Scargle Scroll 01.09.2022

Welcome to the month of September! And welcome to the second edition of the Scargle Scroll! Here at Scargle we are entering into one of the most magical times in the year as autumn is booming with all its brilliant vibrancy. It’s a time for changing leaves, conkers on the ground and most importantly, pumpkin spice lattes.

And so dear reader, in this issue we aim to provide you with knowledge, tips and tricks to make your month ahead magical!

Autumn Equinox Associations

Season: Autumn

Month: September

Direction: Centre

Element: Earth, Fire, Air and Water

Energies: Reflection

Deities: Mabon, Sheela Na Gig

Crystals: Topaz, Hematite, Amber

One of the lesser Sabbats in the wheel of the year, the Autumn Equinox falls on the 22nd of September. Known by different names, such as the September Equinox, Fall Equinox, Mid-Harvest or Mabon, this festival is one of the cross quarter days celebrated in the pagan wheel of the year. This is the time of the second harvest and therefore the end of the summer and the beginning of autumn. Although the specific date of the Autumn Equinox was not marked by any ritual in the Celtic tradition, there is evidence that at some point roughly halfway between Lughnasadh and Samhain, communities would involve themselves in a ceremony that reflected the processes then at work on the land at that time of year. This was usually a conclusion to ritual themes invoked at Lughnasadh and focused on the end of the main harvest activities (the grain harvest) although it didn’t imply the end of the entire harvest season which continued until Samhain.

The Autumn Equinox is an astronomical event that marks the start of Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere (the Spring Equinox in the Southern Hemisphere).

During an equinox the Sun crosses what is known as the “celestial equator” an imaginary extension of the earth’s equator line into space. The equinox occurs precisely when the Sun’s centre passes through this line.

The word “equinox” comes from the Latin “aequus” meaning equal and “nox” meaning night, so at the equinox day and night are roughly equal in length.

After the Autumn Equinox days become shorter than nights as the Sun continues to rise later and nightfall arrives earlier, which ends with the winter solstice.

Applied as recently as the 1970's as part of reconstructed paganism, the term Mabon is often used, named after the God of Welsh mythology – he is the child of light and son of the Earth Mother Goddess Modron.

As stated above there is little evidence to suggest our ancestors had a specific festival on a specific date for the equinox however it seems a prudent idea to celebrate this wonderful and special time of the year when night and day are in perfect equilibrium, dark and light, masculine and feminine, inner and outer, when we are at the cusp of yet another transition in the Wheel of the Year.

The cycle of the natural world moves to completion, the sun waning, the days growing shorter and colder, the earth changing, the green of summer to the hues of autumn and we are returning to the darkness from whence we came.

But before we do that we have one last celebration of abundance with the second harvest – the fruit harvest where we once again give thanks and practice gratitude. The turning of the Wheel of the Year bringing both inner and outer gifts and insights.

It is also time to complete projects, to clear out and let go of what is no longer needed as we prepare for descent and so that winter can offer a time for reflection and peace. It is also a time to plant seeds of new ideas and hopes which will lie dormant yet nourished in the dark until the return of spring.

The Apple

The apple is the symbol of the fruit harvest and is sacred in many traditions. It is a symbol of life and immortality, for healing, regeneration and wholeness. It is often associated with beauty, long life and restored youth.

For pagans the apple contains a secret as if you cut an apple width ways it reveals a pentagram containing seeds.

Your Autumn Equinox Altar

Your Altar should be dressed in the best seasonal produce, apples, pears, damsons, sloes, blackberries etc – but don’t be greedy – leave plenty for the local wildlife and birds. With this in mind you could also make an outdoor shrine for the nature spirits in thanks for the bounty they provide.

Ideas for celebrating the Autumn Equinox:

• Hold a thanksgiving feast

• Go walking in nature

• Clear out and and deep clean

• Plant bulbs

• Bake seasonal foods

• Donate food to charity

At Scargle Nargle this year we will hold our annual Autumn Equinox ritual and celebration on Thursday 22nd September at 7pm. Please PM the Facebook Page or call/text 07881474797 to book your place. Traditionally we will ask everyone to bring along at least one non-perishable food item to be donated to the local food bank. We will be accepting any food items people would like to donate from the 1st of September to the 28th of September. Please get in touch if you would like to drop any items in between these dates.

Bright Blessings!

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Astrological Conjunctions for September 2022

The Sun sits directly above the earth's equator, darkness and light share equal time. The autumn equinox arrives as the Sun's move to Libra on the 22nd of September at 1:04 am GMT. The Sabian symbol for the first degree of Libra is a perfectly formed butterfly pinned with a dart. The juxtaposition of life to death and animate to unmoving reflect this moment of transition. The butterfly's beauty and symmetry are the harmony of daylight and nighttime, yin and yang in balance.

The dart represents our desire to hold this moment of perfection where we gather apples, squashes, and other fruits of the season and revel in the light, which we must soon let go.

At this year's Autumn Equinox, the Moon wanes toward balsamic with New Moon in Libra on the 25th of September. Mercury retrograde in Libra is heading back to Virgo to station direct on the 2nd of October.

Mercury leads personal and business partners to revisit conversations and plans. As Mercury retraces steps into Virgo, we begin to outline actions for the near future while maintaining flexibility through these retrograde days. Free yourself to focus more on the process than the results. Let go of outdated ideas and ideals to make room for something new. Autumn season and waning moon signal this as a time for release.

Venus travels Virgo until the 29th of September and then moves into Libra, the sign of love and the power of two. Mercury retrograde approaches Venus first, and they meet in Virgo. This conjunction brings minds and hearts together for mutual agreements and vows. Reconnecting, reconciling and reevaluating happens organically now, or can be sought after from New Moon through September's end. The majority of planets in air and earth signs favour both re-imagining and taking steps to rejuvenate and rebuild.

Libra is also the sign of justice and peace. We meet, merge and collaborate for harmony and wholeness. Acknowledging opposites and polarities, noticing how one thing dissolves as another arises. Practice equanimity, the ability to stay centered through changing experiences. Like standing half in shadow, half in light, sensing composure and balance as you steady when the Libra scales sway in one direction or another.

The Full Moon in Aries on the 9th of October is the Hunter Moon, the Moon of the warrior. While Aries Full Moon means action, initiative, and sometimes confrontation, Venus will be peacefully in Libra, her home sign. Side by side with the Sun, Venus is opposite the Moon, offering temperance and love to Full Moon circumstance and emotions. Between equinox and the Full Moon, find the peaceful warrior within, the one who rallies for tranquility and equality.

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The Tarot Card of The Month: The Magician

Following The Fool in the Major Arcana is card number 1 The Magician, representing worldly wisdom and the power to control the unseen forces that operate in our human lives. The Magician holds the traditional tools and symbols of the suits of the Minor Arcana, the cups representing emotions, the wands representing creativity and power, the swords representing thought and intellect and the pentacles representing the material world, money, home and security.

The appearance of The Magician in a reading often indicates latent powers not yet brought into manifestation in the physical world. Everything in the universe is before us and if we learn to use the tools correctly we can manifest the results we desire – think of “when the planets align” so therefore even more than luck or just being in the right place at the right time.

It is a card of power – for just as The Magician stands in the centre of the universe with the tools and skills to manipulate and create, so do each of us have the free will and the ability to create and control our own lives as long as we do so with integrity and a sense of responsibility to others.

It can also be seen as a card of self-development and spiritual enlightenment, using intuition, perception and inner guidance.

In a reading it can signify new beginnings, choices, leadership potential, action, drive and motivation. You should be assured that you have all the tools to hand that you need to make things work, therefore it is a very positive card however the caution with this card is that you use your power wisely and with responsibility and be mindful of forcing your will on others.

The Magician is the “archetypical achiever” representing the meeting of the inner and the outer worlds and therefore one who can make dreams a reality. When this card shows up, persuasion is your strength and ally as is communication. As a card of action, getting onto projects immediately is favoured as is the ability to manifest, realising your full potential and setting and focusing on goals.

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Kitchen Witchery

PENTAGRAM TOPPED VEGAN APPLE PIES

With the Apple not only being an integral symbol to witchcraft as a whole, but to autumn time and the Autumn Equinox, cooking a magical dish including apples seemed only right!

Prep Time 40 minutes Cook Time 40 minutes Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes

Servings 12 pies

Author Domestic Gothess

Ingredients

Apple Filling:

• 1 kg (35oz) bramley apples (or Granny Smith) (about 5) peeled, cored and diced

• the juice of 1 small lemon

• 60 g (⅓ cup) caster sugar

• 60 g (⅓ cup) light brown soft sugar

• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

• 30 g (2 Tbsp) vegan butter

• 1 Tbsp plain (all-purpose) flour

Coconut Oil Pastry:

• 120 ml (½ cup) unsweetened almond milk (or other dairy free milk)

• 2 tsp apple cider vinegar

• 325 g (2 + ⅔ cup) plain (all-purpose) flour

• 60 g (⅓ cup) caster sugar

• ¾ tsp salt

• 170 g (6 oz) coconut oil cold

Instructions

• Start by making the apple filling as it needs to be completely cool before assembling the pies. Place the peeled, cored and diced Bramley apples in a pan with the sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon and vegan spread. Simmer for just a couple of minutes until the apples have just started to soften then remove from the heat and allow to cool completely. Sift in the tablespoon of flour and stir to combine.

• To make the pastry, mix together the almond milk and cider vinegar then set aside.

• Place the flour, sugar, salt and cold coconut oil in a food processor and blend until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.

• Tip into a bowl and gradually stir in enough of the soured almond milk to bring it together into a ball. You may not need to add all of the milk.

• Line a 12 hole muffin tin with strips of baking parchment - this makes it easier to get the pies out of the tin once they are baked.

• Roll the pastry out thinly on a floured surface and use an approx 10-11cm cutter to cut out 12 rounds.

• Press the pastry rounds into the prepared tin then divide the apple filling between them.

• To make the pentagrams, re-roll out the pastry scraps then use a sharp knife to cut it into thin strips, each a couple of mm wide.

• Press the ends of two strips together to form a triangle.

• Add another strip horizontally across the first two. It should go over one and under the other.

• Add another strip to the third one at an angle to form another triangle. It should go over one of the first two strips and under the other.

• Add a final strip at an angle from the second to the third strips to form the final two points of the pentagram. Again weave it under and over the previous strips.

• Trim off the excess pastry and pinch the tips of the points together to seal them. Press lightly where the strips cross each other to flatten slightly.

• The pentagrams should be the same size as the tops of your pies so bear that in mind while you are making them.

• Repeat 11 more times so that you have one for each pie. Place the pentagrams carefully on top of the pies. (See the step-by-step photos above to help form the pentagrams.)

• Refrigerate the pies for at least half an hour before baking until completely cold (or freeze for 20 minutes). Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/gas mark 6.

• Brush the tops of the pastry carefully with dairy free milk, sprinkle with demarera sugar then bake for about half an hour until golden and bubbling.

• Use the strips of baking parchment to carefully lift the pies out of the tin onto a wire rack and leave to cool completely. Best served the day they are made. Store any leftovers in an airtight container.

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Magical September: Dates for Your Calendar

Moon Water Class on Thursday the 8th September 7pm to 9pm. Join us for a class on learning to work with the power of the moon and the versatility of moon water. Materials provided. Cost is £7.50

Harvest Moon Full Moon Ritual on Monday the 12th of September at 7pm. Taking place at Scargle Nargle is our monthly full moon ritual, with the full moon being the Harvest Moon. This uplifting circle is the perfect opportunity to manifest intentions in a gathering of like-minded people. Cost is £7.50

Autumn Equinox Ritual on Thursday the 22nd of September 7pm. Join us for our ritual celebrating the Autumn Equinox and honouring the second Harvest of the year. Cost is £7.50

Monthly Book club/ End of Collections for Food Drive on Wednesday the 28th of September at 7pm at Scargle Nargle (also optional to join via Zoom). The second meeting of our monthly book club will be reading and discussing Lora O'Brien's Irish Witchcraft From An Irish Witch. Cost is £5 and light refreshments provided. We will also no longer be accepting donations for our food drive after this date.

The team at Scargle Nargle are very excited to facilitate Brian Breathnach for his online class on Introduction to Planetary Magic.

Beyond the work of the elements is the work with the seven traditional planets, each with its own rulership and day of the week. Learn about these seven planets, their rulership and how to make petitions to the planets.

Brian is an initiate and practitioner of multiple traditions of magic, blending centuries of tradition with practical, result oriented goals. Class taking place via zoom on Thursday 7pm to 9pm. Scargle also invites you to come and join us or you can join from the comfort of your own home. Cost is £10

Scargle Nargle are happy to announce that we are bringing the Witches' Ball back for it's second year. Taking place at The Ballymac Hotel on the 28th of October at 7pm. Join us for a night of Halloween fun with music, food and dancing. Cost is £25 a ticket

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Monthly Magical Book Club

Book of the Month: Irish Witchcraft from an Irish Witch by Lora O'Brien

Irish Pagan Author Lora O'Brien has been (consciously) practicing Paganism in Ireland since 1994, and working with the Irish Pagan Goddess Mórrígan since 2004. Professionally, she managed one of Ireland's most important sacred sites - Cruachán/Rathcroghan - for a decade, and (among other things) co-founded the Irish Pagan School in 2017. Lora is currently a candidate for a Masters Degree in Irish Regional History (2023).

First published in 2004 this book was the first traditionally published pagan book ever written by an Irish author.

This second edition revised and published in 2020 continues to do what it claimed to do on the first publication and bridges gap between Celtic and neo pagan nonsense and authentic Irish pagan practice.

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We hope you have enjoyed this first edition of The Scargle Scroll, and hope that your September is blessed with abundance, joy and magic!

Bright Blessings!