The Lunar Witch Divination Guidebook PDF is a comprehensive resource for those interested in harnessing the power of the moon for divination purposes. Divination is the practice of seeking knowledge or insight into the future or the unknown. This guidebook specifically focuses on using the moon as a tool for divination, providing a range of techniques and rituals for readers to explore. The main idea of this guidebook is the utilization of the moon's energy for divination. The moon has long been associated with mysticism and magic, and its various phases and cycles are believed to have an impact on our lives and the world around us. The guidebook delves into the different lunar phases and how they can be used for divination purposes.
If the Old Norse knew about Mabon, they were probably too busy tending their crops and animals to celebrate. In modern times we have comforts that allow us to enjoy more conveniences.
According to Mike Nichols, the autumn equinox is the day when, in the Mabonogion, the character of Goronwy, symbolizing the darkness, defeats the hero Llew, symbolizing the light, signaling the beginning of winter and the shortening of days. Second, the story of abduction of Mabon in the Mabinogion is a relatively obscure tale, not at all central to the Neo-Pagan mythos compare the Descent of Ishtar or the myth of Demeter and Persephone for example , and only tangentially related to the Neo-Pagan celebration it so names.
The guidebook delves into the different lunar phases and how they can be used for divination purposes. The guidebook also provides an overview of different divination methods, such as tarot cards, astrology, pendulums, and scrying. Each method is explained in detail, with instructions on how to use them in conjunction with the moon's energy.
The Worst Named Pagan Holiday
Aside from the fact that no one seems certain how to pronounce it, the name “Mabon” is a poor choice for the holy day. As with “Lughnasadh”, the “Mabon” is only tenuously related to the season or the Neo-Pagan mythos relating to the season. Of all eight holidays, Mabon has the worst name of all of them.
The name originates with a Pagan-Craft Calendar which was published in 1970 by Aidan Kelly. It was picked up by the Green Egg newsletter and, consequently, became the Paganstandard. I have always found it curious that Kelly’s own tradition, NROOGD, did not adopt this name and instead called the fall equinox the “Rites of Eleusis”. Kelly as earned his place as an elder in the Pagan community, so I mean no disrespect to him. Nor do I mean in any way to diminish the significance of his contribution to the development of Neo-Paganism. However, Kelly himself was never one to favor adherence to tradition over religious innovation. So I think we honor him by questioning this choice of name for the fall equinox.
“Mabon” is a poor choice for a number of reasons. First, it is a Welsh name, in contrast to the other equinox and the two solstices, which have Anglo-Saxon names. Part of the challenge in naming the equinoxes is that there is little to no evidence that the Anglo-Saxons (or the Welsh for that matter) celebrated the equinoxes.
Second, the story of abduction of Mabon in the Mabinogion is a relatively obscure tale, not at all central to the Neo-Pagan mythos (compare the Descent of Ishtar or the myth of Demeter and Persephone for example), and only tangentially related to the Neo-Pagan celebration it so names. The autumn equinox has no real historical connection to the mythical Welsh figure, Mabon, son of Modron. Some Pagans have suggested that the name is appropriate due to the grieving of Modron for her lost son. But there are many more myths involving grief and lamentation which would be more familiar to Neopagans: Demeter, Isis, and Ishtar are examples of deities who are associated with lamentation motifs.
In my previous discussion on Lughnasadh, I suggested 3 steps for choosing an appropriate name for a Neopagan celebration: (1) Look to the season; (2) work out what the day means mythologically in relation to the season; and (3) choose a name for the day that fits the season and the myth.
Let’s start with the season: It’s the equinox, so (in the northern hemisphere) the days will just start becoming shorter than the nights. It’s the official beginning of fall in the U.S. Actual harvesting is going on here in the MIdwest (unlike 6 weeks earlier during Lughnasadh, the so-called “first harvest”). All those harvest associations we drew on precipitously in August now make sense. Here in the Midwest, we’re just starting to notice cooler weather. Canadian geese will be flying south soon, and the first dabs of color will soon appear on the leaves of the trees.
Mythologically, the Sun King/Oak King is dismembered, eaten, and/or interred, following his sacrifice at First Fruits/Mid-Summer. The Goddess laments the loss of her Consort and descends to the Underworld in search of him. The death, eating, and lamentation motifs correspond to the harvest time, as well as the triumph of darkness over light manifest in the equinox.
So, we need to find a name that corresponds to the season, the myth, or ideally both. If we’re going to use a Welsh name, then “Llew” would be a better choice than “Mabon”. According to Mike Nichols, the autumn equinox is the day when, in the Mabonogion, the character of Goronwy, symbolizing the darkness, defeats the hero Llew, symbolizing the light, signaling the beginning of winter and the shortening of days. (Nichols’ essay, “The Death of Llew: A Seasonal Interpretation”, is great and, if you haven’t read you should check it out.)
The only problem with “Llew” as a name for the season is that the myth is just as obscure as “Mabon”. If we are going to pick a dying god to name the day after, Osiris would be a choice that would be more familiar to Neo-Pagans. Even Baal, Adonis, and Tammuz would all probably be more familiar to Neo-Pagans than Llew or Mabon.
Or we could go with an Anglo-Saxon name, which would be consistent with the use of other Anglo-Saxon names for the other Quarter Days. In that case, an appropriate name for the day might be “Herfest”, which is the Anglo-Saxon name for “autumn” and a cognate with “harvest”. I’ve seen some Pagans using this name already. If we’re going with harvest themes, another good name is “Ingathering” or “Cornucopia”, both of which I have seen used by Pagans. Probably the most popular alternative for “Mabon” I have seen is “Harvest Home”. I like it best. The name has nice alliteration. Both “harvest” and “home-coming” are appropriate for the season. And it is an appropriate appellation for the NeoPagan version of Thanksgiving.
So, my vote is for “Herfest” or “Harvest Home”. What do you think? What other names do you like?
The name originates with a Pagan-Craft Calendar which was published in 1970 by Aidan Kelly. It was picked up by the Green Egg newsletter and, consequently, became the Paganstandard. I have always found it curious that Kelly’s own tradition, NROOGD, did not adopt this name and instead called the fall equinox the “Rites of Eleusis”. Kelly as earned his place as an elder in the Pagan community, so I mean no disrespect to him. Nor do I mean in any way to diminish the significance of his contribution to the development of Neo-Paganism. However, Kelly himself was never one to favor adherence to tradition over religious innovation. So I think we honor him by questioning this choice of name for the fall equinox.
Additionally, the guidebook includes tips and advice for enhancing one's intuition and connecting with the moon's energy during divination practices. One of the key features of the Lunar Witch Divination Guidebook PDF is the inclusion of rituals and spells. These rituals are designed to enhance one's ability to connect with the moon's energy and tap into its divinatory powers. The guidebook provides step-by-step instructions for performing these rituals, as well as suggestions for specific lunar phases or times of the year when they are most potent. Overall, the Lunar Witch Divination Guidebook PDF offers a comprehensive and practical resource for those interested in incorporating the moon's energy into their divination practices. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced practitioner, this guidebook provides valuable insights and techniques for harnessing the power of the moon for divination purposes..
Reviews for "Divination Beyond the Veil: Exploring Lunar Witchcraft"
1. Alice - 1 star - I was really excited to learn more about lunar witchcraft and divination, but this guidebook was a huge disappointment. The information provided was extremely vague and lacked depth. I was hoping for detailed explanations of different types of lunar divination and how to effectively practice them, but it felt like the author was just skimming the surface. The spells and rituals mentioned were generic and lacked any real substance. I would not recommend this guidebook for anyone looking for in-depth information on lunar witchcraft.
2. Robert - 2 stars - As someone who has been practicing witchcraft for years, I found this guidebook to be very basic and lacking any new insights. It seemed like the author just compiled information that can easily be found with a quick internet search. The spells and rituals mentioned were nothing groundbreaking and didn't add anything new to my practice. Additionally, the formatting and layout of the guidebook were not user-friendly and made it difficult to navigate through the content. Overall, I was disappointed with the lack of originality and depth in this guidebook.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I purchased this guidebook hoping it would provide me with practical advice and techniques for lunar divination, but I found it to be quite confusing and hard to follow. The instructions for the different types of divination were unclear and left me feeling frustrated. It also seemed like the author assumed the reader had prior knowledge of certain concepts, making it difficult for beginners to understand. The lack of visual aids or diagrams further hindered my ability to grasp the concepts presented. I would recommend looking for a different guidebook that offers clearer and more concise instructions for lunar divination.