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Post by Admin on Nov 1, 2013 14:07:15 GMT -8
I thought the thread on devotions for October was pretty interesting. Having almost failed miserably (more on that in a second) at my October devotional commitments, I was planning on moving them to November. So here goes:
In November I want to have a permanent ancestor / beloved dead installation of some kind where I can leave offerings and have those folks be more a part of our household. I almost completely failed at this in October. Then, last night, as I was setting up our ancestor altar I complained to my partner that I felt bad that I didn't get flowers this year. I ended up at the grocery store late last night buying not only a dozen red roses (my standard offering), but a stack of picture frames for all my pictures. Now my beloved dead are protected and I can easily hang them on the wall once the Hallows altar (which takes over our entire dining room table) gets taken down this evening. So it's a tiny success at least.
In addition to that goal, I have an obligation to make a thank you offering to Hecate on November 16th for a big favor she did me a couple of years ago and I'm considering expanding that this year into a request for intercession on some of my practices. I'll need to do some research and divination before that.
I think of Hallows as the end of the old year and January 1st as the start of the new. Right now, we're in the long night -- an inter-calendar time for celebration, contemplation, and planning. This month I will be doing a lot of planning for the coming year and that includes spiritual planning.
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Post by nymphaea on Nov 1, 2013 16:13:19 GMT -8
I've got a lot planned for November myself! With the new lunar month, starting Monday on the Noumenia, I have a set of the Orphic hymns from which I want to read specific ones in the morning and evening, accompanied by specific offerings. In addition, I'd like to do a good house cleansing on Sunday, the Deipnon, and then a house blessing on the Noumenia (well, apartment blessing, same thing haha).
I'm planning on going back over some of my trad's courses and reinvigorating my practices on the witchcraft side of things in addition to the devotionals.
I also would like to do a good set of altar and shrine cleansing and just involve myself more with them, so that they feel more personal to me and become more integral to my practice. Regular offerings are a must, of course.
The rest of my November will hopefully include reading of both the fiction and nonfiction variety, writing, researching and crafting. I'm taking a medical leave of absence from school for the rest of the semester to handle some mental problems, and so I hope to use the next month (well, the next two actually) as a chance to recharge my life mentally and physically!
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Post by Heliocoptero on Nov 2, 2013 17:17:55 GMT -8
It's a quiet month for me, at least when compared to what's coming up in December. Apart from the offerings to Janus and Juno on November 1st, to my ancestors and house wights on the 1st, 5th and 13th days, to Minerva on the 19th and to Ingui-Frey on the 21st, I'll also be performing a formal ceremony in honour of Emperor Julian the Philosopher (aka, Julian the Apostate) on November 3rd and another to Jupiter on November 13th (to which I may add some physical activity in His honour).
I'm also committing to paper my prayers and rituals to Ingui-Frey, gathering everything in a single notebook that will be placed on His shrine. I should also finish a set of prayers beads dedicated to Him.
On an additional note, in the future I may add a feast to the Norse god Ullr, maybe at the end of November, but that depends on whether or not I'll take up archery.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2013 16:24:52 GMT -8
My plans are pretty simple. I just want to continue my daily devotions to Sobek and Heru-sa-Aset, and do my new and full moon rites for Hekate. I've got a lot of mundane things to do this month, and I'm also going interstate at the end of the month, so keeping my practice simple for the time being is preferable right now.
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Post by Wynn Dark on Nov 4, 2013 8:37:46 GMT -8
I too have a goal of making my ancestors, or rather the group of the dead I'm drawn to, more a part of my practices this November. After divination on Halloween night I'm going to be dedicating my indoor altar to the Dead of the Sea, though I will still make some offerings to the gods there as well it'll be primarily dedicated to the dead.
We'll see how much further past altar rededication that my work with the dead gets as thing's progress, but I also would like to get my outdoor altar set up in its permanent home and if I'm really shooting for the moon get it a new paint job.
I also intend to dedicate my efforts in a foot race to Priapus, as the prize for first, second, and third place runners is a large turkey that I may not otherwise be able to afford this Thanksgiving (which is a celebrated tradition in my family). Priapus will of course be given a portion of the turkey should I win one via immolation in the family fire pit.
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basicmanfitz
New Member
Unitarian-Universalist and Celto-Norse Polytheist
Posts: 17
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Post by basicmanfitz on Nov 18, 2013 5:19:24 GMT -8
I'm going to focus mainly on rekindling my daily devotions and also working closer with Brighid. Otherwise, its going to be a lot of rebalancing and centering; October was a difficult month for me spiritually and now I need to get everything in my life back in proper balance.
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Monica
New Member
Canaanite Polytheist & Unitarian Universalist
Posts: 15
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Post by Monica on Nov 22, 2013 11:36:05 GMT -8
I haven't been in to post my intentions until now, but I've had this thread in mind the past three weeks. This is a month particularly devoted to the ancestors for me so that's where much of my focus has been.
Tidied up the beloved dead altar on the fireplace mantle and added a photo of my husband's mother and grandmother- this was a Very Big Deal and I made sure he was OK with this. They were the women who raised him and they both died suddenly just a couple of months apart several years ago. It was such a difficult thing for my husband that he refused to have any photos or keepsakes of theirs displayed in our home for years. I waited until the time felt right and he's happy to see them up there now. I didn't have a good relationship with my MIL before she died so I'm hoping being able to honor her up there might help heal that rift a little too.
Lots of candles and incense burned, prayers made, flowers and tasty things set out. Thanksgiving falls nicely into this month because I get together with family and we always share stories about our beloved dead. Did the usual new moon observances too (prayers & offerings).
I hope everyone's month is going well. |
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Post by Admin on Dec 5, 2013 13:10:48 GMT -8
November update...
So, here's what I said I'd do in November:
"In November I want to have a permanent ancestor / beloved dead installation of some kind where I can leave offerings and have those folks be more a part of our household. "
They are hung on the wall in the dining area where they are frequently seen and acknowledged. I'd like to have more formal offerings to them as well. My living grandmother's photo is in the living room nearby, but not with, the beloved dead.
"In addition to that goal, I have an obligation to make a thank you offering to Hecate on November 16th for a big favor she did me a couple of years ago and I'm considering expanding that this year into a request for intercession on some of my practices."
I did make my offering and it was accepted. I was also called to offer for the Deipnon (which just happened, and so goes under the heading for December). This is part of a new direction for me.
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