Holiday Stress Relief

As we approach Christmas I thought I would post some stress relieving magickal ideas.
This is the most joyous time of year, I know, however it is also a stressful time for us as well. We have about 10 days left to finish up the last of our shopping as well as plan and purchase our holiday meal. And lets not forget about getting our houses in order before company arrives.
I figured we could all use some easy stress relieving ideas for this time so here they are:
Crystals are wonderful treasures for so many things and there are a few that can come in handy when dealing with stress and anxiety.

Banded Agate:
Energy type: Projective. Associated element: Fire.
Used for protection, to restore energy within the body and relieve stress.

Blue Agate:
Energy type: Receptive. Associated element: Water.
Used as an amulet to promote peace and happiness. Can be used to de-stress yourself by holding in your hand.

Red Agate (Blood agate):
Energy type: Projective. Associated element: Fire.
Used to promote calm and inner peace, it can also be used to heal the blood and guard against insect bites.

Amethyst
Powers & Magical uses: Dreams, Overcoming Alcoholism, Healing, Psychism, Peace, Love, Protection against theft, Courage, Happiness.
Energy type: Receptive. Associated element: Water.
Use to prevent insomnia and nightmares by sleeping with a piece of amethyst under your pillow. It is a reducer of stress, so it can be used to great effect in today's pressured lifestyle. Use amethyst to calm fears, raise hopes, and enhance spirituality. Amethyst can also be used to enhance psychic abilities, and aid meditation.
An all round gemstone that you should not be without.

Chrysocolla
Powers & Magickal uses: Peace, Wisdom, Love.
Energy type: Receptive. Associated element: Water.
Used to sooth the emotions, and promote loving relationships.

Blue Quartz:
Energy type: Receptive. Associated element: Water.
Used to promote peace and tranquillity.

Rose Quartz:
Energy type: Receptive. Associated element: Water.
Used to open the heart chakra, and to promote peace and harmony.

Sodalite
Powers & Magickal uses: Healing, Peace, Meditation, Wisdom.
Energy type: Receptive. Associated element: Water.
Used to reduce stress levels and lower blood pressure.

That is a decent selection of crystals that you can use to relieve stress. Make sure to cleanse them first of course and then carry them as close to your skin as possible.
Crystal information found on WiccaChat.com

Here are some simple spells. I love bath spells as a simple bath is relaxing on its own, adding magick to it can only make it better.

A PEACE BATH
Draw a bath for yourself. Pour a tablespoon or so of milk into a large bowl of water and say:
'Water ripples on the breeze...'
Add several rose petals (fresh or dried) to the bowl of water and milk.
Say: 'Thistledown flies through the air...'
Stir the water, milk, and rose petals with the index finger of your right hand. Say:
'Silent as the mighty seas...'
Gently pour the mixture that you have created into the bath. Say:
'Peaceful here without a care.'
Step in. Bathe for as long as you wish.
Let the water absorb negative thoughts and worries. Allow yourself a few moments of healing.

TO CREATE CALMNESS AND HELP CONCENTRATION
You need: White candle Jasmine or Pine incense Sprig of sage
This is best performed at night, but it can be done any time of day.
Light the white candle and the incense stick.
Close your eyes and hold the sage close to your nose, and breathe in its calming scent.
Keep holding it as say:
"Calming powers of sage and pine, Add order to this life of mine. (name)
By the four corners, elements, God and Goddess too, If this gift seems fit to you,
Then please grant calmness unto him/me. So mote it be, So mote it be."
Repeat as necessary. 3x3 times. It always works within a day or two.

I really liked the idea of this one....
DEPRESSION/STRESSED SPIRIT SPELL
Everyone knows someone who is or has been depressed or really stressed out so
make time in your magical + social life for them. Give them a helping hand by writing
this on paper and then burning it to release the magic:
Magic moon burning bright,
Let mine will be done this night.
Answer now my Pagan Spell,
Let all with ______ now be well.

khakani.com is where I came across these spells. This site has a nice selection of free spells and chants.

I hope you all enjoyed this post and found some things you can utilize to reduce any holiday stress you may be experiencing.
Brightest Blessings,
The Celtic Witch
www.TheCelticWitch.com

Samhain Faery Myth and Magic

Possessing the power to bewitch or bedevil humans with their illusions, known as glamours, fairies gradually found their way into the myth and folklore of many European cultures.
The inhabitants of pre-Christian Ireland also believed that Samhain was a time when a strange dark-skinned race of goblin like creatures with occult powers emerged from their secret hiding places. Resentful of the human race for taking over the land that was once theirs, they delighted in creating as much mischief as possible. Some were merely pranksters, while others were more evil natured and regarded as dangerous. According to legend, every seven years these creatures would steal human infants or small children and then sacrifice them to their god.
Because Samhain was a night on which the fairy mounds stood wide open, all manners of fairies, mostly baneful, were free to walk the earth. Also, any person careless or unfortunate enough to step upon an open mound would fall victim to permanent enchantment by a fairy spell and either succumb to madness or waste away from a mysterious and incurable illness. However, according to Celtic folklore, on Samhain night, when neither human nor fairy needed any magickal password to enter, an open fairy mound could, like quicksand, pull an unsuspecting mortal into the world of fairies, where he or she would be doomed to remain forever.
Samhain was more than a night when spirits walked the earth. Like the other great festivals dominating the old Celtic calendar, Samhain was also connected with fertility of the earth and its animals. It was a time when the final harvest was celebrated and when farmers throughout the land brought their livestock down from the pastures and made preparations for the coming of winter.
In Ireland, the Tuatha de Danann are active just before Samhain and will bless your home for a small portion of your harvest. But any crop left unharvested after sundown on October 31st is taken by the Phookas, baneful faeries who render the crop unfit to eat. Spelled Pwca in Wales, these baneful faeries remain active until spring.
Just before Samhain the final harvest had to be gathered in. Whatever was left in the fields after this time would be taken by malevolent faeries. But just in case some of these creatures wished to jump in early, bells were often tolled all during the day of October 30th, the last day of the harvest, to ward off encroaching faeries as the work was being done. An old Mother Goose rhyme reflects this ancient custom with the words, "The boughs they do shake and the bells they do ring, so merrily comes our harvest in..."
In general, baneful faeries are more active during the last quarter of the waning moon, and helpful faeries are more active at the waxing. Inland water faeries are generally friendly, while sea faeries are more malevolent, a concept which no doubt grew out of the dangers of sea travel. Good faeries are commonly more active from Beltane to Samhain, and the more mischievous ones from Samhain to Beltane.
To protect yourself from baneful faeries at Samhain, hang dried apples or dried heather over your doors.

A Fairy Spell

A spell to enable a person to perceive fairy rings and to hear the sound of fairy music calls for the following herbs to be gathered, diced, and then baked into a tiny oaten cake:
bay, mistletoe, rue, thyme, vervain, and yarrow.
Anoint the cake with a bit of honey and three drops of rose oil.
On Halloween night, as the moon of enchantment is rising in the sky above, place the sweetened cake under a tree or a bush in your garden as an offering to the fairy-folk. According to witches lore, if your magick is true and your heart filled only with sincerity, the fairies will open their secret and wondrous world to you right before your very eyes.
The other times of the year when such a spell is said to be effective are: at moonrise on Lady Day (March 25th), Easter, the first day of May (known as May Day, Beltane, and Walpurgis), the Summer Solstice (June 21st), Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

There were hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of different types of faeries who inhabited the ancient Celtic lands, but in Ireland (where it was once believed that all cats were actually fairies in disguise) it was the Phooka (pooka) that was particularly feared on Samhain, when it took great pleasure in tormenting humans. The supernatural’s of the night possessed the power to shape shift, and they were known to often take on the disguise of a black horse with hideous features.
The Celts devised numerous charms to protect themselves against the Little People. The ringing of bells (especially church bells) and the hanging of iron horseshoes above doorways were two methods believed to be effective in keeping spiteful fairies at bay. Many people in various parts of the world still believe that iron is a metal that repels and protects against all manners of fairies. It is commonly used in the making of magickal amulets and talismans for protection.

I hope you enjoyed the latest Samhain post.
Brightest Blessings,
The Celtic Witch
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