Magical Stones- Obsidian

Energy: Projective

Planet: Saturn

Element: Fire

Deity: Tezcatlipoca (Aztec, "Smoking Mirror" or "Shining Mirror")

Powers: Protection, Grounding, Divination, Peace

Magical/Ritual Lore: Obsidian is simply lava that cooled so fast that the minerals contained within didn't have time to form. It is a naturally occurring glass.

The Ancient Aztecs fashioned flat, square mirrors of this black glass for use in divination. According to legend the famous Dr. Dee, a magician-alchemist hired by England's Queen Elizabeth I, may have used one of these mirrors in his scrying sessions.

Obsidian is effective when carried or used in protective rituals. One involves surrounding a white candle with four obsidian arrowheads that each point to one of the directions. This sets up aggressive energies which guard the place in which it is set up.

This powerful stone makes a strong shield of protection around the wearer. It is an excellent grounding stone, helping to release negativity and to stabilized. As a scrying tool, obsidian can offer an accurate reflection of the changes that need to be made. Its answers can be quick and somewhat pointed, as obsidian walks the shadow side of the void. It will help to provide a clear course of action, and let you know what challenges are the most necessary to face -- but not always the easiest or most pleasant lessons. Obsidian blades are excellent for cord-cutting workings

The Moon By Any Other Name....

There's just something about the moon...folklore abound with legends and tales of the moon, poetry is written about it and not too far back in our history, farmers still planted and harvested their crops by it. All down through time the moon has played an important role in the lives of many peoples and this coming Tuesday, the 10th, it will be a full Snow Moon. I was intrigued by the naming of the moon each month so I went on a search to find out just how these names came to be. I was actually suprised to find that if I had just thought about it, the names are actually quite common sense. In February, the heaviest snow usually falls and the native tribes of the north and east most often called it the Full Snow Moon or referred to as the Moon as the Full Hunger Moon, since harsh weather conditions in their areas made hunting very difficult and on the wiccan calendar I have on my wall, it's called the Quickening Moon. The moon has always been mysterious and beautiful to me and learning about the different names has only increased my affection.

Snow

fresh white

beautiful soft

Snow

there it is - look

it wasn't there before

it is new - it just appeared

in minutes - now

soft - white - fluffy

immaculate

Snow

sparkling on rooftops

in branches & twigs

on the dry brown

autumn lawn

Snow

it is snow

don't you see it - - -

Moonlight of the full moon!

(Magic of the Full Moon ,Ingeborg Carsten-Miller)