Also called ~ Harvest Moon, Shedding Moon, Winterfelleth (Winter Coming), Windermanoth (Vintage Month), Falling Leaf Moon, Ten Colds Moon, Moon of the Changing Season. Correspondences ~ Nature Spirits ~ frost faeries, plant faeries Herbs ~ pennyroyal, thyme, catnip, uva ursi, angelica, burdock Colors ~ dark blue-green Flowers ~ calendula, marigold, cosmos Scents ~ strawberry, apple blossom, cherry Stones ~ opal, tourmaline, beryl, turquoise Trees ~ yew, cypress, acacia Animals ~ stag, jackal, elephant, ram, scorpion Birds ~ heron, crow, robin Deities ~ Ishtar, Asarte, Demeter, Kore, Lakshmi, Horned God, Belili, Hathor Power Flow ~ to let go; inner cleansing. Karma and reincarnation. Justice and balance. Inner harmony.

Inspired by Earth Magic, by Claire Nahmad (Inner Traditions, 1994). Ever wish you could fly? Your sun sign is traditionally associated with different birds that can carry messages to the Great Spirit for you, offer spirit-support and healing, or sing a song for your soul. Find out which birds are your horoscope birds of power here. SIMPLE SOLUTION: Aries, March 21-April 19: vulture, magpie, robin. Taurus, April 20-May 21: dove, sparrow, swan. Gemini, May 22-June 20: parrot, linnet, eagle, finch. Cancer, June 21-July 22: seagull, owl, white peacock. Leo, July 23- Aug 22: peacock, rooster, eagle. Virgo, Aug 23-Sept 22: rooster, magpie, parrot. Libra, Sept 23-Oct 22: dove, swan, sparrow. Scorpio, Oct 23-Nov 21: eagle, vulture. Sagittarius, Nov 22-Dec 21: eagle, peacock, bird of paradise. Capricorn, Dec 22-Jan 19: owl, falcon. Aquarius, Jan 20-Feb 18: cuckoo, albatross. Pisces, Feb 19-March 20: swan, stork, sandpiper.

The magic broomstick or, to use its proper name, the besom is an important and largely misunderstood tool of the witch. Gaining its notoriety from the witch finders manuals and woodcuts of mediaeval Europe, it is a tool of a far more ancient origin. Evidence of besom practice and use can be traced as far back as ancient Egypt. Papyrus drawings and carvings on the wall of temples show the Pharaoh holding in his hand a long, narrow paddle-shaped instrument. A symbol of sovereignty and mastery over matter, only the Pharaoh or the high priest was allowed to use this: tool. But what was it used for? Travelers and scholars who have visited Egypt for thousands of years have marveled at the construction of her pyramids and wonders that even to this day have never been explained. Only recently has the theory of levitation been posed again. The ancient priest scholars of Egypt and the magical adepts knew that the Pharaoh's paddle-shaped tool symbolized the power over air and gravity. It possessed as well a spirit force called by the Egyptians "Sekhem" that could be animated through the use of a magical spell. Many examples of these ancient besoms have been found in the tombs of the Pharaohs, the most well preserved examples being from the tomb of the boy king Tutankhamen. The next evolution of the besom takes it from an elaborately gilded wooden staff with a fan of feathers to the traditional form we know today, that of the broomstick. Why it took such a common form is not known but is thought to be for protection so that persecutors would see it as an everyday household item and not the witch's tool that it is. In this new form it began to take on the additional magical qualities of purification and cleansing. The negative energies would be swept out of a person's dwelling, leaving it clear. In the case of spirit activity, salt would be sprinkled on the floor and the magical besom, accompanied by words of art, would sweep the spirit from the house in the form of an exorcism. Witch doctors in African tribes use the besom in a handheld form called a "Spirit Broom." With this they brush down the body of their patients to remove bad luck, illness and the evil spirit associated with them. However, beneath the surface of this folksy, somewhat benign use of the besom lies its higher magical purpose: that of a tool of flight. The embodiment of air and spirit allowed the rider to travel forth on other planes of existence to gather information and commune with other spirit forms. And just how was this flight achieved? Flight and the use of the besom could only be achieved by a trained practitioner of magic. In some Witchcraft traditions the besom itself as well as the crown and the sword were the tools of the High Priestess or Priest. Only those who had trained in astral work could hope to achieve flight. A certain level of discipline had to be reached, for besom flight entailed the separation of ones astral body from the physical. Traditional methods of besom flight that have been documented as far back as mediaeval times mention the use of a flying ointment. The flying ointment is a mild hallucinogenic that when applied assists the astral body to travel out onto the astral plane. To achieve this a witch would lie in a relaxed state with his or her besom at their side. The eyelids, nose, mouth, and pulse points would be anointed by fellow coven members. The flying ointment, while assisting in the separation of the astral body, would also act as a seal so that negative entities could not enter the body while it lay in stasis. Then, after magical words were spoken, the witch would leave her body to fly the astral plane. While flying around in her astral body, a witch could sometimes be seen by a sensitive person, appearing much like a ghost or apparition. This would explain the sighting of witches on their broomsticks throughout history. Sightings occurred mostly in small European villages and most probably after eating fermented grain, a mild hallucinogenic itself! So, as a final note before you get on your broomstick and fly, I would like to give you my personal recipe for flying ointment and a little word of advice: The care and use of the magical besom must not be taken lightly, especially if you intend to fly; you must learn first how to astral project properly and safely.

Black it is believed witches wore black to be like the night. Native Americans associated black with learning and wisdom. The cone shape of the witch's hat was believed to direct energy from Higher dimensions to her mind and down through her body. Witches carried lanterns to illuminate the world above and below. Cats in North Africa and Greece, has been a symbol of the hearth, or Spirit of place. The buds of the willow branch were thought to resemble the paws of the Cat, a favorite pet of witches. The moon was believed to be a symbol of mysteries. The besom was believed to be the chosen mode of transportation for Witches, the besom was thought to symbolize the ability to blend home Life with travel to other spiritual dimensions.

With Halloween upon us, it is worthwhile to remember a few simple rules to help keep this season healthy, happy and SAFE!! Please use these helpful hints this and every year. 1. When it appears that you have killed the monster, NEVER check to see if it's really dead. 2. Never read a book of demon summoning aloud, even as a joke. 3. Do not search the basement, especially if the power has gone out. 4. If your children speak to you in Latin or any other language which they should not know, shoot them immediately. It will save you a lot of grief in the long run. However, it will probably take several rounds to kill them, so be prepared. This also applies to kids who speak with somebody else's voice. 5. When you have the benefit of numbers, NEVER pair off and go alone. 6. As a general rule, don't solve puzzles that open portals to Hell. 7. Never stand in, on, or above a grave, tomb, or crypt. This would apply to any other house of the dead as well. 8. If you're searching for something which caused a loud noise and find out that it's just the cat, GET THE HELL OUT! 9. If appliances start operating by themselves, do not check for short circuits; just get out. 10. Do not take ANYTHING from the dead. 11. If you find a town which looks deserted, there's probably a good reason for it. Don't stop and look around. 12. Don't fool with recombinant DNA technology unless you're sure you know what you're doing. 13. If you're running from the monster, expect to trip or fall down at east twice, more if you are female. Also note that, despite the fact that you are running and the monster is merely shambling along, it's still moving fast enough to catch up with you. 14. If your companions suddenly begin to exhibit uncharacteristic behavior such as hissing, fascination for blood, glowing eyes, increasing hairiness, and so on, kill them immediately. 15. Stay away from certain geographical locations, some of which are listed here: Amityville, Elm Street, Transylvania, Nilbog (you're in trouble if you recognize this one), anywhere in Texas where chainsaws are sold, the Bermuda Triangle, or any small town in Maine. 16. If your car runs out of gas at night on a lonely road, do not go to he nearby deserted-looking house to phone for help. If you think that it is strange you ran out of gas because you thought you had most of a tank, hoot yourself instead. You are going to die anyway, and most likely be eaten. 17. Beware of strangers bearing tools. For example: chainsaws, staple guns, hedge trimmers, electric carving knives, combines, lawn mowers, butane torches, soldering irons, band saws, or any devices made from deceased companions. 18. If you find that your house is built upon a cemetery, now is the time to move in with the in-laws. This also applies to houses that had previous inhabitants who went mad or committed suicide or died in some horrible fashion, or had inhabitants who performed satanic practices. 19. Dress appropriately. When investigating a noise downstairs in an old house, women should not wear a flimsy negligee. And carry a flashlight, not a candle. 20. Do not mention the names of demons around open flames, as these can flare suddenly. Be especially careful of fireplaces in this regard. HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Halloween Moon Omens If the moon is new on Samhain, this indicates that the coming year will be fertile ground for new beginnings to take place, such as the start of a new project, a new career, or even a new way of thinking. For those desiring children, a new moon at Samhain is a lucky omen, indicating a new birth within a year's time. If the moon is waxing on Samhain, this indicates good luck throughout the coming year. It also indicates growth and an increase of all things that are positive nature. If the moon is full on Samhain, this ensures the that the powers of all forms of magick and divination practiced on this night will be at their greatest. A secret wish made at midnight will be realized within the coming year. Do not be surprised if an experienced of a psychic nature awaits you in the very near future. If the moon is waning on Samhain, this can be an omen of either good or bad consequences. It can indicate the elimination of such things as bad habits, unhealthy relationships and obstacles within the coming year. Or it can point to a decrease (such as in one's health) or a loss of some kind soon to take place. If the moon is in the dark phase on Samhain, this is believed to be a very negative omen. Exercise extreme caution in all of your endeavors within the next twelve months, and it wouldn't hurt to protect yourself by wearing or carrying any type of amulet or talisman designed to ward off bad luck and misfortune. He knows when you're happy He knows when you're comfortable He knows when you're confident And he ALWAYS knows when you have carrots.

Samhain(pronounced Sow-in, Sah-vin, or Sahm-hayn), known most popularly as Halloween, marks the end of the third and final harvest, is a day to commune with and remember the dead, and is a celebration of the eternal cycle of reincarnation. Samhain (once again Halloween) is the most coveted sabbat by the Wiccan (and many Pagan) religions. In the European traditions, Samhain is the night when the old God dies, and the Crone Goddess mourns him deeply for the next six weeks. The popular image of her as the old Halloween hag menacingly stirring her cauldron comes from the Celtic belief that all dead souls return to her cauldron of life, death, and rebirth to await reincarnation. Halloween, plain and simple is our favorite time of year. A true time for witches, Witchcraft itself, and Wiccans alike who feel that on this night the separation between the physical and spiritual realities is it's least guarded and it's veil the thinnest. It is a time for dimensional openings and workings, it is a somber holiday, one of dark clothes and thoughts for the dead, it is said to be the time when those of necromantic talents can speak with the dead and it is certainly a time to remember ones own dead. Witches believe it is a time of endings of relationships and bad situations and it is the time when one can see the glimmer of hope in the future. There are as many concepts attached to this holiday as any other, truly a time of remembrance of our ancestors and all those who have gone before.