Jenny Heston

Claim Your Power and Step Into Your Magick

How to Make and Activate a Sigil.

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Now that you understand the importance of focusing on your own needs and desires, let’s learn how to make a sigil.

There are many ways of making sigils. Below, is a simple, easy way to create one. This is the very same method I continue to use until this day and have received wonderful results from.

What you will need:

  • Pen
  • Paper

0. Check your motivations

In other words, do you really need to create a sigil? Be careful of going sigil-crazy and forming elaborate symbols to attract a new computer (when you can just get it repaired) or better friendships (when you can stop being a dick to your current friends).

Sigils are not a replacement for action. Yes, sigils can help you manifest just about anything – but you also have to put in the work. Don’t be lazy. Sigils will create inner changes, but you need to be responsible for making outer changes first.

1. Write down your intention

Avoid being too vague or too complex. Be specific. A good example of a clear and specific intention is, “More confidence around my boss.”

Poor examples of this same intention might include, “More confidence” and “More confidence around my boss next week at the business meeting at 2 pm.” One of these intentions is too vague (sigils work best when you are specific), and the other is too complex.

You can phrase your intention in any way that speaks to you. Examples might include:

  • I am …
  • I need …
  • I want …
  • I wish …
  • I desire …
  • More …

Or simply write the qualities you desire, such as “self-protection and maturity around my parents” – I actually find this approach to be more effective than beginning with the words mentioned in the bullet point list above.

I personally discard phrasing such as “I would really like more of …” as the sigils become very hard to create. Try to simplify your intention as much as possible.

Also, ensure that you create one sigil for every intention. Don’t cram numerous desires into one sigil. For example, don’t create a sigil for the statement, “I desire to have a big family full of seven kids in a mansion by the ocean.” Create one sigil for each of those intentions.

You’ll also need to be realistic and use your common sense. Don’t create a sigil for becoming a millionaire if you have no intention of working hard or putting in the effort in physical reality. Don’t create a sigil for becoming the CEO if you are nowhere near qualified. Similarly, don’t bother creating a sigil for that which is most likely going to happen. Pick something that has a 50/50 chance of happening.

Finally, (I promise this is about as complex as it gets), keep your intention phrased positively as that is much easier for the unconscious mind to understand. For example, instead of writing, “I will not feel scared and anxious around others,” phrase your intention positively such as, “I feel calm and empowered around others.”

2. Cross out letters

Once you have a sentence that captures your intention, it’s time to cross out all vowels and repeating letters.

For example, if your statement of intent was, “ I am safe and secure in my own skin,” you would then go and cross out all of the vowels, you would then cross out all the duplicate letters.

Thus, you would be left with the letters “F,D,C,R,Y,W,K.”

Now you play with them and write them into a pattern.

Remember to use positive words and avoid negative comments like don’t, won’t, or not. Use robust and powerful words you’d like your sigil to represent.

If you have too many letters remaining and find it challenging to combine them into a sigil design that resonates with you, try removing vowels to simplify the process. Feel free to add a few creative touches or place a circle around your final image to contain its energy.

A common frustration with sigil creation is the aesthetic. Don’t let artistic beauty hold you back, instead let your intuition guide you!

Here is an example, but there were duplicates left in (which I don’t tend to do).

So now it is time to activate the design you have made.

How to Charge or Activate A Sigil

The most crucial step in sigil activating is that you embed the image of the sigil into your subconscious mind.

Here are a few ideas –

  • Music that is rhythmic, relaxing, or emotional to you can help to put you into a trance-like state. Drums, rattles, chanting, or singing bowls can also be useful
  • During meditation. Relax and bring the image of your sigil to your mind. Repeat your keyword or phrase as you focus and meditate on your sigil
  • Anoint it with Moon Water
  • You can look at your sigil or think about it during an orgasm (either with a partner or by yourself)
  • Charge it during an extremely emotional time and you’re experiencing intense feelings (this can be sadness, fear, happiness, etc.)
  • Movement rituals like dancing, drumming, or clapping
  • Place with corresponding crystals of your choice for as long as you feel is needed

After you have created, activated it then it’s time to burn or bury it. You don’t need to go get it tattooed on your body (unless you really want to!)

It’s about setting it out into the Universal Quantum Field of Expansion and letting it take root. Yes?

Enjoy!

What is Lammas and an Abundance Ritual!

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Happy Lammas!  (No, not Llamas, there are no llamas here).  Also known as Lughnasadh.

What is Lammas and what relevance does it have in my life you may be asking yourself.  Firstly, I will say it is a celebration, and who doesn’t need a glorious reason to celebrate!?  Secondly, let’s go explore what it is – so are you sitting comfortably?  Have a nice cuppa tea to hand, or a cool glass of water?  Then let us begin.

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago in the wonderful Gaelic mythological story of the Wheel of the Year, the Sun God (Lugh, Celtic God of Light and the son of the Sun) transfers his power into the grain, and is sacrificed when the grain is harvested.  So we have a dying, self-sacrificing and resurrecting god of the harvest, who dies for his people so that they may live.  Sound familiar? 

The power of the sun goes into the grain as it ripens. It is then harvested and made into the first new bread of the season.  This is the Saxon hlaef-masse or loaf-mass, now lammas.  Seed grain is also saved for planting for next year’s crop, so the sun god may be seen to rise again in Spring with the new green shoots, as the sun also rises in the sky.  There are many traditions and customs all over the country that are still carried out at harvest time today.  

So Lammas is the first Harvest Festival of the year, it is a time of awareness that the strength of the Sun (Lugh) is beginning to wane and there is a shift and change afoot.  Active growth is slowing down and the darker days of winter and reflection are gently and slowly raising their heads. It happens normally anywhere from July 31st – August 2nd, though some will tell you it can happen between August 1st and September 1st.  

“ At Lammas the Goddess is in Her aspect as Grain Mother, Harvest Mother, Harvest Queen, Earth Mother, Ceres and Demeter. Demeter, as Corn Mother, represents the ripe corn of this year’s harvest and Her daughter Kore/Persephone represents the grain – the seed which drops back deep into the dark earth, hidden throughout the winter, and re-appears in the spring as new growth. This is the deep core meaning of Lammas and comes in different guises: it is about the fullness and fulfillment of the present harvest holding at its heart the seed of all future harvest. (It is a fact that a pregnant woman carrying her as yet unborn daughter is also already carrying the ovary containing all the eggs her daughter will ever release – she is already both mother, grandmother and beyond, embodying the great Motherline – pure magic and mystery.)”

So as the grain harvest is gathered in, there is food to feed the community through the winter and within that harvest is the seed of next year’s rebirth, regeneration and harvest. The Grain Mother is ripe and full, heavily pregnant she carries the seed of the new year’s Sun God within her. There is tension here. For the Sun God, the God of the Harvest, the Green Man, or John Barleycorn, surrenders his life with the cutting of the corn.

What are some of the symbols, plants and colours of Lammas you ask?  

Green, Gold, Mint and Sunflowers!  Mint is one of the revered plants of the Druids and Its magical properties are both protection and healing, and at this stage in the year, its properties of drawing abundance and prosperity, are most appropriate.  Why sunflowers?  Think about it, we often take sunflowers for granted, yet by this time of year their flower heads are full and heavy with that wonderful spiral of seeds and they spend the whole day gently turning their heads to gaze at the sun. In the Aztec temples of the sun, priestesses carried sunflowers and wore them as crowns. They symbolize the fertility of the Solar Logos.

I found a glorious little ritual for abundance to do on Lammas that you might want to try.  (Courtesy of The Goddess and Green Man).

Lammas Charm For Gathering In Abundance

You will need:

A broom or besom.  Don’t worry if it isn’t a traditional besom, any broom will do as it is always the intent that is important. If you have no broom, collect a bundle of twigs and tie them at the top with a Lammas ribbon to make a hand broom shape. The besom/broom is a potent symbol of hearth and home, found in some form in almost every household. It is a traditional magical tool useful for everyday charms as it has the imprint of its owner firmly on it. Sweeping is a natural gathering gesture.

Ribbon.   A piece of green ribbon (for abundance), a piece of gold ribbon (for prosperity and gathering) or ribbon in Lammas harvest colours would be equally suitable.

A Sprig of Mint.  Ideally a sprig of mint from your garden (but you can get this from any supermarket), or dried mint – put it in a pouch. The mint represents abundance and plenty and is easily accessible to the urban hedgewitch.

Take your broom and tie your ribbon around the stave or top. Tie in your sprig of mint or securely fasten your pouch. Take your broom outside, place both hands on the stave and focus on your intention – gathering in your harvest for winter. Turn slowly three times in a clockwise direction then start to sweep towards your door saying:

“By one, two, three and four, sweep Lammas gifts to my door. May abundance be a constant friend, by my hearth till Winter’s end.”

Repeat this three times, then take your besom/broom back into your house and put it in its usual place. You can leave the ribbon on for as long as you want to, for a lunar month, or until winter is done. If you have made your own broom you can place it where you consider the heart of your home to be. The mint can be returned to the earth with thanks.

If you do not have an outside space you can sweep from your front door inwards to either your kitchen or hearth using the same charm.

So now you know what Lammas means, why it is celebrated and have a fun and easy ritual to perform to honour it, and bring in abundance.  So go grab your broom and start sweeping!

5 Ways to Be Like the Sun at Solstice.

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Summer solstice, also known as Litha, is the longest day of the year, but it’s only the very beginning of the summer months with the hottest weather yet to come.

Litha is one of the eight traditional Pagan holidays when daytime energies are at their strongest, radiating mega-doses of vitality and love.

The Sun, seen from an esoteric level, is all about love and wisdom. It’s the primary ray of energy from which everything else is created. It’s the Heart of creation. The Sun never fails to shine, always “rises” to meet us, and sustains life on Earth.

This year, Litha falls on June 21st – a time when those of us who practice magic speak of drawing down the Sun. This means connecting with prana or life force, both within and without.

To draw down or bring out the Sun means harnessing radiant solar energies in order to have the confidence to let yourself shine and be seen. It’s affirming that you’re strong, vibrant, loving, warm, and filled with light.

Litha is the Sun’s day, and the Sun is the center of our solar system. It brings us all back to our center, to our hearts, and the creative source of everything.

The Sun rules the passionate, creative, and proud sign, Leo. 

Leo is motivated to share and lead from the heart and become the brightest, fullest version of itself. With the Sun at its maximum power, Litha’s the perfect time to recognize all the things, small and large, that you’ve created and shared with others. 

It’s also time to honor the leader within you and how you continue to express more of your most authentic self. 

At the summer solstice, a doorway in time opens, which our ancestors viewed as sacred and holy. Litha is a grand portal of energy, space, and opportunity – a chance to let go of fears, doubts, and insecurities.

After the Sun reaches its maximum power, it begins to decline.

Slowly, the night force will grow stronger until its peak at the winter solstice.

Litha is the last chance in our calendar year to activate sacred intentions before moving into autumn and winter, the natural seasons of harvest and rest. I

t’s a time to step out in faith and imagine what’s entirely possible for yourself.

Dream an expansive vision for your life that will sustain you as the darkness slowly returns with the fall. 

5 Ways to Be Like the Sun 

1. Be the Light

The Sun is a star, and its job is to shine! So is yours, in your unique ways. No matter what happens around you, you always have a choice to see, be, and share the light. What I mean by light is love. Whatever you’re doing and wherever you are, choose that love and give it away freely. There’s no prescription for how this looks, so get creative and just do you – in the truest, sincere, most authentic ways you know.

2. Take the Lead

Solar energy is motivating and naturally attracts attention. Use that power for good and be the best example you can. You may not own a business or directly work with large groups, but people look to you. Notice who they are and think about what they see. Every time your inner sun comes into someone else’s field, it makes an impact. It radiates its energy and infuses people, spaces, and places. Be a leader with your energy and set an example worthy of following.

3. Co-Create

The Sun represents the principle of co-creation and animates the entire zodiac. It doesn’t exist alone and wouldn’t mean anything without the rest of the solar system to interact with. In the tarot, The Sun card is about working with others in ways that inspire you and the world. To be like the Sun is to find people who share your passions and bring all that energy together to make something purposeful. Creatives need each other to stay creative. We’re not meant to do this alone. Find a way to connect and make something exciting happen.

4. Act with Integrity

What do I mean by integrity? I mean acting from wholeness by integrating body, mind, heart, and spirit. Most simply, you act with integrity when you’re true to yourself. It’s so easy to think or feel a certain way but act another, which causes a division within you. Some animals, like horses, are especially sensitive to this inauthenticity. They can feel the conflict and won’t trust someone who’s acting out of alignment with their emotional energy – like pretending to be tough when truly afraid. Integrity takes personal work, practice, and honesty. To act with integrity, you have to be honest about where you’re at and what you’re doing. When you know your ego is reacting, own it. Don’t pretend to be something you’re not or commit to doing something you’re not ready to do. Be honest about your feelings, even if it’s a little uncomfortable. 

In astrology, the Sun is the planet of integration. Your Sun Sign is the energy through which you’re integrating yourself. If you’re a Libra, it all comes together through relationships, balancing extremes, and cooperation. If you’re a Sagittarius, it all comes together through searching to find more meaning and following your true path. We’re all in the process of integrating our higher and lower selves. With awareness and practice, you can align your thoughts and actions with your heart and higher mind.  

5. Balance Your Solar Plexus Chakra

The Solar Plexus Chakra or Manipura color is bright yellow, like the Sun. This center is located just above your belly button and is the powerhouse of your energy system. Balancing this chakra helps you confidently stand and act in your power. If your Solar Plexus Chakra is underactive, you might feel powerless or uncertain. If it’s overactive, you might become overpowering and arrogant. Humility is part of this chakra’s medicine. True strength is humility. This chakra is also where you manifest all the things you create. You can think of your Solar Plexus Chakra as the Sun, radiating warmth and light into life. Activate this energy center to rest assured of your capabilities and to make things happen for yourself. Below are some tremendous Solar Plexus herbs, oils, stones, deities, and mantras you can work with.

Solar Plexus Herbs/Oils: Calendula, cumin, helichrysum, lemon, neroli, turmeric   

Solar Plexus Stones: Sunstone, yellow aventurine, pyrite, yellow apatite, citrine, golden healer quartz, tiger’s eye

Solar Plexus Deities: Agni, Athena, Ma’at, Pele, Ra, Sekhmet, Xiuhtecuhtli 

Solar Plexus Mantras: 

“I am strong, capable, and powerful.” 

“I stand in my power.”

“I am the leader of my life.”

In Closing

If you want to delve deeper into how to welcome Solstice and harness that energy, grab your copy of SASS.

However you choose to welcome summer, and long past it, I hope you’ll find ways to grow and feed the light for the benefit of us all.

May you feel on the deepest level how powerful you are – how your energy and the way you run it make an impact. May you use your light to inspire and empower others. May we all choose the wisdom of love. From my heart to yours, happy Litha.

Strawberry Moon Journal Prompts

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What comes to mind when you think about the Full Moon in June?

The Strawberry Moon of June is named for the wild and ripe strawberries that reach their peak in June. It’s believed that picking strawberries beneath the light of the moon honors the crops and ensures a bountiful yield.

Strawberries are considered a food of love, representative of the goddess Freya, and they symbolize love and luck. June’s Strawberry Moon meaning embodies the magic and fullness of life.

This is the best moment to make difficult decisions or to face responsibilities you’ve been avoiding. Start fresh and dive deep into personal growth! Remember to pace yourself, don’t burn yourself out in your excitement and enthusiasm. Evaluate your goals and intentions to make sure they are realistic and achievable.

New life, sunlight, magic, joy, and strength are everywhere. The earth and the universe are surging with enthusiasm! Your intuition is at a peak! So keep an open mind to all of life’s adventures and twists.

The Strawberry Moon meaning is a special and sacred time to reflect on your life and make positive changes. So let’s look at some prompts to get you started.  

Strawberry Moon Journal Prompts

A great way to celebrate the Strawberry moon meaning is by journaling your thoughts and intentions. Here are some prompts to get you started:

  • How far have you come with the goals and intentions you set this last Winter? Have you achieved them?
    • If not, what obstacles can you remove that are holding you back? What patterns and routines are currently interfering with your growth? What can you do to change or alter these? Do you need to re-evaluate your intentions?
    • If yes, what can you do to set goals that bring about a deeper and more spiritually fulfilling life? How can you challenge yourself further?
  • How can you incorporate a creative talent of yours into your spirituality?
  • Do you have a Strawberry Moon or Summer Solstice altar or sacred space in your home? List any crystals, oils, candles, flowers, statues, or meaningful personal items you’ve placed in your sacred space.
  • What can you do NOW, that your future self will be grateful for this Winter or next Spring? Now is a time of growth and improvement; what do you plan to manifest for yourself?
  • Slow down and notice some of your favorite aspects during the season of the Strawberry Moon and Summer Solstice. Make a list of them and find ways to incorporate them into your life more often.

Taurus New Moon Journal Prompts and Magick.

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The Moon transits through Taurus when the lunar sky path crosses the second sector of the Zodiac, which is located in the constellation of Taurus. 

When the Moon is in Taurus it’s a good time to escape distractions and sink deeper into the things that ground you.

It brings a sense of peace and calmness and a desire for security and stability.

Now is the time for enjoying the tranquility and comfort of home, good food, and intentional connections with loved ones. It is also a great time to make any aesthetic changes, work in the garden and get back to nature. 

Taurus is motivated by a desire for practical, useful results.

Moon journaling each month during the new and full moon helps connect you with these lunar energies. Use these Taurus moon phase journal prompts to help you during these times of transition.

New Moon in Taurus

The New Moon in Taurus only occurs when the Sun sign is also in Taurus, during the end of April into the beginning of May. Spring is in full bloom and love is in the air.

Taurus is ruled by the planet Venus and is focused on comfort, security, harmony, and beauty. Happening close to the festival of Beltane, fertility, and productivity are two of the themes of Taurus. The desire for new growth is strong and the Taurus New Moon helps us get rooted even deeper with our intentions set last month during the Aries New Moon.

The earthy energy of Taurus reminds us to strengthen our practice of grounding and centering. Celebrate spring and the Taurus New Moon by getting connected with the earth.

Be present within your body and really notice what you are feeling, smelling, hearing. This is a good time to ask yourself:

  • What helps me feel grounded and centered?
  • What do I need to feel more stable and secure?
  • What am I willing to face and resolve so I can move forward?
  • What boundaries do I need to set in order to bloom more fully?

Taurus Magic

Taurus is a Fixed Earth sign that supports sensible emotions and renewals. Focus your intentions on money matters, material acquisitions, real estate, and deep love.

This is a good time to practice self-love and nourish your physical body.

Healing rituals for areas of the throat, neck, and ears are also done at this time.

Wellness Mantras:

  • I will love myself fully so that I may fully love others.
  • I am on a path of natural wellness and health.
  • I choose to release what no longer supports or nourishes me.

Enjoy!

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