Owls and a Yellow Moon

While visiting my favorite bookstore, Barnes & Noble, a few weeks ago, I happened to pick up Martha Stewart's Halloween 2010 magazine. Wow! It's filled with awesome ides! However, I didn't feel like laying out $10 for it and so went home empty-handed, but not empty-headed! The ideas were floating around like bats in the bellfrie.

Fast forward a couple of weeks and I finally got busy putting what I'd seen in the magazine into real life on my front porch. I took some creative liberties (actually, my husband refused to drill holes into our new door casings) so instead of putting the branches vertically between the sidelights on our door, we put them horizontally - the branch on the left sits in a pot and the branch on the right is stuffed into the hay bale.

I found an owl template on the internet, printed it out and my husband (the dear that he is) cut out the owls from plywood. I spray-painted them black along with the tree branches and abra-ca-dabra!

The moon is something I had in my project stash and with a quick trip to Ace for some bright yellow paint, it's transformed into an autumn moon.

Whoooooooo . . . whoooooo . . .

So there you have it . . . eat your heart out Martha Stewart!

Practical Magic Blog Party

Welcome to the Practical Magic Blog Party . . . come on in and make yourself at home!

Many thanks to Justina and Anna from 'La Boheme Magique' and 'Frosted Petunnias' and their muses Christina, Staci and Theresa for hosting and inspiring this magical event and for inspiring us to participate!

I love 'Practical Magic' and one of my favorite scenes is the Midnight Margarita scene . . . as I'm sure it is with a lot of you! Who wouldn't love to drink Margaritas and dance around in their PJs at midnight with their girls?!

And so with that in mind I decided to try something a little out of my comfort zone, but I hope you enjoy! And don't laugh . . . even Sandra Bullock had to start somewhere . . .

Oh, and you might want to turn the music off at the bottom of this page by clicking on the double bars on the music box before watching the video . . .

Mabon Blessings

Well, best laid plans . . . I was going to prepare a lovely feast for my husband and I tonight to celebrate Mabon, but he's in San Franciso this week at a conference. So I guess I'll make the feast on Saturday so that we can enjoy it together.

I was able to get my outside decorating finished yesterday just in time for the first day of Autumn today. The store where I purchased the corn stalks from just got them in yesterday morning so they're nice and fresh!

Tonight I'll have a light supper and then after the birds are in bed, I'll perform my rituals. I'll be performing a ritual to the Dark Mother, Demeter, as she's represented at this time of year, and her daughter Persephone.

The ritual welcomes the Dark Mother, and celebrates that aspect of the Goddess which we may not always find comforting or appealing, but which we must always be willing to acknowledge. It's a lovely ritual and one that honors Demeter and celebrates the Autumn Equinox.

I'll also be performing a Self-Dedication tonight which I'm looking forward to. Since the moon will be full tonight, and a time for new beginnings, I decided that now would be a good time to dedicate myself to my new path.

Mabon Altar

I found the Pilgrims at a lovely shop that I frequent and thought why not use them to represent the Goddess and God? I have pine cones sitting along the top of the altar, a basket of apples, pomegranates, a bundle of wheat, a loaf of whole grain bread and candles in the colors of the harvest. It's a beautiful altar and I'm looking forward to sharing it with Brian on Saturday.

An offering of pomegranates to Demeter.

The maple leaf rose bouquet I made the other day.

May the blessings of Autumn be upon you as you celebrate Mabon.

Maple Leaf Roses

The maple tree in front of our house finally decided to drop enough leaves for me to collect up and make maple leaf roses out of. So I gathered up a bunch and brought them in and got to it!

It was a bit frustrating in the beginning, but once I got my technique down I churned out roses like butter.

This one is bound for my Mabon altar.

These are on my altar in the kitchen. They turned out so pretty and I'm happily enjoying the results as I prepare to make dinner!

Here's the link for the directions . . . if you're lucky enough to have maple leaves in your neck of the woods, give them a try, they're well worth the effort . . .

An 'Out of the Blue' Surprise . . .

You know how it is when someone does something special for you out of the blue? You know what I mean . . . your HEART fills up with gratitude and surprise to the point it's overflowing and tears fall down your face and your nose is stuffing up and so you use your shirt sleeve for a hanky just because you're frozen in your spot filled with awe and wonder at such an act of kindness. And when I say 'out of the blue' I really mean it. Brian left yesterday for a conference in San Francisco so I'm feeling a bit 'blue' . . .

My friend Sharon (who has a beautiful blog at 'Plumrose Lane') has been a great source of support, understanding, and enthusiasm in helping me build my new spiritual foundations. She's made suggestions and offered advice that has been both insightful and life changing. She's been so encouraging and even designed this blog page for me because she believes so much in what I'm doing and where I'm going.

And if that wasn't already enough, today she sent me out of the blue, this gorgeous key chain. I can't even begin to express to you how beautiful it is and how meaningful it is to me. She's captured my spiritual essence so completely in the little Goddess statue, bird, skeleton key, crystal crescent moon, amethyst, and the little charms that say 'Imagine', 'Create', and 'Believe'.

And I don't have to tell you that the pictures just don't do it justice. It sparkles and tinkles and has an energy all its own . . .

Sharon, if you were here right now I'd give you a big bear hug and leave lipstick kisses all over your face . . . you are one in a million and I can't even express to you how fortunate and grateful I am to know you . . . love and hugs . . .

Jupiter

Jupiter is going to be the closest to Earth it's been since 1963. It will be within 358 million miles compared to the 390 million miles it usually is from the Earth. This rare encounter between the Earth and Jupiter will be the closest in more than a decade. This is called the ‘night of opposition’ because Jupiter will be the opposite of the sun.

Jupiter and its moons will be closest to the Earth at about midnight tomorrow and will be visible by the naked eye, so be sure to take it in! This is called the ‘night of opposition’ because Jupiter will be the opposite of the sun.

Jupiter

Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and the largest planet within the Solar System. Jupiter has a mass slightly less than one-thousandth of the Sun but is two and a half times the mass of all the other planets in our Solar System combined. Jupiter is classified as a gas giant along with Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Together, these four planets are sometimes referred to as the Jovian planets.

Lo (moon)

Jupiter rules success, abundance, money, growth, parties, visions, gambling, leadership, politics, power, honor, royalty, public acclaim and fame, responsibility, wealth, business, success, health, love, expansion, and growth. Jupiter's influence is predominantly joviality and is favorable to all acts of sociability including dealings with family, opportunity, group enterprise, and civic functions.

Ganymede (moon)

Jupiter's effect is one of expansion. This is a concept which often misleads most into believing that everything about it is good. Remember, Jupiter brings more abundance, but it is more of the same that exists, not something different. It does NOT activate change. Therefore to invoke Jupiter on behalf of someone who is already suffering, or lacking, would bring about total despair or poverty. It's the influence under which "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer," so use caution. It will bring a bumper crop if the seeds have been properly sown and the field well tended; but it won't grow hair on a billiard ball - only a nice shine.

Europa (moon)

Cast spells for "increase" during Jupiter hours. But remember, there has to be something in existence to increase so if it is a money spell, use a dollar bill, or bank book (never depleted) for a "target" or "seed". If the desired increase is for physical strength or stamina, move the time closer to the Jupiter-Mars cusp. The Moon must be waxing in an Earth sign for any increase.

Jupiter is used from Winter Solstice to Vernal Equinox for power, luck, success and things the Sun is used for ordinarily as the Sun's power is weaker during this time.

Callisto(moon)

Correspondences:

Detriment: Greed, Wastefullness
Element: Air, Fire
Day of the Week: Thursday
Number: 4 and 5
Astrological Sign: Sagittarius
Colour: (Deep)Blue, (Royal)Purple
Metal: Tin, Bronze
Gods: Bel, Eurymedon, Jupiter, Marduk, Thor, Zeus
Goddesses: Isia, Hera, Juno, Themis
Crystals: Lapis Lazuli, Amethyst, Turquoise, Sugilite, Saphire, Sodalite, Azurite, Amethyst, Chrysolite, Sapphire, Turquoise, Lapis Lazuli, Azurite
Herbs & Oils: Aloe, Nutmeg, Sage, Melissa, Cedar, Cinamon, Agrimony, Anise, Betony, Dandelion, Hyssop, Juniper Berries, Linden, Mint, Mistletoe, Cedar, Nutmeg
Plants: Agrimony, anise, ash, balm, betony, bloodroot, borage, cinquefoil, clover, dandelion, hyssop, Juniper berries, mint, Mistletoe, nutmeg
Trees: Oak
Animals: Unicorn
Tarot: The Wheel of Fortune
Musical tone: F sharp
Intelligence: Iophiel
Tone: So, A
Letter: D
Angels: Sachiel
Spirits: Hismael

Outside my back door . . .

It was such a beautiful day on Wednesday that I decided to take the camera outside with me and take a few pictures around the yard. I keep a garden journal at 'Forget the Dishes' and I like to keep it updated with pictures throughout the seasons of the year.

This tree is situated on my neighbor's property near the property line. It is an old tree and I think has had its run. The poor thing is dying back and the neighbor has been cutting off a branch or two every summer. As I was strolling by I noticed these mushrooms growing on the side of the tree. It looks like a little staircase for a Tree Fairy.

And I believe a woodpecker has been busy here! Tree fairies need help building their homes as the wood of a tree is so hard and no fairy ladder can reach up that high.

This is the fall berry from a Virginia Creeper I have climbing the fireplace on the side of my house. I just love the color of these berries.

I love the trunk of this huge maple tree in our back yard. It has so much character and grace. The vine is a 'Variegated Berry Elegans' and has the most gorgeous turqoise berries.

As I came around the side of the house towards the backyard, I scared off a squirrel. I apologized to him and you know what? He came back!

He sat there on the branch for the longest time and we had quite the conversation. I have to admit it was a bit one-sided though. At one point he looked at me dreamily and I thought perhaps I was boring him. After a time, the neighbor opened her door to let her dog out and the little fellow ran off. It was such a cool exchange of the minds!

The maple tree in our backyard.

And as I was finishing up my walk I couldn't believe how out of control this Trumpet Vine had gotten this year. Brian built the little arbor over the gate and I really have to get out there and train that vine over it. I just hope it doesn't swallow me up!

I hope you find the time to enjoy the weather and the great surprises Mother Nature has in store for you . . . right outside your back door.