Alban Eiler (Spring Equinox)

Hello my fellow travellers, well spring is now fully upon us despite the fact we still have a little bit of snow on the ground.  I’ve seen my first little lambs of the year looking all cute and cuddly.

I want to now move on to the next part of working with the Wheel of the Year, Alban Eiler (Spring Equinox). 

 

Alban Eiler

This festival usually falls around the 20^th to the 23^rd of March, a time of equal day and night, the preparation of the start of the days getting longer and the nights growing shorter.  A time when colour starts returning to the cold, dark ground as it recovers from the winter period.  I love this time of year, there is still a coldness to the day which seems to freshen everything, there is nothing nicer than going outside watching the sun come up and taking a long slow deep breath, breathing in the cool satisfying scent of Mother Earth as she awakens from her deep recovering sleep.

 

Herbs

As we know working with herbs was part of the Druid way. Herbs were used for medicinal purposes, in food and as offerings. For this spoke of the wheel I will give a short list of herbs associated with the Spring Equinox and a brief idea of their uses. A list of herbs are as follows, and as always care should always be taken when working with any herbs.

Nettle: Linked to the planet Mars and the Fire element, Nettle helps by dispelling darkness and fear, strengthening the will, and aiding in the ability to handle emergencies. Sprinkle in the home to drive off evil and negativity.  It is associated with healing/health, strength, and protection.  Herbs linked to Mars give energy. They promote independence and assertiveness and stimulate the passions. Mars herbs can be used for protection and to develop or maintain motivation. When mixed with herbs of other planets, they lend their energy to make the whole stronger. They include all herbs that have sharp pointed leaves.

Hyssop: Influenced by Jupiter and the Fire element, Hyssop lightens vibrations and promotes spiritual opening; used for cleansing and purification. Said to protect property against burglars and trespassers. Add to baths and sachets, infuse and sprinkle on objects/people for cleansing or hang in the home to purge it of evil and negativity. Used to consecrate magical tools or items made of tin.  Jupiter is the bringer of abundance, so Jupiter plants and usually big, and bold, and often edible. These herbs expand consciousness and opportunity. They bring growth on all levels and are helpful in health matters as they expand the body’s ability to heal itself. They expand the mind allowing for a greater understanding.

Lavender: Associated with Mercury and embodying Fire, Lavender folklore also claims that if lavender is used in combination with rosemary, it will preserve virtue. Lavender was hung above the door to protect against evil spirits and added to the bath to drive away evil spirits. Lavender was strewn during festivals, particularly around Midsummer’s eve when it was often used to summon fairies and elves.

Mainly used for love magic. Protection; sleep; chastity (with rosemary); longevity; purification; money; creativity; clarity of thought; happiness, and peace. Burn the flowers to induce sleep and rest, then scatter the ashes around the home to bring peace and harmony. To bring love your way, carry lavender flowers in a sachet. Use lavender oil to anoint and dress candles in love spells and lavender incense to invoke love deities.  Herbs associated with Mercury facilitate clear thinking and eloquent communication. They help in business success, where a clear head is needed, and in recovery from illness.  Mercury herbs enable you to communicate more and improve your learning skills. They tend to stimulate the central nervous system and brain. They are often of mixed colours.

Vervain: A herb of the Venus, this plant is associated with Love; protection; purification; peace; money; youth; chastity; sleep; inspires artistry. Protects against negativity. Empowers any magic, especially love spells. Used to consecrate and empower magical tools. Used in house blessings. In love spells, add to recipes to find true love. Bury in the yard or keep in the home to encourage wealth. Use as an incense to end unrequited love. Venus plants overwhelm the senses with sweet scents and lovely flowers, red fruits, or soft, furry leaves. These herbs bring joy, beauty, artistry, sensitivity, and compassion.  Venus herbs activate love. They include all scented herbs and plants that smell pleasant and sweet.

Rose: A herb of the Venus, Rose is associated with divine love; close friendships; domestic peace; lasting relationships. Rose is the accepted love scent. Burn as incense for healing; health; love; luck; creativity; balance; divination; protection. Rose oil is used to attract love, confer peace, stimulate sexual appetite, and enhance beauty. Rose buds are added to bath water to conjure a lover. Place some in a red cloth bag and pin it under your clothes. Rosehips worn as beads attract love. A tea of rosebuds drunk before sleep induces prophetic dreams. Rose petals sprinkled around the house calm personal stress and household upheavals. Roses planted in the garden attract fairies and are said to grow best when stolen.

Lemon Balm:  In the middle ages, lemon balm was strewn about the floor to bring good will and cheer into a room, and to banish sadness. It was drunk in wine as protection against the effects of bites from venomous beasts and mad dogs. Gives energy to make one more desirable to the opposite sex. Ward off evil; promote good health, love, and good cheer. Success; healing.  Lemon balm sachets placed under the bed bring a refreshing, relaxing sleep. Carrying lemon balm is believed to attract love.

Marjoram:  A herb of Mercury. During ancient times, wreathes of marjoram crowned the heads of bridal couples to symbolize love, honour, and happiness. Marjoram was another witchcraft antidote as well. Protects against evil; love; wealth; happiness; purification; cleansing; peace, happiness, joy. Sprinkle an infusion of marjoram, mint and rosemary around the house for protection or on specific objects for their protection. Place under pillows to bring revealing dreams. Use in love spells or place to strengthen love.  Use in money mixtures or sachets to attract wealth. Use a bathing infusion for seven days to help resolve sadness or grief.  These herbs promote self- confidence and personal success. They impart a sense of purpose and help develop a sense of identity and willpower. Sun herbs bring vitality, health, creativity, and dignity.

Thyme:  Another herb associated with Venus.  Thyme can be used in healing rituals or to bring about restful sleep. Relieves giddiness and nightmares; attracts loyalty, affection, and the good opinion of others. Wear a sprig to ward off grief or provide strength and courage.  Burn or hang for banishing, purification, and to attract good health for all occupants of a home. Add an infusion of thyme to your bath to ensure a constant flow of money. Often burned before magical rituals to cleanse the space.  Venus plants overwhelm the senses with sweet scents and lovely flowers, red fruits, or soft, furry leaves. These herbs bring joy, beauty, artistry, sensitivity, and compassion.  Venus herbs activate love. They include all scented herbs and plants that smell pleasant and sweet.

 

Crystals

Crystals are another thing that some people choose to use/work with, as with everything on my Druid journey I look at things and see if it is something I would like to work with or not everyones journey is their own there is no right or wrong way, Since I have started with this blog back in July I have undertaken my diploma in Healing your life with Crystals course, which has opened my eyes a little more about this subject. I have once again picked six crystals that link closely to the Spring Equinox and these are

Agate - Agate is an excellent stone for rebalancing and harmonising body, mind and spirit. It cleanses and stabilises the aura, eliminating and transforming negativity. Agate enhances mental function, improving concentration, perception and analytical abilities.

Amethyst - Widely known as a stone of the mind. Amethyst is well known for its ability to help bring calmness and clarity where there would otherwise be anxiety and confusion. It can also help you in your meditation and mental and spiritual journeys. In learning all things spiritual, mystical and psychic. Within healing magic, Amethyst stones are also quite popular in helping to maintain sobriety, and helping with other addictions beyond alcohol and drugs such as food and sex. If you are seeking to use this stone of peace within protective magick it is also quite helpful in deterring nightmares and insomnia.

Lapis Lazuli - Lapis is a beautiful stone, whose cobalt blue coloring is beautifully shown off when tumbled, along with an inner quality that makes it appear as though the piece has been sprinkled in gold glitter.  It is used for, compassion, courage, wisdom, self-confidence, healing emotional wounds, strength, clarity, fidelity, spiritual love, past life recall, divination - especially scrying, tarot and runes -, tranquility, eloquence, expressiveness and creativity.

Moonstone - Moonstone is known for its magical properties of calming energies, strengthening intuition, psychic enhancement, and bringing balance to all things. Moonstone is said to invoke the feminine energies of the universe.

Clear Quartz - enhances psychic abilities, opens clairvoyance, and stimulates the use of greater mental capacity.  It helps bring awareness of the unknown to conscious recognition, imparting reason and wisdom.  Emerald assists in inciting activity and focus in ones actions.  It strengthens memory and imparts clarity of thought.  It inspires a deep inner knowing, promoting truth and discernment.

Red Jasper - Jasper is known as a stone of protection, driving away evil and guarding you throughout the day. It is used to stabilize your personal energy and aura, especially during astral travel and for grounding oneself. It is said to help with relaxation, contentment, compassion, nurturing, consolation, and courage for conflict ahead.

  

Ogham

The celtic tree alphabet, because of where Spring Equinox falls on the calender there are two trees/plants associated with it within the Ogham.

The first is Ash, the Celtic Ogham name for this is Nuin (roughly pronounced Nwin) Ash is known for the powers of protection, health, courage and is one of the trees sacred to the Druids.  The Ash is a good tree for making magical tools for rituals.

The second is Alder, the Celtic Ogham name for this is Fearn (roughly pronounced Fern), this is most often used in the making of whistles to call upon the Air Spirits so it is an ideal wood for making flutes and pipes.

 

Working with this part of the Wheel

When we look at working with this, as with all other parts of the wheel we have to think about what it means and its relation as a whole to the rest of the wheel. When we look at the world outside we see the colour starting to return to the land, the Crocus, Violets and Snowdrops, this is when we look at cultivating the ideas we started to think about at Imbolc and increasing the works with them.  It is a good time to start to grow, not just your ideas but yourself.  I time to look at what you want to do and start doing it.

 

Well there we are for now the next part of working with the wheel.  I really hope you are enjoying these and they are giving you something to think about.

 

As always I will end on one of my poems, I have been getting lots of inspiration lately and have been writing more and more poems as I am sitting on trains or while I am in the bath,  this one came to me from a Shamanic journey I went on the other night, I had a vision and when I researched it and looked into it more it looked as if I had been spoken to by Blodeuwedd, I decided to write this for her as an offering and wanted to share it with you all.  Funnily enough it’s called "Blodeuwedd" I hope you enjoy it.

 

BLODEUWEDD

 

Sweet Blodeuwedd, from blossoms came.

The forest king to wed.

Made by Math and Gwydion

From natures fertile bed

 

A group of nine is what they chose.

To make this goddess breathe

And there on mother nature’s loom

Her life they were to weave.

 

Firstly, from the mighty Oak

Its wisdom she’d behold.

Gathered throughout many years

And many stories told

 

Next was Broom and Meadowsweet

With flowers gold and white

To give her fair complexion

And her eyes a glowing light

 

Cockle, Bean and Nettle

Driving negatives away

Leaving her with thoughts so pure

With every passing day

 

Then there was the chestnut tree

With bark of reddish-brown

The colour of her flowing hair

Held by her floral crown.

 

Primrose was the flower used.

Dishonesty to quell.

To keep her pure and truthful

And secrecy dispel.

 

Then finally came Hawthorn.

For fertility to bring

To help her in her marriage

To the mighty Forest king

 

But Blodeuwedd, true love she found.

In a huntsman tall and brave

Gronw was the huntsman’s name.

Her life he said he’d save.

 

He told her that the king must die.

For them to be as one

And there upon the riverbank

By spear the dead was done

 

The king into an eagle changed.

And flew off through the sky.

The spear it only wounded him.

That day he did not die.

 

Then whilst walking through the woods

Math and Gwydion they found.

The king, who was an eagle now.

Lying injured on the ground

 

They picked him up and took him home.

His wound it soon was healed.

Gronw by the pair was found.

And very quickly killed.

 

But Blodeuwedd, sweet flower face

By this deed they thought most foul

Had her life removed from her

And was turned into an owl

 

Oh, maiden goddess of the nine

No more to see the sun

Cursed to fly on owl’s wings

And sleep when night is done.

 

As always my friends thank you for bearing with me, I hope you find this interesting, let me know if you want to.

Take care my friends, stay safe

Blessed be /|\