Mossy Oak Tree Blog

The Truth About Love Spells

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 11:03:00 -0500

The truth about love spells is that they do work, but only work in conjunction with apartner who is willing and able. Love spells influence and gently touch the object of the spell, or prayer to the Universe.

I have had great response to the spells I have done for others, and for myself. A pure heart and pure intention have the best results done by the practitioner (or witch–oh my goddess!) and for whom the spell is performed.

I follow the Wiccan rede of “Whatever you send out will return to thee threefold”. You think this practitioner is going to do anything to harm herself, or her clients? I think not!

If you’re wanting to rekindle or perk up a relationship that has gone dormant, I can show you how to bring that love back to life. But first, we need to work on you first. How is your spirituality? Do you have a relationship with a Greater Power? Do you know what needs to bechanged in your life first, so that the flame can glow again?

Give me a buzz through email at ladyzamora@ymail.com, should you want to rekindle that special love in your life. I’ll be only too happy to help.

Wicca and Witchcraft

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 11:01:00 -0500

What images do you have of Wicca or Witchcraft? An old hag standingin front of a pot of mysterious brew? The images of witches stilllinger from the days of witch hunts and burningsthat does not bear upin today’s society.

I am a Witch. I don’t have warts on my face or have a pot ofmysterious brew brewing. I’m your next door neighbor. I work justlike you do. I have a family and pets and a flower garden and gogrocery shopping and pay bills, just like you do. The differencebetween me and you is that I have learned how to manipulate energy tohelp others gain what they need and want in life.

My pleasure in life is to help clients and friends obtain theirdeepest desires. I help them see where they need change in their ownlife. I help them in their journey and show them the path they need toembark upon. If you’ll look at my reviews on eBay (dramoor365), you’llsee how pleasantly satisfied people are with my Psychic readings andherbal amulets I have done for them.

Witchcraft is a way of life and a way of expressing spiritualitythat utilizies the energy around them to make life more pleasing tothemselves and for others. We are environmentally conscious because welove nature and her creatures great and small. We are amateurmeteoroligists as we like to protect our families, friends andneighbors from natural disasters. We protect those around us not onlyfrom storms but also from negativity from others.

We make great neighbors and great friends. We just don’t make a big deal out of it.

Peaceful Sunday Morning

Sun, 23 Aug 2009 11:05:00 -0400

Good morning, star shine! It's a wonderful and peaceful and even sunny Sunday morning in Mountain Creek. Good to be alive.

Are you following me on Twitter? My Twitter address is twitter.com/LadyZamora. I'd love to have you! My tweets rangefrom the metaphysical to the political to everything in-between. Join the fun!

And don't forget to join my webring, Wiccan Friends. There's always room for just one more!

I'vebeen extremely busy in my online transcription service, Right HandAssistant. I'm looking for high quality transcriptionists withfantastic grammar and typing skills. Write to me atrighthandassistant@live.com for an application. You will enjoy me asyour independent contractor "employer". I've had many compliments onmy easy to get along with managerial style!

Hope your Sunday willbe as nice as mine is. Going to the mall later this afternoon to lookfor some great deals! Will find some if you look hard enough. Blessed Be!

Lughnasadh

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:51:00 -0400

This is the Grain Harvest. If you planted wheat in the spring, then you can ritually cut it with a scythe or crescent-shaped knife to make solar discs (Brigid's cross). Dry cornhusks and help the kids to fashion an American corn dolly.

Lugh is the Celtic deity of light and wisdom whose holiday seems largely lost. Lugh is called the 'many skilled' and 'inventoror all arts,' including magic and warfare. He is the guardian of roads, travelers, moneymaking, and commerce. He is the god who governs social contracts, like handfastings.

Making a special loafof bread to eat at ritual is symbolic of the sacrifice of the god as he is being transformed into the abundance of the harvest. Find a recipe with many grains and nuts. It's very important to share what we have,produce from our garden or dry goods for you local food pantry.

This is definitely aday for outdoor ritual. Hold an art festival or invite neighbors to play volleyball and arrange sack races along with plenty of singing and dancing. Outline your ritual space with cornhusks, baked fresh corn in the ritual cakes, and serve berry pies, oat scones, or barley cakes.

- K.D. Spitzer

Hurricane Season -- Be Prepared

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 02:10:38 -0400

Well, it's that time of year again -- watching for houses falling or in other words: HURRICANES! The following is from the NOAA website to help in preparing for an approaching storm:

"Preventing the loss of life and minimizing the damage to property from hurricanes are responsibilities that are shared by all."

Throughout this Web site, information has been provided regarding actions that you can take based on specific hurricane hazards. The most important thing that you can do is to be informed and prepared. Disaster prevention includes both being prepared as well as reducing damages (mitigation).

Disaster Prevention should include:

One of the most important decisions you will have to make is "Should I Evacuate?"

If you are asked to evacuate, you should do so without delay. But unless you live in a coastal or low-lying area, an area that floods frequently, or in manufactured housing, it is unlikely that emergency managers will ask you to evacuate. That means that it is important for you and your family to HAVE A PLAN that makes you as safe as possible in your home.

Disaster prevention includes modifying your home to strengthen it against storms so that you can be as safe as possible. It also includes having the supplies on hand to weather the storm. The suggestions provided here are only guides. You should use common sense in your disaster prevention.

DEVELOP A FAMILY PLAN - Your family's plan should be based on your vulnerability to the Hurricane Hazards. You should keep a written plan and share your plan with other friends or family.
CREATE A DISASTER SUPPLY KIT - There are certain items you need to have regardless of where you ride out a hurricane. The disaster supply kit is a useful tool when you evacuate as well as making you as safe as possible in your home.
SECURE YOUR HOME - There are things that you can do to make your home more secure and able to withstand stronger storms.
ONLINE VULNERABILITY INFO - There are web sites that can give you information about your communities vulnerability to specific hazards. These include hurricanes as well as other weather related hazards.

ADDITIONAL SAFETY INFORMATION

FAMILY DISASTER PLAN

Discuss the type of hazards that could affect your family. Know your home's vulnerability to storm surge, flooding and wind.
Locate a safe room or the safest areas in your home for each hurricane hazard. In certain circumstances the safest areas may not be your home but within your community.
Determine escape routes from your home and places to meet.
Have an out-of-state friend as a family contact, so all your family members have a single point of contact.
Make a plan now for what to do with your pets if you need to evacuate.
Post emergency telephone numbers by your phones and make sure your children know how and when to call 911.
Check your insurance coverage - flood damage is not usually covered by homeowners insurance. National Flood Insurance Program
Stock non-perishable emergency supplies and a Disaster Supply Kit.
Use a NOAA weather radio. Remember to replace its battery every 6 months, as you do with your smoke detectors.
Take First Aid, CPR and disaster preparedness classes.

Visit NOAA

Wednesday Evening

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:06:26 -0400

Beltane History - Celebrating May Day

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:23:12 -0400

The Fires of Tara:

Beltane kicks off the merry month of May, and has a long history. This fire festival is celebrated on May 1 with bonfires, Maypoles, dancing, and lots of good old fashioned sexual energy. The Celts honored the fertility of the gods with gifts and offerings, sometimes including animal or human sacrifice. Cattle were driven through the smoke of the balefires, and blessed with health and fertility for the coming year. In Ireland, the fires of Tara were the first ones lit every year at Beltane, and all other fires were lit with a flame from Tara.

Roman Influences:

The Romans, always known for celebrating holidays in a big way, spent the first day of May paying tribute to their Lares, the gods of their household. They also celebrated the Floralia, or festival of flowers, which consisted of three days of unbridled sexual activity. Participants wore flowers in their hair (much like May Day celebrants later on), and there were plays, songs, and dances. At the end of the festivities, animals were set loose inside the Circus Maximus, and beans were scattered around to ensure fertility. The fire festival of Bona Dea was also celebrated on May 2nd.

A Pagan Martyr:

May 6 is the day of Eyvind Kelve in Norse celebrations. Eyvind Kelve was a pagan martyr who was tortured and drowned on the orders of King Olaf Tryggvason for refusing to give up his pagan beliefs. A week later, Norwegians celebrate the Festival of the Midnight Sun, which pays tribute to the Norse sun goddess. This festival marks the beginning of ten straight weeks without darkness.

The Greeks and Plynteria:

Also in May, the Greeks celebrated the Plynteria in honor of Athena, the goddess of wisdom and battle, and the patroness of the city of Athens (which was named after her). The Plynteria includes the ritual cleansing of Athena?s statue, along with feasting and prayers in the Parthenon. On the 24th, homage is paid to the Greek moon-goddess Artemis (goddess of the hunt and of wild animals). Artemis is a lunar goddess, equivalent to the Roman moon-goddess Diana ? she is also identified with Luna, and Hecate.

The Green Man Emerges:

A number of pre-Christian figures are associated with the month of May, and subsequently Beltane. The entity known as the Green Man is often found in the legends and lore of the British Isles, and is a masculine face covered in leaves and shrubbery. In some parts of England, a Green Man is carried through town in a wicker cage as the townsfolk welcome the beginning of summer. Impressions of the Green Man?s face can be found in the ornamentation of many of Europe?s older cathedrals, despite edicts from local bishops forbidding stonemasons from including such pagan imagery.

Jack-in-the-Green:

A related character is Jack-in-the-Green, a spirit of the greenwood. References to Jack appear in British literature back as far as the late sixteenth century. Sir James Frazer associates the figure with mummers and the celebration of the life force of trees. Jack-in-the-Green was seen even in the Victorian era, when he was associated with soot-faced chimney sweeps. At this time, Jack was framed in a structure of wicker and covered with leaves, and surrounded by Morris dancers. Some scholars suggest that Jack may have been a ancestor to the legend of Robin Hood.

Ancient Symbols, Modern Rites:

Today's Pagans and Wiccans celebrate Beltane much like their ancestors did. A Beltane ritual usually involves lots of fertility symbols, including the obviously-phallic Maypole dance. The Maypole is a tall pole decorated with flowers and hanging ribbons, which are woven into intricate pattern by a group of dancers. Weaving in and out, the ribbons are eventually knotted together by the time the dancers reach the end.

In some Wiccan traditions, Beltane is a day in which the May Queen and the Queen of Winter battle one another for supremacy. In this rite, borrowed from practices on the Isle of Man, each queen has a band of supporters. On the morning of May 1, the two companies battle it out, ultimately trying to win victory for their queen. If the May Queen is captured by her enemies, she must be ransomed before her followers can get her back.

There are some who believe Beltane is a time for the faeries -- the appearance of flowers around this time of year heralds the beginning of summer and shows us that the fae are hard at work. In early folklore, to enter the realm of faeries is a dangerous step -- and yet the more helpful deeds of the fae should always be acknowledged and appreciated. If you believe in faeries, Beltane is a good time to leave out food and other treats for them in your garden or yard.

For many contemporary Pagans, Beltane is a time for planting and sowing of seeds -- again, the fertility theme appears. The buds and flowers of early May bring to mind the endless cycle of birth, growth, death and rebirth that we see in the earth. Certain trees are associated with May Day, such as the Ash, Oak and Hawthorn. In Norse legend, the god Odin hung from an Ash tree for nine days, and it later became known as the World Tree, Yggdrasil.

If you've been wanting to bring abundance and fertility of any sort into your life -- whether you're looking to concieve a child, enjoy fruitfulness in your career or creative endeavors, or just see your garden bloom -- Beltane is the perfect time for magical workings related to any type of prosperity.

-- Patti Wigington

Fertility Deities of Beltane

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:20:32 -0400

Beltane is a time of great fertility -- for the earth itself, for animals, and of course for people as well. This season has been celebrated by cultures going back thousands of years, in a variety of ways, but nearly all shared the fertility aspect. Typically, this is a Sabbat to celebrate gods of the hunt or of the forest, and goddesses of passion and motherhood, as well as agricultural deities. Here are a list of gods and goddesses that can be honored as part of your tradition's Beltane rituals.

Artemis (Greek): The moon goddess Artemis was associated with the hunt, and was seen as a goddess of forests and hillsides. This pastoral connection made her a part of spring celebrations in later periods.
Bes (Egyptian): Worshipped in later dynasties, Bes was a household protection god, and watched over mothers and young children.
He and his wife, Beset, were paired up in rituals to cure problems with infertility.
Bacchus (Roman): Considered the equivalent of Greek god Dionysus, Bacchus was the party god -- grapes, wine, and general debauchery were his domain. In March each year, Roman women could attend secret ceremonies called the bacchanalia, and he is associated with sexual free-for-alls and fertility.
Flora (Roman): This goddess of spring and flowers had her own festival, Floralia, which was celebrated every year between April 28 to May 3. Romans dressed in bright robes and floral wreaths, and attended theater performances and outdoor shows. Offerings of milk and honey were made to the goddess.
Hera (Greek): This goddess of marriage was the equivalent of the Roman Juno, and took it upon herself to bestow good tidings to new brides. A maiden about to marry could make offerings to Hera, in the hopes that she would bless the marriage with fertility. In her earliest forms, she appears to have been a nature goddess, who presides over wildlife and nurses the young animals which she holds in her arms.
Kokopelli (Hopi): This flute-playing, dancing spring god carries unborn children upon his own back, and then passes them out to fertile women. In the Hopi culture, he is part of rites that relate to marriage and childbearing, as well as the reproductive abilities of animals. Often portrayed with rams and stags, symbolic of his fertility, Kokopelli occasionally is seen with his consort, Kokopelmana.
Pan (Greek): This agricultural god watched over shepherds and their flocks. He was a rustic sort of god, spending lots of time roaming the woods and pastures, hunting and playing music on his flute. Pan is typically portrayed as having the hindquarters and horns of a goat, similar to a faun. Because of his connection to fields and the forest, he is often honored as a spring fertility god.
Priapus (Greek): This fairly minor rural god has one giant claim to fame -- his permanently erect and enormous phallus. The son of Aphrodite by Dionysus (or possibly Zeus, depending on the source), he was mostly worshipped in homes rather than in an organized cult. Despite his constant lust, most stories portray him as sexually frustrated, or even impotent. However, in agricultural areas he was still regarded as a god of fertility, and at one point he was considered a protective god, who threatened sexual violence against anyone -- male or female -- who transgressed the boundaries he guarded.
Shiele-na-Gig (Celtic): Although the Sheela-na-Gig is technically the name applied to the carvings of women with exaggerated vulvas that have been found in Ireland and England, there's a theory that the carvings are representative of a lost pre-Christian goddess. Typically, the Sheela-na-Gig adorns buildings in areas of Ireland that were part of the Anglo-Norman conquests in the 12th century. She is shown as a homely woman with a giant yoni, which is spread wide to accept the seed of the male. Folkloric evidence indicates that the figures are theory that the figures were part of a fertility rite, similar to "birthing stones", which were used to bring on conception.
Xochiquetzal (Aztec): This fertility goddess was associated with spring, and represented not only flowers but the fruits of life and abundance. She was also the patron goddess of prostitutes and craftsmen

-- Patti Wigington

Setting Up Your Beltane Altar - What To Include on Your Beltane Altar

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:18:55 -0400

It's Beltane, the Sabbat where many Wiccans and Pagans choose to celebrate the fertility of the earth. This Sabbat is about new life, fire, passion and rebirth, so there are all kinds of creative ways you can set up for the season. Depending on how much space you have, you can try some or even all of these ideas -- obviously, someone using a bookshelf as an altar will have less flexibility than someone using a table, but use what calls to you most.

Colors of the Season

This is a time when the earth is lush and green as new grass and trees return to life after a winter of dormancy. Use lots of greens, as well as bright spring colors -- the yellow of the daffodils, forsythia and dandelions; the purples of the lilac; the blue of a spring sky or a robin's egg. Decorate your altar with any or all of these colors in your altar cloths, candles, or colored ribbons.

Fertility Symbols

The Beltane holiday is the time when, in some traditions, the male energy of the god is at its most potent. He is often portrayed with a large and erect phallus, and other symbols of his fertility include antlers, sticks, acorns, and seeds. You can include any of these on your altar. Consider adding a small Maypole centerpiece -- there are few things more phallic than a pole sticking up out of the ground!

In addition to the lusty attributes of the god, the fertile womb of the goddess is honored at Beltane as well. She is the earth, warm and inviting, waiting for seeds to grow within her. Add a goddess symbol, such as a statue, cauldron, cup, or other feminine items. Any circular item, such as a wreath or ring, can be used to represent the goddess as well.

Flowers and Faeries

Beltane is the time when the earth is greening once again -- as new life returns, flowers are abundant everywhere. Add a collection of early spring flowers to your altar -- daffodils, hyacinths, forsythia, daisies, tulips -- or consider making a floral crown to wear yourself. You may even want to pot some flowers or herbs as part of your Sabbat ritual.

In some cultures, Beltane is sacred to the Fae. If you follow a tradition that honors the Faerie realm, leave offerings on your altar for your household helpers.

Fire Festival

Because Beltane is one of the four fire festivals in modern Pagan traditions, find a way to incorporate fire into your altar setup. Although one popular custom is to hold a bonfire outside, that may not be practical for everyone, so instead it can be in the form of candles (the more the better), or a table-top brazier of some sort. A small cast-iron cauldron placed on a heat-resistant tile makes a great place to build an indoor fire.

Other Symbols of Beltane

May baskets
Chalices
Honey, oats, milk
Antlers or horns
Fruit such as cherries, mangos, pomegranates, peaches
Swords, lances, arrows

-- Patti Wigington

The Maiden Goddess

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 11:14:45 -0400

The Maiden dances, pale and fair,
On April mornings soft with rain
With apple blossoms in her hair
And green leaves trailing from Her train.

In pastures thick with silver dew
She stops to bless each calf and cow.
Her duty here is to renew,
A waxing crescent on Her Brow.

She sows the seeds of things to come
As fresh and innocent as air
But in the distance, summer's drum
Will beckon Her from here to there.

--Elizabeth Barrette