STRAWBERRY MOON: Begin Your Journey On This Magick Strawberry Power Time.

A new month a new full moon. This time is the tasty Strawberry Full Moon.This is the sixth full moon of the year. Whenever I think of strawberries I can help but get excited, is that just me? Anyway, this is the closest full moon to the Summer Solstice which is on 21st June. Will the Moon be pink, I hear you ask! Well, the color of the Moon doesn’t have anything to do with it’s color or appearance unfortunately but that doesn’t take away from the strong magickal potency that we can all access and work with.

NOTE: The ideal time to look at the moon is when it is rising or setting since that’s when it will appear the largest to the naked eye. Seek out a clear horizon and avoid areas with tall buildings and thick forestry. He also urges people to stay away from bright lights if possible for maximum visibility. Only on the night of the full Moon is it possible to see the Moon appear on the horizon during dusk.

Why is it called the Strawberry Moon?

It is called the strawberry moon based of the history of the North American tribes. The name Strawberry Moon is rooted in the traditions of Indigenous groups in the Northeastern US, including the Algonquin, Ojibwe, Dakota and Lakota communities that saw the celestial event as a sign that strawberries, and other fruits, were ripe and ready to be gathered.

In Europe, this moon is often called the honey moon or the mead moon, and historical writings from the region suggest that honey was ready for harvest around the end of the month.

From this Moon we can experience enormous energies for calling up and working with the elementals (faeries, elves and other supernatural beings), alongside waves of psychic energy. This energy will flow very freely during this time which will allow you to experience some supernatural, and unusual occurences.

Other names for the Strawberry Full Moon are: Mead Moon, Lovers Moon, Strong Sun Moon, Before Lithia Moon, Honey Moon, Moon of Horses, Rose Moon, Blooming Moon, Green Corn Moon, Birth Moon, Hatching Moon, Green Corn Moon.

This full moon lines up with the birthday of the Muses. What are the Muses? The Muses are the inspirational goddesses of literature, science and the arts and were considered the source of the creativity and knowledge embodied in the poetry, lyric songs, and myths that were told from person to person for centuries, in ancient Greek culture.

The classical understanding of the Muses established a set of nine goddesses. These nine goddesses embody the arts and inspire creation with their graces. This was achieved through remembered and improvised song and mime, writing, traditional music, and dance. Here are the names and association of the 9 Muse goddesses:

Calliope (epic poetry)
Clio (history)
Euterpe (flutes and music)
Thalia (comedy and pastoral poetry)
Melpomene (tragedy)
Terpsichore (dance)
Erato (love poetry and lyric poetry)
Polyhymnia (sacred poetry)
Urania (astronomy)

INTERESTING FACT: The original Roman name for the month of June is Junonius. This month was named after the great Mother Goddess Juno and considered a lucky month to get married.

What is the Summer Solstice?

The Summer Solstice is a very important time to many people from many different cultures from around the world. It is sacred for many reasons. It is sacred to the Goddess of love, marriage and fertility.

NOTE: In the Russian-Slavonic cultures the Summer Solstice festivals were called Kupalo and Jarilo. Other names were: Kostroma, Sobotka, Kresnice and Vajano. Features of this festival include the lighting of fires, sprinkling of water, foretelling of the future.

The Full Moon Festival of Edfu

In Egypt they honor(ed) the goddess Hathor. Hathor is depicted with cow horns on Her head to represent the cresent Moon. Every year on the New Moon Hathor’s statue was taken from Her temple at Dendera and transported by boat to the temple of the god Horus at Edfu. This festival celebrated the sexual union of the two deities.

CORRESPONDENCES for the Month of the STRAWBERRY MOON

Whether you always have a altar set up of you like to do this only on special occassions, then here are some great suggestions to help you tailor your altar to the Strawberry Moon and the month of June, with all that is magickally associated with it. Herbs to include on your altar, in your potions or in your rituals can include: parsley, mosses, skullcap, meadowsweet, tansy and vervain. It is the perfect time to include the following colors: Golden green and orange. If you want to freshen things up with flowers (either fresh or dried) the best suggestions are: Orchids, lavender and yarrow. As you know, I like to use non scented candles, but if you would like to use scents for your candles (I recommend making your own!) you can focus on implementing scent of lavender and lily of the valley. You can use stones as altar decoration or in your magickal workings, good suggestions would be: fluorite, topaz, agate and alexandrite. The flow of energy power right now is that of strong, protective yet restful energy. It is a time of light and decision making as the tides of the Earth are turning. If you like to work with deities, now is a good time to make contact with: The Green Man, Ishtar, Aine of Knockaine , Isis and Cerridwen. Use this moment to really work on any personal inconsistencies you may have while you keep on r all of your positive traits.

I see the Moon,

And the Moon sees me.

Goddess bless the Moon,

And Goddess bless me.

HAVE YOU EVER TRIED PERFUMED INKS?

Maybe you are wondering what on earth a perfumed ink is and why would you possible want/need to fragrance ink? Well, as it happens, perfumed inks have been used for a very long time, dating all the way back to Babylonian times. Perfumed inks are used for magickal spells when writing them down and to draw sigils. They reason they are perfumed is to intensify the spell.

If you are doing a spell that requires you to burn the paper, then perfumed ink will strengthen what ever you are writing.

HOW TO MAKE PERFUMED INK FOR MAGICKAL WORKINGS

It is not very difficult at all! Here what you will need to do:

• Buy a bottle of ink (black or colored it’s up to you)
• Add 2 or 3 drops of the appropriate essential oils (depending on your magick and intentions) to the bottle of ink
• Place the bottle of ink on your altar and leave it there over night
• This is best done on the night of the Full Moon to positively charge the ink (or on a Dark Moon when you want to negatively charge the ink)

GODDESS CERRIDWEN AND HER CAULDRON

The Celtic Day of Cerridwen and her cauldron was closely associated with the Summer Solstice. Goddess Cerridwen is the great Crone of Wales and is strongly connected to the Moon, the magick cauldron and grain. It was believed that drinking from her magick cauldron would stir up the greatest talents and inspirations for poets and musicians.

Goddess Cerridwen has powers of prophecy, and is the keeper of the cauldron of knowledge and inspiration of the Underworld. In Her magical cauldron She brews a potion that can grant knowledge and inspiration if brewed for a year and a day, to allow it to reach its full potency. Some believe that Cerridwen’s cauldron is the Holy Grail of which King Arthur spent his life searching for … what do you think?

RITUALS YOU CAN DO UNDER THE STRAWBERRY MOON

It is a very powerful Moon month for you to work on your psychic abilities and contacts with the spiritual realms. This following ritual, is for the Green Man and Faery Queen.

NOTE: The Green Man and the horned god Cernunnos maybe versions of ancient Pan? What are your thoughts ….

This ritual ceremony is to be held outside at night in a safe secure space (if you can’t do it safely outside then you can do it inside in a darkened room with only candles for light). What you will need to get for this ritual:

• Summer fruits and flowers for offerings
• Cookies for the faeries & elves
• A green cord to fit around your waist
• A comfortable robe to wear
• A garland of flowers to wear on your head
• A track ready to play of flute or pan pipe music
• A chalice of juice or wine

Dress and prepare your area, play the music and place the chalice of juice beside you.

Every time before you drink from the chalice, raise the chalice up in a offering to the Green Man and The Lady of the Greenwood.

Be happy and enjoy yourself! The Green Man and the Lady do not like negative vibrations.

Every time you raise your chalice in offering, take a drink then chant the following:

Strange music floats within the glade

From reedy pipes that Pan has made

The woodland god of nature old

Has come back as the tales foretold

With horned head and tapping feet

I shall not fear him when we meet

Great Pan is Nature at her best

His soaring notes can give us rest

From care and worries, sychronize

Us with water, Earth and skies.

Take some fruit and flowers to an eastern point of the space and lay them on the ground and say:

Great Pan and Lady of the Greenwood, Raise your pleasant breezes to blow sweet and fresh upon the land

Take some fruit and flowers to a southern point in the space and lay them on the ground and say:

Great Pan and Lady of the Greenwood, let the tender sunbeams warm the Earth and bring continued life

Take some fruit and flowers to a western point in the space and lay them on the ground and say:

Great Pan and Lady of the Greenwood, Bless us with refreshing, renewing rains

Finish now by laying some fruit and flowers in the north point of your space and say:

Great Pan and Lady of the Greenwood, let the seasons come in the proper times

Both on the Earth and in my life

Bless me with good things.

Let me learn life’s lessons with honor and humility

All hail Pan and the Lady of the Greenwood!

Now, raise one end of the green cord and kiss it and say:

The Lady of the Greenwood is love and happiness, Her consort bows to her will this night.

Great Lady, bless me with all good things, and make my life fulfilled and bright.

Now, lay an offering of cookies at each circle point beside the flowers and fruit, moving in a colockwise motion and saying the following at each point:

All you Nature spirits and faeries, I welcome your presence and aid.

Now, relax. Let yourself be open to communication with the Little Ones and woodland deities. You can ask them for their protection of your home if you so choose.

End your ritual by thank all who came to the celebration.

NOTE: Nature spirits and faeries are believed to stay in your home all year round if you make them feel welcome enough.