We have a Micro Full Blue Moon coming up on the 31st of May at 4.38pm AEST (4.45am EDT, 3.45am CDT, 1.45am PDT and 9.45am BST).
A Micromoon is a New or a Full moon which coincides with the apogee – the point in the moon’s orbit farthest away from the earth. This means the moon appears smaller than usual from the perspective from earth
A Blue moon can be a full moon which happens to be the second full moon in a calendar month. This is a rare occurrence and thus known as a blue moon as it has nothing to do with the colour of the moon.
This Micro Full Blue Moon will be the smallest and faintest full moon of the year and the best time to view it will be just after sunset.
Magick of the Micro Full Blue Moon
This Micro Full Blue Moon falls in the astrological sign of Sagittarius therefore the energies heightened during this time is the Sagittarius star sign.
Sagittarius is a Fire sign which is ruled by Jupiter. Sagittarius isintellectual, passionate and adaptable. This is a mutable sign which thrives on change and flexibility. It is a sign connected to the energies of action, abundance and elevated learning.
Sorcery of the Micro Full Blue Moon
This Micro Full Blue Moon in Sagittarius is all about expanding your horizons.It is an ideal time to allow endings which enable new beginnings. This will allow you to bring in healing and an optimistic point of view whilst seeking to connect to what you truly need to change in your life.
The kind of magick you can perform during the Micro Full Blue Moon:
Boost all magic and spell workings especially when it comes to manifesting what you desire without fear.
Ideal time to end things to clear the slate for new beginnings and allow for change to occur.
Create rituals to remove or reduce – things such as illness.
Work on the shadow shelf and connecting to that side for balance.
Focus on revealing or manifestation that which is hidden to open yourself to truth.
Magick focusing on expanding your horizons with courage.
Apt time for releasing and moving on from situations and environments which don’t work for you.
With acceptance and empathy declutter your surroundings, move on from outdated beliefs and fears, remove bad habits or that which no longer aids or serves you to allow space for that which does and brings you abundance and happiness.
Request for clarity in one’s life through divination such as fire scrying, tarot, runes, bibliomancy and the i-ching.
Create a moon based ritual such as a drawing down the moon (I have detailed this in a previous post Hellenic Drawing Down the Moon).
Create a spell using the Temperance card from the Tarot which represents Sagittarius and can imbue your magick with balance, patience and harmony.
Hold a rite or devotional in honour of a Moon God/dess such as Hekate.
We have a Super New Moon on the 16th May at 4.01pm UTC (Northern Hemisphere) and 17 May at 5:31am AEST (Southern Hemisphere).
A Supermoon is a New or a Full moon which coincides with the closest distance to the earth in its orbit. This means the moon appears larger than usual from the perspective from earth.
Magick of the Super New Moon
This Super New Moon falls in the astrological sign of Taurus therefore the energies heightened during this time is the Taurus star sign.
Taurus is an Earth sign which is ruled by Venus. It is a sign which can appear to only focus on beauty, love and pleasure however this energy is also grounded in nature and enjoyment of life.Taurus have emotions which are resilient and dependable.This sign is full of energies which exude practicality, loyalty, patience and determination.
This is the first super new moon of the year and the eclipse influences have faded, as have the retrogrades of mercury and venus. This makes it an apt time to fully embrace the energies of the super new moon without any hindrances.
The kind of magick you can perform during the Super New Moon:
1. Cast spells for supercharged effects.
2. Create some magickal crafts.
3. Charge your magickal items.
4. Clean and cleanse your shrine/altar.
5. Leave new offerings on your shrine/altar.
6. Plan things for the future.
7. Set specific goals to manifest.
8. Focus on bringing things you want into your life.
9. Perform divination regarding changes you need to embrace.
10. Finance and income magick.
11. Workings which focus on stability and security.
12. Healing rituals and spells involving the physical body.
13. Hold a rite in honour of a New Moon God/dess such as Hekate.
Sorcery of the Super New Moon
This Super New Moon in Taurus is all about creating fulfilling opportunities and striving for better things in our lives. It is full of new possibilities as we break the chains which bind us and tie us down allowing us to break free to grow, evolve and heal.
Below I have outlined a ritual you can perform in any tradition you resonate to, with the guidance of Hekate which works with the energies of this moon:
Super New Moon Rite by Setjataset
Preparation
Purify body by showering.
Your magickal space should be created and placed on a shrine or working altar and should include:
A mirror,
A candle (black, white or beeswax),
Bay Leaf (Rosemary or Sage which has been dried)
A bowl of Khernips (ocean water or purified water with salt is best),
A ritual oil such as a New Moon blend, Taurus blend, Hekate blend or pure essential oil such as dragons blood, patchouli, sandalwood, rose, sweet orange or even extra virgin olive oil or almond oil,
An apple, pomegranate, garlic head or onion – offering to Hekate,
A bowl or earth (sand from the sea or coffee grounds are also acceptable); and
An image/statue of Hekate.
Welcoming and Opening
Open sacred space or the shrine/altar and welcome Hekate by simply calling to her or reciting a hymn, poem or evocation in her name.
Light your bay leaf/rosemary/sage and waft over sacred space.
Sprinkle purified khernips over sacred space.
Offer Hekate the apple, pomegranate, garlic head or onion which has been cut in half revealing the centre.
Magical Working
On the candle carve your name one one side and your mother’s name on the other and anoint with oil.
Take your candle and place it in the bowl of earth and then place that in the centre of your mirror (which is facing up) and say over it:
“I (your name) child of (your mother’s name)
Call out to you to hear my request –
Lead to me: love and gaiety!
Bring to me: health and vitality!
Give to me: abundance and prosperity!
I ask this for forever and all time!”
Thanks and Closing
Thank Hekate and close sacred space or the shrine/altar.
Ritual is now complete and any grounding work can take place. I would suggest eating an evening meal consisting of whole foods.
After the Ritual
Bury the offering you made to Hekate in your garden beneath or before a favoured tree, plant or herb or alternatively in a potted plant in your home.
We have a lunar eclipse coming up on the 2nd – 4th March 2026.
A lunar eclipse which is often called a Blood Moon, happens during a full moon when the earth’s placement falls between the sun and the moon – which casts a shadow across the moon.
This lunar eclipse will be visible in Eastern Australia and New Zealand, Western North America and Northern Japan. A partial lunar eclipse will be visible from North and South America, Australia, New Zealand, East Asia and the Pacific.
You will be able to view this lunar eclipse safely with the naked eye.
To see if you can view the lunar eclipse from your area, go here for more information:
Eclipse magick is when the energy is amplified due to the moon energies intermingling. The Lunar Eclipse energies transition through the new and full moon phases during the eclipse, which enables the moon to cycle through the various stages of the moon and its magick.
This total eclipse is in Virgo* therefore the energies heightened during this time is the Virgo star sign.
The kind of magick you can perform during the lunar eclipse:
Liminal – magick worked between the darkness and the light.
Cleansing – with relation to body, mind, spirit and emotions.
Releasing – energy which is chaotic and destructive.
Raising – energy which is grounded through movement.
Working – on the shadow self.
Manifestation – reveal that which is hidden.
Protection – against curses, bad habits, bad relationships and untoward connections.
Devotion – to lunar or liminal Gods and Goddess.
Intention – mundane and spiritual development which needs illumination.
Reduction – magick which can reduce a situation, habit or thing.
Banishment – removal of obstacles which have been hindering you.
Transformation – of self or situations you are involved in.
Veneration – of the blood bound ancestors.
Revelation – of what we need to complete or move on from.
Sorcery of the Lunar Eclipse
This Virgo moon will be very empowering and will motivate us to embrace that aspect of ourselves. It will pull us towards the way we have been drawn towards for a while, however it will feel somewhat unexpected. This is due to hidden desires being able to be fully felt and acknowledged, connecting us and enabling them to be seen and manifested. It will also allow us to seise our personal fire found within our souls to deeply explore these desires and make them a reality.
Since *Virgo is an earth sign it’s a great time to work with this element.
Below I have outlined an easily adapted ritual you can perform in any tradition you resonate to, with the guidance of Hekate which works with the energies of this moon:
Hekate Eclipse Magick by Setjataset
Preparation:
Chose a liminal time and place for the ritual to be set, preferably around the time of the eclipse.
Purify body by showering.
Your working space and offering should be placed on a shrine or working altar and should include: a bowl of earth (or sand), black candle, red candle, purified water, salt, a token or offering you have for Hekate, incense and an image/statue of Hekate.
Welcoming and Opening
Open sacred space or the shrine/altar and welcome Hekate by simply calling to her or reciting a hymn, poem, evocation in her name.
Light your incense and waft over sacred space.
Sprinkle purified salted water mixed with salt over sacred space.
Magical Working
Write or carve on a black candle what personal hindrance you want to move on from.
Write or carve on a red candle what personal desire you want to manifest.
If so desired anoint both candles. Use an oil such as Abramelin oil or something simple such as olive oil. You can also use one of the Oils For Hekate from the list I have compiled previously used in her devotion. If you have no oil, use your own saliva. Sprinkle a bit of the earth on each of the candles over the oil/saliva to earth them.
Light both candles.
Push the black candle away from you and the red candle towards you and then say:
“Hekate Queen of Earth, Sky and Sea
Assist me to straddle this liminal time
Guide me through the Darkness and into the Light
With the power of the moon I bless and release my intentions”
Let the candles burn down completely in a safe manner.
Thanks and Closing
Thank Hekate and close sacred space or the shrine/altar.
Ritual is now complete and any grounding work can take place.
Do not speak about your working until it has manifested.
*Virgo is an earth sign which is ruled by Mercury. It is a sign which can appear very meticulous and analytical yet is very compassionate and loyal. Virgo energy is very intellectual and incredibly focused.
Lammas or Lughnasadh is the first autumn festival in the Southern Hemisphere calendar. This year Lammas falls on the 1st of February at 4.45am. Gods such as Lugh, Mercury, Dagon, Demeter, Ceridwen, Ceres, Brigid and Dionysus can be honoured during this time of year. Historically it’s a Celtic festival which celebrates the First Harvest of the Fruits such as apples, grapes, tomatoes, peaches, plums but also celebrates the harvest of the first grain, wheat, oats and corn. Therefore traditionally the fruit gathered is made into preserves and the grains and corn made into bread or cakes.
I was introduced to this festival when I studied Wicca back in my teens and then was exposed to a celebration of it when I was in my first Wiccan coven in my early 20’s. We would make corn dollies, bread and cakes and share it with one another.
I grew up with an immigrant Greek family and during this time of year they would make large stores of Passata due to it being used so often in their cooking. My father also made home-made moonshine using whatever was abundant and in season as well as his own wine and beer. My mother made Pita from home grown spinach and/or horta (wild grass) and fennel, stuffed vine leaves and also various Greek shortbreads and cakes. They would both share what they made with family and friends as it was common practice where they grew up and brought that tradition here to Australia when they immigrated.
These days I continue a version of their traditions as I infuse store bought wine with homegrown Greek herbs, make passata from the tomatoes out of my garden, as well as bake traditional Greek village bread and Greek biscuits using organic ingredients. I have also used this time for years to make plum jam from my garden’s Victorian heirloom organic plums (due to the trees originally being part of a farm in the area before it was sub-divided into housing). These items created from the seasonal harvest are offered to my Gods, Ancestors and loved ones where appropriate.
Due to been heavily influenced by the way I was raised, my rituals are a mix of honouring my personal Gods, ancestors and also honouring the land I live on. I see this as a perfect blend of personal devotion as someone who works with the Gods, local spirits and venerates her ancestors in a modern way. I don’t have any strong connection to the God Lugh, typically honoured during this time of year, so I personally use it as a harvest festival and honour my household Gods: Hekate with a libation set aside to Hestia. Other Gods which I have honoured during his time include Persephone, Demeter, Mercury and Apollo.
If like me if you honour any of the above Gods, you can make Greek shortbread or cheesecake for Hekate, pomegranate infused cakes or salads for Persephone, honey or sesame biscuits for Demeter, home-made wine for Mercury and home-made beer for Apollo.
It’s also a good time to make and dedicate devotional items you have crafted yourself over the summer. I tend to make and dedicate items to specific Gods utilising items from my garden due to it resonating with the vibe of the season and festival. Growing a lot of herbs, the ones which are in season, I collect preserve and store them for future use in Hekate’s name for various magical purposes. I also collect resin, bark, leaves and branches from some of my trees to be used in items such as incense, waters, oils and magical tools.
I feel magically used crafts such as candles and incense are perfect to infuse with the energies of the season especially if we are able to harness these energies and channel them into the items. I also tend to make preserves which I use in offerings thorough the remainder of the year
Also I personally feel that it is a good time to acknowledge the ancestors and leave them some food offerings as a form of ancestor veneration. I usually leave some food they liked in life such as kalamata olives, feta, stuffed vine leaves my mother taught me to make along with some Greek coffee which I can scry and divine with.
So even though the Hekate and Ancestral traditions of spirituality and magick I work, doesn’t sound like it fits exactly within the Lammas/Lughnasadh festival – I make it work for me and you can too as the most important thing I feel is devotion and dedication to your path whatever form that takes.
Seasonal Planting Guide:
Vegetables such as beans, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, fennel, kale, leek, lettuce, potato, silverbeet, spring onion, sweet corn, brussel sprouts, beetroot, carrot, parsnip, radish, rocket and mustard greens.
Herbs such as basil, sage, oregano, chives, parsley and thyme.
Flowers such as ageratum, alyssum, cleome, cyclamen, French marigold, gypsophila, Iceland poppy, lobelia, lupin, nigella, pansy, polyanthus, primula and verbena.
Some things you can do to honour and mark this time of year in your personal practice (or with a group of likeminded individuals) can be:
Feast with loved ones. Make food usually consumed during this time and partake or share with loved ones, as well as leave as offerings to your gods or gods of the season, land spirits and ancestors. It’s the perfect time for baking and anything which can be shared and is seasonal.
Bake bread and offer the first loaf to the Gods of the season. You can also take a loaf and cut it into quarters and place those quarters in each corner of your residence to bring good luck and prosperity.
Harvest herbs, flowers, plants, fruits and vegetables and create a shrine or altar in celebration of the season.
Rituals or spells involving gratitude, abundance, prosperity, luck and work.
Trade or swap handmade items with loved ones.
Make corn dollies or garlands of flowers or herbs.
Dance or drum to raise energy and direct it into the earth.
Write poetry or creative writing which could contain themes of the time of year.
Visit a holy well and make offerings of flowers, cloth or coins and then circle the well clockwise for health and wealth blessings from the Gods.
Leave grain and seeds which are safe for local birds and wildlife as offerings.
Spend some time tending to your garden or indoor pots.
Light a sacred fire in your fireplace or a bonfire in your backyard.
Revamp your shrine or altar with the colours of the festival (Orange, Red, Yellow, Gold, Brown and Bronze) and adorn it with wheat, corn, applies and produce of the season (herbs, fruits, flowers and vegetables).
So work your magick this festive season, honour and celebrate the harvest and ask for what you want to be prosperous, abundant and full of good fortune in your life.
Part of my practice is to honour my Gods and Ancestors during the astrological sabbat dates with seasonal devotionals, rituals and magick.
Below I have detailed the astrological sabbat dates for the Southern Hemisphere for 2026 with a brief description of what the day symbolises as well as their traditional dates:
Lughnasadh/ Lammas
February 1st
2026 4.45am
First autumn harvest festival.Traditional Date: February 1
Mabon/ Autumnal Equinox
March
22nd
2026
11.46pm
Day and night have same length. Days get shorter.Traditional Date: March 20
Samhain
May
3rd
2026 9.37pm
Veil between worlds thinnest.Traditional Date: April 30 – May 1
Yule/ Winter Solstice
June
21st
2026 6.24pm
Day has the longest night. Sun is at its lowest elevation in the sky.Traditional Date: June 21
Imbolc
August
7th
2026 9.41pm
Marks the beginning of spring.Traditional Date: August 1
Ostara/ Spring Equinox
September 23rd
2026
10.05am
Day and night have same length. Days get longer.Traditional Date: September 21
Beltane
November
7th
2026
6.37pm
Halfway point between spring and summer. Fertility festival.Traditional Date: October 31
Litha/ Summer Solstice
December
22nd
2026 5.50am
Day has the longest daylight. Sun travels the longest path through the sky.Traditional Date: December 21
All times are Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST).
Tuesday the 7th of January is The Epiphany. The Epiphany is also known as the blessing of the waters and is a day to celebrate the manifestation of God in the Greek Orthodox faith.
My family blended their regional folk magical practices with the religious holiday in a combination which honoured the day and also evoked the time of the year which is all about new beginnings.
It is a time specifically meant for cleansing, protection, blessing and divination.
I continue to honour some of the Greek folk customs to this day whilst also incorporating and acknowledging one of my main patron Gods – Hekate.
Some Greek folk traditions you can do on the Epiphany to bring in cleansing, protection, blessings and divining the future can be:
Go for a swim in the Ocean/Sea.
Bathe in salt water to cleanse yourself. You can also simply cleanse yourself with a bowl of salt water ensuring to wet the top of your head.
Cleanse with Holy Waters.
You can Asperge (sprinkle) yourself, your magical/spiritual items and personal space/home/transportation with holy water (water which has been blessed on this day) or alternatively you can use floral waters such as Orange Blossom Water or Rose Water. You can use a small bunch of fresh or dried herbs (bay laurel, lavender, rosemary etc) either on their own or together, tied with red cotton string.
Chalk your Door.
Write an inscription on your door frame to bring in good fortune and banish negative energies – traditionally above your home’s main entrance with the following: 20 + C + M + B + 26 (for the year 2026 and the letters stand for the names of the Magi: Caspar, Melchior, Balthasar). Alternatively you can use the initials of a liminal God/dess like Hekate and use one of her titles such as Enodia (Crossroads/Of The Ways): 20 + H + E + 26.
Create a Talismanic Bag.
Make a charm bag and use items which invoke the magick you want to bring into your life such as success (coins), health (specific herbs like mint and rosemary), spirituality (God/dess pendants such as Hekate or symbolic charms like a star or spiral), purification (frankincense/myrrh resin or salt). This bag can be creating by placing items in a square piece of material and tied with cotton string or you can use any type of small bag which can be closed such as an organza tie up jewellery or even a zip up makeup/pencil case.
Sweep your troubles out the Door.
Use a broom in a circular motion and sweep your home moving towards the door and finish by leaning the boom upside down (broom handle touching the ground).
Burn any Herbs/Greens collected during Winter/Summer Solstice.
Burn any decorations (which is safe to do so) in a bonfire, fireplace or cauldron which symbolises death and rebirth.
Cake Blessing.
Similar to the New Year’s Eve/Day Cake make a Epiphany Cake which is a sweet cake or fruit cake which has a hidden nut, pea or bean inside it and the person who gets a slice of the cake with the hidden item is the Queen/King of the Day and is blessed with luck.
Divination.
Use various types of divination such as using water dripped with candle wax and scrying what the shapes mean to you.
Bring in Light.
Light candles to bring in the light and bless your life. Beeswax candles are the best but you can use coloured candles in the colours of red, gold, green and purple.
Incense and Chant
Incense your home to cleanse and purify whilst chanting. Use blends featuring frankincense, myrrh, benzoin and camphor and a simple chant such as “Omens Ill and Devil’s Bane, Decrease Then Cease as The Dark Moon Wanes.”(1) or chanting the Epithets of your God/dess (Hekate’s Epithets is a good one to focus on if she is a Goddess you Honour).
If you don’t honour Hekate you can substitute one of your patron God/dess with the above suggestions as long as your devotion and intention is pure.
So work your magick on this Epiphany. Connect with this blessed time and cleanse and protect yourself, your space and your loved ones.
In Her name
Setjataset
(C) T. Georgitsis 2025
(1) Crone’s Book of Magical Words by Valerie Worth
As a magical practitioner I like to work with the phases of the moon. I find these useful for various rituals, devotionals, spells and other magical workings.
Some magickal workings which can be conducted on the following moon phases:
Full Moon (Psychic & Manifestation)
Waxing Moon (Invoking/Bringing In)
Wanning Moon (Banishing/Pushing Out)
New Moon (Psychic & Invoking)
Dark Moon (Banishing & Divination)
Moon Phases in Australia (EST) for 2026:
New Moon
Waxing Moon
Full Moon
Waning Moon
3 Jan
9:02 pm
11 Jan
2:48 am
19 Jan
6:52 am
26 Jan
3:47 pm
2 Feb
9:09 am
9 Feb
11:43 pm
17 Feb
11:01 pm
24 Feb
11:27 pm
3 Mar
10:37 pm
11 Mar
8:38 pm
19 Mar
12:23 pm
26 Mar
6:17 am
2 Apr
1:11 pm
10 Apr
2:51 pm
17 Apr
9:51 pm
24 Apr
12:31 pm
2 May
3:23 am
10 May
7:10 am
17 May
6:01 am
23 May
9:10 pm
31 May
6:45 pm
8 Jun
8:00 pm
15 Jun
12:54 pm
22 Jun
7:55 am
30 Jun
9:56 am
8 Jul
5:29 am
14 Jul
7:43 pm
21 Jul
9:05 pm
30 Jul
12:35 am
6 Aug
12:21 pm
13 Aug
3:36 am
20 Aug
12:46 pm
28 Aug
2:18 pm
4 Sep
5:51 pm
11 Sep
1:27 pm
19 Sep
6:43 am
27 Sep
2:49 am
3 Oct
11:25 pm
11 Oct
2:50 am
19 Oct
3:12 am
26 Oct
3:11 pm
2 Nov
7:28 am
9 Nov
6:02 pm
17 Nov
10:47 pm
25 Nov
1:53 am
1 Dec
5:08 pm
9 Dec
11:51 am
17 Dec
4:42 pm
24 Dec
12:28 pm
31 Dec
5:59 am
*All times are in Australian Eastern Standard Time.
Wednesday the 31st of December is the last day of the Gregorian calendar year.
In my family we always had our Greek folk traditions and celebrations to honour this time as New Years was one of the main holidays we observed. It was a time for working on bringing in blessings, success, vitality and wellness for the coming year.
I continue to honour some of the Greek folk customs to this day whilst also incorporating and acknowledging my ancestors and one of my main patron Gods – Hekate.
Some Greek folk traditions you can do on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day to bring in good luck, prosperity, health and blessings can be:
Hang up a fresh pomegranate over your front door before New Year’s Eve and then pull it down and smash it on your door step on New Year’s Day.
You can then up-cycle the pomegranate by drying it and then burning it as an incense or using it as a tea by steaping it. Hekate is the perfect Goddess to offer it to, as she is not only fond of pomegranate but also a liminal Goddess which this is a time of.
Play cards on New Year’s Eve to bring in luck.
You can also give yourself a tarot reading by pulling a card for each month of the year to see what will unfold for you.
Light sparklers or watch fireworks to welcome in the New Year with light and banish negative spirits.
You can light a candle or an olive oil lamp to Hekate as a liminal Goddess to welcome in the New Year.You can also lightcandles and oil lamps to your ancestors.
At midnight on New Year’s Eve throw all your change at the front door and then the next day the first person to wake up and gather it – has collected that luck.
You can donate the coins to a charity in Hekate’s name.
Hang up an onion inside the house on New Year’s Day.
You can hang it up above your Hekate shrine/altar as a devotional offering. Also you can try planting the onion and see if it takes in a garden bed or pot, or alternatively you can use the onion in cooking.
Enter your home on New Year’s Eve holding a citrine and a bowl of purified water.
Good things and prosperity will flow like water after you sprinkle water in the four corners of your home. Stability and health will come in after you place the citrine in the left corner of your home.
Enter your home on New Years’ Day on the right foot by literally walking into your home with your right foot first.
You can asperge around your home clockwise three times with bay leaves and khernips as a cleansing beforehand after you have called upon Hekate for assistance or alternatively smoke cleanse around your home by burning some dried bay laurel leaves.
Bake a cake with a coin (wrapped in bakers parchment) within it and share it with your loved ones. The person who gets a piece with the coin is going to have a lucky year. The traditional cake is called a vasilopita but you can also make an basic almond flour sponge cake.
You can offer a piece to Hekate as a food offering as well as a piece of cake to your ancestors. Dispose of by composting.
Sing traditional carols.
You can also sing hymns or prayers to your ancestors and Hekate.Reward those who sing with candy/lollies or money to sweeten the year.
Exchange gifts brought by Agios Vassilis (Greek Santa Claus).
You can also make offerings to your ancestors and Hekate.
Decorate a small wooden boat with twinkling lights. This is a symbolic vessel for family members who aren’t able to be with us during the holiday season.
You can also light a candle on your ancestor shrine along with some livani incense. You can inscribe a white candle with your loved ones name and burn it on Hekate’s shrine.
You can also leave food offerings on your doorsteps for Hekate or the spirits of the house.
Go for a swim in the sea or lake to cleanse yourself.
You can also use Khernips made from salt and purified water and ritually cleanse yourself with the aid of Hekate.
Charge Gouri (lucky charms) to be worn for good luck during the year. These are typically ornaments or jewellery who have symbols of evil eyes, coins or pomegranates on them. These items can also be gifted to family and friends.
Turn on Taps to allow the flow of good luck.
Do this after midnight andplace a bowl or bucket underneath the tap and collect the water for your plants, herbs or trees.
Gather with loved ones and share a meal.
Share food and drink with a pot luck or have a meal at a favourite cafe, pub, dinner or restaurant.
Feed the Fountain by collecting silent water and making new year wishes.
Collect fresh water in silence from a local spring, river, lake or well and make an offering of honey or butter as thanks which connects you to nature and allows you to make wishes for the coming year.
Hang Basil and Open Windows.
Do this on New Year’s Day as basil is a protective ward and fresh air drives out negativity from the home.
Make an offering of three pieces of sweets and a glass of water on your magical/God-dess/icon shrine or ancestor shrine.
Traditionally the sweet is baklava or vasilopita and recognises generosity, faith and the mundane.
Light a candle, lantern or lamp to bring in the light.
Bringing in the light is a traditional way to bring in positive energy and banish negative energy.
Eat roast chicken to ward off evil and bring in good fortune with the blessings of Apollo.
Traditionally a black rooster was roasted on the first day of the year and consumed to banish evil and bring in good. The rooster heralded the sun which was celebrated as overcoming darkness.
Prepare a Proventa to share with others.
A Proventa is a dessert plate which shows beautifully arranged sweets and reflects a hosts generosity to others.
If you don’t honour Hekate you can substitute one of your patron God/dess with the above suggestions as long as your devotion and intention is pure.
So work your magick this New Year’s, honour the liminal time and cleanse the old and bless the new to enable you to embrace the beginning of a new calendar year.
Litha also known as Midsummer, Estival Solstice and the Summer Solstice is the time in summer which signifies the longest day of the year. It’s a time which is celebrated as a fertility and light festival as the sun has reached its highest place in the sky with the longest time of daylight. Traditionally it is a festival celebrated all around the world, some which hold rites which includes dancing, feasting and ritualistic sacrifice. These days the focus of this festival by neo pagans and witches is placed upon the sun and acknowledging its movement within their hemisphere.
This year in the Southern Hemisphere calendar, it falls on Monday December 22nd at 2:03am (AEST). Gods such as Nuit, Hathor, Sekhmet, Ra, Horus, Aten, Apollo, Lugh, Mercury, Hestia, Juno, Lugh, Sulis Minerva, Huitzilopochtil, Sol and Amaterasu, can be honoured during this time of year.
I have celebrated the Summer Solstice with groups of people in various settings and alone, and the one thing which I found linked them, was celebrating the festive season with specially prepared food. Something which I have experienced often during this festival day, is the acknowledgement of the sun and its power as well as it being the last sabbat of the year which coincides with Christmas and Hanukah.
One of the fondest memories I have during this time of year is celebrating the Summer Solstice with my coven where a member would make an ice wreath which had herbs and flowers placed in layers which she collected by season over the year. A lit white candle anointed in oils was placed within the wreath and had pride of place in the centre of the circle during our ritual.
In my coven and magickal groups we would always have fires usually in the form of a firepit or fireplace where we performed rites to celebrate the significance of the day. We would also exchange gifts and share food which had either been hand-made or which had been specifically acquired for the day.
During this time of year, I notice that my garden is booming with new growth due to the heat and rain. My sultana grape vine is bursting forth and I collect the excess of leaves for garlands to adorn my shrines. I also have many fruits and vegetables which are available to pick from my garden to also include in the foods I prepare for feasting or make as offerings to my gods and ancestors.
I like to acknowledge and thank the traditional owners of the land as well my garden and the Devas of the land and its blessings by leaving tokens and offerings throughout my garden. I ensure the bird bath and feeders are well stocked, as well as encourage any insects or bees which pollinate my garden by leaving them appropriate food such as organic honey water. I plant or replant herbs and flowers which encourage the local bees and birds and I allow them to partake of my fruit and vegetables without nets or pesticides.
During this time of year I also tend to cook and bake as a way to infuse my personal energies with the offerings I make to my Gods, Ancestors and land spirits. I use what is in season and usually make roasted vegetables and falafel, fresh salads, baked country bread, Greek and Middle eastern dips, olives, feta, pickled vegetables and pita and serve them with herbal iced tea and juice. I also bake sweets like layered seasonal cakes or cookies and platter various summer fruits for desert. I take some of these offerings and leave them upon Hekate’s, Sekhmet/Hathor’s and my ancestors shrines during my seasonal devotionals.
Since the summer solstice ends up being around Christmas I also ensure I have baked items which resonate with this holiday such as shortbread and gingerbread and share them with co-workers, neighbours and friends. I recite prayers to my ancestors in front of their shrines to acknowledge them and also leave various offerings of what I have prepared during the season.
I personally feel that Hekate resonates with this time of the year. The light is at its peak as is the potential within us to take up her torches and ignite or rekindle the energies we want to fully immerse ourselves in. The surrounding vibrations swirl with vitality so now is the time for action as the sun is at its absolute pinnacle and available for us to bring down into our lives. As our days are filled with heat use the flames of Hekate to take that strength which is available to you and use it to feed your projects which need that spark or extra boost.
Hekate can also be a force of cleansing and movement. Hekate helps us use the liminal places she inhabits to bury or wash away that which needs purifying and helps us turn our attention towards that which needs planting. She does this by assisting us to eradicate or remove the negligent things in our lives to make way for the positive things we need.
I personally like to honour Hekate during this time and make offerings of wine, bread, eggs, cheese, olive oil, garlic, pomegranate, incense, candles, water, salt and biscuits and also items I have made which I have wildcrafted and resonate with the seasons energies. I also like to create a fire pit with old herbs, plants and tree branches which I can’t upcycle into my Hellenic firepit before my chthonic shrine to Hekate in my garden. Lastly I tend to create in her name with regards to magic which I conduct in liminal spaces such as the beach or forest with like minders others or on my own during liminal times such as sunset, sunrise as well as the middle of the day.
Seasonal Planting Guide:
Vegetables such as cucumber, corn, squash, spring onion, silver beet, onion, lettuce, beans, tomato, capsicum, sweet potato, artichoke, beetroot, shallots, cauliflower, celery, radish, okra and eggplant.
Herbs such as basil, coriander, lemongrass, mint, tarragon, thyme, chives, marjoram, oregano, parsley, fennel and rosemary.
Flowers such as sunflowers, carnations, poppies, petunias, nasturtiums, daisies, dahlias, zinnias and celosias.
Some things you can do to honour and mark the summer solstice in your personal practice (or with a group of likeminded individuals) can be:
Make food usually consumed during this time and partake or share with loved ones, as well as leave as offerings to your gods or gods of the season, land spirits and ancestors. It’s the perfect time for a BBQ and anything which can be shared and is seasonal.
Host a Misfit Christmas which you can host in your home or park/beach for those who don’t have anywhere to go during the festive season. A good way to do this is by having a pot luck and having everyone bring something to share which can encourage sharing and opens conversations.
Dance or drum to raise energy and direct it into the earth.
Perform a ritual to celebrate and mark the sun at its peak and its blessings it brings upon the earth.
Take a sun bath (ensuring to protect yourself from the UV rays) which can take the form of meditation or yoga.
Rituals, spells and magick for fertility, creativity, passion and endeavours which you want to see growth in (especially when held in the middle of the day).
Go outside into nature and take in the beauty whether it be a beach, forest, park or garden. Whilst there wildcraft and acknowledge the bounty of the earth by giving thanks.
Dedicate some time to assisting those who are in need, marginalised or alone during this time who need a little help and support. Volunteer for a charity, collect items (food and personal hygiene items) for a homeless or animal shelter or gifts for those stuck in hospital. This can also be done on a smaller scale where you can assist a elderly or sick neighbour or friend.
Watch the sunset and give thanks to the sun for its light and warmth.
Light a fire (bonfire, firepit or fireplace) or candles to celebrate and honour the light of the sun during this time.
Declutter and swap, donate or sell that which you no longer need.
Leave a candle in a safe place to burn all day in honour of the sun.
Craft some items which resonate with the season for you.
Revamp your shrine or altar with the colours of the summer solstice (Green, Red, Gold and Copper) and adorn it with candles, bells, ribbons and produce of the season (herbs, fruits, flowers and vegetables).
So work your magick this Solstice, honour and celebrate the sun and ask for what you want to be vitalised and strengthened in your life.
Beltane also known as Cetshamhain (and May Day in the Northern Hemisphere) is the halfway point between spring and summer and is celebrated as a fertility and/or fire festival. Traditionally it is a Gaelic festival which is part of the four seasonal festivals celebrated in Ireland and Scotland. Historically Beltane dew was collected in the morning to promote beauty and youthfulness, as well collecting water from holy wells for the same purpose. Rites which includes the building of communal bonfires were held to protect and encourage growth of people’s harvest and livestock by going around or over said bonfires whilst being bedecked in flowers, ribbons and shells as representations to invoke protection. Offerings were made to the sprits and fairies and embers were taken from communal bonfires and taken home where their hearths were ignited, to bring the protection home where feasting would then follow. These days the focus of this fertility festival by neo pagans and witches is placed upon honouring the union of the God and the Goddess as well as making offerings to the spirits of the land which can involve maypole dancing, bonfire and feasting.
This year in the Southern Hemisphere calendar, it falls on Saturday the 8th of November at 8.12am(Traditional Date is Friday the 31st October). Gods such as Artemis, Apollo, Flora, Bacchus, Bes, Kokopelli, Pan, Hera, Herne, Sheela-na-Gig, Eros, Venus, Xochiquetzal, Vesta, Odin, Priapus, Cernunnos, Orien and Mbaba Mwana Waresa can be honoured during this time of year.
I have celebrated Beltane with groups of people in various settings and the one thing which I found linked them, was the coming together to celebrate the quickening of the land with dancing and feasting. Something which I have experienced often during this festival day, is the acknowledgement of the polarities of the earth and the union of these polarities.
One of the fondest memories I have during this time of year is celebrating Beltane with bonfires whilst wearing wreaths upon my head which has been handmade from my garden’s flowers, trees and herbs. In my coven and magickal groups we would always have fires usually in the form of a firepit or fireplace where we performed rites to celebrate the significance of the day, as well as perform various forms of divination using fire such as scrying in the flames of said fire.
As an avid herbalist, during this time of year, I notice that my garden is bursting with new life. A lot of my herbs are flowering which allows me to take cuttings and transplant them, make pressings for my herb grimoire and also for drying or preserving to be used in magickal workings later. The flowers are blooming in my garden, most predominately the heirloom roses and lavender which were planted by now deceased family members which makes them even more special. I tend to take the rose petals and lavender flowers and make water essences for beauty products I hand make as well ritual and magical use such as incense blends or candles. My sultana grape vine is absolutely flourishing and I collect the excess of leaves for rice stuffed vine leaves as well as for garlands I wear whilst conducting my rites.
I like to acknowledge and thank the traditional owners of the land as well my garden and the Devas of the land and its blessings by leaving tokens and offerings throughout my garden. I ensure the bird bath and feeders are functioning, as well as encourage any insects or bees which pollinate my garden by leaving them appropriate food such as organic honey water.
During this time of year I also tend to cook and bake as a way to infuse my personal energies with the offerings I make to my Gods, Ancestors and land spirits. I use what is in season and make a lamb roast, Greek style, but in recent years rosemary infused from my garden and serve it with Greek pine wine and rice stuffed vine leaves which I then offer upon Hekate’s, Dionysus and my ancestors shrines during my seasonal devotionals. I also bake things like fruit pies and apple tea cakes and leave these offerings on the base of my favourite trees in my garden some of which I have been practising magick with for many years.
Since Beltane ends up being around Samhain in the Northern Hemisphere I also ensure I have lots of sweets on hand to give out to trick-or-treaters. Along with this I like to visit my blessed dead at the cemetery where I clean their tombstones and refresh their offerings which consists of various things including flowers, olive oil, water and incense. I recite prayers to them and also the land devas where the cemetery is located ensuring to always acknowledge the original indigenous custodians.
I personally feel that Hekate resonates with this time of the year. The light is growing as is the potential within us to take up her torches and flame the fertile energies we want to manifest. The time is full of possibility as the sun waxes and strengthens towards summer, so now is the time to fully ignite our personal fires. As our days lengthen use the flames of Hekate to propel and push you towards attaining that which you want to grow.
Hekate can be a guiding force which moves us away from that which is stagnant and decayed and helps us turn our attention towards that which needs fertilising and can bring great growth and future bounty. She does this by assisting us to burn away the old to make way for the new by clearing and regenerating.
I personally like to honour Hekate during this time and make offerings of eggs, apples, meat (lamb/goat), flowering herbs (including lavender, sage, thyme, oregano, lemon balm, mint) pomegranates, mead, wine, grape juice, brandy, puffed wheat, fruit pies or cakes, oat cakes and bread, dandelion tea and fruit punch.
I also like to throw any old herbs, plants and tree branches which I can’t upcycle into my Hellenic firepit before my chthonic shrine to Hekate in my garden.
Seasonal Planting Guide:
Vegetables such as capsicum, celery, chilli, beetroot, carrot, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, potato, pumpkins, leeks, silver beet, squash, beans, beetroot, corn and zucchini.
Herbs such as basil, coriander, dill, chamomile, parsley, oregano, rosemary, rue, thyme, mint, lemon balm and sage.
Flowers such as petunias, snapdragons, daisies, carnations, lavender, pansies, foxglove, dahlia and marigold.
Some things you can do to honour and mark Beltane in your personal practice (or with a group of likeminded individuals) can be:
Make food usually consumed during this time and partake or share with loved ones, as well as leave as offerings to your gods or gods of the season, land spirits and ancestors: meat (lamb), wine, ale, cakes made from oat and fruit and anything which can be shared and is seasonal.
Make floral or herbal wreaths or bouquets to adorn yourself with, decorate your altars, shrines or doorways with, leave as offerings for the spirits, devas and elementals of the earth, seasonal God/dess or your patron/matron.
Rituals, spells and magick for fertility and endeavours which you want to see growth in (especially at dawn and dusk).
Acknowledge the four cardinal points and make offerings to them consisting of the four elements they encompass – earth, air, fire and water. You can also recite evocations to them whilst doing this starting from the east.
Leave food and drink on your home’s doorstep to appease the fairies and spirits who might be mischievous or wish you harm. Milk, bread or biscuits made from seasonal grains will be well received.
Get up at sunrise and visit a holy well and walk the path of the sun (east to west) whilst praying for good health.
Collect the morning dew in a glass jar, leave it out in the full sun of the day, then strain/filter it and wash your face with it before going to bed, to be able to imbue yourself with beauty, health and vitality.
Take the day off if you can and spend the time in nature ie a picnic or hike.
Light a fire (bonfire, firepit or fireplace) or candles to celebrate and honour the light of the sun during this time. If it’s a fire as part of a bonfire or firepit, walk around it or jump over it three times.
Take a torch, taper or candle and from the flames of the bonfire, firepit or fire place you have created, walk around your house whilst invoking protection for all those who live within its boundaries.
Craft some items which resonate with the season for you.
Revamp your shrine or altar with the colours of Beltane (Green, Red, White and Silver).
Make protection talismans for the home such as oak crosses and hanging eggs.
So work your magick this Beltane, honour the land and its spirits, and ask for protection and what you want to make fertile in your life.
Setjataset 