Dark Moon

November 3 was the Dark Moon, sometimes called the New Moon. It is the time of the lunar month when there is little light from the Grandmother.

(Moon = Grandmother; Sun = Grandfather in some traditions and I tend to think of the moon as Grandmother much more than I think of the sun as Grandfather - why? thoughts for another day).

I invited four people to share that evening with me and two were able to join in. Since the three of us come from different earth-based spiritual traditions it was a blending of sorts with my adding what I know from Wicca to my own spiritual practice.

After calling in spirits or guides and to some extent casting a circle, we spent some time just being with each other and the fire before sharing what we want to bring forth during the waxing moon. This isn't so much about manifesting a complete project so much as it is about creating the stepping stones that will bring us to that point in our lives where we want to be.

For me, it is about concentrating on my physical health while I continue to write my stories. (I've a new short story First Love  up at Free Reads From The Genre-istas). Sometimes finding and keeping balance in my life is so much easier said than done!

The Wheel of the Year continues to turn---

We'll be together again, before the fire, to celebrate the Dark Moon on December 3rd. If you do not have a group to join and don't have a fireplace or an outdoor fire  pit, light a candle, turn off all the lights and sit with your focus on the flame. What do you want to bring forth between now and the Full Moon? What do you want to manifest over this next year? If you are alone, write it down or journal about your experience.

This is a journey - dark moon to full moon, full moon to dark moon, dark moon to full moon, full moon to dark moon - and so it goes.

Blessed Be.

Reflections from Samhain

Three of us celebrated Samhain together sitting around a fire pit drinking a bit of mulled wine and sharing our memories of Samhain's past and what this beginning of the turning of the wheel of the year meant to each of us. After general sharing we called in the elements and directions and honored those who've crossed the veil by telling stories about what they meant to us and still mean to us today. Besides the mulled wine, we had lemon poppy seed scones and later, wine.

One thing we all agreed on was that finding community was important to us. Sharing these traditions can be done through a solitary practice but there is also benefit in being part of community practice. My two friends have belonged to larger pagan communities while I've attended a few larger events but have not belonged to a larger community.

Recently I'd read about celebrating the Dark Moon. Something about that struck a chord and I shared that I wanted to add that to my practice. Both women were interested.

Out I went and finally found an outdoor fireplace that my granddaughter and her boyfriend set up for me. Tonight is the Dark Moon of November. Three of us (not the same three) will gather and celebrate this darkest time of the month. We'll spend some time reflecting by the fire on what we want to manifest during the waxing moon (from now until the Full Moon in a couple of weeks). Sharing is optional. I've already looked ahead - the Dark Moon of December is on Tuesday, 12/03/2013 and the Dark Moon of January is actually Wednesday, January 1!

My plan is, if possible we'll be outside but if it is raining, we can gather inside - in front of the fireplace. We'll keep the lights off because this is the dark time of the month and we are moving to the dark time of the year. From my perspective, part of the purpose is to be in the dark, in the void, to use that time or reflect on where we've been as well as where we want to go.

I've asked myself and am now asking you:
What do you want to bring forth during this next turning of the wheel?
What do you want to manifest during this waxing moon?

My prayer for you:
May your path this waxing moon move you ever closer to manifesting your desires.

Blessed Be

As The Wheel Turns

By Judith Ashley

Twenty years ago in September I was invited to join a sacred women's circle. Little did I know that when I said "yes" my life would change forever. So many experiences but more important so many people are now in my life because of that simple 'yes'. However, what also transpired with that one word was the change in my path in life. Less than ten years from my sitting in my first women's circle, the images and stories of seven women began to come to me in lucid dreams, day dreams, and visions. That was the beginning of my journey as the author of The Women's Circle series.

What I want to share tonight is that for most pagans, Samhain (Halloween) is the beginning of the year. The veil between the world of the living and the deceased is thin and in other times, it was important to protect yourself from the spirits of those who walked between the worlds. It was also the time you could communicate best with those who had crossed over.

Time has splintered for me this month of October 2013 and I find myself behind in what I wanted to accomplish - one task being the writing of this blog post about Samhain.

Since this is cursory at best, my plan is to return and share a bit more about this beginning of the Wheel of Life or Wheel of the Year. Since Winter Solstice is in six short weeks, I'll be back before then.

For now I've a few things to finish up before I join a few friends to celebrate.

May you find peace and love on both sides of the veil.

In love and light,

Judith