Spirits & Working With Them

Zauberhaftes Gänseblümchen.

Katja von Lipinski.

🌷🐸Ostara🐰🌿

I love this time of year! Spring is one of my favorite seasons. Life if returning to the earth and my birthday is a few days after the equinox. Here’s how I’m celebrating this extra special time of year🌱🥚

Colors🌈

All pastel colors! I like to emphasize yellow for daffodils, blue and green for new life, and pink for the other spring flowers

Altar decorations🐰

🐣Animal figurines/stuffed animals lambs, chicks, deer, frog, and bunnies are great choices for this time of year. You can even make clay figurines of the animals you see around you.

🥚 painted or plastic eggs

💐Flowers/Plants/Seeds/Sprouts

🌷A vision board/representations of things you wish to get done

☀️Solar symbols

Spell themes🐸

🌱 Renewal

💫Cycles

🌳Balance

🍃Getting rid of negative thoughts, cycles and patterns

Plants 🌱

🌼Daffodils (my favorite)

🌷Tulips

🌱Crocuses

🌺Hyacinth

🌿Thyme

💜Lavender

🌳Rododendron

🌸Hellebore

Food 🥘

🍳 Eggs

🥛 Milk

🥐Baked goods

🥖Bread

🍵Peas

🥕Carrots

🍋Lemons

🥦Any in season vegetables where you live

Ways to celebrate 💐

🎨Paint eggs with friends

🌳Go for a walk, taking notice of the new spring plants and animals

🌅Wake up at sunrise and hear the birds chirping

🍰Bake and cook while putting your intentions into the food

🌱Start your garden by filling an eggshell with dirt and planting the seed in the eggshell. Say your intention while planting so it manifests as the seed grows

🖌Make Ostara themed art, doodles, and crafts

🧺Have a picnic or tea party

🎵Sing, dance, and make music

I hope everyone has a wonderful Ostara and let me know if you try any of these🐣

Frau Holle: Die Verbindung zwischen einem deutschen Märchen und der Nordischen Mythologie

Frau Holle ist ein bekanntes deutsches Märchen, das weltweit in verschiedenen Kulturen und Sprachen erzählt wird. Erstmals wurde es von den Brüdern Grimm im 19. Jahrhundert niedergeschrieben, aber es wurzelt tief in der vorchristlichen europäischen Folklore und insbesondere in der nordischen Mythologie. In dieser Analyse betrachten wir das Märchen von Frau Holle und untersuchen seine Beziehungen zur nordischen Mythologie.

Frau Holle, oder auch als Mutter Hulda bekannt, ist die Hauptfigur des Märchens, die in einem magischen Reich lebt, das durch einen Brunnen erreicht wird. In der Geschichte belohnt sie Fleiß und gute Arbeit, während sie Faulheit bestraft. Diese moralische Komponente ist ein zentrales Thema in vielen Märchen und Folklore-Geschichten.

Zur nordischen Mythologie: Dies ist ein komplexes System von Glaubensvorstellungen, Kultpraktiken und Erzählungen, die im vorchristlichen Skandinavien existierten. Es ist reich an Göttern, Göttinnen, Riesen, Zwerge, heroischen Figuren und magischen Kreaturen, die in einer komplexen kosmologischen Struktur leben.

Die Beziehung zwischen Frau Holle und der nordischen Mythologie könnte auf verschiedene Weisen interpretiert werden. Einerseits könnte Frau Holle eine Manifestation der Göttin Frigg oder Freyja sein, den beiden prominentesten weiblichen Figuren in der nordischen Mythologie.

Frigg, die Gemahlin des Hauptgottes Odin, ist eine Beschützerin von Ehe und Mutterschaft und beherrscht Aspekte des Haushalts. Ähnlich wie Frau Holle, belohnt Frigg Fleiß und bestraft Faulheit. Die Verbindung könnte also durch die gemeinsamen Charaktereigenschaften und Aspekte ihrer Herrschaft gezogen werden.

Freyja, andererseits, ist die Göttin der Liebe, Schönheit und Fruchtbarkeit, aber auch des Krieges und des Todes. Sie empfängt die Hälfte der in der Schlacht gefallenen Krieger in ihrem eigenen Bereich, genannt Fólkvangr. Dies erinnert an Frau Holles Rolle als Wächterin der Unterwelt, die die Seelen empfängt und sie entsprechend ihren Taten im Leben belohnt oder bestraft.

Ein weiterer Aspekt, der Frau Holle mit der nordischen Mythologie verbindet, ist die Landschaft, in der sie lebt. Sie lebt in einem anderen Reich, das durch einen Brunnen erreicht wird. In der nordischen Kosmologie existiert eine ähnliche Idee von verschiedenen Welten, die auf unterschiedlichen Ebenen des Yggdrasil, des Weltenbaums, liegen.

Es ist auch wichtig zu beachten, dass Frau Holle oft mit dem Winter und Schnee assoziiert wird. Sie lässt es schneien, indem sie ihre Betten schüttelt. In der nordischen Mythologie gibt es Skadi, die Göttin des Winters und der Berge, die eine ähnliche Rolle spielt.

Zusammenfassend lässt sich sagen, dass das Märchen Frau Holle tief in der nordischen Mythologie verwurzelt ist. Die Figur von Frau Holle verkörpert viele Aspekte der nordischen Gottheiten, insbesondere Frigg, Freyja und Skadi. Sie repräsentiert die Prinzipien von Belohnung und Strafe, die in vielen nordischen Mythen und Legenden zentral sind, und ihre Rolle als Wächterin des Jenseits spiegelt die nordische Vorstellung von Leben, Tod und dem Jenseits wider. Dabei repräsentiert sie auch die nordische Verbindung zur Natur und das Gleichgewicht zwischen den Jahreszeiten. Ihre Geschichte ist somit ein wertvolles Erbe der nordischen Kultur und der vorchristlichen europäischen Folklore.

by Jatukham Ramathep

Ways to reconnect to the Earth and nature

Take walks with bare feet.

Take time to sit under a tree and appreciate it for it’s shade.

Crunch autumn leaves and thank the Earth for the promise of a new year

Actually take time to smell the flowers.

Grow a garden or take care of a succulent.

Pick a day and watch the sunrise and sunset.

Go cloud watching and ask the universe for messages in the clouds.

Go look at the stars, take a star map and identify the constellations.

Hermann Hendrich

✨ How to live like a fairy ✨

~Keep your hair natural and wild. During the summer months, you can make wild flower crowns or adorn your hair with flower petals and daisies.

~Shop for airy, gossamer dresses that you can wear whilst dancing in the forest or while shopping at a flower market. Use a velvet pouch as a purse and keep a few good-luck crystals inside.

~ Makeup essentials include pink plump lips and full rosy cheeks. Use a shimmer powder and glittery eyeshadow to complete your fairy-esque look. Invest in a sparkly body powder to sprinkle over yourself and make it look as if you are a cloud of fairy dust!

~ Go outside and explore the woods barefoot. Bring your favorite book along to read in the meadow or while nestled in a willow tree. Pack a wicker picnic basket and find a peaceful spot to eat your breakfast/lunch.

~ Plant a garden filled with honeysuckles, strawberries, sunflowers, and rosemary. Go berry picking in the summer and go apple picking in the fall. You can use the fruits to make pastries, preserves, or to eat plain!

~Decorate your room with fairy lights, tea candles, floral garland, and succulents. Keep your windows open on sunny days and use an essential oil diffuser to perfume your room with the aroma of lavender. Hang a tulle bed canopy above your bed to add to the whimsical aesthetic.  

~Indulge in afternoon tea once a week. Set the table with a clean linen cloth and bake fresh chocolate scones and cucumber sandwiches to nibble on. Make sure to have a floral centerpiece and plenty of teas to choose from!

~Wear silver lockets and delicate charm bracelets. Shop frequently at antique and vintage shops to find other unique jewelry pieces. Arm cuffs and toe rings are also staple accessories.

"Wie man Putzmittel aus Kastanien herstellt."

Aus: Kastanien. Ines Hermann.

Frühlingsfrische Gesichtscreme.

Anwendbar als pflegende Tagescreme.

Dagmar Bartosch.

Birkenmassageöl.

Unterstützt die Hautfunktion, strafft und entgiftet, kann bei Cellulite helfen.

Dagmar Bartosch.

𝕾𝖆𝖇𝖇𝖆𝖙𝖘

{Art by Julia Nikita}

The sabbats are holidays celebrated throughout the year on solstices, equinoxes, and the midpoints between them. These sabbats form the Wheel of the year.

There is a controversy surrounding the dates of these holidays, as people celebrate them all over the earth, not only in the northen hemisphere but in the southern too. 

One viewpoint is that the Sabbats should be celebrated as they were originally created to be… in other words, Samhain is October 31st, regardless of where you live. In the Southern Hemisphere, even though you are just gearing up to summer on October 31st, this perspective says that you celebrate the cleansing and releasing, the honouring of the dead just as you would if you lived in the Northern Hemisphere. The other viewpoint (the one I personally agree with) is that you should celebrate when you feel like the season corresponds with the holiday, in other words, your craft, your rules. So if you live in the southern hemisphere, you have the choice.

I’ll be writing the dates for each holiday starting with the northen hemisphere and then the dates that many people celebrate them in the southern hemisphere

🌲𝐘𝐔𝐋𝐄

{December 21st//June 21st}

Yule focuses on rebirth and renewal as the sun makes its way back to the earth. It’s all about new beginnings, reflection and embracing warmth. Much like Christmas, many celebrate with a feast, gift giving, being cosy and appreciating the good.

↟Nature: cedar, frankincense, myrrh, mistletoe, pine, birch, ivy.

↟Foods//flavours: ginger, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, wintergreen, apple, dried fruit.

↟Stones: citrine, ruby, garnet, alexandrite, green tourmaline.

↟Activities: decorate your altar with incense associated with Yule, burn ash wood for prosperity, bake using Yule flavours like ginger or cinnamon, make wreathes to hang around the house, spend time with loved ones.

🕯️𝐈𝐌𝐁𝐎𝐋𝐂

{February 1st//August 1st}

Imbolc focuses on celebrating the nature that is preparing to grow and renewal, also known as “candlemas” and the “Feast of Pan”.

↟Nature: basil, blackberry, heather, celandine, iris, wisteria, vanilla, bay, yellow and white flowers.

↟Foods//flavours: pumpkin and sunflower seeds, poppy seeds, peppers, onions, spices, and herbal teas.

↟Stones: amethyst, bloodstone, garnet, ruby, onyx.

↟Activities: decorate with candles and sun decorations, go hiking, have a bonfire, bake foods with poppy seeds, and burn any leftover winter herbs.

🌼𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐀

{March 21st//September 21st}

Ostara focuses on manifesting creativity and love. As the days become longer, energy becomes stronger.

↟Nature: ash, alder, daffodil, honeysuckle, narcissus, primrose, violet, jasmine.

↟Foods//flavours: olives, maple syrup, honey, edible flowers, chocolate, pine nuts, nettle or lavender tea, local fruits and vegetables.

↟Stones: amethyst, rose quartz, moonstone.

↟Activities: gardening and planting seeds, bake breads with olives or honey for example, start new projects, talk to plants, do some painting, decorate with wildflowers.

🌰𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐄

{May 1st//November 1st}

Beltane focuses on fertility, love and abundance. Also known as “may day”, on this sabbat many celebrate with dancing, bonfires and many high energy activities, including enjoying themselves sexually with a partner or even conceiving children.

↟Nature: frankincense, lilac, ivy, marigold, woods, rose, thyme, mint, yarrow.

↟Foods//flavours: oats, leafy greens, fruits, breads, honey.

↟Stones: malachite, amber, fire opal, red jasper.

↟Activities: dance, decorate with florals and symbols of the sea, go to the beach, go hiking, have a bonfire, feast on fruits, vegetables and grains, laugh and let your hair down. And if you’re trying to conceive or simply would like to have sex, Beltane is a wonderful time to do so.

🦋𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐇𝐀

{June 21st//December 21st}

Litha focuses on growth and celebrating the longest day of the year and the sun, before the shorter days begin.

↟Nature: fern, yarrow, sage, rose, oak, mugwort, lavender, chamomile, myrrh, pine.

↟Foods//flavours: herbed bread, honey, sunflower seeds, iced herbal tea, lemon, vanilla.

↟Stones: lapis lazuli, amethyst, malachite, tiger’s eye.

↟Activities: make or buy a sun catcher, surround yourself with warm tones, watch the sunrise and sunset, make sun water, spend time outdoors, make use of herbs.

🌾𝐋𝐀𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐒//𝐋𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐍𝐀𝐒𝐀𝐃𝐇

{August 2nd//February 2nd}

Lammas, or lughnasadh focuses on celebrating the first of the three harvesting sabbats and taking time to really feel the positivity in different aspects of life.

↟Nature: cornstalks, heather, acacia flowers, hollyhock, oak leaves, wheat, myrtle, spices.

↟Food//flavours: grainy bread, corn, potatoes, nuts, blackberries, wine.

↟Stones: amber, agate, citrine, clear quartz, obsidian, tiger’s eye.

↟Activities: bake bread, make corn dolls, visit a sunflower field, spend time in nature, acknowledged what you are grateful for, journal.

🍁𝐌𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐍

{September 21st//March 21st}

Mabon focuses on honouring the change of the seasons, balance and peace.

↟Nature: sage, pine, marigold, thistle, acorns, milkweed, oak leaves, myrrh.

↟Food//flavours: cinnamon, nuts, beans, dark fruits, pies, soup, butterscotch.

↟Stones: citrine, carnelian, clear quartz, sapphire, yellow agate.

↟Activities: collect pine cones, donate food and old clothes, meditate, dry herbs, spend time with loved ones, speak to the nature around you.

🎃𝐒𝐀𝐌𝐇𝐀𝐈𝐍

{October 31st-November 1st//April 30th-May 1st}

Samhain focuses on celebrating life, and honouring those who are no longer with us.

↟Nature: heather, sage, pumpkins, straw, flax, patchouli, myrrh.

↟Foods//flavours: apples, cider, pumpkin, pies, soups, stews, potatoes, ginger.

↟Stones: amber, black obsidian, fossils, onyx, sandstone, bloodstones.

↟Activities: honour the deceased, spend time with family, make a hearty comforting meal, make or buy a scarecrow, spend time practicing divination.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐨 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐛𝐚𝐭

↟Do a tarot reading relevant to that sabbat.

↟Spend time in the moonlight, charging your crystals and tarot cards, as well as meditating.

↟Bake something using at least one traditional food of that sabbat to share with others.

↟Sage cleanse your living space and any of your magickal items.

↟Write down how you’re feeling and how you’d like to feel in the weeks to come.

Faerie Sight

How to see faeries:

Wearing one’s coat inside out.

Wearing a posy of primroses.

A four leaf clover crushed and put into an ointment may give one sight of the Faeries as well as placing Faerie Ointment on the eyelids.

Bending over and looking backwards through your legs.

Looking through a Fir knot hole.

Looking through a loop made with a Rowan twig may cause Faerie sight.

Looking through a hag stone. 

Meditating on a daily basis.

Averting one’s vision.

Dawn, moon, dusk, and midnight are the best times for faerie sightings.

Believe - faeries will most likely not show themselves to non-believers.

Have good intention - faeries can sense it.

Looking for a long time without blinking.