Green Witch - Mystique Moments - Aberdour

This is Beltane and the fertility Sabbat, represented by the May Queen, Morris men and Maypoles, when villagers would have their festival celebrating the Sun and encourage the Sun to give its heat and strength to boost and ripen the crops. The local witch would bless the fields and the couples would bless any forthcoming wedding by jumping over the village bonfire (embers) which would be the centre of the celebrations. It would be lit as the sun went down, and kept burning till dawn. Couples would go off into the woods to make love so as to also help village fertility and any child resulting in this union would be a gift from the Goddess indeed. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy and Jill a dull girl – life should be a harmonious balance of work, rest and play and Beltane reminds us that, although most of us work long and hard these days, we need to remember to also play!! Beltane is for playing and why I always take a break away at this time…further info to follow...Once the hawthorn begins to flower and the night is fine (I don’t use the calendar date for Beltane but use Nature’s own announcement), I always light a bonfire in the garden and we as a family (and often their friends too) sit around the fire, drinking, eating and being merry, spending quality time together in the outdoors whilst burning any rubbish from the garden. We warm Marshmallows on the fire, bake potatoes in the embers and eat them hot with butter and drink lots and the family merriment will go on most of the night (well, the boys and their pals will because I cannot do the all night thing anymore and then work the next day!!)

If a bonfire is not possible, then decorate your altar with a red and orange candle to represent the Sun and perform any Beltane work where fire is needed by lighting your dedicated candle and use the flame as Fire and your cauldron as the flameproof container in which to burn anything and keep everything magickally safe. Adapt

Spell for bringing a lover

If you are on your own and are ready for someone to come into your life, use the Beltane fire to make this happen. First, get together some rose petals and a nice piece of writing paper. Write on the paper all those attributes you require in your next love. Be careful what you wish for…you might just get it!! Once you have filled in all those requirements, sprinkle the rose petals in the centre of the paper and then carefully fold up. Now put the paper with the petals in your Beltane fire saying:

Power of Fire; please bring to me a love that is true, so mote it be…

Now let it burn…and now we wait…the motion has been set

Decorating your Altar: a quick tip…

Decorating the altar or sacred space each Sabbat is a necessity. To represent the Sun and Moon, use a crystal sphere: try a quartz crystal moon and a yellow calcite sun. For the Earth, a green stone, a feather for Air, your candle is Fire, and a shell for Water…easy and just change the candle colour for the sabbat and add seasonal flowers et viola – a quick and easy altar and no-one will even notice…except you, me and our Lord and Lady!

Green – the colour of Beltane

Green is the order of the day at Beltane. Ladies usually wear ivy or hawthorn around their head and put on their greenest finery for the day to represent nature itself. In magick, green represents the Element of Earth, the heart chakra, the colour of money and material matters, the energy of Venus and fertility & growth.

In healing, green is harmony, positivity and self-acceptance and connected to the heart. It is the colour of money and abundance and is to attract the good life, not only for yourself but to share with those close to you. Green is also associated with our sense of freedom and the ability to express our true self. Green is good for fatigue in both mind and body, something everyone seems to be suffering at the moment as it enhances physical stamina. Perhaps that’s why green foods such as lettuce, spring onion, cucumber, green pepper, peas, green beans and broccoli all become important on the plate after the hardness of winter. They also help to detox the body. Apples, avocado, limes, green olives and kiwi fruit and fresh herbs are also important and all these fruit and vegetables should be eaten to take in the green and all its essential nutrients. Try taking a walk in the countryside to enjoy nature’s fresh fragrant green and take in that feeling of peace and calm. To boost the qualities of green, carry crystals such as Jade, Aventurine, Chrysoprase, green Kyanite, green Tourmaline, Bloodstone, Malachite, Moss agate, Emerald, Peridot, green Calcite, green Garnet and green Jasper and let the green feed our need to expand and grow and restore physical and mental vitality.

The joy of Jade

Every crystal has its time and I have been suddenly drawn to Jade. Jade is regarded as the “stone of heaven” in China and is the crystal of Kuan Yin, their goddess of compassion, and is used for their magickal and spiritual carvings and medicinally in every kind of way. The spiritual green stone of the Maori people is also jade and the Egyptians believed Jade was connected to Maat, Goddess of truth. For them it brought luck and good fortune if received as a gift.

Magickally, it is said to bring love, long life, abundance, friendship, wisdom and protects against accidents.

If you have business dealings, hold your Jade and let its prosperous vibrations run through you before you make any business decisions. As is supports self-sufficiency, any working for yourself is bound to be helped. Jade helps bring out the virtues of the individual – virtues such as courage and wisdom, whilst calming the body and healing it back to balance. It can also help dysfunctional relationships, so if your relationship needs a little help, carry a piece each and those negative issues will be calmed so you can move forward with your partnership.

Restoring energy with Jade

I have been carrying Jade around since the last newsletter as it made me feel more energised whilst helping my business get busier…so here’s a little tip with what to do with your dark olive green stone…

In the morning, cleanse your jade in the smoke of an incense stick and, holding it in the power hand, ask it to help you have a great day. During the day, if you feel the need for a boost or feel stressed, vulnerable or negative, then just hold again for a few minutes and concentrate on the stone and its energies. The same applies after a cross word or argument with or from someone – hold the crystal to restore calm.

At the end of the day, run a candle-lit bath, add some calming oils such as Juniper berry or Clary sage, and hold your piece of jade and ask it to take away the stresses of the day. Now both of you get in the bath and relax. The vibrations of the Jade will help clear your energy field and revitalise your mind and body…perfect!! Don’t forget to remove it at the end of the bath ready for carrying with you the next day. Let Jade enhance your life and energise your body until balance has been restored. From just £1

Applying the Green – Avocado oil

The oil from the flesh of the avocado has been used for centuries as a beauty treatment and is rich green oil. It contains Linoleic acid and Vitamin A & D, so slows down the ageing process and strengthens the cell walls of the skin. It also contains natural sunscreens so protects the skin too, though is too viscous to use on its own but added to a lighter carrier, makes a perfect skin oil should your skin be dry from ravages of time, sun or season. A beautifying treat at £4.00 per 50ml and is included in my Aphrodite oil for holiday skin.

Gatekeeper’s Board

The Board is the one on my wall full of all customer business cards. Every so often, I just clear it all down as don’t know who is still in business, who has moved etc…the race is now on to fill it with current customer cards. When a customer wants a healer or reader, I like to provide known customers details that may be able to help, and the board is this point of enquiry for both me and the visitors to the shop. Sending cards by post will not suffice and they will not make the board! The cards must belong to people who come into my shop and be given to me, so I can put the card in the right place and put faces and names together…ok? An empty board waits…

The Witch is away – shop hours limited so get your supplies early

As regular customers are aware, I usually take a Beltane break to gather sea, sand, sunshine and lots of rest after the financial year end/stocktaking completed, and to prepare for the summer run. This year is no different except now I only have the weekend youngsters to assist. Like the January break, the shop will have to close for half of the time I am away so I would suggest you stock up on any supplies you may need for the duration of my absence. The shop will open Thur-Sun both weeks staffed by my trusty youngsters but you won’t have the pleasure of my company from Sun 6th May until I personally re-open on Tue 22nd May…

Yes, for two whole weeks I will be away – not done that for years but my partner wants to celebrate his 50th by swimming in the Pacific…so that is where I will be going. As you tend to be jumping time zones, we actually lose a day on the way back setting off Sunday pm and arriving back here Monday tea-time…so don’t be knocking the door down on Tuesday morning as I’ll know sod all...won’t even know where I am –maybe!! Good chance to test my Jetlag remedies don’t you think??  I get to spend two weeks alone with my beloved – no kids, no shop, no VAT or tax – just us. I should return batteries recharged and all set with new ideas for the summer season.

SHOP HOURS:        CLOSED: Mon 7 – Wed 9 May        OPEN: Thur 10 May – Sun 13 May

CLOSED: Mon 14 – Wed 16 May    OPEN: Thur – 17 May – Sun 20 May    

CLOSED: Mon 21 May            OPEN: Back to normal hours              

I apologies for any inconvenience but this is necessary if I am to survive summer with brain and body intact…

Moon times:

Full Moon:     Sun 6 May @ 03.35 hrs    New Moon:    Sun 20 May @ 23.53 hrs

Full Moon:    Mon 4 Jun @ 11.03 hrs        New Moon:    Tue 19 Jun @ 15.02hrs

Well, off the take in the glorious panoramic views of California and Nevada, and will see you when I get back refreshed and raring to go.

Bright sunny blessings from Chris (alias the Green Witch)

Christine Quick, Mystique Moments, 59-61 High Street, ABERDOUR, Fife, KY3 0SJ

Tel/fax: 01383 860106 Website: www.greenwitch.co.uk E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it