pagan blog project - X is for Xochiquetzal

Xochiquetzal (shok ee KAY tsal) is the Aztec goddess of sex, love, marriage, prostitutes, and pleasure. Every 8 years a festival was held in her honor. Her name means feathered flower and she is usually depicted with gold ornaments and surrounded by flowers and butterflies. Xochiquetzal is always pictured as a young woman even though legends has her assisting with creating humans.

Earth Mother's Moon

Geb's Day


Full Moon in sidereal Taurus
Penumbral lunar eclipse

On the Taurus Full Moon, we take care of our bodies and the bodily needs of others. Don't try to shift the focus to emotional needs - those are important, but the physical must come first or all else will suffer...Are you eating healthy? Is there medical care that you need and aren't seeking? Are you getting enough sleep?...Are you getting enough hugs and regular body contact or are you suffering from skin hunger? - Moon Phase Astrology by Raven Kaldera.

Guilty, guilty, guilty as charged. If you are a parent, you are most likely guilty of not taking care of your physical needs and health like you should. My health has been on the decline for some time now. Hopefully, I can find a doctor who will treat me to my satisfaction. Yes, I'm overweight. But instead of saying to me, "All you gotta do is exercise", how about treating why I'm tired all the time?

Not only is my tiredness affecting my everyday life but my magical life is suffering. Practicing magic takes energy. Witches look to the mundane or everyday world first to solve problems. When that doesn't (appear to) work or when the mundane issue could use a boost, magic is employed. I haven't done a full-fledged ritual in months. Not that my Goddess expects me to. I want to do it; being a solitary makes it that much more important.

The penumbral eclipse will take place today from 7:17 am - 11:49 am EST. Although not visible in my area due to setting at 7 am, I will try to find a live stream. I believe that eclipses are times to harness great energy due to the almost perfect alignment of the sun, earth, and moon - what I call the Great Triple Goddess.

Have you been neglecting your physical health? Is it affecting your spiritual practice?

Poet's Moon

Ra's Day

Waxing Gibbous in sidereal Pisces

On the Poet's Moon, we read the poetry that moves us, especially aloud in a group so that a variety of people can hear it. If you write poetry yourself, this is a good time to do it...and a good time to work on figuring out how to best open yourself to the Voice of the Universe. - Moon Phase Astrology by Raven Kaldera.

I haven't written poetry in such a long time. Perhaps because I haven't been inspired to do so. During one of my church's Open Mic nights, I read Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou. Such a great poem! Another one of my favorite poems is love is thicker than forget by e. e. cummings. His poems are kind of weird and he makes use of formatting in strange ways.

One of the last poems I wrote was answered in kind by my husband. I won't reproduce them here because the content of both poems are very explicit. I told hubs that we should write and self-publish a poetry book together.

So I need to figure out what moves me, what inspires me. A clean house for sure. I cannot think in a mess.

Do you like to read or write poetry? If so, who is your favorite poet? Feel free to post your own poem in the comments.

Pagan Blog Project - X is for Xiuhtecuhtli

Xiuhtecuhtli (Shee-u-teh-COO-tleh) is a fire god known to the Aztecs and Mayans. His name means Turquoise Lord and is associated with the number one. His symbols are the butterfly and the cotinga bird. Xiuhtecuhtli is pictured with the serpent of fire Xiuhcoatl on his back.

These ancient peoples considered Xiuhtecuhtli as the creator of all gods and goddesses. He is celebrated as the central deity in the fire ceremony held every 52 years. Minor festivals were held every year at the hottest and coldest point. He is the patron god of kings and warriors and is usually depicted with a crown.

According to myths, Xiuhtecuhtli arose from the underworld as a pillar of fire. By going through earth to get to heaven, he is said to be holding the realms together.

Rebel's Moon

Geb's Day
Het-Hert 8


1st Quarter in sidereal Aquarius

On the Rebel Moon, we take social structures to task. This is the best time of all for activism. Even if there is no cause that makes you burn or that you'd burn for, there is certain to be some injustice that you would like to see cleared away, and no matter what it is, other people are probably already working for that. Put your back, not just your words or money into the cause. - Moon Phase Astrology by Raven Kaldera.

Pagan Blog Project - W is for Willow

My last PBP post dealt with wands. As a follow-up, this post will deal with a tree that you may want to use in making your wand.

There are over 400 species of trees and shrubs belonging to the willow family. I have at least 3 trees immediately behind my backyard fence. Willows are deciduous; the leaves die are the last to die in the fall and the first to come back in the spring. The bark of willow trees contain salicylic acid which is used to produce aspirin* aka acetylsalicylic acid.

Willow trees are associated with the Feminine, moon, emotion, wisdom and water. In fact, willow trees are planted near unwanted pools of water because their roots are quite thirsty. Bodhisattva Quan Yin, a Buddhist figure of compassion, holds a willow leaf that she dips into an elixir. In the Wiccan Rede, willow is mentioned as one of the sacred trees and guides the dead to the afterlife. In ancient Kemet (Egypt), the willow is sacred to Osirus; it gave shade to his coffin. A person's ba or spirit is said to reside in willow groves.

Grandmother Willow

*Aspirin with a capital A remains a registered trademark of Bayer in several countries. However, in the US, aspirin is now a generic term.

Pagan Blog Project - W is for Wand

There are some general guidelines for making or using a wand. The wand should be a natural material, most commonly wood. Branches should not be torn from live trees; rather use branches found on the ground or from a dead tree. In a pinch, wood from your local hardware store will do. I read somewhere that metal is not recommended for wands but I don't recall the reason why. Again, any natural material will do.

If going the wooden route, you may wish to obtain a branch from a specific tree. I have willows in my backyard. Willows are especially magical. (Think Grandmother Willow from Disney's Pocahontas.)

The suggested length of a wand is the length of your elbow to the tip of your middle. For me this is about 18 1/2 in. You should use whatever is comfortable. Once you have the proper length, the wand can be decorated or left plain.

A wand is not necessary in witchcraft. It is an accessory which acts as an extension of your fingers and hand. Do not allow others to handle your tools and do not handle others' wands without their express permission. If purchasing a mass-market wand or one that you did not craft directly from nature, you may wish to cleanse it before using it. Use the cleansing method of your particular path.

Election Day

I did it for the first time ever! Felt good to be prepared. The entire process took about 1 hour which included standing in line. I brought a book to read but didn't need it since the line was steady moving. In case you care, this is how I voted on the hot races / topics:

President / VP - Gary Johnson / James Gray (Libertarian)
Why: The Libertarian Party aligns the best with my views.

MD Q4 - Allows for undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition provided that certain conditions are met; extends the time in which honorably discharged veterans may qualify for in-state tuition - AGAINST.
Why: one of the conditions state that the parents of the undocumented immigrants must file taxes for 3 yrs that the college student was in high school. The key word is FILE not actually pay. Upon doing research, UIs who do file taxes can get refunds. I do support a fast-track path to become legal for children of illegal immigrants. It's not their fault their parents brought them here. As for the 2nd part of the question, I wish it was separated. I would be FOR honorably discharged vets getting extended time for in-state tuition.

MD Q5 - Established the boundaries for the 8 US Congressional Districts - AGAINST.
Why: the new map employs gerrymandering - dividing up the state so that one party has a distinct advantage. It may be legal but certainly not fair.

MD Q6 - Allows gay marriage - FOR
Why: Marriage as far as the gov't is concerned is a civil issue, not religious. This law is not seeking to redefine marriage for religious institutions.

MD Q7 - Add another casino to be located in PG County and add table games to existing casinos - FOR
Why: While I don't believe that the extra money will go to education like it is supposed to, the casino will create more jobs.