Volume 15 Issue 3
Beltane 2018
Seasons of the Moon is a quarterly online magazine published by students and members of The Order of The White Moon, an eclectic international order of women dedicated to The Goddess. The Order provides personal empowerment and priestess training, and operates local groups. All contributions are original material submitted by our students and members. (We do not accept outside contributions.) Please direct comments and questions to the Ezine Editor.
Beltane 2018
Contents
- Ritual Work
Family Harmony Ritual, Mystic Amazon
The Visionary Mind, Ajna DreamsAwake - Sacred Sites
Saut d'Eau, Ajna DreamsAwake - OWM Awareness
OWM Happenings, Ka Wahine Ahi - The Bardic Soul: Poetry and Song for the Spirit
Blanche and the Witches Brew … Continued, Mystic Amazon
Her Heartsong, Ajna DreamsAwake
Fey Morgana, Mystic Amazon
May Day, Peace Whitehorse
Litha, Peace Whitehorse
Ritual Work
Do this spell on a Monday during a New Moon, for new beginnings. Use a White Candle to represent the Goddess, a Blue Candle to represent the males in your family, a Pink candle to represent the females. If you wish, you can carve their names on the appropriate candle before dressing them. This spell works well.
If you are making your own candles, put a couple of drops of Florida water in the wax before melting it. Dress the candles with love or blessing oil and a few drops of Florida Water added to it. While you are dressing and burning your candles, say this chant three times:
"Mother Goddess, please…
Bring our family harmony.
May we be close and happy,
Living in warm friendship."
© Beth Clare Johnson 2005
(Mystic Amazon)
Mystic Amazon is a High Priestess of the Order of the White Moon and an Ordained Minister. Her hobbies include writing, folk art, folk magick, Reiki, and reading.
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Who needs to journey far and wide when there is something quite spectacular and mystical within us, the visionary mind. The most amazing thing about it is that it's bigger on the inside.
There are no limitations with the visionary mind, nothing is too outlandish and everything is possible. The visionary mind can take us to hidden realms far beyond mundane reality. Not only is there uncharted territory for you to explore, there is territory that hasn't even been created yet. You are both the designer of your inner world and the map maker. You create the landscape, you design the pathways, and you determine where the danger zones are (although in my opinion, some of those places we want to avoid can provide the juiciest experiences). You are in complete control over your hidden realms and that is incredibly empowering.
Take a mental trip inward and explore the vast unknown of your own consciousness.
Creating a Personal Guided Journey Within
Most inner journeys have a set pattern to them.
The Journey Begins: visualize a staircase leading up or down, a path or road. It is designed to slowly bring your focus within, each step taking you deeper and deeper into a meditative state. The rational mind sets out in complete control, but with each step, you move further away from control.
The Gateway: this can be an actual gate, a door, a mirror, a body of water etc...it is a threshold, a demarcation between the mundane reality of the imagination and the visionary reality of the subconscious.
The Inner Realms: this is where the visionary mind takes over. It may be filled with symbolism, non‐rational or unexpected events. The visionary mind is similar to the world of dreams, but you are always, always in control.
The Encounter: this could be with deity, angels, guides, your self… It is an opportunity for dialogue, to ask questions, seek guidance, problem‐solve…
The Integration : the path back out allows you to integrate the information you've received and to slowly bring you back into your body.
Keep a journal nearby to take notes of symbols, images, questions or answers. Don't try to understand or process the experience immediately, insights may rise up in coming days.
Ground yourself fully by drinking water or eating.
© Ajna DreamsAwake
Ajna DreamsAwake is a High Priestess and founder of Dark Moon's Heart School. Her personal journey of self‐discovery continues as she supports and guides women along their own healing paths.
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Sacred Sites
100 Km (60 miles) north of Port‐au‐Prince, Haiti, lies the sacred waterfall known as Saut d'Eau, or Sodo in Haitian Creole. its name comes from the French word for waterfall. Le Saut is dedicated to the Vodoun loa Ezili. In 1847, She appeared on a palm tree. A Catholic priest cut down the tree, but, despite his efforts to suppress Her, the site became a place of pilgrimage for both Catholics and Vodouisants. Every year, thousands flock to Saut d'Eau to bathe in the waters, asking for favors and praying for healing from the Goddess.
Ezili, also known as Erzulie Dantor (Erzulie of the Wrongs), is associated with the Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel and the Black Madonna of Częstochowa. Practitioners believe that the Goddess cannot be dissociated from sexuality as is usually the case with Mary. This blending of two cultures, and two Goddesses provides a balance of the sexual and non‐sexual aspects of the Goddess.
Erzulie is depicted as a dark‐skinned woman with two scars on Her face. Her colours are red, black and blue, some of Her symbols include black pigs and rum. She oversees motherhood and menstruation. SHe is a fierce protector of women and children, and, as Her name implies, she avenges those who have been wronged. Erzulie can also be called on on matters of wealth.
Ezili is an intermediary, or "loa", practitioners use dancing and drumming to achieve a trance state in order to invoke the Goddess. She may then choose to inhabit a body for a time, allowing practitioners to call on Her to offer guidance or bestow Her blessing.
When African spirituality merged with Catholicism, the Orishas took on the names and faces of Catholic saints. This merging ensured the survival of the African traditions and way of life in a time when slavery and colonialism attempted to eradicate non‐Christian religious practices.
Haitians make a pilgrimage to the Falls at least once in their lifetime and view it as a profound spiritual experience. The pilgrimage occurs in mid‐july to coincide with the Feast Day of Erzulie on July 16th, which is also the Catholic Feast Day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. During the three‐day festival, pilgrims bathe in the waters, allowing discarded clothes to float down the river in a gesture of cleansing, transformation and rebirth. Offerings such as bananas, salt water or blue items are brought for the spirits who dwell here.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saut-d%27Eau
http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/sodo
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erzulie
Karen Tate ‐ Sacred Places of Goddess
Patricia Telesco ‐ Magickal Places
© Ajna DreamsAwake
Ajna DreamsAwake is a High Priestess and founder of Dark Moon's Heart School. Her personal journey of self‐discovery continues as she supports and guides women along their own healing paths.
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OWM Awareness
Melita Moon has successfully completed Level IV White Moon studies and has been ordained as a High Priestess! We congratulate her on her wonderful achievement and welcome her as one of our spiritual leaders. Melita has founded her own school to teach Traditional White Moon lessons, the Pyramid of Light Mystery School . We are delighted that Melita has chosen to teach and provide spiritual services.
Aurora Silverspiritus Amadahy has completed all 3 levels of the White Moon teachings to become a Priestess of the Order. Aurora has been accepted for Level IV High Priestess training and we wish her all the best. You can view her beautiful tribute to her Grandmother here: Blanche Kozloski.
Mystic Sage has completed Level II of the White Moon teachings to become and Adept in the Order. You can see her gorgeous project here: Sophia.
Autumn Faol Dreamweaver has completed Level I of White Moon studies to become an Initiate and lifetime member of the Order! See her wonderful Level I Final Project here: Hecate .
We are, of course, delighted to welcome our new students in Pyramid of Light Mystery School , The Sisters of the Rising Moon, Sacred Three and Dark Moon's Heart from all over the world! We are always happy when sisters find their way to OWM!
More About OWM
If you're not an OWM student and you'd like to learn more about the Order of the White Moon, the schools offering Traditional White Moon Studies, or browse the Goddess Gallery, we welcome you to learn about us!
You can connect with OWM on social media! Follow us on Twitter at @OrderWhiteMoon for regular updates on Seasons of the Moon, the Weekly Tarot Zodiac and other OWM public outreach programs. Our Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/orderwhitemoon.
Visit and like us! The Twitter feed and Facebook page are available to the public. Feel free to share these links. We appreciate your feedback so please let us know if you have any questions or suggestions.
May the Peaceful, Compassionate and Healing Presence of the Goddess be with you now and always.
HP Ka Wahine Ahi is the President of the Board of Directors and the Head of the Order. She teaches White Moon lessons to women in the school that she founded, The Sisters of the Rising Moon School of the Feminine Divine.
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The Bardic Soul: Poetry and Song for the Spirit
Blanche and the Witches Brew … Continued
(a Salem‐Turnopia tale)
III
The guys that Lili and I were dancing with
Asked us please to stay. They promised
To take care of us, and not let Blanche bother
Us. I can't say that either us had much faith in
Her not bothering us, but… the guys really were
Hot, and good dancers. Besides, maybe
There were enough people there with strong
Powers to bind Blanche from causing harm, if it
Came to that (and I had a sinking feeling, based
On past experience, that it would). So there
Blanche was, looking gorgeous even with all
That makeup on, hanging out of her clothes,
And flirting with some biker werewolves.
Werewolf men are usually attractive in a primal
Way, with their widows' peak hairline and
Their hairy selves. But they could get pretty
Wild. And these were drinking the witchy brew
Right along with Blanche. Blanche was wearing
Red, which was pretty appropriate with her.
She should be wearing the Scarlet Letter on her
Forehead, in my opinion. Lili agreed with me
On that one, and Dander and Tory didn't like
Blanche's familiar, Fangs. Fangs was a
Quite large rat, as big as a cat or dachshund.
He got his name because of his sharp, ugly
Curved teeth. He certainly protected Blanche,
Though. Nobody came near her unless she
Wanted them too, which meant mostly males.
We found out that the guys with us were
Vampires. However, they were of the more
Social variety, and stuck to animals and an
Occasional Human from the city of Jaredsville,
Two hours away. No Hunters took prey from
Our fair town of Salem‐Turnopia. For one
Thing, there are lots of us witches and we are
NOT people to mess with. Plus, there weren't
Any bad vamps that lived in town. If there
Were any that bothered people here, they
Were from another town. For the most part,
We magickal beings here are very benign.
Anyway, back to Blanche. She went out
With the weres and they all got on their bikes
And roared off. Boy, was I relieved! So we
Proceeded to party on, and have a great time.
We knew the guys would be there until the
Sun started coming out, and we had plenty of
Time until that. Their names were Hal and
Ripley, and they had only been dead for fifty
Years, not long for vampires.
Eventually, most of our witchy friends showed
Up and we had a great time. The Hot Cauldron
Has snacks of all kinds, and also serves
Hamburgers and French Fries. Extra bloody
Burgers for the meat eaters. By this time,
Some of us had sore feet, and we were sitting
Around chatting and occasionally smooching.
I liked Hal very much, he was very polite.
Just as things had quietened down, and the
Band was taking a break, we heard the bikes
Come back. Then Blanche and the weres
Came running into the room, making a racket.
They were covered in blood, and very upset.
It looked like Blanche had been scared sober.
They yelled, "Hide! Hide!" and "Help!" But
Other than that, we couldn't get any sense out
Of them. I called Blanche over, and started
Cleaning up some of her bruises and scratches
(After all, I am still her cousin). Then everyone
Gathered around, and she and the leader of
The weres, told their tale. They had of course,
Been drunk on their 'ashes' and having fun
Riding all over town on their motorcycles and
Yelling and just generally raising hell, as usual.
They went way outside the city limits, and
Unbeknownst to them, into an area with ogres
And trolls. Now, they are NOT fun to deal with
And do not have understanding or pleasant
Personalities. And not much brain to reason
With, either. They were riding around, yelling
And drunk, and as bad luck would have it,
They were raising Cain right around the lairs
Of a bunch of trolls and ogres and their
Families. Now, they are not the type to be
Patient if someone wakes the baby up. And
All that yelling and biker noise woke up a
Bunch of ugly, green ogre babies and warty,
Disgusting troll babies. So they set after
The bikers and Blanche with their clubs,
Which had spikes set in them. One biker
Got caught and thrown a few feet, but he
Managed to get on the back of another
Werewolf's bike, and get out of there
Before he wound up "pushing up Wolfsbane",
So to speak. (Sorry about the pun, they
Are hard to resist, sometimes). They
Managed to get ahead of them because of
The bikes, but trolls and ogres were headed
After them, fast.
IV
The Hot Cauldron is on the edge of
Salem‐Turnopia, so the ogres and trolls that
Were chasing Blanche and the weres, would
Be coming by here on the way into town.
Plus ogres and trolls could probably smell
Them under their witches brew.
It is remarkable that the ogres and trolls have
Such a good sense of smell, since they smell
Pretty rank themselves … uggggh and ewww!
Now that we were warned and knew that
Trouble (naturally, around Blanche) was on
The way, we had to figure out some sort of
Plan.
We could just run like hell for our lives,
And leave Blanche and the weres to their
Fate. But then my aunt would NOT be happy
With me, and it is never a good idea to make
A witch angry.
I have this slogan: "Never mess with a witch
Unless they tell you too; then you had
BETTER!" My aunt Prudy, like my mother,
Is an Elder in the Salem‐Turnopia Witches
League. That means she knows umpteen
Spells and just as many curses.
So, we all stayed, which might be a surprise
To an outsider, but the "Magickals" here are
Very close. And besides, we didn't want them
Taking the fight into the town. The mayor
Would throw us all in the clink first, and ask
Questions later. And the police use be‐spelled
Handcuffs, too.
While the others were setting up a barricade
Of tables and chairs (ha), I slipped away and
Called my mother on my cell phone. I told her
The whole sordid story. She knows about
Blanche's little drinking problem, everyone does,
Except my Aunt Prudy goes into denial about
It except when she catches Blanche in the
(hiccup) act. I told her that we could hear
Shouting in the distance and were all terrified,
So she said she would gather all the other
Witches and beat feet …oops, I mean beat
Broomsticks, over there in an extreme hurry.
My mom comes through when needed, I am
Very lucky that way. She and my dad are both
Witches, but she doesn't tell dad about things
Like this, since he tends to worry about me
And come unglued. I am an only child, as is
Blanche, another reason I always seemed to get
Stuck with her.
It would help if she would stay sober and out
Of married mens' beds. But nooooo. She never
Learns. She has been cursed by angry wives so
Often, that she has become very good at a strong
Shielding Spell. Unfortunately, she can't make
It work if she is drunk. Sigh.
I made a quick trip to the broom closet to tell
Tory and Dander what was going on. That way,
If they chose to get on one of the brooms and
Stay out of the fracas, they could do so. They
Decided to stay, but to come out if we needed a
Couple of big black bobcats to help us.
They also reminded me that they could change
Into black owls, so they were not helpless.
Things were getting pretty messy in the club,
Ogres smashing things, and blood, and folk
Avoiding their clubs, vampires and weres
Trying to bite them, etc. Nerve wracking.
At least nobody had gotten killed, but it could
Happen. Just as it was in full swing, a whole
Slew of witches showed up, broomsticks, wands,
And all. Lady Emeralde, the High Witch, was
In front. My mother winked at me from behind
Her. "STOP!" She yelled, and put forth her wand,
And threw a wave of motion that knocked every
One down. She did get our attention. So we
Stopped running for our lives, hiding, or fighting.
"All right," she said, "I want you to get two
Representatives, one for the ogres and trolls, and
One for the rest of you. I am granting you an
Audience and calling a Magickal high court. Make
It snappy!" No one thought of disagreeing with
Her. An ogre came forward as leader for their group,
And one of the vampire men (a lawyer, in fact) was
Chosen for the representative of the rest of us.
Actually, he was more the counsel for Blanche
And the weres, since they were the ones that had
Started it. The ogres went first, telling how their
Peace had been invaded, their land torn up by
Motorcycles, and their babies woken up and
Wailing. Then it was the turn of Chuck, the lawyer.
He did the 'diminished capacity' defense, about how
The witches brew was to blame, and they should
Not have been served so many drinks, and so forth.
Like any bartender was going to tell a bunch of
Werewolf bikers, "No" … I don't think so! When
Everyone was through, Lady Emeralde said that she
Needed to confer with the officers of her League.
So we all pitched in with little grumbling (no one
Crossed the High Witch) and put the tables and
Chairs back, that weren't too broken. Then we sat
Down and waited, while they talked. After about
An hour, they came out of their huddle. "Here are
My pronouncements," said Lady Emeralde.
"I find that the trolls and ogres and their families
Have indeed been wronged. This being the fault
Only of Blanche and the Werewolves. So, here is
My decree. Blanche and the weres will pay damages
Both to the trolls and ogres, and to the owner of
The Hot Caldron. I will discuss it with the ogre
Leader and the bar owner, and come up with what
Is a fair sum. Anyone that cannot afford cash, will
Work it off. Work in the bar, work in the fields
Near the troll and ogre encampment, and even
Babysit the babies whose sleep they disturbed.
Blanche, your drinking problems are well known
Around Salem‐Turnopia, I think notorious would
Not be too weak a word. You will enter Witches
Rehab in a larger town … and do not dare to come
Back until you have kicked your addiction to
Witches Brew. Now, straighten this place up, and
Go home!"
Lady Emeralde grandly stalked toward her broom,
The other witches following her; and they sailed
Off into the night sky. All except Aunt Prudy, that
Is, who boxed Blanche's ears and made sure she
Went home without a werewolf in tow. Lili and
I said goodbye to the guys, making plans to meet
Them in a couple of nights. We were happy about
Blanche going into rehab, and out of our hair for
Awhile. We got Dander and Tory, and headed out
For home on our brooms. It had been a very
Exciting evening, but we wanted to go to bed and
Just think about our new beaus and get a good
Nights' sleep.
© Beth Clare Johnson October 25, 2005
(Mystic Amazon)
Mystic Amazon is a High Priestess of the Order of the White Moon and an Ordained Minister. Her hobbies include writing, folk art, folk magick, Reiki, and reading.
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A swirling rainbow of colour
Emanates from her heart
Enveloping Mother Earth
In a loving embrace
A swirl of blues and greens
Entwined in Mother’s arms
Violet of dusk, twinkling lights
Fairies invite her to dance
Joy in movement
Soft pastels of dawn
She rubs her eyes
And slowly comes back
To herself, to her soul
The wind rushes past
Carrying her off into
The vastness
She laughs out loud
Her heartsong
© Ajna DreamsAwake
Ajna DreamsAwake is a High Priestess and founder of Dark Moon's Heart School. Her personal journey of self‐discovery continues as she supports and guides women along their own healing paths.
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Of late you have walked in Arthur's lands
Homesick for misty lakes and isles…
Your black hair hiding your fair face,
Hands throbbing with blood and magick.
Green velvet you wear, like the grasses
Brown are your eyes and deep amber;
Your great beauty is almost terrifying,
Aura shining with swirled enchantments.
You hold a bright red apple in your hand
The color of blood, the symbol of Avalon.
Mists flow around you now as you walk
But they do not block your sacred visions.
You stop to pick herbs for your healings
Blessing waters and wells with a breath,
Singing soft enchantments on the wind
Often dancing with the nearby faeries.
Faster you dance to the piping tunes
Tying your gown up to kick higher,
Laughing with the wildness of your nature
Blessing the meadows with your footfalls.
You ask the birds to sing their trilled tunes
Singing for a young lover to join you,
Lying together on your cloak and soft mosses
To rumble and fertilize the land with sweet love.
You shake enchantments from your fingers
As you walk along with those who now follow
A court of young lovers, faeries and knights
Playing cymbals and shrieking with abandon.
Morgana, Fey Morgana
We miss your dark beauty
We call for you to join us!
Morgana, Faery Queen
Magick lady, dark lady
Come walk the land once again.
Morgana, Fey Morgana
Don't let your knowledge
Fade from the hearts
And memories of women;
Morgana, sweet enchantress
We need your love with us.
© Beth Clare Johnson August 16, 2008
(Mystic Amazon)
Mystic Amazon is a High Priestess of the Order of the White Moon and an Ordained Minister. Her hobbies include writing, folk art, folk magick, Reiki, and reading.
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May Day comes, Holy Beltane!
Leap across the bale flame,
Dance around the Maypole,
In the Goddess' name!
The Earth is a-greening,
Springtime is here!
Everything is blooming,
It's a wondrous time of year.
The Wheel has turned once again
To this joyful time of growth.
The Sacred Rite performed
By God and Goddess both.
The union of the Deities
Brings new life to the Earth.
Put out the fire Beltane-eve
And kindle anew in the hearth!
For all kinds of fertility
Go through the Beltane smoke.
Leave an offering outside
For all the Fairie Folk.
To talk to those who've gone before,
The veil between the Worlds is thin,
The time is ripe, the time is good
To contact friends and kin.
Don your festive clothing,
Celebrate with food and drink,
Dance and sing, dance and sing,
In red and green and pink!
© Peace Whitehorse
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Midsummer bonfire, on the hill,
Set the watch and carry the torch,
Protect the village on this night.
Jump the fire with nary a scorch!
Make yourself an amulet
From the ashes of the fire,
Knead into clay for a talisman,
Let the remnants earn their hire.
Wait upon the sun this night,
You will see the little Fey
If you sit in a circle of stone
To keep the mischievous ones at bay!
Walk the fire thrice about,
Tell a pebble your desire,
And on the final trip around,
Toss the stone into the fire.
Celebrate both work and leisure,
Time for children and for play,
Oak King wanes and Holly waxes,
Nights grow long and short the day.
On Midsummer night, the forest elves
And all the little people appear,
Put the ivy on your door,
Bless the pets, and have no fear.
Ring the cauldron with some flowers,
Wisteria oil, Frankincense burn,
Emerald and Jade are stones to have,
Herbs are larkspur, lavender, fern.
Midsummer is here, we celebrate
The midpoint between Spring and Fall,
Hail the Holly King who conquers,
Bless the Goddess, one and all!
© Peace Whitehorse,
Peace Whitehorse is a graduate of The Sacred Three Goddess School and a High Priestess in the Order of the White Moon, teacher at the Peace Grove School of the Goddess and facilitator and High Priestess of the Peace Grove Coven. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and her Shetland sheepdogs, and is active in Sheltie Rescue.
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The articles featured in Seasons of the Moon are written and/or submitted by members of the Order of the White Moon and are their own intellectual property. Please feel free to share this publication but do give credit where credit is due and link back to the source.
Thank you for reading, we hope that you have enjoyed it just as much as we have enjoyed presenting it to you.
Many blessings to you and yours,
Seasons of The Moon Staff
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