Blessed Samhain! May The Gods Watch Over Us During The Winter Months To Come, And May It Be A Time Of

Blessed Samhain! May the Gods watch over us during the winter months to come, and may it be a time of peace, prosperity, and quiet happiness.

Cat-Sìth | Scottish Folklore

If you have ever wondered why black cats are associated with Halloween, the cat-sìth/cait-sìth may be the reason.

They are described as giant black cats with a spot on their chests, an arched back, and long hair always standing upright and bristly.

“Elfin cats (cait shìth) are explained to be of a wild, not a domesticated, breed, to be as large as dogs, of a black colour, with a white spot on the breast, and to have arched backs and erect bristles” “Superstitions of the Highlands & Islands of Scotland” by John Gregorson Campbell (1900)

On Samhain(the early version of Halloween), when the cat-sìth was said to roam around, many families would leave out a bowl of milk to keep in the cat-sìth‘s good favour. If you did that, you would be blessed, if you forgot, you would be cursed. 

As well as that, some people in the Scottish highlands were often fearful of the cat-sìth stealing the souls of the recently dead and carrying them away to the otherworld, so people would stand watch over their loved one until they could be buried. This was called Feil Fadalach or Late Wake. Essentially, this involved a large number of activities to distract the cat-sìth, such as games, dancing, contests, riddles, and even catnip spread over the house. All the fires in the room with the body would be put out, since cats like warmth (though this would also help keep the body from decomposing as quickly).

Eventually, a change of beliefs changed the cat-sìth from a fairy, into a witch. The myth that cats have nine lives is said to come from the fact that a witch could transform to a cat exactly 8 times. If she did it a 9th time, she would be a cat forever.

High-landers commonly explained the cat síth as a transformed witch, not a fairy.  A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology

The cat-sìth is not to be confused with Big Ears, the demonic god of the cats. He was said to be even bigger and more ferocious.

“But Big Ears was a monstrous demon cat who had only a slight connection with the Cait Sith.” “A Encyclopedia of Fairies” by Katharine Briggs (Published in 1976)

That is a story I won’t be covering, because I think it will be too troubling for people. Putting it bluntly, there was a belief that if you brutally tortured a certain number of cats to death in a certain way(known as the taghairm), Big Ears would appear, and grant you wishes in return for your soul.

Pumpkin Spice Magick

As you eat or drink seasonal treats, think of the magickal properties they may hold 🎃

☆ cinnamon - high vibrations, draws abundance and attraction, increases energy of intentions

☆ ginger - Stimulates prosperity and healing, and brings passion and vigor

☆ nutmeg - for protection and meditation, attracts money and luck, helps with sleep

☆ allspice - adds energy and determination to intentions, uplifting and healing

☆ cloves - Stimulates the mind, relaxes the body and supports confidence, good for safe travel and protection

All these spices have a powerful shared element of fire, which helps boosts our courage and to banish negativity!

Sagittarius New Moon

December 2023

Intuitive Astrology by Tanaaz

The Sagittarius New Moon falls on the auspicious twelfth day of the twelfth month and is the last New Moon for 2023. Mercury also stations retrograde shortly after the peak of the New Moon, making it a potent day in our cosmic skies.

Let’s break down the incredible cosmic offerings of the Sagittarius New Moon and how we can make the most of it.

2023 is fast coming to a close, and many of us will be scrambling to get things done. While life may feel extra busy this time of year, the Sagittarius New Moon is our chance to set our final intentions for 2023. While it can be tempting to jump ahead into the new year, see if you can channel your intentions into the last remaining weeks of the year.

How would you like the next three weeks to flow? What do you want to focus on?

If this time of year has brought some challenges your way or you know some stressful situations are on the horizon, this would be a good time to create some reminders for yourself. Create one intention for each of the three weeks left in the year and fill them with supportive words for all you have going on.

One of the most profound cosmic energies working with this New Moon is Chiron, the asteroid of healing. The energy of Chiron is harmoniously flowing with this New Moon, helping to bring strong healing energy our way.

Mars is also beautifully intertwined with Chiron and the Moon, making us feel more motivated to get to the root of our problems. Something that has been troubling us for some time may finally begin to feel manageable, or the results we have been looking for may come about quicker or with greater ease.

When Mars is involved, we need to be proactive and take action, and under this energy, our actions are going to be supported and amplified. So, even if they are small, think about some steps you can take to instigate a deeper healing for your mind, body, and soul.

Mercury stations retrograde shortly after the New Moon peaks. Mercury is the planet of communication, and ancient astrologers believed that when it traveled retrograde, our more subtle senses and forms of communication were heightened.

On the surface, Mercury Retrograde can bring foggy mental thoughts, miscommunications, and technology mishaps, but on deeper levels, it is a powerful time for trusting our intuition and paying attention to our senses beyond the typical five.

Mercury Retrograde, happening on the same day as the New Moon, will heighten its energy and thin the veil. We may feel a little indecisive or confused, or instinctually feel that all the facts have not been presented to us.

When Mercury Retrograde is involved, moving slowly and methodically and trusting our intuition is important. With the veil thin, we have the potential to receive clearer guidance from our dreams, intuition, and higher self.

The New Moon in the fire sign of Sagittarius is a time when adventure and excitement can be triggered. Many of us have a lot of responsibilities, especially at this time of year, but use the energy of this New Moon to push yourself out of your comfort zone and to find some playfulness in your daily routine. Shaking things up, trying new things, and exploring new worlds are all powerful ways to channel this Sagittarius energy.

The New Moon falling on the sacred 12/12 also creates powerful waves of energy that support the vibration of this number pattern. 12 is a number of understanding and wholeness. It represents coming full circle with a complete and clear picture of all that has unfolded.

Even though Mercury is in retrograde at this time, and there is new energy flowing from the New Moon, we also have the energies of 1212 reminding us of completion, wholeness, and greater wisdom.

It seems that just like the archer, we are being called to line up our arrow, take our aim, and then trust in the wind! Life is a ride, there is only so much we can control. So perhaps overall, that is the message this New Moon has for us.

Set your intentions, focus on healing, acknowledge your intuition, move slowly, but ultimately, trust the ride!

✨🍂🪔 Blessed SAMHAIN 🪔🍂✨

May your honor those who passed this year and all the ancestors 

May the thinning of the veils allow for the wisdom of the ancestors to imbue you

May you be intimate with your darkness and find inspiration and resilience in it

May recollections of what has been fuel your attunement to and excitement for what is to be

May the turning of the year shower you with peace, clarity, strength, vision, and joy

May your Soul's wishes manifest as plentiful as seeds of a lush pomegranate

May the new cycle come bearing abundant fruits, gifts, and rewards for you

May you find wholeness and bliss in honoring all your relations, mother Earth, and Self

May you joyfully embrace the infinite cycles of life - birth, death, rebirth

May this Samhain cleanse your mind, heart, and being!

If you're seeing this, it's a sign to claim your energy ✨️ hit like & claim your manifestations ☆