Can We Help You to Teach Your Children and/or Descendants about The Craft?

One of our Elders thought, and I agree, that we should post a survey to help us help you to teach your children about The Craft. If you do not want to put your answers in a comment below please email them to covenlifescoven@gmail.com, please include your child’s age so we can post information by age groups. This whole idea of helping you to help your children learn is in the planning stages any ideas and/or suggestions to make it how you think will help our descendants to learn are very welcomed.

1. As pagan parents, would you like to see children’s activities posted on Coven Life?

2. What age groups would you recommend activities for?

3 – 4 years old (mostly coloring pages of the different Sabbats with a small paragraph on what the Sabbat is for)

5 – 6 years old (Coloring pages of the Sabbats and Moon Phases with a small paragraph in wording they can read themselves to bring about a dialogue about what they are learning)

7-10 years old (Printable Information delving deeper into Moon phases. Brief introduction to Sabbat and Esbat rituals)

11-14 years old (Information for considering following a Pagan path building on what they would learned above)

15 – 18 years old (Introductory information on what it means to follow the Old Ways of The Craft including an introduction to Gods, Goddesses, Spellwork, Rituals. The spell work and.or rituals would be geared for the young adult to help their parent, grandparent, or care taker to prepare a spell and how to set up an altar if wanted and what preparation goes into writing and doing a ritual.)

This is a way that a child or young adult can build an understanding of the magickal and spiritual sides of witchcraft/ It will also help prepare them to become a novice in our coven or just to have the knowledge to work better with the adults that are solitary practitioner.

3. What topics would you like to see addressed?

4. What type of activities?

5. What other suggestions would you have for children’s and young adult’s activities ?

Remember you can answer the questions in the comments or email your answers to covenlifescoven@gmail.com. If you have any questions or ideas about this project please ask or share your idea. We are willing to start any child or young adult of any age so please do not think your child would have to start as a preschooler. There is no charge as you will be able to use what we post to teach your child the way you follow The Craft. We are here just to answer questions or help in anyway we can. We will be posting things for the Northern and Southern Hemispheres at the appropriate times for Sabbats.

HONORING LAMMAS – THE FIRST HARVEST

A brief history of Lammas

In Earth-based traditions, Lammas is usually celebrated on August 1, honoring the first harvest of the season. Lammas is also known as Lughnasadh (pronounced Loo-NAS-ah). In some Wiccan and Pagan traditions, Lammas is also a day of honoring Lugh, the Celtic god of craftmanship, grain, the Sun, and late summer storms. Lughnasadh is still celebrated in many parts of the world today. At this time of year, the nights are beginning to lengthen and we anticipate the return of fall. This is truly the beginning of shadow season. Before the Wheel turns to the darker months, we can take time to appreciate warmth and sunlight and how they support the season of growth. Gratitude in times of plenty is a powerful practice. What we reap now wasn’t always full-grown. By celebrating Lammas as a harvest holiday, we honor our ancestors and the hard work they had to do in order to survive and secure our lineage.

Like all Celtic or Pagan holidays, Lammas also honors goddesses whose associations, strengths, and myths align with the work we’re doing at this time of year. Ceres, the harvest goddess, known as Demeter by the Greeks, and Tailtiu, mother of Lugh, are great forces of agricultural abundance. We receive their blessings in the bounty of food that will feed us through the rest of the year. Metaphorically, our mental, spiritual, and emotional crops are ready for the first harvest, too. If you set intentions in the darkness of winter or early spring, this is the time to see how they’ve manifested and will support you in the months to come.

To read the ritual ideas click here Lammas/Lughnasadh

Hold an Imbolc Candle Ritual for Solitaries

Hundreds of years ago, when our ancestors relied upon the sun as their only source of light, the end of winter was met with much celebration. Although it is still cold in February, often the sun shines brightly above us, and the skies are often crisp and clear. As a festival of light, Imbolc came to be called Candlemas. On this evening, when the sun has set once more, call it back by lighting the seven candles of this ritual.

The seven candles in this ritual represent various aspects of both the seasons and the human existence. Several symbolize the light that emerges as winter finally comes to an end, and another represents the purifying warmth of the hearth fires. One candle is symbolic of the barrier between the positive and negative in your life; a boundary of sorts between our world and the next. Another stands in for the magic of wisdom and inspiration, and for the light that comes into our lives when we experience love.

If you’re a solitary practitioner, don’t worry! This is a ritual you can perform all by yourself. Although this ceremony is written for one, it can easily be adapted for a small group by assigning each participant their own candle, or candles, to light and take charge of.

For the actual ritual click here Imbolc/Candlemas Solitary Ritual

Lady Beltane is Sort of Back

Well found out to get my laptop fixed would cost almost as much as buying a new one. So while I save enough to buy my new laptop I will be using my tablet, that was cheaper to fix, to do posts. Only problem with this is I do not get all the same information I get with a computer for some of the daily posts. For example I do not get the current Moon phase details but as always there will be a link to click on to get this information. All posts will always have a link back to the website I get the information from if you want to use it to find out more details about the post or finish reading an article. Hopefully, I should have the money saved for my new laptop by Samhain/Beltane.

I have had an Acer and HP brands laptops. I really liked my Acer but as I am not very knowledgeable on computer hardware I am going to ask the tech savvy of you to recommend a laptop in the low $400.00 USD range. Please add an explanation that a kindergartener can understand. Thank you for helping me to find the best user friendly computer for my needs. I need it to be able to play DVD and CD, not be over 4 pounds/1814 grams, have a 14 to 15 inch/35.56 to 38.1 cm screen, built in webcam/microphone/speakers, latest Windows running format. Please do no recommend any Apple or that type of running format. While this “old gray mare” is willing to learn something new every day, I do not have the ambition to learn a totally different way a computers basics are set up. Hades, I never even turned a computer on until I was about 34 and had to take as college course as a requirement. The last 27 years I still don’t know much more, luckily the Lord and Lady blessed me with my youngest son who knows has way in and out of hardware and software. (side note for a chuckle picture around 1995– How many parents have the FBI knocking on there door because someone from that address hacked into the FBI mainframe? Well I did because my youngest had did that. Thank they gods and Goddesses all they want was my son to show them how he got in and possibly help in the begging. He was just 11 years old at this time.) If anyone in the US has a laptop in very good condition and works with Windows 10 as its start up program and is willing to sell it to me please send a picture and information about it, like how much RAM it has and how old the computer is etc to me at ladybeltane@aol.com . Thank you!

So starting tomorrow I will strive to giving hthe best I can do posting via my tablet. I as you to please bear with fewer, short posts for the next few months. Who knows may I’ll get a new laptop.

From my herat to yours thank you for your support! Namaste dear brothers and sisters.

Litha- Northern Hemisphere- Summer Solstice Yule- Southern Hemisphere- Winter Solstice

WHEN:

Friday 21st June 2019

Socialization starts at 6:00 PM CT

Circle cast at 7:00 PM CT

Please DO NOT enter chat room once circle is cast.

WHERE:

Coven Life’s Chat Room

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

Litha- Northern Hemisphere

1 White Taper Candle

1 Small black candle

2 Candle Holders

Matches or Lighter

1 Small glass of Juice or mead or wine – this can be share with everyone attending at your home or a small glass per person

1 Bite size cookie for each person attending in your home

If you have a child that will be joining us you will need

2 Battery Operated Candle ( one should be painted or markers used to make the stick of the candle black. Do not get on the “candle flame” as this may cause to explode.

If you choose to have anyone attend our gathering you and they can decide whether regular or battery operated candles are use.

Please keep a careful with children and the elderly around the open candle flames. Remember it is always SAFETY FIRST with every magickal thing you do.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

Yule- Southern Hemisphere

2 White candles- any length- place at either end of your alter

Your wish ready to write on a piece of paper- small note size

Paper and pen to write the wish on

Incense of your choice

Please feel free to bring a yule log if you are able to get one, the choice is yours.

Litha- Northern Hemisphere- Summer Solstice

Midsummer night eve of importance to many people. This is the longest day of the year, a day on which both light and life are plentiful. This is the time that the Sun God is at his strongest and his day is celebrated by burning his sun wheel. This was to ensure fertility and prosperity for the coming year.

This is also celebrated for the Goddess, as she is now with Child and reflecting the abundance of nature’s growth.

This is a time of purification

Yule- Southern Hemisphere- Winter Solstice

This is a celebration of rebirth and renewing of the old. The start of a longer, lighter days as the Lord of the sun rises form sojourn with the Goddess. This is a time to welcome back the Sun. A time to celebrate knowing that the warmer days of spring are ahead, and the dormant hearth will come back to life.

Below is a picture of the Solar Cross that will be drawn on your paper with your wish.

SunWheel-595bb4ae3df78c4eb664a133

Ceremony:

INVOCATIONS

Litha- Northern Hemisphere

EVERYONE: Mother Nature, Lady of the firmament, bless thy fruitful womb which I honor.

EVERYONE: God of fertility and fruitfulness. Blessed Lord of the blazing Sun, seed and nurturer of life. May you be blessed.

Yule- Southern Hemisphere

Light your 2 white candles now.

When finished type done.

EVERYONE: I light this fire in your honor Great Mother Goddess, you who have created life from death and warmth form cold. Once the time of the Sun lives. We invite you great mother to our circle, bring us brand new light, that of your glorious Son.

EVERYONE: Ancient God of forest and sky. I welcome you as you return form the shadows. Ow Great Lord the wheel has turned, I welcome you back to warm us. Great Lord I welcome your return and may you shine brightly upon this Great Mother Earth.

So let’s begin our Litha/Yule

Hypatia Casting the circle-

To the Guardians of the East:

I call you into our Watchtowers to protect us.

To the Guardians of the South:

I call you into our Watchtowers to protect us.

To the Guardians of the West:

I call you into our Watchtowers to protect us.

To the Guardians of the North:

I call you into our Watchtowers to protect us.

I cast this circle three times three with the assistance of the Great Mother and the Great God.

I call Upon the Guardians of spirit to protect us from above and below. As is above so is below, as is below so is above. May the power of The Great God and The great Goddess join us within this circle now, to protect us and to work with us and allow us to see beyond the veil.

Protect us Great Mother and Great God for all gathered here and those afar who are unable to be with us. Allow no negative energy to touch us, to harm us and that nothing we call upon will harm us and others. We come together in perfect love and perfect trust.

Greeting:

Hypatia – Merry meet brothers and sisters and honored guests.

Everyone – Respond Merry Greet. Please tell us your first name and state or country you are from.

RITUAL- MAIN WORKING

Litha- Northern Hemisphere

EVERYONE: Light your white candle while repeating this spell three times. When done type in “So more it be”

As the Holly King loses his battle and the Oak King is born. We wish the Holly King a restful slumber with our love and thanks for all he has helped us with.

We will meditate for 2 minutes to honor the Holly King.

Now light your black candle while repeating this spell three times. When you are done type in “So mote it be”

We welcome the Oak King as the days get shorter. We ask for your help in preparing for the cold months’

We will meditate for 2 minutes to honor the Oak King.

LADY BELTANE: I bring to each of you a blessing of peace, love, good will, and light on behalf of the Triple Goddess and her consort the Holly King. From myself I wish you positive energy, good cheer and happiness.

EVERYONE: Partake of your beverage and cookie saving a bit of each to place outside as an offering to the Holly King and the Goddess.

Yule- Northern Hemisphere

Using your pen and paper please draw your symbol.

Breathe deeply as you are doing this allowing the breath to come from your ‘Heart Space’. Do this a couple of times until you get the hang of it while you are drawing the symbol.

This will allow your ‘Heart Space’ to be filled with Love.

Allow this energy to build up and be part of your WISH as you begin to write it.

On top of the symbol please start writing your WISH- 1 minute. During this time you will be putting your absolute and full intention from your heart space.

Type done when finished.

EVERYONE: “Lord of the Sun that rides the westerly wild wind. As the seeds flourish and the fall into the waiting earth. I know this to be a time of equals allowing natures scales to come into balance. As the dark winter shadows reveal the wheel-a-turning it unveils life’s glory through a deathly silence.

EVERYONE: O Great Goddess, watcher of sacred magic and long gone myths, show me the way to great wisdom. Show me the way Great Goddess!”

When you are done please meditate for a full 2 minutes on the wish.

Type done when finished

EVERYONE: Let my mind and my hands be dedicated to the service of the God and the Goddess.

For After the Ritual

After the ritual you will give your WISH to the Great Mother Herself. You can bury it in the earth under your favorite tree or tie it on one of it’s grand branches, inside a fae circle, place it in a running stream, river or ocean. The choice is yours. Take your time to find the right place even if it is in a couple of weeks.

When you have the place, as you give it to the Great Mother, recite the WISH 3 times, begin with reverence and end with love and Gratitude, remembering to breathe from your ‘Heart Space’.

FAREWELLS

EVERYONE:

Mother Goddess, Lady of the Waters, I thank you for your presence and your blessings. May there be peace and honor between us now and forever. Hail and farewell.”

“Ancestors of blood and ancestors of spirit, I thank you for your presence and your blessings. May there be peace and honor between us now and forever. Hail and farewell.”
“Spirits of the land, spirits of this place, I thank you for your presence and your blessings. May there be peace and honor between us now and forever. Hail and farewell.”

Thank you bright Lord for the light you have brought to us this night,, may we carry it with us throughout the year that is coming.

Great Lady who is ever so gracious with her nurturing caring ways and infinite wisdom. Live within us throughout the coming year.

So mote it be!

CLOSING

Dismiss the circle:

To the Guardians of the East:

I dismiss and thank you from our Watchtowers and give Gratitude for protect us.

To the Guardians of the South:

I dismiss and thank you from our Watchtowers and give Gratitude for protect us.

To the Guardians of the West:

I dismiss and thank you from our Watchtowers and give Gratitude for protect us.

To the Guardians of the North:

I dismiss and thank you from our Watchtowers and give Gratitude for protect us.

As you leave here tonight may the Lady and Lord bless you with all that you need and want.

I bid you Blessings and great Joy Brothers and sisters of the Craft

Thank you

I Need and Want Honest Feedback From All Who Read This

As many of you know I am now the proud owner of Lady of the Abyss’ website Witches of The Craft. I put up a few questions and asked the people who follow WOTC to answer them so I could get a feel for what they want to gain from reading posts on that website. Well, I didn’t get much feedback and figure that the answers I did get back are what I would use as a base for putting posts on there. Definitely, my thinking was very wrong as a phone call from Lady Abyss last night asking if I could run 2 sites, what I had done to her graphics, did I know we were losing followers, and dropping lower on Goggle’s sear engine plus she to me had gotten emails from readers that I was messing up the website. Lady A was not telling or asking me these things to hurt me she is my true sister would kick me in the backside when I need it and I did need it. So today I want to ask you a few questions about the content on Coven Life. I really, really need your input so Coven Life is a website that you enjoy and want to return to whether you are a student or not. Just put the question number and then your answer to it in the comments below, please.

Do you want to see daily horoscopes, Moon phase, and planet positions posted on Coven Life or just a link to go to WOTC where they are posted daily?
What topics do you want to see covered more? Please list as many as you want to in your answer,
Are there topics we have not posted about that you would like us too? If yes what are the topics?
Are the 2 Open Chats at a good day and times for you to make it to at least 1 per month if you are a student? If you are not a student but would like to hang out with us are the days and times good for you? The days and times are the 2nd Saturday of every month from 6:00 to 8:00 PM CT and the fourth Saturday from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM CT
How do you think and feel about the way we post on Coven Life now?
Do the Esbat and Sabbat gatherings start at a convenient time for you? Socializing starts at 6:00 PM CT with the circle being cast at 7:00 PM CT on whatever day either the new or full Moon is on and the same for the eight Sabbats.
Do you think Lady Beltane should close the witchcraft school (allowing those already taking a course to finish it), and/or online coven gatherings and/or shut down the Coven Life website completely
Do you think Lady Beltane is doing a good job running Coven Life or should she turn Coven Life over to someone else who might run it better?

Thank you very much for taking the time to give me answers to this short survey!!

Witches of The Craft and Coven Life Now Under 1 Owner

After 18 years and being a pioneer on the world wide web with her award-winning site Witches of The Craft Lady of the Abyss is retiring.

Lady Abyss and Lady Beltane talked on the phone earlier today after hashed out the finer points of everything it was decided that Lady Beltane will be taking it over with monthly payments to Lady A so WOTC does not go to a stranger.

WOTC format will be staying basically the same but the number of posts will be going down. If you want to check what Tarot cards and Ogham are pulled for the day and some of the other things WOTC is known for just go there to find them.

Coven Life will still be having open chats, Esbat and Sabbat gatherings in the CL chatroom. The online school for witchcraft for novice through priestess/priest level studies is not going to change at all.

If you have found that either website contains information you enjoy reading and/or using please consider making a donation to help Lady Beltane cover the cost of keeping these two websites up and running smoothlas as her only income is a SSI check. In advance thank you very much for your help and being part of the WOTC/CL online family