Merry Meet Friends

Greetings and Witchy Blessings to you all!

At this time when day equals night, we mark the another turn on the Wheel of the Year to the second harvest festival of Mabon. Realising that nights are growing longer and that colder times are around the corner. For those of us who have been enjoying a pleasant Indian Summer the reducing day light hours remind us that winter is indeed just around the corner.

From the comments I have read, those who attended the Magick Earth Festival in Wanganui this weekend, had an extremely good time.

Witchaven Grove members have now hosted two meetings in Auckland which are open to anyone to attend. The latest meeting (Sunday March 20th) was focused on herbs, and included a visit to the local Palmers store to check what herbs they had in stock. We are hosting meetings once a month, currently on the third Sunday of the month. Next months meeting will include a forage in a Grove members own herb garden.  Topics for future meetings include: Crystal Workshop and Runes.

If you would like details on when and where the next meeting is you can either email meetup@witchaven.com or check out http://witches.meetup.com/ for more details.

Mabon Greetings The first day of Autumn, the Autumn Equinox, is known as Mabon. - 21st March Southern Hemisphere

Mabon marks the second harvest of the season, and is a time of rest after hard work. Once again day and night are equal. Nature declines, readying itself for the cold winter dark as the Sun God sacrifices himself to ensure life for his children. This Sabbat is also known as "Harvest Home" and the "Festival of the Harvest Moon." 
We recognise that soon the Wheel of the Year will turn once again to Samhain, as we ready ourselves for the depth of winter and the start of a new turning of the Wheel. Ever it was, and ever thus shall it be.

Associated Deities: Mabon, Modron, Persephone, Demeter
Associated Herbs: Marigold, Sunflowers, Hibiscus, Rose Petals, Myrrh
Associated Crystals: Amber, Clear Quartz, Tiger-Eye, Citrine

This is also a time of thanksgiving not only for all that has been provided in the harvest but for all that we have, all that we are and all that the future holds. Because of this Sabbats ties with the underworld, it is a great time to remember those who have gone before us. To thank them for the gifts that they have given us, that allow us to be the special individuals that we are.

Decorate Altar with acorns, oak sprigs, pine and cypress cones, ears of corn, wheat stalks and other fruits and nuts. Basket with dried leaves of various colours and kinds.
Appropriate Foods include the second harvest's gleanings: grains, fruit, and vegetables (especially corn). Cornbread is traditional, as are beans and baked squash.

 Ways to Celebrate:

* Rise early on Mabon morning and listen to the birds in the trees.

Bid a fond farewell to those creatures that are now beginning to ready themselves for winter hibernation.

* Honour those who have past before us with a feast, recall times past and how each family member who has past has contributed to who you are now.

* Remember that giving thanks is not just about saying thank you. It also involves giving something back for what you have received. It is not necessarily about the giving of gifts or monetary items, but also includes the gifts of service. They may include volunteering at a support centre, working at a shelter or spending time visiting the elderly. These gifts will not only touch those to whom you give but also yourself.

Crystal Magic

Using Crystals

Crystals come in many different guises, from the polished crystal set in a ring or article of jewellery, to the tumbled and polished stones, or carved paperweights, wind chimes or the uncut-unpolished crystal in its roughest form. It becomes a personal choice as to which form you prefer to use, your own instincts and what is most practical for you to use can best guide you.

Obviously if you want to carry the crystal with you at all times and keep it close to you, then an article of jewellery is the most practical as large crystals can be quite a weight to carry around. Other times a large piece of rose quartz on your altar or sitting on your desk will do the trick just as well.

Cleansing Stones

When you first obtain a stone, it is always a good idea to cleanse it to clear it of any energy from others that it may be holding. You may also wish to cleanse or clear a stone after you have finished working with it.

There are many ways to cleanse a stone and a few methods are listed below:

- Run under cold tap water for several minutes.

- Place in bright sunlight for an hour or so (be careful not to do this to certain stones, such as amethyst, rose quartz, ametrine, kunzite, celestite, aquamarine, smoky quartz, and fluorite, as the colours of these stones fade quickly in the sun).

- Place overnight under the light of the Full Moon.

- Bury in the earth for several days.

- Place in salt-water (from the sea, or your own mixture made with a tablespoonful of sea salt in a cup of water and placed in a ceramic or glass cup or bowl -- do not use metal or plastic). Allow the stone to soak in the salt-water for several hours or overnight.

- Place in a jar and cover with herbs, such as dry sage, cedar, or rose petals. This may take a little longer than some of the other methods.

- Smudge the stone with incense.

Coming up:

21/3/05 Mabon
05/4/05 Full Moon – Libra
17/4/05 Witchaven Grove Meetup
20/4/05 New Moon Aries – Solar Eclipse
24/4/05 Full Moon – Scorpio Lunar Eclipse
30/4/05-2/5/05 Samhain

On this note we will end this newsletter. Please let us know your thoughts and comments. We'd love to get any information you like to have put on the site, Donations of information are always gratefully received.

Until next Sabbat

Merry Part Igrewl and Asrteia