#draoi

It was time to freshen up the altar. Now that we’re working on having a baby I need everyone’s support on hand. I’ve plugged a ritual/meditation routine into my finch app and I’m ready to go!

I’ve decided to have designated offering days to my three primary deities so that I can make sure I’m giving at least a little focus to each every week because I’ve been SLACKING!

I’m also busting out the medicinal teas, tonight’s tea (with both fertility and peace in mind) is mint, lavender, and raspberry leaf.

Do you have any information on irish good luck traditions specifically about the horseshoe? I would like to gift one to my friend who seems to have incredibly bad luck (particularly with bad things happening that are extremely expensive to deal with). It isn’t just him but his whole family. In any case I found a site that imports used horseshoes from Ireland and restores them. I thought I read somewhere that horseshoes need to be given as gifts to work and I’ve heard the irish tradition is hanging them so they look like a U and not an upside U. Do you have any more information on this? I would also like to buy one for myself but I’m afraid it won’t work since I’m buying it for myself. Any authentic information you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Horseshoes and luck in Ireland

Hello there friend! Thank you so much for the question.

Horseshoes are widely seen to be associated with luck and in Ireland it is no exception, all my sources here are from the National Folklore Collection, found online at duchas.ie (linked sources in brackets). Most of what you already know of horseshoes or crú capaill is pretty accurate already.

Finding them leads to good luck Finding a horseshoe leads to good luck, it is important that it has been used to some capacity. The terminology used seems to be "to come across" a horseshoe, which indicates a level of unexpectedness such as finding one on the the side of the road or, as you in your case, being gifted one at random (link)(link). It seems that this will lead to seven years of good luck (link).

Traditional locations to hang them It seems that hanging them over a door was customary, the implication seems to be the front door to the house and was said to bring luck (link) (link). This seems to have been particularly done after the completion of a new house (link).

Upside down or right-side down You are always supposed to keep them right side up with the "legs" pointing upwards (link)

What to take from this A random happening across a horseshoe leads to good luck so I would recommend getting that for your friend, but maybe don't tell them until they've opened it or you have already, don't remind them of it. It is unclear if the luck from it being placed over the door is directly connected to the from finding it, but still make sure they do that and put it right side up over their front or bedroom door. You could still get one for yourself and put it over your door and see if you can still get luck from it. Report back!

PLEASE do your research before purchasing crystals and herbs.

Crystals are rarely ethically sourced, and herbs can be the same. (Locally-sourced herbs are more effective in your practice anyway.) Jewelry and other meaningful tokens can also be used in place of crystals.

Many many MANY plants and herbs are extremely toxic to your pets, particularly cats, even if small fibers or pollen gets in their fur. (examples: aloe, mistletoe, holly, chamomile, parsley, mint) Honestly there are so many to keep track of that I'd recommend keeping your herb practice in a room or place your cats have no access to, or being very careful that the herbs are sealed, thoroughly clean the area after, be very careful not to spill any, and wash your hands.

I just finished up participating in the Alban Elfed Ceremony by The Draoi Grove linked by Phillip Carr-Gomm of OBOD (here).

The day and night are equal and the harvest in complete. We give thanks to all that we reaped and start to turn inward as the days grow darker.

I hope that you enjoy your upcoming times of introspection and rest. Now is the time to heal and set new intentions!

I finally get to turn my pelt over after cleaning my altar and left my offerings out. Such an exciting time to prep for!

Smells Like Home

We’re in Wyoming, something that often happens around Lughnasadh I’ve noticed. It’s been much greener this year than it’s been within recent memory, and the smell is phenomenal. I took the opportunity to gather some of the most fragrant plants in the hopes of making Wyoming incense/smoke cleansing bundles!

These include

Sagebrush

Yellow Sweet Clover

Ponderosa Pine

Juniper

All of these are excellent for clearing and purifying the air, and also they just smell dang good. I save trimmings for sachets which can be put in any small space to provide freshness and clarity.

Week one of black raspberries is coming to a close! Five weeks to go if we’re lucky! The elderflowers are starting to shed, and the gooseberries are slowly but surely ripening for us to look forward to!

Black raspberries are an excellent source of vitamin C and have more antioxidants than blueberries! There’s even been some indication of them reducing the risk of colon cancer.

The raspberry leaf is also a diverse and useful part! Magically they are also useful to represent things such as healing and protection, and medicinally they can be used in teas to assist in the treatment of things such as cardiovascular disorders, intestinal distress, or uterine/menstrual discomfort and irregularities!

From a magical perspective black raspberries (like standard raspberries) are useful for spells focusing on healing, protection, wealth, and prosperity. I wouldn’t use these as a key feature in anything romantic (as I might with red raspberries), but when it comes to health related witchcraft I would absolutely choose these over their red cousins! Taking their strong dark hue into account these berries can also serve as a yummy energetically neutralizing agent in any spell structure. I also find they make excellent offerings for any land based spirit or deity! Additionally, if you work with a sovereignty deity and live somewhere where these are native I highly recommend trying them out as an offering!

Things black raspberries can be used for: syrups, ice cream, cookies, cake, cake or pie filling, juices, jams, and so much more! Keep in mind these have a much higher seed to flesh ratio, so they will leave a lot of seeds in anything they’re left whole in!

A little new moon divination ritual.