A to Z Challenge -- W -- AQUA, SPOKES, AND NORSE

WHEEL OF THE YEAR -- The Wheel of the Year encompasses the eight Sabbats celebrated: Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lughnashadh (or Lammas), and Mabon.

The Wheel usually begins with Samhain and the death of the God.  It follows with rebirth of the God.  He grows in power with it culminating at Litha, the Summer Solstice.  Then his power wanes as the darkness of winter grows.

Both the Celts and Anglo-Saxon/Norse have influenced this wheel. Agricultural rites from both ancient cultures are celebrated.


WIDDERSHINS -- To move counterclockwise.  Also called withershins.  Many practitioners do not use this since it is against the sun's direction, but there are some that use it as banishment and destructive use like releasing a circle.

A Symbol for Water

WATER --  Water is one of the four Elements.  It is feminine in nature and is connected to the Goddess.  It's used for psychic workings like scrying, purification, and healing spells.  It's receptive in nature.

The cauldron and cup are associated with this element along with the color blue.

Mercury

WEDNESDAY -- Wednesday is named after the Norse god, Odin, Or if you prefer one of his other names, Wodan.  Translated, his name means master of ecstasy.  He was both a war god and loved to incite war.  He was also a poet god.  He stole the mead of poetry from a giant, which was made from the blood of a human created by Aesir and Vanir spit to cement the truce at the end of the war. (Uh, totally gross.)

His favorite peeps were berserkers and outlaws (for whatever reason) and held favor for a few amazing warriors.

What is more interesting is that in some texts it is said he was a practitioner of seidr, which is a shamanistic practice that rewove destiny.  It was considered a woman's magic and for a man to practice seidr, he was considered unmanly and was looked down upon.  So . . . yeah, interesting contradictions.

The Roman god, Mercury, or Greek Hermes, is also the name for this day.  Dies Mercurii is the root word for the Spanish miércoles.  As god of commerce, messages, luck, thieves, boundaries, roads, travelers, and eloquence, he had his work cut out for him.  What's even more cool is that he also guided departed souls to the underworld.  He was one of the few that could come and go as he pleased.



Disclaimer: None of these pictures belong to me.  I found them on Google.

A to Z Challenge -- Q -- CARDINAL, QUESTIONS, AND CASTING

QUARTERS -- Calling the Quarters, Guardians, Guardians of the Watchtowers, or whatever title they are given are used when casting a circle. Depending on the belief, they are the cardinal directions, directions and elements, elementals, protective spirits (hence Guardians), some have the elements separate from the Guardians or the Guardians add their elemental power to the circle. 

 Whether They are evoked, invoked, or convoked, it is the rule of thumb not to call forth something that is not understood fully.  

Usually the elemental energy is used to enhance the magic performed in the circle.

QUERENT -- In a tarot reading, this is the person who is getting the the reading. Can also be called the Seeker.  The querent will have a specific tarot card that represents him/her in the spread (the layout of the cards), which is called the Signifier or Significator.




Disclaimer: None of these pictures belong to me.  I found them on Google.

A to Z Challenge -- F -- WOLF, GODDESSES, AND FLAMES

FAMILIAR -- Familiars can be animal of the physical or astral plane.  It can be a spiritual ally. Familiars are very distinct and individualist to a coven or practitioner.  They can help raise energy in a circle.  A bond exists between the the familiar and the individual.

Similar beings from shamanic teachings and other ways.  Totems, animal guides, and spirit guides are only a few of the names.

There are subtle differences between all of them, but it basically boils down to:  a physical or nonphysical entity that guides and protects.

They were demonized by the church.


FEBRUARY -- The name February comes from Latin origins.  It is comes from the Roman month Februarius or "of Februa".

During this time around the 15th, a festival called Lupercalia was held. Presided over by the Luperci (brothers of the wolf, a sect of priests).  This festival incorporated the story of Romulus and Remus, the twin founders of Rome.  It honored the she-wolf that suckled them as infants.

Luperus (Pan for the Greeks) was the god associated. The februa were strips of goat skin that were smacked against the people.  For women and girls, to be hit by one was an insurance that they would be fertile.  So it was also a fertility rite.

Later the Februalia was also incorporated.  This was a ritual purification associated with washing with water since spring was a very rainy time of year.

FIRE -- Fire is one of the four Elements.  It's cardinal point is South.  Fire is associated with the color red.  Candle, sun, love magic are all represented by fire.  It is masculine and a projective element.  It is both a destructive and rejuvenating element.  Fire magic is used to banish negative influences in your life or to purify.  The incense censor is the tool usually associated with it, but a candle is used to represent the element upon the altar.

“Freyja and the Necklace” by James Doyle Penrose (1890)

FRIDAY -- Friday is named for either the Norse goddess Frigg/Frigga, Odin's wife and goddess of marriage, love, and destiny or for the Norse goddess Freya/Freyja.  She is the goddess of love, sexuality, war, death and a few other things as well.  She also received half the dead collected.  They went to Fólkvangr.  Odin received the other half who went to Valhalla.

There is debate as to whether Frigg and Freya had a common link or are the same goddess earlier in the history.



Disclaimer: None of these pictures belong to me.  I found them on Google.

A to Z Challenge -- E -- CEREMONY, POWER, AND FOOD

ELEMENTS --  These are Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and most times Akasha, which is the elemental spiritual power throughout the universe.  Each of these elements are representative of specific type of magic, a direction, and many other aspects of Wicca.  Earth and Water are both under the Goddess and Fire and Air the God.

A Symbol for Earth

EARTH -- One of the four Elements.  It's compass direction is North and is associated with the color green. Salt is the one of the most commonly used symbol for Earth.  It is feminine in nature and is receptive in nature.  Herbalism, stones and gems, and most anything dealing with Earth are part of Earth magic. Fertility magic falls under this element. The Pentacle is the tool associated with this Element.

ESBAT --  (Pronouced Ess-bot)  Esbats are different from Sabbats.  It is a ritual (and gathering if one is in a coven) that does not involve a holiday like Beltane.  Many practice esbats at the full moon when the Goddess is at her full power, but esbats can be held at the moon's other phases as well.

Esbats are more 'working' ceremonies.  Depending on the moon phase, specific goals like a healing ceremony are performed.

Cakes and Ale is a ceremony where food and drink is shared between the solitary practitioner and the Goddess, or the coven and the Goddess.  It is an offering of appreciation to her.  I say food and drink because the libation and food are flexible.  They can anything from wine and cake literally or cookies and fruit juice.

Esbats share similarities to communion rites.


EVOCATION -- This is a term sometimes confused with Invocation.  Evocation is when a spirit or deity is summoned/asked to join the summoner/s into a circle.  Basically it's saying, "Hey, hang out with us."  Usually it is the Goddess and God called to empower a circle even more.


Disclaimer: None of these pictures belong to me.  I found them on Google.

A to Z Challenge -- A -- BLADE, BREATH, AND CARD

A Symbol for Air

AIR -- One of the four Elements.  It is associated with the East. The color that is associated with it is yellow.  The wand is the ritual tool that is associated with it.  Wind magic, divination, travel, and intellectual/mental stimulation are all ruled.  Psychic powers, dreams, and wishes are also associated with this element.  On the altar, a feather is the most usual symbol placed there because winged animal and insects are represented by this element.  It is a projective element.  It is masculine in nature.

ALTAR -- This is the one of the most basic things. It's the place where ritual tools are set to perform ceremonies, sabbats, and esbats. Most altars are split into three sections. The left for the Goddess, the right for the God, and the center is usually a working area belonging to both.  Elemental representations can also be found in the central area.  Most altars are set up facing North or East.  They can be as elaborate or as simple as desired.

AMULET -- This is an object used to deflect specific (like negative) energies away from a person.  It's used as a protective object that is magically charged.  Many things can be an amulet including stone, wood, sachet of herbs, and a host of other things.  It all depends on what is needed to be deflected.

APRIL -- This comes from a Roman word Aprilis and perhaps refers to aperire. It means "to open" in Latin, which most likely means the opening of buds and blossoms. Plus, it may refer to Aphrodite a.k.a. Venus. This was the time of fertility. The Veneralia was celebrated by the Romans on the first. It honored Venus.

ATHAME -- Pronounced ah-Tham-ee, Ath-ah-may, ah-Thaw-may.  This is a ritual tool.  This knife is usually double edged and most likely will have a black handle.  It is consecrated and cleansed of negativity before use.  It is never, never used to cut physical objects. It is one of the symbolic God items and therefore usually placed on the right side of the altar.  

ARCANA -- This is what the two halves of the tarot deck are called.  There are 22 major arcana (e.g. The Tower, The Lovers, The World) and 56 minor arcana.

There are four suits in the minor arcana. Cups, pentacles, swords, and wands are the most recognized ones, but there can be named differently.  For example, wands can also go by rods, staves, or spears.

They predate the modern playing card decks, but a modern 52 card deck can be used in a similar fashion as tarot.


Disclaimer: None of these pictures belong to me.  I found them on Google.