Beltane Celebration

On Saturday May 10th, Lexa will be giving a free lecture on Tarot and celebrating the May with Nancy Venus and the Copper Cauldron Coven in Wantaugh Park, Long Island. This is their 15th Maypole Event. For complete details click here.
Blessed Beltane!

Witch Dr will be Here!

The 25th Annual HALLOWEEN BALL
Sunday October 28TH 2007

Get Your Magick On
at The 25th Annual Halloween Ball
Sunday October 28th 2007
Benefit for the ASPCA

Location
The Delancy
168 Delancy Street
NYC NY
For Directions Only 212 254-9920

Grand Spiral Dance to call upon your Ancestors
to Honor the lifting of the Veil

Lady Rhea and Lady Zoradia of Magickal Realms
call upon you to partake in a Magickal Journey of
Dance and Ritual.

Featuring:
Jezibell and Jehan and Company performing Goddess Belly Dance
The Inquisition played by Joe Zuchowski

The Witches Lounge on the 'Roof Top'
Psychics, Games and all Manner of Earthly Delights

D.J. Bobby Black spinning Rock and Goth
D.J. Drachir spinning Trance and House

Bands Vasaria, Black Water Rising and Doom Tree


Cash prizes Best Costume, Goddess and God $100.00 / $50.00 / $25.00

~Food & Cash Bar

~Horror Classics on the Big Screen

~All Magickal Folks Welcomed!

~Pagan Drumming

Bring your drums and join the Midnight Ritual

This Fundraising Event is for the A.S.P.C.A.

Help our little friends they need us!

The Inquisition will be arresting possibly you, so make sure yours friends can bail you out and donate for the A.S.P.C.A

Must be 21 with I.D.
No Ritual Weapons Please!!!

Doors open at 8pm
Tickets are $15.00 in Advance
$20.00 at the door if available

Tickets are Available Through
www.MagickalRealms.com
Magickal Realms (718) 892-5350
Original Products (718) 367-9589

More Info: www.magickalrealms.com

Witch Dr will be here!

THE NEW YORK CITY WITCHES’ HALLOWEEN MASQUERADE BALL 2007.
Presented by Charmed By Starr & The NYC Wiccan Family Temple

A Night for all Vamps, Pagans, Witches, Druids, Goths, Faerie Folk, Magickal Folk, Indigos & Urbanites.
WE'LL PUT A SPELL ON YOUuuuuuoooo!!
Saturday Oct. 27th
9PM ‘til – 3AM when the Ghosts goes home!
PLACE: Studio 101 @ 101 Lafayette St. / Walker St. 2nd floor
Proceeds to benefit: THE MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION & NYC Pagan Council
***DJ’S *** NYC's Best Psychics
SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCES with Dancers & Singers **MIDNIGHT SAMHAIN RITUAL** ~The Lifting of the Veils - Dance of Souls – Honoring our ancestors and our recent dead and celebrating their life with us.
****Once a year you are invited to cavort among real witches and enter an enchanted world of twilight mystery****



TICKETS ARE BEING SOLD for:
$15.00 in person from Sept. 1st – Oct. 26th
AT DOOR - $20.00
18 to enter, and 21+ to drink
At the following locations:
Halloween Adventure (New York’s biggest Halloween Shop) www.newyorkcostumes.com
104 4th Avenue / 11th Street
Or
BailiWick Realty, Inc. www.bailiwickrealty.com
419 Lafayette St. 2nd floor
Bet. East 4th St. & Astor Place
Or online at: direct link to page please use this link http://charmedbystarr.com/event/samhain.htm.
Website: www.charmedbystarr.com
A most spellbinding place to visit – A Wiccan/Pagan eshoppe offering books, incense, oils, bath salts, candles, herbs, resings, capes, sabbat items, temple cloths, athames, ritual robes, spell kits, tarot decks, crystals etc. For all your Wiccan / Pagan needs do visit us. Blessed Be.

If you would like further information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Starr R., please call 917-378-5012 or email her at starr@charmedbystarr.com

Witchy Wear

My friend and former student, who is now a Witch Queen in her own right, has some very cool Wiccan Jewelry items up on Ebay. Nancy designs all her own stuff and it's all empowered and blessed by rituals to the Goddess. Here are a few of her fabulous new witchy items! All items available at http://stores.ebay.com/Nancy-Venus-Sanguine-Queen

Harvest Goddess Brooch, handmade for Mabon, Autumn Equinox.
She is: Ceres, Demeter, Erce, Habodia


Genuine Ruby Cross set in Sterling, So Goth!
Great for Samhain,

Pics from Beltane Festival

Here are some highlights from the 14th Annual Beltane Circle in Wantagh Park.
thanks to nancy venus, john callow, and all the witches of the Copper Cauldron
for putting this amazing Beltane event together!

the musicians


















the bellydancer


















kiddypole


















Wendy Dann gave a children's workshop on How to be a Fairy.


















Peter the Druid, Dawn Hunt, and Lexa gave workshops for the adults.




















































Nancy Venus taught us something new too.
Did you know why there are so many June brides?
Because they all get pregnant during the fertility rites of May!!!


















The faires dance and bless and cleanse us
with the four elements.




















when the sun is in Taurus...
it is best to use a BULL horn to cast the circle



















Lady Venus (Nancy) calls Lady Venus (Lexa)
to bless the circle with the element of air.


















Mmm smells sweet...


















the Spiral Dance begins
























































































The May Queen and King are chosen





















the Lord of the MayPole has a look of serenity.


















There were many hunky Pans in the woods this Beltane



















Pagans Feast


















the day ended with a gorgeous sunset :)


















Happy May!

Calling Women, Cattle, Corn, and Horned Gods!

O do not tell the Priests of our Arts,
For they would call it sin;
But we shall be in the woods all night,
A conjuring summer in!
And we bring you good news by word of mouth
For women, cattle and corn
For the Sun is coming up from the South
With Oak, and Ash and Thorn!

ONLY ONE MORE DAY TILL THE MAY!

DON'T MISS IT!
14th Annual Beltane Celebration

Saturday, May 5th, 2007, 11 AM to 6 PM,

Wantagh Park, NY, 2007 Raindate: Sunday, May 6th

Lexa will be giving a lecture on the Sacred Tarot. There will be other workshops on the magickal arts and wonderful craftspeople selling god/dess and wiccan wares. We will dance the Maypole and jump the joyous Beltane fires. Who will be crowned as new May King and Queen?
Come and join in the celebration of this ancient and sacred fertility rite which brings prosperity to all who participate.

for more info about this blessed event check out this link:
Beltane Magick

MAY DAY MAY DAY

That's right, Beltane is TOMORROW! For those of you who celebrated this past weekend in Central Park (and elsewhere) - I hope you had a blessed event. And for those of you who haven't celebrated yet...
Please join Nancy Venus and I at Wantagh Park for the
14th Annual Maypole Event

Saturday, May 5th, 2007, 11 AM to 6 PM,

Wantagh Park, NY, 2007 Raindate: Sunday, May 6th

Lexa will be giving a lecture on the Sacred Tarot. There will be other workshops on the magickal arts and wonderful craftspeople selling god/dess and wiccan wares. We will dance the Maypole and jump the joyous Beltane fires. Who will be crowned as new May King and Queen?
Come and join in the celebration of this ancient and sacred fertility rite which brings prosperity to all who participate.

for more info about this blessed event check out this link:
Beltane Magick

Beltane Celebration in Central Park

The following is a Lady Venus approved event and don't forget Beltane in Wantagh Park (Long Island) on the following Saturday of May 5th where Lexa be giving a free class on the sacred Tarot.

CHARMED BY STARR

PRESENTS

BELTANE IN THE PARK SABBAT Celebration

APRIL 29th 2007

3-5pm

Purpose: Desire, sensuality, passion, may poles, flower garlands, love magicks, protection of animals.

Considered to be one of the 4 Great Sabbats.

In ye olde tradition we will have a Maypole Dance, Jumping the Cauldron, and a guided meditation.

As we welcome Beltane one of the most important festivals of the pagan year traditionally marking the arrival of summer in ancient times. With its counterpart Samhain, Beltane divides the year into its two primary seasons, Winter the Dark and Summer the Light.

It’s the festival of fertility, celebrating beginnings and reproduction, the height of Spring and the flowering of life. Beltane is also known as May Eve, May Day, and Walpurgis Night.

It’s a “between time” when the veils between the two worlds are at their thinnest and most fragile. The two worlds intersect at the crossroads of Beltane where they intermingle and unite and anything may happen. It’s the time when the Faeries return from their winter respite, and people placed rowan branches at their windows and doors for protection from the otherworld. It’s a time of divination and communion with Faery Folk and all Nature Spirits

Beltane, or Beltaine, is the celebration of two powers joining to bring creation, in this case, the Goddess and the God. The two form a sacred union, from which comes creation, growth and harmony. The God, now grown, becomes enraptured with the Goddess and from their love, all of nature grows and flowers. It is a time of sensuality and sexuality, the reawakening of the
earth in vivid colours, vibrant scents, fresh greenery and the sheer joy of summer after a long dormant winter

Bring food and drinks eg: fruits, grape juice, cakes, cookies, veggies and dip, sandwiches it is a large picnic. etc.

Attire: Suggested colors are pink, yellow, green, violet, red, white (not required for attendance). (bring blankets to sit on, and a chalice if you have one)

COME AND ENJOY. Phone: 917-378-5012/347-756-7486

Bring blankets or sheets to sit on when needed.

$5.00 charge for expenses.

IF ANYONE HAS HAND INSTRUMENTS PLEASE BRING AS MANY AS POSSIBLE WE DID INFORM THEM WE WILL HAVE MUSIC bring them, we create our own music.

Email: Events@CharmedbyStarr.
CharmedbyStarr.com /Co-host Phoenix Rising Moon Coven

THANK YOU. BLESSED BE.

Directions: The Dairy in Central Park: permit confirmed for: The Dairy Celebrants would be met at entrance at 60th and 5th Ave. (N, R, W trains across the street from 60th and 5th) Someone would be there with a Beltane Sign at 2:30pm. Directions: Enter at 60th & Central Park head North West you will see the pond on the left then you will see Wollman rink on the left. Then to your immediate right you will see a giant stone mountain, directly behind that giant stone mountain is The Dairy one of the few unbooked remaining spaces that day.

Beltane Magick is Just Around the Corner!

Gather ye Faires large and small Come ladies and lords one and all!

That's right - it's almost time for the...

14th Annual Maypole Event

Saturday, May 5th, 2007, 11 AM to 6 PM,

Wantagh Park, NY, 2007 Raindate: Sunday, May 6th

Lexa will be giving a lecture on the Sacred Tarot. There will be other workshops on the magickal arts and wonderful craftspeople selling god/dess and wiccan wares. We will dance the Maypole and jump the joyous Beltane fires. Who will be crowned as new May King and Queen?
Come and join in the celebration of this ancient and sacred fertility rite which brings prosperity to all who participate.

for more info about this blessed event check out this link:
Beltane Magick


this is a family friendly event!

blessed be
Lexa

13 things about Imbolc TT#4

1 Imbolc is celebrated on Feb 1 and 2
2 It is one of the great Sabbats of the Witches
3 Imbolc heralds the lactating of the ewes in preparation for the birth of the spring lambs.
4 It also marks the budding of the trees and the first signs of spring

5 Also called Candlemas

6 and sacred to the Celtic goddess Bridgid

6 Also known by Christians as St. Bridgid's Day.

7 Bridgid is the goddess of poetry and inspiration.

8 She is also the protectress of virgins

9 and rules the light half of the year ushering out the dark half on Feb 1.

10 It is customary to lit bonfires on Imbolc

11 or light red candles for Bridgid and make a wish to be inspired and filled with light, inspiration and creativity.

12 It is also traditional to initiate new witches on Imbolc and all who receive initiation on this day are triply blessed.

13 It is of course a sacred duty on this night to perform the GREAT RITE.

Blessed Imbolc!

Technorati Tag:thursday thirteen

A Solstice Spread

Dear Lexa
I know you are a great psychic and priestess of the wicca. I am wondering if you know of any special readings that can be done for the Yule or Winter Solstice. With the cold months coming, I am wishing for some insight and wisdom to see me through until the spring. Any guidance you can offer will be quite appreciated.
blessed be
a friend and fan in Great Britain

Dear F&F
thank you for your inquiry. Below is a wonderful tarot spread
that I would love to give you as a gift for the season.
Have a cool Yule!
blessed be
Lexa

A SOLSTICE SPREAD
by Lady Venus

At the Solstice we greet the new born Sun King; the wheel turns and the days begin to wax full. The sun is the central life force of our solar system. This tarot spread combines the sun and planetary energies with the 78 sacred symbols of the Tarot.

Shuffle and cut the cards as usual. Place four cards in a vertical line, beginning at the bottom of the line. Place the fifth card across the fourth card. Then add six cards above the fourth card. You should have ten cards in a vertical line and one card crossing over the card in the fourth position.

• The first or bottom card represents the Sun. Its' meaning will connect to and shed light on all the other cards. It represents the self or what is central to you at this time.

• The second card is the Mercury position, the planet closest to the Sun. This card reveals your creative and communication skills, as well as what others are saying about you.

• The third card is Venus and shows the love energy around you. (what you are giving out as well as receiving.)

• The fourth card is the Earth position and represents your health, wealth, and material well being.

• The fifth card (card crossing the Earth) is the Moon and symbolizes the emotional life and feelings connected to the Earth card. The moon position can also reveal psychic awareness.

• The sixth position is Mars. This card reveals your ambition and/or sexual energy. If the card is negative it may mean you have sexual blocks (the Devil),trouble releasing your anger (eight of swords), or perhaps you are too combative (five of wands).

• Jupiter is the seventh card and shows your potential growth (spiritual and financial), and the strength or weakness of your physical and psychic protection fields.

• The eighth position, Saturn, shows the lessons you are learning and the restrictions placed upon you at this time.

• Uranus in the ninth position informs you of unexpected events (positive or negative). It also reveals how much raw untapped creative energy you have at this time. Compare this card to the Mercury card. If they compliment each other, you are receiving Divine guidance and utilizing it properly.

• Neptune in the tenth placement represents your dreams or fantasies. Compare it to the Venus card to understand whether you are expressing your love energy or suppressing your true desires.

• The eleventh and final card is Pluto and unveils the darker issues in your life. It shows your spiritual power as well as the demons you must face and conquer. If the card is positive it means you are on the regenerative side of a disturbing issue in your life. If the card is negative it may mean you are spiraling downward and letting your inner demons have the upper hand.

This spread can be used to ask a question or to examine an issue, but I recommend it more as a general checkup to look at your planetary aura. If you want the reading to be of the highest spiritual or meditative order, use only the 22 Major Trump cards. If you are asking a question of a more earthly nature, use all 78 cards. Look for similar suits and which positions they fall in as that will indicate a relationship between those planets. Here are some examples:

• Ace of Wands in the Mars position, Seven of Wands in the Mercury position, and Ten of Wands in the Saturn position indicate a relationship between these three planets. Perhaps your Mercury energy is moving in many different directions or people are offering you many different opportunities. Mars is saying to single out a particular goal and move on it. Saturn tells you the lesson is to be responsible and carry that goal out to its conclusion.
  
• Two of pentacles in the Earth position, Three of Pentacles in the Moon position and Four of Pentacles in the Jupiter position. You are debating whether or not you should make a change. You feel good about your work, yet the Jupiter card is telling you to wait before making any kind of expansion, especially if it's financial.
  
• Seven of cups in the Venus position and Three of Cups in the Neptune position. Looking at the seven alone, you might conclude that there is disillusionment in love. However the three and seven together mean that wishes will come true and inner needs and desires will be fulfilled. You are definitely on the right track in love, and probably overwhelmed that your inner needs are finally being met.

This spread uses eleven cards in all. Eleven is the number of Nuit, the Egyptian sky goddess. Her body encompasses all the stars in the heavens. The Solstice is also a time to honor the Goddess; Great Mother of the Lord of Light. Blessed Yule.

Bewitched!

Happy Halloween and Blessed Samhain dear Readers! Today I am combining two letters which somehow seem to go together:

Dear Lexa:

Although I've considered myself a practicing witch for about 12 years now, I actually don't do many spells. However, I notice that certain times of the year-like now-call to me so strongly I just feel alive with magic. Its definitely a power surge that I greatly enjoy, but often I have no real needs to cast spells for. Could you shed some light on this experience of internal magic just lighting up like a bonfire and suggest some ways to indulge in the experience?

Thanks so much!
Wise Woman
Its enough for me to think that angels, or for that matter,
any form of goodness functions like water; they run into any opening they are given.
-Martha Beck

Dear Lexa –
I'm a young witchlet without a coven yet and I really want to celebrate Samhain (not just Halloween)! What can I do to make it special?
Blessed Be
Sorceress's Aprentice

Dear W.W. and S.A.

I can appreciate where both of you are coming from. I remember ye days of old when I was a young solitary practitioner without a coven or a clue. I also look back fondly at my days of working with a coven and then coupling with a Priest. After 25 + years, I have come full circle and find myself quite happy to once again be working as a Solitary.

Ok, here are some pointers I have to offer: Like you Wise Woman, I rarely have need to work spells (for myself) although much of my life is infused with ritual intention. The internal magick (as you put it) must be honored because it is so powerful. It always makes me think of the opening scene of the 1963 film THE RAVEN. Peter Lorre and Vincent Price are having a magickal battle. Lorre is desperately trying to set up an elaborate ceremonial altar and frantically looking for his "magickal equipment". Price in the meantime, just waves his hand and works wonders. Certainly an unfair fight but funny as hell! This teaches us that sometimes the smallest gesture can produce grand results whilst the greatest efforts may end up ineffectual.

I think the best way to honor your magick is to be in touch with the season. Connect with the Crone and find your inner wisdom. Whether your bonfire is actual or in spirit, let it fuel your every moment so that even the mundane becomes magickal. And young witchlet, don't knock Halloween just because you don't have a coven. You know what, Muggle parties can be a heck of a lot of fun! After years of Witches' Balls, I find them kind a "old witches' hat" and I prefer to tango and ballroom dance the night away with the 'regular folk'. So that's where I'll be tonight. I enjoy being the only witch among them and standing proud and out of the broom closet. Will I wear a costume? Nope, I prefer to go as myself this year because there's no one else I'd rather be! (Wise Woman, I'm sure you can appreciate that sentiment.)

Now don't get me wrong - after going out on the town, I'll be home by midnight to do my witchy thing. I'll be casting a spell to raise creative energy. And how will I do that? I'll begin writing my NaNoWriMo novel. Sure I'll probably light a candle and burn some incense, but the REAL MAGICK is in beginning this work. Remember - this is the Witches' New Year, so you can handle your ritual in the same way you would on Jan 1.

What is it you want to invoke for the new year?

On Nov 1, I'll take some time to remember my loved ones who have passed over. This is really what this holiday is about. There on the right is Jalup. Our old cat at Ye Old Occult shop where I used to work. Jalup was the best cat a witch could ever have and I'll put out some Beef Jerky for him (his favorite) in case he decides to stop by.


























I'll also honor and remember (with a mixture of sorrow and joy) my darling brother Jory who passed over 7 years ago in a car accident. He was one of the most special people in my life and I miss him dearly. One of the great things about this time of year is that the departed are close by. The veil is lifted and communication can be stronger than at any other time of the year. The Goddess also brings comfort at this time. Remember, it is the season of death and change. Honor these themes in your life (in your own way) and you are guarranteed to feel the Magick!

For more ritual on Samhain see Sacred Harvest Fruits