Website Recommendations!

 

Also since they are hard to find :) and few and far between, I thought I’d post a link to some shops around here in Utah.  They are current as far as I know, but feel free to correct me or post another in the comments section! :)

Salt Lake City Area:

Gypsy Moon Emporium /
  http://gypsymoonemporium.com/
1011 East 900 South
Salt Lake City, Utah 84105

Kindred Paths (Formerly SpellBound)
  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Salt-Lake-City-UT/Spellbound/196404666942
3804 South Highland Drive
Salt Lake City, UT, 84106

Dragon Dreams
  http://www.dragondreamsgiftboutique.com/
920 East 900 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84105

Elemental Inspirations
  http://www.elemental-inspirations.com/
2152 South Highland Drive
Hyland Plaza
Salt Lake City, Utah 84106

Jeweled Maidens
  http://www.jeweledmaidens.net/
1765 W. 4160 S.
Salt Lake City, UT 84119

Northern Utah Area:

Capricorns Lair
 http://www.capricornslair.com/
2450 Washington Blvd
Ogden, Utah  84401

Earthly Awakenings
21 Federal Ave
Logan, Utah  84321

I’ll post more as I can find them and verifiy their existance!! :) I know there is one or two in Moab and one in Hurricane, Utah.  And there was once a couple in Provo/Orem area… but I need to do a little research to see if they’re still around. 

Happy Shopping!  These are PHYSICAL stores..   they do have an online presence most of them, but these are places you can walk in to!  some have amazing store clerks who are willing to share their knowledge and expertise, some offer classes, and many offer readings etc.

Seek and ye shall find :) 

~shadowmoon

Lammas Rebirth Incense

 

This recipe is for loose incense, but you can adapt it for stick or cone recipes. As you mix and blend your incense, focus on the intent of your work. In this particular recipe, we’re creating an incense to use during a Lammas rite -- it’s a time to celebrate the beginning of the harvest. We’re thankful for the foods we’ve grown, and for the bounty of the earth, and the knowledge that we’ll have enough to eat through the coming winter months. You’ll need:

• 1 part basil
• 1/2 part cinnamon bark
• 1 part coriander
• 2 parts goldenrod
• 1 part heather
• 1/2 part rosemary
• 2 parts Sweet Annie (you can use dried apple blossoms if you don’t have Sweet Annie)
• 1 part yarrow

Mix up The Magick!

Add your ingredients to your mixing bowl one at a time.

Measure carefully, and if the leaves or blossoms need to be crushed, use your mortar and pestle to do so.

As you blend the herbs together, state your intent.

You may find it helpful to charge your incense with an incantation, such as:

We’re thankful this day for the gift of rebirth,
Fruits and vegetables, the bounty of earth.
For the Harvest Mother with her basket and scythe,
Abundance and fertility, and the blessings of life.
We’re grateful for the gifts we carry within
And for what will become, and what has been.
A new day begins, and life circles round,
As grain is harvested from the fertile ground.
Blessings to the earth and to the gods from me,
As I will this Lammas, so it shall be.

Store your incense in a tightly sealed jar.

Make sure you label it with its intent and name, as well as the date you created it.

Use within three months, so that it remains charged and fresh.

 

~shadowmoon

House Cleansing Spell

This spell will help remove negative energy and unwanted/unwelcomed energy from your home.

You Will Need:

1 tablespoon powdered garlic
1 tablespoon peppermint
1 tablespoon ground clove
1 tablespoon dried or powdered thistle
Handful of sweet-grass
Sage or dried oak leaves

Salt

White Candle

 

Take a large bowl of salt and sprinkle a pinch or two over the exterior doorways and windowsills of home. Make sure you get every single one!

Choose the room that has the strongest negative feel to it.

Light a white candle.

In a large fire proof bowl combine the the rest of the ingredients:  Garlic, Peppermint, Clove, Thistle, SweetGrass, and Sage or Oak Leaves.

Carefully light the mixture so that it smolders and gives off an aromatic smoke.

Leaving the candle lit, carry the bowl in to each room and repeat the following:

In the name of the Eternal Lady and Lord I bid thee part.
I consecrate and clear this space.
Let nothing but joy linger here.
So Mote it Be!

When you have done each room, return to the first, set the bowl beside the candle and wait for the remaining mixture to burn out.

Taking  the ash outside and sprinkling it over the grass/flowerbed/etc, is a great way to give back to the Earth and helps keep unwelcome energy at bay :)

Blessed Litha

Just some useful information for this months celebration of Litha (Midsummer). Midsummer is when the Holly King and Oak King have another great battle. This time the Oak King is defeated and the Holly King reigns in power until Winter Solstice (Dec 21st) when they once again battle it out for dominance.

This is one of my favorite times of year. and When I actually get to, it's a fun one to go into the mountains (camping) to celebrate. Unfortunately with conflicting work schedules, I'll be sitting this one out.

None the less, here's some interesting and useful info to share about Litha and Traditions that accompany the sabbat :)

Litha is usually celebrated on June 21st, but varies somewhat from the 20th to the 23rd, dependant upon the Earth's rotation around the Sun. According to the old folklore calendar, Summer begins on Beltane (May 1st) and ends on Lughnassadh (August 1st), with the Summer Solstice midway between the two, marking MID-Summer. This makes more logical sense than suggesting that Summer begins on the day when the Sun's power begins to wane and the days grow shorter. The most common other names for this holiday are the Summer Solstice or Midsummer, and it celebrates the arrival of Summer, when the hours of daylight are longest. The Sun is now at the highest point before beginning its slide into darkness.

On the Wheel of the Year Litha lies directly across from Yule, the shortest day of the calendar year, that cold and dark winter turning when days begin to lengthen and humanity looks wistfully toward warmth, sunlight and growing things. Although Litha and Yule are low holidays or lesser sabbats, they are celebrated with more often than any other day on the wheel except perhaps Samhain (My favorite).

The faeries abound at this time and it is customary to leave offerings - such as food or herbs - for them in the evening.

Litha is:
Rededication to the Lord and Lady, beginning of the harvest, honoring the Sun God,
honoring the pregnant Godddess

Meaning
Crowning of the Sun God, death of the Oak King, assumption of the Holly King,
end the ordeal of the Green Man

Tools, Symbols & Decorations
The sun, oak, birch & fir branches, sun flowers, lilies, red/maize/yellow or gold flower, love amulets, seashells, summer fruits & flowers, feather/flower door wreath, sun wheel, fire, circles of stone, sun dials and swords/blades, bird feathers, Witches' ladder.

Colors
Blue, green, gold, yellow and red.

Customs
Bonfires, processions, all night vigil, singing, feasting, celebrating with others, cutting divining rods, dowsing rods & wands, herb gathering, handfastings, weddings, Druidic gathering of mistletoe in oak groves, needfires, leaping between two fires, mistletoe (without berries, use as a protection amulet), women walking naked through gardens to ensure continued fertility, enjoying the seasonal fruits & vegetables, honor the Mother's fullness, richness and abundance, put garlands of St. John’s Wort placed over doors/ windows & a sprig in the car for protection.

Goddesses
Mother Earth, Mother Nature, Venus, Aphrodite, Yemaya, Astarte, Freya, Hathor,
Ishtar, all Goddesses of love, passion, beauty and the Sea, and Pregnant,
lusty Goddesses, Green Forest Mother; Great One of the Stars, Goddess of the Wells

Gods
Father Sun/Sky, Oak King, Holly King, Arthur, Gods at peak power and strength.

Animals/Mythical Beings
Wren, robin, horses, cattle, satyrs, faeries, firebird, dragon, thunderbird

Gemstones
Lapis lazuli, diamond, tiger’s eye, all green gemstones, especially emerald and jade

Herbs
Anise, mugwort, chamomile, rose, wild rose, oak blossoms, lily, cinquefoil, lavender,
fennel, elder, mistletoe, hemp, thyme, larkspur, nettle, wisteria, vervain ( verbena), St. John’s wort, heartsease, rue, fern, wormwood, pine,heather, yarrow,
oak & holly trees

Incense/Oil
Heliotrope, saffron, orange, frankincense & myrrh, wisteria, cinnamon, mint, rose, lemon, lavender, sandalwood, pine

Rituals/Magicks
Nature spirit/fey communion, planet healing, divination, love & protection magicks.
The battle between Oak King, God of the waxing year & Holly King, God of the waning
year (can be a ritual play), or act out scenes from the Bard’s (an incarnation of Merlin)"A Midsummer Night’s Dream", rededication of faith, rites of inspiration.

Foods
Honey, fresh vegetables, lemons, oranges, summer fruits, summer squash,
pumpernickel bread, ale, carrot drinks, mead.

which Color do you Choose?

Colors- bright or dark, deep or light, regardless of whether it's a royal blue or a brilliant yellow, color affects us.

It's a proven fact that colors have an affect on our intellect, and they invoke different emotional responses. Colors used in magick are similar in that they evoke a response, but keep in mind, response to color in an individual matter, so go with your instincts. The colors must have meaning to you.

The magick of colors can be used in many different ways, and the use of colors in magick is only limited to what you want to use the color for.

 

White

Always burn at least one white candle to symbolize and reinforce the contact with pure spirit. Elemental spirits, Angels, Gods of wisdom, divination and prophecy. Purification and cleaning on all levels, contact with higher self and spiritual helpers, aura-healing, truth seeking, consecration, spiritual enlightenment, protection against negativity, breaking curses, exorcism, meditation, divination, inpiration, and clairvoyance. White can be a replacement for any other color.

 

Yellow

Elemental air. Deities for trade, travel, knowledge and magick. Vitality, change, progress, contact, communication, and trade. Confidence, joy, cheerfulness, learning, knowledge, mental clarity, concentration, speaking and writing and visualization.

Gold

Sun-deities, solar energies, and masculine energy. Abundant self confidence, creativity, perfection, financial richess, success in investments, luxury, worldly power, magickal power, overcoming bad habits and addictions.

Orange

Deities of good luck and good fortune. Charm, kindness, encouragement, stimulation, optimism, success, abundance, prosperity, feast and celebration, achieving business goals, investments, success in legal matters.

Copper or Bronze

Love-goddesses, love and passion, positive relationships in love, friendship in business, career promotions, successful negotiations.

Red

Elemental fire, deities of love, passion, sexuality and war. Courage, will-power, determination, speed, assertivity, aggression, masculinity, independence, physical strength, sports, competition, conflicts, health, sexual attraction and potency, love and passion, fertility.

Magenta

Magnetism, the ability to attract or speed up results. Life purpose, life path.

Pink

Love-goddesses, softness and tenderness, romance, caring, nurturing, youth, peace, friendship, femininity, emotional love, emotional healing.

Green

Elemental earth and elemental water. Nature and fertility deities, Mother goddesses. Nature, fertility, growth, rejuvenation, recovery, healing, harvest and abundance, prosperity, harmony, balance, peace, hope, home, plants and animals.

Turquoise

Changes, intellectual and intuitive insights, inventions and originality, renewal, brotherhood, humanity.

Blue

Elemental water and elemental air. Deities of the sea and sky, truth and wisdom. Peace and tranquility, calmness, truth, wisdom, justice, counsel, guidance, understanding and patience, loyalty and honor, sincerity, devotion, healing, femininity, prophetic dreams, protection during sleep, astral projection.

Violet

Elemental spirits, angels, and Gods of divination and prophecy. Psychic abilities, divination, counter-acting negativity and black magick, reversing curses, psychic healing, psychic power, inspiration, meditation, spirituality, spiritual power, astral projection, third eye.

Brown

Elemental earth, stability, grounding, conservation, protection of household, family and pets, healing animals, finding lost objects, buildings, material increase, to make relationships solid, to increase decisiveness and concentration, to attract help in financial crisis.

Gray

Neutralizing negative influences, putting a halt to action.

Silver

Moon-goddesses, female energy, cycles, rebirth, reincarnation, healing of hormonal imbalances, emotional stability, remove or neutralize negativity, intuition, dreams, psychic abilities and psychic workings.

Black

Elemental earth, deities of the Underworld. Repel and banish evil and negativity, protection, breaking free from bad habits and addictions, deep meditation, opens up deep unconscious levels.

 

 

Hope this helps you choose which colours you need.   It works great for Candle Magick, but also other forms as well :)  Think of other ways you can use the power of colour in your daily life :)   Subtle ways even, like the shirt you choose to wear tomorrow!

 

Love & Light,   ShadowMoon

…The Wiccan Rede…

Bide ye Wiccan laws ye must,

in perfect love and perfect trust.

Live and let live, fairly take and fairly give.

Form the circle thrice about, to keep all evil spirits out.

To bind ye spell every time, let ye spell be spake in rhyme.

Soft of eye, light of touch, speak ye little, listen much.

Deosil go by the waxing moon, singing out ye Witches’ Rune.

Widdershins go by the waning moon, chanting out ye Baneful Rune.

When the Lady’s moon is new, kiss your hand to her times two.

When the moon rides at her peak, then ye heart’s desire seek.

Heed the North wind’s mighty gale, lock the door and trim the sail.

When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss thee on the mouth.

When the wind blows from the West, departed souls may have no rest.

When the wind blows from the East, except the new and set the feast.

Nine woods in ye cauldron go, burn them fast and burn them slow.

Elder be ye Lady’s tree, burn it not or cursed ye’ll be.

When the wheel begins to turn, soon ye Beltaine fire’ll burn.

When the wheel hath turned to Yule, light the log the Horned One rules.

Heed ye flower, bush and tree, by the Lady blessed be.

Where the rippling waters flow, cast a stone and truth ye’ll know.

When ye have and hold a need, harken not to others greed.

With a fool no season spend, nor be counted as his friend.

Merry meet and merry part, bright the cheeks and warm the heart.

Mind ye threefold law ye should, three times bad and three times good.

When misfortune is anow, wear the blue star upon thy brow.

True in love ye must ever be, lest thy love be false to thee.

In these eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill,

‘An ye harm none, do what ye will.

 

 

 

Love && Light,  ::ShadowMoon::

Protection Spell

Tools

Flame (Candle)


Instructions

Sit or stand before any fire. Look into the flames (or flame, if using a candle). Visualize the fire bathing you with glowing, protective light. The fire creates a flaming, shimmering sphere around you. If you wish, say the following or similar words:

"Craft the spell in the fire;
Craft it well; Weave it higher.
Weave it now of shining flame;
None shall come to hurt or maim.
None shall pass this fiery wall;
None shall pass No, none at all. So mote it be!"

Repeat this simple yet effective ritual every day when in need.

A Mother’s Day Spell

Mother's Day Spell

author unknown

(To help strengthen the bond between a Mother and her children)

What you'll need: A Light Blue Candle or White Candle

When to do it: When the Moon is new, waxing, or full and on a Monday

What to do: Light the Candle and think of your Mother or the people you are wanting to help bring together (A photo will be helpful) .

What to say: "Goddess bless this bond between Mother and Child. As solid as the earth this bond will stay strong, As bright as the sun this bond will  lovingly burn on, and as swift as the wind this tie will never be undone.  Together forever this love will always live on. Happiness surrounds this bond, understanding comforts this bond, and your heavenly blessings protect this bond. Goddess watch over and protect this Mother and Child. So, it has been spoken -- so, it shall be -- this bond is strengthen now and forever as above, below, and here on earth it has been done."

While saying these words think of your mother or the family you are trying to strengthen.  Think of them being happy and together.  Think of good times past and present and most of all to come...

 

Love && Light,

Shadow Moon

Who Am I?

I think this is a great topic for a first post.   Who am I?  Sometimes I ask myself this very question.   Well for this blogs purpose, I am Shadow Moon.  No that’s not my real name, but a variation of my spiritual name. 

First let me tell you a little about myself.  I grew up in a small town in Utah.   A small town with one dominant religion often forced upon others because well, that’s what happens when the majority rules.   I grew up in a home that was not active in the Mormon church, well save one sister who is still very active.   My grandparents were active, my grandfather even served as bishop of the local church branch during the earliest years of my life.    My parents however, were totally inactive church members by time I came into the world.   My father had stopped going to the Mormon church when he was 15 years old, and my mother on and off during her teen years, mostly to suit her parents.  When I was old enough to start asking questions, my parents had no other options than to teach me of the gospel that they grew up with, and thus, I was forced throughout much of my youth to attend the Mormon church on a regular basis.   At the age of 8 years old, in Mormonism, you have the opportunity of officially becoming a member by baptism.  And while I never really understood what that meant, next thing I know, I’m being dunked under the water and some prayer being muttered by a man I barely knew and about 50 of my closest friends and family watching.   I was uncomfortable then…. and to think back, it still feels wrong.   But I was eight years old, and what does an eight year old know about choosing a religion?   They said I’d feel the spirit after that, but I can honestly say, I still don't understand what this meant.    The only thing I felt was confusion, and a horribly uncomfortable out of place feeling each time my mom dropped me off on Sunday morning for service.   I wasn’t a bad kid… It wasn’t a guilty feeling (tho that might come later in my teen years – lol)  For the next, 4 years I would feel awkward, uncomfortable and out of place.  I believe at one point in time, I expressed my discontent for regular Sunday service.   And as I began to “not want to go” more and more, eventually, my parents respected that decision. 

Somewhere around age 13, I found myself drawn to anything that had to do with nature.  I was fascinated by Earth Science.  and I guess it really went beyond that, I was drawn to the night sky as well… most importantly the moon.   I started studying anything and everything that had to do with these subjects.   I never understood why I loved this stuff so much until much later… and I’m still a sucker for the subjects!  What relevance does this have?  You’ll find out later in this blog… guess you’ll have to keep checking back!

At 14, one night while sleeping on the couch, I had a ghostly experience.   This started me looking into things that were paranormal.    My paternal grandfather built this old house that I live in.   He built it the year I was born in fact, 1979.   He passed away suddenly from a Heart Attack when I was barely 3 years old.   I don’t remember him much.  I remember spending time at his house with grandma and him bouncing me on his knee calling me “bones”.   I didn’t have much of an appetite back then.    I was sickly, and always on the verge of starving to death because I wouldn’t eat anything.   I dont remember what he looks like.   The only thing I can remember is going to his funeral.   I was 3, I dont remember much, I remember my sisters cried a lot.   And I remember his hands as he lay in the casket, fingers intertwined and a gold band on his ring finger, with his wrist watch on the right wrist.   The particular night of my experience I’m not sure why I was sleeping on the couch.   I remember waking up to the sound of wind and getting a chill.   I sat up, to rearrange my blanket and felt a presence.   As I looked toward the kitchen, the moon was shining through the window on the back door and I saw him.  A Man.  Standing in the kitchen doorway between the living room and the kitchen, seemingly watching me.  I froze.   But in an instant, as quickly as I noticed it, he was gone.     I never told anyone about what I saw that night.  But I did end up on my parents bedroom floor because I was kind of frightened by it.   It wasn’t until months later while thumbing through a photo album that I recognized one of the men in a family camping picture.  The man I saw that night was my grandfather.   What he was doing there, I don't know.   I’ve seen him one other time since that night, but that time came much later in life.

At the age of 15, I’m not sure how, I discovered the Wiccan religion.  I believe I was reading something about the Celts at my time of discovery.  I was totally drawn into learning everything and anything I could get my hands. on.    I mostly hid this from my parents, I didn’t want them to think I was crazy.  About this same time, my mother had been called by the Bishop of our LDS ward to serve as a teacher on Sundays.   So, you can probably guess what that meant?  I was having to keep her company and attend church again as well.   This time around, I really struggled.   I knew at this point in my life that what the church was teaching and what I believed were two entirely different things.  But out of respect for my mother, I attended church with her most of the time….

Until that one dreadful Sunday that I will never ever forget.   The Sunday after which, I never ever went back to church again.   It may seem silly, but when you’re 16 years old and you’re a hormonal teenage girl with a range of emotions beyond any scale of belief it was horrible.   I was sitting in Sunday School class with a group of peers.   I remember it like it was yesterday.   I didn't have any scripture books with me that day.  I’d forget them on purpose.  I hated reading out loud back then, let alone scripture.  All the Ye’s and Yea’s, Behold, and Comeths, etc etc.    I have a tendency to read ahead of myself, so reading aloud didn’t go well or me back then.   Also, and you’d never guess it today, I was horribly shy.   After all, I was the outcast, and this was a group of mixed boys and girls my age who I had to see every day at school.    So I’d conveniently forget my scripture books on purpose so I wouldn’t have to read aloud.    On this particular Sunday, the teacher decided quite adamantly that I was going to be the one to say class prayer.    I was asked by the teacher: “Young Lady, will you please give the opening prayer?”.  With a polite shy smile I replied “No thanks sir, I’d rather not.”  thinking that’d be the end of it and hoping he’d go on.   This was not the case.   He took it upon himself to try to be my spiritual savior that day.  Honestly, he really did revise his ENTIRE lesson plan based off my response.   The next half hour of my life was a living hell when he announced that “by not saying the prayer like asked, you are denying god”.   I wasn’t denying anything.  In fact, I thought I was quite respectful to sit through his guilt riddled lessons each week.   Scripture reference after scripture reference was read.  My peers were staring at me.  and I was embarrassed.   By about the third story and seventh scripture about how I was going to go to “outer darkness” for denying god in his church in front of everyone  I got up and I walked out  and I never set foot back in that church again.   

Word quickly spread through the peer network of my heathen ways at church.   My friends who had been my friends since I was 5 years old, didn’t want to hang out with me anymore.   In fact, some stopped talking to me altogether.  I dropped out of LDS Seminary (my mother made me sign up for my Freshman year of high school).  Well that didn’t make me any more friends, I in fact lost a few more.    Unless you’ve lived in a small highly Mormon community in Utah… and you’re the outcast, you’re probably not going to understand where I’m coming from.    There was literally only a handful of us who “didn’t belong”.

I threw myself into learning more and more about Paganism, Wicca, Celtic Traditions and beliefs.   By time I was 17 years old, I had taken my spiritual name.   I was still kind of in the “broom closet” though so to speak.   My parents didn’t agree with all that I believed in , but they respected it, and I respected them.  My grandparents however, still have hopes for me in their spiritual realm, and I don't disrespect them by putting their church down. On and off, I’ve always been drawn to different religions.  I’ve explored various beliefs, but I’m always drawn back to Wicca.  This continued for the next several years.  I’ll continue to share what I’ve learned throughout this blog. 

When I met my husband, the first question he asked was what Denomination i was.   I really couldn’t answer.  I was baptized Mormon… but it’s not what I believed.   I was scared to tell him that because i never really knew what he’d believe… and it had been in my experience with friends that once they find out, they don't want anything to do with me anymore.    He wasn’t this way.   I think one reason I love him most is his tolerance for religious beliefs.  My husband claims to be Nondenominational.   He has no religion.  He too is baptized in the Mormon church…. but he actually does not believe in Organized Religion… if any religion at all.  He a scientist… all logic.  So god or a goddess doesn’t really fit into his realm of beliefs.   But he’s a tolerant individual and like me, loves to learn about what others believe.  He’s amazing, and I couldn’t ask for anyone better.

I’ve recently reignited my love for the old ways again.  Over the last couple years, especially since the passing of my mother.   I had another interesting paranormal experience that was pretty close to my heart.   It reminded me  that Wicca was always something I found comfort in.   And while i’m not ready to come completely out of the broom closet, I want to share with you what I have learned over the years… and hope you can gain a better understanding of what is FACT and what is FICTION.   A better understanding of my beliefs.   A glimpse into my life and how I have coped and dealt with things and how it has helped me do so.   And overall a better understanding of the overall pagan belief system.

In Wicca, you create a book of shadows.   I book of spells, blessings, poems, thoughts, ideas, knowledge etc, much like a journal.  The following posts will be my Blog Of Shadows … please respect my journey and the information within.. and I hope that just maybe, you can gain a better understanding and tolerance for others beliefs :)      

Love & Light,

Shadow Moon