November Beautiful
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The month of November comes from the Latin Novem - which was originally the ninth month in the Roman calendar. The last month before the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere, November is the darkest month of the year. The days are short and the nights grow colder, leading up to the beginning of winter. The earth grows quiet during this time. The brightness of autumn has mellowed and a quiet beauty settles over the woods and fields.
Just as the trees and plants settle in for their winter rest, November is a good time to slow down and tend to your home and yourself. No big actions are needed now. Instead, introspection and observation are a welcome respite from the busyness of early autumn. It’s a new Wheel of the Year and time to think about what has been and what is to come.
The November Moon
The November full moon was known by the ancient Celts as the Dark Moon, Beaver Moon or Oak Moon. The first full moon in the Wheel of the Year, November is a good time to cultivate healthy habits and continue to release negative energy.
Chrysanthemums & November
A flower often associated with November in Western cultures is the chrysanthemum. More commonly referred to as Mums, these hardy flowers can withstand dropping temperatures and are one of the last to bloom before the onset of winter. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, chrysanthemums symbolize loyalty, friendship, and joy. In Japan, chrysanthemums are associated with youth, while in parts of Europe they are associated with death and mourning.
November as a Time Focus on Your Home
Shorter days and long, cold evenings make November an ideal time to focus on your home. Take some time to do a tidying up of your living area and add in some cozy elements such as candles, slippers and warm blankets. Break out some easy evening activities that will help you unwind after a long day, such as puzzles, books or some simple crafts. For me, November evenings include sudoku puzzles and leafing through my collection of holiday books, while enjoying some hot peppermint tea.
Thanks to social media, there is a new standard of maintaining a fall/holiday aesthetic in your home, where everything looks picture perfect. Now, I appreciate a fall scented candle and a faux pumpkin as much as the next person, but when it comes to tending my home in this season, I practice what I call Gentle Cleaning. This essentially means I focus on the main areas of my home that I use the most during this time of year. This includes my kitchen and living room, where I do my best to keep the areas tidy, with a sense of coziness. November is not a time that I do any big, deep cleans or home projects. There will be time enough for cleaning, decluttering and reorganizing in the spring.
How are you celebrating the start of the Wheel of the Year? What is November like in your home?
References & Recommended Reading
A Witch for Every Season by Rachel Patterson
What is Practical Magick?
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Practical magick, often spelled "magic" or "magick" depending on personal preference, is a spiritual practice that focuses on the application of magickal techniques and principles to achieve certain desired outcomes or goals. Unlike some forms of ceremonial magick or other ritualistic practices, practical magick tends to emphasize simplicity, accessibility, and results-oriented approaches. It can be as part of every day life and requires little time or money. The most important element of successful practical magick is the intent of the person performing it.
Magickal practices often aim to tap into unseen forces and to influence events and consciousness, similar to how those who believe in Law of Attraction use visualization and affirmations to manifest desired outcomes in their lives. This can be done through ceremonies, like casting a circle with a coven; it can be done through a ritual like setting up an altar and doing spell work, or it can be woven into everyday life, through practical magick.
Practical magick is a flexible and diverse spiritual practice that allows individuals to work on self-improvement, achieve specific goals, or address practical concerns in their lives through the application of magickal techniques. Many different groups including neo-pagans, wiccans and other natured-based belief systems use some form of practical magick as part of their daily spiritual practice. This could look like stirring a pot of soup a certain way, while meditating on a peaceful dinner with your family. Or it could be carrying a certain crystal with you, to protect against as you travel. There are endless possibilities for adding some practical magick into your everyday life.
Magick or Magic?
You may notice that the term Magick and Magic are used interchangeably when referring to witchcraft and the occult and you may be wondering what’s the difference? One theory of why the ‘k’ was added is attributed to the occultist and ceremonial magician Aleister Crowley, who helped to popularize occultism and alternative spiritual practices in the 20th century. Crowly wanted to differentiate illusionary magic (think of a white rabbit being pulled out of a hat) and mystical magick that is associated with spellwork, spirits and the supernatural. However, like many aspects of neo paganism and modern witchcraft, this isn’t a universally accepted truth. As such, some authors opt to omit the ‘k’ from and go with the traditional use of Magic.
Easy Ways to Add Practical Magick to the Everyday
Practical magick is meant to be integrated into everyday life. It doesn't require elaborate rituals or complex ceremonies, making it accessible to people with busy schedules. Here are some easy and inexpensive ways to imbue a little magick into your everyday.
Morning Affirmations: Start your day with positive affirmations, focusing on your goals and intentions.
Candle Magic: Light a colored candle that corresponds to your intention or desire. As it burns, visualize your goal manifesting.
Crystal Charging: Carry a small crystal with you that aligns with your intention. Hold it and infuse it with your desires regularly.
Herb Magic: Use herbs or spices in your cooking that are associated with your goals. Focus on your intention as you prepare and eat your meal.
Moon Magick: Spend a few minutes each night looking at the moon. Focus on your desires and imagine them being drawn towards you with the moon's energy. Read more about the different phases of the moon and how they correspond to attracting and letting go.
Visualization: Before sleep or during meditation, visualize your goals as if they have already been achieved. Feel the emotions associated with your success.
Salt Cleansing: Sprinkle a bit of salt around your home or workspace to clear negative energy. Sweep it up after a few minutes, symbolizing the removal of obstacles.
Charging Water: Place a glass of water in the moonlight or sunlight and set an intention for it to carry that energy. Drink it the next day to absorb its magickal properties.
Gratitude Journaling: Keep a daily journal where you write down things you're grateful for. This positive energy can attract more of what you desire into your life.
Intention and Focus
Practical magick is meant to be integrated into everyday life. It doesn't require elaborate rituals or complex ceremonies, making it accessible to people with busy schedules. Practical magick can be as simple or as complicated as a person wants to make it. Some folks opt to align their magickal intentions with the lunar phases, astrology and planetary activity. Others focus on the Wheel of the Year and different seasons and sabbats. The most important aspect of practical magick is the intent and focus of the individual. Essentially you can have a very witchy aesthetic happening, but if you are not really focusing on what you want to achieve through the use of magick, it likely won’t be very effective.
Ethical Considerations for Practical Magick
Many practitioners of practical magick emphasize ethical principles such as the Wiccan Rede "An' it harm none, do what ye will" or the Law of Threefold Return, which suggests that the energy you put out into the world will return to you threefold.
Practical magick is a results-oriented spiritual practice that seeks to manifest desires through the application of magickal techniques. It can be seamlessly integrated into everyday life and doesn't require elaborate rituals or ceremonies. This flexible practice is embraced by various spiritual groups, such as neo-pagans and Wiccans, and offers countless ways to infuse a touch of magick into daily routines. From morning affirmations to crystal charging and moon gazing, practical magick empowers individuals to work on self-improvement and achieve their goals through focused intent and positive energy. Ethical considerations often guide practitioners, emphasizing the importance of doing no harm and understanding the principle of energy return. Ultimately, the effectiveness of practical magick hinges on individual intent and focus.
How to Set Up an Altar for the Wheel of the Year
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The Wheel of the Year marks the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth through the changing seasons. Many different nature-based spiritual paths incorporate the Wheel of the Year into their practice, including Wiccans and Witches. As the interest in neo-paganism and other types of nature-based spirituality grows, more people are aligning their own practice with rhythms of nature, versus a patriarchal religious calendar.
One way to celebrate the Wheel of the Year all year long is by setting up an altar. An altar is a designated and sacred space where individuals or communities set up symbolic items, objects, and offerings to connect with their spiritual beliefs, practices, or deities. It serves as a focal point for meditation, prayer, rituals, and reflection. Altars can be personalized with meaningful elements that represent the practitioner's spiritual path, intentions, and the energies they wish to invoke.
There are no right or wrong ways to set up an altar for the Wheel of the Year. Ultimately your altar should be a reflection what you value and want to focus on as part of your own practice. And it shouldn’t feel like a chore to set up or maintain. If you opt to not update your altar from one sabbat to the next, that is okay. It is the intention that matters the most.
Here are some general guidelines and steps, as well as ideas for capturing the essence of each season.
Step 1: Choose a Dedicated Space
Select a space in your home that resonates with you. It could be a corner of your bedroom, a windowsill, or a small table. This dedicated area will be the focal point of your connection with the Wheel of the Year's energies.
Step 2: Gather Your Materials
Collect items that represent the seasons and their corresponding symbols. Some common symbols to consider include:
Candles: Each season has its own color. For example, green for Beltane, orange for Samhain, or white for Imbolc. Light a candle of the appropriate color to symbolize the current season.
Crystals: Select crystals associated with the seasons. For example, citrine for Litha and Lughnasadh, Carnelian for Mabon, and amber or peridot for Mabon.
Nature: Incorporate items from nature, such as leaves, flowers, pinecones, and seashells. These represent the changing landscape of the Wheel of the Year.
Seasonal Symbols: Use symbols that represent the seasons and their corresponding celebrations. For instance, eggs and rabbits for Ostara (spring equinox), sun symbols for Litha (summer solstice), acorns and apples for Mabon (autumn equinox), and evergreen branches for Yule (winter solstice).
Incense and Herbs: Burn incense or use dried herbs that correspond to the seasons. Lavender for spring, frankincense for summer, sage for autumn, and pine for winter.
Elements: Many traditional altars in Witchcraft incorporate the four elements of Air, Earth, Fire and Water. This could look like a cup (or chalice if you are feeling fancy) of water, a candle for fire, a dish of salt for earth and a feather for air. Each element represents different properties. For example water offers cleansing properties. So if you’re focus for the season is on letting go of negative beliefs or habits, you may want to include water as part of your altar. Author Skye Alexander offers an excellent overview of the four elements and how to set up an altar in The Modern Guide to Witchcraft. This blog post on Grove & Grotto also gives an good overview.
Deities: Each Wheel of the Year is associated with a different deity. You may want to incorporate a symbol of the god or goddess of the season into your altar, such as a Brigid’s Cross for Imbolc or Sun for Sol at Litha.
Step 3: Arrange Your Altar
Arrange your materials in a way that feels balanced and harmonious to you. If you opt to use the four elements of Air, Earth, Fire and Water, you can use the cardinal directions as a guide:
Air = East
Earth = North
Fire = South
Water = West
You could also create a circular arrangement to symbolize the cyclical nature of the Wheel of the Year. Don’t be afraid to play around with the composition until you find something that feels right for you.
Step 4: Create Seasonal Displays
Rotate your altar displays according to the eight festivals of the Wheel of the Year:
Imbolc: Represent the awakening of the earth with candles, white flowers, and a symbol of the young sun.
Ostara: Embrace the fertility and rebirth of spring with pastel colors, eggs, and fresh flowers.
Beltane: Celebrate the coming of summer with brightly colored ribbons, a maypole, and flowers.
Litha: Honor the sun's peak with sun symbols, gold accents, and vibrant colors.
Lammas/Lughnasadh: Embrace the harvest season with grains, bread, and fruits.
Mabon: Reflect on balance during the autumnal equinox with leaves, gourds, and warm colors.
Samhain: Connect with the spirit world by incorporating images of ancestors, pumpkins, and dark colors.
Yule: Welcome the return of light during the winter solstice with evergreens, ornaments, and white decorations.
Again, if redoing your alter every six weeks feels like too much, you don’t have to do it. You can set up an altar and leave it. You can set it up for your favorite Sabbat and then take it down. Do what feels right for where you are at in life and your spiritual path.
Step 5: Reflect and Ask
Once your altar is set up, set aside some time to meditate and reflect. You may also opt to do spell work / manifestation work at your altar, to set intentions or ask for clarity and guiadance. The Modern Witchcraft Spell Book has excellent and easy spells for beginners.
Setting up an altar for the Wheel of the Year is a beautiful way to connect with the rhythms of nature and the spiritual essence of each season. By incorporating colors, symbols, and elements that resonate with you, you'll create a meaningful space that serves as a reminder of the ever-turning wheel of life. This practice can help you attune to the energies of the Earth and find deeper spiritual connections throughout the year.
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