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Festival of Sarasvati - Ritual for Inspiration and Wisdom

The Festival of Sarasvati is traditionally held in India on the New Moon that falls closest to January 12th, or on January 12th itself. The festival is known as The Besant Panchami, or Duwat Puja. Since Sarasvati is the Goddess of Learning, Writing, and book-keeping, it was traditional to clean the ink stands and pens. Since last night was the New Moon, with January 12th just around the corner, when I found this ritual I knew it would be perfect for me! I was born on January 12, Sarasvati's Festival day.... is it a coincidence that I love to write and learn? I think I have been blessed by this Goddess throughout my life... though it took me 30 years to find Her.

SARASVATI -
Often depicted as a beautiful woman with 4 arms, she rules over the arts of civilization such as all branches of learning, writing, communication, the alphabet, math, and calendars. She is often called upon to bring inspiration, knowledge, wisdom, and to clear away sluggishness of the mind and ignorance.

The ritual I found is from the book, "Moon Magick" by D.J. Conway. (Can you tell I love this book? I'll probably reference it often throughout the year, it's so fabulous!) The book suggests honoring Sarasvati at the time of the New Moon in January, after New Years Day, but I think it could be held at any time you want some inspiration and help from Sarasvati. Here I will outline what I did for last night's ritual.

I actually started on the 3rd, by cleaning out my computer desk. I cleaned out the paper caddy on top of the desk and put important papers into files and threw away the junk. I cleaned out three desk drawers on the 3rd, doing the same thing - filing the important stuff and throwing away the junk. This was actually an important part of the ritual for me... and I found it very fitting to do this so close to the New Year... getting a fresh start with paperwork, so to speak. On the 4th I continued and completed my project of clearing out the desk. I had books that needed to be put back in place, scraps of paper to be thrown away, things to be filed.... but I did it and it feels great!! The book also suggests organizing and dusting your book shelves, and dusting/cleaning your computer area and keyboard. Basically clean up any area that you use to read, write, and learn.

Next, I set up my altar. I have The Goddess Tarot by Kris Waldherr, and I found that the equivalent of The High Priestess in this deck is called Wisdom and depicts Sarasvati. Since I don't have a statue of Sarasvati to put on my altar, I used this tarot card. If you don't have anything, you can perhaps print a picture of her from the internet, draw a picture of her, or at least write her name on a note card to place on your altar. I surrounded her with flowers, and I laid out a fresh clean peice of paper and a pen, and a white candle. I also added the two tarot cards that relate to the current moon cycle - Death for the New Moon in Capricorn and The Chariot for the upcoming Full Moon in Cancer (Capricorn's polarity). Since I was already using The Goddess Tarot, these cards brought into attentance the Japanese Goddess Nyai Loro Kidul and the Celtic Goddess Rhiannon. I am sure I will be blogging about them at some point this month, but the focus here was on Sarasvati!

After my altar was set up, I prepared myself by taking a bath, shaving my legs, brushing my hair, and getting dressed. It was probably 9:00 at night, but I dressed myself as if I were going to a job interview. I figure that when you are invoking a wise Goddess such as Sarasvati, you can't just show up in your bath robe and slippers! Conway suggests that you should light the incense and candle, and meditate for awhile in front of your altar, chanting the OM. But in my research of Sarasvati I found something I thought would be even better... I found a Mantra specifically used to invoke Sarasvati! So I turned this lovely video on from my computer, and chanted/sang the Mantra while facing my altar until I could feel myself vibrating and I truly felt that I was having an audience with Sarasvati!
Sarasvati Beej Mantra

Candles lit, incense burning, wine poured, I spent some time in meditation, chanting the mantra and thinking about how Sarasvati has blessed me with a strong desire to learn and a passion for writing. Then I prayed this prayer from the book;

"I stand at the center of this spiritual universe,

within the heart of the sacred mandala.
Gentle Sarasvati, I come to you for aid and blessings."

On the piece of paper I wrote down some goals that I have... asking for assistance with my organization and help keeping important papers straight in my home. I wrote down that I would like to be inspired to write in my blogs; to learn more, share what I learn, and teach others. I asked for clarity in my writing, clarity of thought. I filled the page with several wishes, then laid the paper back on the altar and prayed;

"Beautiful Sarasvati, Goddess of Light and Inspiration,
Reveal to me the knowledge I need.
Grant my requests in a manner that benefits me.
Thankyou, lovely Goddess."

I made sure my candles would be safe for the night (placed on fire proof holders, nothing too close to them, banished the cats from the room, etc.) and I went to bed. This morning when I rose, I lit another white candle, chanted the mantra again a few times, and meditated some more, then I burned the paper in a metal pan and watched the smoke swirl around my altar and the image of Sarasvati. When the ashes cooled, I took them outside and scattered them to the wind, thanking Sarasvati for the Knowledge and Inspiration I know she will bring me.

Happy New Year!

In numerology, the year 2010 is reduced down and becomes the number three. The Tarot Card for the year 2010 was 3, The Empress. Collectively this past year we have all been reminded to be more nurturing and creative in our lives. Perhaps we were reminded in one way or another to recognize beauty in every little thing, or to appreciate the mothers in our lives. Perhaps we were reminded in one way or another that we must nurture and pamper ourselves from time to time in order to keep our personal energy clear and healthy. Maybe we were inspired to be more nurturing and caring for those around us. Perhaps our trials and deep emotions sparked a flow of creative energy. Whatever way we learned these lessons, I'm sure we can all look back and find The Empress' lessons present in our life over 2010.

At this time, the energy of the Empress is giving way to the Emperor, as the year 2011 is numerologically reduced to the number 4. The gentle earthy urgings of the Empress now give way to the powerful and fiery energy of the Emperor. This year we will be encouraged to find our personal empowerment, stand up for what we believe in, and become the leaders of our own lives. Whatever 2011 brings, trust that you are in charge of the situation. Like an emperor leading his country, it is how you choose to react to situations that will determine the outcome and success of your kingdom. Another thing to be aware of, whatever lessons that the Empress tried to teach you in gentle patience, if you did not truly embrace those lessons, now it's The Emperor's turn to try and teach you the same thing. He's not quite as gentle in his teaching style as the mothering Empress can be; think of him as the Military Father that teaches through "Tough Love" and strict, structured lessons. But fear not! Because whatever it is you are learning in 2011 will teach you strength, wisdom, independence, and great empowerment. If you go into 2011 with these goals in mind, and recognize that in truth, your Spirit already IS Strong, Wise, Independent, and Empowered, than this year should be amazingly special for you!

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Happy New Year friends! I hope that you're all having a great time seeing out 2010 and welcoming in 2011... and being safe!! It is COLD here in Arizona... and while I'm sure many of you have seen colder days than us, this 35 degrees at 9:30 pm is NOT something we're used to seeing! In fact, this is the coldest New Year's Eve in the recorded history of Arizona! I'm drinking a glass of wine... it's helping warm me up a little bit. The kids are playing on the Wii, the husband is reading a book, and the house is mostly clean, warm, and cozy-feeling. I spent the day doing house work, as I feel it's important to wake up to a clean house on New Year's day. I discovered that this is tradition in many cultures, especially in Scotland; to clean the house on New Year's Eve. Here are some other traditions I learned about and thought I'd share with you;

"New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are times steeped in household magic, most of which ensures that the home and it's residents will have a safe, comfortable, plentiful new year.
There are many traditional New Year's Eve rituals. Burning seven candles on this night brings household luck. If you want more than luck, light a candle on each side of a mirror five minutes before midnight on New Year's Eve. Then look into the glass, and you'll see a vision.
A few minutes before midnight on the eve of the new year, open the doors and windows for a few minutes to release any negative vibrations from last year.
New Year's Eve is also an excellent time to increase your beauty. At midnight, wash your face in well water, look into a mirror by candle light, and you will improve your appearance.
If you have a fireplace, you might want to try this spell. To be rid of last year's banes an pains, bind your now obsolete calendar with wool yarn. Place it in a hot fire while chanting;
"Burn, burn, you day-book burn;
Last year's worries ne'er return!"

At one time in Scotland, each resident of the household washed his or her entire body in water into which three live embers from the household fire had been placed. Next, clean clothing was donned, the house thoroughly scrubbed, every lock opened, and a shiny knife left near the front door. A light burning in the window all night topped off the ritual.

On New Year's Day itself, there is much to do in the way of good-luck rituals. First off, ensure that your pockets and your cupboards are full on this day; that way you'll have money all year. If you have greens in the house on New Year's Day, you'll have plenty of "green" cash during the following 12 months.
Juniper incense ritually cleanses the home and is highly traditional. Bayberry candles are also said to bring prosperity and luck. An old saying goes; "Bayberry candles, when burned to the socket, bring luck to the home and gold to the pocket." Burn candles in fireproof containers as they must be allowed to burn all the way out.
Grass and water can also be brought into the home to ensure plenty of food and drink. Eat black-eyed peas and cabbage on New Years Day to bring luck and prosperity into your life in the new year.
On New Year's Day, NOT BEFORE, it is permissible to hang up new calendars and almanacs."

From "The Magical Household" by Scott Cunningham

So today I cleaned the house... the floors have been swept and mopped, the carpet has been vacuumed, most areas are free of clutter, flat surfaces have been dusted, dishes washed, etc. There are some dishes from dinner in the sink right now but I will be washing those and shining that sink before midnight! Just before I go to bed, or before midnight (whichever comes first... I might not stay up till midnight) I am going to open the windows and doors to the freezing winter night and smudge the house with sage; clearing away any negativity that may be lingering from the previous year. I also plan on doing this beautiful ritual from the book "Moon Magick" by D.J. Conway -

Wishing Night
The end of December was the celebration of Wishing Night in Mexico, when wishes were said to be granted to those who deserved them, rather like gifts from Santa Claus. Since this falls on what we now call New Year's Eve, it becomes a kind of combination gifts and resolutions time.
If it is safe for you to do so, go outside when it is completely dark. If it isn't safe or possible, at least stand near a window in a totally darkened room. Look up at the sky. Listen to the night sounds. Try to hear the music of the stars and the Moon. Think about the night as if you were in an isolated country with the dark woodlands nearby, the owls ghosting silently across the snow covered hills. Let your primal being thrill to the call of wolves in the distance.
Have in mind what is important to you in the way of desires for the coming year and what things you would like to delete from your life. Don't be shy; this can include troublesome people. Just be prepared to accept what will come when your desires are answered.
Breathe each thing you want gone, one at a time, into the palm of your hand. Then blow them away into the darkened sky on the winter winds. Do the same with each desire you wish to enter into your life. Take your time.
When you are finished, go inside and light a red candle. Place it in a safe place to burn out completely. This candle is a symbolic guiding spot to draw your desires to you.