September 21st is the Autumn Equinox. Another old name for this day was Harvest Home before Aidan Kelly decided on the name Mabon. In the mid 20th century, the United Nations decided to name September 21st as the International Day of Peace. I find this an interesting choice and a fascinating overlap. The first thought that came to mind was how the equinox is the balance point and the days surrounded it are more or less equal hours of day and night. A moment of peace between one the bright and long days of summer, and dark and long nights of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Whichever one you decide to observe, may you have a blessed day, and may these blessings continue to bring you more blessings in the future.
Every year, September 17 marks the beginning of the 9 days leading up to the Feast Day of Saint Cyprian of Antioch, the saint of sorcerers, necromancers, root doctors, and all people who work in folk magic. While no longer recognized by the Catholic Church, the Orthodox churches still recognize him, and many folk magic practitioners, especially from Iberian descended folk magic, and other people who learned of his devotion and practice revere him, and pray for his aid an intercession in various things. His name appears on books of the occult across Europe, with the most famous, the Sorcerer’s Treasure, is rooted in Iberian folk magic. The are numerous versions, with some version just being The Key of Solomon in Spanish. I started to pray and revere to Saint Cyprian many years ago, as when I learned about him, I was immediately drawn to such an interesting figure, and a kind of crossroads of Christian and Pagan pathways. Over those years I have learned that Cyprian is called upon in many situations, and while protection and curse breaking are some of the best known, job getting, love, money, and many more things are possible with his aid. If you have never heard of Saint Cyprian, and he intrigues you, I invite you to began a 9 day devotion to him. If you already work and make devotions to him, I am glad to join all devotees in recognizing the amazing and awesome capabilities of Saint Cyprian and his intercession with The Most High.
Mage and Martyr, Saint and Sorcerer, Take my prayers and make them your own. When the Lord hears them, he will not ignore them because they will cease to be my words, but yours. Amen
Happy Spring Equinox! Personally I see this as “Mid Spring” as the Solstices are known as Midsummer and Midwinter respectively. Spring really begins on February 1st with Candlemas. The weather predictions done on the 1st and 2nd of February based upon snakes, or groundhogs, or just the weather being dark and gray or clear and bright decides if the first part of spring is going very much the idea of “spring” or just an extended winter. It seems this year in North America, it was much more a long winter, but then February first and second where I live was bright, clear and warm. So it seems the prediction was true.
I wish only that your personal lives can quicken, grow and blossom, as we leave the vestiges of winter behind us and move into the growing and hopefully flourishing part of the year. Things look grim in the world around us on a greater scale, but I wish we can all find what we need to not just survive, but thrive.
March 18 was the historical feast of the Archangel Gabriel, one of the three archangels mentioned by name in the Bible. Gabriel is the Angel of Annunciation, who came to Mary, Joseph, et al telling them of that Mary was pregnant with the Son of God. Gabriel is also the angel who came to Mohammed and gave him the Quran. Other sources also say that Gabriel is the angel who gave Geomancy to Hermes Thrice Great as a means of divination. Gabriel has done some miracles for me and I try to remember and honor Gabriel often. I often feel as though Gabriel is overlooked and forgotten, as Michael or Raphael seem much more popular and loved, And of course the Roman Catholic church did away with all the feasts of the angels, centering them around Michaelmas in September. If you interested in Gabriel, you should pick a prayer and set a light to them and ask for their aid.
Statue of Gabriel from the Heroes Square in Budapest Hungary
Happy Feast Day of the Archangel Gabriel! March 18 was the feast day of Gabriel until 1969. I still continue to observe this as Gabriel’s Feast day, including many others from different sects of Christianity.
As i have said many times before, in many ways Gabriel seems to be the overlooked archangel. Far more people will turn to Saint Michael for many things, and only think of Gabriel for the Annunciation, even though Gabriel appears many times in many stories.
As the angel of Annunciation, and many other appearances as bringing messages from God, Gabriel is a divine Messenger, an angel of angels in that the word Angel originally means messenger. Many people will pray to Gabriel asking for messages and guidance, and for help with psychic abilities, to reveal things that are hidden.
Some people are recognize Gabriel for the meaning of his name. His name comes from the Hebrew meaning Strength of God. If you are familiar with Kabbalah, and the Sefirot, the Sefirot Geborah is actually the beginning of the name Gabriel. the end -iel means of God. Thus, the Strength or Might of God. Gabriel as the Strength of God is called upon by someone people for Divine Strength and Might, or getting his power to help you in any number of situations. In a spell from the PGM, Gabriel is even called up to bring his power to make someone fall in love with the client of the sorcerer. But this divine strength can be applied to anything.
Another common sphere of influence for Gabriel is a commander of the celestial hosts. While some may think this applies to the angels, but I think this refers to the spirits who govern the celestial objects ie the planets and stars. This is why Gabriel is also considered the Angel of the Moon. As the Moon was considered to take all the celestial rays of the planets and stars and transmit them to the earth, so Gabriel is considered to command the spirits of the celestials objects. So, if you’re doing a summoning of astral spirits, you might make some devotions to Gabriel to help you with them.
RUNEWORKER 