The Magical Month of November
By Hunters_Moon
Hello everyone. I hope you all had a superb Halloween. Halloween is one of my most favorite festivals and I made a kickin' pumpkin this year as I let loose with my creativity. As always ours was filled with candy, pumpkins, costumes and parties as the day flew by in a flurry of activity. Before we begin I would like to announce that I will be unable to do the Craft Class on November 13th as I'm heading down south this week and I won't be back until November 14th. I might be back by the 13th but I don't want to make any guarantees so I'll side with caution and say that I won't be back at my computer until the 14th. Kia has kindly agreed to run next week’s class while I’m gone �?thank you muchly �?and I’ll be back for the following Sunday.
So, for tonight's class I thought we could discuss November as well as practice some visualization. Visualization is a powerful tool needed for many aspects of magical work, and it is a skill strengthened by practice and use. So every so often we will practice visualization within the class to encourage practice and growth.
Also, at the beginning of every month I plan to do a summary of the month’s aspects, holidays, traditions, etc. along with any additional information anyone might be interested in both historically and magically. So, let’s begin�?BR>
November got its name from 'novem' (latin meaning nine) which indicates the position the month held in the Julian calendar.
Full Moon Aspect: Snow Moon
Universal event: The dead draw near to the living, creating a time favorable for seeking guidance and prophecies.
Communal event: Feast of the Dead, November 1
Message: To secure, to root, to prepare
Activity: Preparation and protection
Healing properties: Healing overindulgence
Appropriate spells: Devotions to the dead, automatic writing, crystal-ball gazing, working with trance states and divination.
Manifestation: Chrysanthemums, flower of the dead
Color: Green
Tree: Alder
Flower: Chrysanthemum
Creature: Owl, goose
Gem: Topaz
Notable Dates in November�?
November 1st �?Feast of the Dead (Mexican)
November 2nd �?All Soul's Day (English)
November 3rd �?Festival for the New Year (Gaelic)
November 8th �?Festival of the Goddess of the Kitchen Range (Japanese)
November 10th �?Celebration of the Goddess of Reason (French)
November 13th �?Isis Resurrects Osiris (North African)
November 16th �?Night of Hecate (Greek)
November 22nd �?Sun enters Sagittarius
In honor of November 16th we will take tonight to discuss Hecate.
"The earth began to bellow, trees to dance
And howling dogs in glimmering light advance
Ere Hekate came." �?Virgil
Hecate (Hekate) is often referred to as the "Queen of the Witches". Patron deity of seers, midwives, childbirth, and healers, she was for the most part a woman's deity. A popular image of her was a triple goddess who carried a torch, a rope, a key, and a dagger with her three faces thought to represent the ability to look to the past, the present and the future. Associations for her include black dogs, the snake, owls, ravens, crows, bats and toads with herbal and plant correspondences being cyclamen, dandelion, lavender, mugwort, mint and poppy. Trees associated with her are the yew, cypress, hazel, oak and willow. She was honored at crossroads for she was the goddess of transformation and ruled the passages of life.
Here is a guided meditation initially written by Ellen Dugan that I have elaborated and modified�?BR>
First I want you to focus in on your breathing. Feel your breath moving in and visualize light coming in through your nose and filling your body. Breathe out and visualize gray smoke coming out.
Breathe in light.
Breathe out shadow.
Breathe in light.
Breathe out shadow.
As you breathe, take stock of how you feel. Begin at your toes and move up your legs, making note of any points of stress or tension. As you come upon these points, make a conscious effort to release the stress before moving further up the leg, then up the body, down the arms, and up the neck. As you come across points of tension, mentally visualize this tightness releasing as your body melts and lets go of all the worries, tension, stress and anger as light fills your lungs, your body, your being.
Breathe in light.
Breathe out shadow.
Now as you relax, open up your mind and see with your mind's eye�?BR>
You are walking on a gravel path. It winds through the darkness, crunching under each step. It is a clear autumn night and it is late. In the east you see a waning Moon rising slowly over the tree line, stars are sprinkled across the heavens like shards of crystal. The night is quiet and calm. Crickets and the odd frog serenade the night while the mournful hoot of an owl echoes through the silence. You are alone but you feel safe. The air is crisp and clean while little puffs of white steam fill the air ahead of you with each breath.
Up ahead there is a light. You squint trying to see it clearer but all you can see is a light flickering in the darkness. Stepping carefully through the shadows you make your way closer until you can see the torch lamp mounted on a faded grey post. The flame inside the wrought iron lamp flickers behind the beveled glass making shadows dance outside its circle of light. It is the torch that marks the crossroads. Moving closer you can make out small offerings of food left neatly at the base of the sign post. Others have been here before you. Others will be here after you.
There is a small basket of apples, their red flesh glowing brightly beside a plaque depicting the triple Hecate. A few loaves of bread rest at the base of the post amongst the fading grass with what appears to be a small jar of honey. Your hands tighten on the small bundle of homemade bread that you carry. You worked hard making the bread by hand, the loaf still warm from the oven.
The breeze picks up. Trees begin to sway, leaves begin to rustle as a swirl of autumn leaves rushes by. Clutching the bread you push back your hair as it flies into your face, your skirt billowing around your knees and snapping in the wind.
Suddenly, howling shatters the peace and a shiver slithers down your spine. The breeze has become a wind and the wind has now begun to roar. You struggle to stand as the colder and stronger wind pushes at you like a powerful hand as the rumbling noise begins to grow. The earth trembles beneath your feet, and your hand flies out to grab hold of the sign post. Both your knees press together while you struggle for balance. The ground rolls and swells, and the wind is the roar of a train in your ears.
Then, as quickly as it began, the maelstrom fades. The ground firms beneath your feet as the wind fades to silence. Shaken, you pull yourself upright alongside the post and realize that your
offering has fallen to the ground at your feet. Concerned, you crouch down to pick up the bundle wrapped in a red bandana to brush a few dead leaves from it. As your fingers flick away grass and dead leaves you lay the bundle amongst the other offerings. Automatically you right the bowl of apples that has tipped to spill its contents onto the ground. Reaching out, you pick up the apples out of the grass and carefully place them back into the bowl next to the loaves of bread and honey �?ensuring that everything is where it is supposed to be. But then you see a trio of old fashioned keys. Now where did those come from?
Curiously your fingers reach for the iron skeleton keys and clasp them in you palm. With your index finger you trace the arms of the keys and the delicate shapes before tracing the intricate pattern on each one. They feel heavy �?solid, yet appear so delicate in your hand. Carefully you place the keys on top of the little jar of honey. Pleased with the results, you look around for any missed items and prepare to rise to your feet.
The hair at the base of your neck rises, a prickling sensation tickles the base of your neck. Someone is here. You are not alone. Slowly you turn to look behind you. A large black dog plunges out of the darkness and comes straight to you. Your heart leaps into your throat. Your eyes widen. As you open your mouth two paws slam into your chest and you are knocked flat on your back.
Air whooshes out of your lungs as you hit the ground. Taking a deep breath to scream, you gasp when the dog affectionately begins to lick your face and neck while his tail wags furiously with pleasure. Helplessly you laugh trying to ward off the slobber fest while the dog barks and nuzzles you until with a healthy shove back, you manage to collar the dog and sit upright again.
"Where did you come from?" you ask while scratching behind the dog's ears. The dog barks once, his tongue lolling out the side of his mouth as his tail whips back and forth. Who did the dog belong to, you wonder as you sling an arm around your new friend.
All of a sudden, you feel the dog tense underneath your fingers.
That's when you see her. A woman in a black-hooded cape of rich velvet was approaching. Her feet are sandaled and noiseless on the gravel path. Were her feet even touching the ground?
As she moves closer, an owl swoops down from the tree line and lands on the top of the sign post. Your head turns to the sign post and the owl looks at you. Staring at the owl, you watch the round eyes blink once before you look back at the woman.
Your heart is hammering in your chest as you rise to your feet to greet the lady. Hands trembling, you bow your head and murmur a greeting. What does she look like? Your eyes narrow as you try to get a better look at her.
Then she walks into the flickering torchlight, and pushes back the hood. Your breath catches at the sight of the stately middle-aged woman with a wide mouth and high cheekbones wearing a crown of glistening silver. She is beautiful!
But her face shifts like mist and you see a young woman with a cascade of dark hair and an olive complexion that exudes health and vitality before the mist rises once more and she becomes an elderly woman with a map of time lined upon her skin with locks of snowy white hair surrounding her oval face.
The only thing that is constant is her eyes.
They are ageless �?a deep jet-black fringed with lashes of soot. The eyes sparkle with a radiant wisdom and kindness that focus on you �?only you. No matter which face she shows, her eyes and the expression in them remain the same. Pay attention to how Hecate appears to you.
"Greetings," she says softly, in a voice that rustles like dry leaves. Her teeth flash like pearls.
Listen carefully to what she has to say for she says it just for you.
After she finishes speaking, Hecate holds out her hand and the three old keys that you were admiring appear in her palms. The wind rises once more as she hands them to you, her hair dancing about in the cold wind. Slowly you close your fist around them.
"I leave you with three gifts," she tells you quietly, "knowledge, intuition, and magic. Hold these close to your heart, and if you ever have need of me know that I will be there."
You clasp the keys to your chest, the metal digging into the flesh of your palm. A curious warmth emanates from the keys and you feel your hands warm. Slowly the keys heat up and begin to glow through your hands and fingers, the light making your skin glow a faint red. Your fingers tighten against the metal as the keys soften and dissolve in your grasp, the light and warmth moving inside your own body.
For a moment you stand there and enjoy the sensation in your chest before you bow your head and whisper your thanks.
Hecate pulls up her hood and smiles at you one last time. As she turns to leave, the dog leaps to her side and follows her down the path. Her steps are silent as she moves. A mist rises from the ground, tendrils of fog swallowing them up as they disappear from view.
Now look around, and focus on your image of the sacred crossroads. Keep this visualization in place, and should you ever wish to return here, know that it will be waiting for you. Feel the warmth of Hecate's gifts of knowledge, intuition, and magic burning bright within you. Then take a deep breath and begin your journey home�?BR>
Well, that’s it for tonight’s class. How was the imagery? Do you find your visualization growing? Try to add texture, sound, smell�? Incorporate all your senses into your visualization to add depth and to strengthen your skills.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at [email protected].
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