Every Day Magic - A Pagan Book of Days: 366 Magical Ways To Observe The Cycle Of The Year

Greenfield

Introduction

Every Day Magic – A Pagan Book of Days contains 366 spells, rituals, meditations, Pagan prayers, divinatory techniques, poems to read and recipes and craft projects to try out along with the details of festivals that take place throughout the year. All the activities are intended to be easy to follow so you can just pick up the book, open it to a day and find something you can do. There are festivals from the ancient world and modern Pagan celebrations as well as other annual events with a Pagan or shamanic feel, such as Earth Day on April 22.

The book is a compilation of contributions from the Moon Books community of authors and writers, giving an insight into different traditions and how each day of the month throughout the cycle of the seasons can be celebrated.

Contributors came from all over the world and so I have left spellings and measurements in the style each individual wrote them. For a book that seems like a magical cabinet of curiosities, to be opened and perused with delight at the variety within, it would have felt wrong to try to make all the entries homogenous. The internet is out there and it is easy to find equivalent measurements for cups, litres, inches or centimetres. Editing this book has been a delight and I have learnt a great deal from reading all the entries. I have also enjoyed writing for it myself and sharing my own perspective on English witchcraft and candle magic.

Although each entry is listed for a specific day, obviously there are differences in the times when seasonal activities are appropriate depending on your location or variations in weather from one year to the next. Use the book as a guide, but feel free to do the spells and other activities whenever you want or whenever feels right for where you live. If a plant or animal mentioned cannot be found in your part of the world, then research an equivalent or simply visualise it in your mind’s eye. I should add that most of the entries were written for the northern hemisphere. My only regret is that the book could not be big enough to give seasonally appropriate alternatives for the southern hemisphere as well. Perhaps there will be a future edition for the southern hemisphere too.

Every Day Magic – A Pagan Book of Days is a perennial book, designed to be used this year, next year and for as long as you follow the Pagan path. With it you will never be short of inspiration for ways to honour nature, the ancient Gods and Goddesses, those who went before us and the spirits of the places we live in now. Dip into it occasionally, or read it every day. If you want to find out more about any of the activities, in the last chapter – About the Contributors – there are details of the authors and their other books, blogs and websites. This means you can use Every Day Magic – A Pagan Book of Days as a starting-off point for further magical and spiritual exploration.

Lucya Starza

January

Often the coldest month of the year in the northern hemisphere, January can be bleak. The Moon in January is sometimes called Wolf Moon, Ice Moon, or Quiet Moon. It evokes the image of a wolf howling at the full Moon in a snow-covered landscape on an otherwise silent night. However, the days are noticeably starting to get longer, offering hope for the year ahead even as we brace ourselves against the chill outside or spend time indoors by a warming fire, kindling our hopes and dreams for the future.

In astrology, much of the month is ruled by Capricorn, which the Sun entered at the Winter Solstice. The symbol of a mountain goat with the tail of a fish is based on the Sumerian God of wisdom and waters, Enki. The fish-tailed goat is a versatile, tough creature that embodies the ability to push on with ambitions despite hostile environments. Despite its wise and watery origins, Capricorn is a materialistic sign and those born under it tend to associate material success with personal feelings of security. The Sun in Capricorn can lend power to spells for material goals, even if those goals will be hard to achieve. The Sun enters Aquarius on or around January 20, softening Capricorn’s materialism. Aquarians are still acquisitive, but not at any cost. The water carrier is the sign of thoughts and new ideas, further helping us to plan for the year ahead. Use this in magic to empower your New Year’s resolutions.

1. New Year’s Resolutions: Resolve to enrich your spirit each and every day in many and varied ways. Aim to watch the way the seasons change; meditate a little; whisper prayers; light candles for peace, hope, joy, love and good health; dance and sing; learn about the Gods and Goddesses of the ancient world and celebrate the forces of nature, the Earth, the Sun, the Moon and the stars. Breathe in love and breathe out love. Be open to inspiration. Be blessed. Lucya Starza

2. Kakizome: This is the first calligraphy writing of the year in Japan. Make a wish or charm for what you hope the year will bring. Create a simple poem containing words that echo your wishes. Write it in decorative script and add elaborate decoration as a border around the words. Slowly read your words and wishes. Then burn the paper in a cauldron and release the charm to the elements. Toast the future in sake or wine. Rachel Mayatt

3. Think More, Act Later: In the northern hemisphere, people are just becoming aware of the small growing spark of light of the returning Sun. Think about what you would like to grow in your life this year. Is there a personal goal that you would like to accomplish? Do you want to spend more time with your family and/or friends or less time? Now is the time to think about it, not do it, because it is the wrong time for doing, that time is Imbolc (February 1), which is why New Year’s resolutions often fail. Brendan Howlin

4. Janus: January is named after the Roman God of beginnings and endings, Janus. At the start of the year, cakes made of spelt flour and salt were traditionally burnt on his altar as an offering. Bake spelt bread (there are many traditional recipes online), then make an offering of a little to Janus. Tell him all the things you want to change and ask for his help. Light a candle in his honour. Ravenwings

5. Focus and Control Pouch:

Braided string, 6 inches in black, blue and yellow

Almond

Cedar

Bay leaf

Nutmeg

Carnelian

Cinnamon oil

Pouch

Purple candle

Before preparing the pouch, apply cinnamon oil to the candle. Light it to aid focus and meditation. Leaving the oil on your hands, continue the work. Affirmation: ‘I am strong. I will focus. I remain calm, and use wisdom.’ Repeat this as you place the rest of the items into the pouch. Tie it with braided string. Laeynarrie Auvresti

6. Twelfth Night Wassail: Recite this to an apple tree and offer it cider and toast:

Wassail

Old Apple tree, old apple tree,

We have come to wassail thee.

Thirteen fires we bring to thee,

Ancient Mother apple tree.

Here’s cider-toast to break thy fast,

Now winter lessens here at last.

We wake the spirits with the gun,

Then sing and dance, have lots of fun.

Oh apple tree, oh apple tree,

Do blossom well we beg o’ thee.

To bear and to bow apples enow.

Hats full! Caps full! Three bushel bags full!

Barn floors full,

And a little heap under the stairs.

Elen Sentier

7. Distaff Day: This is the traditional date for women to return to household chores after the Christmas celebrations. Symbolically sweep all the dust and debris out of the house to begin a fresh start to the New Year. Mélusine Draco

8. Roman Feast Day of Justitia, Goddess of Justice: This is a good day for spells for the successful outcome of any legal matters or situations where justice is needed. Burn a purple candle and ask Justitia for justice. Mélusine Draco

9. Agonalia: Roman feast day of Priapus, a fertility God and protector of livestock, gardens and male genitalia. He was renowned for having a huge penis and statues of him depict this. It is also a good day for giving blessings on the threshold of your house so no ill-fortune will enter. Mélusine Draco

10. Sacred Bath: Rather than trying to battle away the shadows of January, spend time nurturing yourself. Here is a recipe for a soothing, sacred bath. Salt is a deep cleanser on an energetic level, and also good for aching muscles. Take one cup of sea salt and half a cup of Epsom salts. Mix them together while picturing your soothing intent. Then add six drops each of rose and lavender essential oils. Mix well and add a cupful to a warm bath. Rebecca Beattie

11. Old New Year: Today is a fire festival celebrated as Old New Year after historic calendar reforms and also the Feast of Juturna, Roman Goddess of fountains and the underworld, whose symbol is the spring. Celebrate a true Pagan New Year according to the Old Ways with plenty of good food and wine. Hold a private New Year celebration for Pagan friends only. By the light of a small bonfire let each guest pour a libation of wine into the flames while silently making a wish for the coming year. Mélusine Draco

12. Poem for the Day:

Winter

Grey sky,

turning to black.

Running for cover;

I am not a duck.

Pets gather,

at the heater.

Electric blanket

is a life-saver.

Wind;

cold, wet

and incessant.

I am still not

a bloody duck!

Hibernatingů.

Ronin Shaman

13. Tjugondagen Knut: On Tjugondagen Knut, Swedes, Finns and Norwegians strip their Christmas tree of cookies and boiled sweets (the traditional decorations) and cast the tree out. This is also called ‘julgransplundring’ (plundering the Christmas tree). On St Knut’s Day people used to dress up as scarecrows, hags or straw goats and knock on doors scaring people. Hang cookies and sweets in your Christmas tree this year. Invite children over on St Knut’s Day to plunder the tree – they will love it! Imelda Almqvist

14. Spell to Let Go: You need a piece of string, a burning bowl and a lighter. Winter is a good time to prepare the ground for spring. Sit quietly, centre and ground yourself. Ask yourself what you can let go of and whatever