Good Morning,
Are you ready for the first full moon of the year? Have you ever wanted to take an affordable work-at-your-own pace class in the privacy of your own home? Sign up for my "Full Moon Magick" class today. It is only $22.00 and you will receive lessons, and fifteen lunar rituals. This Moon Magick class has all of the lunar eclipse information updated for 2013 and it also includes a NEW spell for the upcoming "Black Moons" of 2014.  Four out of the five online classes are on sale at the moment, and they are all very budget friendly.  
 Payment is made thru Paypal on my website and it is simple, safe and secure. Check out all five of my online classes! Here is a direct link to my online classes. http://www.ellendugan.com/10.html

The first full moon of the year is typically called the Wolf Moon. The nights are cold, the trees and flowers are sleeping under the snow and ice, and the wolves are on the prowl. 
Due to popular request I am once again sharing my Wolf Moon Spell. 

On this first full moon of the year, traditionally called the Wolf Moon, take some time to stop and reflect on the magick and medicine of the wolf. The wolf is a popular animal ally with Witches and magick users, as the wolf is a pathfinder, leader, and a teacher. The wolf has an incredible sense of family, as well as a strong sense of independence. The wolf also encourages the teacher within all of us to step up and share knowledge and information with others.

At this time of the Wolf Moon, perform a spell to assist you in tapping into your intuition and inner wisdom. Whether you wish to share your knowledge with circle or coven mates, or decide to formally teach a class. Calling on the wolf will give you the strength to walk your individual magickal path, and to assist others to find theirs, with courage and shrewdness. Set up your altar with white candles and a representation of the wolf. This can be a small statue, or a photo. As the full moon rises, turn and face the moon and call upon the magick of the wolf. When you are ready, repeat the spell below three times.
**This article and spell are copyrighted material and may not be reproduced without the author's written permission.  

In other news, I am spending the next few weeks finishing up book #15. I will be announcing the working title in a month or two. My coven meets in a week, on Imbolc day, and Convocation, where I am a featured presenter, is just around the corner! 
Lots to do, so I'd better get to it!
Happy Esbat!
 
Blessed be, Ellen
 

Hello,
And Happy Fourth of July!
Baby it is HOT outside! We have had blistering heat and dry conditions here at home in the St. Louis area. Over the last few consecutive days we have topped out at 107, 104, 102 and finally 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Yesterday some rain came through the area but missed my house and town all together! The temperatures dropped from 100 degrees to 84 degrees with the wind and thunder but only a little sprinkle fell in my town. Doing our trees absolutely no good at all. Here's hoping we get some rain today. As the humidity is back up, we have another chance for rain this afternoon. (Fingers crossed.)

Tonight we have a full moon. Which is sometimes referred to as the "Thunder Moon", due to the thunderstorms that are common in the summer months. I can only hope that it lives up to its' name.

In my town they ARE going ahead with the fireworks and the local parade tomorrow. I think because they shoot the fireworks off from a barge in the Missouri River, they can pull it off. Many cities around us have cancelled their fireworks- its too dry and there are real concerns about wild fires starting. Today they are calling for 98 degrees, which sounds fabulous- considering where we have been.

So for now I carefully water the perennial gardens in the morning and the pots and containers get watered once in the morning and once at night. The lawn I have given up on. It can go dormant. It will always green back up in the fall- or if we get rain again.

If you would like to learn more about the full moon and its' magick, consider taking my affordable online class on "Full Moon Magick". The mini-class comes with an introduction, syllabus, and the lessons. Of course it comes with 14 full moon rituals and there is a Blue Moon ritual and lunar eclipse ritual included as well. Here is the direct link to my website. Ellen's Online Classes
Just scroll down and choose the class you'd like and use the handy Paypal buttons on the page. Simple, safe and fast!

That Blue Moon ritual will come in handy next month- as we will have a 2nd full moon at the end of August this year. The first full moon of August is on August 1st EST and the second full moon (blue moon) occurs on the 31st of August EST.

I finished up a new book proposal and shipped it out to Llewellyn yesterday. So I am ready to relax and enjoy the holiday. My family is getting together tomorrow to celebrate the fourth of July. I am making pulled pork in the crock-pot, coleslaw, pasta salad, veggie crudites and red white and blue cupcakes. My adult sons are bringing the beer, wine coolers and chips. I am really looking forward to relaxing and spending time with my family.

I hope you and yours enjoy a safe and happy Independence day!
Blessed be, Ellen

Fireworks in Downtown St. Louis

Good Morning,

As the moon waxes towards full, I have begun the "clean out the gardens" process here at home. With a mild winter and a spring determined to come early this year... it's time. My tulip and daffodil foliage is about 4 inches tall and my perennials are starting to show new growth. Definitely time to clean up, cut back, and rake out the fallen leaves.
I leave the perennial foliage and seed heads of my plants stand all winter long. It is much more attractive than a razed-to-the-ground garden in the winter, and this provides cover for the animals and snacks for the birds during the winter.... But the clean up and rake out job in the spring is huge.

I got an hour in and filled up 2 huge yard waste containers, and 2 more of those tall yard waste compost-able bags on Monday. Yesterday I hit the garden again and busted ass out there for 3 hours. Filled up 6 of those tall paper yard waste bags... and I only cleaned out three big flower beds.

I still have about 6 more flower beds to go... Two of those beds are huge. The Secret Formal Garden at the bottom of the yard is massive and the rest of the flower beds that wrap all the way around the house are good sized. But I will keep working my way around our yard until I get them all ready for spring.

With the esbat coming tomorrow I wanted to share a pretty March/ Storm Full Moon spell with you. Light a small white candle and turn and face the moon. Visualize all of the positive things and new beginnings the spring will bring. Then repeat the spell verse.