AUTUMN COMETH

Merry Meet to All of You!

We are slowly leaving summer behind us and you can feel in the air, autumn is on it's way.

For me, this is the time of the year to start slowing down, look more inwards and take stock about the progress of your year so far.

To leave the heat and buzz of the summer and take in the cooler, calmer spirit of autumn, personally, there's nothing like going for walks among the trees and spend time with nature.

While walking in the woods, breathing in the scents of the fresher air and taking in the subtle changes of colours and textures which occur at this time, I can feel the hustle and bustle of summer falling of and autumn entering my soul with introspection and peaceful quietness.

If you don't have any woodland near you, why not marvel at all the gorgeous autumn flowers in the gardens, like asters and chrysanthemums, which lighten up the spirit with their vibrant colours, or watch the migrating birds gather in giant flocks, ready for their long flights south, and let your thoughts follow them to distant shores...let your mind wander and reflect.

Autumn for me is a time of tranquil beauty, where nature is bounty- and colourful in one last glorious burst, before the dark of winter:

"Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile" - William Cullen Bryant

Bring in some autumn greenery from your walks for the spirit of the season to enter your home, go and collect wild berries and mushrooms (make sure you are confident in identifying edible ones), pick up the first coloured leaves along your way, or simply sit still in a favourite spot, marvel at nature's beauty around you and breath in autumn deeply, the cooler air refreshing your senses
...all this helps me to get into the soul of the season and brings joy and serenity to my heart.

I will follow up on this post with more autumnal subjects, like the autumn festivals, spells you can use to prepare yourself and/or you home for the darker months, recipes for food and incense and more...

...but for now, let's just slow down, reflect, and welcome the coming of the season of tranquillity with a smile.

Have a lovely start to autumn,

Warm Blessings,

Ilona

BANISH BAD LUCK

Merry Meet to All of You!

Welcome back to the Herbal Chalice, after a short sabbatical due to family visiting, I'm back in the swing of things. I hope you all had good times while I was gone, I am glad to be back with you :D.

As today is Friday the 13th, I thought I share with you a little bit of protective Magick, to ward off any bad luck, which might befall you on this, as some say, 'unlucky' day.

Its a really easy bit of 'Kitchen cupboard Magick', as you probably already have 90% of the ingredients in your household supplies.

To protect yourself from bad luck, simply grind the following constituents together and wear them in a mojo bag on your body and/or place them around your home as a protective potpourri.

Frankincense

Juniper Berries

Cloves

Dried Dill

Dried Fennel

Dried Tarragon

Dried Bay Leaves

Use the ingredients in quantities of nines, sevens and fives, as these numbers possess protective qualities too, for example nine bay leaves, five cloves, etc.

With this, I wish you all a good Friday the 13th, free of bad luck :D!

Warm Blessings,

Ilona

PS. For a comprehensive list of herbs and their properties/use in Magick, click here

LAMMAS - THE FIRST HARVEST

Merry Meet to All of You!

I wish you a Blessed Lammas, may your day be great and your harvest be abundant )O(.

Warm Harvest Blessings,

Ilona