Lions & Lambs --- Using the Energy of Sprinby Leni Hester     edited and reprinted from her blog
“Season & Spirit” at PaganSquare.com

     The transition from Winter to Spring is a dynamic one, with lots   of pulling and pushing as the weather goes from one extreme to  the other. In this dance between two opposing forces, we can see  the Earth’s changes at their most dramatic. There is increasing  light, but the rain-heavy clouds are much darker and gloomier than  the bright icy snow clouds of a month ago. Perhaps we see this  transition as a movement away from the hardships and struggles  of Winter, to the greater ease and gentleness of Spring. Or we feel  the movement from the repose and introspection of Winter to the  increasing noise and activity of Spring.
 
     While we may welcome the  arrival of spring, it’s not uncommon to feel irritable or restless and  dissatisfied this time of year.


     This transition is very much like waking up after a long sleep.  Sometimes it takes some stretching and grumbling and rubbing of  the eyes to get fully awake. Sometimes it’s not entirely inviting to get out of our warm bed and put our feet on the cold floor. But  we cannot stop the Spring from coming any more than we can  stop ourselves from feeling
the rising energy, noticing the excitement (anxiety) just below our skin, as the
world wakes up.

     Here in Colorado, the dynamic tension between the seasons is particularly noticeable. My coven’s Ostara ritual last month was canceled due to a blizzard that dumped about eight inches of   snow. This is always a busy time of year, with the chores running from shoveling snow to turning beds and pruning trees. But out  in the garden, even on the coldest day, even with the plants still  dormant, I can feel the energy rising, ready to pop out and drench  the world in color and life No matter how much it looks like Winter,  Spring is ready to roar inside us.


This is the season to make changes and try to rewrite bad habits.   For example, isn’t it silly to try and start a new diet on January 1,  deep in the coldest part of winter, just when our bodies most crave  heavy, high fat foods? In Spring, we begin to crave the bite of new greens and veggies, we want to cleanse and detox, we long forlighter fare as we shed our Winter layers.


      The old tradition of “Spring cleaning” is a very natural inclination.  This time of year, I find myself longing to re-organize my entire  house for top to bottom. Cleaning out our space can really relieve  so much stress and anxiety, of course, but the itch to get clean  is not just for our spaces, but ourselves. We respond by getting new clothes or cleaning our homes, but what we long for is to be clean on the inside. Letting go of old bad habits and dysfunctional  patterns and routines can be difficult, but the energy of the season  truly supports these shifts.

     Part of our restlessness as the Winter   gives way to Spring, is that we begin to notice things that we were  resigned or complacent about, and find we aren’t comfortable  with them anymore. Maybe it’s a compromise we don’t want to  make, or something in our home or workspace that is not working   quite right. Maybe it’s a outgrown relationship, or a desire for new  challenges. All the places where we fall short of where we feel  we should be, everywhere we see dysfunction and breakdowns  in our lives—whether magickal or mundane, personal or professional—these gaps rankle us, and spur us to action. We may wish to re-organize our lives from start to bottom, getting rid of anything that we feel no longer serves us. This time of year, I find I have no tolerance for procrastination and dithering after decisions are made.  I also have very little patience with my own bad habits and dysfunctional routines. I want everything that feels like clutter, the feels extraneous and dysfunctional, out of my space.

     I know that unless I make sure I don’t over-schedule myself, I will  over-commit my time and energy, and then look up suddenly and say, “Wow, when did Spring start? And where has it gone?”   If I   don’t remember that the impulse to clear clutter out of my house  is so amped up right now, I will follow that impulse and get ri of   things I might need later. Plugging into the rising earth energy after such a long rest can be exhilarating, and it can be also be overwhelming and uncomfortable.


    At times of change and transformation, it helps to get quiet.   Do not  be fooled by the sudden pop of energy and action everywhere. We  still need to get quiet especially when the world gets loud. Don’t lapse on your meditation practice now.


    Speaking of meditation, as the weather get nicer, take some  time to walk in a park or other natural area. Walk silently and take  in the scents, sounds and sensations of the waxing year. Put all   your awareness into noticing the life around you, even if much of it  is still hidden.


    Cleansing and purification are huge elements of the ritual work  of this time of the year cross culturally. Clean your house, then purify it with smudge or incense. Open the windows, even for a brief  time, to get the power of Air clearing out your space. Sprinkle your  space with Florida water, or blessing oils or Van-Van oil diluted in water.  If you drop the ball on New Years’s resolutions, now is the best time to give it another shot.  In any case, here’s hoping that your spring (and mine) will be full of the energy and light of this dynamic and magickal season. Blessed be!

April 2013
BBI Media News
Publishers of Crone,  SageWoman, and  Witches&Pagans magazines.

Season of Solstice  Work:

     Solstice - either of the two points in the ecliptic (the first points of the sign Cancer and Capricorn respectively) at which the sun is furthest from the equator and consequently appears to pause and turn in course: the time when the sun reaches these two points in its orbit, about 21st June and about 21st December. 
 
      Around December 21, the Sun enters Capricorn and witches celebrate the Winter Solstice.
  
     In the Northern Hemisphere the Winter Solstice around December 21, marks the beginning of winter and occurs when the North Pole is tilted away from the sun.  The word Solstice literally means "standing still."  At the Winter Solstice the sun rises, stands still, for a brief moment,then quickly dwindles to disappear beneath the horizon.

     The Winter Solstice marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year.   Yule, one of the four lesser Sabbats, takes place each year around December 25.  Legend of Santa Claus-Santa is the Holly King, the sleigh is the Solar Chariot, the eight Sabbats and the horns represent the Horn God, the North Pole symbolizes the Land of the  Shadows and the dying solar year, and the gifts meant both to welcome the Oak King as the sun reborn and as a reminder of the gift of the Holly King who must depart for the Oak King to rule.

     This is a great time to reflect upon the past and make plans for your future as the Sun illumines a pathway toward the achievement of your goals.

Three days before Winter Solstice - Yule: 

    Contemplation  
     Thought
    Preparation
   

 First Quest of Mastery -
 to be granted an identity Discover your roots...your idenity in this world.
  
     If you seek to understand the whole universe, you will understand nothing at all...but seek to understand yourself, and you will come to understand the whole universe. 

     It can take a life time to understand who you are and your purpose in life. 

     Live your outer life as a leader, while maintaining the heart and conscience of a Pagan.

The Eve of Winter Solstice - A Midwinter's Dream:
  
     The main ancient formulae guidelines in magic are followed: An herb, a flower and a tree make three.

Herb - sacred to God Form or Spirit Guide being called, Flower - mistletoe, Tree - oak leaf or bark
  
Incense Dragon's Blood - the breath of the Dragon - burn incense for good psychic atmosphere to be felt.
 
     On the eve of the shortest day call upon your God Form or Spirit Guide to make their will known (speak to your higher power ).

        Trust the road you take is a guided one.   Just because your God Form or Spirit Guide insn't here in body doesn't mean their love isn't with you. 
 
      To call forth Elders from the Deep, one need only to pass into sleep with palms of both hands upon the cheek.
 
Pose your question.  ASK: "Please tell me how to continue; in what direction
shall I search, and for what end?"
 
    Search the depths of the inner world.  Leave not a single dream darkened -
until you know beyond doubt who you are, and why you are here; search out your identy...your own destiny.
  
    Remember that dreams are the true interpreters of our desires.  To say 'it is
only a dream' is a foolish thing.
  
Keep moving forward until your dreams come true. Of course, you’ll encounter
obstacles along the way, but you should try to see them as tests of your will and motivation, rather than as setbacks.  Seeing obstacles as stepping-stones to success, rather than as barriers, will help you evolve to ever-higher states of awareness.

Morning of Winter Solstice - Yule
  
     At dawn on the Shortest Day light a small Yule fire of oak, and then triumpt rebirth with bells and boughs of everygreen.  Hold a chalice filled with promagrant juice and toast the morning sun.  
  
Trust your intial respomse.  Follow your intuitions.
 
 Ritual inspired by The 21 Lessons of Merlyn A Study in Druid Magic & Lore  by Douglas Monroe
 
-Yule Sabbat-Green Witchcraft SeriesAuthor Ann Moura 
http://Annmourasgarden.com  
 
 


"Keep your eye on the bunny and bird," is a Faery expression meaning that the answers you seek are in nature.  Birds are the harbinger of growth and promise.  The morning of Winter Solstice, Yule 2012,  in the new-fallen snow a Cardinal was the first bird I saw come by and stayed for a meal.  The Cardinal represents self-worth, an aspect of one's personality---value - that quality which renders you valuable (important). To  see a cardinal or find a cardinal feather means  fortunes await love.

Let me, oh Spirit Guide, this day
Make someone happy
By what I do
Or what I say
And when my thoughts
To irritation roam
Spirit Guide let me remember
Charity begins at home.


  Work with Spirit:

"I ask Spirit Guide to please place the people, things and information I need to know to open up the doors to ____________ .  If this is your will, So Shall It Be!"  And then keep doing your part toward the goal.  A piece at a time comes in that will work for you.  Eventually everything starts changing,  What is no longer compatible to your aim is removed from your space, and you begin to attract a combination of favouring circumstances.  Your 'Free Will' decides what you do with the new opportunities.

Everyone wants a life of abundance. Love, wealth, health, material possessions, happiness… these are things everyone strives for.

But too often what we want remains only a wish, since most people don`t know how to bring abundance into their lives. They think it`s very complicated, reserved for the fortunate few.

To Profit From Abundance You Need To Believe In It
If you really want to profit from the abundance you deserve, and which is waiting for you on the astral plane, you first need to get rid of any false ideas you have about what abundance is. Doing that is indispensable, otherwise you’ll be an obstacle on your path to abundance and success.

Abundance is much closer than you think. It`s your present state-of-mind, burdened by prejudice and preconceived notions, that separates you from it. That`s all! Sweep away your false ideas, and the path to abundance will open wide before you.

Abundance is much closer than you think. It`s your present state-of-mind, burdened by prejudice and preconceived notions, that separates you from it. That`s all! Sweep away your false ideas, and the path to abundance will open wide before you.

In a moment I’ll tell you about an infallible method for doing just that. Then, you won’t have any more excuses for not living in a state of plenitude.

If you take a step towards abundance, it will take a hundred steps towards you. But if you don`t do anything to attract abundance into your life, it won`t do anything for you.

Some Essential Reminders

There`s a Cosmic Law that says "Everything requires effort". You absolutely need to
abandon the idea that things just miraculously happen in life, and that people who ar Lucky and enjoy abundance do so by chance.

As  I`ve said many times before:   Luck won`t wait, you need to reach out and grab it!
 
Understanding that Luck can be provoked will help bring abundance into your life, since Luck and abundance are closely linked. 

Engrave this principle in your mind once and for all: Don`t wait for Luck to happen. Do something to provoke it!

Meditating on this principle will favor the attraction of abundance into your life. The path that leads to abundance is positive thinking. 

Positive Thinking Is A Plus:
All you need to do is think positive thoughts as often as possible, throughout the course of the day. Positive words and deeds produce the same positive effects.

Positive thoughts purify you of negative energy you’ve created in the past, through your negative thoughts, words and deeds.

This negative energy is what is preventing currents of Luck from reaching you, and bringing you the wealth and happiness you deserve.

The second way to use positive thinking is to neutralize any negative thoughts you may have. The process consists of formulating affirmations.

If you think: ”I`m not capable of doing this…” you generate negative energy that, in fact prevents you from accomplishing your tasks.

But by immediately formulating a contrary affirmation like: ”I am perfectly capable odoing this…” you neutralize both the negative thought you had, and the energy iproduced, at the same time.

You need to get into the habit of thinking positively, and using it to achieve your goals. When you first start practicing you may forget to do it regularly. That takes some time.

You`ll need to practice positive thinking at some point, if you really want to make progress on the road to abundance. But there`s another method for attaining abundance, and I`ll tell you about it right now. You`ll be able to use one or the other to bring abundance into your life.

Saying Thank You may use the words thank you every day, but are you aware of their magical power? If you say thank you with the right intention, instead out of habit, the doors to abundance will open wide for you.

Starting today, you`re going to use the words thank you in a totally different way than in the past. You can still say it just to be polite, but from now on you need to associate the words `thank you` with personal development, and the attainment of
abundance.

I call it the ”Path of Thankfulness.” Each time you say thank you, instead of thinking about what you don`t have, concentrate on all that you do have, and on everything that will come to you at some point in future. 

It`s also called the Path of Plenitude – thanking the Higher Forces for what you have and will obtain, as opposed to the Path of Emptiness, which consists of always complaining about what you don`t have.

Be Thankful For All
This highly effective but simple process consists of being thankful for everything positive that happens to you in life, from the most minor detail to the most significant event.

You can thank whoever you want – God, Allah, Yahweh, Buddha, a spiritual master, a saint, or any remarkable being you may have met. All are representative of the Universal Creative Force. Or you could say thank you in a general way, to no particular being.

The least important things you receive that benefit you in some way should be a pretext for stopping for a moment, and saying thank you. If it`s beautiful outside, be thankful it`s not raining. If you find a parking space with no trouble, thank your Luck or the powers that be.

Eventually, you`ll forget about the pretexts to be thankful, and concentrate on the main thing: being alive! That`s the most beautiful gift you could ever receive on Earth.

Passing an exam, finding a job, being healthy, or recovering from an injury or illness, meeting a friend, receiving a gift, being helped by someone… all are reasons to be thankful. Be humble and show your gratitude for simply being alive.

Worries Prevent Abundance

I`m not saying you`re going to be instantly surrounded by wealth and happiness, and all your problems will disappear. But if you persevere on the Path of Thankfulness, you`ll gradually see your situation improve, and your troubles vanish.

Being consciously thankful for everything you obtain will slowly but surely bring you prosperity and happiness. Don`t think about what being thankful can do for you, or ask for anything in return. The fact is, this path always ends-up producing a shower of benefits. It’s a Universal Law… the way things work.

http://Tara-Medium.com
 

Within the dark chaos of a troubled world I will seek to find some Beauteous Thing.

From eyes grown dim with weeping will shine a Light to guide me, and in Sorrow's Hour I shall behold a great High Courage.  

I shall find the wonder of an infinite Patience, and a quiet Faith in coming Joy and Peace.

And Love will I seek in the midst of Discord, and find swift eager hands out-stretched in welcome

I will seek Beauty all my days, and in my quest I shall not be dismayed.  

This poem is by Minnie Aumonier, author of Gardens in Sun and Shade  

Take a brief moment to reflect on the purpose of your life. It is essential to have a picture in your mind of the direction of your life. Try to do this in the morning when spiritual energy is at its peak.  Accept things as they are, and be patient.

Just because someone at your work or school says that no one is interested in what you have to say does not mean that that's true! If you hear this kind of talk from anyone today, you should be suspicious. It's going to be pretty darned obvious that they are playing major mind games with you. You should only believe things your hear with your own ears and see with your own eyes. Second- or third-hand information is nothing but gossip -- and it should be treated as such.