July 2009 - Blessings, Offerings, Removing Obstacles

[Dark Raven]

July's Full moon is known as the Mead, blessing or Thunder moon. Thunder Moon refers to all of the thunderstorms that generally takes place this month.

This month also marks the first full moon since the summer solstice, which means we have begun our shrinking sun journey for the year. Take this moment to take stock and make an assessment of everything you have going on in your life right now. Many times we get so caught up in the day to day events of everything that happens that we forget all that we have been given - all of the blessings that came into our lives. This is a good time to make offerings for blessings you have received or to get in that last project before the harvest season.

Here are some ideas for spellwork this month:

* Make an offering to your God/Goddess on an outside altar or leave an offering at a park.
* Light a White candle and use Goddess/Full Moon or Blessings incense as a thank you to the sprits and Gods that have given you aid.
* Cast a spell to remove obstacles on projects started in the Spring that do not seem to have gotten quite off the ground.
* Meditate on the things you have going on in your life right now. Try to focus on projects that are not quite moving forward and try to see if there is anything you can do to move it forward. Light a white or purple candle as an offering to the Gods to help you get motivated.
* Cleansing Bath - take a cleansing bath either in a bathtub or shower and remove all negativity around you. Get your spirit and energy ready for the next season!
* Help someone else - If everything in your life is going as planned, spread the joy! Think about someone else in your life perhaps struggling with a project. What can you do to help motivate that person? Ask the Goddess to help you pass on the blessings and good energy you have received.

We will be working on the Full Moon this month, which takes place on July 7th - our work window will be July 7th thru 9th.

Date of work: July 7th through 9th
Types of work: remove obstacles and negativity to existing projects, give thanks for goals acheived so far, make offerings to entities that have helped you, cleasing, give a helping hand to those less fortunate.

Please post if you have any questions, if you need ideas or help with your work for the month! If you feel confortable, post the type of work you plan to do this month to share with others and maybe help someone out with some ideas!

[Dark Raven]

I have received many blessings this year so far. The biggest one has been a boost to my health and I have not seen the inside of a hospital in about 7 months, which for me is a big milestone!

I am going to do an offering to Hecate, my patron Goddess for watching over me and for giving me the strength I have needed to get through some difficult times. I plan to create an offering of blessed apples and herbs that are specific to Hecate and going to a crossroads close to my house at midnight and leaving the offering for her.

Note: I have a very large black dog that I take with me when I go out at night for all my spellwork - so unless you have either someone you trust going with you or a big dog like I do, I would not recommend going out by yourself at night in secluded areas for any spellwork. Safety First!

[Dark Raven]

/bump

Just a quick reminder that our spellwork is July 7th through the 9th. If you need any help with your work or have questions, please be sure to post here and we will do our best to help =)

[RubyDragonMoon]

I will start with a cleansing bath mainly because I will be coming straight off of work to spellwork. I think this helps me not only to get clean but to get in the right frame of mind. I'll make an offering to Danu and Cernunnos for their many blessing this year. Mainly my good health the allergies are finally under control and I'm not constantly sick. Also my continued employment like many businesses we are on the verge of closing shop. Then I will make a talisman for creativity (any suggestions for what herbs to use would be great). I am into arts and crafts but have had a creative block for some time now. I will also ask Cerridwen for a little inspiration from her great Cauldron. As for helping someone else my partner has had an on going problem with a friend that is really upsetting his balance. I will work a spell for a successful conclusion to this problem for both parties.

[Dark Raven]

For creativity I really like herbs rules by Air and Water. I like to combine both of them - like for example:

Lavender and Cardamom - Creativity in relationships and and communication
Anise and Chamomile - Creativity in Financial and Job areas
Dittany of Crete and Eucalyptus - Overall Creativity in spiritual areas and for opening up your dream paths

Those are just some ideas =)

[cristina colon]

OKAY SO UNFORTUNATELY I'M HAVING MAJOR FINANCIAL PROBLEMS AND I WON'T BE ABLE TO GET THE SUPPLIES I NEED UNTIL TOMARROW... WILL IT BE ANY HELP? I WILL START OFF WITH A CLEANSING SHOWER WITH AN HONEY AND OATMEAL SOAP, I WILL BE MEDITATATING THAT I CAN RECIEVE MOTIVATION AND INSPIRATION IN MY NEW PATH AND THAT I FIND MY DIRECTION AND WILL LIGHT WHITE AND PUPLE CANDEL FOR OFFERING. THIS IS WHAT I CAN OFFER NOW AS I AM JUST GETTING TO LEARN THESE PRACTICES I HOPE IT HELPS. I LIVE RIGHT BY A PARK ANY SUGGESTIONS AS TO AN OFFERING TO LEAVE IN THIS STAGE OF MY PRACTICE? THANKS!

[Dark Raven]

Yup you have 3 days after the moon to participate - so it runs from the 7th through the 9th - so you should be fine.

In terms of offering, you can always light a white candle and offer it to the Gods as a thanks for the blessings in your life. It doesn't have to be anything elaborate. You may want to also do some spellwork to remove obstacles in your life right now that are in the way of your financial success.

[Dark Raven]

Sorry for the late reply - but I did a spell of thanks and an offering this month to my Goddess Hecate. Here is what I did:

Tools used:

* 1 White Candle
* 1 Red Apple
* 3 Bay Leaves
* 1 Hecate's Blessing Infused Alcohol (see below for recipe)
* 1 Cast Iron Cauldron
* 1 small plate or basket for carrying your offering out.
* 1 felt tip pen

Creating the Hecate's Blessing Herbal Alcohol:

* 4 Oz of Rubbing Alcohol
* Essential oils of Lavender, Cypress, Rosemary and Spearmint

Pour the alcohol in a clean bottle which has a tight cap. Add to the alcohol the following:

5 drops of lavender
15 drops of Cypress
10 drops of Rosemary
15 Drops of Spearmint

Shake well and let it sit on your altar for 24 hours. Your alcohol is ready to use and will keep well if you keep it out of the sunlight.

My Ritual

1) Cast your circle as normal.

2) Pour about 1-2 tablespoons of the Alcohol in your cauldron. This cauldron will get VERY hot make sure there is a heat resistant coaster under it of it will burn your table and altar cloth. Make sure the cauldron is steady and will not tip or move during your ritual. You will have an open flame in the cauldron - if you are not careful and spill it, it can be a serious fire hazard. Do not use this with children!

3) Dedicate the Cauldron to Hecate - I really do not like heavily worded spells, so I do a quiet personal prayer in dedication to Hecate.

4) Light your white candle and color your eyes and focus. Think about the divinity that you are inviting into your circle. Open yourself up to Hecate. Once you feel open, light a match from your white candle. Drop the lit match into the cauldron. You will have a beautiful Blueish fire.

5) Sit in front of the fire in your cauldron and think about of the blessings that Hecate helped to bring into your life. As you think about this, Cut the apple - I generally like to cut it into either 3 pieces or 6 pieces. I did 3 pieces this month. Place them in the basket

6) Use the felt tip pen to write on each Basil leaf one thing that you are thankful for - for me this month, I wrote: health, independence and my dogs. Crumble the leaves and place them in the basket with the apple.

7) medidate in front of the cauldron until your fire stops burning. This will generally take about 20 minutes or so - it will depend on how much alcohol you added.

8) Once the fire is done burning, close your circle as normal.

9) You now need to place your offering. I actually used a paper towel instead of a basket, so I picked up my offering, and took it the nearest crossroads in my house. I took my dog Willow with me since it was about midnight when I did this. If you do not feel safe going to a crossroad (and you should NOT go alone), you can leave the offering by a tree near your house.

10) Place the offering down, say a quiet prayer over it and leave it for Hecate. Walk away and do not look back.

That was it! I hope everyone shares what they did this month in their circle work! I will be posting the work for next month soon! Thanks!