New Worlds of Body, Mind & Spirit Since 1901
Color of the day: Ivory Incense of the day: Hyssop For such a common herb, yarrow has a wealth of magical uses. Hold a sprig of yarrow in your hand and it will lend you courage. If you wear it in a locket or amulet bag, it will protect you from enemies and attract friends and lovers. If yarrow is used in the wedding ceremony, it grants the couple seven years of love. Yarrow was a plant of Venus and is therefore used in many love spells. Sew a handful of yarrow in a red flannel square and put ...
Color of the day: Coral Incense of the day: Vanilla Today is Aio Matsuri Hollyhock festival in Japan. Place on your altar a large bouquet of red hollyhocks, water with sea salt, a bell, and some red ribbons. Light incense and call the directions. Then say, "Oh honored gods and goddesses. Hear my wishes." Sprinkle salt water to each direction and breathe deeply. After invoking each god or goddess, ring the bell. Benten, goddess mother of luck and love, may the keepers of these flowers know ...
Color of the day: Blue Incense of the day: Sandalwood They say the Romans had a god for everything. Well, today's New Moon also falls on the festival of Robigus, the Roman god who banishes mildew! You can't make this stuff up! The ancient Romans petitioned Robigus to prevent mildew from ruining crops of grain. Not a problem you have in your modern life? The wheat crops were the wealth of the Roman people and determined their prosperity. A modern equivalent could be a spell to ward and protect ...
Color of the day: Purple Incense of the day: Orchid This day was the celebration of the goddess Ops during the Roman observance of Saturnalia (in addition to the celebration held in her honor in August). They asked her for blessings of abundance and gave their friends year-end gifts for good fortune, such as holly sprigs, and they decorated temples with green boughs-an early form of "decking the halls." Ops is an Earth Mother, and her name means "plenty." Use this friendship bough to bestow ...
