Daily Stuff 2-11-13 Our Lady of Lourdes

Hi, folks!

There are clouds with only bits of light between, but the “dim and grey” label doesn’t really apply this morning, “overcast, but bright” and quiet is closer. Well, add “and cold” in there. 41F? We’re likely to get some rain, eventually, since there’s no dew.

I have to admit to Tempus and my sitting down, panting, and just looking at each other yesterday, after the young folks had left. They were all over the map, yesterday. The morning class was the beginning of Lesson 6 and we got well into the calendar stuff. Brea had hers doing projects. After that was the break and then Practical Craft was packing herbs…. and I’ve got two kids practically begging me to do WBL’s (work-based-learning) in just that category.

We finally got ourselves pulled back together and went back to inventory and finished the north side of the amulet section…. all but the bottles which are totally defeating us as to which is what…. they got totally mixed up a number of years ago and Tempus went and measured each one, so we know what they actually are…. Now I just have to figure out from the descriptions on my supplier’s website which is what and do I want to get them from somewhere else, next time….

I got a bit of a shock when I realized that we’re down to less than 1/3 of the amulets that we usually carry. I’ve got to put an order through.

Tempus got the herbs put away that had been packed during Practical Craft.

We kept going until just before 7, when we finished and closed up. I put Hearts of Space on and worked on the files until suppertime and then crawled into bed. Both Tempus and I were wiped…. but he made a delicious loaf of bread and we had ice cream with the sauce from the brandied pears before bedtime.

…and then I ended up with a serious leg cramp and had to get up until it went away again, so I was online around 2am….

I’m not sure what’s happening today, except that the sun is coming through the clouds at the moment and I want to get out into the garden! It’s almost scary how a night’s sleep at this time of year can get me revved up and ready to go….. and I can’t get Tempus to sit down and tell me what he’s planning for the day, so I’ll just be winging it, I guess…..

Today is the anniversary of the date in 1858 when Bernadette Soubirous first saw an apparition of the Goddess, appearing as the Virgin Mary, in the grotto of Lourdes, which has been a shire of Kore/Persephone for a long, long while. More here: http://www.wilsonsalmanac.com/book/feb11.html  and here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Lourdes I learned a new word today, “mantic”. It means related to divination or prophecy. The spring at Lourdes was described as “mantic” in the article. http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/mantic

The shop opens at 11am today. Winter hours are 11am-6pm Thursday through Monday. If we’re supposed to be closed, but it looks like we’re there, try the door. If it’s open, the shop’s open! In case of bad weather, check here at the blog for updates, on our Facebook as Ancient Light or call the shop at 541-563-7154.

Love & Light,
Anja

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Today’s Astro & Calendar

The Moon is New moving into Diana’s Bow at 11:20am. New Moon – The beginning of a new cycle. Keywords for the New phase are: beginning, birth, emergence, projection, clarity. It is the time in a cycle that you are stimulated to take a new action. During this phase the new cycle is being seeded by your vision, inner and outer. Engage in physical activity. Spend time alone. VISUALIZE your goals for the 29.6-day cycle ahead. The new moon is for starting new ventures, new beginnings. Also love and romance, health or job hunting. Phase ends on 2/11 at 11:20am. Waxing Moon Magick – The waxing moon is  for constructive magick, such as love, wealth, success, courage, friendship, luck or healthy, protection, divination. Any working that needs extra power, such as help finding a new job or healings for serious conditions, can be done now. Also, love, knowledge, legal undertakings, money and dreams. Phase ends at the Tide Change on 2/25 at 12:26pm. Diana’s Bow – On the 3^rd day after the new moon you can (weather permitting) see the tiny crescent in the sky, the New Moon holding the Old Moon in her arms. Begin on your goals for the next month. A good time for job interviews or starting a project. Take a concrete step! Phase ends on 2/14 at 11:20am.

Goddess Month of of Bridhe, runs from 1/23 – 2/19
Celtic Tree Month of Luis, Rowan, Jan 21 – Feb 17
Runic half-month of Elhaz, from 1/28-2/11. This half month: optimistic power, protection and sanctuary.
Runic half-month of Sigel, 2/12-26 It represents the power of the force of good throughout the world and is the harbinger of victory and ascendancy over darkness.

Sun in Aquarius
Moon in Pisces
Color: White

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©2013 M. Bartlett, Some parts separately copyright

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Luis  Rowan  Jan 21 – Feb 17 – Luis  – (LWEESH), rowan – The rowan, or mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia L.) is related to serviceberries. The red berries were historically used to lure birds into traps, and the specific epithet aucuparia comes from words meaning “to catch a bird”. Birds are also responsible for dispersing the seeds. Rowans thrive in poor soils and colonize disturbed areas. In some parts of Europe they are most common around ancient settlements, either because of their weedy nature or because they were planted. Rowans flower in May. They grow to 15 m (50 feet) and are members of the Rose family (Rosaceae). They are cultivated in North America, especially in the northeast.

Luis – Rowan Ogam letter correspondences
Month: December
Color: Grey and Red
Class: Peasant
Letter: L
Meaning: Controlling your life; Protection against control by others.

Quert – Apple Ogam letter correspondences to study this month
Month: None
Color: Green
Class: Shrub
Letter: Q
Meaning: A choice must be made

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Tides for Alsea Bay
Day        High      Tide  Height   Sunrise    Moon  Time      % Moon
~           /Low      Time    Feet    Sunset                    Visible
M   11     High   1:08 AM     8.1   7:21 AM    Rise  7:43 AM      0
~    11      Low   7:03 AM     1.2   5:40 PM     Set  7:50 PM
~    11     High  12:57 PM     8.6
~    11      Low   7:28 PM    -0.5

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Affirmation/Thought for the Day – What you think about and focus on, you attract to you. When you focus on what you do want you attract it; when you focus on what you do not want, you attract it. It’s that simple.

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Journal Prompt – What if? – What would happen if everyone wore the same clothes?

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Quotes
~   The world is the sum total of our vital possibilities. – Ortega y Gassett
~   There are certain books in the world which every searcher for truth must know: the Bible, the Critique of Pure Reason, the Origin of Species, and Karl Marx’s Capital. – Al Capp (1909-1979) US cartoonist
~   To handle yourself, use your head. To handle others, use your heart. – Eleanor Roosevelt
~   We all know a variety of ways to make a living.  What’s even more fascinating is figuring out ways to make a fortune. – Jim Rohn

A MASK
Wearing a mask is easier
than wearing a true face…
vulnerable to the ethers;

Vulnerable to those
that prey upon sensitivity,
dependent upon Grace. – August 2005, Beth Johnson (Mystic Amazon)

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Magick – Valentine’s Craft and Recipe

 Valentine Brownies – Serves 16
1 1/4 cup unsifted flour
1/4  cup sugar
1/2 cup cold margarine or butter
14 oz can of Sweetened Condensed Milk
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
8 oz milk chocolate bar, broken into chunks
3/4 cup chopped nuts (optional)
Garnish – Icing, red hots, conversation hearts, etc.

1. Preheat oven to 350 – Line 13 x 9 inch baking pan with foil – set aside.

2. In bowl, combine 1 cup flour and sugar – cut in butter until crumbly. Press on bottom of pan. Bake 15 minutes.

3. In another bowl, beat sweetened condensed milk , cocoa, egg, remaining 1/4 cup flour, vanilla and baking powder. Mix in chocolate pieces and nuts. Spread over prepared crust.

4. Bake 20 min. or until set. Let cool. Use foil to lift out pan. For hearts, cut with heart-shaped cookie cutter or, cut into bars.

5. Decorate with icing, red hots, conversation hearts, etc. Store covered.

For the Love of Waterlily: a Bath Fizzy Tutorial (from SoapQueen) http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/bath-fizzies/for-the-love-of-waterlily-a-bath-fizzy-tutorial/

Love is in the air and we couldn’t be happier. February is one of my favorite times of the year because Valentine’s Day lands in the middle of it and there are always so many fun projects that you can do for it. Still on the lookout for more Valentine’s projects? Check out this V-Day mashup for more inspiration. http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/valentines-day-mashup/

Recipe:
1 cup Citric Acid
2 cups Baking Soda
4 Tablespoons Kaolin Clay
1/4 cup Epsom Salt
2 Tablespoons Deodorized Cocoa Butter, melted
9 mL Waterlily Orange Fragrance Oil
Cantaloupe LaBomb Colorant
Gurlie Pink LaBomb Colorant
Witch Hazel
Simple Heart Mold

ONE: Measure out the Citric Acid, Baking Soda and Kaolin Clay into a large bowl.NOTE: Citric Acid and even Baking Soda can tickle your nose, so if you’re sensitive you might want to wear a mask for this project.

TWO: Place a mesh colander over a second large bowl. Sift the clumpy ingredients through the mesh colander. Set the empty bowl aside (but keep it handy, we’ll be using it again soon!).

THREE: Add the Epsom Salt to the powders and mix well.

FOUR: Melt and add the Deodorized Cocoa Butter. Mix in well, making sure there are no clumps. TIP: Using the fine edge of a cheese grater to shave off enough Cocoa Butter for this project will make melting a snap!

FIVE: Add 9 mL Waterlily Orange Fragrance Oil and mix until there are no more clumps.

SIX: Grab the empty bowl from earlier and split the mixture into two about-equal parts (you can totally eyeball it!). Color one half with 5-10 drops of Cantaloupe LaBomb Colorant, and the other half with 5-10 drops of Gurlie Pink LaBomb Colorant. Mix the colorants in until there are no more clumps. NOTE: What you see is what you get with Bath Bomb colorants, so if you’d like a brighter color, add more LaBomb colorant until you’re happy. Keep in mind, though, that the more colorant you use, the more likely the colorant will color the bathwater when the fizzy is used. My son happens to love it when that happens! Click here to read more about LaBomb colorant usage rates to get that perfect color.

SEVEN: Spray each of the bowls of fizzy mix with Witch Hazel and mix until the moisture is just enough to allow the fizzy mix to clump when you squeeze a fistful of it.

EIGHT: Get your Simple Heart Mold and two bowls of fizzy mix arranged in an easily accessible way. Grab a handful of each color, one in each hand, and drop the mix into the heart mold a little bit at a time, alternating colors. After each hand is empty, press the mix until the mold. Repeat until each cavity is full.

NINE: Once each cavity is full, this mix will allow you to unmold them very quickly! Grab a plate or other flat object, and place face-down on top of the mold. Flip the plate and the mold together, and slowly lift the mold from the plate. Reuse the mold until all of your fizzy mix is used up. Try not to move the bath bombs for a while – the reason they are able to unmold so quickly is because they are quite soft. I was able to make 9 bath bombs with this recipe!

TEN: Allow the bath bombs to sit overnight and harden. Use right away as an indulgent treat, or wrap ‘em up for your favorite Valentine!

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Silliness –