the night, the magic and mastery of time to bring in a very abundant, vibrant, and magical life in 2025.

Shortly before midnight on New year’s eve Grab 12 candles, I prefer to use white or green, 12 coins, and an herb bundle made of rosemary, thyme, sage, and bay leaves. Take your candles and set them on the floor in front of in a circle to mimic a clock and place one coin under each candle. Then get yourself into sacred container while you focus on what it is you want to manifest in the next year ahead. Once you feel you have a clear vision in your head and your intent is set, sit with it until the clock strikes midnight. Once the you hear the clock chime, start lighting each candle in your circle starting at the top aka 12 o’clock and going clockwise until all 12 candles are lit. Don’t forget to focus on your intention you are setting for the year ahead as you light each candle in your magical clock. Once this is done go around your entire home and smoke cleanse your space bringing in your most abundant year yet. Let the candles burn until they go out on their own or if you are not comfortable with that for safety reasons burn them for 12 minutes for each candle and then blow them out by 1 as the time is met.

Other ways to work with New Year’s Eve

  • Divination-pull some cards or do some mirror scrying. Ps. don’t forget you can always book me for a reading in the shop
  • Create a new year altar
  • Perform a gratitude ritual like writing a list of all the things you are grateful for and reading them out loud to the multiverse
  • Cast fertility spells to speed up your manifestation work done on new years eve night
  • Do a chord cutting or uncrossing ritual for ties you no longer need in your life ( you can find both on my pinterest page)
  • Stay up until the stroke of midnight and jump over a fire to release the pain of the past year and welcome in the health of the new year
  • Work with snow magic for your manifestation and intention set his year
  • Place coins on your window seal, and/or throw them threw your front door, and/or bury them outside your threshold for a constant money flow all year long
  • Tie a bulb of garlic to a red string and hang it above your front door to ward off any ill will for the new year and break hexes from the past year
  • self care rituals and spells to promote self worth
  • Open your front door at midnight and make a lot of noise to keep unwanted spirits away.
  • Write a wish or resolution on a piece of paper and burn it on New Year’s Eve, ideally at midnight.
  • Open all of your windows and doors to help reset and cleanse for the year ahead
  • Right before midnight switch off the lights in your home then right at midnight flip them back on to bring in new light and to symbolize the changing moment of the year
  • DO NOT eat chicken or you will bring in bad luck all year
  • Meditation focused on reflection and new beginnings
  • Open your front door right at midnight to greet and welcome the new year into your home
  • Hang a horseshoe above your front door to bring good luck into your home
  • Make sure your wallet is full of money and maybe even add a herb of abundance in there as well like bay leaves or clover
  • Do dream work or travel to the astral realm for guidance in the new year
  • Start a dream journal and a bullet journal
  • Declutter and cleanse your technology like your apps, email, social media
  • Create a good luck talisman or spell bag to carry with you throughout the year to come
  • walk a labyrinth
  • Make a spell jar to harness the manifestation, abundance, and renewal energy of the new year
  • Wish magic
  • Create a simmer pot to cleanse, purify, and protect your home
  • Write a letter to your future self to open at a later date when you need it during the year
  • Start a gratitude jar
  • Go on an intentional and mindful nature walk
  • Have a bonfire with friends and family until dawn then release our wishes and blockages into the fire
  • drink, dance, feast, and be merry
  • Do some sex magic either solo or with a partner to manifest your goals for the new year

Final thoughts

The New Year has long been used as a time to purge the old and add new meaning to life. In witchcraft, this is done by focusing our energy towards personal goals and intentions. No matter what type of witchcraft practice we choose, the New Year is a great time to reflect on the past and set intentions for the future. Set your eyes high on your highest goals, reflect on the past year to release blockages, reset your life, and protect your family, yourself, and your home. The new year comes with this magical potential in the air swirling all around us, that anything is imaginable in the coming year. With the start of a new cycle upon us, we have a portal of possibility to start fresh, redefine our lives, and cast our vision for the life we choose to live this coming year.

Don’t forget to check out my New year’s blog from 2024 here as well!

Come join me the first Saturday of January to revolutionize how you set your goals for 2025. Let me show you hand in hand how to create my personal development plan. You will leave with your entire years worth of SMART goals planned, a way to keep yourself accountable, and have a clear path on how you meet every goal you set. https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/4ZKQ6FXMUGGEJ

Have you been feeling stuck, emotionally unstable, missing joy in your life, or having a hard time connecting to yourself and your magic? Do you want to start the new year from a different headspace? I have the answer for you to start out this new year from a place feeling grounded, present, and ready to manifest your dream life. Come join me for this special one time only two day event teaching you how to integrate the practice of Mindfulness to your magic and life!

What is mindfulness? Mindfulness is the practice of purposely bringing one’s attention to the present moment without judgment. It allows you to move from just existing in life to thriving, get back to wise mind, create a place to heal and grow in, and most important of all, align you with joy while creating a life where you truly thrive! This skill is a core skill in DBT, the therapy that changed my life! To register for this special two day event visit the link below! https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/JY5UBMB2TA27L

Come join me for community, knowledge, and to restore the enchantment of magic in yourself and life today!

Don’t forget to head over to the shop today for eBooks, workshops, resources, and 1:1 services with me!

Facebook
Patreon
Pinterest
Email

About Me : I have been a solitary grey magic practitioner for 15 + years. First and foremost, I consider myself a mystic and seeker of all knowledge. I am dedicated to the restoration, and re-enchantment of Magic in society, across this realm, and in each and every soul I come across in life! I am here to create a container that promotes healing, duality, and raw authenticity. I do this by guiding you on your personal journey to understanding your unique magic and sacred contracts. I facilitate this for you through embracing your shadow, duality and learning to live in energetic balance while not wearing a mask. When you work and learn from me you do so from your “darkness” as much as your “light” and in a way to truly harness and accept it not to just go thru it on the way to your light. But, I teach you how to truly embrace it, work with it, and use it alongside your light as a partner. I hold up a mirror for you to be able to see your authentic reflection looking back. Then have the courage to take the next step and do the uncomfortable but vital inner work to completely remove your mask. By facing all of your past wounds, traumas, and hurts. Allowing you to see both the dark and light within your story and take each chapter and alchemize it into something that is so powerful. your unique internal flame will shine so bright you will always be able to go within and find it on a dark cold night. You will learn how to truly live in duality and energetic balance to allow growth, and alignment with your sacred contracts and purposes. to finally move on and truly let the things that hold you back in this life from healing and manifesting go. To see everything I offer; like personalized shadow work sessions, womb healing, eBooks for you to work through on your own, Tarot sessions for guidance and more! Go to my shop!

© 2025, Modgepodgemystic LLC

Posted on by

Working with the Hindu Mother goddess of Abundance, sovereignty, and Beauty; Lakshmi

As one of the Great Mother goddesses, Lakshmi guides us from the darkness to the light. She helps us move from a mindset rooted in fear and lack into a mindset of love, abundance, and generosity. The Goddess Lakshmi is a beautiful Hindu goddess and one of the most prominent and worshipped one of the pantheon on top of that. She is one of the many forms of shakti or feminine energy. Lakshmi provides all kinds of abundance, such as wealth, happiness, beauty, and splendor. She gives, protects and nourishes. She holds the promise of material fulfilment and contentment. She is described as restless, and whimsical yet maternal full of boundless love. She is seen with her arms raised to bless and to grant those who put in the work. Lakshmi shows us how to transcend material wealth for spiritual progress. She is also the goddess of power, sovereignty, and helping lord Vishnu grant salvation. Lakshmi is the divine power and creative force of the universe that transforms dreams into reality. She is prakriti, the perfect creation: self-sustaining, self-contained Nature. She is maya, the delightful delusion, the dream-like expression of divinity that makes life comprehensible, full of beauty and truly worth living. She is shakti, energy, boundless, bountiful and overflowing with fertilty. To work with her is to rejoice in the wonders, beauty, and abundance of life. We call on Lakshmi to access the ocean of abundance that lies within, to find our radiant inner beauty, and to guide us on the path of our dharma. Join me in this blogpost, allowing Lakshmi to open the doors for you to a life brimming with prosperity, fulfillment, and over flowing with the glittering coins from her hands with divine grace and beauty.

Who is Lakshmi?

Lakshmi is one of the most important deities in Hinduism. She is considered the household goddess, meaning she is the most important deity to the family unit and home. She, is always present in the home and is worshiped daily. Her name comes from the word Laksya, meaning aim or goal. She is the goddess of wealth and prosperity, both material and spiritual. She is not only the goddess of prosperity, wealth, but also purity, generosity, and the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm. She is the wife of Vishnu. It is said she has taken different forms in order to be with him in each of his incarnations. Another important aspect about her is along with the goddesses Parvati and Saraswati, Lakshmi forms the divine trinity known as the Tridevi.

Lakshmi has many, many names as well. Her many epithets and names are listed below:

  • Padma: lotus dweller
  • Kamala: lotus dweller
  • Padmapriya: One who likes lotuses
  • Padmamaladhara devi: One who wears a garland of lotuses
  • Padmamukhi: One whose face is as beautiful as a lotus
  • Padmakshi: One whose eyes are as beautiful as a lotus
  • Padmahasta: One who holds a lotus
  • Padmasundari: One who is as beautiful as a lotus
  • Vishnupriya: One who is the beloved of Vishnu
  • Ulkavahini: One who rides an owl

Even more names of her are: Manushri, Chakrika, Kamalika, Lalima, Kalyani, Nandika, Rujula, Vaishnavi, Samruddhi, Narayani, Bhargavi, Sridevi, Chanchala, Jalaja, Madhavi, Sujata, Shreya and Aiswarya. She is also referred to as Jaganmaatha (‘Mother of the Universe’) in Shri Mahalakshmi Ashtakam. Rama and Indira are popular

Maha-Lakshmi- Mother goddess of creation

There are many different forms that Lakhsmi takes and is worshipped as each with their own unique purpose and energy. One of the most popular ones is when she is Maha-Lakshmi. Lakshmi is often differentiated from Maha-Lakshmi. While the former is the consort of Vishnu and the goddess of wealth, Maha-Lakshmi is viewed as an autonomous entity, the supreme embodiment of the mother-goddess. When worshipped as Maha-Lakshmi, Lakshmi is not visualized as a beautiful goddess seated on a lotus, pot in hand, but like a virginal warrior-goddess riding a lion, much like Durga.

Ancient Pancharatra texts that talk about Maha-Lakshmi consider her to be the root of all creation. In the beginning, they say, the cosmic soul—the unfathomable unmanifest Narayana—desired to create the cosmos. But he did not have the resources to do so. As he pondered over this problem, his dormant energy, his shakti, burst forth in a blinding light, manifesting as Maha-Lakshmi. Maha-Lakshmi placed the seed of divine desire in the palm of her hand and unleashed the dynamic forces of creation until the three worlds took shape and all forms of life came forth.

Lakshmi the goddess of abundance

Lakshmi embodies the abundance of nature and people celebrate her to invite the wealth of fertile lands. She is the embodiment of prosperity, her allure drawing souls like moths to a celestial flame. With eyes like lotus petals and a smile that births a thousand blessings, she dances upon golden lotus blooms. Her presence brings abundance; her touch turns poverty into opulence. Wherever Lakshmi treads, wealth follows, and her devotees that show true respect will thrive.

Lakshmi inspires us to contemplate the double meaning of abundance – abundance in the material realm and abundance in the spiritual realm. Lakshmi doesn’t tell us to let go of our aspirations and ambitions. It’s the opposite actually, Lakshmi is the one we pray to for guidance and help when we want to succeed in the material world. When we want abundance in the form of worldly success. Lakshmi is the goddess of prosperity, but earned prosperity. Lakshmi is on the side of the honest, good, and hard working. Lakshmi teaches us that good luck doesn’t come to those who wait, but to those who work for it and invite it into their lives by positive and hard working actions. We all have the ability to connect to the natural flow of abundance but, we must put in the movement of energy to get there.

The eight forms of Lakshmi

In Hinduism, Lakshmi is believed to have eight forms or manifestations, known as the Ashtalakshmi. Each form represents a different aspect of wealth, prosperity, and well-being. Each of these eight forms of Lakshmi is revered and worshipped in Hinduism for the blessings they bring in various aspects of life. The eight forms of Lakshmi are listed below.

  • Adi Lakshmi – The first form of Lakshmi, Adi Lakshmi, represents the primal energy of the universe and is associated with spiritual wealth.
  • Dhana Lakshmi – This form of Lakshmi is associated with material wealth and prosperity, and is often depicted holding a pot of gold or other treasures.
  • Dhanya Lakshmi – Dhanya Lakshmi is the goddess of agricultural wealth and is associated with crops, food, and nourishment.
  • Gaja Lakshmi – This form of Lakshmi is associated with power, strength, and courage. Gaja Lakshmi is often depicted riding on an elephant and holding lotus flowers.
  • Santana Lakshmi – Santana Lakshmi is the goddess of progeny and is associated with fertility, motherhood, and children.
  • Veera Lakshmi – This form of Lakshmi represents valor, bravery, and courage. Veera Lakshmi is often depicted holding a sword and shield.
  • Vidya Lakshmi – Vidya Lakshmi is the goddess of knowledge and wisdom, and is associated with learning, education, and the arts.
  • Vijaya Lakshmi – This form of Lakshmi is associated with victory, success, and accomplishment. Vijaya Lakshmi is often depicted holding a lotus flower and a sword, symbolizing success and determination.

Lakshmi the goddess of sovereignty

In Hinduism, Goddess Lakshmi is often associated with sovereignty, meaning she is considered the giver of not just wealth and prosperity, but also royal power and authority. This has made her a revered figure by kings and rulers who sought her blessings for their reign for 1000s of years. In this role she is known as Shreedevi, this is when the goddess makes kings out of men, bestowing them with sovereignty, splendor and royal authority. In this form, she is Vishnu’s shakti, the source of his divine power, which helps him to protect the universe by granting and handing out his salvation.

Lakshmi the goddess of beauty

Only Goddess Lakshmi is depicted as the epitome of beauty in Hindu scriptures because she is the most beautiful goddess according to all. No one is equal to her. She is the source of all beauty. Everyone gets beauty by her grace. She is viewed as not only the goddess of beauty, but also sweetness, purity and loveliness. Her grace and beauty made her into a beacon of light, attracting gods and demons alike. Radiating feminine warmth and love, she was so full of abundance and exquisite beauty. When Lakshmi emerged from the churning and milky ocean, all of the gods fell in love with her and wanted to marry her. They couldn’t take their eyes off her. One by one, they even started to court her and use all their fancy superpowers to try and seduce her until she finally chose her husband Lord Vishnu.

Family and Origin

Like most deities of Hindu mythology, Lakshmi’s origin story has many different versions. In her first incarnation, according to the Puranas, she was the daughter of the sage Bhrigu and his wife Khyati. Next, probably the best-known version featuring her birth, says she was born from the stirring of the primordial milky ocean by the gods and demons. It starts with a battle between “good” (the gods) and “evi”l (the demons). Lakshmi supported Indra, the god of war, in his battle against the demons. He successfully fought them off with her blessing until one day Indra was given a garland of flowers by a sage. He was not interested in the flowers and flung them aside. Lakshmi did not approve of this arrogant display so she left the gods’ world and entered the Milky Ocean.

After she left, the gods started to be less successful in most of their pursuits. People stopped making the offerings and the demons started to take over the world. Especially Indra needed Lakshmi’s blessing and support. He knew he was to blame for the problems after all. He went to Vishnu to ask for guidance. Vishnu and Indra gathered the gods together and they started to churn the Milky Ocean. After 1000 years, treasures began to rise, including an immortality elixir and lakshmi on her lotus. She helped restore the gods’ power and success in vanquishing the demons and restore the people’s reverence towards the gods.

Myths and legends

Lakshmi is present in quite a few myths and legends across multiple texts, religions and regions I couldn’t list them all. I talk about a few of the main ones throughout the blogpost. But, one of my favorite stories of Lakshmi personifies an attitude of generosity, compassion, and empathy. As the story goes, Lakshmi and her husband Vishnu were the manifest deities at a wealthy temple for the high-caste in Varanasi, India. One year, during the festival of Diwali, Lakshmi decided to visit the town’s untouchables ( less fortunate/ homeless) and bestow the untouchables ( less fortunate/ homeless) with food and money. Her generosity extended to both those who worshipped her and those who did not. A beautiful reminder that we are all worthy, whether we (or others) deem us to be worthy. Upon learning that Lakshmi has been spending time with the untouchables( less fortunate/ homeless), Vishnu becomes angry with her. She immediately flees and goes to live with a group of sweepers. Upon Lakshmi’s arrival, the sweeper community begins to prosper, there is an abundance of food and there is enough money for the sweepers to fix-up their homes. While the sweepers are being lifted up out of poverty Vishnu’s temple is falling into ruins, the community stops bringing offerings, and the surrounding trees begin to wither. Out of desperation, Vishnu finds Lakshmi and begs her to return. She obliges on one condition, that he may never restrict her ability to share her blessings again.

Worship of Lakshmi

Lakshmi has a long history of worship testified by the fact that her first hymn, the Shri Shukta, was added to the Rig Veda, the oldest and most revered of Hindu scriptures, somewhere between 1000 and 500 BC. People often worship Lakshmi at home for good luck in India and other regions of the world. In India, not only Hindus but also Buddhists and Jains worship and call too Lakshmi. Lakshmi is especially popular with women when it comes to her worship. She is thought to bless mothers seeking children and extending her maternal love. It is believed that Lakshmi goes only to those houses which are clean and where the people are hardworking. She does not visit the places which are unclean/dirty or where the people are lazy. When she is worshipped on her own, it is as the goddess of prosperity and luck; when she is worshipped with Vishnu, (her husband) it is in her role as mediator between us and him by handing out salvation.

Goddess Lakshmi’s Day; Friday
Fridays hold a place of significance in Hindu tradition as the chosen day to honor and invoke the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi. Known as “Shukravar” in Sanskrit, Fridays are dedicated to this revered deity who symbolizes wealth, fortune, and prosperity, When we perform rituals and practices on Fridays it is believed it creates a special connection with Lakshmi’s energy. Amplifying the potency of their intentions by her guiding us into the flow of abundance with her grace. This emphasis on Fridays as Lakshmi’s day underlines her role as the bestower of material abundance and spiritual well-being, making it an opportune time to seek her blessings.

Diwali

The festival of Diwali is the main festival dedicated to honoring her, though for many she is worshipped daily and all year round. Diwali, also known as Deepavali, or Deepawali, it is a festival that holds a profound place in the heart of Lakshmi’s worship. Diwali, at it’s heart, celebrates the victory of light over darkness, “good over evil”, and knowledge over ignorance. Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is typically celebrated over a period of five days, following the darkest day of the month after the new moon. Each day of the five day festival has its own significance and rituals.

Diwali celebrates the story and myth of the Ramayana in which Sita (an incarnation of Lakshmi) is stolen from Lord Rama by the demon Ravana. After the epic battle in which Rama won Sita back, the people lit candles along their path home to guide the way. So during Diwali, people light candles to guide Lakshmi into their homes. So, that she will bless them with good fortune in the upcoming year. Diwali is a time of profound significance and delightful customs. Families come together for prayer, feasting, and the exchange of blessings, while the night sky comes alive with fireworks, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness. I personally have celebrated this festival every year for the past 4 years. Every year those lights end up guiding in so much abundance no matter where my finances are at, they drastically increases after those nights. Two days before Diwali the festival of Dhantares also celebrates Lakshmi. People start new businesses and buy gold.

What does Lakshmi look like?

She is typically seated on an 8-petaled lotus. Lakshmi has four arms, each one signifying a transformative quality in human life:

  • The first arm symbolizes dharma – living a moral and ethical life in accordance with cosmic laws.
  • The second arm symbolizes .
  • The third stands for artha – material, natural abundance.
  • The fourth arm represents moksha – self-actualization.

In two of her hands, she is holding 2 lotuses, and in the other 2 hands, she is creating 2 mudras: abhaya (assurance) mudra and varada (giving) mudra. She is usually dressed in red or gold. She has long wavy hair. Often two elephants are by her side, anointing her with water. Cascades of gold coins are seen flowing from her hands, suggesting that those who worship her gain wealth.

The way she is depicted matters on which incarnation of her she is meant to represent. Like if Lakshmi is pictured as dark in complexion, it is to show that she is the consort of Vishnu. If golden yellow, that shows her as the source of all wealth. If white, she represents the purest form of Prakarti (nature) from which the universe had developed. The pinkish complexion, which is more common, reflects her compassion for creatures, since she is the mother of all. The lotuses, in various stages of blooming, represent the worlds and beings in various stages of evolution.

Lakshmi and duality

Since I am a grey witch every single energy I work with I look at how it can help me maintain balance and how it can represent the cosmic energy of duality. Many may overlook the duality of Lakshmi because, she is seen mainly as a mother goddess of “light” being the goddess of abundance, beauty, and prosperity. But, there is a duality aspect of her written about directly in sacred texts. The Vaishnava legends claim that Alakshmi the twin of Lakshmi is the embodiment of Halahala. She is the goddess of misfortune and strife. When both Goddesses are known in balanced measure, there is sobriety and Tantric focus between the dualities in our lives. Understanding the wisdom of the balance between wealth and poverty is the key to the door of true abundance and wealth in our lives. Lakshmi and her older sister help us to live within and understand the place of both within the universe and life.

Correspondences To Connect To Lakshmi

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 with Lakshmi .Follow your intuition and use what speaks to you!

  • Animal-Elephant, owl, cat
  • Planet-Venus
  • Element-Water
  • Sex-Feminine
  • Symbol- lotus, rice, coins, gold, the churning ocean,
  • colors-red, gold, yellow, orange
  • Day of the week: Friday
  • Lucky number: 9
  • Themes-devotion, luck, wealth, relationships, prosperity, love, the harvest and autumn, beauty, sovereignty, creation, fertility, motherhood, success, fortune, purity, Perseverance, giving and receiving, generosity, compassion, spiritual awakening, grace, charm, success in business
  • Herbs- basil, tulsi, Hibiscus, sandalwood, lotus, mugwort, wormwood, rose, cinnamon, calendula, bay leaves,
  • Stones/ crystals- pearls, peridot, green aventurine, rose quartz, moss agate, Jade, Malachite, Green Tourmaline, Carnelian, Red Jasper, Citrine, Tangerine Quartz, pyrite
  • Tarot card- Empress, wheel of fortune

How To Know Lakshmi Is Calling To Work With You

I get asked this question every time I write or teach about a goddess. Remember, signs and messages appear in many different ways and are unique to the individual. It’s ultimately up to you to discern by opening up your clares, paying attention and listening to your intuition. Also, remember you can choose to work with her as well even if you don’t feel her calling to you. You can be the one to begin building that relationship by reaching out. Below is a list of some ways that you may know she is reaching out to you.

  • She appears to you in a vision, dream, meditation, or prayer
  • You start to see her symbols like the lotus flower or elephant popping up in your life often like in media, books, or your daily life
  • You get gifted something that is related to her
  • You hear her name randomly throughout the day or think of her often
  • You are seeking more abundance and prosperity in your life
  • You feel drawn to volunteer and serve others in a generous way
  • You are seeking help with fertility and/or motherhood
  • You have a new desire to have children
  • You hear her chants or mantras often around you
  • You receive sudden unexpected positive changes in your life, like receiving good news about finances
  • You are feeling more in tune with your own beauty, grace, and charm
  • You find coins around you often especially gold ones
  • You keep finding lost money in your purse, home, or pockets
  • You recently have been experiencing unexpected abundance in your life
  • Your business suddenly has an increase in sales and/or traffic or you feel inspired to start a new business
  • Birds start nesting near your home
  • You suddenly have black ants coming into your house and making a swarm and eating something
  • You hear the sound of a conch shell after waking up in the morning
  • You feel drawn to the churning muddy waters where the lotus flowers can grow
  • You feel drawn to working with her consort and husband Lord Vishnu
  • You feel drawn to work with love magic or beauty spells
  • You feel drawn to lighting candles for her in November/ October for Diwali

Ways To Work With and Connect To Lakshmi

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 Lakshmi. 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 Lakshmi; is to study all you can about her. Look at the different versions of her origin, and how when she was born every deity fell in love with her. Even study and learn about her dear husband, Lord Vishnu she loves so much she follows him life after life. Try to understand all the different versions of her you can connect to for every area of abundance in your life. You can even, study the culture, region, and worship of the people of India where she is from. Plus the religions she helps shapes in many different texts like Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism. 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.

Lakshmi Puja (Ritual)
One of the number one ways you can connect to Lakshmi is to carry out a Lakshmi puja, a goddess-honoring ceremony. The purpose of Lakshmi Puja is to honor the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity, Lakshmi, and to seek her blessings for good fortune and success. Lakshmi Puja is a central ritual during Diwali, the festival of lights, and is considered essential to the celebration. See a break down of how to do this ritual below.

  • Arranging a special altar with a statue or portrait of Lakshmi and symbolic gifts such jewels, flowers, sweets, and gold coins.
  • pre-ritual washing and dressing in clean clothing.
  • Ghee lamp or white candle lighting.
  • Offering the goddess food, flowers, and incense.
  • Reciting other religious songs or the Lakshmi mantra.
  • Exiting the puja feeling appreciative and respectful.

Chant her name or sing her mantras

Engaging in a regular chanting practice of the Lakshmi mantra requires dedication and focus. Find a quiet and peaceful space where you can sit comfortably. Begin by taking a few deep breaths to center yourself, and then softly and rhythmically chant the mantra. Allow your voice to flow naturally, and let the vibrations resonate within you. As you chant, visualize the energy of abundance and prosperity flowing into your life, guided by the benevolent presence of Goddess Lakshmi. Consistency is key; integrating this practice into your routine can lead to a deeper connection with Lakshmi’s energy and a more profound sense of prosperity consciousness.

Chanting Lakshmi mantras is not just a vocal exercise; it’s a spiritual practice that bridges the gap between the practitioner and the divine energy of abundance. As the mantra flows through your being, it recalibrates your vibrational frequency to resonate with Lakshmi’s blessings. This practice becomes a powerful tool to invite wealth and prosperity into your life while fostering a deeper connection with the goddess’s energy.

You can chant her name or sing a mantra to her, like this one: Om Shreem Mahalakshmiyei Svaha

  • Om is the sound of the universe– the beginning, middle and end. This epic sound which starts many chants as it recognizes the divinity (starting with Ganesh- click here to see why) and is the bij mantra of the Crown Chakra
  • shreem is Lakshmi’s bij mantra and is also associated with the the Third Eye Chakra
  • maha is a heart-felt term of endearment and reverence
  • yei is a shakti activating syllable
  • svaha marks the end of a mantra and literally means “well said” in a fire ceremony (havan), small grains (samagri) are thrown into the fire with the word svaha at end of each mantra

It’s recommended that you chant it at least 108 times using a mala

Acts of kindness and charity

One way to align with her energy is by practicing acts of kindness and charity. Just as Lakshmi’s blessings are meant to be shared, offering assistance to those in need becomes a way to honor her and create a cycle of abundance. Engaging in philanthropic endeavors and sharing your wealth – whether material or emotional – not only benefits others but also channels the flow of Lakshmi’s blessings back to you.

  • Volunteer your time at a local charity
  • Perform a random act of kindness to a stranger
  • Ask a colleague if they need any help
  • Donate money to a cause you care about
  • Check-in on a friend going through a hard time
  • Turn your phone off and have a proper conversation with a loved one
  • Offer to walk the dog or cook a meal for a struggling neighbor
  • Donate some unwanted items to a local charity store
  • Make your family’s favorite meal for dinner tonight
  • Next time you go to the cinema, let your partner/friend choose the movie
  • Give someone an unexpected (but sincere) compliment
  • Make a gift or card for the next birthday in your calendar
  • Offer to teach a skill you have for free
  • Give someone you care about a shoulder rub

Ask for her aid in Abundance, wealth, and fertility spells

One of the main energies Lakshmi guides us to connect with is the ocean of abundance we have access to all around us. So, why not call on her to aid you in boosting your abundance, wealth, and fertility spells. There are many different ways you can do this. From invoking her in your circle as you cast, carving a sigil that represents her into your candles, using her correspondences and symbols, or saying a prayer from her before you do your spell work. There are countless abundance spells you can cast and do to get some ideas check out my guide full of them here. My personal favorite to include her in is adding her image to my prosperity bowl in my home and for my business. When I began asking her to aid in my abundance spells the amount of coins flowing into my life was drastically multiplied and so many new things and projects began to bloom.

Call on Lakshmi during 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 Lakshmi. This might not seem obvious to many especially since she is seen more as a deity of “light”. But, I really love to call on Lakshmi when I am needing help in boosting my self worth and seeing the beauty in myself. On top of that she is great to use when you are having a hard time seeing the beauty around you and in your life. Lastly, you can call on her to help you understand why you may be having a hard time connecting to the generous flow of abundance in life . Doing this can have a profound change in the intentions you set and the manifestations you can have bloom into your life.

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;  and you can watch my free class previously taught on it through Divination here. And don’t forget to register for new 6 week workshop series Embracing your shadow here!

Dedicate Altar Space

Set aside some space in honor of Lakshmi. This can be an elaborate large altar or as simple as a small shelf or corner of a counter. Place a representation of Lakshmi there; be sure to cleanse the space before you invite her in. Include all of her colors, her symbols, and representations of abundance and beauty. Plus add any of her other correspondences you can use to connect to her. This will be a container that reminds you to connect with her and her energy. To allow you a container of maternal abundant, successful, and beautiful energy to connect to in your life. I also recommned if you are really needing abundance in your life add her to an altar specifically for abundance or place her altar in your place of business as well.

Offerings

Everyone loves receiving gifts, and that includes deities like Lakshmi. You don’t have to give her offerings every day, but when you feel it is appropriate. I highly recommend gifting them on Friday. You can place these offerings at your altar. You can also give her offerings when performing any work to connect to her like meditation, prayer, visualization, and spell work. Below I will list some of the best offerings you can give her, but keep in mind these are just some ideas from my own personal experience with her and her corresponding energies. Just follow your intuition.

  • Flowers: Flowers like lotus, marigold, rose, chrysanthemum, bael leaves and Hibiscus
  • Fruits
  • Sweets: Homemade sweets like laddoos or barfis represent joy and sweetness. Rice kheer is considered a favorite of Lakshmi.
  • Puffed rice and batasha:
  • Coins: Gold and silver coins
  • Uncooked rice
  • Diyas
  • Honey
  • Betel leaves
  • Jaggery: Offered if lotus flowers are not available.
  • Amla: Also known as Indian gooseberry
  • Incense
  • Jasmine oil

Meditation and visualization

One of the best ways to channel divine energy and tap into goddesses like Lakshmi is through meditation and visualization. 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.

Prayer

One very powerful way to connect to a deity is through prayer. Things to Pray for: abundance, beauty, love, prosperity, wealth, gratitude, success in business, spiritual awakening, fertility for a child, aid in motherhood, and self worth. Below are a few prayers I like to use but, you can find many across texts and the internet plus you can always create your own.

Beautiful goddess seated on a chariot,
Delighted by songs on lustful elephants,
Bedecked with lotuses, pearls and gems,
Lustrous as fire, radiant as gold,
Resplendent as the sun, calm as the moon,
Mistress of cows and horses —
Take away poverty and misfortune
Bring joy, riches, harvest and children.

Prayer Of Gratitude

Maha Lakshmi I thank you for the growing sense of abundance flowing through, for the richness of the earth and clarity of the winds cleansing my soul from within.

Sri Ganesh, may I continue to seek your guidance, give honor and praise to insurmountable obstacles which help me to release, trust and grow. May I always honor the goddess within and give glory and thanks to my divine mother and father.

And as I rise to greet a new day, may I always remember the source of my abundance and wealth flows from deep within and no man or material resource can hinder this progress of peace, love and joy. And So It Is.

Other ways to connect to Lakshmi

  • Use the lotus in mediation, and spell work
  • ask for her aid in love spells and spells focused on strengthen relationships ( I have some on both my Pinterest and my Patreon)
  • clean, purify, and decorate your home
  • Light diyas or candles to guide her blessings into your home especially for the celebration of Diwali and on a Friday night
  • Ask for her aid when doing divination like water scrying, tarot, or fire gazing
  • Keep a coin with her image on it especially a gold coin in your wallet to attract wealth
  • If you have a brick and mortar business add a gold coin with her image on it to your register
  • Set SMART goals and work towards them
  • If you run an online business add an image of her to your site or shop page
  • Place candle with her sigil on it and/ or an image of her near your threshold and give offerings to it or light the candle every Friday to call her blessing of abundance into your home
  • fill your home with as many candles lit as you can for the nights of the diwali festival
  • Spend time in nature, with children, or with animals nurturing your maternal side
  • Write down three things you’re grateful for each day
  • Place Sea Shells or Cowries at Home
  • Speak affirmations of abundance every day
  • Write at least 3 things you are grateful for every day
  • Work with and worship Lord Vishnu
  • Donate your time to a charity or your money to a cause you care about
  • Add a lotus seed mala to your practice or altar
  • Worship and work with her elder sister Alakshmi
  • Elemental magic with the element of water or fire
  • Work with the planet Venus

Why work with Lakshmi?

Our ability to give and receive freely depends deeply on our own personal beliefs that we are worthy of love, worthy of gifts, and that others too are worthy of these same gifts. Lakshmi helps us learn these lessons. Lakshmi really is a deity of deep abundance as well. She has saved my life and my family more times than I can count. She does this by reconnecting me to the flow of abundance we all have the right too. If only we put in to work and we remember we are worthy to receive it all. Whenever I find myself getting stuck in feelings of fear of not having enough or lack I can feel the Universe pulling back. To the point of taking so much from me I would almost end up on the streets. But when I call on Lakshmi to help me drop back into the space of abundance, gratitude, and worthiness, I feel the support of the Universe, and her guide me back to the current of abundance. Allowing me access to the flow of coins she controls in her hands.

As I have shown you in this blogpost, Lakshmi offers a route to spiritual fulfillment and overall well-being that goes beyond the domain of material wealth. Through an awareness of her energy and worship of her complex personality, we can access the transforming potential of her gifts and apply them to our everyday lives. The goddess Lakshmi inspires and leads us on our path toward abundance, balance, and the ultimate realization of the divine inside. Whether we recite her mantras, ask for her assistance in our spell work, or embody her attributes. As we welcome her brilliance, may we too turn into the energy of her unending kindness, generosity, and elegance.

To help you align to with the flow of abundance click the link below to start working on gratitude as well . We must me thankful for what we already have in order to receive more. Click this link to get access to my FREE gratitude shadow work journal and a 7 day gratitude challenge in this previous blogpost.

Come join me for community, knowledge, and to restore the enchantment of magic in yourself and life today!

Don’t forget to head over to the shop today for eBooks, workshops, resources, and 1:1 services with me!

Facebook
Patreon
Pinterest
Email

About Me : I have been a solitary grey magic practitioner for 15 + years. First and foremost, I consider myself a mystic and seeker of all knowledge. I am dedicated to the restoration, and re-enchantment of Magic in society, across this realm, and in each and every soul I come across in life! I am here to create a container that promotes healing, duality, and raw authenticity. I do this by guiding you on your personal journey to understanding your unique magic and sacred contracts. I facilitate this for you through embracing your shadow, duality and learning to live in energetic balance while not wearing a mask. When you work and learn from me you do so from your “darkness” as much as your “light” and in a way to truly harness and accept it not to just go thru it on the way to your light. But, I teach you how to truly embrace it, work with it, and use it alongside your light as a partner. I hold up a mirror for you to be able to see your authentic reflection looking back. Then have the courage to take the next step and do the uncomfortable but vital inner work to completely remove your mask. By facing all of your past wounds, traumas, and hurts. Allowing you to see both the dark and light within your story and take each chapter and alchemize it into something that is so powerful. your unique internal flame will shine so bright you will always be able to go within and find it on a dark cold night. You will learn how to truly live in duality and energetic balance to allow growth, and alignment with your sacred contracts and purposes. to finally move on and truly let the things that hold you back in this life from healing and manifesting go. To see everything I offer; like personalized shadow work sessions, womb healing, eBooks for you to work through on your own, Tarot sessions for guidance and more! Go to my shop!

© 2024, Company LLC

Posted on by — 1 Comment

The magic of working with Pumpkins

Autumn is a magical time, perfect for witchcraft, as we approach the latter half of the year and the long, dark, cold, months of Winter drawing near. In witchcraft we use many things in our lives as tools for our spell work from nature or our home, like one of the most popular symbols and flavors of fall; Pumpkins. Pumpkins are synonymous with the autumn season we see them everywhere; especially around Halloween / Samhain and carrying through the month of November until Thanksgiving here in the USA. But, Pumpkins and gourds have been used for centuries in magic though as a form of protection, a connection to abundance and fertility, a boost to love and more. Let’s take a look at the biggest fruit, full of seeds of potential inside, who takes center stage during the spooky and fall season; the pumpkin in this blogpost.

Pumpkins what are they?

The pumpkin, Cucurbita pepo, is a type of Winter Squash though technically it is classified as a berry! The name pumpkin originated from the Greek word Pepõn, which means large melon. Most pumpkins are typically large, round and ribbed and of a distinctive orange color. However, they can also be white, green, yellow and other shades depending on the cultivar, as there are 3 or 4 different kinds of pumpkins overall. Harvested in October, this nutritious and versatile orange fruit features flowers, seeds and flesh that are edible and rich in vitamins. The pumpkin, though popular in many places throughout the world today, is native to North America and Mexico and has been cultivated since at least 7000 BCE. They were even a common crop to be planted and grown before beans and corn.

Medicinal properties of Pumpkins

Rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, pumpkins aren’t just the most popular fall flavor and a common witches’ tool set out on our front doorsteps but, they are incredibly healthy for us as well. Pumpkins are loaded with nutrients that can boost your immune system and help you stay healthy like vitamin C, E, and A. Pumpkins are also high in carotenoids, which are compounds that can function as antioxidants and some believe may help protect against certain cancers like, stomach, throat, pancreas and breast cancers. The health benefits keep rolling in with them being high in potassium, vitamin C and fiber, which have been linked to having heart benefits. Plus these popular fruits can help you stay looking younger since they are loaded with nutrients that are great for your skin. Pumpkin seeds can also help boost your mood. They contain tryptophan which helps boost serotonin.

Magical themes of Pumpkins

In witchcraft every single ingredient and tool we use in our spells and rituals has magical themes and energies it can align with and be used for. Pumpkins are no different. They can be used in spells, rituals, or charms to enhance your fertility, boost your manifestation, and connect you to the gratitude of the harvest. They can be utilized to attract wealth, success, and opportunities for financial growth. Don’t forget the most common magical use of all; calling on them to aid in protecting your home and guarding your threshold. Take a look below for some more themes you can use pumpkins for in your magical workings, spells, and rituals. . Don’t forget you can use all parts of the pumpkin too! Especially the seeds for potent fertility spell workings.

  • Protection
  • Divination
  • Prosperity
  • Healing
  • Good health
  • Death
  • The harvest
  • Gratitude
  • Abundance
  • Good luck
  • The dead
  • Love and matters of the heart
  • Fertility
  • Transformation

Pumpkins in myths and lore

Pumpkins are a true symbol of Autumn and spooky season, most likely because, that’s when they are harvested. We’ve also seen them as part of Fall and spooky season festivals and celebrations for thousands of years across cultures especially during Samhain. Below are a few myths and common lore we have involving pumpkins.

The Origin of carving pumpkins

The act of carving faces into a vegetable originates with the Scots and Irish but they didn’t carve pumpkins in ancient times, they carved vegetables like turnips or potatoes. Later on, after the Scotts-Irish migrated to the New World, they brought their Samhain traditions with them but, started to use the native fruit of the land pumpkins instead. The frightening faces carved into pumpkins were thought to serve as guardians. People believe these glowing, eerie faces could scare away malevolent and confused spirits, and other dark entities, keeping homes safe during the Samhain season when the veil is pulled back from the other side.

The origin of the Jack o lantern

The term Jack o lantern actually originated in England and is linked to a supernatural phenomenon called Ignis Fatuus or “foolish fire”. This is an eerie, spectral light that sort of bobbs and dances. It seduces people off the beaten path and often to their death. In addition to the jack o’ lantern being a spook light, the name also has a couple legends behind it and refers to a character or man named jack or stingy jack who made a deal with the devil. Because of this deal with the devil, he is not permitted to go to Heaven or Hell and is doomed to wander the earth forever with a glowing carved turnip ( now pumpkin) as his head.. And apparently he amuses himself and passes the time by leading people to their doom down dark and haunted paths on Halloween night.

Other mentionings of pumpkins

According to a Huron creation story, pumpkins arose when a divine woman died in childbirth. All of the plants necessary for life sprang up from her body: Beans grew from her legs, corn sprang from her body, and pumpkin vines grew from her head.

In religions that sprang from the Africa, pumpkins are associated with several major deities, particularly Oshun and Shango. Oshun is a goddess of rivers, love, and fertility, which echoes the connections between pumpkins, the element of Water, and the concepts of fertility and abundance as seen in other cultures and traditions.

Duality and Pumpkins

Since, I am a grey witch I look for the duality in every single energy I work with including the tools and spell ingredients I use. Pumpkins are full of duality in the properties they represent and energies they allow us to work with. On one hand they are a symbol of prosperity and abundance. Connecting us to the unlimited and generous flow of abundance calling it INTO our lives. While on the other hand they connect us to the energy of death and protection. Being a common symbol sitting at our front doors protecting our homes and threshold by keeping unwanted entities and spirits OUT.

We can’t forget that the most popular time to work with this tool is in the fall when they are being harvested and there are plenty to go around. The fall season is a really unique pocket of liminal space and time for us to connect to duality. We get to be surrounded by the bounty and abundance of the fall harvest and all the joy, celebration and gratitude that brings. While we are also confronted with the reality of nature beginning to die around us and the dark cold winter that is very soon going to be upon us.

Correspondences for the Pumpkin

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, the zodiac energy the moon is currently or for a magical tool/ fruit the pumpkin, which I will list below for you to use. Remember this is just a start to the list for you. You can use any correspondences that connect the magical themes and energies of the pumpkin. Just follow your intuition on what you choose to work with!

  • Planet- moon
  • Gender- feminine
  • Day-Monday
  • Element- water and Earth
  • Crystals-Orange calcite, citrine, pyrite, heliodore, moonstone, onyx, obsidian,
  • colors-oranges, whites, reds, yellow, greens
  • Deities-Oshun, Nicneven, Priapus, Woden, Osris, Loki, Persephone, Cerrunnos, Dionysus, lady hel, lakshmi, hades, Saraswati, hekate, Janus, Anubis, fide, The Morrígan,Parvati, Shango
  • Holidays- Lughnasadh, Diana’s Festival, Mabon, Samhain, the fall harvest, Alfablot
  • Zodiac-Virgo, Capricorn, Taurus, Scorpio

Ways to work with the pumpkin

We’ve talked a lot about pumpkins in this post so far, including the magical themes associated with them. Those themes are the energies we can connect to with Pumpkins. They are how we can use them to build our spells and rituals. You have many options on how you want to include them in your spells and rituals and many different ways to work with them. Below you will find a list I put together of some ideas for spells, rituals, and ways you can work with them using the themes and magic we can harvest in each rounded and fruitful one.

  • Use their seeds as a spell ingredient for potent fertility spells in spell packets, spell jars, offerings at altars and more
  • Save their stems and grind them up to add to wish spells and manifestation magic
  • Abundance magic
  • Carve the pumpkin in a scary face and use it as a protection spell for samhain
  • Use the pumpkin in kitchen magic making pies, cakes, soups or drinks as abundance and fertility spells or to bless your home and hearth
  • Add a candle to the inside of a carved out pumpkin and use it for fire scrying
  • Carve sigils of protection and blessings in them and add them to your altar, hearth, or front door
  • Add them to your Samhain altar for your ancestors to represent death and transformation
  • Write an intention or goal for the spring and bury it in the ground with some seeds for them to grow in the spring
  • Write something you wish to release and let die and bury in the ground with old pumpkins to allow them to be released to the earth
  • Place 7 pumpkin seeds into a green spell bag or packet and place it in your wallet or purse and carry it around to attract prosperity
  • Paint an Algiz, Uruz, or Tyr rune on a pumpkin and place by the front door for protection during the Samhain season
  • Visit a pumpkin patch to soak up the abundance and fertility of the land they grow from
  • Carve a heart and the person’s name you love into the bottom of the pumpkin then light a red candle inside to attract their love into your life
  • Use them as portal magic when the veil is thinned during Samhain
  • Give them as offerings for graveyard magic or to deities of the dead
  • Hold a small pumpkin while working on balancing and aligning your sacral chakra
  • Get 3 smaller pumpkins and paint or carve symbols of fertility on them. Then mediate while focusing on them and thinking about what you would like to bring into life
  • Take a carved pumpkin and place a wish written on a bay leaf inside the pumpkin and bury it in the ground before sunrise

Pumpkin Scrying with water

There are countless forms of divination across the Earth using many different tools. Pumpkins can be powerful tools for divination, particularly in the practice of scrying due to their connection to transformation. Scrying is a form of divination that involves gazing into a reflective or translucent surface to receive visions or insights. Using pumpkins for scrying combines the seasonal magic of autumn with ancient divination practices.

How to perform pumpkin scrying

Hollow Out the Pumpkin- Cut off the top of the pumpkin and scoop out the seeds and pulp. Save the seeds for fertility magic spells for later
Smooth the Interior- Scrape the interior walls until they are smooth.
Create a Reflective Surface- place a small mirror at the bottom of the pumpkin before adding water. This enhances the reflective quality of the water.

Fill the Pumpkin with Water-Pour clean water into the hollowed-out pumpkin, filling it to about three-quarters full.
Create sacred container- Do this in any way that works for you but, I recommned lighting black and white candles and setting them around the pumpkin to enhance the reflection

Gaze into the Water-Look into the surface of the water, allowing your gaze to soften. Don’t force any images to appear; simply observe and remain open to any visions or impressions.
Interpret Your Visions-Take note of any shapes, symbols, or scenes that appear in the water. Trust your intuition to interpret their meanings.

Samhain Pumpkin Protection Spell

Like we talked about above pumpkins were thought to be used as very strong symbols of protection during the fall especially when the veil was it’s thinnest during Samhain. While the veil is pulled back and entities, spirits, and the dead walk among us and come out to play. Don’t forget to protect your threshold. Making sure only those you wish to cross it on that hallowed eve are the ones who can.
Try this protection spell using a carved pumpkin on that night to give those unwanted spirits ghosts and entities a fright! I will even pull this spell out during different times of the year if my home ends up with an increased about of spirit activity for some reason.

What you will need:

A carved pumpkin, white candles, bay leaves, rosemary, sage, coriander, cloves

How to perform:

First take your white candles and set them in your pumpkin envisioning them bringing protection and being the guardian of your home this hallowed night. Next add your herbs of protection and connection to the dead to your pumpkin leaving out the bay leaves. Then take your bay leaves and add them one by one while saying out loud the names of the passed loved ones you would like to be able to cross your threshold and enter your home this hollowed night. After that take the top and with a deep breath seal the spell inside. Knowing this pumpkin will be the one now to decide who will come into your home on this hallowed night.

Kitchen Magic; Baking a pumpkin pie to bless your home

Kitchen magic is a very powerful type of magic that fills up the walls of your home. Allowing you to bless those you love while you can also create memories together and then fill their bellies with food. One common item to be baking right now especially with Thanksgiving at the end of this month when families will gather for a meal is a pumpkin pie. The entire process of making and baking the pie becomes a magical ritual. The spices used have their own magic properties helping you create your spell. You can then draw sigils or symbols in the pie crust before baking to add more magic and blessings for those you choose to serve it too.

Pumpkin Prosperity spell

Pumpkins are a significant sign of abundance and fertility for the fall. Think about when you cut open a pumpkin, it’s absolutely packed with seeds, each representing the possibility of new life and expansion. They can also be used to represent long term abundance as pumpkins can be kept for a long time before they start to decay. Another reason why they are plentiful for the fall harvest during this time right now. Try this prosperity spell using the very fertile and abundant pumpkin and watch your money flow get so much richer.

What you will need:
A piece of pumpkin
3 bag leaves
A pen
A piece of twine
A dollar bill
7 pumpkins
Cinnamon- abundance
Sugar- to sweeten the results and add speed
Rosemary-connection the dead
Basil-abundance/wealth
Nutmeg-abundance

How to perform:
Get yourself into sacred container focusing your energy and breath on abundance, prosperity and what it feels like to have more than all your needs met.
Then take your piece of pumpkin and sprinkle each one of your herbs on the entire thing continuously focusing on abundance and prosperity.
Next take your bay leaves and write the dollar amount you wish to receive on each of the three.
Take your pumpkin piece in your hand and as you envision that dollar amount coming to you freely grab it, the dollar bill and your three leaves and use the twine to bind and wrap the money to you and your family securely around your bright golden piece of pumpkin.
Once securely tied with the magic of a binding knot and your hand go outside somewhere you can bury it into the land. When you have your spot take your spell in your hand and recite out loud as you bury it into the ground.
” Pumpkin, pumpkin tightly bound bring your prosperity to me from the ground.
Pumpkin, pumpkin rich and bright bring this prosperity to me day and night.”

Now watch the money amount you requested begin to flow to you and your home.

Come join me for community, knowledge, and to restore the enchantment of magic in yourself and life today!

Don’t forget to head over to the shop today for eBooks, workshops, resources, and 1:1 services with me!

Facebook
Patreon
Pinterest

© 2024, Modgepodgemystic LLC

Posted on by — 2 Comments

The magic of working with Apples

The air is getting a little crisper, and chillier as it blows through the trees around us. The leaves are following the cycle of the season as they change into their vibrant fall colors. We feel the pull to get outside in nature and soak up this changing season and the beauty fall has to bring us. One popular fall activity does just that as we find ourselves walking through an apple orchard and feel the living, moving, earth-shattering energy that swirls invisibly around us. Wrapped up in each juicy, ripe, colorful apple waiting for us to pick from the branches they weigh down. As we walk among the rows of the orchard, growing the food even cherished by the gods, we feel the magic of Autumn itself. As the veil thins during this season, we become more attuned to the other world, and the thinning of the veil. It’s a time when we can cast some potent spells and rituals connected to transition, gratitude, abundance, duality, protection, and accessing our ancestors. Let me show you in this blogpost how that basket of apples you just picked in the orchard can be a magical tool in all of these different kinds of spells and rituals!

Apples what are they?

Apples (Malus domestica) are among the most common fruits eaten in the US and Europe. This is because they grow just about anywhere! Apple trees have been cultivated for over 4,000 years, with origins in Central Asia. Although we do also know they’ve been grown in Europe for thousands of years and were brought to North America with European immigrants over the past few centuries. The apple tree’s ability to self-pollinate makes it a resilient tree and allows it to have many different varieties of colors, tastes, and sizes. Their five-petaled flowers appear in the spring blooming with a brilliant fragrance. The petals are white on top and pink underneath as they bloom. The fruit appears in late summer and ripens in autumn. The fruit can be red, yellow, green, or streaked red with yellow.

Medicinal properties of apples

Many have heard the common phrase ” An apple a day, keeps the doctor away.” What if there was some truth to that? Apples are rich in vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber, making them beneficial for overall health from boosting your immune system to aiding in weight management. Apples have been used for centuries in healing remedies, thanks to their antioxidants. Apples are great to use to treat constipation, other digestion issues, and even support a balanced gut microbiome. Apples contain malic and tartaric acids which helps neutralize the chemicals associated with gout even! Apples have even been linked to reducing the risk of chronic diseases, such as heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels and certain types of cancer. They even clean your teeth! The act of eating a whole apple (not sliced and peeled) cleans the teeth and freshens the breath. It helps remove plaque and pushes back the gums to remove deposits.

Symbolism of the apple in magic, lore, and myths

Apples are a true symbol of Autumn and Winter, most likely because, that’s when they are harvested. We’ve also seen them as part of Fall and Winter festivals and celebrations for thousands of years across cultures. But, don’t be fooled while apples are a key focus of fall they are seen throughout the year as well in different cultures. So, don’t be afraid to use them year round. Not only do we see them in festivals throughout the year we also see them apart of many myths and lore. So, many I’d never be able to cover them all here. From seeing the apple as a center piece to Christianity, a gift of healing in Celtic lore, a way to immortality in Norse mythology, an agent of chaos and discord causing the Trojan war, to it popping up in modern pop culture delivering poison to a princess.

First up, in Western and European lore, apples are strongly used to symbolize forbidden knowledge (aka sin), divine wisdom, and self-awareness. We see this in one of the most commonly known myths from the bible and Christianity, which includes Eve ( the first women according to all versions after king James), a serpent, the garden of Eden, and of course an apple!

According to Christian lore, Eve was the first woman who lived alongside the first man Adam in paradise aka the garden of Eden. They were to use the garden as it’s home and care for it’s creatures. But, for some reason neither Adam nor Eve were supposed to ever eat the fruit from this ONE tree within the garden. God himself had commanded them not too. Than one day along came a serpent (aka Satan) slithering his way into the garden and into Eve’s ear. Where he convinced her to grab an apple (aka divine wisdom) from the forbidden tree and to take a bite. She than convinced Adam to do the same. God got pissed for their disobedience and exiled them from the garden and gave Eve the bonus punishment of childbirth for being the first to take a bite.

Next up, we see the apple as a symbol of healing, immortality, and the dead in a few key Celtic, Norse, and Germanic traditions and lore. In the Prose Edda, a key writing to reference for Norse Mythology; the goddess Idunn is the guardian of an apple orchard that grows apples of eternal youth a.k.a. immortality for the gods. Also, in the Old Norse tradition, the alfablot was a sacrifice to the elves/alfar and one of the most commonly used offerings was, you guessed it, apples! In Celtic myth, the enchanting fairy goddess Cliodhna; offers apples of healing and immortality to journeying heroes in the Celtic Otherworld. We see apples again in Celtic traditions as the food of the dead where it is used as an offering to them at different festivals. Like, Samhain which is coincidently also known as the feast of apples. It was also said in Celtic lore, that a magical apple branch called the silver bough allowed the person who held it to pass into the Otherworld safely.

In other myths like with the Greeks, apples symbolize love, beauty, discord, and war. They are often associated with deities like Zeus, Aphrodite, Hera, Athena, and Eris. My favorite Greek myth involving apples involves the goddess of discord Eris and the cause of the famous Trojan war. In Greek mythology, the Trojan War is probably the most famous event. Today, anyone with any knowledge of the war assumes that it began as a result of the abduction of Helen. But the abduction of Helen by Paris is just one starting point, and preceding this was another starting point where the goddess Eris and a golden apple was involved.

Zeus had arranged for Peleus ( a greek hero) to marry the sea nymph Thetis, so he decided to throw a huge wedding ceremony and celebration. This wedding was so big all of the gods and goddesses of the Greek pantheon were invited to the festivities; all except for the goddess of discord Eris. Who of course found out about the festivities AND that she was the only one not invited. Being the goddess of discord she decides to crash the party in a fit of rage, bringing with her a gift to throw in their faces and cause a little chaos. Now, there are a few different versions and theories as to how she got this gift and if you want to hear them all you can listen to me tell them here. But when she arrives, in hand she has a golden apple with the inscription ” to the fairest of them all”. She takes it and tosses it into the room amongst those who rejected her and watches the discord fall upon them all. You see that shiny golden apple would cause a fight between three goddesses (Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite) to claim it that would start a war between human kingdoms resulting in many to fall.

To the Ancient Romans apples were so sacred and important they were to be treasured and guarded. So, much so, this one fruit had their own deity to preside over and protect them! Her name was Pomona. Unfortunately, she’s one of those pagan deities whom most of their information has been lost to history. What I can find about her, is that she was a virginal nymph of the woods who married the personification of Autumn, named Vertumnus. They were a very fertile and passionate match which made them the reason for the bountiful apple harvest every fall. We would see them honored when offerings would be left for them at the edges of orchards. Apples pop up again with the Romans during the festival of Diana, when apple boughs were carried around for luck and prosperity.

We see the apple pop up in English lore and myth as well with the Isle of Avalon. The Isle of Avalon is a mythical island in Arthurian legend that is said to be a place of magic and healing. It is described as a utopian paradise, a fairyland island that is said to be lost in the mists of time. Ruled by the enchantress Morgan le Fay and her eight sisters. This sacred Isle of Avalon is also known as, you guessed it, the Isle of Apples. Because legend says apples grow there all year round as food.

Even now in pop culture the apple is everywhere we look on the iPhone, iPad, and computers. Reminding us of the access to wisdom and knowledge that comes with them. And let’s not forget the apple’s role in one of the world’s most beloved fairytales; Snow white. Its most pivotal moment is undoubtedly when a naïve Snow White bites into an apple poisoned by the jealous Evil Queen, lulling her into a slumber that can only be reversed with Prince Charming’s kiss. Showing us the dark, poisonous, and protective side apples have to offer.

Magical themes of Apples

In witchcraft every single ingredient and tool we use in our spells and rituals has magical themes and energies it can align with and be used for. Apples are no different as you saw in the myths and lore we talked about above. Some of the most common themes associated with apples are love, romance, and attraction spells. They can be used in spells, rituals, or charms to enhance love in an existing relationship, attract a new romantic partner, or promote harmony between others. Apples are also very popular with abundance and prosperity spells. They can be utilized to attract wealth, success, and opportunities for financial growth. Below, you will find a list of some of the other many magical themes associated with apples. Don’t forget you can use all parts of the apple, the bud, petals, leaves fruit, seeds, and wood from its tree as spell and ritual ingredients too!

  • Love
  • Luck
  • Fertility
  • Immortality
  • Money
  • truth
  • the divine feminine
  • opens portals and gateways
  • Healing and promoting health
  • Vitality
  • lust
  • Garden magic
  • Wisdom
  • The Otherworld / Afterlife
  • Deception
  • “Poisoning” and Malefica
  • Faery magic
  • Abundance
  • forbidden knowledge
  • Ancestors
  • protection
  • discord
  • chaos
  • beauty
  • Vanity
  • The soul
  • divination
  • intuition

The apple and the pentacle

The apple and the pentacle have a unique and potent relationship binding them together. Did you know if you cut an apple in half (the “fat way,” not the “tall way,” if that makes sense), you will find a pentacle star in the middle? This along with it’s seeds, which are poisonous, are where apples get their protective qualities from. The apple reminds us that we do not have to close ourselves off to the world in order to protect ourselves. We can bring healing to others AND be open without overstepping our own boundaries. You can also use this center star or pentacle, as an altar by pressing spell ingredients into the flesh of the apple. Using the apple core as an all natural protective altar.

Apple Peel Reading

Apples have been used in divination practices, such as apple peeling or apple seed reading. They are believed to enhance psychic abilities, intuition, and provide insights into the future. Apple peel reading, is a form of divination also known as pomatomancy. It is a traditional practice that uses the shape and letters formed by apple peels to gain insight and predict future events. This method has been used for centuries to seek guidance and answers and is really popular to do around the fall harvest time. The practice is really very simple, carefully peel your apple skin in one piece and remove it, allow the peel to fall, and let it reveal messages through its shapes, letters, and symbols to you.

Duality and the apple

Since, I am a grey witch I look for the duality in every single energy I work with including the tools and spell ingredients I use. And man is the apple ripe with the energy of duality. We see it in the themes it represents from love and discord, to death and immortality, to healing and protection. This fruit is connected to opposing energies and forces in almost every sense, along with the changing of the seasons and transition. Not only that, it’s such a versatile tool you can use it, in pretty much every area of your life. Which adds another juicy layer of duality to this fruit with each bite.

We can’t forget that the most popular time to work with this tool is in the fall when they are being harvested and there are plenty to go around. The fall season is a really unique pocket of liminal space and time for us to connect to duality. We get to be surrounded by the bounty and abundance of the fall harvest and all the joy, celebration and gratitude that brings. While we are also confronted with the reality of nature beginning to die around us and the dark cold winter that is very soon going to be upon us.

Correspondences for the apple

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, the zodiac energy the moon is currently or for a magical tool/ fruit the apple, which I will list below for you to use. Remember this is just a start to the list for you. You can use any correspondences that connect the magical themes and energies of the apple Just follow your intuition on what you choose to work with!

  • Planet- Venus
  • Gender- Feminine
  • Day-Friday
  • Element- water
  • colors- Greens, reds, yellows
  • Deities- Eris, Venus, Aphrodite, Inanna, Morgan Le Fay, Rhiannon, Cliodhna, Diana, Zeus, Apollo, Idunn, Hera, Dionysus, Gaia, Olwen, Pomona
  • Holidays- Lughnasadh, Diana’s Festival, Mabon, Samhain, Yule, Alfablot, the Esbats and Ostara
  • Zodiac- Taurus

Ways to work with the apple

We’ve talked a lot about apples in this post so far, including the magical themes associated with them. Those themes are the energies we can connect to with apples. They are how we can use them to build our spells and rituals. You have many options on how you want to include them in your spells and rituals and many different ways to work with them. Below you will find a list I put together of some ideas for spells, rituals, and ways you can work with them using the themes and magic we can harvest in each juicy one.

  • Apple cider can be used in place of wine during rituals
  • Apple wood can make an excellent wand
  • Visit an apple orchard, pick apples, and leave an offering at the edge of the orchard
  • Use apples to represent the element of earth in elemental magic
  • To ensure fidelity, give an apple to your lover as a gift. You eat one half, the lover the other.
  • Use an apple in poppet magic- poppet magic has been around for thousands of years and is found across cultures. Use an apple as base for your poppet during mabon or samhain
  • Apples symbolize the food of the dead, so leave them on the altar to honor your ancestors and welcome them to “feast with you” during the harvest season.
  • decorate your home with them to connect to the magic of September
  • Create caramel apples and imbue magic into each one as you dip them
  • If you peel an apple all in one piece and throw the peel over your shoulder, it will fall in the shape of your future mate’s initials.
  • se the pentacle in a return to sender spell
  • Bobbing for apples is a centuries old tradition from the British Isles and Ireland. It likely also has origins in both ancient Celtic and Germanic festivals.
  • Include apples on your altar for any of the holidays they are associated with like mabon or samhain
  • candle magic-encircling a candle with apple slices, dried apple slices, or apple blossoms. Or using an apple to hold your candles even as they burn.
  • Use the apple seeds in a banishing spell
  • Go wassailing- Simply put, it’s singing blessings to the orchards, oxen, and the people who tend them.
  • Add apples to an abundance spell jar or simmer pot
  • Use the peels in divination
  • kitchen magic-use apples in baking like in pies
  • Sigil magic- draw sigils on apples for spells and rituals
  • Use apples to call on deities that are connected to them in myths like Eris
  • Add apple slices or oil to a self care ritual bath
  • Create an apple wreath or garland and hang in your home for prosperity and luck especially during Yule
  • Make studded apples- This is an English and Irish tradition involving studding an apple with cloves, nutmeg, and mistletoe and carry it around on new years for good luck.
  • Use apple blossoms in beauty spells, glamors, and love spells

Red apple love spell

One of the most common spells associated with apples are all about love, romance, and attracting a partner. Try this simple tried and true love spell using a red apple to attract that special someone whose been the apple of your eye today!

What you will need:

  • red apple
  • lavender buds
  • twine or some string
  • rose petals ( I like to use pink for love but you can use red for pleasure and romance as well)
  • a small piece of paper

How to perform this spell:

First, take a knife and cut your red apple in half the long or tall way revealing the pentacle star in the middle. Next, take your piece of paper and write your name and the name of that special someone whose caught your eye. Once done take as many deep breaths you need to in and out until you feel yourself surrounded by love and comfort within your sacred container. Visualize that love surrounding you and that special someone. What it feels like, looks like, and will be like to have. Than, take your piece of paper and fold it towards you. when done place it in the center of your apple over the pentacle. Next, take your rose petals, and lavender buds placing them on top of the paper. With all your spell ingredients now placed in the center of your apple, take the other half and place it on top to make it whole again. Wrap it up tightly in the twine to seal the love and attraction in. Take your spell outside and bury it in the earth under a healthy growing tree giving it a place for your love to bud and bloom.

Rotten apple banishing spell

Don’t forget apples aren’t only juicy and sweet but, their seeds give a poisonous and protective side to them as well. This makes them a great tool to use in protection spells like banishing a problem or situation from your life. Try out this simple spell using an apple to do just that below!

What you will need:

  • an apple
  • a black ribbon or string
  • bay leaves
  • a skewer

How to perform:

First, take a knife and cut your red apple in half the long or tall way revealing the pentacle star in the middle. Next, take your bay leaves and rub each half of the apple with them visualizing the problem or situation in your life you wish to be banish. Take the two halves and put them back together still focusing on the problem or situation you wish to banish. Next, take a deep breath in as you pick up the skewer and on your exhale as you visualize the problem or situation no longer affecting you, stab the skewer through both halves with force. Then, take your black ribbon or string and tie your apple together sealing the problem or situation in the center where it can no longer affect you. Take your spell outside and bury it in the earth. As the apple rots with the problem or situation inside it will be banished from your life.

Autumn abundance simmer pot

Apples are very popular with abundance and prosperity spells. They can be utilized to attract wealth, success, and opportunities for financial growth. Paired with the abundance of the harvest and autumn swirling around us now is great time to do some kitchen magic .One of my favorite types of kitchen magic spells to do are simmer pots. Simmer pots are easy to do, very potent, and they leave your house smelling amazing and full of magical energy! Use this recipe to bring the abundance of autumn into your home today using apples as the core. If you need to learn more about how to use simmer pots you can read my blogpost in the link here!

Posted on by

The magic of Thursday; Amplify your spells with the energy of the day

Every day of the week has it’s own magic and energy you can harness to influence your life and magical practices and in this blog series we are going to talk about them all. Next up, we are going to talk about the energy and magic you can align with on Thursday. Thursday is the fourth day of the week in most cultures and calendars. Others view it as the fifth day of the week while in some Muslim cultures it’s the sixth day.

Most Germanic languages name this day for Thor or a God identified with him. In Iceland, Thursday is named Fimmtudagur or “fifth day” due to it’s predominately Christian population and them wanting to refrain from naming a day after a pagan god. In India, Thursday is most often named Guruvar, meaning day of the Guru, referring to Bṛhaspati, the deva-guru, or Guru of the Gods.

Thursday is ruled by the planet Jupiter

For pagans and witches, every single day of the week is ruled by a planet and Thursday is ruled by the planet Jupiter. The planet Jupiter, often referred to as the “King of the Planets,” is a symbol of expansion and abundance in magic and astrology. Jupiter is by far the most massive planet of the solar system and the fifth in distance from the Sun. It is one of the brightest objects shining in the night sky. In most depictions of Jupiter you will see a giant gas ball that is a tapestry of colorful stripes and spots, usually a mix of oranges, whites, and browns.

Magic and witchcraft themes

When it comes to magic and witchcraft you can certainly cast spells whenever you need them. But, if you want a little extra oomph, and when you want to amplify your results, aligning your spell casting with the correct day of the week is one way to do that. Since, Thursday is associated with Jupiter, it is the ideal day for spells focused on abundance, wealth, money, prosperity, personal growth and expansion, and success.

Thursday is a very masculine day and it is all about the practical aspects of your life. This day is all about connecting to the energy of finances, legal matters, success, wealth and fame. This day is about big energy connecting you to the actions you need to take to meet your goal. This energy is all about thriving and is one of the best days and times to work the energy of abundance, prosperity, and wealth!

Correspondences for Thursday

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, the zodiac energy the moon is currently in or a day of the week like, Thursday. I will give you some ideas below for you to use. Remember to follow your intuition with the correspondences you choose to work with and that you can always use any that correspond that calls to you for the energies of the day.

  • Element- earth
  • planet-Jupiter
  • Chakra- heart chakra ( most teachers) I also work with my root chakra on this day
  • Gender- Masculine
  • colors- deep blue, purple, green
  • Herbs/flowers-  Allspice, Angelica, Bayberry, Basil, Bay Leaves, Bergamot, Cedar, Chamomile, Cinnamon, Clary Sage, Honeysuckle, Irish Moss, Jasmine, Melissa, Mint, Nutmeg, Orange, Patchouli, Myrrh, Sandalwood, Frankincense, clover, oregano, cloves, musk
  • Stones/crystals- sugilite, Lapis Lazuli, Lepidolite, Green Aventurine, Carnelian, sunstone, pyrite, amethyst, malachite, clear quartz, citrine, tiger’s eye, aquamarine, alexandrite, turquoise
  • Deities- Thor, Jupiter, Juno, zeus , Lakshmi, Veles, Rosmerta, Caisen, Abundantia, Plutus, Aje, Mercury, Fortuna, Kubera, vishnu
  • Zodiac: Pisces and Sagittarius

Ways to work with the energy of Thursday

We’ve talked a lot about all the different themes connected to the magic and energy Thursday has and gives us access to work with. So, how can you specifically connect to those energies and perform magic aligned with it? In your everyday life you can make sure your affirmations, intentions, and manifestations set today align with the energies of abundance, wealth, fame, success, money matters, your career, personal growth and expansion.

Below you will find some ideas for spells, rituals, and magical workings you can do to align with Thursday as well. Use the magic of this day to help you connect to your relationship with money, abundance, and your success. Don’t forget to check out my Pinterest page and Facebook page as well for more spell ideas every week! And don’t forget to hop on over to my extensive guide all about abundance here; to get ideas as well! I have a lot of reels and videos for Thursday to check out! It is the day I probably have made the most for!

Work with and balance your Root chakra

Like, I hinted at in the correspondences section, I know a lot of teachers tell us to work with our heart chakra on Thursday, I believe simply because of the color correspondence with this day. But, I prefer to work with my root chakra today. Your root chakra is tied for the most important chakra in my opinion. This chakra is all about your stability, security, and your needs being met. Which is exactly what the energy of abundance does for us. It allows us to have our needs met and more. It allows us to have security in our lives in the society we find ourselves in. If our root chakra is blocked, or full of stale and stagnant energy we are going to have a very hard time connecting to the energy of abundance and believing we will be secure and have all that we need to survive. So, before you cast any abundance spells today, refresh your prosperity bowl, or do any manifestation work around money first make sure your root chakra is clean, clear, and balanced.

If you need to learn more about energy work and the root chakra click the link here!

Thursday Candle spell to get a job

Remember, Thursday is ruled by the planet Jupiter which makes it a day of big, expansive, abundant energy. This makes it an ideal day to ask for some magical assistance in changing up our careers and getting a new job. Whether you are unemployed, or just looking for a career change try this simple candle spell with some green color magic today and watch that new job become yours! This is an extra great spell to do if you have an interview coming up already on your calendar.

How to perform:

Get yourself into sacred container. Visualize the job you wish to get. What the title is, where it is, and what it feels like getting it. As you do this carve the name of the job into the candle or a symbol to represent it. Once done Light the candle and recite. “Candle of green, energy of abundance and money do this deed for me. Bring this job with it’s money flow to me.” Let the candle burn until it goes out on it’s own. Than come back each day and light it until the job is yours!

Money spell bag

One spell you can do today to align with Jupiter; is to create a spell bag to call money into your life. First, what is a spell bag? Put simply, a spell bag is a bag of ingredients put together for a specific magical purpose. These charms are easy to make and are effective for those who have clear intentions. You can make spell bags for any purpose you would like but, one of my favorite purposes is for abundance, good fortune, and good luck.

It is common to see similar practices across many cultures like in Japan with Omamori (御守/お守り). Which are Japanese amulets commonly sold at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, dedicated to particular Shinto kami as well as Buddhist figures, and are said to provide various forms of luck. We also see this practice as a very popular and common part of celebrating the Chinese new year with the giving of Lai-see envelopes , good luck money wrapped in little red envelopes..

How to create one on your own is pretty simple and you have countless options for what you can do. Some things to consider, the color of the clothe pouch you use, what you put into it, and when you create it. (like today) For added enhancement you can charge your items under the new or full moon prior to putting them in. You can also write words, intentions, or sigils on your herbs before you add them to your bad. As you create your bag make sure you are feeding it with your intention through either mantras, invocations, spells, or visualization to activate your good luck and money spell bag. You can keep them on you, in your car, in your purse, on your abundance altar, under your bed or anywhere your intuition leads you. Remember – money IS energy. Keep that in mind…it IS obtainable and there is plenty for everyone! And then some! Below is listed some common things used to make Good fortune and money spell bags for you to make yours today!

coins
rice
eggshells
crystals
dried herbs
written intentions
Sigils
orange peels
Keys
Images of money and wealth
Cinnamon sticks
Paper bills

Money doubling spell

Remember the energy of Jupiter is all about thriving and is one of the best days and times to work the energy of abundance, prosperity, and wealth! Try this simple money doubling spell below today!
The last time I did it, it doubled my money down to the penny and this one is simple and easy to do!

Abundance and Prosperity bowl

It’s no secret that money is the way we survive. It buys everything. Maybe you find yourself in a tight spot and you need to pay the bills. Make an abundance AKA money bowl! This practice/spell would be the first thing I would advise you to do and the first thing I would do myself. I’d refresh a current one I have set up, add another one, or simply create a brand new one. And today is the day to do all of this!

First, what is a money bowl? A money bowl is what is sounds like – a bowl that’s used to magically attract prosperity. I like to say it’s sort of like a money jar but open and easier to feed with further ingredients and intentions. It is likely inspired by or stemming from the Feng Shui prosperity bowl or other folk magics method used in many cultures worldwide.

Money bowls can be placed in the home OR in the workplace as a magical magnet for money. I suggest using a green or clear bowl, but I’ve also seen people use gold and silver bowls since money and prosperity are linked to gold and silver too. You can add any correspondences for abundance, money and wealth you want to the bowl. I always make sure to be centered in gratitude and abundance when I add my items. For added amplification and abundance I suggest keeping your bowl in your office, place of business or where you like to get your work done.

My favorite method with these is keeping one near my front door to bring abundance in near my threshold to my home. Than every time I return back to my home any loss change and bills left in my wallet gets added to the bowl to increase the energy and my abundance I receive. Below is a list of common things used in money bowls.

  • A bowl
  • Coins
  • Paper bills
  • Written sigils
  • Rice
  • Candles
  • Written Intention
  • Bay leaves
  • Cinnamon
  • Basil
  • A mirror
  • Green Aventurine
  • Citrine
  • Clear Quartz
  • Keys
  • Gold & Green Glitter
  • Seeds

Money magic simmer pot

. Today is the perfect day to get in your kitchen and make a simmer pot to bring a flow of money magic into your life. I love simmer pots! They are some of my favorite magical spells to do. Not only are they easy to do but, they leave your house smelling amazing and full of so much magical energy. Use this recipe today and watch the money overflow into your life! If you need learn how to make a simmer pot you can read my guide all about them here!

Other ways to connect to the energy Thursday

  • create a spell jar for abundance ( you can purchase my ebook about spell jars in the shop!)
  • recite affirmation mantras
  • Call on a deity of abundance today to aid you in life
  • Create a money tree
  • Add an abundance altar to your office, business, or home
  • cast spells to promote personal growth and expansion
  • Use kitchen magic to create a money hand wash
  • Do elemental magic with the element of earth
  • Shadow work about your feelings of self worth
  • Meditate with the energy of green light
  • apply to jobs
  • Ask for the promotion or raise you have been looking for
  • start a business
  • Plant herbs of abundance near your front door to bring prosperity to your home
  • Journal about your relationship with money
  • Create a personal or family budget
  • Set savings goals
  • wear green clothes for color magic today
  • Launch on new product, workshop, or sale for your business
  • Balance and work with your throat chakra
  • create and sign legal contracts or complete business deals

If you want more information or to go deeper on any topics covered in this blogpost; you can check out any of the links throughout. They will bring you to classes I have taught for free on YouTube with Divination Academy or to previous posts and guides I’ve written on that topic. You can also check out any of the links below to YouTube videos not linked above!

Happy casting this Thursday!

Posted on by — 2 Comments

Working With The Fertile, Abundant, Compassionate, Creative, And Lustful Magic Of May

Every single month has it’s own energy, and frequencies we can connect to that are unique. When we connect to the month’s energy and frequencies we can find ourselves living a much more aligned, and magical life. We have the ability to amplify our magical workings, intentions, and manifesting. Let’s talk about how to do that with the month of May.

May is a vibrant, energetic, creative, lustful, fertile, and compassionate month marked by the celebration of Beltane and the height of spring’s fertility. It’s a time to honor the Earth’s abundance, to embrace the energy of growth and renewal, and connect with the magic of the natural world all around us in the passionate cosmic dance of the co-creators. An explosion of vitality floods the Earth this month. And that joy of living is transferred to the spirit in everything all around us like; in the activities of humans, the full hustle and bustle in nature, and even in celebrations this month like Beltane and Mother’s day. Love is around every corner in May; sexual love as well as self-love and motherly love. Use this flaming energy to add motivation to your goals and dreams to bring them into reality.

In the month of May we see some themes from both April and March continued as well like fertility, growth, prosperity, and abundance. This month continues to be a time to focus on positive change, growth and new opportunities. This month is a time to truly focus on aligning ourselves with the natural rhythms of the Earth and the turning of the wheel. It’s a month to take the time to go deep into the caverns of who you really are and make sure you are living life truly in your purpose and intentions. Make sure to use those energies and themes to nourish your seeds planted in March, and that you watered in April. Focus on making sure you are really putting the movement, passion, and nutrients into your manifestations, intentions, and goals for the year to really take root, flourish, and begin to multiply in the coming months bursting forth with vitality and passion.

History Of The Month Of May

The word “may” comes from the ancient Greek goddess Maia, who was the goddess of growth and mother of Hermes, the messenger of the gods. Her name translates to “mother, nurse, midwife” or “good mother”. Maia is also the Greek goddess of growth and fertility, and is associated with renewal, joy, and magic. The Romans also had a goddess named Maia, who was associated with fertility and spring. The month is also said to be a time for freedom, adventure, and creativity, and to explore new opportunities and spur dreams.

May is the fifth month of the year according to both the Gregorian and the Julian Calendars. May was the third month in the early Roman calendar. People born in the month of May are born under the Sun Sign of either Taurus or Gemini.

Sacred Days And Celebrations In May

Every Single month has sacred and important days and celebrations to help you connect to the energies of the month. Plus they usually are a lot of fun to take part in! Let’s talk about a couple of the important and sacred days and celebrations for the month of May.

Beltane

One of the most well known and important sacred days in May is Beltane. Beltane is a celebration of the earth and nature and marks the start of the traditional planting season. Beltane is the pagan Celtic fire festival dating back to ancient times. In fact, the name Beltane is derived from the name of the Celtic god Belenes, or Bel, and the word tene meaning “fire”. The earliest mention of the holiday was in an Irish medieval text known as Sanas Cormaic, written by Cormac mac Cuilennáin king-bishop of Munster sometime before the year 908. The word Beltane, which in traditional Irish is spelled Bealtaine, means “Fire of Bel” or “Great Fire”.

It occurs officially upon moonrise on April 30th, lasting through the next day, May 1st, in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, the dates are reversed: so it begins October 31st and lasts through November 1st.Although Beltane is Celtic in origin, there are literally hundreds of other fire and fertility festivals celebrated around the world at this time. In England, Beltane is known as May Day. In Germany, it’s Walpurgisnacht (aka the Witches Night). Beltane is the festival that honors the change from winter to summer and the union of the god and goddess. It is a time of fertility, growth, and new beginnings.

Beltane is the time when the Earth is literally buzzing with fertility. Spring is in full swing, flowers are blooming, the birds are building nests for their young, many animals are seeking mates, and farmers are planting their fields in preparation of the abundant Summer months. It is time to celebrate the fertility and prosperity of the world during this warm time of growth, abundance, and transformation. It is time to connect to the duality of the sacred dance between the co-creators; that seed all of life. It is a time when our souls are lit with a burning blaze of passion, creativity, and sexuality to allow us to transform into our true forms this coming season. To learn more about this sacred day and celebration you can read all about it in my previous blog post here.

The 5/5 Portal Of Abundance

Certain dates hold a special significance in the terms of celestial alignment and they create a portal through which we can access heightened energies, spiritual insights, and opportunities for growth. The 5th of May is a really important date as it is the 5th day of the 5th month of the year. This is known as the 5/5 portal. The May 5 Portal, is also known as the 5/5 Gateway or the Beltane Portal, and it occurs annually on May 5th. This date holds significance in various spiritual traditions, including astrology, numerology, and indigenous cultures as a time of heightened spiritual activity and cosmic alignment. It’s often thought that at this time, the veil between the physical and spiritual realms is thinner, putting the collective in a liminal space allowing us to access higher frequencies of energy to receive guidance, and blessings from the divine. This portal creates a powerful alignment of cosmic forces that opens a gateway to transformation, renewal, manifestation, abundance, and purpose. The energy will be ripe on 5/5, the ultimate portal of change, enlightenment, and finally seeing elements in your life “as they are” and not what you perceive. It is the portal that unlocks the door for us to begin a deep manifestation journey. To learn more about this portal and how to work with it you can read all about it in my previous blog post here.

Mother’s Day

Mother’s day is another well known day of celebration that happens during the month of May. Not only is a day to honor mothers of all kinds but, there is a much deeper meaning to mother’s day as well. The deeper meaning of Mother’s Day is to not only honor our mothers for giving us life physically, but also to honor our true Parent, the goddess and source, who gave us life at all levels: physically, intellectually, and spiritually. When we remember our mothers, we should also remember the goddess and source for creating us. Mothers Day is a chance for each of us to consciously reconnect with the principle of the Divine Feminine within ourselves, which is where the true Power Unconditional Love resides, waiting to embrace and nurture us. Celebrate the Divine Feminine this Mothers Day and notice how loved you really are.

Other Important Dates

  • Beltane is celebrated on the first of May.
  • The Bona Dea festival was celebrated in ancient Rome on the first of May.
  • May 1st was also Vinalia.
  • May 9th is the Roman festival of Lemuria.
  • May 15th is the birthday of the Roman God Mercury or Mercuralia
  • May 21st is the Roman festival Vejovis.
  • May 23rd is the Roman festival Rosalia
  • Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May.
  • Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Sunday in May.
  • Armed Forces Day is the third Sunday in May.
  • May 5th is Cinco De Mayo, commemorating the Mexican defeat of the French at Puebla
  • It is said that King Arthur died on May 30 542
  • Joan of Arc died on May 30, 1431

May Magical And Witchcraft Themes

In witchcraft, May is often celebrated as a time of fertility, growth, and abundance. As spring reaches its peak in the Northern Hemisphere, witches embrace the energy of the season to nurture their intentions and projects. They take the time to go into the depths of nature to understand who they truly are and where their deepest desires and passions lie. Many witches celebrate and honor Beltane, a traditional Celtic festival celebrating the union of the god and goddess and the flourishing of life. It becomes a time to relish in the cosmic dance of the divine co-creators. Witches may participate in rituals and ceremonies honoring fertility, love, and the blooming of the natural world; as well as perform potent sex magick during this time of the year. They may also work with symbols such as flowers, maypoles, and bonfires to harness the potent energies of May.

The Gods And Goddesses Of May

With every season and month there are certain themes, magic, and energies we have the ability to connect to including deities. Everyone works with and views deity energy a little differently. Whether you view them as archetypes of the human consciousness, representations of the source energy, or as being entities on their own, there are certain deities that now is the time to connect to and honor them in the most sacred and amplified way.

During this month a few deities take center stage because they have festivals or sacred days during this month to help you connect with them in a very intimate way. The deities that are going to be the best for you to connect to right now are going to be those who represent spring, fertility, abundance, sex, love the divine co-creators, maternal love, nature, and any deities connected to Beltane. Below we will talk about some of the deities you can work with this month.

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.

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. To learn more about her you can read all about her in my previous blog post here.

Bel or Belenos

Bel or Belenos is a Celtic fire god who may have been the catalyst for this sabbat thousands of years ago. When we translate Bel’s name, we get “Shining One”. Not only was Bel associated with fire and fertility, he was also a well-loved healing god whose cult stretched all the way from Italy to the British Isles, at its peak. Bel was also a sun god who rode the sun like a chariot across the sky each day, led by his sacred, most powerful totem – horses. There are those who believe Beltane originates in honor of Bel, and those who disagree.

Artemis

Artemis, the Greek goddess of hunting and nature, was born as the daughter of Zeus and Leto. Artemis, was the twin sister of Apollo. Their mother, Leto, faced numerous struggles during her pregnancy, as she was relentlessly pursued by the jealous Hera. Artemis helped her mother give birth to her brother Apollo, earning her reputation as the goddess of childbirth. Artemis would establish herself as the revered goddess of hunting, protector of young girls, and a powerful force in Greek mythology. Associated with various spheres of influence, she protected young girls and women and favored the Trojans in the ancient Greek literature. Depictions of Artemis show her with sacred symbols like the bow and arrow, a quiver, and her sacred animal, the deer. Stories of her wrath, such as the myth of Artemis and Actaeon, highlight her powerful vengeance.

Artemis is widely recognized as the virgin goddess in Greek mythology, embodying chastity and purity. Revered for her unwavering dedication to remaining unmarried and abstaining from romantic relationships, she symbolizes the ideal of a self-sufficient and independent woman. As the goddess of the hunt and nature, Artemis was revered as a role model for young girls and women. Her commitment to virginity set her apart from other deities and granted her a unique status within the Greek pantheon. Worship of Artemis played a significant role in ancient Greek society with numerous temples and rituals dedicated to her.

Cernuous

The horned god of the forest, Cernuous is a powerful deity associated with Beltane. He is often invoked for protection and blessings of abundance. Cernuous is an ancient Celtic god who was known for his power over wild nature. He was often depicted in art as a horned figure with antlers, embodying the balance between life and death. Cernuous can be seen by many as a symbol of power and transition – from death to rebirth. He teaches us the importance of understanding our place in Nature and how to connect with it – learning from nature’s ebbs and flows, respecting its cycles and giving back when possible

Pan

Part man and part goat, Pan was the Greek god who was patron of shepherds and hunters, who watched their flocks. Pan was the Greek god of nature and the untamed wilderness. PAN was the god of the meadows and forests of the mountain wilds. His unseen presence aroused panic in those who traversed his realm. He was even thought to be the cause of the musical sound of the wind through the trees. He was Associated with music, fertility, and spring. In ancient Greek art, he was often depicted as a horned man with the legs of a goat; he was the chief of the satyrs, who were similar in appearance and character to Pan.

Pan, ruled over nature and pasturelands. Pan is essentially the father of the wild things. He is frequently depicted in literature and artworks. Although he is not one of the major gods of Ancient Greece, he is one of most often referenced figures in Greek mythology. Pan has come to represent the unstoppable power of nature throughout the ages and still today. To learn more about pan and how to connect to him you can do so in my previous blog post here.

Xochiquetzal

The Aztec goddess Xochiquetzal was one of the most important goddesses in the Aztec pantheon. She was associated with most of the aspects relating to women and femininity: she was the deity who presided to fertility and pregnancy, but also to handicrafts traditionally linked to women, such as weaving. Her most important characteristic was surely her strongly accentuated sensuality: she was the only Aztec goddess to be represented as a young woman, all the others being usually portrayed as mature ladies. Because she was represented as a young woman, the Aztec goddess Xochiquetzal was also the goddess of eroticism. According to this fact, she was thought to have had relationships with many among the most important gods of the Aztec religion. The most renowned was surely Tezcatlipoca, the omniscient god of the night sky and one of the creators of the world.

It is known that the Aztec goddess Xochiquetzal, often revered as the goddess of love and fertility, had a twin brother, or alternatively a male counterpart: a god named Xochipilli who was associated with dance, games, and the arts. Xochiquetzal, also recognized as the Mexican goddess of love, was thought to have been born in Tamoanchan, one of the thirteen heavens of the Aztec cosmos, from a couple of hairs on the head of her first husband, Piltzintecuhtli. She would have been the mother of the god of corn, Cinteotl, further cementing her role as a fertility goddess.

Maia

I saved the goddess the month is named after for last; the Greek goddess Maia. Maia is a Greek goddess associated with various aspects of mythology and culture. As one of the Pleiades, she resides in the constellation of the same name. Maia is known as the mother of Hermes, the messenger of the gods. Maia, a prominent figure in Greek mythology, and holds a significant place among the pantheon of gods and goddesses. Her story begins as the daughter of Atlas and Pleione, and she resides in a deep and shadowy cave atop Mount Cyllene in Arcadia. Often depicted as a shy and reclusive deity, Maia captivates with her enigmatic presence. Her connection to the natural world, particularly the earth, is a prominent aspect of her character, leading some texts to identify her as Gaia, the goddess of the Earth. In Greek Mythology her role was as a mother and caretaker, and her symbolic association with the Earth and growth.

Correspondences For May

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, the zodiac energy the moon is currently or for time of the year like a month, which I will list below for you to use.

  • Planet-Earth
  • Animal-Lynx, leopards, birds, cats, snakes, hares, bees, doves, swan
  • Element- Earth and Fire
  • colors- Green, pink, yellow, red
  • Chakra- Root and heart
  • Herbs- Hawthorn, roses, lilac, jasmine, catnip, thyme, mint, elder flower, iris flowers, lily of the valley, cinnamon, mugwort, yarrow, magnolia, sandalwood, foxglove
  • Stones/ crystals- Emerald, rose quartz, moonstone, malachite, carnelian, Moss agate, Sunstone, serpentine, chrysoprase,
  • Deities- bel, pan, Artemis, iris, Hera, cernuous, Xochiquetzal, Xochipilli, flora, Aine, Apollo, The Green Man, Maia, Bast, Aphrodite, Venus, Diana, Faunus, the horned god
  • Symbols- Maypole, flowers, bonfires, ribbons, the goddess, the phallus, flower moon, fairies, elves
  • Zodiac- Taurus, Gemini
  • Trees- hawthorn, apple
  • Themes- Fertility, love, abundance, growth, sex, grounding, personal growth, duality, creativity, passion, lust, grounding, nature, desire, blooming world, the divine cocreators, healing, spiritual growth, balance, maternal love

How To Connect To The Magic Of May

We’ve talked a lot about all the different types of energies the month of May has and gives us access to work with. So, how can you specifically connect to those energies? In your every day life you can make sure your affirmations and manifestation work align with the energies of abundance, prosperity, love, desire, passion, maternal love, creativity, and nourishment. You can celebrate and honor any of the sacred days and holidays like Beltane, and work with the season of spring and the soon to be here Summer.

Some Rituals and spell workings during this time that will be really intensified will be based on prosperity, wealth, growth, and fertility. You can do things like create a lucky money bag, a prosperity bowl, or perform some spells using egg magic. May is a time of the year where many witches are able to get back into nature, using this time to physically reconnect with nature through all kinds of nature magic, earthing, grounding, and elemental magic. If you were not able to plant your garden last month this is a perfect time to do so and to perform some seed magic at the same time.

Other rituals and spell workings that would be powerful to perform during the month of May; will be based on passion, lust, sex, and desire. The month of May starts with a fiery and passionate blaze of sex and cocreation with Beltane and that energy is felt throughout the entire month. You see it in nature even as the bees are busy pollinating flowers, the animals are mating, and humans are much more active in nature as well. So, take the time to really allow yourself to access your true desires and passion, this month by doing some sex magick rituals or spells.

With May being about passion that also opens us up to the energy of expansion. You can access this a few different ways; by casting spells based on transformation or by doing shadow work. Another way you can access the energy of expansion is through the expression of creativity. To access this expression you can mindfully make art and give it as an offering to a deity or place it at your altar, you can move you body especially by moving your hips, go on an adventure, and you can cast any spells to enhance and boost your creativity. This month is the perfect month to really let your expression of expansion run free and work on new projects and ideas you really want to bring to life this year.

Spell and Ritual Ideas

Other Ways To Celebrate And Work With May

When we want to use the energy around us to affect our magical practices and rituals we can amplify that by doing things in our every day life to align with the energy as well. You can align with the energy of abundance, lust, sex, passion, compassion, fertility, expansion and creativity with affirmations, mantras, intentions, goal setting, being in nature, and adding the passion of fire to our lives with candles, lit fireplaces, and bonfires.

The month of May is a month full of love starting from the first day of the month with passionate and fiery Beltane, then the maternal love of mothers day and the love of gratitude and loss with memorial day. This month take the time to focus on the energy of love for yourself, and others in all ways and really explore all facets of the energy of love this month. You can do things like making sure you get yourself outside breathing the fresh air and getting in touch with the earth. You can also make sure to nourish yourself and show yourself some self love by taking a self love ritual bath. Lastly, take some time to look at your relationship with your mother, and with the divine mother to determine if you have a mother wound that you may need to work on healing this month.

If you didn’t start working with them last month in April don’t worry; May is also the perfect month and time to start working with the Fae and the Faery realm. You can start doing this by planning and than planting your Faery Garden so your flowers will start blooming in the next month. Some things I recommend to have for your faery garden will be listed below and keep a look out for a blogpost coming to go in depth on adding one of these to your yard and practice.

  • Plant Foxglove and Pansies
  • Make sure to have plenty of small plants and flower bushes
  • Have small mirrors laying around
  • Decorate with shiny crystals likes quartz and agates
  • Plant roses
  • Plant berry bushes for offerings
  • Build a Fairy House
  • Include moss and mushrooms
  • Include a butterfly feeder and water station
  • Plant Nectar producing flowers and plants

Duality And The Month Of May

Since, I am a grey witch I look for the duality in every single energy I work with including sacred times like a month of the year like May. May is burning with duality, in the sense of looking at the divine masculine and feminine. These are two forces that coexist and intermingle in the cosmos and we are made of both of these energies no matter the gender we identify with or are physically born into it. May starts off with Beltane which is the sacred day that represents these two forces. It allows us to look into the flames of our souls and connect these two forces existing within us. In my opinion it is the day of the year we can connect to the duality of them the most when we experience the intense heat of the flames when they come to together in union. That cosmic unions energy is present during the entire month allowing us to access such dualistic energies like sex, lust, passion, desire, creativity, and expansion.

Let The Passion, Creativity, And Abundance Of May Nourish Your Blossoming Intentions

We talked about many things in this blogpost including the history, some celebrations, the different energies and magical themes we can work with during this month, how to connect to those energies, deities we can honor and worship, and how to work with the magic of May. No matter how you choose to work with the energies and magic of May make sure to be focused on continuing your rebirth for this year, abundance, and nourishing yourself and the seeds your planted a few months back. Making sure those seeds that are now blossoming truly have all they need for the nutrients to continue to bring you creativity, passion, and your truest desires and passions into your life. If you do this your life will become so much more magical and aligned. All the nourishment you give your seeds that are now plants this month will allow you to bloom the rest of the year.

Posted on by — 2 Comments

Working With The Prosperous, Stable, Physical, And Present Energy Of The Taurus New Moon

We are entering a new lunar phase this week; the New moon. As the Moon changes signs approximately every 2-3 days, we feel her influence over our moods and intuition shift. As the moon begins her next cycle aligned with the steadfast bull, we feel called to ground ourselves in the realm of the earthly and tangible. Under the taurus new moon, our intentions manifest through sensual delights, pragmatic actions, and diligent cultivation of resources over time. The sign of Taurus favors the arrival of good fortune and prosperity. So when you combine the New Moon’s allure, and the sacred Bull’s prosperity it’s a supernaturally potent mix.

The Moon in Taurus also calls us to inhabit the grounded beauty of the present moment.
Taurus brings in the anchor of deep stability. The energy this earth sign brings is anchored and aware. We’re able to put away the cares and fears about the past, present, and future and be here now. This is the rock around which all that wonderful and messy life is spinning. The new moon in Taurus represents a time of renewed intention setting focused on abundance, pleasure, and material stability rooted in our deepest desires and passions without hesitation or fear.

This new moon in Taurus is asking us to dig down to the bedrock of our lives. To re-discover what’s lost, what’s buried, and what’s forgotten. And bring those submerged pieces back to life. Reminding us when we are rooted to the earth we get to be truly who we are and manifest a life full of abundance and pleasure.

This new moon begins a lunar month centered around rebuilding our lives from the ground up, reassessing our values, and strengthening our relationship with ourselves, our physical bodies, and the Earth. Keep reading to learn all about this Taurus new moon, how it will affect you, and how you can harness it in your life and magical practices. By aligning with the Taurus new moon

New Moon What Is It And Why We Honor It?

Every month, the New Moons carry us over the threshold of a new beginning. So, let’s talk about the new moon in general before we dig into the depths of what a Taurus moon can do for you and your life. The new moon is the time to reflect and cleanse your energy. It is a time to set your intentions for what you wish to attract this lunar cycle. Every intention set requires action and energy from your part as well.

The new moon energy is there to support you in manifesting what you want. The new moon is a time to allow new ideas and energy to flow with you. It is a time to honor new beginnings, and the turning over of a cycle. Think of these intentions as seeds you are planting for this lunar cycle to be ready to harvest by the full moon.

Use this time to rest, reflect, and plant what you will grow just as your ancestors across many cultures did while there was little light in the night sky for them to use. Each New Moon is unique, offering its own magic within each month.

To learn more about the foundations of working with the new moon, and how it affects you, read more here in my previous blog post. https://modgepodgemystic.com/working-with-the-new-moon/

Themes For The Taurus New Moon

Every New Moon contains its own themes, which are related to the sign that it falls under. This time, we experience the New Moon in the purposeful, prosperous, stable, relaxing, anchored, earth sign of Taurus the bull. Let’s explore some of the themes and energies of Taurus deeper below.

Taurus The Sign Calling You To Be Present

Taurus is a fixed sign. It roots into presence, and sustains what’s here and now. The Taurus New Moon is often a time to relax, indulge, and take it easy. No doubt life has been spinning SO fast around you recently? It’s because, we’re coming out of a high energy, intense, passionate period with the previous Moons, and this is now a time to pull back. We can take a break, chill out, and don’t want to fill up every moment of our lives with something to do. By standing still and taking time to rest during this New Moon, presence will form. And in that presence; you’ll find what matters and maybe even some answers to questions you have been pondering recently. Taurus has all the time in the world. Not to mention the tenacity to stick with the search to firstly find out the answers, and secondly, figure out how to bring them to life.

Taurus The Sign Of Money

Taurus has a reputation for abundance, in all its earthly delights. Taurus is a money ruler, so we can focus on opportunities to improve our financial situations and plan for the future. We can maximize resources we have, and get our hands on new resources. This can help improve stability and security in our lives, and as we improve stability and security, we can get more opportunities for money and resources.

Taurus The Time To Anchor

Taurus brings in the anchor of deep stability. This is the rock around which all the duality of life is spinning. Taurus as an archetype is earthy, fortified like a mountain, and all about the sensations of nature around us. It often asks us to connect to our bodies and to the tangible, material parts of our life experience. On our journey there, Taurus also asks us to backtrack. To go back to the foundation and core of who we are and the intentions we are setting. Before setting any intentions for change, this Moon wants us to first look to our core truths, values, and motivations. To make sure we are planting seeds of intentions we truly desire to be sown.

Taurus The Sign Of The Body

Taurus is a fixed earth sign because of this; it is one of the most body-centered (and centering) signs of the zodiac. When the New Moon is in the sign of Taurus we are reminded of the sacredness of our physical form. Taurus asks us to sit with ourselves fully. Not in an intellectual way, or spiritual way but, in a physical way. It asks us to take time to notice the breath entering our lungs, the beating of our hearts, the movement in our blood, the tension in our muscles, pressure on our bones, and sensations from our senses. When the moon is in Taurus, we are encouraged to revel in our physicalness and the pleasure of what we can experience with our sense of touch especially in the realm of sex. Taurus puts an emphasis on creature comforts reminding us to slow down, savor deeply, and reconnect with our physicality by simply enjoying life’s pleasures.

Taurus New Moon 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 new moon and the sign it currently is in. First, the new moon itself is all about duality and illuminating the night sky in both light and shadows. The new moon is all about rebirth, renewal, and the beginning of a new cycle, which puts you in a transitional liminal space and energy. In order for you to be in a space to begin again, to transition, and be reborn you had to just come from and ending and death. Second, the sign of Taurus while it may be all about abundance, security, stability, and going deep within to be rooted and anchored. That isn’t a light process, or an easy process. To truly fully receive abundance, and be rooted in our sacred contacts and soul purposes. To truly manifest all of our deepest desires, passions, and intentions; we have to face the depths of our pasts, who we really are, and where we have honestly been. In order to have the space and ability to receive it all and most importantly be willing to receive by knowing we are worthy and it is meant to be ours. Doing this opens you to a very liminal space steeped in duality for you to truly do the work needed to benefit from this new moon to its fullest potential.

What To Be Cautious Of This Taurus New Moon

Our confidence can be high with the Taurus New Moon if we feel secure and take it easy. If we don’t, we may become stubborn about something, and insecurity can lead to lashing out erratically. Be careful with being stubborn as well to not try and move immovable objects and start unneeded conflict. The other thing to be careful of with this moon; is the pull to rest, relax and go inward. It can be very potent and alluring. While taking to time rest and replenish our bodies is important don’t let it go so far you start to avoid responsibilities.

Ways To Work With The Taurus New Moon

Now, that we have talked about the themes of this Taurus new moon and how it is going to affect you let’s talk about how you can specifically connect to and work with this moon.

First, make sure to do all of your staples that your learned in the previous blog post linked here https://modgepodgemystic.com/working-with-the-full-moon/ for you like, charging your crystals, making moon water, https://modgepodgemystic.com/moon-water-a-magical-staple/ and resetting your altar.

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.

Correspondences For The Taurus New 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 Taurus that I will list below for you to use.

  • planet-venus, moon
  • Animal- The bull
  • Element- Earth
  • Sex- Feminine
  • Modality- Fixed
  • Symbol- The bull, the goddess
  • colors- green,gold, brown
  • Motto- I have, or I possess
  • Chakra-Root chakra
  • Herbs- mint, thyme, sage, mallow, catnip, honeysuckle, saffron, rose, lavender, bergamot,
  • Stones/ crystals- emerald, jade. moss agate, green aventurine, Pyrite, peach moonstone, malachite, rose quartz, amazonite, amber, carnelian
  • Deities-Aphrodite/Venus Hera/Juno, Ishtar, Isis, Freyja, and Frigg and the gods Pan, Dionysus/Bacchus, Xolotl, and Quetzalcoatl
  • Themes-Stability, Security, Sensualality, Abundance,Fertility,Peaceful,Rest,Reflection,Love,Self worth,Grounded, Rooted, Strength, Patience, Determination, Fortitude, Physical body
  • tarot- The hierophant
  • House- Second house

Root Meditation For Taurus New Moon

The purpose of this meditation is to help you feel grounded and stable to the earth, and who you are while also replenishing your energy and strength. It also creates a circular current of energy from the earth’s core, through your energetic body, and the celestial body the moon.

How to do:

Find a comfortable position to be in somewhere that you can be alone and be left uninterrupted for a small amount of time. If you want to do this outside under the moon or connecting to the earth you can as well!

Begin by taking four centering breaths in and continue to box breath:

How to box breathe:

Breathe in to the count of four (I measure my count with my heartbeat).
Hold your breath for four counts.
Breathe out for four counts.
Pause for four counts before taking another breath.
Repeat.
This breathing technique helps to quiet the mind and center your focus. I use this not only for meditation, guided work, and magical purposes but, for mental health coping skills as well!

Continuing to breathe gently into the softness of your belly, you are going to begin to visualize yourself within yourself. Visualize yourself pulling back from the edges of your body. Draw your consciousness inwards so that you feel yourself inside of your body as if it were a sacred container/ temple that you can draw back into. Feel yourself growing smaller in the powerful space of your body, drifting down into the sacred portal of energy in your belly, down into your pelvic space. The sacred portal of energy many know as the root chakra or the cauldron of warming.

Remaining within yourself, visualize a root extending from inner-you down deep into the earth. Breathe into this root as it extends downwards into the floor beneath you, and than into the soil. Feel as it expands and grows moving throwing the soil. Past roots of plants and other trees, past rocks, and decaying remains and debris, past critters, and creatures that wiggle in the dirt. You breathe in and on the exhale your root extends even further into the soil stretching as far as it can until you reach the burning hot, molten core at the center of the earth. And you feel the energy of the earth pulsating there ready for you to absorb.

With every out-breath your root extends and with every in-breath you pull up green energy through your roots back into inner-you from that molten hot core in the center of the earth pulsating in front of you. The green energy stretches up into all parts of inner-you until you are completely filled with it from your toes to fingertips to the very top of your head. The energy extends out of the crown of your head skywards in the form of branches, sprouting leaves, and maybe even blooming buds or fruit. With every out-breath your branches extend upwards and with every in-breath your branches pull celestial, lunar, and solar energy into inner-you. Let the currents of green and celestial energy mingle throughout your body creating a circle current from the celestial energy, through you, and into the core of the earth and back again.

When you feel sufficiently charged-up, begin to pull back your roots and branches until they have formed a small but powerful sphere of centered energy in the belly of inner-you. This is a continuous conductor of energy that you can connect to for abundance, growth, and the divine connection between you, the earth, and the celestial body the moon. You can go within yourself, to your sacred container/temple of your body, to access it at any time, including repeating this simple ritual to continue to revitalize your inner energy.

Whenever you are ready you can open your eyes and come fully back to your body by giving yourself a self-massage or squeezing your feet connecting to the energy current you just were connected too.

If you would like more ideas for rituals you can check out my Pinterest page, my Facebook page, and watch any of my previous moon celebrations here; https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeHvi9fxqgzRx1cIX1vfLMDVVtPYzKvl1&si=ppeNd5wwT6saWEdf  or at the top of the Divination facebook page, and you can read more in a previous blog post here

However you choose to connect to this new moon and work with its energy be prepared to experience the steadfast bull, and feel called to ground yourself in the realm of the earthly and tangible. Under the taurus new moon, your intentions will manifest through sensual delights, pragmatic actions, and diligent cultivation of resources over time. Listen to Taurus who is asking you to dig down to the bedrock of your life. To re-discover what’s lost, what’s buried, and what’s forgotten. And bring those submerged pieces back to life. Reminding you that when you are rooted to the earth you get to be truly who you are and manifest a life full of abundance and pleasure.

To connect with the moon more you can join me for a FREE celebration and ritual with Divination on May 7th @ 8:00 pm CST in Facebook live! https://www.facebook.com/events/3334367276860444/

Posted on by

Amaterasu; The Illuminating Shinto Goddess of The Sun, Creation, and The Higher Celestial Plane

Amaterasu is the primary deity of the Shinto religion in Japanese mythology, revered as the goddess of the sun, universe, and creation itself, and considered the highest manifestation of the spirit of the universe. As the source of all light, life, and creation, the sun goddess sustains heaven and earth with a light so compelling that her father appointed her ruler of the universe when he first laid eyes on her. 

As the embodiment of the sun, she assimilates all of its qualities and provides comfort and assurance to all those who look to her for guidance and protection. Having served as the mother of the imperial family she is revered as the goddess of the state, and is both nurturing and maternal.

 Born from the drops of water that fell from his face, Amaterasu is deeply connected to mirrors, which are seen as sacred objects that contain a sliver of her spirit. Her blessings permeate many aspects of Japanese life, from protecting warriors in battle to ensuring bountiful harvests. Revered throughout history, even the imperial family claims descent from Amaterasu. Her benevolent light continues to guide the Japanese people through dark times. Let me shine her illuminating light for you to see and learn all that her rays touch and influence in your life!

Who is Amaterasu?

She has a shimmering aura that spreads across the skies and touches all corners of the world. Amaterasu signifies a new day with hope, energy, and growth. From the moment of her creation Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess of Japanese mythology, was said to be so radiant that she illuminated both heaven and earth. Goddess Amaterasu is the Goddess of the Sun worshiped in Japan. 

Possessing the rising sun as a symbol, every morning she is greeted by the people through prayers. Amaterasu is one of the main Goddesses of Shinto. In Shinto it is common for Goddesses and Gods to be called “Kami”, therefore it is common to see the name Amaterasu-ōmikami which means something close to “Great” Kami that illuminates the heavens.”

Goddess Amaterasu is described as a radiant and kind Goddess who brings light, joy, and prosperity to her people. Her femininity and nurturance blend with her forceful solar nature. Her influence extends beyond physical aspects; she is linked to enlightenment, wisdom, and artistic inspiration.  She is also credited with first using silkworms and looms for weaving.

She is the daughter of the divine creators of the world, Izanami and Izanagi, and she has two brothers: Tsukuyomi, the God of the Moon, and Susanoo, the God of Storms and seas. It was written that Amaterasu had painted the landscape with her siblings to create ancient Japan.

Amaterasu, Japan’s sun goddess of legend, is known for her powerful and benevolent ways. One story tells of her brother’s misdeeds causing her to retreat into a cave, and the other gods’ plan to coax her out again, resulting in the birth of dance and music which we will talk about later.

The radiant god is believed to be the ancestor of Japan’s imperial family, and her divine power is said to have been passed down through generations. She is associated with Shintoism, Japan’s native religion, with sunlight representing purity and enlightenment. 

A sacred mirror reflects her true form and is venerated in Shinto shrines throughout Japan. It symbolizes truth and self-reflection, encouraging us to embrace our own radiance and divinity. Amaterasu has played a fundamental role in Japan’s culture, from ancient times to today. Her influence runs deep, becoming part of the country’s collective identity.

What does she look like?

Amaterasu is a revered deity known for her ethereal beauty and enchanting presence. Often depicted as graceful, the sun goddess has long, lustrous black hair, radiant skin, and bright eyes. Her attire consists of flowing kimonos crafted from the finest silks and satins. Such richly detailed depictions of the goddess have helped to cement her place as one of the most beloved and celebrated figures in Japanese folklore and culture.

Ruler of the higher celestial plane

Amaterasu is also known for her role as the ruler of the Higher Celestial Plane. In this realm, she was responsible for bringing light to the world through the sun that she embodied. Amaterasu is the rising and setting sun: without her, all forms of life would cease to exist. As ruler of the heavens, she governs over all spirits (kami), and her divine powers brought about the cultivation of rice and wheat: she is also credited with first using silkworms and looms for weaving. Amaterasu’s role as the ruler of heaven is to ensure the continuity of life by maintaining order.

Her tie to the imperial state

The Japanese monarchy is regarded as the oldest continuous hereditary monarchy in the world, with its roots extending all the way back to the 7th century BC. Like many other ancient monarchies, the Emperors of Japan trace their ancestry to a divine source, though it may be said that there are certain differences between the divinity of the Japanese Emperor and those of other rulers who claimed divinity.

It is said that the first emperors of Japan were direct descendants of Amaterasu. It is believed that Amaterasu sent her grandson Jimmu to Earth 3,000 years ago to be the first ruler of Japan, beginning the divine family of Japanese emperors. Even her sacred sword (Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi), her jewel (Yasakani in the Magatama) and her mirror (Yata no Kagami), the goddess’s main symbol, are still guarded to this day as Imperial Treasures.

Goddess of creation

Amaterasu is believed to be one of the oldest gods. She played an important role in creating Japan and its people. Her divine light illuminated the world and caused many phenomena. Amaterasu is the rising and setting sun: without her, all forms of life would cease to exist. As ruler of the heavens, she governs over all spirits (kami), and her divine powers brought about the cultivation of rice and wheat.

Amaterasu The spiritual guide

Amaterasu is the spiritual guide and protector of the Japanese people. Many festivals are held in her honor. She symbolizes hope, prosperity, and purity. She gets this role because of her incredibly high status as the kami of the higher celestial plane. Since this is said to be a realm she has domain over it would of course make her the spiritual guide to the people.

Amaterasu 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. I feel with light deities this gets overlooked often and is much more focused on with dark deities. Amaterasu does this very well, in the fact that she is the sun that can both bring and sustain all life and it can smother it and snuff it out. If you think about it we as humans love the sun and NEED it to survive but, our bodies aren’t really made for it either. Our skin burns, we sweat, and we can only tolerate low heats of it. 

The same thing with her being a deity of  light. Light can illuminate and shine brightly to allow us to see. It can also shine so brightly It can blind us and send us off in the direction. She also does this by being the kami to embody all of the universe. How can she encompass all of the universe and she not be steeped in duality?

Amaterasu and the Divine feminine 

The myth of the Goddess Amaterasu emphasizes female power. The absence of the Goddess and the resulting aridity and darkness of the world demonstrate the importance of the woman, who must be respected, recognized and honored as a source of life and energy. You also see her importance with the divine feminine in being a solar deity and her simply being a goddess. It is common across cultures especially in the west and after christianity that the sun is represented as a masculine energy with a god.

Her Association with Other Elements of Nature

Amaterasu is not only the goddess of the sun, but also holds significance in the association with other elements of nature. In Japanese mythology, she is responsible for sending forth the four winds and for creating the typhoons that are prevalent in Japan.

She is also associated with the regulation of the tides, agriculture, and rainfall. These associations with natural elements have given Amaterasu significant power in shaping the lives and culture of the Japanese people.

Mythology and stories

The birth of Amaterasu

According to the beliefs of the Shinto religion, Amaterasu is the child of Izanami and Izanagi, the two primordial gods responsible for the creation of the Japanese islands. Izanami is recognized as ‘she who invites,’ while Izanagi is known as ‘he who invites.’ Amaterasu’s birth is shrouded in myth, with multiple versions of the story found in Japanese sacred texts. The Nihon Shoki includes two versions of the tale, while the Kojiki or Furukotofum contains the most widely accepted account of her conception

The Nihon Shoki

The Nihon Shoki, or Chronicles of Japan, is a highly esteemed history book that dates back to classical Japan. As the second-oldest text in Japanese history, it is more detailed and comprehensive than its predecessor, the Kojiki. Its value to historians stems from the fact that it contains the most extensive historical records of ancient Japanese history. Along with this, it also includes a collection of myths about the origins of Japan and a genealogy of the Imperial family. 

In the Nihongi, there are two versions of the origins of Amaterasu. In the first version, the divine beings Izanagi and Izanami no Mikoto are said to have descended from heaven and created Japan’s islands, mountains, rivers, and seas. They were, however, most concerned with bringing forth the high Kami who would rule over all these lands. First, they brought forth Amaterasu Omikami, who emanated light from every horizon. In their joy, the divine parents sent the child to heaven to reign over the highest celestial plain (Takama No Hara). Following Amaterasu’s ascent to heaven, Tsukiyomi no Mikoto, the Moon Kami, came into existence and was sent to join Amaterasu as her brother and husband, Soon after, her brother Susano-O no Mikoto, the Storm Kami, was created and sent to control the seas.

In the second version of the myth found in the Nihongi, the divine progenitor is solely named Izanagi (“Amaterasu – New World Encyclopedia” 2019). In this particular narrative, Izanagi desired to create a deity worthy of governing the universe. After careful consideration, he took hold of a white-copper mirror in his left hand and created Amaterasu Omikami. Then he took another mirror of the same material in his right hand and used it to produce Tsukiyomi no Mikoto. Lastly, Izanagi turned his head and looked askance, leading to the emergence of Susano-O.

The Kojiki

The Kojiki, also known as the Furukotofumi or “Records of Ancient Matters,” is a priceless artifact that provides valuable insights into the ancient history of Japan. It was compiled during the first half of 680 C.E. at the command of Emperor Temmu and remains the oldest surviving book of its kind. 

According to the Kojiki, the final and most widely accepted version of Amaterasu’s birth involves Izanagi and Izanami creating the islands of Japan and the entire natural universe. That is until Kagu-Tsuchi’s birth. Unfortunately, upon emerging from his mother’s womb, Kagu-Tsuchi singed his mother, causing Izanami to become gravely wounded. Despite attempts to save her, Izanami ultimately succumbed to her injuries and passed away. Amid his grief, Izanagi sought to retrieve his beloved Izanami from Yomi, the underworld. With a heavy heart, he journeyed to the land of the dead and searched for her. However, upon finding her, he was devastated to discover that her flesh was decaying and covered in maggots. Despite his desperate pleas, Izanami could not leave the realm of the dead and return with him to the world above. 

Barely escaping Yomi, Izanagi went to purify himself and bathed in a nearby river, cleansing himself of any remnants of the underworld that may have clung to him. As he washed his face, something miraculous occurred. When he rinsed his left eye, a radiant figure emerged – Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun. Overcome with wonder and amazement, Izanagi continued to wash his face. Soon after, he rinsed his right eye, and then Tsukiyomi no Mikoto, the god of the moon, emerged. Finally, as he rinsed his nose, Susano-O no Mikoto, the god of storms, appeared before him. As a result of great sorrow and loss, three mighty deities emerged, each representing a distinct aspect of the natural world.

Amaterasu hides inside the Ama-no-Iwato

The main story involving Goddess Amaterasu Goddess tells when she hid in a cave due to sadness. According to Kojiki, the main book that tells the Shinto myth of creation, Susanoo caused many problems and, for that reason, he was expelled from the skies. The main problem he caused greatly upset Amaterasu, let me tell it below.

There was a long-standing rivalry between Amaterasu and her other brother, Susanoo. When he was to leave Heaven by order of Izanagi, he went to bid his sister goodbye. Amaterasu was suspicious, but when Susanoo proposed a challenge to prove his sincerity, she accepted. Each of them took an object of the other’s and from it birthed gods and goddesses. Amaterasu birthed three women from Susanoo’s sword while he birthed five men from her necklace. Claiming the gods were hers because they were born of her necklace, she decided that she had won the challenge. 

The two were content for a time, but her brother became restless and went on a rampage, destroying Amaterasu’s rice fields, hurling a flayed pony at her loom, and killing one of her attendants in a fit of rage. Amaterasu, who was in fury and grief, hid inside the Ama-no-Iwato (“heavenly rock cave”), thus effectively hiding the sun for a long period of time. The world, without the illumination of the sun, became dark.

The fields begin to die, the vegetation does not grow anymore, the cold takes over everything. Not even the Gods can reverse the situation. No one can persuade Amaterasu to leave the cave. Fearing eternal darkness, the God of Wisdom Omoikane has a great idea. The Gods organized a party at the entrance of the cave. A mirror was raised so Amaterasu could see her own reflection. 

Goddess Uzume began to dance. She was so happy dancing that she ended up losing her clothes, exposing her breasts. She then says that the Gods have found another Goddess as beautiful and radiant as Amaterasu. Then she recites the verses: 

Hito futa miyo. Itsu muyu nana. Ya koko no tari. Momo chi yorodzu. Which means: Gods, look at the entrance to the cave. The Majesty appears! Rejoice! Our hearts are happy. Look at my breasts and my limbs.

Listening to the noise and laughter of the other gods, Amaterasu decides to spy out of the cave. Seeing her image reflected in the mirror, and dazzled by her own beauty, Amaterasu emerges from the cave. She was received with songs of praise and let herself be carried back to her golden palace, illuminating the world again. This story is also thought to be the birth of dance and music.

Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi: The legend of night and day

Another important story involving the Goddess Amaterasu is found in the Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan). Tlegend begins with Tsukuyomi and Amaterasu serving as the deities of heaven as husband and wife. One day, Uke Mochi, the goddess of food, invited Amaterasu over for a feast: not being able to go, Amaterasu sent Tsukuyomi instead.

Tsukuyomi meets Ukemochi and she prepares a banquet for him, creating all her food through her mouth. Tsukuyomi finds everything very disgusting and kills Ukemochi, leaving Amaterasu deeply saddened. Since then, Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi are no longer together.After their separation, the sun goddess Amaterasu and the moon god Tsukuyomi took control of the sky separately, one illuminating the day while the other cast a soft glow over the night.

Festivals And Rituals

A leading figure in Japanese spiritual and cultural traditions, Amaterasu’s legacy endures to this day. Many devotees seek blessings and guidance from the Goddess through many shrines and temples across Japan. 

The Grand Shrine of Ise is the most prominent shrine dedicated to Amaterasu in Ise, Mie, in western Honshū. The shrine is believed to enshrine the body of Amaterasu, and it is considered the holiest site for Shintoists. It is customary to rebuild the Inner Shrine at Isé every twenty years as per Shinto tradition, ensuring that it remains pure and new. Visitors worship outside the southern gate, while only priests and members of the imperial family can enter the innermost sanctum. It is customary for Shinto believers to make a pilgrimage to the shrine at least once in their lifetime.

There are also other significant shrines that worship Amaterasu, such as the Amanoiwato Shrine and the Atsuta Shrine.The Amanoiwato Shrine is located in the cave where Amaterasu famously hid during the story of her retreat, while the Atsuta Shrine is believed to house the sword that was passed down from Amaterasu’s grandson, Ninigi.

Amaterasu’s importance to Japanese history is evident in the imperial regalia of Japan, which have been passed down from her grandson Ninigi. These three artifacts – a mirror, a sword, and a jewel – are believed to be the symbols of the Japanese imperial family and their rule.

The mirror is said to represent wisdom, the sword bravery, and the jewel benevolence. The regalia are kept in the Tokyo Imperial Palace and only brought out for coronations and other important rituals.

In Japan, there are annual street processions to honor Amaterasu on July 17th and a winter solstice celebration on December 21st: commemorating Amaterasu’s emerging from the cave, bringing light and warmth back into the world.

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 the zodiac energy the moon is currently in like I will list below for you to use.

  • Planet- The sun, Higher celestial plane, the universe
  • Animal-The raven and white wolf, horses, snakes, sometimes kitsunes but most often they are connected to Inari okami
  • Element- Fire, but she is uniquely connected to all elements
  • Sex- Feminine
  • Symbol- Sun, Rooster, Crow, Pheasant, Raven, Mirror, Sword, infinity symbol
  • colors- Yellow, Gold, Orange, Red
  • Themes- sun, higher celestial plane, the universe, queen of the kami, light, the imperial family, The nation of japan, joy, happiness, laughter, dance, vitality, energy, protection, wisdom, strength, nourishment, purity, health, abundance, radiation, unity, blessings, community, and kinship.
  • Chakra-Solar plexus, Crown chakra, root chakra
  • Herbs-Heliotrope, Sandalwood, Rose, Grapefruit, Lemon, Bergamot, rice, chamomile, marigold, carnation, sunflower, juniper, chrysanthemum, Sakura cherry tree
  • Stones/ crystals- Sunstone, Gold, Danburite, Citrine, Tigers Eye, Yellow Jasper, amber, carnelian, Rose Quartz
  • Metal- gold

Why work with Amaterasu?

This beautiful Goddess will bring the joy back to your life. Helping you find joy in all aspects of your life, helping you to laugh and have fun. She will help you relax and enjoy the little things in life and just be in the moment. Call on her when you are feeling overwhelmed and worried or feeling down and she will bring some spark back into you. Helping you see the bright side of things and to give you a powerful boost of shining light, shining joy and lots of laughter!

Ways to work with Amaterasu

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. But here are our ideas to get you started. To work with Amaterasu, it’s important to approach her with respect, reverence, gratitude and by building a relationship with her.

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 Amaterasu is to study all you can about her. Read more about the myths we went over above, learn about the other kami connected to her, look at the brilliant art she is the centerpiece of throughout centuries, study the culture and religion she is central to;Japan and shintoism. 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.

Create a Kamindana in your home to connect to and honor her

To add her to your home and to create a sacred space to go and meet with her you can create a kamidana dedicated to her. A kamidana is a miniature Shinto shrine designed for home worship. It is very similar to having an altar dedicated to any of the deities I have talked about before. You can learn how to create a kamidana to add to your home for her in my previous blog post here; https://modgepodgemystic.com/shintoism-the-way-of-the-kami/

Offerings

Everyone likes receiving presents. Amaterasu is no different, especially since she is such a revered deity and so central to every part of Japanese life and culture.  You don’t have to give her offerings every day, but when you feel it is appropriate. You can place these offerings at your kamidana or when performing any work to connect to her like meditation, prayer, and visualization.

The best offerings for Amaterasu include:

  • Rice crackers
  •  cooked rice dyed with saffron
  •  paper origami figures
  • Grain or rice as an offering, inside a brass or gold offering dish/bowl 
  • A magick mirror dedicated to Amaterasu
  • Sandalwood oil
  • A special cloth, like silk

Greet her at sunrise

Amaterasu is everywhere through the sunlight. Even on cloudy days, she graced the earth with her warmth and kindness. There is no need to summon a Goddess who is already so present among us, but it is common to greet her at sunrise and reflect her light with a mirror through the rooms of the house letting her enter the rooms to bring peace, energy and life. Otherwise your greeting can be as simple as giving a respectful bow and clapping. How to do this; at first, bow twice to greet the kami. Then clap twice, and make a pray with your both hands together. At last, bow again to show gratitude towards the deity.

Mirror Guidance 

Another way of summoning the Goddess can be done at times when you wish advice from the Goddess. For being the Goddess of the Sun, Amaterasu can light up your mind and overshadow illusions that may be blocking your path. To do this ritual, first, take a mirror. It can be any mirror you have in your home or a mirror that you want to use especially for these occasions. Bow before the mirror, greeting the Goddess as the Japanese do. Then look into your own eyes and call Amaterasu eight times, the number of infinity. Concentrate and listen to the words of the Goddess.

To learn how to work with mirrors more in your life to connect to here you can watch my previous class all about mirror magic below!

Sunbathing

Obviously Amaterasu is a solar goddess and therefore she enjoys warmth, sunlight, and hot climates. So why not get out in the sun and do a little sunbathing? It feels great, gives you energy, and allows you to soak up the magical energy the sun has to offer us humans as the vital energy of our existence.

Perform solar magic

Like we just talked about, Amaterasu  is a solar goddess so a very obvious way to connect to and work with her would be performing and working with any kind of solar magic. There are so many different ways to work with solar magic and the sun from meditating under its bright rays, making sun water, drawing down the sun and more. To learn all about solar magic and connecting to the sun and how to do so you can read about it here in my previous blog post; https://modgepodgemystic.com/solar-magic-a-guide-to-harness-the-bright-vibrant-and-confident-magical-energy-of-the-sun/

Call on her for abundance

Since, Amaterasu is the deity of the sun, and the reason we have all sustenance to survive and thrive as humans she is amazing to work with for abundance! Call on her when doing any abundance spells, working or rituals for a more boosted and amplified affect. To learn how to work with the energy of abundance you can read all about it in my guide here; https://modgepodgemystic.com/all-about-the-magic-of-abundance-prosperity-and-good-fortune/

Meditation, visualization and Dream work

One of the best ways to channel divine energy and tap into goddesses like Amaterasu  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 space. In addition, ask Amaterasu 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.

Meditation to connect with Amaterasu Omikami

Light some incense, maybe a candle and close your eyes.  Take three deep breaths, relaxing your whole body. Hold your intention in connecting to Amaterasu Omikami. You could say this in your head three times, ‘My intention is to connect with Amaterasu Omikami.’

Imagine you are in the middle of a field and its just before dawn. There is high grass around you with meadow flowers. Light is starting to show on the horizon and you can see that far off in the distance there are trees. You sit down and watch the light get stronger and then the sun starts to rise. You say Amaterasu Omikami I wish to connect with you, please connect. The sun then rises high in the sky and shines down on you with so much light and warmth. You hear a voice ‘I am Amaterasu Omikami. You are my shining light just as I am yours. I will help you to balance your energies and bring you joy. You can call on me when ever you need, for I am a Mother to you and I will help you and comfort you.’ You then talk to Amaterasu Omikami.

When you have finished your conversation with Amaterasu Omikami, you thank her and know you can contact her any time. The sun sets and the day turns to night. When you are ready, take three deep breaths and come back to the room.

Write down your experience. What was Amaterasu Omikami like? What message did she have for you? Did she answer your questions? What did she look like? What was the gift she gave you?

Prayers

One very powerful way to connect to a deity is through prayer. It is common in Japan for Devotees to utter heartfelt prayers to Amaterasu to receive her bountiful blessings of prosperity, health, and guidance.

“I honor you, Amaterasu. I ask you to turn your light upon me. I honor you with this piece of silk (or jewelry) and ask that it become a talisman of power. Goddess of the sun, bless me.”

The most well known prayer to Amaterasu no Omikoto. It goes like this:

Lovely Lady of the Heaven’s
Goddess and Guardian of the Japan People.
Amaterasu, with Awe we see your beauty Rise.Tranquil Queen of Heaven
When I look up to the Royal Sky
I see thee Shining in Great Glory. behind a screen of Clouds, The Sun
Amaterasu, For Thousands of ages Your Children have served you.
As your Brillant light did shine,
Now in their Hour of Greatest Need,
We ask you to shine the full measure of your blessing on your children,
May it shine from each Bosom, and Shrine. May it shine from each home, and each field. May it shine forth from each child you touch. Amaterasu, may the children of your children remember this moment with Awe, and sing your name with great Praise. Let them look heavenward and sing For Thousands of ages may she shine.
For Thousands of ages may we serve her. May we serve her with reverence.May we serve her with Love

Move your body through Dance

Amaterasu is a solar deity, and the kami of the entire universe which makes her a very vital goddess. What better way to connect to vitality than by getting up and moving our bodies? To connect to her more directly, do this through dancing to honor one of the popular myths which credit the birth of dance and music in Japan to her. 

Light work and Energy work

Since Amaterasu is a solar deity, a light deity, and the kami of the universe and higher celestial plane she is one of the best goddesses to call on when working with your own energy, the energy of the environment around you, and the universe as whole. She has the ability to guide you to your higher self, your sacred contracts and the divine in a very intense and illuminating way. Unlike when working with a dark goddess and being shown your shadows she illuminates the brightest and best part of yourselves that may shine too brightly for you to always see. To learn more about how to do energy work you can learn about in my previous blogpost here; https://modgepodgemystic.com/working-with-the-basics-of-life-and-magic-energy/

Pilgrimages

Followers embark on pilgrimages to sacred sites associated with the goddess, such as Ise Grand Shrine. These journeys symbolize strong devotion and spiritual unity with Amaterasu. So, if at all realistically possible try and do this at some point in your life to connect to her in a deep way.I have yet to experience this one but, it is a goal of mine to one day do!

Sacred Objects

 Worshippers create ornate talismans, known as omamori, that are said to possess Amaterasu’s divine presence. These talismans bring protection and good luck to their owners.

Live in accordance to the practices of shintoism

Amaterasu is the central figure to shintoism, and Japanese culture. So, one of the best ways to connect to her and honor her would be by encompassing the principles and affirmations of that belief system. To learn more about how to do that you can read my previous blog post on it here; https://modgepodgemystic.com/shintoism-the-way-of-the-kami/

Conclusion

Amaterasu has been a revered guiding force since her arrival into this world. Even after thousands of years, she continues to shine as a symbol of hope and inspiration for those who believe in her divine presence. Call on her when you are feeling overwhelmed and worried or feeling down and she will bring some spark back into you. Helping you see the bright side of things and to give you a powerful boost of shining light, shining joy and lots of laughter! Allow her to guide you to higher celestial plane and shine her illuminating rays on all that you are and provide you with all that you need! 

To expand your knowledge about her and meet her in a guided session or if you learn better through listening instead of reading. You can watch my free class with Divination Academy on youtube below!

Posted on by — 4 Comments

Beltane; Connecting To The Passion, Creativity, and Sexuality Of The Divine Co-Creators

Beltane is the time when the Earth is literally buzzing with fertility. Spring is in full swing, flowers are blooming, the birds are building nests for their young, many animals are seeking mates, and farmers are planting their fields in preparation of the abundant Summer months. It is time to celebrate the fertility and prosperity of the world during this warm time of growth, abundance, and transformation. It is time to connect to the duality of the sacred dance between the co-creators; that seed all of life. It is a time when our souls are lit with a burning blaze of passion, creativity, and sexuality to allow us to transform into our true forms this coming season. Let’s dance with passion, sexuality, and creativity in the flickering flames that is beltane together through this article.

The History of Beltane

It is thought that the ancients only recognized two seasons, these being Summer and Winter. Beltane is a celebration of the earth and nature and marks the start of the traditional planting season. Beltane is the pagan Celtic fire festival dating back to ancient times. In fact, the name Beltane is derived from the name of the Celtic god Belenes, or Bel, and the word tene meaning “fire”. The earliest mention of the holiday was in an Irish medieval text known as Sanas Cormaic, written by Cormac mac Cuilennáin king-bishop of Munster sometime before the year 908. The word Beltane, which in traditional Irish is spelled Bealtaine, means “Fire of Bel” or “Great Fire”.

It occurs officially upon moonrise on April 30th, lasting through the next day, May 1st, in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, the dates are reversed: so it begins October 31st and lasts through November 1st.

Although Beltane is Celtic in origin, there are literally hundreds of other fire and fertility festivals celebrated around the world at this time. In England, Beltane is known as May Day. In Germany, it’s Walpurgisnacht (aka the Witches Night). Beltane is the festival that honors the change from winter to summer and the union of the god and goddess. It is a time of fertility, growth, and new beginnings

Beltane is also known as one of the eight sabbats on the Wheel of the Year many pagans especially wiccans observe this as their magical calendar for the year. The sabbats tend to reflect each season, with Beltane being the halfway point between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice. As one of the four fire festivals, Beltane is a cross-quarter holiday along with Imbolc, Samhain, and Lughnassadh. These sabbats were celebrated with large bonfires often to represent the Sun and its transition throughout the seasons.

The Fires of Beltane

First and foremost, Beltane was and is a fire festival. In ancient times and all the way up to the nineteenth century, farmers in Ireland drove their cattle downhill and between two large fires. This act purified the cattle from disease and protected them for the Summer. In more practical terms these bonfires could also have been used to burn brush piles and make more room for planting and pastureland. People would often snuff out their own household fires, and then relight them from the sacred communal bonfires. It was also thought to be part of the festivities because; people would light fires on the hillsides to honor the sun and bring fertility to their crops and animals. It was also a time for young people to jump over the flames, which was said to bring good luck and fertility. To create a sacred Beltane fire required wood from nine different species of trees, the fire was then lit with only a friction method (not a flint and steel).

Beltane and fertility

At the beginning of Summer, we see the earth bursting forth with fruit and bounty. The Great Mother is fertile and beginning to bear fruit at this time. Therefore, if the Earth is fertile, so are human beings and animals. As above, so below. And the Sun’s return to the sky, getting brighter and warmer at the same time to nourish the seeds of the Earth brings us the cosmic divine counterpart to the great divine feminine. We see the divine co-creators represented and it’s resulting offspring blooming all around us.

Beltane and Sexuality

We just talked about how beltane is all about fertility and we see the representation of the divine co-creators all around us including their offspring. Well, how do we get that offspring? By sex of course! During beltane we get to see and experience the very passionate and intimate dance of cosmic sacred sex that seeds life to all in the cosmos. The fires blazing in our loins ignite and our passions come alive. We feel the pull to experience this dance and seed some life ourselves with the burning passion of our sexual energies to manifest our true life and form this coming season.

The Sacred Dance of Duality

Since, I am a grey witch I look for the duality in every single energy I work with including sacred days and/or holidays like beltane. Beltane is burning with duality, in the sense of looking at the divine masculine and feminine. These are two forces that coexist and intermingle in the cosmos and we are made of both of these energies no matter the gender we identify with or are physically born into it. Beltane is the sacred day that represents these two forces. It allows us to look into the flames of our souls and connect these two forces existing within us. In my opinion it is the day of the year we can connect to the duality of them the most when we experience the intense heat of the flames when they come to together in union.

The Maypole

The maypole is traditionally a tree that was brought into the village and decorated with paints, ribbons, and a floral wreath crowning the top. People were known to dance around the maypole, weaving the ribbons around in celebration of love and fertility, this is called a maypole dance. The Maypole represents the phallus, and the ribbons represent the feminine energy of the earth. As people dance around the Maypole, they weave the ribbons together, symbolizing the union of the god and goddess.

Common Traditions

  • Druids would collect the dew prior to Sunrise on May 1st. This water was believed to have magickal powers such as healing ailments or creating beauty.
  • Handfastings and other pagan wedding celebrations often take place during this sabbat as it is a time to celebrate love and fertility.
  • Special oatmeal cakes are a popular food item for this sabbat. Often the cakes had knobs that could be torn off to sacrifice into the bonfires as an offering.
  • Decorating the interiors and exteriors of homes with flowers during this time was a common practice to celebrate the fertility of the land. The most common were yellow flowers such as primrose and marigolds. Cows were also decorated with flowers as well.
  • The May Bush was a small thorny tree or large bush, and was decorated with flowers, ribbons, and so on. People could have a May Bush for their home or for their community as a whole. Dancing around it was thought to bring good luck!
  • Couples would often spend the night in the forest together on the Eve of Beltane, they would return in the morning bearing floral decorations for the homes. This was sometimes termed a Greenwood Marriage.
  • May Baskets would be filled with small candies, baked goods, and flowers. They were placed on the doorknobs of neighbors as tokens of friendship.

Beltane Deities

In many mythologies, and pantheons, gods and goddesses of Beltane play a vital role in the seasonal cycle, symbolizing fertility, abundance, the earth, the sun, fire, and the divine union of the co-creators. Working with deities is one of my favorite things to do. You can honor them during their festivals for them and by bringing them into any of your prayers, rituals, and spells you want to in order to celebrate and connect to this holiday. Let’s take a look at some of the Deities that can be worshipped during this sacred time and holiday.

Brigid

The most popular goddess associated with Beltane is the Celtic goddess, Brigid. She is a goddess of fertility, creativity, and healing. She is often depicted as a triple goddess, representing the three aspects of Maiden, Mother, and Crone. As such, she is a powerful symbol of transformation and growth. The Celtic goddess of fire, healing, and fertility, Brigid is a powerful deity associated with Beltane. She is often invoked for protection and blessings of abundance.

Bel or Belenos

Bel or Belenos is a Celtic fire god who may have been the catalyst for this sabbat thousands of years ago. When we translate Bel’s name, we get “Shining One”. Not only was Bel associated with fire and fertility, he was also a well-loved healing god whose cult stretched all the way from Italy to the British Isles, at its peak. Bel was also a sun god who rode the sun like a chariot across the sky each day, led by his sacred, most powerful totem – horses. There are those who believe Beltane originates in honor of Bel, and those who disagree.

Pan

Part man and part goat, Pan was the Greek god who was patron of shepherds and hunters, who watched their flocks. Pan was the Greek god of nature and the untamed wilderness. PAN was the god of the meadows and forests of the mountain wilds. His unseen presence aroused panic in those who traversed his realm. He was even thought to be the cause of the musical sound of the wind through the trees. He was Associated with music, fertility, and spring. In ancient Greek art, he was often depicted as a horned man with the legs of a goat; he was the chief of the satyrs, who were similar in appearance and character to Pan.

Pan, ruled over nature and pasturelands. Pan is essentially the father of the wild things. He is frequently depicted in literature and artworks. Although he is not one of the major gods of Ancient Greece, he is one of most often referenced figures in Greek mythology. Pan has come to represent the unstoppable power of nature throughout the ages and still today. To learn more about pan and how to connect to him you can do so in my previous blog post here; https://modgepodgemystic.com/pan-the-shepherding-greek-god-of-the-untamed-wilderness/

Cernunnos

The horned god of the forest, Cernunnos is a powerful deity associated with Beltane. He is often invoked for protection and blessings of abundance. Cernunnos is an ancient Celtic god who was known for his power over wild nature. He was often depicted in art as a horned figure with antlers, embodying the balance between life and death. Cernunnos can be seen by many as a symbol of power and transition – from death to rebirth. He teaches us the importance of understanding our place in Nature and how to connect with it – learning from nature’s ebbs and flows, respecting its cycles and giving back when possible

Aine

The Irish goddess of love and fertility, Aine is a powerful deity associated with Beltane. She is often invoked for protection and blessings of abundance. To connect with her energy, create a special ritual to honor her. Aine is a powerful Irish goddess associated with Beltane who brings joy and abundance to those who honor her. Her strength is the power of manifestation, bringing healing and liberation with her presence. Those who recognize Aine’s energy can connect deeply with their true path in life. She brings forth inner resources and courage to follow new inspirations. Aine offers a powerful source of guidance and protection when we call upon her. Honoring Aine can enliven your connection to Mother Nature, while also providing energies necessary for manifesting dreams into reality.

Cerridwen

The Welsh goddess of wisdom and knowledge, Cerridwen is a powerful deity associated with Beltane. She is often invoked for protection and blessings of abundance. Cerridwen’s energy personifies serpentine fertility, free-thinking, and independence. She encourages her followers to let go of any self-limiting beliefs and attitudes, allowing for clearer consciousness and introspection. Connecting with Cerridwen during Beltane offers an opportunity to create positive life changes through personal power. To learn more about her you can keep an eye out for my previous class on her to be posted to Divination’s youtube channel

Lugh

The Irish god of the sun, Lugh is a powerful deity associated with Beltane. He is often invoked for protection and blessings of abundance. Lugh is a powerful deity said to have brought learning and knowledge to man. He is an Irish God of the Tuatha De Dannan, associated with Beltane and the summer season. As the Celtic solar deity, Lugh has hegemony over life, light and law. His traditional symbols represent energy and creativity, from a shining sun held aloft in his hands to fiery arrows that stand for passion and lust.

The Morrigan

At the heart of the emerald isle is a legendary Goddess that cloaks the battlefield in darkness. The Morrígan is a symbol of feminine strength, wisdom, and power. Though she may be attached to the darkness of death she also is the light in the dreariness of battle. When warriors are in doubt, the Morrígan will appear and lead the way to victory. She is a majestic and ethereal being that resides at the core of Irish mythology. The Phantom Queen on the battlefield. The crow that soars above the wreckage and ruin. The seeress, the warrior, the protector. The Morrigan, while often thought of as purely a warrior goddess of death, becomes the fertile earth on Beltane and unites with the Dagda to birth new life. She is both light and dark. Life and death. War and love. A Divine Paradox. To learn more about her and MEET her you can watch my previous class I taught on her with below.

The Correspondences Of Beltane

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, the zodiac energy the moon is currently or for A holiday or sacred time like Beltane, like I will list below for you to use.

  • Planet-Earth
  • Animal- cows, goats, sheep, horses, bee, rabbit, frog, swan, cat, swallow, dove, lynx
  • Element-Fire, Earth
  • colors-Red, White, Green, Yellow, Blue, pink
  • Herbs/flowers- rose, lavender, lilac, hawthorn, jasmine, daisy, ivy, dandelion, calendula, sunflower, marigold, woodruff, primrose, frankincense, rue, daffodils, musk
  • Stones/ crystals-amber, bloodstone, carnelian, malachite, green aventurine, moss agate, fire agate, red jasper, opal, citrine, emerald, garnet, sapphire, rose quartz, black tourmaline
  • Deities-Bel/Belenus, Apollo, Rhiannon, Dziva, The Horned God, Frey, Brigid, Pan, Aine, Cerridwen, Lugh, The morrigan, Aphrodite, The green man, Diana, oak king, flora, Mauve, Danu, dagda, Gaia
  • Symbols- bonfires, the fae, the sun, sacred sex, floral crowns, maypole, phallus, womb, cauldron, eggs, chalice, ribbons, baskets, antlers, flowers
  • Gender- masculine and feminine

Magical Themes Of Beltane

Every season and every pagan holiday has certain concepts and magical themes. Which means, depending on your tradition and needs, you can weave one or more of these themes into your personal celebrations. On Beltane, we see the following magical rituals and spells below.

  • Abundance
  • Fertility
  • Sexuality
  • Union
  • connection
  • creation/creativity
  • love/lust
  • Growth
  • marriage
  • Purification/cleansing
  • protection
  • Fires
  • Divine feminine and Masculine
  • The cycles of nature
  • Manifestation
  • Transformation
  • Passion/desire
  • Enchantment
  • Weather divination
  • Fire scrying
  • Working with the fae

Ways to Celebrate Beltane

We have talked about many different themes, and energies you can connect to during this time from fertility, abundance, sexuality, passion, creativity, transformation, and more. Let’s talk about how we can connect to and celebrate those themes and energies now. First, you can participate and honor any of the deities listed above or that are associated with Spring, Summer, The god, the Goddess, and the sun. You can work with any affirmations, mantras, and visualization work for manifestation, passion, union, creation, abundance, fertility, sexuality, and transformation. Check out below more ways to work with and celebrate this holiday and time of year.

Have a bonfire

As we talked about above, first and foremost beltane was celebrated as fire festival and the ancient celts used to pass their cattle through two of them to purify and cleanse them. So, what better way to connect to beltane and celebrate it than to build, lit, and enjoy a bonfire of your own! It’s common to do this with others, have some drinks, and leap over the flames for good luck and prosperity. Just be safe!

Perform a burning release

You already have the fire burning so why not use it for some release magic? One of my favorite ways to release unwanted habits, energies, people, and things from my life is to burn it away with fire. Take a piece of paper, focus on what it is you want to release from your life, write it on that piece of paper than walk up to your bonfire and as you let the paper fall and be burned in the flames visualize what you wrote being burned to ashes in your life as well.

Erect a Maypole
The Maypole has been a traditional May Day activity for centuries. What better way to celebrate Beltane, and honor your ancestors, than to make your own Maypole? Grab a pole, some ribbon, and some flowers, and erect one in your own yard and braid the ribbons together as you dance around in the warmth of the summer sun.

Dance

Beltane is a very fertile time full of energy, passion, and creativity, so what better way to connect to that energy than to move with it. We can do this by moving our hips, our womb spaces and moving our body through dance. Dancing allows us to move energy around, connect to the movements of energy around us in a dynamic way, and opens up our womb space to connect to sexual energy. So, get up move your body through dance and maybe even do so around a bonfire!

Perform Sex Magic

Beltane is a time burning with passion, sexual desire and is all about connecting to the sacred union of the divine co-creators. Now, is in my opinion the most potent time to connect to not only their sexual energy around you but, to yours as well. Take this time to perform both solo sex magic and sex magic with a partner to connect to your true sexual form, to perform the most potent manifestation work, and to unleash your raw primal sexual desires like never before. It was a common tradition in ancient times for couples to perform sex rites out in the woods even;on beltanes eve. I promise you sex on beltane is one of the most orgasmic, cosmic, and pleasurable experiences you can have. Give it a try this beltane! If you need to learn more about sex magic you can watch part 2 of my class on it below.

Wild Flower Crafting
Wild flowers have always been a big part of the Beltane celebrations. In ancient times, specific white and yellow flowers were gathered and hung over the doorways in Ireland to celebrate the day and invoke fertility and abundance. So go and pick wildflowers, Beltane is the perfect day for it! Then return home and make a bouquet. Or if you’re feeling really crafty, make flower wreaths, crowns or garland to decorate yourself and your home or to place on your altar

Refresh Your Altar
Another way to connect to a holiday and/or sacred day I always recommend is to cleanse and refresh your altar and/or sacred space. This is particularly beneficial if you have Celtic gods you honor and connect to already. Use water or fire to cleanse, then decorate with wildflowers, images of the fae, the divine masculine, the divine feminine, and any of the Beltane correspondences we talked about earlier.

Work with the Green Man
The Green Man is a legendary figure in Celtic lore and throughout Europe. He is a guardian of the forest and likely a type of elemental. When he’s seen, he is typically covered from head to foot in leaves, branches, flowers and moss. Some believe he is an ancient god of the wilderness, who protects the wildlife and sacred, unspoiled places in nature. Work with the Green Man’s energy on Beltane by hiking in the woods, or even by creating space for him on your altar.

Simmer pot for beltane

Whether you consider yourself a Kitchen Witch, are vaguely interested in Kitchen Magic or just want to bring some good vibes and good smells into your home, simmer pots are an easy, accessible and fun ritual for any time of year! Simmer pots are easy to create and customize to your liking, so you can make your kitchen a sacred space whenever you want! So, why not make one specifically to call in and honor the energy of Ostara and the Spring Equinox?!

What are simmer pots? Simmer pots are basically potpourri in a pot! You choose your ingredients, put them in a pot with water, bring to a boil, then turn down to a simmer and let it do its thing. They couldn’t be any easier, just be sure you don’t let your pot boil dry! If you want to keep the pot going simply add more water when it gets low. And obviously never leave it going when you are not home. To learn more about how about this magical practice you can check out my previous blogpost on the topic here; https://modgepodgemystic.com/simmer-pots-and-the-magic-behind-them/

Perform Fae Magic
In ancient times, and up to the modern era, the Celtic people believed strongly in the Fae, also called the faery folk, good folk or sidhe. Every Beltane, great care was taken to appease the fae, to prevent them from whisking away all the butter and milk. By leaving out faery offerings on Beltane, you’re carrying on this tradition and starting a working relationship with the fae. Or make a witch’s ladder with intention of appeasing the fae. Make faery houses and a space for the garden. To learn more about the fae you can check out Divination’s class series on it here; https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeHvi9fxqgzRhsWAM7Bt31RwvyV1InMiO&si=t6aPtiWsOPvqJCtO

Perform Purifications and Cleansing Rituals

We talked about above how beltane was seen as time to purify and cleanse for the celts. They would take the time to pass their cattle through two bonfires to cleanse them even. This is a great time for you to do some cleansing and purifying as well. Before cleansing and purifying rituals on your home and yourself like smoke cleansing, ritual baths, floor washes, or any rituals you prefer to use in your practices.

Candle Spells
Not everyone can have a big fire on Beltane. So for those of us who want to invoke the power of the fire element, simply lighting a few candles is enough. Casting candle spells on Beltane is also a potent way to send your intentions into the ether. Particularly if you’re looking to increase fertility, prosperity and creativity in your life.

Perform a Beauty Ritual

Any beauty rituals performed on Beltane are amplified by the fiery, Summer magic on this sacred day. Take a ritual milk bath, drink an herbal beauty concoction, and craft your own magical beauty products.

Five Senses Nature Walk

Beltane is the midway point between the spring equinox and the summer solstice which is all about the cycle and movement of nature and marking the most fertile time for new life to grow, blossom, and be seeded. So why not take the time to connect to nature itself? Soak in all the fertility and abundance in nature right now. You can do this by going on a five sense nature walk. After you have engaged all your senses, walk back to your home. Reflect on your experience by writing it down in a journal

Perform Egg magic for fertility

Across practices Beltane is considered to be a time of fertility and is the time of the divine union.To many modern Wiccans it is known to be one of the days of the Great Rite. This is essentially the union of man and woman. In Irish Celtic lore we see it again when, The Morrigan unites and couples with the Dagda on Beltane as well. This is an act and tradition of fertility, especially of the earth. If your intention is to be fertile and have a baby, Beltane is a great day to cast fertility spells. Some of the most potent fertility spells are based in egg magic, a universal symbol of fertility. So, perform some egg magic this beltane to enhance those fertility spells. To learn how to do egg magic you can read all about it in my previous blog post here; https://modgepodgemystic.com/the-magic-of-eggs-the-magical-meanings-and-uses-of-eggs/

    Make a Beltane Spell Jar

    Spell Jars are one of my most favorite spells to create and tools to use in my magical practice and life. Spell jars are great to create a container of energy for you to harness and come back to over and over again when you need it! A quick run down on how to create a spell jar. Pick your items, and add them to your jar after you wash, cleanse and charger your jar. As you add your items focus on visualizing the energy of abundance and what it is you very specifically want to call into your life with that energy. Once you feel the intention and energy is set inside the jar you can take your lid and seal it shut. To add more power to your jar you can add sigils to the outside or seal the lid with wax even. Place the jar on your altar or anywhere in your home, office, or car where you can see it and come back to it when you need to call on the energy and spell again. You can shake the jar to activate the magic whenever you come back to it as well. Keep an eye out for more spell jars on my Pinterest or Facebook page and in an upcoming blogpost and eBook.

    Wrap Up

    We talked about alot from the history of beltane, the energies of beltane, deities of beltane and many ways you can celebrate beltane. However you choose to celebrate beltane; remember it is a time to celebrate the fertility and prosperity of the world during this warm time of growth, abundance, and transformation. It is a time to connect to the duality of the sacred dance between the co-creators; that seed all of life. Let beltane light your soul with a burning blaze of passion, creativity, and sexuality to allow you to transform into your true form this coming season.