Knowledge Tree

Knowledge Tree 

Here is where i shall post my knowledge and opinions about religious topics, herbal lore, and book of shadow entries. Along with prayers and chants. 

Blessed be.

The Sabbats.

a quick guide, more sabbath info will be written around the time of a sabbath. 

Samhain (October 31)
Yule - (Winter Solstice, December 20-23 (varies according to the particular date on the standard calendar according to when the Solstice will occur astronomically).
Imbolc (February 2) - (Brigid's Day)
Ostara (March 21) - Eostar, Spring Equinox, March 20-23 dependent on actual astronomical event) The Goddess blankets the Earth with fertility as the God stretches and grows to maturity.
Beltane (1 May) May Eve (April 30) Most important to Pagans, save for Samhain, I don't know of any Pagan group that doesn't celebrate this holiday in some way
Litha (circa June 21) Midsummer, Summer Solstice, June 20-23, dependent on actual astronomical event. Held on the longest day of the year, the Solstice is the celebration of light's triumph over darkness and that of the bountiful beauty that light brings into life
Lughnassadh (August 1)-The great corn ritual of Wiccan belief

Mabon (circa September 21) Fall Equinox, Sept. 20-23, dependent on actual astronomical event a lesser holiday, this is not widely celebrated and is most come with pure Wiccan groups

The Esbats

are rites held for the purpose of communing with the Moon's energies and are regarded as the time for most magickal workings.
As opposed to the Sabbats, which are fire or sun festivals, Esbats are dedicated to the Moon in her various phases. These are considered the 'working' celebrations, the time in which to attract, banish, invoke protection, or to perform any other magickal workings.

These phases are: Full moon, New moon, Waxing moon, Waning moon, Blue moon, Dark moon & Black moon.

Click images to enlarge.

moon phase calender 

click to enlarge 

Lughnasadh~ In more detail 

Lughnasadh is named for Lugh, the Celtic deity who presides over the arts and sciences. According to Celtic legend, Lugh decreed that a commemorative feast be held each year at the beginning of the harvest season to honor his foster mother, Tailtiu. Tailtiu was the royal Lady of the Fir Bolg. After the defeat of her people by the Tuatha De Dannan, she was obliged by them to clear a vast forest for the purpose of planting grain. She died of exhaustion in the attempt. The legend states that she was buried beneath a great mound named for her, at the spot where the first feast of Lughnasadh was held in Ireland, the hill of Tailte. At this gathering were held games and contests of skill as well as a great feast made up of the first fruits of the summer harvest....

...As years passed, traditions surrounding the feast at Tailte began to solidify into events and ceremonial activities designed to celebrate not only Tailtiu and the bounty of the harvest that her original sacrifice provided but also to honor the work and sacrifice of human beings as they strove to provide sustenance for their families and community....

...With the coming of Christianity to the Celtic lands, the old festival of Lughnasadh took on Christian symbolism. Loaves of bread were baked from the first of the harvested grain and placed on the church altar on the first Sunday of August. The Christianized name for the feast of Lughnasadh is Lammas which means "loaf mass".

Litha~ In more detail 

Summer Solstice
Litha, (Mid-Summer) Summer Solstice: Also known as Alban
Hefin, Sun Blessing, Gathering Day, Feill-Sheathain, Whit Sunday, Whitsuntide,
Vestalia, Thing-tide, St. John's Day
June 21. Strong time
for magic's of all kinds. Start of planning for harvest and summer flowers ring
the cauldron. Sword is plunged into cauldron. Start of herb tying and drying.
Colors, white, red, yellow. Use mirrors to capture the
sparkle of the sun and the candles or bonfire
In addition to the four great festivals of the Pagan Celtic
year, there are four lesser holidays as well: the two solstices, and the two
equinoxes. In folklore, these are referred to as the four 'quarter-days' of the
year and modern Witches call them the four 'Lesser Sabbats', or the four 'Low
Holidays'. The Summer Solstice is one of them.
Litha is usually celebrated on June 21st, but varies
somewhat from the 20th to the 23rd, dependent upon the Earth's rotation around
the Sun. According to the old folklore calendar, summer begins on Beltane (May
1st) and ends on Lughnassadh (August 1st), with the Summer Solstice midway
between the two, marking MID-Summer. This makes more logical sense than
suggesting that summer begins on the day when the Sun's power begins to wane
and the days grow shorter. The most common other names for this holiday are the
Summer Solstice or Midsummer, and it celebrates the arrival of summer, when the
hours of daylight are longest. The Sun is now at the highest point before
beginning its slide into darkness.

Imbolic~In more detail 

Imbolic ...usually celebrated on Feb. 2 .is not only a fire festival but is commonly know as the festival of the Goddess Brighid. Yes you pronounce it " breed " she is the Celtic Goddess of fire , blacksmith's , potters , and healing. She is one of many Goddess's that were demoted by Christianity and is commonly know now as St.Brigit..
Fire festival...it's a festival of lights encouraging the sun's return. Candles or torches are lit and held in circle, and are usually carried around the alter at some point during the celebration. The symbol of the wheel is usually place on the alter. Ritual blessing and planting of seeds in pots within the circle to ask the Goddess for a good crop.
The colors are green, white , or white and green , and blue. On the alter if possible a dish of snow, candles and evergreens.

A basic Wiccan Altar 

So, you've decided to embark upon a path, and you're trying to figure out what all is necessary to set up your Wicca supplies. You would like an altar, but you aren't quite sure how to go about it. There are lots of "instant altar and tools" kits you can find on the Internet. You have a few ritual tool kits, but where to start? What to include? Where to put it? How to set it up? With all the possibilities, how do you go about choosing what is right for you?
An altar can be an elaborate custom massive affair with ornate ritual tools placed in specifically measured positions. An altar can be a stump of wood in a forest, a TV tray in your living room, a bolder at the beach, or anything in between. If you feel drawn to a particular item or place then that place, or item may be used as an altar. With all that in mind, here is a basic wiccan altar. 

1. God Candle - A candle lit to honor the God of your choice. The God Candle should be white, and the opposite color of the Goddess candle.
2. God Statue or Picture - A statue or picture of the God you relate to most, such as Odin or Cernunnos.
3. Cakes - A traditional food used during rituals.
4. Chalice or Goblet - A cup filled with wine or juice.
5. Goddess Statue or Picture - A statue or picture of the Goddess, such as Freya or Cerridwen.
6. Goddess Candle - A candle lit to honor the Goddess of your choice. The Goddess candle should be black, the opposite color of the God candle.
7. Incense - To create ambiance.
8. Athame - The Sacred knife, used to direct energy in creating or erecting the circle or temple
9. Wand - Also used to direct energies.
10. Pentacle - Usually ceramic, the Pentacle is used for grounding the energies.
11. Water Bowl - The water is used for cleansing.
12. Salt Bowl - Used with water for cleansing.
13. Bell - Used to provide ambiance or to mark rituals or chants.
this is just an essentials guide, your altar can be tailored and altered to your needs & personality. The fun of an altar is making it unique to you.

Full moon

the full moons effects on humans.

* Hospital accident & emergency units see about 10%  more patients.
*Significant increase in units to medical practices for consultations after full moon.
* Increase in epileptic seizures, bleeding ulcers & hemorrhaging.
*Dramatic rise in admissions to psychiatric hospitals
*Higher number of metal patients become highly disturbed.
*Crimes of violence increase at the full moon.
*Arson attacks increase by 100% 
*suicide rates increase
*women who have already have children tend to give birth on a full moon
*ovulation & sexual desire peak with the full moon.

The Charge of the Goddess

Listen to the words of the Great Mother, She who of Old was also Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Dana, Arianhod, Isis, Bridgit, and by many other names.
Whenever ye have need of anything, once in the month, and better it be when the Moon is full, then ye shall assemble in some secret place and adore the Spirit of Me,Who is Queen of all Witches. There shall ye assemble all ye who would feign to learn all sorcery, yet have not as yet won it's deepest secrets, so these I will teach ye things that are yet unknown. And ye shall be free from all slavery, and as a sign that ye be really free, ye shall be naked in your rites. And ye shall sing, feast, dance, make music and make love all in My praise. For Mine is the ecstasy of the spirit and Mine is also joy on Earth, for My law is love unto all beings. Keep pure your highest ideals, strive ever towards them, and let naught stop you or turn you aside. For Mine is the secret door which opens upon the land of Youth, and Mine is the cup of the Wine of Life, and the cauldron of Cerridwen, which is the Holy Grail of Immortality. I am the Gracious Goddess, who gives the gift of joy unto the hearts of Man. Upon Earth I give knowledge of the spirit eternal, and beyond death I give peace and freedom and reunion with those who have gone before. Nor do I demand aught of sacrifice, for behold I am the Mother of all living things, and My love is poured out upon the Earth.
Hear ye the words of the Star Goddess, the dust of whose feet are the hosts of heaven, and whose body encircleth the Universe.
I who am the beauty of the green Earth, and the White Moon among the stars, and the mysteries of the waters, and the desire in the hearts of man, call unto thy soul. Arise and come unto Me, for I am the Soul of Nature, who giveth life unto the Universe. From Me all things proceed and unto Me they must return. And before My face, beloved of Gods and of men let thine innermost divine self be enfolded in the rapture of infinite. Let My worship be within the heart that rejoiceth, for behold all acts of love and pleasure are my rituals. And therefore let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honer and humility, mirth and reverence within you. And you who thinkest to seek for Me, know thy seeking and yearning shall avail you not unless you knowest the mystery, that if that which thou seekest thou findest not within thee, thou wilt never find it without of thee. For behold I have been with thee from the very beginning and I am that which is attained at the end of desire