Ancient Light's Daily Stuff

Daily Stuff 5-25-22 Geek Pride Day

Posted on May 25, 2022 by Anja Snihova'

Hi, folks!

The shop is closed on Tue/Wed. Spring hours are 1-6pm Thurs.-Mon. Featured photo by girlinwaterphotography.

Pay attention today! Sunburn Danger is high! [posting at 6pm] Overcast. 57F, wind at 0-5mph. AQI 9-34, UV8. Chance of rain 8% today and 14% tonight. We might see a tiny bit of sun in the afternoon, but overcast, otherwise, today and tomorrow. Forecast – Today& Tomorrow(60/50) Thursday evening there’s a short chance of showers, about a tenth of an inch, right around 10pn . Fri/Sat(56/48) Cloudy until evening when the chance of showers shoots up around 1pm and lasts into midday on Sunday(52?/45) by which time we could see 3/4 of an inch. Mon-Thu(60/48) Dry and partly cloudy. 3 firespots, one of which is right outside of Alsea.

Monday night we turned in early after a light supper. By the time Tempus was up and out the door for the paper run I was back on the computer, writing. I think I’m catching up. He got in around 8am. I had been asleep for awhile by then, but I ended up waking at noon. That’s how I can tell I’ve had enough sleep. I wake on time.

I had some cold, unsugared or creamered coffee to sustain me, but ew…. He woke around 3pm, got us both some sandwiches and went out to work on a turn signal. I was still writing. Actually, by then I was working on a list of spice mixes that I’m compiling. (Eventually, it’ll be posted in Magick, probably after Litha). That’s what I’m planning on for holiday gifts this year, and I need to start collecting up the spices, while we don’t have too much of a financial pinch, which means over the summer, which means deciding what I want to do.

Those of you that have been in the Herbs Workshop know that spice mixes are pretty easy. Mostly, they’re grind and measure and mix and that’s it! There are some that are hard to find without additives or too much salt. Some of them have allergens that could endanger some of the family (peanuts/tree nuts/pepper…) Some of them just flat taste better if you do them yourself. …and that’s part of why I’m growing so much garlic. Not only do we eat a lot of it, I’m planning some for the spice mixes.

I actually found a “Chicken with 40 cloves of Garlic” recipe while I was working on the mix list. Sounds like something right up Tempus and my alley! Garlic that’s been long-cooked has a nutty flavor, along with the much milder garlic flavor.

I did have a meeting last night, but it was supposed to be short, not the longer ones that we usually have. It was bulk route night, so Tempus heads out early on those nights. I asked him to get the table set up for me to work. We’ll see what I can get done!

Today I don’t think we’re going to be sleeping in. At least, I’m not. I’d like to go to the Farmer’s Market, if I can and I need to be home for Herbs in the Garden at 3pm. Tempus is planning to pick up the circuit board pieces so’s to have them available for when we can afford the part.

Look what washed ashore! 5/23/19 Photo by Girl in Water Photography. Used with permission

220px-Rhamnus_purshiana,_Cascara_--_branch_with_leaves,_flowers_and_buds

Today’s Plant is Cittim Bark (Cascara), Rhamnus purshiana. It is a potent laxative and has been used for that for centuries. – Masculine, Saturn, Earth – Sprinkle an infusion of this around the home before legal proceedings, to help you win your case. It is used in money spells and worn in a brown cloth amulet will protect again evil influences and hexes. It can be sewn into a poppet to attract those influences away from you, but place this outside at night, especially. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascara_Sagrada

Today is both Towel Day, in honor of Douglas Adams Hitch-hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and Geek Pride Day, which is in honor of the first of the Star Wars movies, premiering on May 25, 1977. My Daddy and I were in the long line outside of the theater for that….

The shop is closed on Tuesday/Wednesday. Spring hours are 1-6pm Thurs.-Mon., although we’re often here later as the days get longer. Need something off hours? Give us a call at 541-563-7154 or Facebook message or email at anjasnihova@yahoo.com 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.

Love & Light,
Anja

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Today’s Astro & Calendar

Moon in Aries

Waning Moon Magick – From the Full Moon to the New is a time for study, meditation, and magic designed to banish harmful energies and habits, for ridding oneself of addictions, illness or negativity. Remember: what goes up must come down. Phase ends at the Tide Change on 5/30 at 4:30am. Waning Crescent Moon –Best time for beginning introspective magicks that are more long term (full year cycle) A good time for beginning knot magicks to “bind up” addictions and illness (finish just before the Tide Change of Dark to New) and “tying up loose ends” God/dess aspects – Demeter weeping for her Daughter, Mabon, Arachne Tyr. Phase ends on 5/25 at 4:30pm. Hecate’s Brooch – 3-5 days before New Moon – Best time for Releasing Rituals. It’s the last few days before the new moon, the time of Hecate’s Brooch. This is the time that if you’re going to throw something out, or sweep the floors, or take stuff to Good Will, do it! Rid yourself of negativity and work on the letting go process. Release the old, removing unwanted negative energies, addictions, or illness. Do physical and psychic cleansings. Good for wisdom & psychic ability. Goddess Aspect: Crone – Associated God/desses: Callieach, Banshee, Hecate, Baba Yaga, Ereshkigal, Thoth. Phase ends at the Dark on 5/20 at 4:30pm.

Night-glowing clouds – Astronomy contributor Stuart Atkinson caught this beautiful display of noctilucent clouds on July 8, 2018. – Stuart Atkinson

May kicks off noctilucent cloud (NLC) season, when these high-flying, night-glowing clouds appear for Northern Hemisphere observers. Although clouds are typically abhorred by observers, they can provide a beautiful, ethereal target in their own right — the right clouds, at least. NLC are not your usual puffy, opaque clouds. These are high-altitude (typically 50 miles [80 km] high) clouds that occur when ice crystals form around dust particles in the upper atmosphere. They most often appear for observers between latitudes of 55° and 70° north and glow because although the Sun has sunk below the horizon from your point of view, our star continues to illuminate these delicate clouds as they sit high overhead. So, rather than “normal” clouds, which appear dark, NLC appear bright white or silver, even at night. The best way to see NLC is to look north either late at night or early in the morning. NLC are unpredictable and ever changing, so you may want to check the sky multiple times over the course of a few hours. Fortunately, unlike many astronomical phenomena, NLC are easy to see with the naked eye, requiring no special equipment or planning. Plus, they’re stunning to photograph and can really add to your nightscape. Check out more tips for observing NLC here.

Vega and Epsilon Lyrae – On spring evenings, Vega is climbing higher in the northeastern sky. Look for bright Vega, then glance to the star’s lower left to view Epsilon Lyrae, the famous Double Double star. – Alison Klesman (via TheSkyX)

Vega dominates the east-northeast after dark with Lyra hanging from it: a small, almost-equilateral triangle with Vega forming its top corner, and a larger parallelogram hanging to the lower right from the triangle’s bottom. The bottom two stars of that parallelogram, Beta and Gamma Lyrae, are the two brightest stars of the pattern after Vega. Gamma is the one farthest from Vega. Most of the time these two are almost indistinguishable in brightness: Gamma is visual magnitude 3.25 and Beta is 3.4. But Beta is a famous eclipsing variable, one of the first discovered. If you take a look up at these two enough times, sooner or later you will catch Beta very obviously dimmer than Gamma, at its minimum brightness of mag 4.3. More often you’re likely to catch it somewhere in between, when the difference is apparent but not so striking. The components of Beta orbit each other every 13 days. The two stars are so close together relative to their sizes (both are B subgiants) that the gravity of one distorts the other into an ellipse. This adds to the system’s variability throughout its orbit. So do a stream and disk of semi-opaque gas, as the larger, less massive star sheds material onto the other — by about one solar mass every 50,000 years. As a result of this transfer, we see the orbital period of the pair increasing by about 19 seconds per year. On astronomical timescales the Beta Lyrae system is in a fast, brief transition period. A quarter million years from now it will be something quite different.

Uranus is buried in the eastern dawn.

Runic half-month of Inguz/Ing, 5/14-5/28 – Male consort of Nerthus, the Earth Mother, Ing is god of the hearth. This time of year expresses potential for abundant growth. Nigel Pennick, The Pagan Book of Days, Destiny Books, Rochester, Vermont, USA, 1992, p. 70. Runic Half-month of Othala/ Odal/Odel 5/29-6/13- The rune Odel signifies ancestral property, the homestead, and all those things that are “one’s own”.

Mercury (6/3), Pluto Retrograde (10/8)
Goddess Month of Hera runs from 5/16 – 6/12
Celtic Tree Month of Huath/Hawthorn, May 13 – Jun 9
Color – Brown
Harvest 5/25&6
©2022 M. Bartlett, Some parts separately copyright

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The very old hawthorn at Saint-Mars-sur-la-Futaie, France, planted in the 3rd century!

Celtic Tree Month of Huath/Hawthorn, May 13 – Jun 9 – I am fair among flowers – Color: Purple – Class: Peasant – Letter: H – Meaning: Being held back for a period of time – Hawthorn – Like willows, hawthorns have many species in Europe, and they are not always easy to tell apart. All are thorny shrubs in the Rose family (Rosaceae), and most have whitish or pinkish flowers. The common hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna Jacq.) and midland hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata (Poiret) DC.) are both widespread. They are common in abandoned fields and along the edges of forests. Both are cultivated in North America, as are several native and Asiatic hawthorns. Curtis Clark

Huathe – Hawthorne Ogam letter correspondences
Month: April
Color: Purple
Class: Peasant
Letter: H
Meaning: Being held back for a period of time

to study this month – Ur – Heather and Mistletoe Ogam letter correspondences
Month: None
Color: Purple
Class: Heather is Peasant; Mistletoe is Chieftain
Letter: U
Meaning: Healing and development on the spiritual level.

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Tides for Alsea Bay
*

Day        High      Tide Height   Sunrise    Moon Time      % Moon
~ /Low      Time    Feet Sunset Visible
W   25      Low   4:04 AM     1.3   5:39 AM    Rise 3:39 AM      29
~    25     High   9:47 AM     5.7   8:48 PM     Set 4:06 PM
~    25      Low   3:50 PM     1.1
~    25     High 10:15 PM     7.4

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Affirmation/Thought for the Day – Don’t be so open-minded that your brains fall out.

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Journal Prompt – What do you think? – Why do some people choose to dress differently?

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Quotes

~   First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. – Mohandas Gandhi
~   You can have all the intelligence in the world and don’t have enough stamina. I have seen some very bright, bright women who do not have the stamina for husbands. – Mother Charleszetta Waddles (1912-2001) US nun
~   The simplicities of natural laws arise through the complexities of the language we use for their expression.Eugene Wigner (1902-1995) Hungarian-born US physicist
~   Many were increasingly of the opinion that they’d all made a big mistake in coming down from the trees in the first place. And some said that even the trees had been a bad move, and that no one should ever have left the oceans. – Douglas Adams in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

When elm leaves are as big as a shilling,
Plant kidney beans, if to plant ’em you’re willing;
When elm leaves are as big as a penny,
You must plant kidney beans, if you mean to have any. – Old planting rhyme

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Litha Magick – Lore

Litha History – Celebrating the Summer Solstice

from http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/lithathesummersolstice/p/Litha_History.htm

An Ancient Solar Celebration

Nearly every agricultural society has marked the high point of summer in some way, shape or form. On this date – usually around June 21 or 22 – the sun reaches its zenith in the sky. It is the longest day of the year, and the point at which the sun seems to just hang there without moving – in fact, the word “solstice” is from the Latin word solstitium, which literally translates to “sun stands still.” The travels of the sun were marked and recorded. Stone circles such as Stonehenge were oriented to highlight the rising of the sun on the day of the summer solstice.

Traveling the Heavens

Although few primary sources are available detailing the practices of the ancient Celts, some information can be found in the chronicles kept by early Christian monks. Some of these writings, combined with surviving folklore, indicate that Midsummer was celebrated with hilltop bonfires and that it was a time to honor the space between earth and the heavens.

Fire and Water

In addition to the polarity between land and sky, Litha is a time to find a balance between fire and water. According to Ceisiwr Serith, in his book The Pagan Family, European traditions celebrated this time of year by setting large wheels on fire and then rolling them down a hill into a body of water. He suggests that this may be because this is when the sun is at its strongest yet also the day at which it begins to weaken. Another possibility is that the water mitigates the heat of the sun, and subordinating the sun wheel to water may prevent drought.

Saxon Traditions

When they arrived in the British Isles, the Saxon invaders brought with them the tradition of calling the month of June Aerra Litha. They marked Midsummer with huge bonfires that celebrated the power of the sun over darkness. For people in Scandinavian countries and in the farther reaches of the Northern hemisphere, Midsummer was very important. The nearly endless hours of light in June are a happy contrast to the constant darkness found six months later in the middle of winter.

Roman Festivals

The Romans, who had a festival for anything and everything, celebrated this time as sacred to Juno, the wife of Jupiter and goddess of women and childbirth. She is also called Juno Luna and blesses women with the privilege of menstruation. The month of June was named for her, and because Juno was the patroness of marriage, her month remains an ever-popular time for weddings. This time of year was also sacred to Vesta, goddess of the hearth. The matrons of Rome entered her temple on Midsummer and made offerings of salted meal for eight days, in hopes that she would confer her blessings upon their homes.

Midsummer for Modern Pagans

Litha has often been a source of contention among modern Pagan and Wiccan groups, because there’s always been a question about whether or not Midsummer was truly celebrated by the ancients. While there’s scholarly evidence to indicate that it was indeed observed, there were suggestions made by Gerald Gardner, the founder of modern Wicca, that the solar festivals (the solstices and equinoxes) were actually added later and imported from the Middle East. Regardless of the origins, many modern Wiccans and Pagans do choose to celebrate Litha every year in June.

In some traditions, Litha is a time at which there is a battle between light and dark. The Oak King is seen as the ruler of the year between winter solstice and summer solstice, and the Holly King from summer to winter. At each solstice they battle for power, and while the Oak King may be in charge of things at the beginning of June, by the end of Midsummer he is defeated by the Holly King.

This is a time of year of brightness and warmth. Crops are growing in their fields with the heat of the sun, but may require water to keep them alive. The power of the sun at Midsummer is at its most potent, and the earth is fertile with the bounty of growing life.

For contemporary Wiccans and Pagans, this is a day of inner power and brightness. Find yourself a quiet spot and meditate on the darkness and the light both in the world and in your personal life. Celebrate the turning of the Wheel of the Year with fire and water, night and day, and other symbols of the triumph of light over darkness.

Litha is a great time to celebrate outdoors if you have children. Take them swimming or just turn on the sprinkler to run through, and then have a bonfire or barbeque at the end of the day. Let them stay up late to say goodnight to the sun, and celebrate nightfall with sparklers, storytelling, and music. This is also an ideal Sabbat to do some love magic or celebrate a handfasting, since June is the month of marriages and family.

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Silliness – Sniglet – Any word which should be in the dictionary but isn’t. – wondracide (WUN druh side) – n. The act of murdering a piece of bread with a knife and cold butter.

Posted in Daily Stuff, Newsletter, Pagan, Wiccan | Tagged Affirmation, Astrology, Astronomy, cascara, Celtic Tree Month, Cittim Bark, Goddess Month, Journal Prompt, Litha, Litha lore, Magick, Moon, Oregon Coast, Pagan, Rhamnus purshiana, Runic Half Month, Silliness, Sniglet, Summer Solstice, Tides, Weather, When elm leaves are as big as a shilling, Wicca | Leave a comment

Daily Stuff 5-24-22 Hermes Trismegistus

Posted on May 24, 2022 by Anja Snihova'

Hi, folks!

The shop is closed on Tue/Wed. Spring hours are 1-6pm Thurs.-Mon. Featured photo by Amy Smith.

[posting at 6pm] Sun’s been coming and going and it’s *warm* it was hitting 75 indoors, so we opened up and the breeze is awfully nice. 57F, wind at 1-10mph and gusting, AQI 18-,42 UV6. Chance of rain 8% today and 15% tonight. Forecast – It should stay dry into Thursday evening with the clouds gradually increasing. Today-Thu(59/49) mostly cloudy. Thur. eve-Sun(54/47) Chance of showers, total accum. around an inch. Mon-Wed(59/48) partly cloudy. 0 firespots.

Audrey… or Christopher… the “wauken” onion

Sunday evening we took a quick trip home to pick up some things and to get a few more garden pictures. We dropped off several plants that are going to live there, as well. After we got back we had cheese dogs for supper again and curled up on the nap bed. When we got up we had some “souper rice” that I made with extra chicken and vegetables from the freezer at home (which were partially thawed, so….). Souper Rice is a can of commercial soup, one can of Minute Rice and then anything you want to add.

The feverfew is up!

Tempus headed out on the paper route and I sat down at the computer to write. I think I’ve mostly turned the notes that I’ve taken on the tablet into actual words. *Much* easier typing into a keyboard, although I’m looking at a case/keyboard for the tablet. I have it on a wishlist.

I didn’t sleep well. I kept hearing things and worse, smelling something. Those were phantom smells. Apparently the long-covid problem has gone from “poop” to “scorched”. <sigh> I guess that’s better, but why would it suddenly do that? There’s got to be some kind of psychological component!

Tempus got in relatively early and got a few more hours of sleep, but I didn’t wake with the alarm and Tempus let me sleep for another hour while he got the shop open. Once I was up, he made us coffee and cheese toast and I got back to writing, after I picked up mail and messages. I got the House report done, and worked on newsletter files for a bit, then started this.

Tempus spent quite awhile talking to a local repair place about the circuit-breaker board. So we’re looking at $600 for the repair after the fire. It’s over $500 just for the part! Hmm…

We haven’t been busy today. Other businesses are talking about the lack of tourists and locals are short on funds because of the gas prices, so I guess it’s inevitable. This weekend will be telling, I think. So I still need to make a casserole for supper, Tempus needs to pick up mail and some packages, and I want to work on plants and books, plus I have more writing to finish. I’m working on setting up a list of spice mixes, so I can find them when I need them. … and Tempus and I just spent 1/2 an hour riffing about Ukraina….. He got the packages and is making bread.

Today is usually a rest day. I’m guessing that Tempus is going to be running back and forth to home, although until we can afford the part, it’s going to be not much help. I hope I’m going to get him to get caught up on sleep. I usually would have a meeting in the evening, but it looks like it’s been cancelled because of the big event over the weekend.

Alsea Bay picnic from Salty Dawg taken by Amy Smith on 5/17/20 Used with permission

Today’s Plant is the Evergreen Violet, Viola sempervirens. This is a pretty plant that looks like nothing much through 9 months of the year here on the coast, but is spectacular in March, when it covers the ground with beautiful golden flowers on a deep blue/green background and still lovely in April/May. It is indeed evergreen, not withering to the ground, although it sometimes is overshadowed by grass. It grows well in the park behind our old house. As any viola it is Feminine, ruled by Venus, but unlike the blue violets (corresponding to water) the Evergreen Violet corresponds to the element of Air and the Sun – Protects against malevolent spirits, brings changes in luck & fortune, wear to help with headaches, dizziness and to bring calm and sleep, wear in a green sachet to heal wounds.

Today’s feast is that of Hermes Trismegistus. He seems to be a combination of Hermes and Thoth with a lot of other bits thrown in, but the corpus of works assigned to him are the basis of Hermeticism. He is a god of writing and magick, of astrology, alchemy and other learned arts. There are books like the Kybalion and the Emerald Tablets of Thoth that are attributed to him. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermes_Trismegistus

Spring hours are 1-6pm Thurs.-Mon., although we’re often here later as the days get longer. Need something off hours? Give us a call at 541-563-7154 or Facebook message or email at anjasnihova@yahoo.com 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.

Love & Light,
Anja

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Today’s Astro & Calendar

Moon in Pisces enters Aries at 2:39pm.

The waning crescent Moon passes three morning planets in early dawn.

Look east in early dawn Wednesday morning, and there’s the waning crescent Moon with Jupiter and Mars above it. Binoculars help as dawn grows bright.

Moon and planets – Look southeast around 5 A.M. CDT (this is after sunrise on the East Coast) on May 24 to spot the Moon floating near Neptune (requires binoculars), Jupiter, and Mars. Venus, not shown, sits farther east (to the left). – Alison Klesman (via TheSkyX)

It’s a busy day for Earth’s satellite as it tracks across the predawn sky. First, the Moon passes 4° south of Neptune at 6 A.M. EDT — after sunrise on the East Coast, but before the Sun is up in time zones farther west. At that time, our delicate crescent Moon sits in far eastern Aquarius, just 33 percent illuminated as nighttime moves across the lunar face. If you want to catch Neptune, try an hour or two earlier, when the sky is darker. Be aware, however, that the Moon’s light may wash out the ice giant’s feeble glow, requiring you to use larger apertures than you otherwise would to catch the distant planet. Jupiter and Mars, barreling toward a conjunction on the 28th, are now just under 3° apart to the Moon’s upper right, both still visible in the growing twilight. The Moon is headed for a meetup with these two words as well, passing 3° south of Mars at 3 P.M. EDT, then 3° south of Jupiter at 8 P.M. EDT. By tomorrow morning, the Moon will sit southeast of the pair, and Mars and Jupiter will have inched about 0.5° closer. Keep watching these planets as they come closer each day, and make sure not to miss next week’s column for more details about the big event.

The Spring Triangle – The Spring Triangle is easily visible in the April sky and consists of the bright stars Arcturus in Boötes, Spica in Virgo, and Denebola in Leo. – Astronomy: Roen Kelly

Arcturus, high in the southeast, forms the pointy end of the long, narrow Kite asterism: the central part of Bootes, the Cowherd. The kite currently extends upper left from Arcturus, with its head bent upward. The kite is 23° long: about two fists at arm’s length.

Christopher Go took this image of Saturn on April 22nd. South is up. “The belts and zones are very distinct.” (Contrast has been boosted.) Saturn’s rings are less tilted from our line of sight than in the past few years. Go images planets using a 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain scope on his apartment balcony, a top-of-the-line astro video camera, and sophisticated image stacking and processing.

Saturn, magnitude +0.8, glows in eastern Capricornus a good 35° or 40° upper right of Jupiter before dawn. The little star 2° to its lower right is Delta Capricorni, magnitude 2.8.

Mercury (6/3), Pluto Retrograde (10/8)
Goddess Month of Hera runs from 5/16 – 6/12
Celtic Tree Month of Huath/Hawthorn, May 13 – Jun 9
Color – Maroon
Planting 5/22-4
©2022 M. Bartlett, Some parts separately copyright

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The very old hawthorn at Saint-Mars-sur-la-Futaie, France, planted in the 3rd century!

Huathe – Hawthorne Ogam letter correspondences
Month: April
Color: Purple
Class: Peasant
Letter: H
Meaning: Being held back for a period of time

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Tides for Alsea Bay
*

Day        High      Tide Height   Sunrise    Moon Time      % Moon
~ /Low      Time    Feet Sunset Visible
Tu 24      Low   2:59 AM     2.1   5:40 AM    Rise 3:19 AM      39
~    24     High   8:31 AM     5.8   8:47 PM     Set 2:58 PM
~    24      Low   2:57 PM     0.6
~    24     High   9:33 PM     7.1

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Affirmation/Thought for the Day – Difficult things take a long time, impossible things a little longer.

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Journal Prompt – What if? – What would happen if everyone lived in space? What type of houses would they live in? What type of clothing would they wear? What type of food would they eat? How would they travel?

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Quotes

~   I ain’t got no quarrel with the Vietcong. – Muhammad Ali, American boxer and conscientious objector, born Cassius Clay on January 17, 1942
~   When you follow your bliss, doors will open where you would not have thought there would be doors. – Joseph Campbell
~   Plunge boldly into the thick of life. – Goethe
~   If you think of yourselves as helpless and ineffectual, it is certain that you will create a despotic government to be your master. The wise despot, therefore, maintains among his subjects a popular sense that they are helpless and ineffectual. – Frank Herbert (1920-1986) US writer

What plant we in this apple tree?
Sweets for a hundred flowery springs
To load the May-wind’s restless wings,
When, from the orchard-row, he pours
Its fragrance through our open doors;
A world of blossoms for the bee,
Flowers for the sick girl’s silent room,
For the glad infant sprigs of bloom,
We plant with the apple tree. – William Cullen Bryant (1794-1878) US poet and newspaper editor

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Litha Magick – Recipes

Chilled Strawberry-Mint Soup – Makes 2 servings, may be doubled, for more servings, use the doubled recipe and save in a large mason jar in the fridge.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups sliced fresh strawberries
3/4 cup sour cream
3/4 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons orange juice
2 tablespoons honey
1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh mint leaves
Fresh strawberry slices, kiwi fruit slices, or fresh mint sprigs

Method

In a food processor or blender, place the strawberries, sour cream, heavy cream, orange juice, and honey; whirl until smooth.
Stir in mint.
Taste for sweetness; if necessary, add more honey.
Refrigerate until well chilled.
To serve, put into cold soup bowls and top with strawberry slices, kiwi fruit slices, or mint sprigs..

Recipe courtesy of Monica Resinger, editor of Creative Home and Gardening. For more recipes and information, visit Monica at http://www.geocities.com/plantldy.geo © 2001, Monica Resinger, adapted by Anja 2009

Broiled Tomatoes a la Cora Anderson (recipe by Anja from memory and with my own options)

1 small tomato per person (on the vine tomatoes are good for this)
Mini muffin tin (only Method 1)
Knife
Cutting board
Blue cheese crumbles (other options are shredded cheddar or spiced cheeses)
Spray oil
Cookie sheet

Optional:

Sheet of aluminum foil
Rosemary sprigs
Mozzarella cheese
Salt and pepper or salt and prepared horseradish (not sauce)
Baguette (Only Method 2)

Method 1

Pull off vine and wash tomatoes
Carefully cut the stem end out of the tomato, the slice crossways into two pieces.
Either spray muffin tin with oil or lay the sheet of foil on top, making a dimple above each “pocket” and spray that with the oil (makes cleanup easier). Put muffin tin on cookie sheet.
Set ½ tomato in each dimple.
Optional, cut a square of mozzarella that is no larger than the ½ tomato and place on top.
Optional, put a dab of horseradish on each tomato and then salt (or salt and pepper, if you’d rather)
Sprinkle generously with cheese.
Optional, top with small rosemary sprig.
Preheat oven to 350, then set broiler to 450 or whatever makes your oven work best.
Put your tray of prepared tomatoes under the broiler until the cheese begins to melt, then turn off broiler, leaving the oven at 350 and let sit for 5 minutes. The underpart of the tomato will remain rather raw.
Serve warm.

Method 2

Takes the same ingredients, minus the muffin tin and can use optional slices of baguette. This makes a more cooked tomato.

Take your cookie sheet and either oil or foil and oil, as you prefer (foil makes cleanup easier)
Optional, slice baguette and lay slices out on cookie sheet, not quite touching.
Slice your tomatoes, crosswise.
Lay tomato slices on baguette slices or direction on cookie sheet/foil.
Follow previous directions from 5 on.

These make an awesome hot appetizer and can be set up and baked in a very short amount of time and are quite tasty cold.

SUMMER SQUASH – Gordon Ireland – Serves 6-8

1 summer squash
1/4 cup of butter
Black pepper
medium size sauce pan
Melt butter in sauce pan on medium heat.
Slice squash approximately 1/8-inch thick
Layer into pan, sprinkling pepper to taste on each layer.
Stirring occasionally, cook to taste.

Takes 20-30 minutes.

Spiced/Pickled Cheese – This is more of a general method than an actual recipe.

Ingredients

Cheese (see note)
Oil – Peanut or olive, a little less than 1 quart.
Quart canning jar with airtight lid. Storage jars are sometimes not airtight!
Spices/Herbs – Multiple possibilities, but garlic and rosemary are a good start. (see note)

Method

Slice your cheese to no more than 1/2 inch thick. You can just use slices or make fingers or cubes, whatever will fit your jar.
Pour the jar 1/4 full of the oil.
Add cheese.
Add spices.
Cap tightly and refrigerate.
Shake the jar at least once a day for about a week.
Use a long skewer to get pieces of cheese out. No fingers! Don’t pour it out and pour it back, either, unless you’re going to eat it all up, right away.
Keeps for up to a month, unless contaminated.

Note – You need a cheese that won’t dissolve in oil. Mozzarella is very good for this, but other cheeses are possible.

Note2 – Any spices/herbs that you like work for this: garlic, rosemary, thyme, lovage, sage, oregano, marjoram, horseradish, mustard peppers, ginger, wasabi, italian seasoning. Cut your pieces small (minced garlic size…..) and don’t use combinations that overwhelm each other. My rule of thumb is only 3 herbs at a time, or use a seasoning mix where they’re already balanced. Salt, only if necessary.

******

Silliness – A friend just posted this.

Cynthia Ley – I think I just figured out this whole falling to damage ratio thing. It’s not that we are getting older–it’s the ROCKS that are. I joined the SCA in A.S. When Rocks Were Soft. Well, piffle.

I told her that meant no head-banging, because soft rock came before hard rock. 🙂

Posted in Daily Stuff, Newsletter, Pagan, Wiccan | Tagged Affirmation, Astrology, Astronomy, Celtic Tree Month, evergreen violet, Goddess Month, Journal Prompt, Litha, Magick, Moon, Oregon Coast, Pagan, Runic Half Month, Silliness, Soft Rocks, Summer Solstice, Tides, viola sempervirens, Weather, Wicca | Leave a comment

Daily Stuff 5-23-22 Defenestration

Posted on May 23, 2022 by Anja Snihova'

Hi, folks!

The shop opens at 1pm. Spring hours are 1-6pm Thurs.-Mon. Featured photo by Ken Gagne.

[posting at 6pm] It’s mostly been cloudy today, but dry, even if the computer is insisting, “light rain”. If there’s any precip. it’s more like an aggressive mist! 53F, wind at 1-7mph and gusting, AQI 24-40, UV5. Chance of rain 10% today and 8% tonight. Forecast – Today(58/44) Partly cloudy, but we should see some sun in the afternoon. Tomorrow/Wed(61/49) Clouds, but dry. Thu(61/49) PM showers, Fri-Sun(55/46) Chance of showers, total over 3 days most of an inch. Mon/Tue(59/47) more or less cloudy. 9 firespots.

We can’t get anything done at home until we can talk to the folks who carry parts for our tiny home on Monday.

Saturday evening Tempus made cheese dogs for supper. He had been baking and made the rolls, too. Very tasty, even though I don’t really like hotdogs, but the cheese made a difference. I went to sleep in the nap bed soon after and Tempus followed me. I was up by midnight and worked on writing until I got sleepy again. Tempus had headed out on the paper route at the usual time.

Yesterday I was up at 11, thinking I had had plenty of sleep and then by 12:30 I was dozing off at my desk. Once I had coffee I was ok again. Tempus made an interesting breakfast sandwich with one of his rolls, cheddar and swiss. I settled in to writing and talking to House folks online. Lots of projects this week with a big event coming up next weekend. No, I’ll be in the shop, but others are going. I didn’t have any of my embroidery or anything. It’s all still at home! ….so I found links and wrote and talked pretty much all day.

We did have a few customers in. One was a lady who hadn’t been in before who found the crystals and we over the moon. 🙂 By late afternoon I was getting really tired again. I found some music to keep me going. Billy Joel – Root Beer Rag – https://www.facebook.com/billyjoel/videos/982399912485726 Tempus worked in back a lot, trying to get more of the stuff from the sofa/class area back into the back, doing dishes and that sort of thing, although he had been researching on the repair we need to do at home. Did I say? It seems to be that the circuit breaker panel is the problem.

We’re going to go home for a bit in the evening, so’s to get some of my projects and clean clothes and get a couple of garden pictures. Today we’ll be open at 1pm. Tempus is probably going to be running around all day, or researching online.

Yachats own Whale in the Park sculpture. It actually spouts, although is sometimes turned off during droughts. Photo by Ken Gagne on 5/22/16. The funny story associated with this is that a whale washed ashore in a storm and liked Yachats so well, that there he stayed!

plant flower buttercup Ranunculus_bulbosus

Today’s Plant is the Buttercup that flourishes in my area in two types, Ranunculus bulbosus (sometimes called St Anthony’s Turnip) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_bulbosus and Ranunculus repens, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_repens (called creeping buttercup or crowfoot) which is the variety in my garden. These are non-native plants and invasive, but not usually worried about too much, since they usually grow in grasslands and very poor soil, not suited for agriculture. Although the fresh plant is poisonous, the sap being used as a blistering agent for gout and rheumatism, the dried plant is safe for consumption. Tinctures of this plant have been used on shingles and infusions for “soremouth”. – Masculine, Mercury (Uranus), Fire – These are used in spells for tenacity & stubbornness, both to create and cure, and as a plant of fertility, possibly being the plant that the Flora gave Juno to use to get pregnant with Mars. Carry in sachets (dried flowers only) for fertility or the dried leaves for tenacity. This is also used for harmony and for Sight (and called Frog’s Foot) Use buttercup flower petals in magickal potpourris for spells regarding: divination, energy, innocence, prosperity, youth. Use buttercup in solar spells involving energy and prosperity.

Today is the anniversary of the 2nd Defenestration of Prague that happened in 1618. That such a funny word. It means that someone’s been chucked out a window! In the case of the two Prague Defenestrations they happened as a political protest of injustice. This 2nd one was in response to the political decisions imposed on the Czechs (who were mostly Protestant at this time) unjustly taking away their religious freedom by imposing Catholicism and destroying Protestant nobles. It directly led to the 30 Years War. The folks responsible for implementing the orders were chucked out the window of the assembly room in Praszky Hrad (the castle seat of the government, picture above). They fell down the castle wall and down a slope. It didn’t kill them. They said it was the intervention of the Virgin Mary, but the Protestants insisted that they had fallen into a dungheap outside the stables! There is more info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defenestrations_of_Prague and some about the ensuing war here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty_Years%27_War

Love & Light,
Anja

******

Today’s Astro & Calendar

Moon in Pisces

Waning Moon Magick – From the Full Moon to the New is a time for study, meditation, and magic designed to banish harmful energies and habits, for ridding oneself of addictions, illness or negativity. Remember: what goes up must come down. Phase ends at the Tide Change on 5/30 at 4:30am. Waning Gibbous Moon – Best time for draining the energy behind illness, habits or addictions. Magicks of this sort, started now, should be ended before the phase change to the New Moon. – Associated God/dess: Hera/Hero, Cybele, Zeus the Conqueror, Mars/Martius, Anansi, Prometheus. Phase ends at the Quarter on 5/22 at 11:43am. Waning Crescent Moon –Best time for beginning introspective magicks that are more long term (full year cycle) A good time for beginning knot magicks to “bind up” addictions and illness (finish just before the Tide Change of Dark to New) and “tying up loose ends” God/dess aspects – Demeter weeping for her Daughter, Mabon, Arachne Tyr. Phase ends on 5/25 at 4:30pm.

Arch of Spring 2014 (ignore the planets)

The Arch of Spring is sinking lower now and sets sooner. At the end of twilight it spans the west to northwest. Pollux and Castor form its roughly level top; brighter Procyon shines to their lower left; farther off to their lower right are Menkalinan and then, brightest of all, Capella.

Cassiopeia inches along sideways low due north during and after dusk. This is the view from 40° north latitude. Seen from the southern US, Cas will be down on the horizon. (Because yes, the Earth is round.)

As soon as it’s dark, look very high due north for the Big Dipper floating upside down. If you have an open view low to the north, look there for the Dipper’s opposite number: W-shaped Cassiopeia. The W is nearly upright. Midway between them are Polaris and the North Celestial Pole. The farther north you live, the higher they all will be. If you’re as far south as Tijuana or the Gulf Coast, most or all of Cas will be under your north horizon.

The Swan’s head – Albireo (Beta [β] Cygni) is a 3rd-magnitude double star in the constellation Cygnus. Albireo A, a golden-yellow star, is itself a double star, but its companion is too close to be observed. Albireo B is a fainter blue star. – Philippe Barraud The Summer Triangle is now visible before local midnight, anchored by the three stars Deneb in Cygnus, Altair in Aquila, and Vega in Lyra. This famous warm-weather asterism is rising earlier each day and will soon soar overhead during the darkest hours of the night.

While Deneb is the brightest star in Cygnus, marking the Swan’s tail, his head, Albireo, is a stunning sight through a telescope — even a small one. The single star splits into two with gorgeous contrasting colors: a 3rd-magnitude primary shining with golden light and a 5th-magnitude blue-white secondary. Of course, no two people see exactly the same colors, particularly when it comes to astronomical objects. So, look through your scope and decide for yourself what you see. Are the stars yellow and blue? Or gold and white? Might one of them even appear greenish? It can be fun to show off this star to family and friends, tallying up the most commonly seen colors.

Mars and Jupiter, very different at magnitudes +0.7 and –2.2 respectively, shine together before and during dawn in the east-southeast. Little orange Mars is slowly closing in on brilliant Jupiter from the upper right. You’ll find them 4½° apart on the morning of May 21st, closing to 0.6° at their conjunction on May 29th.

Mercury (6/3), Pluto Retrograde (10/8)
Goddess Month of Hera runs from 5/16 – 6/12
Celtic Tree Month of Huath/Hawthorn, May 13 – Jun 9
Color – Grey
Planting 5/22-4
©2022 M. Bartlett, Some parts separately copyright

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The very old hawthorn at Saint-Mars-sur-la-Futaie, France, planted in the 3rd century!

Celtic Tree Month of Huath/Hawthorn, May 13 – Jun 9 – I am fair among flowers – Hawthorn – Like willows, hawthorns have many species in Europe, and they are not always easy to tell apart. All are thorny shrubs in the Rose family (Rosaceae), and most have whitish or pinkish flowers. The common hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna Jacq.) and midland hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata (Poiret) DC.) are both widespread. They are common in abandoned fields and along the edges of forests. Both are cultivated in North America, as are several native and Asiatic hawthorns. Curtis Clark

Huathe – Hawthorne Ogam letter correspondences
Month: April
Color: Purple
Class: Peasant
Letter: H
Meaning: Being held back for a period of time

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Tides for Alsea Bay
*

Day        High      Tide Height   Sunrise    Moon Time      % Moon
~ /Low      Time    Feet Sunset Visible
M   23      Low   1:42 AM     2.7   5:41 AM    Rise 2:57 AM      50
~    23     High   7:10 AM     6.2   8:46 PM     Set 1:47 PM
~    23      Low   1:59 PM     0.1
~    23     High   8:45 PM     6.8

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Affirmation/Thought for the Day – If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you.

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Journal Prompt – Persuasive – Is there something you would like you do that your parents/spouse will not allow you to do? Write an imaginary dialogue between yourself and your parents in which you try to convince them to give you permission to do as you ask. Be sure to explain why it is in your best interest. Also, in you dialogue, be sure to ask politely and with respect.

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Quotes

~   When you are grateful fear disappears and abundance appears. – Anthony Robbins
~   If you are going through hell, keep going. – W. Churchill
~   Fill what’s empty. Empty what’s full. And scratch where it itches. – Georg Grey
~   My life is one long curve, full of turning points. – Pierre Elliott Trudeau (1919-2000) Canadian Prime Minister

The primrose drop, the spring’s own spouse,
Bright daisies, and the lips-of-cows,
The garden star, the queen of May,
The rose, to crown the holyday.’ – Jonson.

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Litha Magick – Spells

6/19 Today’s Goddess: Maat
Themes: Freedom; New Beginnings; Justice; Morality; Organization; Promises; Universal Law
Symbols: Ostrich Feather (or any feather)

About Maat: In Egypt, Maat is the ultimate representation of fairness, justice, and truth. As the spirit of orderliness and legislation, she assists us by overseeing any legal matters, hearings, promises, and oaths to ensure harmony and honesty. In some Egyptian stories, a person’s soul was weighed against Maat’s feather to gain entrance to paradise.

To Do Today: On June 19 in 1865, the slaves in Texas were finally told about the Emancipation Proclamation signed three years previously. While freedom was slow in coming, it finally arrived, likely in part thanks to Maat’s encouragement.

For all of Maat’s spells it’s best to have a feather to use as a component and focal point. Change the color of your feather to suit the goal. Pick blue for true seeing (or to encourage honesty with yourself), white for pure promises, black and white for legal equity, and pale yellow to inspire a new beginning filled with Maat’s keen insight. Bless the feather, using the following incantation (fill in the blank with your goal), then release it to the wind so the magic begins to move!

Maat, on this feather light,
bring to me renewed insight.
To my life _____ impart;
make a home within my heart. – )0( By Patricia Telesco~ >From “365 Goddess” and GrannyMoon’s Morning Feast

Goddess For Today: Wakasaname no Kami – Rice Ceremony (Japan)
Themes: Providence; Harvest; Growth; Patience; Manifestation
Symbols: Rice; Fire

About Wakasaname no Kami: This Goddess’s name describes her function in Japan–the Young Rice Planting Maiden. It is Wakasaname’s duty to oversee the rice transplantings at this time of year, as she was born of a union between the food Goddess and the grain God. From a more spiritual perspective, Wakasaname no Kami offers us the providence and fulfillment that come from a job patiently well attended.

To Do Today: Early in June, Japanese farmers transplant their rice seedlings into the paddies, asking for the blessings of the Goddess as they go. Prayers are made as ritual fires burn to get Wakasaname’s attention, and they probably act as an invocation to the sun. In your home, this might mean going outside (if the weather permits) and starting the grill or hibachi. Burn a little rice in the flame as an offering to the goddess so she can help you fulfill your work-related goals. Make sure you keep your purpose in mind while the rice burns or speak your wishes into the smoke so it carries them before Wakasaname’s watchful eyes.

To inspire Wakasaname’s patience in your life, make a bowl of rice. Breathe deeply, then try to pick up one grain with chopsticks. This is an old meditative method from the East, and believe me, it teaches much about the benefits of persistence and practice! By Patricia Telesco ~ From “365 Goddess” and GrannyMoon’s Morning Feast

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Silliness – Sniglet – Any word which should be in the dictionary but isn’t. – wondracide (WUN druh side) – n. The act of murdering a piece of bread with a knife and cold butter.

Posted in Daily Stuff, Newsletter, Pagan, Wiccan | Tagged Affirmation, Astrology, Astronomy, Buttercup, Celtic Tree Month, creeping buttercup, crowfoot, Defenestration, Goddess Month, Journal Prompt, Litha, Litha spells, Magick, Moon, Oregon Coast, Pagan, Ranunculus bulbosus, Ranunculus repens, Runic Half Month, Silliness, Sniglet, St Anthony’s Turnip, Summer Solstice, The primrose drop, Tides, Weather, Wicca | Leave a comment

Daily Stuff 5-22-22 Harvey Milk

Posted on May 22, 2022 by Anja Snihova'

Hi, folks!

Last Minus Tide of the cycle at12:58 PM of -0.4 feet. The shop opens at 1pm. Spring hours are 1-6pm Thurs.-Mon. Featured photo by Anja. House Capuchin Project Day 1-4pm.

[posting at 8pm] The sun’s been coming and going all day. Right now, it’s quite overcast, but bright. There actually was an UV alert, earlier! 52F, wind at 0-12mph and gusting, AQI 5-38, UV5. Chance of rain 8% today and 13% tonight. Forecast – Today(57/48) Cloudy. Tomorrow-Wed(59/45) Partly cloudy, Thu(59/49) Showers starting around lunchtime, possible 1/3 in, Fri-Mon(56/47) small chance of showers all 4 days, total accum. 1/3 inch. 6 firespots.

Yams… I had one that spouted, so I grew one batch that were harvested the following summer.

Friday night was odd. Tempus pecked at things trying to get all of the fridge stuff put away. I just collapsed after we closed and I crawled back into the nap bed. I have no idea if he ever turned in, but he tends to nap on the sofa, anyway. I woke just before he headed out on the paper route, and puttered for awhile, then curled up with my tablet. At about quarter to two, the astral chime went off and it was *loud*! I sat up, having been kinda dozy. I couldn’t think who it might be, didn’t seem to have the usual feeling of knowing who it was, or why. I finally dozed back off around 3 or 3:30 and slept through until noon, not even waking when Tempus crawled in. He said that was around 9. I have *no* idea how he can get by on so little sleep!

Sage

So, I read my book on the tablet until he started to stir and then we got up and got the shop open. After doing messages and mail I wrote for awhile, catching up on my on the various blogs I write. Tempus putzed with some more clean-up and sorting out the computers after the power outage in the morning. Yeah, apparently the BPA buggered the entire county’s hook-up to electricity! It took them under an hour to fix, but that was a surprise. A lot of commentary later about how puzzled folks were and how few realized how wide-spread the outage was until later.

Horseradish

Sweet Cicely and other things

No one was in for Sewing, but I got a phone call from Mary Cedarwolf’s brother. I wondered why it had been so long since I heard from her. Yeah, that was the astral chime I heard. She Crossed from cervical cancer. ….another… I know it’s the age bracket that I’m in, but I’m losing people right and left…. She was supposed to teach at OCPPG this year, again. I’ve known her for a couple of decades, and she’s going to leave a hole.

I’ll write some more this evening, I think, but I have a counseling appointment coming in in just a bit, so I need to hurry on this. …and didn’t quite make it in time. It’s almost 7:30, now. Tempus is making us some supper and then we’ll turn in.

Today we’ll be open at 1pm. It’s our “different day” and we may actually have some folks here for that.

One of our local friends who just made off with a stash from 5/19/16 Photo by Anja

Today’s Plant is Rhubarb, Rheum rhabarbarum. Best known as “pie plant” or in strawberry and rhubarb jam this is a wonderful and nutritious stalk vegetable, that has been legally counted as a fruit, because of its uses. The roots have been used as a laxative for thousands of years, and the stalks, while strong-tasting when uncooked with no sugar, are delicious in sauces, pies, jellies, juice and so on, but the leaves are poisonous. It is very easy to grow since the roots will over-winter, even if the stalks die back and it’s one of the earliest vegetables to be harvestable. – Feminine, Venus Earth. – Wear a dried piece to help with stomach or gut pain and for general protection. The pie served to a mate helps to maintain fidelity and is an aphrodisiac, especially when combined with strawberries. More here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhubarb

220px-Harvey_Milk_in_1978_at_Mayor_Moscone's_Desk_crop

Today’s feast is in honor of the Gay Rights Activist, Harvey Milk, who was assassinated in 1978. He was the first openly gay politician in California. More on his life and work here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey_Milk and on the bill that passed to make this day official.

Love & Light,
Anja

******

Today’s Astro & Calendar

Moon in in Aquarius enters Pisces at 8:49am.

Waning Moon Magick – From the Full Moon to the New is a time for study, meditation, and magic designed to banish harmful energies and habits, for ridding oneself of addictions, illness or negativity. Remember: what goes up must come down. Phase ends at the Tide Change on 5/30 at 4:30am. Waning Gibbous Moon – Best time for draining the energy behind illness, habits or addictions. Magicks of this sort, started now, should be ended before the phase change to the New Moon. – Associated God/dess: Hera/Hero, Cybele, Zeus the Conqueror, Mars/Martius, Anansi, Prometheus. Phase ends at the Quarter on 5/22 at 11:43am. Waning Crescent Moon –Best time for beginning introspective magicks that are more long term (full year cycle) A good time for beginning knot magicks to “bind up” addictions and illness (finish just before the Tide Change of Dark to New) and “tying up loose ends” God/dess aspects – Demeter weeping for her Daughter, Mabon, Arachne Tyr. Phase ends on 5/25 at 4:30pm.

The Sickle – The Sickle asterism in Leo looks like a backwards question mark, starting with Regulus and ending with Algenubi. – Alison Klesman via TheSkyX

As spring moves into its final month Leo the Lion walks downward in the southwest, on his way to departing into the sunset in early summer. Right after dark, spot the brightest star fairly high in the west-southwest. That’s Regulus, Leo’s forefoot. The Sickle of Leo extends upper right from there; the rest of the Lion extends farther upper left from the Sickle.

Last Quarter Moon – NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio

Last-quarter Moon (exact at 11:43 p.m. PDT, last night). The Moon rises around 2 a.m. tonight in dim Aquarius, with Saturn now glowing about a fist and a half to its upper right. By Monday’s early dawn the Moon and Saturn are higher in the southeast, forming a big triangle with Fomalhaut very low below them. The Moon passes 4° south of Saturn at 1 A.M. EDT. An hour before sunrise, while the sky is still dark, our satellite sits just over 5° directly below (southeast of) the ringed planet in the southeastern sky. Although the moonlight will largely wash out Saturn nearby, it’s still worth trying to catch a glimpse of the planet’s stunning ring system through a telescope. Far to the Moon’s left by then are bright Jupiter and little Mars.

Location of Mare Imbrium

Next, turn your gaze toward the Moon. The large, circular Mare Imbrium stands out in the lunar northwest, its southeastern rim marked by the rugged Apennine Mountains, named for the terrestrial mountain range in Italy. Just to the south is the bright crater Copernicus, which spans some 58 miles (93 kilometers). This lunar pockmark is extremely young, likely less than a billion years old, with several bright rays of ejecta — material thrown up and away by the impact — around it.

Venus (magnitude –4.0) rises soon after the beginning of dawn. Look for it just left of due east. It’s roughly two fists at arm’s length lower left of Jupiter. Venus will continue to rise near the beginning of dawn from now all the way through August.

Mercury (6/3), Pluto Retrograde (10/8)
Goddess Month of Hera runs from 5/16 – 6/12
Celtic Tree Month of Huath/Hawthorn, May 13 – Jun 9
Color – Amber
Planting 5/22-4
©2022 M. Bartlett, Some parts separately copyright

******

The very old hawthorn at Saint-Mars-sur-la-Futaie, France, planted in the 3rd century!

Huathe – Hawthorne Ogam letter correspondences
Month: April
Color: Purple
Class: Peasant
Letter: H
Meaning: Being held back for a period of time

******

Tides for Alsea Bay
*

Day        High      Tide Height   Sunrise    Moon Time      % Moon
~ /Low      Time    Feet Sunset Visible
Su 22      Low 12:18 AM     3.1   5:42 AM    Rise 2:31 AM      61
~    22     High   5:51 AM     6.8   8:45 PM     Set 12:34 PM
~    22      Low 12:58 PM    -0.4
~    22     High   7:51 PM     6.5

******

Affirmation/Thought for the Day – If it comes; let it. If it goes; let it.

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Journal Prompt – Who is? – Who or what has had a strong influence in your life?

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Quotes

~   A thing is not necessarily true because a man dies for it. – Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) Irish writer and wit
~   Democracy… while it lasts is more bloody than either aristocracy or monarchy. Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There is never a democracy that did not commit suicide. – John Adams (1735-1826) US President (2)
~   Broadly speaking, the short words are the best, and the old words best of all. – W. Churchill
~   I submit to you that if a man hasn’t discovered something he will die for, he isn’t fit to live. – Martin Luther King, Jr., Speech in Detroit, ’63

The hawthorn’s later orgiastic use … corresponds with the cult of the Goddess Flora, and.. accounts for the English medieval habit of riding out on May Morning to pluck flowering hawthorn boughs and dance around the maypole. Hawthorn blossom has, for many men, a strong scent of female sexuality; which is why the Turks use a flowering branch as an erotic symbol. – Robert Graves (1895 – 1985), The White Goddess, p. 176

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Litha Magick – Top Summer Games and Activities for Kids

Summertime fun comes in all shapes and sizes. Whether at home or at the beach, try these games and activities to make a summer day special.

Looking for some fun summer day activities for your kids? Well look no further!

Beach Obstacle Course – All you need is a stick and a shovel to make a fun beach activity for your child. Read the instructions for the Beach Obstacle Course.

Water Fight – A water fight is a safe and fun group activity for kids – and it’s refreshing on a hot day! Read the instructions for the Water Fight.

Bubble Contest – Nothing to do on a summer afternoon? Organize a bubble blowing contest! Mix up some bubble solution, assemble some tools for blowing, and you’re set. Read the instructions for the Bubble Contest.

Stupendous Sand Castles – There is no wrong way to build a sandcastle. However, if you want to build a truly memorable sand structure, there are a few tricks of the trade that are worth knowing. Read the instructions for Stupendous Sand Castles.

Fun with Sand – Legend says that if you bring home sand from a beach, you’ll visit that beach again. Whether that’s true, collecting sand is a fun way to remember your visits to the beach and to see how sand differs from beach to beach. Read the instructions for Fun with Sand.

First Water Slide – Here’s an inexpensive and low-tech way to bring the thrills of a water slide to your own backyard. Read the instructions for First Water Slide.

Water Swing – You’d have to go all the way to an amusement park to find a ride as wet and wild as this one, but you can make this one at home! Read the instructions for Water Swing.

Synchronized Swimming – Synchronized swimming is a fun and difficult water sport that requires the execution of a routine to music. The goal of the performance is to interpret the music with technical skill, style, grace and precision.

Sardines – This game, a variation of “hide and seek,” is best played outdoors. It can be played with two or more players. Read the instructions for Sardines.

More Summer Games and Activities – For even more summer fun, explore the FamilyEducation Activities Center!

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Silliness – A mathematician walks into a bar accompanied by a dog and a cow. The bartender says, “Hey, no animals are allowed in here!”

The mathematician replies, “These are very special animals.”

“How so?”

“They’re knot theorists.”

The bartender raises his eyebrows and says, “I’ve met a number of knot theorists who I thought were animals, but never an animal that was a knot theorist.”

“Well, I’ll prove it to you. Ask them them anything you like.”

So the bartender asks the dog, “Name a knot invariant.” “Arf! Arf!” barks the dog.

The bartender scowls and turns to the cow asking, “Name a topological invariant.” “Mu! Mu!” says the cow.

At this point the bartender turns to the mathematican and says, “Very funny.” With that, he throws the three out of the bar.

Outside, sitting on the curb, the dog turns to the mathematican and asks, “Do you think I should have said the Jones polynomial instead?”

Posted in Daily Stuff, Newsletter, Pagan, Wiccan | Tagged A mathematician walks into a bar, Affirmation, Astrology, Astronomy, Celtic Tree Month, Goddess Month, Journal Prompt, Litha, Magick, Moon, Oregon Coast, Pagan, Runic Half Month, Silliness, Summer Solstice, The hawthorn’s later orgiastic use, Tides, Top Summer Games and Activities for Kids, Weather, Wicca | Leave a comment

Daily Stuff 5-21-22 Vejovis

Posted on May 21, 2022 by Anja Snihova'

Hi, folks!

Minus Tide at 11:56 AM of -1.0 feet. The shop opens at 1pm. Spring hours are 1-6pm Thurs.-Mon. Featured photo by Ken Gagne. Sewing Workshop at 3pm.

[posting at 6:30pm] Rain gauge at noon on 5/20 – Trace It’s been gradually clearing all day, if really breezy! 54F, wind at 2-17mph and gusting, AQI 11-41, UV5. Chance of rain 10% today and 12% tonight. Forecast – Today through late Thu it’s going to be partly cloudy and warming. Highs from 57-63, lows from 45-50. Late Thursday into Fri(56/47) there’s a chance of showers, ending Sat(56/46) trailing off to a small chance by midday, Sun(56/47) back to mostly cloudy. 6 firespots.

Alpine strawberry setting fruit.

Thursday night we had already eaten before we headed home, so I just went to bed. Tempus napped on top of the covers because he had to head out on the paper route (bulk night). I woke around midnight and went to get some “lunch”, and noticed an “electrical smell”. Ozone? Burning insulation? It was so mild that I though it might be drifting through an open window, so I went back to bed. Didn’t smell it in the bedroom (I sleep with the door closed), but the main part of the house.

Raspberry setting fruit

No, we’re fine. I’m coughing a little from smoke, but Tempus was out on the paper route. Ok, longer story….

Raspberry

We’ve had problems off and on with 1/2 the house power going off. Tempus has to re-set the breaker. About a month ago we had a spate of if-the-fridge-comes-on-when-the-dehumidifier-is-running-the-breaker-trips, but then it stopped. We defrosted the fridge freezer on Wednesday. so it would run more easily.

Lovely healthy lettuce! Salad, here I come!

So I woke around 6am. Typical… I check mail and read on my tablet until I doze off again. At about 6:30 there was a loud crackling and bang. I was awake then, I’ll tell you! It seemed to be from behind the wall where on the other side is the closet in the bathroom. I opened the bedroom door. Nothing had changed. Same spot that the “things hitting the house” had been a few nights back.

I was pretty sure something was wrong, so I threw on my clothes and ran out into the main room. The dehumidifier was making an odd sound, a hum, unlike it’s usual running sound. Turned it off. Nothing else was on, but lights.

A log that a neighbor has planted with succulents.

There was another “crack” from the refrigerator area and looking down at the breaker panel/grill below it, suddenly two jets of flame and lots of sparks flew out with several bangs, followed by a billow of black smoke and the power on the north side of the house went down. I trotted outside around to the main plug-in to power (outside) and pulled the plug….. Well, that’s what you do in case of electrical fires…

A log that a neighbor has planted with succulents.

I had to go back in to get a warmer sweater, that’s when I started to cough. I had been expecting to at least be able to curl up in my chair, but… coughing. So I had my tablet. I sent Tempus an e-mail at 6:40, then another, and another. He finally sent back that he was on his way. I sat outside in the garden chair.
He finally got there about 8:15, but couldn’t find anything, other than that the power was out, but he needed to finish the paper route.

I went with him. We finished around 11, went to the shop and I crashed in back until just before 1. I’m not sure what Tempus did, but he woke when I got the lights on, and the shop’s been open since 1pm. Not exactly the way I figured the day to start….

Lemon Balm

We’ve had some customers. One young lady in for books and some answers to questions. Another couple looking for smudges. A 3rd looking for a manicure. 🙂 …and a bunch of lookie-loo’s.

Mom’s day petunia in a hanging basket.

I’ve been mostly researching and catching up today… when I wasn’t dozing off. 🙂 *Way* short on sleep! Tempus is at home, trying to figure out what went wrong and can he fix it…. well, I’m going to be sleeping here tonight, for certain. I’d never sleep at home, even if it’s all fixed…. I’ll have a chance to catch up on some writing at least.

The thinned out lettuce

….Tempus just called from home. Oof. It looks like what’s happened is some major malfunction of the fusebox/circuit breakers. The components are scorched and sizzling when power goes through them. So…. we’ll have to find an electrician that works on RV’s, I guess. He’s going to just turn off the power completely overnight.

Raspberry blossom

Today the shop will be open at 1pm. Sewing Workshop is at 3pm. I guess Tempus is going to be back out at the house, but he’s going to have to research components, first.

A photo of a pelican in Yachats by Ken Gagne from 5/19/17 Used with permission.

Today’s Plant is Sweet William, Dianthus barbatus. It is often called Carnation, just like others of the dianthus species and I’ve seen it misnamed “phlox” on plant tags at Fred Meyer’s. The difference is the scent. It still has a sweet scent, but not of clove, like gillyflower, or no scent, like phlox. The flowers are edible and attract butterflies and bees, and the seeds will draw birds, who sometimes will also go after the flowers. They’re good as cut flowers, lasting a decent while, being tall, and a cluster, rather than multiple stems and make a nice tea or add to green tea. Kate Middleton had them in her bouquet as a nice touch when she married her “Sweet William”. They have the meaning of “Gallantry”. – Masculine, Sun, Air, Venus – All-purpose protection, in healing for strength and energy. Magically it is very similar to Gillyflowers. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_william

feast 0521 Republican_denarius_-_C._Licinius_L.f._Macer_

Vejovis? Who he? Even the later Romans weren’t completely sure! They showed him as a young man, holding a bunch of arrows and lightning bolts and accompanied by a goat. Supposedly one of the first gods to be born, he was associated with healing and Asclepius, and goats were sacrificed to him to keep plagues away. Apparently his aspects changed early on and there are a lot of controversies about which is “right” and where his name came from. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vejovis

Love & Light,
Anja

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Today’s Astro & Calendar

Moon in Aquarius

With summer still a month away (astronomically speaking), the last star of the Summer Triangle still doesn’t rise above the eastern horizon until about 10 or 11 p.m. That’s Altair, the Triangle’s lower right corner. Watch for Altair to clear the horizon three or four fists at arm’s length to Vega’s lower right.

Shadow crossing – Callisto’s shadow crosses the swirling face of Jupiter in this image snapped by Voyager 2. This week, you’ll get a similar view for yourself. – NASA/JPL/Ian Regan (see Thu/Fri

Before and during Sunday’s dawn, the last-quarter Moon hangs under Saturn — by about the width of three fingers at arm’s length for most of North America. How far into dawn can you keep Saturn, 1st magnitude, in definite sight?

Sky shapes – The Circlet of Pisces sits south of a line drawn between Algenib and Markab, which marks one side of the Great Square of Pegasus. – Astronomy: Roen Kelly

Mercury reaches inferior conjunction at 3 P.M. EDT. The solar system’s smallest planet with reappear in the morning sky by next month. Instead, let’s focus on a few other planets in the east early this morning. Two hours before sunrise, Jupiter, Mars, and Neptune all share the region of Pisces directly below (southeast of) the Circlet asterism. The Circlet consists of seven stars: Gamma (γ), 7, Theta (θ), Iota (ι), 19, Lambda (λ), and Kappa (κ) Piscium. This rough circle of stars sits about 12° south of a line drawn between Algenib and Markab, which marks one side of the Great Square of Pegasus. Gamma Psc is the brightest of the bunch — thought brightness is relative, as it shines at magnitude 3.7. While your eyes are on the Circlet, however, take a look at 19 Psc, also cataloged as TX Psc. This is a variable star whose unmistakable deep red color comes from abundant carbon in its atmosphere. TX Psc ranges between magnitude 4.9 and 5.5 over the course of about 220 days. Now drop your gaze toward the horizon from TX, and you’ll run smack dab into Jupiter, shining at magnitude –2.2. Nearly 5° its upper right (west) is Mars, a ruddy magnitude 0.7. Neptune, whose magnitude 7.8 glow will require binoculars to spot, sits an additional 2° west of Mars. Magnitude 0.7 Saturn lies far to the west, lingering in Capricornus near the 1st-magnitude star Deneb Algedi. And within another hour, Venus will climb above the horizon, the brightest of our morning planets at magnitude –4.2.

Mercury is hidden in the glare of the Sun.

Mercury (6/3), Pluto Retrograde (10/8)
Goddess Month of Hera runs from 5/16 – 6/12
Celtic Tree Month of Huath/Hawthorn, May 13 – Jun 9
Color – Blue
Harvest 5/20&21
©2022 M. Bartlett, Some parts separately copyright

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The very old hawthorn at Saint-Mars-sur-la-Futaie, France, planted in the 3rd century!

Huathe – Hawthorne Ogam letter correspondences
Month: April
Color: Purple
Class: Peasant
Letter: H
Meaning: Being held back for a period of time

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Tides for Alsea Bay
*

Day        High      Tide Height   Sunrise    Moon Time      % Moon
~ /Low      Time    Feet Sunset Visible
Sa 21     High   4:41 AM     7.5   5:43 AM    Rise 1:59 AM      72
~    21      Low 11:56 AM    -1.0   8:44 PM     Set 11:17 AM
~    21     High   6:51 PM     6.4

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Affirmation/Thought for the Day – Unfortunately we all grow older every day, and life can be short, I know, I have lost friends, family, and I think, what was the last thing I said to them and I hope I made some kind of impact on their life, even if it was a smile. So to all my friends and family, to those that care and love us, I do thank you, for your love, a smile, a thank you, or even a good laugh.

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Journal Prompt – Expository – Write freely about the bravest thing you have ever done.

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Quotes

~   The person who can be only serious or only cheerful, is but half a man. – Leigh Hunt (1784-1859) English writer
~   A man who exposes himself when he is intoxicated, has not the art of getting drunk. – Dr. Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) English writer, lexicographer
~   If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there’d be peace. – John Lennon (1940-1980)
~   Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. – Mark Twain

Nocturne by Sadakichi Hartmann

Upon the silent sea-swept land
The dreams of night fall soft and gray,
The waves fade on the jeweled sand
Like some lost hope of yesterday.

The dreams of night fall soft and gray
     Upon the summer-colored seas,
          Like some lost hope of yesterday,
   The sea-mew’s song is on the breeze.

Upon the summer-colored seas
     Sails gleam and glimmer ghostly white,
          The sea-mew’s song is on the breeze
   Lost in the monotone of night.

Sails gleam and glimmer ghostly white,
   They come and slowly drift away,
          Lost in the monotone of night,
               Like visions of a summer-day.

They shift and slowly drift away
Like lovers’ lays that wax and wane,
The visions of a summer-day
Whose dreams we ne’er will dream again.

Like lovers’ lays wax and wane
     The star dawn shifts from sail to sail,
          Like dreams we ne’er will dream again;
               The sea-mews follow on their trail.

The star dawn shifts from sail to sail,
   As they drift to the dim unknown,
          The sea-mews follow on their trail
   In quest of some dreamland zone.

In quest of some far dreamland zone,
     Of some far silent sea-swept land,
They are lost in the dim unknown,
   Where waves fade on jeweled sand
                    And dreams of night fall soft and gray,
                         Like some lost hope of yesterday.

This poem is in the public domain. Published in Poem-a-Day on May 14, 2022, by the Academy of American Poets. About this poem- “Nocturne” appeared in Drifting Flowers of the Sea and Other Poems (Self-published, 1904).

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Litha Magick – Lore

Summer Solstice by Rhiannon Cotter – http://www.fortunecity.com/greenfield/tigris/567/id20.htm

Summer Solstice, the longest day, represents a turning point from Spring to Summer during which the Sun God directs the ripening and blossoming of the grain and fruit. Here in the heat of the Summer, the crops are transformed as are our actions, thoughts and plans. All things are tempered by the heat of the Sun. Blossoming and ripening of our works are manifested, or they shrivel and die in the heat. All the while, sexual energy is growing. The Sun God impregnates the Earth Goddess in a sweet “petit mort”—as the cup is to the Goddess, so too is the athame to the God.

deborah <isis_snow_tiger@yahoo.com> wrote:

To: Hearth_Witch@yahoogroups.com
From: “deborah” <isis_snow_tiger@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 06 Jun 2006 16:49:28 -0000
Subject: [Hearth_Witch] Midsummer Symbolism
Midsummer Symbolism

Symbolism – Nurturing and love are key actions related to Midsummer. If you haven’t yet done so, Litha is a good time to perform your Self-Dedication Ceremony… or – if you have been practicing Wicca for a while – you may choose to perform a simple Re-dedication/Affirmation as a part of your Sabbat celebration. The powers of nature are at their highest point. Great time for herb gathering. Longest day of the year, marks the time when days begin to get shorter again.

· Symbols – fire to celebrate the power of the sun, sun wheels, god eyes, mother goddess, ripening fruits, sun dials, feathers, and swords/blades.

· Deities – Father Gods and Mother Goddesses, Pregnant Goddesses and Sun Deities. Particular emphasis might be placed on the Goddesses Aphrodite, Astarte, Freya, Hathor, Ishtar, Venus and other Goddesses who preside over love, passion and beauty. Other Litha deities include Athena, Artemis, Dana, Kali, Isis, Juno, Apollo, Dagda, Gwydion, Helios, Llew, Oak/Holly King, Lugh, Ra, Sol, Zeus, Prometheus, Ares, and Thor.

· Magick – Healings, growth spells, empowerment spells, and love magick are all incredibly potent at this time

· Tools – drums, rattles, bonfire, mirrors for reflecting the sun or bonfire, Earth circles of stone energy

· Colors – white, red, maize yellow or golden yellow, green, blue and tan.

· Stones – all green gemstones, especially emerald and jade. Other appropriate gemstones are tiger’s eye, lapis lazuli, ruby, and diamonds.

· Animals – include robins, wrens, all Summer birds, horses and cattle. Mythical creatures include satyrs, faeries, firebirds, dragons, thunderbirds and manticores.

· Herbs – chamomile, cinquefoil, elder, fennel, hemp, larkspur, lavender, male fern, mugwort, pine, roses, Saint John’s wort, honesty, wild thyme, wisteria, oak, mistletoe, frankincense, lemon, sandalwood, heliotrope, copal, saffron, galangal, laurel ylang-ylang, and verbena. Traditionally, herbs gathered on this day are extremely powerful.

· Incense – a combination of any of the following or simply one of them by itself… frankincense, myrrh, sandalwood, lemon, pine, jasmine, rose, lotus, or wisteria.

· Foods – for Litha include fresh vegetables of all kinds and fresh fruits such as lemons and oranges, pumpernickel bread as well as Summer squash and any yellow or orange colored foods. Flaming foods are also appropriate, barbecued anything, (barbecues represent the bonfires….) but especially chicken or pork. Midsummer is also the time for making mead, since honey is now plentiful. Traditional drinks are ale, mead, sweet wines, fresh fruit juice of any kind and herb teas.

· Element: fire

~author unknown

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Silliness – Shorties – My Mama was a pistol! Does that makes me a son of a gun?

Posted in Daily Stuff, Newsletter, Wiccan | Tagged Affirmation, Astrology, Astronomy, Celtic Tree Month, Goddess Month, Journal Prompt, Litha, Litha lore, Magick, Moon, Oregon Coast, Pagan, Runic Half Month, Shorties, Silliness, Summer Solstice, Sweet William, Tides, Weather, Wicca | Leave a comment

Daily Stuff 5-20-22 Grudie Rosnoe

Posted on May 20, 2022 by Anja Snihova'

Hi, folks!

Minus Tide at10:58 AM of -1.4 feet. The shop opens at 1pm. Spring hours are 1-6pm Thurs.-Mon. Featured photo by Ken Gagne.

[posting at 7pm] Rain gauge at noon on 5/19 – 0.1, Back and forth between rain and sun all day. “May changes moods just like a baby, we should call it “maybe”? 53F, wind at 1-8mph and gusting, AQI 12-52, UV6. Chance of rain 10% today % tonight. Forecast – Today/Tomorrow(56/43) We have some dry weather coming this week. Partly cloudy and it’s warming up a bit. Sun(58/47) Cloudy, Mon-Thu(60/48) partly to mostly cloudy, Fri/Sat(57/48) showers, up to 1/2 inch accumulation.

Wow… a whole weekend to write up!

Let’s see…. Monday evening we had some more leftovers. I had frumenty, but Tempus made a sandwich of the pork roast and I made one later. Delicious! Cooking it in beer was different, since it didn’t so much impart a flavor as a scent…. and then we turned in and slept. I was up before Tempus headed out on the paper route and puttered at some chores. ….really just puttered. I didn’t accomplish much.

Tempus got in late on Tuesday, but had a long time to sleep. I was up at noon, and the first things when I opened the blinds that I saw was a lovely, complete, sun halo with colors! Absolutely gorgeous! …and it persisted *all* *day*, even as the sun was dropping over the trees to the west. I have go process the pictures I took….

I started on a little model that I have of the Hooper Straight Lighthouse that’s now been reconstructed at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michal’s, MD. I bought it on my last trip there as we were getting Mom ready to move out here and I only just found it again and took it home this past week to work on. Eventually, I’m going to have my boat and lighthouse models mounted on brackets at home.

Once Tempus was up we had more leftovers, but I also ate a salad, fresh from the garden, and followed it up with some cheese cubes, since we had some swiss and gruyere that needed to be used up and an open mozzarella. I was hoping to pay attention to election results (we dropped off our ballots Sunday evening), but didn’t have any wifi signal…. actually didn’t have any until early Thursday morning!

Tempus waited to head out for the bulk route, knowing that election night papers are *always* late, and he had all kinds of “fun” once he did, since the papers didn’t come out until midnight and the subscriber route usually starts 2-2:30-ish. …and the rain didn’t help, nor did some officious person local to the paper office who had a cow that he was parked on the street and snoozing. He was trying to be out of the way as the out-of-town deliveries started.

Photo by Anja from 5/4/16

Wednesday started with rain and cloud, but by mid-afternoon (Tempus was still asleep) it was dry enough to be outside and working in the garden. My bucket of crowfoot (a local creeping buttercup) is starting to bloom. I had intended that bucket for angelica, but this looks pretty nice, so I’m keeping it. I weeded and weeded. Bucket and container gardens don’t take as much as in-ground weeding, but having a neighbor who runs a trimmer on the lawn, thus throwing seeds and stuff into the buckets end up making for more than I’d usually expect.

I planted garlics and some vegetable ends, next, then some marigolds, a whole flat in a starter tray, and a few around the blueberry, then a few more sunflowers and nasturtiums, and eventually the few seeds of radish/carrot/lettuce for succession plantings. …and boy was I having fun with slugs and snails! By the time I was done over 100 had flying lessons, ending up out in the grass, the driveways, and one really good throw landed one on a neighbor’s roof! There was finally some sun, nearing sunset, and that was very pretty.

I spent the evening doing a little writing, then Tempus and I ate (yes, he was finally up…) and then we were back in bed by 8pm. I had managed to do more chores during the day, got a shopping list done, and got the shower curtain back up (having mislaid the new hooks for some time….), plus did some holes for more cup-hooks, but where did I put the big hooks, fergossakes?

Yesterday started with sun and cloud alternating, after some early drippage that came back just as we headed in to town. A neighbor stopped by with an offer of some lettuce seed that I had to refuse, since I have about 8 packets, myself, but I offered her some geranium starts and I’m going to want to track down another baby aloe….

Between that and collecting laundry we were definitely late at the shop. Thankfully, the customer waiting outside thought it was a hoot. 🙂 I got the Thursday morning newsletter out while watching the Starliner test launch. Tempus had headed out to do the laundry, after getting us coffee. He watched the launch on his phone.

The weird onion before it popped (5/7/22)

We definitely were not busy. The first lady got some books and I had some “lookers” in, plus one fellow who was looking for plant pots. I had a lot of writing to do, so that’s what I put my time in, on. I’m still have some trouble getting around, and lifting. I did take a look around and a lot of the plants are very dry. ….Not good.

Raspberry blossom

Today we should be open at 1pm. Today is definitely a “watering day”. I’m hoping to put some geraniums to take home to brighten up the garden, and maybe to set a few outside at the shop for the same purpose.

Another Ken Gagne pic of an eagle in Yachats this one from 5/12/15

Flowering fern [Royal fern], Osmunda regalis, is today’s plant, dedicated to Saint Osmund. Osmunda regalis belongs to the oxymoronically named flowering fern family, so called because the densely-clustered sporangia resemble flowers. It is said by some to be one of the most handsome European ferns, hence the name. It is widely distributed in Europe, Asia and North America. The ‘Royal Fern’ is also known as the ‘Queen Flower’. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osmunda_regalis (pictures are the American variety of this fern)
According to Slavic mythology, the sporangia – called ‘Perun’s flowers’ – have assorted magical powers, such as giving their holders the ability to defeat demons, fulfil wishes, unlock secrets, and understand the language of trees. However, collecting the sporangia is a difficult and frightening process. In earlier traditions, they had to be be collected on Kupala night; later, after the arrival of Christianity, the date is changed to Easter eve. Either way, the person wanting to collect Perun’s flowers must stand within a circle drawn around the plant and withstand the taunting or threats of demons.

Today’s feast is for Mjölnir, the god Thor’s marvelous hammer. The Prose Edda says that with it Thor:

… would be able to strike as firmly as he wanted, whatever his aim, and the hammer would never fail, and if he threw it at something, it would never miss and never fly so far from his hand that it would not find its way back, and when he wanted, it would be so small that it could be carried inside his tunic.

That’s awesome as a tool, let alone a weapon! Today was the day when ritual contests were held in the old Norse traditions, trial by combat, or bardic competitions. More here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mj%C3%B6lnir There’s a marvelous article about the Viking Raids into Europe and what caused them, here: http://freya.theladyofthelabyrinth.com/?page_id=483

Grudie Rosnoe – Traven (May) 20-30 – During these ten days, Volhvs (Magicians, Soothsayers, Sorcerors) bring sacrifices to Rod for rain and for good, productive harvests. (Volhv: a priest of Slavic Paganism; analogous to the scandinavian “Godhi” )

Love & Light,
Anja

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Today’s Astro & Calendar

Moon in Capricorn enters Aquarius at 5:53am.

Take a look at Lyra – This star chart shows the locations of both R and T Lyrae, which lie about 6° northeast and 2° southwest of Vega (Alpha [α] Lyrae), respectively. – Astronomy: Roen Kelly

Spring is advancing, and Vega is now nicely up in the east-northeast after dark. Look for its faint little constellation Lyra, the Lyre, hanging down from it with its bottom canted to the right. Lyra’s leading stars form a little equilateral triangle with Vega as one corner, and a parallelogram dangling from the triangle’s bottom.

Draco, Ursa Minor

Look 14° (almost a fist and a half at arm’s length) upper left of Vega for Eltanin, the 2nd-magnitude nose of Draco the Dragon. Closer above and upper left of Eltanin are the three fainter stars forming the rest of Draco’s stick-figure head, also called the Lozenge. Draco always points his nose to Vega no matter how he’s oriented. He seems curious about it. Do dragons eat jewels? He has never made a move on it yet. The faintest star of Draco’s head, opposite Eltanin, is Nu Draconis. It’s a fine, equal-brightness double star for binoculars (separation 61 arcseconds, both magnitude 4.9). The pair is 99 light-years away. Both are hot, chemically peculiar type-Am stars somewhat larger, hotter, and more massive than the Sun.

A globular cluster in the Winged Horse – The ancient globular cluster Messier 15 sits just off the nose of Pegasus. – APAstroLab (Flickr

Early risers can catch the Great Square of Pegasus leaping above the horizon in the few hours leading up to dawn. This large asterism is drawn from the stars Beta, Gamma, and Alpha Pegasi, as well as the “interloper” Alpha Andromedae. When connected, they are meant to represent the Winged Horse’s body, or at least the front half of it. His front legs stretch out and away from Scheat (Beta Pegasi), while his neck extends away from Markab (Alpha Pegasi) and ends at Enif (Epsilon Pegasi), his nose. Note that as the constellation rises in the east, it currently appears upside-down, with Pegasus’ neck on the bottom (closest to the horizon) and legs above it. Although the still-bright Moon is nearby, pull out binoculars or a telescope before dawn starts to break and see if you can locate M15, a globular cluster just off the tip of Pegasus’ nose. It’s located 4° northwest of Enif. This massive, old cluster of stars is the densest globular in the Milky Way. It shines at magnitude 6.2 and covers roughly 18′ on the sky — although in smaller instruments and with a brighter background sky, expect it to appear much smaller, perhaps some 7′ or so.

Venus and Jupiter, magnitudes –4.0 and –2.2 respectively, are the bright “Morning Stars” low in the east in early dawn. Venus is the lower one; Jupiter is increasingly far to Venus’s upper right. They’re separated by 13° on the morning of May 14th, widening to 20° by the 21st.

Sun in Taurus enters Gemini at 6:23pm.

Mercury (6/3), Pluto Retrograde (10/8)
Goddess Month of Hera runs from 5/16 – 6/12
Celtic Tree Month of Huath/Hawthorn, May 13 – Jun 9
Color – Pink
Harvest 5/20&21
©2022 M. Bartlett, Some parts separately copyright

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The very old hawthorn at Saint-Mars-sur-la-Futaie, France, planted in the 3rd century!

Huathe – Hawthorne Ogam letter correspondences
Month: April
Color: Purple
Class: Peasant
Letter: H
Meaning: Being held back for a period of time

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Tides for Alsea Bay
*

Day        High      Tide Height   Sunrise    Moon Time      % Moon
~ /Low      Time    Feet Sunset Visible
F   20     High   3:40 AM     8.1   5:44 AM    Rise 1:17 AM      82
~    20      Low 10:58 AM    -1.4   8:43 PM     Set 9:59 AM
~    20     High   5:48 PM     6.4
~    20      Low 11:01 PM     3.2

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Affirmation/Thought for the Day – Be happy. It drives people crazy.

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Journal Prompt – What does this quote say to you? – To speak kindly does not hurt the tongue. — proverb

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Quotes

~   If you cannot get rid of the family skeleton, you may as well make it dance. – George Bernard Shaw
~   Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out. – John Wooden
~   Glorious are the woods in their latest gold and crimson, Yet our full-leaved willows are in the freshest green. Such a kindly autumn, so mercifully dealing With the growths of summer, I never yet have seen. – William Cullen Bryant (1794-1878) US poet and newspaper editor
~   The way you see people is the way you treat them, and the way you treat them is what they become. – Goethe

May-Day, Ralph Waldo Emerson

DAUGHTER 1 of Heaven and Earth, coy Spring,
With sudden passion languishing,
Teaching barren moors to smile,
Painting pictures mile on mile,
Holds a cup with cowslip-wreaths,

Whence a smokeless incense breathes. 2
The air is full of whistlings bland;
What was that I heard
Out of the hazy land?
Harp of the wind, or song of bird, 3

Or vagrant booming of the air,
Voice of a meteor lost in day?
Such tidings of the starry sphere
Can this elastic air convey.
Or haply ’t was the cannonade

Of the pent and darkened lake,
Cooled by the pendent mountain’s shade,
Whose deeps, till beams of noonday break,
Afflicted moan, and latest hold
Even into May the iceberg cold.

Was it a squirrel’s pettish bark,
Or clarionet of jay? or hark
Where yon wedged line the Nestor leads,
Steering north with raucous cry
Through tracts and provinces of sky,

Every night alighting down
In new landscapes of romance,
Where darkling feed the clamorous clans
By lonely lakes to men unknown.
Come the tumult whence it will,

Voice of sport, or rush of wings,
It is a sound, it is a token
That the marble sleep is broken,
And a change has passed on things.
When late I walked, in earlier days,

All was stiff and stark;
Knee-deep snows choked all the ways,
In the sky no spark;
Firm-braced I sought my ancient woods,
Struggling through the drifted roads;

The whited desert knew me not,
Snow-ridges masked each darling spot;
The summer dells, by genius haunted,
One arctic moon had disenchanted.
All the sweet secrets therein hid

By Fancy, ghastly spells undid.
Eldest mason, Frost, had piled
Swift cathedrals in the wild;
The piny hosts were sheeted ghosts
In the star-lit minster aisled.

I found no joy: the icy wind
Might rule the forest to his mind.
Who would freeze on frozen lakes?
Back to books and sheltered home,
And wood-fire flickering on the walls,

To hear, when, ’mid our talk and games,
Without the baffled North-wind calls.
But soft! a sultry morning breaks; 4
The ground-pines wash their rusty green,
The maple-tops their crimson tint,

On the soft path each track is seen,
The girl’s foot leaves its neater print.
The pebble loosened from the frost
Asks of the urchin to be tost.
In flint and marble beats a heart,

The kind Earth takes her children’s part, 5
The green lane is the school-boy’s friend,
Low leaves his quarrel apprehend,
The fresh ground loves his top and ball,
The air rings jocund to his call,

The brimming brook invites a leap,
He dives the hollow, climbs the steep. 6
The youth sees omens where he goes,
And speaks all languages the rose,
The wood-fly mocks with tiny voice

The far halloo of human voice;
The perfumed berry on the spray
Smacks of faint memories far away.
A subtle chain of countless rings
The next into the farthest brings,

And, striving to be man, the worm
Mounts through all the spires of form. 7
The cagèd linnet in the Spring
Hearkens for the choral glee,
When his fellows on the wing

Migrate from the Southern Sea;
When trellised grapes their flowers unmask,
And the new-born tendrils twine,
The old wine darkling in the cask
Feels the bloom on the living vine,

And bursts the hoops at hint of Spring: 8
And so, perchance, in Adam’s race,
Of Eden’s bower some dream-like trace
Survived the Flight and swam the Flood,
And wakes the wish in youngest blood

To tread the forfeit Paradise,
And feed once more the exile’s eyes;
And ever when the happy child
In May beholds the blooming wild,
And hears in heaven the bluebird sing,

‘Onward,’ he cries, ‘your baskets bring,—
In the next field is air more mild,
And o’er yon hazy crest is Eden’s balmier spring.’
Not for a regiment’s parade,
Nor evil laws or rulers made,

Blue Walden rolls its cannonade,
But for a lofty sign
Which the Zodiac threw,
That the bondage-days are told,
And waters free as winds shall flow. 9

Lo! how all the tribes combine
To rout the flying foe.
See, every patriot oak-leaf throws
His elfin length upon the snows,
Not idle, since the leaf all day

Draws to the spot the solar ray,
Ere sunset quarrying inches down,
And halfway to the mosses brown;
While the grass beneath the rime
Has hints of the propitious time,

And upward pries and perforates
Through the cold slab a thousand gates,
Till green lances peering through
Bend happy in the welkin blue.
As we thaw frozen flesh with snow,

So Spring will not her time forerun,
Mix polar night with tropic glow,
Nor cloy us with unshaded sun,
Nor wanton skip with bacchic dance,
But she has the temperance

Of the gods, whereof she is one,—
Masks her treasury of heat
Under east winds crossed with sleet.
Plants and birds and humble creatures
Well accept her rule austere;

Titan-born, to hardy natures
Cold is genial and dear.
As Southern wrath to Northern right
Is but straw to anthracite;
As in the day of sacrifice,

When heroes piled the pyre,
The dismal Massachusetts ice
Burned more than others’ fire,
So Spring guards with surface cold
The garnered heat of ages old.

Hers to sow the seed of bread,
That man and all the kinds be fed;
And, when the sunlight fills the hours,
Dissolves the crust, displays the flowers.
Beneath the calm, within the light,

A hid unruly appetite
Of swifter life, a surer hope,
Strains every sense to larger scope,
Impatient to anticipate
The halting steps of aged Fate.

Slow grows the palm, too slow the pearl:
When Nature falters, fain would zeal
Grasp the felloes of her wheel,
And grasping give the orbs another whirl.
Turn swiftlier round, O tardy ball!

And sun this frozen side.
Bring hither back the robin’s call,
Bring back the tulip’s pride.
Why chidest thou the tardy Spring?
The hardy bunting does not chide;

The blackbirds make the maples ring
With social cheer and jubilee;
The redwing flutes his o-ka-lee,
The robins know the melting snow;
The sparrow meek, prophetic-eyed,

Her nest beside the snow-drift weaves,
Secure the osier yet will hide
Her callow brood in mantling leaves,—
And thou, by science all undone,
Why only must thy reason fail

To see the southing of the sun? 10
The world rolls round,—mistrust it not,—
Befalls again what once befell;
All things return, both sphere and mote,
And I shall hear my bluebird’s note,

And dream the dream of Auburn dell. 11
April cold with dropping rain
Willows and lilacs brings again,
The whistle of returning birds,
And trumpet-lowing of the herds.

The scarlet maple-keys betray
What potent blood hath modest May,
What fiery force the earth renews,
The wealth of forms, the flush of hues;
What joy in rosy waves outpoured

Flows from the heart of Love, the Lord.
Hither rolls the storm of heat;
I feel its finer billows beat
Like a sea which me infolds; 12
Heat with viewless fingers moulds,

Swells, and mellows, and matures,
Paints, and flavors, and allures,
Bird and brier inly warms,
Still enriches and transforms,
Gives the reed and lily length,

Adds to oak and oxen strength, 13
Transforming what it doth infold,
Life out of death, new out of old,
Painting fawns’ and leopards’ fells,
Seethes the gulf-encrimsoning shells,

Fires gardens with a joyful blaze
Of tulips, in the morning’s rays.
The dead log touched bursts into leaf,
The wheat-blade whispers of the sheaf.
What god is this imperial Heat,

Earth’s prime secret, sculpture’s seat?
Doth it bear hidden in its heart
Water-line patterns of all art?
Is it Dædalus? is it Love?
Or walks in mask almighty Jove,

And drops from Power’s redundant horn
All seeds of beauty to be born?
Where shall we keep the holiday,
And duly greet the entering May?
Too strait and low our cottage doors,

And all unmeet our carpet floors;
Nor spacious court, nor monarch’s hall,
Suffice to hold the festival.
Up and away! where haughty woods
Front the liberated floods:

We will climb the broad-backed hills,
Hear the uproar of their joy;
We will mark the leaps and gleams
Of the new-delivered streams,
And the murmuring rivers of sap

Mount in the pipes of the trees,
Giddy with day, to the topmost spire,
Which for a spike of tender green
Bartered its powdery cap;
And the colors of joy in the bird,

And the love in its carol heard,
Frog and lizard in holiday coats,
And turtle brave in his golden spots;
While cheerful cries of crag and plain
Reply to the thunder of river and main. 14

As poured the flood of the ancient sea
Spilling over mountain chains,
Bending forests as bends the sedge,
Faster flowing o’er the plains,—
A world-wide wave with a foaming edge

That rims the running silver sheet,—
So pours the deluge of the heat
Broad northward o’er the land,
Painting artless paradises,
Drugging herbs with Syrian spices, 15

Fanning secret fires which glow
In columbine and clover-blow,
Climbing the northern zones,
Where a thousand pallid towns
Lie like cockles by the main,

Or tented armies on a plain.
The million-handed sculptor moulds
Quaintest bud and blossom folds,
The million-handed painter pours
Opal hues and purple dye;

Azaleas flush the island floors,
And the tints of heaven reply.
Wreaths for the May! for happy Spring
To-day shall all her dowry bring,
The love of kind, the joy, the grace,

Hymen of element and race,
Knowing well to celebrate
With song and hue and star and state,
With tender light and youthful cheer,
The spousals of the new-born year.

Spring is strong and virtuous,
Broad-sowing, cheerful, plenteous,
Quickening underneath the mould
Grains beyond the price of gold.
So deep and large her bounties are,

That one broad, long midsummer day
Shall to the planet overpay
The savage of a year of war.
Drug the cup, thou butler sweet,
And send the nectar round;

The feet that slid so long on sleet
Are glad to feel the ground.
Fill and saturate each kind
With good according to its mind,
Fill each kind and saturate

With good agreeing with its fate,
And soft perfection of its plan—
Willow and violet, maiden and man.
The bitter-sweet, the haunting air
Creepeth, bloweth everywhere;

It preys on all, all prey on it,
Blooms in beauty, thinks in wit,
Stings the strong with enterprise,
Makes travellers long for Indian skies,
And where it comes this courier fleet

Fans in all hearts expectance sweet,
As if to-morrow should redeem
The vanished rose of evening’s dream.
By houses lies a fresher green,
On men and maids a ruddier mien,

As if Time brought a new relay
Of shining virgins every May,
And Summer came to ripen maids
To a beauty that not fades.

I saw the bud-crowned Spring go forth,
Stepping daily onward north
To greet staid ancient cavaliers

Filing single in stately train.
And who, and who are the travellers?
They were Night and Day, and Day and Night,

Pilgrims wight with step forthright.
I saw the Days deformed and low,
Short and bent by cold and snow;
The merry Spring threw wreaths on them,
Flower-wreaths gay with bud and bell;

Many a flower and many a gem,
They were refreshed by the smell,
They shook the snow from hats and shoon,
They put their April raiment on;
And those eternal forms,

Unhurt by a thousand storms,
Shot up to the height of the sky again,
And danced as merrily as young men.
I saw them mask their awful glance
Sidewise meek in gossamer lids;

And to speak my thought if none forbids
It was as if the eternal gods,
Tired of their starry periods,
Hid their majesty in cloth
Woven of tulips and painted moth.

On carpets green the maskers march
Below May’s well-appointed arch,
Each star, each god, each grace amain,
Every joy and virtue speed,
Marching duly in her train,

And fainting Nature at her need
Is made whole again. 16
‘T was the vintage-day of field and wood,
When magic wine for bards is brewed;
Every tree and stem and chink

Gushed with syrup to the brink.
The air stole into the streets of towns,
Refreshed the wise, reformed the clowns,
And betrayed the fund of joy
To the high-school and medalled boy:

On from hall to chamber ran,
From youth to maid, from boy to man,
To babes, and to old eyes as well.
‘Once more,’ the old man cried, ‘ye clouds,
Airy turrets purple-piled,

Which once my infancy beguiled,
Beguile me with the wonted spell.
I know ye skilful to convoy
The total freight of hope and joy
Into rude and homely nooks,

Shed mocking lustres on shelf of books,
On farmer’s byre, on pasture rude,
And stony pathway to the wood.
I care not if the pomps you show
Be what they soothfast appear,

Or if yon realms in sunset glow
Be bubbles of the atmosphere.
And if it be to you allowed
To fool me with a shining cloud,
So only new griefs are consoled

By new delights, as old by old,
Frankly I will be your guest,
Count your change and cheer the best.
The world hath overmuch of pain,—
If Nature give me joy again,

Of such deceit I ’ll not complain.’
Ah! well I mind the calendar,
Faithful through a thousand years,
Of the painted race of flowers,Exact
to days, exact to hours,

Counted on the spacious dial
Yon broidered zodiac girds.
I know the trusty almanac
Of the punctual coming-back,
On their due days, of the birds.

I marked them yestermorn,
A flock of finches darting
Beneath the crystal arch,
Piping, as they flew, a march,—
Belike the one they used in parting

Last year from yon oak or larch;
Dusky sparrows in a crowd,
Diving, darting northward free,
Suddenly betook them all,
Every one to his hole in the wall,

Or to his niche in the apple-tree.
I greet with joy the choral trains
Fresh from palms and Cuba’s canes.
Best gems of Nature’s cabinet,
With dews of tropic morning wet,

Beloved of children, bards and Spring,
O birds, your perfect virtues bring,
Your song, your forms, your rhythmic flight,
Your manners for the heart’s delight,
Nestle in hedge, or barn, or roof,

Here weave your chamber weather-proof,
Forgive our harms, and condescend
To man, as to a lubber friend,
And, generous, teach his awkward race
Courage and probity and grace! 17

Poets praise that hidden wine
Hid in milk we drew
At the barrier of Time,
When our life was new.
We had eaten fairy fruit,

We were quick from head to foot,
All the forms we looked on shone
As with diamond dews thereon.
What cared we for costly joys,
The Museum’s far-fetched toys?

Gleam of sunshine on the wall
Poured a deeper cheer than all
The revels of the Carnival.
We a pine-grove did prefer
To a marble theatre,

Could with gods on mallows dine,
Nor cared for spices or for wine.
Wreaths of mist and rainbow spanned,
Arch on arch, the grimmest land;
Whistle of a woodland bird

Made the pulses dance,
Note of horn in valleys heard
Filled the region with romance.
None can tell how sweet,
How virtuous, the morning air;

Every accent vibrates well;
Not alone the wood-bird’s call,
Or shouting boys that chase their ball,
Pass the height of minstrel skill,
But the ploughman’s thoughtless cry,

Lowing oxen, sheep that bleat,
And the joiner’s hammer-beat,
Softened are above their will,
Take tones from groves they wandered through
Or flutes which passing angels blew.

All grating discords melt,
No dissonant note is dealt,
And though thy voice be shrill
Like rasping file on steel,
Such is the temper of the air,

Echo waits with art and care,
And will the faults of song repair.
So by remote Superior Lake,
And by resounding Mackinac,
When northern storms the forest shake,

And billows on the long beach break,
The artful Air will separate
Note by note all sounds that grate,
Smothering in her ample breast
All but godlike words,

Reporting to the happy ear
Only purified accords.
Strangely wrought from barking waves,
Soft music daunts the Indian braves,—
Convent-chanting which the child

Hears pealing from the panther’s cave
And the impenetrable wild. 18
Soft on the South-wind sleeps the haze:
So on thy broad mystic van
Lie the opal-colored days,

And waft the miracle to man.
Soothsayer of the eldest gods,
Repairer of what harms betide,
Revealer of the inmost powers
Prometheus proffered, Jove denied;

Disclosing treasures more than true,
Or in what far to-morrow due;

Speaking by the tongues of flowers,
By the ten-tongued laurel speaking,
Singing by the oriole songs,

Heart of bird the man’s heart seeking;
Whispering hints of treasure hid
Under Morn’s unlifted lid,
Islands looming just beyond
The dim horizon’s utmost bound;—

Who can, like thee, our rags upbraid,
Or taunt us with our hope decayed?
Or who like thee persuade,
Making the splendor of the air,
The morn and sparkling dew, a snare?

Or who resent
Thy genius, wiles and blandishment?
There is no orator prevails
To beckon or persuade
Like thee the youth or maid: 19

Thy birds, thy songs, thy brooks, thy gales,
Thy blooms, thy kinds,
Thy echoes in the wilderness,
Soothe pain, and age, and love’s distress,
Fire fainting will, and build heroic minds.

For thou, O Spring! canst renovate
All that high God did first create.
Be still his arm and architect,
Rebuild the ruin, mend defect;
Chemist to vamp old worlds with new,

Coat sea and sky with heavenlier blue,
New tint the plumage of the birds,
And slough decay from grazing herds,
Sweep ruins from the scarped mountain,
Cleanse the torrent at the fountain,

Purge alpine air by towns defiled,
Bring to fair mother fairer child,
Not less renew the heart and brain,
Scatter the sloth, wash out the stain,
Make the aged eye sun-clear,

To parting soul bring grandeur near.
Under gentle types, my Spring
Masks the might of Nature’s king,
An energy that searches thorough
From Chaos to the dawning morrow;

Into all our human plight,
The soul’s pilgrimage and flight;
In city or in solitude,
Step by step, lifts bad to good,
Without halting, without rest,

Lifting Better up to Best;
Planting seeds of knowledge pure,
Through earth to ripen, through heaven endure.

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Litha Magick – Recipes

Midsummer Oil – Put in soap or anoint candles http://www.fortunecity.com/greenfield/tigris/567/id20.htm

5 drops lavender
4 drops rosemary
4 drops rose

Add a piece of dried vervain, a small citrine, clear quartz crystal, and a sprinkle of gold glitter. So magical and beautiful!

Midsummer Incense – http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/7039/AshlinCB.html

2 Parts Sandalwood
1 Part Camomile
1 Part Gardenia petals
few drops Rose oil
few drops Lavender oil
few drops yarrow oil

Combine

Midsummer Incense Recipes by Scott Cunningham – http://www.fortunecity.com/greenfield/tigris/567/id20.htm

Midsummer Incense #1:

2 parts Sandalwood
1 part Mugwort
1 part Chamomile
1 part Gardenia petals
a few drops Rose oil
a few drops Lavender oil
a few drops Yarrow oil

Burn at Wiccan rituals at the Summer Solstice (circa June 21st) or at that time to attune with the seasons and the Sun.

Midsummer Incense #2:

3 parts Frankincense
2 parts Benzoin
1 part Dragon’s Blood
1 part Thyme
1 part Rosemary
1 pinch Vervain
a few drops Red Wine

Another like the above.

(The above recipe for “Midsummer Incense” is quoted directly from Scott Cunningham’s book “The Complete Book of Incenses, Oils & Brews”, page 80, Llewellyn Publications, 1989/1992.)

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Silliness – Nothing Makes Sense

Posted in Daily Stuff, Newsletter, Pagan, Wiccan | Tagged Affirmation, Astrology, Astronomy, Celtic Tree Month, Flowering fern, Goddess Month, Grudie Rosnoe, Journal Prompt, Litha, Litha recipes, Magick, May-Day, Mjölnir, Moon, Nothing Makes Sense, Oregon Coast, Osmunda regalis, Pagan, Royal fern, Runic Half Month, Silliness, Summer Solstice, Tides, Weather, Wicca | Leave a comment

Daily Stuff 5-19-22 Commemoration of Atatürk

Posted on May 19, 2022 by Anja Snihova'

Hi, folks!

Just the “stuff” today. I’ll do a write-up in tomorrow’s newsletter.

Minus Tide at10:03 AM of -1.9 feet. The shop opens at 1pm. Spring hours are 1-6pm Thurs.-Mon. Featured photo by Ken Gagne. [workshop]

[posting at 4pm] Rain gauge at noon on 5/17 – 0/1, 5/18 – 0.2

A picture Ken Gagne snapped on 5/17/16 of Photographers at Thor’s Well. This is why we warn people about the power of the ocean. These guys are in incredible danger, but….

plant motif flower snowdrop Galanthus_nivalis

Today’s plant is the snowdrop, Galanthus nivalis. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowdrop It was called that in Gerard’s Great Herbal in 1633. The derivation of the name is uncertain, although it may have come from the German word Schneetropfen, which was a type of earring popular around that time. Other British traditional common names include “February fairmaids”, “dingle-dangle”, “Candlemas bells”, “Mary’s tapers” and, in parts of Yorkshire,” snow piercers” (like the French name perce-neige). It is used in spells for making you think and for sorting out problems, also to chase the negative effects of sorrow and grief. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowdrop

Today’s feast is the Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day in Turkey. It’s the anniversary of the beginning of their war of independence. More here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commemoration_of_Atat%C3%BCrk,_Youth_and_Sports Day

Love & Light,
Anja

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Today’s Astro & Calendar

Moon in Capricorn

A Lion sets – The constellation Leo sets over Ireland in May 2013. The photographer edited the image to artificially highlight the Lion’s stars. – Bart Busschots (Flickr)

This is the time of year when Leo the Lion starts walking downward toward the west, on his way to departing into the sunset in early summer. After dark, spot the brightest star fairly high in the west-southwest. That’s first-magnitude Regulus, Leo’s forefoot.

Corvus the Crow – The small but easy-to-see constellation Corvus the Crow occupies 184 square degrees — that’s only 0.45 percent of the sky. – Astronomy: Roen Kelly

Look south after sunset to find the lesser-known constellation Corvus the Crow. It’s bordered by just three other constellations — Virgo, Crater, and Hydra — and itself is quite small, ranking 70th in size out of 88 constellations. Corvus contains four brighter stars in a roughly box-shaped pattern: Beta (β), Epsilon (ϵ), Gamma (γ), and Delta (δ) Corvi. Its alpha star, also called Alchiba, sits 2° south of Epsilon — and is not the brightest star in Corvus by far. While a constellation’s alpha star is usually its brightest, Alpha (α) Corvi is magnitude 4.2, while Beta Corvi is magnitude 2.7. If you have a small telescope handy, there are two double stars you can track down in Corvus. Delta Corvi, also called Algorab, contains a magnitude 3 primary and a magnitude 9.2 secondary separated by 24.2″. Check them out to enjoy their contrasting colors of blue-white and orange, respectively. Then, move on to a tougher challenge: ADS 8573, which sits 3° north of Algorab. This pair consists of a magnitude 6.5 primary and magnitude 8.6 secondary, separated by just 2.2″. You’ll want magnifications above 150x to really see the system’s yellow and orange components.

Mercury is hidden in the glare of the Sun.

Sun in Taurus

Mercury (6/3), Pluto Retrograde (10/8)
Goddess Month of Hera runs from 5/16 – 6/12
Celtic Tree Month of Huath/Hawthorn, May 13 – Jun 9
Color – 5/18&19
Planting Harvest
©2022 M. Bartlett, Some parts separately copyright

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The very old hawthorn at Saint-Mars-sur-la-Futaie, France, planted in the 3rd century!

Huathe – Hawthorne Ogam letter correspondences
Month: April
Color: Purple
Class: Peasant
Letter: H
Meaning: Being held back for a period of time

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Tides for Alsea Bay
*

Day        High      Tide Height   Sunrise    Moon Time      % Moon
~ /Low      Time    Feet Sunset Visible
Th 19     High   2:47 AM     8.6   5:44 AM    Rise 12:22 AM      90
~    19      Low 10:03 AM    -1.9   8:41 PM     Set 8:45 AM
~    19     High   4:47 PM     6.5
~    19      Low   9:55 PM     3.1

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Affirmation/Thought for the Day – I think God leaves me alone to let me find my own strength because no one else can give it to me. Sometimes it is very lonely. But I know the lonely times teach me the most. I must let go in order to let anything in.

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Journal Prompt – Schoolish Stuff – Explain how you come up with ideas to write about.

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Quotes

~   It is not titles that honour men, but men that honour titles. – Niccolo Machiavelli
~   Foreign powers do not seem to appreciate the true character of our government. – James K. Polk (1795-1849) US President (11)
~   The dangers of not thinking clearly are much greater now than ever before. It’s not that there’s something new in our way of thinking, it’s that credulous and confused thinking can be much more lethal in ways it was never before. – Carl Sagan, 1996
~   Love is something you do – the giving of self, the sacrifices you make – even for people who offend or do not love in return. Love is a value that is actualized through loving actions. – Be Proactive

Fire-Flowers – Emily Pauline Johnson

And only where the forest fires have sped,
Scorching relentlessly the cool north lands,
A sweet wild flower lifts its purple head,
And, like some gentle spirit sorrow-fed,
It hides the scars with almost human hands.

And only to the heart that knows of grief,
Of desolating fire, of human pain,
There comes some purifying sweet belief,
Some fellow-feeling beautiful, if brief.
And life revives, and blossoms once again.

This poem is in the public domain. Published in Poem-a-Day on May 2, 2021, by the Academy of American Poets. – https://poets.org/poem/fire-flowers

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Litha Magick – Correspondences

The Litha season

Solar System – Sun
Element – Fire
Season – Summer
Emotion – Love and passion, Sacrifice

Incense – Frankincense, Lemon, Rose, Wisteria, Lavender, Sandalwood, Pine, Jasmine, Lotus, Sage, Cedar, Frankincense, Myrrh, Pine, Sage, cedar, frankincense, lemon, myrrh, pine, rose, and lavender

Colors – Blue, Green, Yellow, White, Red, Maize yellow, Tan or gold, red, orange, blue, and yellow, green, white or Gold, red, orange, blue, and yellow, green,

Decorations – Dried herbs, potpourri, Dream pillows, Seashells, Wedding gift basket, Feather wreaths, Summer flowers, Fruits, The sun, Anything yellow, orange, and round, flowers and fresh early garden produce, the spear or sword of the sun god and the bountiful cauldron of the goddess ringed in flowers, solar cross or sun symbols, fireworks, sea shells

Foods – Iced tea, Ale, Mead, Lemonade, Orange slice wheels, Sun-shaped cookies, Barbecue, early summer fruits and vegetables, honey cakes, rose ice cream, melted cheese dishes, mangoes, whipped cream on fruit, red wine, strawberries

Gemstones – Emerald, Jade, All green stones especially Emerald and Jade, Lapis, Diamond, Amber, tiger’s eye

Spellwork appropriate for Litha – All magick, Love spells, Healing spells, Prosperity spells, growth spells, empowerment spells, are all incredibly potent at this time

Activities and Rituals – bonfire leaping, herb drying, protection, luck, health, transformation, community, career, and relationships

Tools – drums, rattles, bonfire, mirrors for reflecting the sun or bonfire, Earth circles of stone energy

Deities – Fortuna, Melissa, RA, Arinna, Bast, Grainne, Shamash, Helios, Mother Earth, Mother Nature Father Sun/Sky, Oak King, Aine, Freya, Flora, Habondia, Lugh, Greenman, Brigit, Hathor

Animals – butterflies, caterpillars, sea creatures, wren, robin, horses, cattle, satyrs, faeries, firebird, dragon, thunderbird, bee, snake

Faeries – At Summer Solstice the phenomenon of the Trooping Faeries will begin. Trooping Faeries live in large communities like a clan and may travel great distances in long processions. You will know that the Trooping Faeries are about when you hear other-worldly music and the sounds of a raucous party. Their favorite pastimes according to Yeats is feasting, fighting, making love and playing music. On Mid-Summer night, keep your eyes and ears open and you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of them!

Herbs & Plants – Apple, Basil, carnation, Chamomile, Chicory, Chickweed, cinquefoil, daisy, elder, fennel, fern, frankincense, Heather, Heartsease, Houseleek, honeysuckle, ivy, lavender, lily, mistletoe, Mugwort, oak, pine, rose, St. John’s wort, thyme, vervain, yarrow, Peony, Pine, Roses, Rowan, Vervain, yarrow, wild thyme,.

St. John’s Wort – At Summer Solstice the Sun has reached its zenith in the sky and is as close to us in the northern hemisphere as it will ever get before it begins its slow descent which will lead us into winter. At Summer Solstice Saint John’s Wort is also in its height of flowering, and with its golden star-flowers full of stamens that look like rays bursting forth, the sun’s uplifting energy is captured on earth in the form of a humble flower.

Trees – Beech, elder, holly, laurel, linden, oak

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Silliness – Sniglet – Any word which should be in the dictionary but isn’t. – charp (charp) – n. The green, mutant potato chip found in every bag.

Posted in Daily Stuff, Newsletter, Pagan | Tagged Astrology, Astronomy, Celtic Tree Month, Commemoration of Atatürk, Fire-Flowers, Galanthus nivalis, Goddess Month, Journal Prompt, Litha, Litha Correspondences, Magick, Moon, Oregon Coast, Pagan, Runic Half Month, Silliness, Sniglet, snowdrop, Summer Solstice, Tides, Weather, Wicca, Youth and Sports Day in Turkey | Leave a comment

Daily Stuff 5-17-22 Dea Dia

Posted on May 17, 2022 by Anja Snihova'

Hi, folks!

5/17 Minus Tide 8:22 AM of -2.1 feet. 5/18 Minus Tide at 9:11 AM of -2.1 feet. The shop is closed on Tues/Wed. Spring hours are 1-6pm Thurs.-Mon. Featured photo by Don n Jo Leach.

[posting at 6:30pm] Rain gauge at noon on 5/16 – 0.3 It’s mostly sunny, now, but there’s a high haze. 56F, wind at 1-7mph and gusting, AQI 2-41, UV6. Chance of rain 5% today and 92% tonight. Forecast – Today(55/45) looks to be sunny and dry, but tomorrow(54/45) is going to start out wet. The rain should be over just after lunchtime. Thu(53/41) there a small chance of showers in the morning, but then it’s going to clear up. Fri(58/43) will be sunny and warm and Sat(61/48) warmer still, although it’ll start to cloud up later in the day. , Sun(/Mon(59/48) should be dry, but partly cloudy and there’s a tiny chance of showers in the early morning on Tue(55/46). Wed(56/47) should be cloudy, but dry.

The cherry pudding. Those are candied violets on top.

We were so tired Sunday night that we ate, cleaned up, and went to bed. Tempus actually fell asleep with his plate in his lap! The pork roast was really good, although it ended up overcooked because the shop thermometers aren’t working well. After sitting, turned off from the time we left the shop, plus a little over 1/2 an hour at home it was at 190F! I slept almost straight through from 11pm to 9am and then again for another couple hours after Tempus got in.

my plate with a roll, frumenty, the pork roast and some veg from the pot.

There was a large white bird that looked like an egret, but the size of a heron (again) in the Eckman outflow. A customer tells me that it’s a Northern Stork, migrating. Otherwise I watched the rhododendrons on the way in to town.

Chive butter, still cooling down

We got the shop open and I sat down to write. I wasn’t thinking about that, yesterday. The House report usually takes me the whole afternoon and it was 4:30 by the time I had that done and posted and it was time to start this right away!. Tempus went out to the PO to pick up a package, then worked on doing a batch of dishes., after he got his mail caught up.

A couple of snails, visiting the carrot pot… not many carrots, now….

We weren’t busy, but one customer is better than none, right? 🙂

Today is a day to sleep in. I want Tempus to get caught up, since he’s been short on sleep all week, and draggy and cranky. I have some chores and projects to do, and since I’ve no meeting online tonight, I’m not going to have a newsletter on Wednesday. I’ll come in to town for a few minutes Wednesday evening to do Thursday’s, I hope. If not, it’ll be late….

Christopher, the “wauken” onion

Wednesday, if the rain stops as predicted, I’ll be working in the garden from 3-6 or so, usually in 1/2-hour blocks…. Otherwise, more chores.

Mink and babies along the Alsea by Jo Leach – Used with permission

motif tree shore pine Pinus_contorta_28263

Today’s plant is Shore Pine, Pinus contorta var. contorta. It’s a tough tree well suited to stand up to the coastal winds. More here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinus_contorta More on the coastal ecology here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Coast#Terrestrial_ecology Pine’s magick is: Male, Mars, Air – Healing, fertility, protection, money, burn to cleanse a house, changing negative energy to positive, or use boughs for purification baths/sweats.

Today’s Feast is that of Dea Dia (day of the goddess), a fertility goddess of Rome, whose worship was so old, even then, that the Carmen Arvale, Her sacred chant, wasn’t understood! She was probably an aspect of Ceres, in some way. Her priests were the Fratres Arvales (Brothers of the Fields) who were from Patrician families (traditionally the emperor was one) who were responsible for the worship of the “closer in” guardian deities of flocks, fields, home and ancestors. More on the priests here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fratres_Arvales on the Lares here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lares and on the chant here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmen_Arvale

Love & Light,
Anja

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Today’s Astro & Calendar

Moon in Sagittarius enters Capricorn on 5/18 at 5:02am.

Full Moon – The day of, the day before, and day after the true Full Moon. “And better it be when the moon is full!”! Prime time for rituals for prophecy, for spells to come to fruition, infusing health and wholeness, etc. A good time for invoking deity. FRUITION Manifesting goals, nurturing, passion, healing, strength, power. Workings on this day are for protection, divination. “extra power”, job hunting, healing serious conditions Also, love, knowledge, legal undertakings, money and dreams. God/dess Aspect: Mother/Abundance/Kingship – Associated God/desses: Danu, Cerridwen, Gaia, Aphrodite, Isis, Jupiter, Amon-Ra. Phase ends on 5/17 at 9:15am. Waning Moon Magick – From the Full Moon to the New is a time for study, meditation, and magic designed to banish harmful energies and habits, for ridding oneself of addictions, illness or negativity. Remember: what goes up must come down. Phase ends at the Tide Change on 5/30 at 4:30am.

Tuesday 5/17

Red vs. blue – By May 18, Mars and Neptune are 33″ apart following a daylight conjunction on the 17th. Seeing Neptune will require binoculars. Jupiter is also nearby. – Astronomy: Roen Kelly

It’s time for Mars’ first conjunction — there are two this month! — of May. An hour before sunrise this morning, look east to find magnitude 0.7 Mars roughly 20° above the horizon. The Red Planet, easily visible to the naked eye, sits in far northeastern Aquarius, some 7° west of bright (magnitude –2.2) Jupiter in Pisces. Magnitude –4 Venus lies another 16.5° east of Jupiter. Turn binoculars or a telescope on Mars, and you’ll see that it currently sits just 0.8′ southwest of Neptune, which lies across the border in Pisces and appears as a “flat” blue-gray star around 8th magnitude. Compared to Mars’ 6″ span, Neptune is just 2″ across, thanks to its much greater distance from Earth. Mars will pass 0.6° due south of Neptune at 7 P.M. EDT, when the planets aren’t visible above the horizon. However, you can return to this same region of the sky tomorrow morning at the same time to see that Mars is now 0.5° southeast of Neptune, having passed beneath the ice giant as the Red Planet continues east toward its second conjunction this month, when it will meet up with Jupiter. Arcturus, high in the southeast, forms the pointy end of the long, narrow Kite asterism: the central part of Bootes, the Cowherd. The kite currently extends upper left from Arcturus, with its head bent upward. The kite is 23° long: about two fists at arm’s length.

The Moon now officially reaches perigee, the closest point to Earth in its orbit, at 11:27 A.M. EDT. At that time, our satellite will sit 223,879 miles (360,298 kilometers) away.

Saturn, also magnitude +0.8, is a good 30° upper right of Mars.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 18

Bluish-white Spica and sail-shaped Corvus cross the south right after dark. The Crow is traditionally eyeing Spica as if to steal it, while riding on the back of dim, far-sprawling Hydra the Sea Serpent — near his tail end. (Here, the brightest stars upper right and lower left of the “Hydra” label are Gamma and Pi Hydrae, respectively.) At full size, this image by Akira Fujii shows stars as faint as 10th magnitude. (Right-click on it and choose “open in a new tab”).

Arcturus, a yellow-orange giant of spectral type K1.5 III, is sometimes described as ginger-ale colored. Especially if it’s a ginger-ale drop in the orange light of the setting Sun. Lower right of Arcturus by about three fists is springtime Spica, a definite color contrast with it (binoculars help). Lower left of Spica, by a fist or a bit more, is the four-star pattern of Corvus the Crow.

Beehive descending – Cancer sets slowly after sundown on May evenings; this chart shows the view looking west about 2 hours after sunset, when you can easily find the Beehive Cluster (m44) between Leo and Gemini. – Alison Klesman (via TheSkyX)

May evenings present some of your last good looks at the Beehive Cluster (M44) in Cancer for a while. This constellation is relatively high in the west at sunset; two hours later, it is still some 30° above the horizon, offering decent views of its standout star cluster before it has sunk too far into the turbulent air near the ground. This bright young cluster of stars is visible with the naked eye — magnitude 3.7 — and spans nearly 100′. It sits smack dab in the middle of Cancer, roughly halfway between the heads of Gemini the Twins and the heart of Leo the Lion. Also called Praesepe (or manger in Latin), M44 contains some 350 stars and lies a little less than 600 light-years away. One odd thing to note is that, along with the Orion Nebula (M42) and the Pleiades (M45), the Beehive Cluster is not necessarily an object at risk of being confused for a comet. Nonetheless, these objects were included in Charles Messier’s famous catalog of “fuzzy” targets not to be mistaken for comets.

Corvus the Crow – The small but easy-to-see constellation Corvus the Crow occupies 184 square degrees — that’s only 0.45 percent of the sky. – Astronomy: Roen Kelly

Uranus and Neptune are still basically unobservable, low in the dawn.

Sun in Taurus

Mercury (6/3), Pluto Retrograde (10/8)
Goddess Month of Hera runs from 5/16 – 6/12
Celtic Tree Month of Huath/Hawthorn, May 13 – Jun 9
Color – Black/White
Harvest5/16&17, Planting5/18&19
©2022 M. Bartlett, Some parts separately copyright

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The very old hawthorn at Saint-Mars-sur-la-Futaie, France, planted in the 3rd century!

Huathe – Hawthorne Ogam letter correspondences
Month: April
Color: Purple
Class: Peasant
Letter: H
Meaning: Being held back for a period of time

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Tides for Alsea Bay
*

Day        High      Tide Height   Sunrise    Moon Time      % Moon
~ /Low      Time    Feet Sunset Visible
Tu 17     High   1:16 AM     8.9   5:46 AM     Set 6:45 AM      99
~    17      Low   8:22 AM    -2.1   8:39 PM    Rise 11:14 PM
~    17     High   2:55 PM     6.8
~    17      Low   8:09 PM     2.6

W   18     High   1:59 AM     8.9   5:45 AM     Set 7:39 AM      96
~    18      Low   9:11 AM    -2.1   8:40 PM
~    18     High   3:50 PM     6.6
~    18      Low   8:59 PM     2.8

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Affirmation/Thought for the Day – The Secret of Life Is Not To Live…..But To Have Something to lived For……….

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Journal Prompt – Which? – Which person would you like to see more often than you do now?

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Quotes

~   The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them. – Albert Einstein
~   He had not an ounce of superfluous flesh on his bones, and leanness goes a great way towards gentility. – Elizabeth Gaskell (1810-1865) English writer
~   A humble knowledge of thyself is a surer way to God than a deep search after learning. – Thomas a Kempis
~   You cannot conceive the many without the one. – Plato

When April steps aside for May,
Like diamonds all the raindrops glisten,
Fresh violets open every day,
To some new bird each hour we listen. –Lucy Larcom (1826–93)

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Magick – Elements & Their Cardinal Directions (from SpringWolf’s Pagan’s Path, witchcraft and Shamanism – See the full article here: https://www.paganspath.com/magik/elementals.htm

Correspondence

Pagans have been making associations between all sorts of things in life, in spirit, and in nature for thousands of years. Partly because of the belief that all things are connected and interconnected. Therefore it makes sense that some things work together, in a similar manner, in a supportive direction, for a common purpose.

We relate color to chakras, candles, stones, energy and elements. But Pagans aren’t the only ones who do this. We often think of water as being associated with the color blue. Well that makes sense, we’re called the Blue Planet because of the amount of water on the earth. But we humans have a need to make associations of things in order to visualize them, to be creative and make connections. Red is associated with love, black is often associated with death and so on.

In the terms of energy and metaphysical principles, how you feel connected to the energy around you helps you to join forces within nature and spirit, and create what you need or desire. The key to all this, is how YOU feel connected to the energy and the associations you create. I strongly recommend you write down your correspondences and keep them up to date. You want to create a consistency with your workings and maintain a balance. There will always be changes, but that’s expected as you live, grow and learn.

Elements

The alchemical traditions associate certain elements of nature to the life of the world or the Divine Universe. In order for life to exist in any form, these four elements must exist. And there are only four elements in life: Air, Fire, Water, and Earth.

Alchemy helps to explain the relationships between total creation and the position of the parts which compose it. All parts are created from each other part, without all parts, there is nothingness. Without you, the Universe cannot exist. You, and I and all things seen and unseen are needed to make up what the Divine Universe is.

Another way to put it:

Air feeds fire, fire dies by water, water is contained by earth, and earth creates the air. The cycle is meant to show the interconnection of all things, and the cycle of birth, life, change and transition.

We use the elements in magik as the representations and components of Divine Energy. In this form Magik becomes “the science of energy manipulation” through an exercise to pull in energy (the birth), merge it with our own higher energy (life), mold it to our intent (change) and send it out to manifest as desired (transition).

The elements also have their own characteristics or correspondences.

Air

The first element of the alchemical tradition.
Air is the essence of intuition and learning, the element of the nature of the mind.
Astrological Signs: Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius.
Represented by: Feathers, Birds, incense, fans, flags, flowing garments and sheer material.
Season: Winter
Color: White
Chakra: Crown

Water

The third element of the alchemical tradition.
Water is the essence of love and fertility, the element of the nature of emotions.
Astrological Signs: Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces.
Represented by: Water, lavender fragrance, Fish, coral and sponges.
Season: Summer
Color: Blue
Chakra: Thyroid

Fire

The second element of the alchemical tradition.
Fire is the essence of purification and change, the element of the nature of the will.
Astrological Signs: Aries, Leo and Sagittarius.
Represented by: Fire, candles, lights, dragons and the sun.
Season: Spring
Color: Yellow and Green
Chakra: Adrenals & Solar Plexus

Earth

The fourth element of the alchemical tradition.
Earth is the essence of grounding and stability, the element of the nature of balance.
Astrological Signs: Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn.
Represented by: Dirt, sand, sage, Gnomes and goblins, a staff or stake, trees and plants.
Season: Autumn
Color: Red
Chakra: Root

Directions

The Cardinal Directions are another characteristic of the Divine Universe that connects us all with nature and spirit. There are many people, books and websites, that say the Directions are set in stone and this is the way it is. If you deviate from that you’re workings are wrong. I really can’t relate to this static, set in stone kind of thinking. If one thing we have learned about life and spirit is that it’s always changing and moving.

Understanding Directional correspondences is similar to Astrological correspondences. There are things in life that are fixed and others that are malleable (can change). The Elements are some what fixed, but the Directions are malleable. So let’s discuss that a little.

Where the elements help establish your connection to the Divine Universe through spiritual energy; the Directions help you establish and balance the connection to the Divine Universe through physical energy. Where you are in the world does matter. And that’s what makes Directional correspondences malleable.

This principle allows for change and movement of an individual upon the Earth. Keep in mind the Earth is a big magnetic field. And just like the magnetic field around your physical body. But unlike your body the Earth is really 2 mirrored halves of the same field. What you see in the north hemisphere is a mirror of what you see in the southern hemisphere. And it’s that mirror that we must keep in mind.

For instance, what the North means to someone who lives in the Northern hemisphere isn’t going to mean the same thing as someone who lives in the Southern hemisphere. Here in the U.S. the north can be associated with winter and cold. The farther north you go, the colder it gets. But that’s not true for someone who may life in Australia.

Just as the change in hemisphere alters one’s connection, so does their location on a continent. Someone who lives on the east coast of the U.S. may not see their connection to the world in the same way as someone on the west coast. The land mass, bodies of water, climate differences and so on all have an affect on how you connect to and relate to the physical world around you.

Corresponding The Elements & Directions

When you’re establishing your connection between elements and directions, you need to sit down and look at the world around YOU and how you relate to it. Is the ocean to your east? Or North? Does the land rise to your West or South? How you sit within the work and it’s directions is key to how you work with those directions.

Forget about what others tell you, or what lists you’ve found online or in a book. For that matter, forget about the lists I have here on Pagan’s Path. What matters is what you feel within your being. At some point in your spiritual and magikal life you’re going to have to sit down by yourself and decide what you think. And here’s your chance to do just that.

Write out what you think the elements are in a poetic verse. For instance.

Air The cold wind blows
Water The warm nurturing waters flow
Fire The warm light of the fire rises
Earth The Great Mother Earth rises

For you, the wind might be warm instead of cold. The waters might be cool instead of warm. What do you “feel” when you think of each element? Does the fire rise or flicker? Does the Earth rise or spread out upon a vast land? Make your own saying and then think about where these elements fit within the cardinal directions of your location.

Is it cold in the North or the South? Does the warm water flow to the South or East? Does the sun represent your fire? If so, when it rises in the East or sets in the West? Does the Earth rise up to greet you in the mountains of the East, West, or maybe some other direction?

These are the things that make you connected to the elements, the directions and the Divine Energy around you. It’s not how your friend feels, or your partner thinks, or what your Teacher says is right or wrong. None of those outside forces are going to be there when YOU sit down to do a working or to commune with the Divine world around you. So this is your time to think about where you are, and what you believe. You have the answers within yourself. Just sit down, meditate a little and ask your higher self what goes where and why.

Additional Reading

The Alchemy Of Life
The Wheel Of Life
The Elements & Their Cardinal Directions

Source: 1, s1, s2, s4, s5, s6, s7, s11, s14
Created: 10.14.2009 Updated: 10.14.2009

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Silliness – A mathematician walks into a bar accompanied by a dog and a cow. The bartender says, “Hey, no animals are allowed in here!” The mathematician replies, “These are very special animals.” “How so?” “They’re knot theorists.” The bartender raises his eyebrows and says, “I’ve met a number of knot theorists who I thought were animals, but never an animal that was a knot theorist.” “Well, I’ll prove it to you. Ask them them anything you like.” So the bartender asks the dog, “Name a knot invariant.” “Arf! Arf!” barks the dog. The bartender scowls and turns to the cow asking, “Name a topological invariant.” “Mu! Mu!” says the cow. At this point the bartender turns to the mathematican and says, “Very funny.” With that, he throws the three out of the bar. Outside, sitting on the curb, the dog turns to the mathematican and asks, “Do you think I should have said the Jones polynomial instead?”

Posted in Daily Stuff, Newsletter, Pagan, Wiccan | Tagged A mathematician walks into a bar, Affirmation, Astrology, Astronomy, Celtic Tree Month, Dea Dia, Goddess Month, Journal Prompt, Magick, Moon, Oregon Coast, Pagan, Pinus contorta var. contorta, Runic Half Month, shore pine, Silliness, Tides, Weather, When April steps aside for May, Wicca | Leave a comment

Daily Stuff 5-16-22 St. Brendan the Navigator

Posted on May 16, 2022 by Anja Snihova'

Hi, folks!

Minus Tide 7:36 AM of -1.8 feet. The shop opens at 1pm. Spring hours are 1-6pm Thurs.-Mon. Featured photo by Ken Gagne.

[posting at 8pm] Rain gauge at noon on 5/15 – 2.7 inch. There was fairy rain that turned into a slosh on the way in to town. It’s been raining off and on all day, sometimes quite heavily. 54F, wind at 1-16mph and gusting, AQI 5-37, UV6. Chance of rain 38% today and 11% tonight. Forecast – Today(53/42) Showery until around 10, then gradual clearing after that. Tomorrow(55/46) Dry and partly cloudy. Wed/Thu(54/45) light rain, dying off to showers, Fri-Tue(59/47) more or less clouds, but dry. 2 firespots, both in the Siskyous.

Audrey… or Christopher… the “wauken” onion

I could *not* get myself moving at home Saturday evening, but despite it I didn’t sleep well, which made me logy at the shop. Tempus got in around 10am and caught a couple hours of sleep, at least. I was up at noon and packed the foodstuffs for cooking today, although I missed the cabbage, drattit.

A salad fresh from the garden.

There was the most beautiful egret…. maybe it was a crane, because it was as large as a heron… in the Eckman outflow. Wading beside it was a small, dark, long-legged shorebird. Not sure what it was….. There were still people fishing, despite the rain. Some of the rhodies have given up their blooms, but some haven’t even hit their stride, yet!

Our soup

I sat down with messages, waiting for coffee, and talked to a couple of House people online. We got coffee and sandwiches and Tempus finished cleaning up the table, but it took until nearly 3pm. I set up the roast….and an hour later discovered that the crockpot had quit, so it needed to be transferred. I had started the butters and had them sitting and done some other parts of the meal, but then got called out front and the young lady I was talking to evinced an interest in the House stuff, so we talked until her roomie got there around 6pm and then until they all headed out at 6:30, which put the potluck food *way* late. After they were gone I packed up the nibble stuff. I had fed them marzipan. Tempus finished the bread while we were talking and then after I did the frumenty and started on this. I had to do the cabbage at home and also take the photos.

(More food pix tomorrow!) Today we’re back to our normal schedule. We’ll be open at 1pm and I’m hoping to have the new set of agate pendants up for sale. Tempus and I are also going to work on books and he’s going to be watering plants, too.

Sunrise fishermen on 5-16-17 by Ken Gagne. Used with permission

Today’s plant is the Leek, Allium ampeloprasum, one of the longed-for foods of spring, cultivated for at least 4 millennia. Since leeks over-winter in many/most places and begin to come up before snowmelt in even the most frozen climes, they were one of the “rescue foods” of late winter and pack a lot of nutrition in a tasty package. Leeks are the national symbol of Wales. – Masculine, Mars, Fire – Symbolized in the Runic alphabet as “Laguz”, it brings prosperity and health in the spring. Potato Leek Health soup is a magickal blend often prepared by witches in the very early spring (and I put the recipe in this blog earlier in the year, pre-Imbolc). Eating leeks together brings love. Carry a leek as a protective amulet and bite it if you’re feeling surrounded by evil. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leek

Today’s Feast is that of St. Brendan the Navigator. St. Brendan is a 5th-6th century saint from Ireland. He went on a legendary voyage to the Isles of the Blest, looking for Eden. Well, so the story goes. It’s a legend, but it’s been an inspiration for many folks down through the centuries. He may actually have gotten to North America. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brendan_the_Navigator and Tim Severin’s re-creation of the voyage http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Severin#The_Brendan_Voyage_.281976.E2.80.931977.29

Love & Light,
Anja

******

Today’s Astro & Calendar

Moon in Scorpio enters Sagittarius at 4:50am.

Full Moon – The day of, the day before, and day after the true Full Moon. “And better it be when the moon is full!”! Prime time for rituals for prophecy, for spells to come to fruition, infusing health and wholeness, etc. A good time for invoking deity. FRUITION Manifesting goals, nurturing, passion, healing, strength, power. Workings on this day are for protection, divination. “extra power”, job hunting, healing serious conditions Also, love, knowledge, legal undertakings, money and dreams. God/dess Aspect: Mother/Abundance/Kingship – – Associated God/desses: Danu, Cerridwen, Gaia, Aphrodite, Isis, Jupiter, Amon-Ra. Phase ends on 5/17 at 9:15am. Waning Moon Magick – From the Full Moon to the New is a time for study, meditation, and magic designed to banish harmful energies and habits, for ridding oneself of addictions, illness or negativity. Remember: what goes up must come down. Phase ends at the Tide Change on 5/30 at 4:30am.

The Sagittarius – Scorpius region contains a number of naked-eye double stars indluding Omega Scoprii in the head of the Scorpion, Lambda and Upsilon Scorpii in the stinger of the tail, Mu Scorpii and Zeta Scorpii in the Table of Scorpius. Nu Sagittarii lies next to the handle of the Teapot asterism in Sagittarius.
Copyright 2014 Jerry Lodriguss https://www.astropix.com/html/observing/doubles/doubles08.html

The Moon, now a day after full, rises in late twilight with orange Antares just a couple degrees to its lower right. The head stars of Scorpius are farther to the Moon’s upper right. Watch them all cross the sky together tonight.

While the Moon certainly takes center stage this morning, it’s not the only treat in the sky. By the time the last stages of the eclipse have ended, Saturn has appeared in the southeast. The ringed planet glows softly at magnitude 0.7 in eastern Capricornus, just under 2° north-northeast of 3rd-magnitude Deneb Algedi.

Saturn on July 27th, just a week after opposition on 7/20/20, imaged by Damian Peach and Enrico Enzmann. South is up. The ring tilt has changed just enough that only a trace of the globe peeks up from behind the rings’ south edge.

Through a telescope, Saturn shows off its 17″-wide disk, nestled within stunning rings that stretch more than twice that distance. The rings are currently tilted at 12° to our line of sight; although this will slightly increase later this year, the angle will then begin to diminish again as we head for a ring crossing in 2025. Also look for Titan, which shines around magnitude 8.7 — the large moon sits about 2′ west of the center of the planet this morning. Several other, smaller moons cluster closer to Saturn, including 10th-magnitude Tethys, Dione, and Rhea (all east of the planet); and 12th-magnitude Enceladus (just northeast of the disk, above the rings).

Mars, magnitude +o.8, is closer to the upper right of Jupiter. They’re 9° apart on the morning of May 14th, closing to 5° on the 21st. Look early before the brightening dawn swallows it up.

Sun in Taurus

Mercury (6/3), Pluto Retrograde (10/8)
Goddess Month of Hera runs from 5/16 – 6/12
Celtic Tree Month of Huath/Hawthorn, May 13 – Jun 9Color – ?
Harvest 5/16&17
©2022 M. Bartlett, Some parts separately copyright

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The very old hawthorn at Saint-Mars-sur-la-Futaie, France, planted in the 3rd century!

Huathe – Hawthorne Ogam letter correspondences
Month: April
Color: Purple
Class: Peasant
Letter: H
Meaning: Being held back for a period of time

******

Tides for Alsea Bay
*

Day        High      Tide Height   Sunrise    Moon Time      % Moon
~ /Low      Time    Feet Sunset Visible
M   16     High 12:36 AM     8.8   5:48 AM     Set 6:03 AM      99
~    16      Low   7:36 AM    -1.8   8:38 PM    Rise 9:55 PM
~    16     High   2:02 PM     6.8
~    16      Low   7:23 PM     2.2

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Affirmation/Thought for the Day – A successful marriage isn’t finding the right person – it’s being the right person.

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Journal Prompt – Auto-Biographical narrative – Have you had an experience that made you feel close to nature?

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Quotes

~   Your physical, mental and intellectual resources — continually growing and changing — are your personal capital. – Brian Tracy
~   Be a light unto the darkness, and curse it not. – Neale Donald Walsch
~   It’s not what we eat but what we digest that makes us strong; not what we gain but what we save that makes us rich; not what we read but what we remember that makes us learned; and not what we profess but what we practice that gives us integrity. – Francis Bacon, Sr.
~   The best way to predict the future is to create it. – Peter Drucker

The earth is waking at the voice of May,
The new grass brightens by the trodden way,
The woods wave welcome to the sweet spring day,
And the sea is growing summer blue. –Elizabeth A. Allen (1832–1911)

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Magick – Pagan Ministry: Serving the Pagan People/s

July 17, 2013 By Sam Webster http://www.patheos.com/blogs/paganrestoration/2013/07/pagan-ministry-serving-the-pagan-peoples/

Ministry is fundamentally about serving the ‘congregation’ in contrast to being primarily about serving the Gods, as in Priesthood. The two go hand in hand but it is worthwhile to discuss them separately. The metaphorically upward movement of priesthood differs from the downward movement of ministry. Pagan ministry is about serving the people, or in our case the peoples…

In one sense anyone can minister, but it is also one of the three professions in Western civilization which, along with the doctor and the lawyer, historically and practically requires significant education and training. Four to five years in a seminary is generally the term these days for an M.Div. or Master of Divinity degree. Graduation requires a thorough knowledge of (mostly Western) theology and religious history. It also requires a serious change, called ministerial formation, in the character of the minister-to-be without which seminary education would be merely academic. This is usually delivered while learning the ‘Arts of Ministry’ and also through a process called ‘Clinical Pastoral Education’. The result is a professional servant of the religious population or ‘congregation’ who is knowledgeable and skilled in liturgy, institutional and community development, and pastoral care, as well as sensitive to the critical or ‘prophetic’ leadership role they are in. I will discuss these in turn.

Theology
As you might expect, the minister-in-training is taught a great deal about theology. In conservative seminaries this is usually quite doctrinal, but in liberal seminaries, like the ones I attended, one is taught how to do theology, rather than learn a set of ‘correct’ answers to theological questions and issues. This enables the minister to develop a mature theology as time advances and culture changes, and so be more adaptive and helpful. It also lets the student operate from and form their own theological basis. Thus it was possible, even encouraged for me to do so as a Pagan, creating a Pagan theological foundation as I advanced. Since I was in a Unitarian Universalist school, I was also required to become proficient in thinking in many theological frameworks because I was to minister to the UU’s very diverse population. The minister becomes very good at translating.

History
There was also an enormous volume of history to absorb. Except for the Jews, the Ancients were not well represented; but getting the actual history of them (not what you find in the Tanak, the Hebrew Bible) was fascinating and paralleled to Egyptian and Mesopotamian history with which the Israelites interacted. I filled in those missing pieces in my electives. Christian history, as you would imagine, was extensive and painfully hard to read. At first, it was of the destruction of the ancient religions of the Mediterranean and Europe, then it quickly turned to the bloody conflicts between Christian sects in the early centuries, to the heresies in the Mediaeval period leading to the Protestant Reformation and Wars of Religion, and eventually to the present détente. Observing the establishment of doctrinal positions shifting with political change was a powerful lesson. I’ve come to define ‘history’ as the list all the things we’ve tried, most of which didn’t work. Knowing the errors of your forebears is the best way to avoid them—precious knowledge that would serve us well today as we begin to replicate early Christian history.

Being first at the University of Chicago and later at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, I also had access to the rest of the world’s theology and religious history. I found them invaluable in understanding the position of our Pagan religion in its proper context, where we agree and where we differ with our neighbors and kin. Naturally, the highly qualified, graduate level instruction also showed the complexity and ambiguity in any understanding of these cultures.

Tempering the Soul
While the intellect is being trained, the ‘soul’ of the minister is being tempered. Through deceptively simply named Arts of Ministry classes, seminarians were asked to reflect upon the intellectual knowledge they had obtained and then had to express their opinions and views in an intensely challenging environment led by a senior minister. Everything said was a target, every opinion was shredded, every statement hammered on in emotionally and mentally exhausting sessions, even if you were not today’s focus of attention. This was a spiritual and psychological, not an intellectual process, that purged the future minster of sloppy thought, bad philosophy, unconscious assumptions and any other weakness of personality that would make them less than effective in serving the spiritual and institutional needs of the congregation members.

It was also in this setting that the oral lore of ministry was most often transmitted. For the last five hundred years or more, a vast body of knowledge has been developed from the successes and many more failures of ministers in their effort to serve their people. This precious distillate of lives dedicated to service can only be received from the community of those who have received it, from those who have gone before and made it part of their blood. I am deeply grateful to those who imparted their wisdom to me. I am not a major fan of lineages or transmissions, but experience shared counts for something, in this case a lot.

On the more practical side of the education, the seminarian has opportunity to lead worship in congregations near their residence and eventually is placed in an internship for six months to a year under the mentorship of a senior minister. Sadly internship did not work out for me being Pagan and in seminary in the early 1990s, but conditions have greatly improved.

Pastoral Ministry
Pastoral skills are taught in a special program usual run out of hospitals, mental health facilities and prisons called Clinical Pastoral Education. In this, you are brought up against one of the most vital changes you have to make in order to be a minister. Confronted with the gravely ill or dying, the mentally disturbed, or the incarcerated, and provided guidance by a senior minister and your peer group, the natural impulse to ‘fix’ is carefully broken. You are led into becoming an other-centered caregiver, one where you give care not to feed your ego-needs, which is destructive to the ‘client’, but truly in service to them. Not easy, hard on the heart, but a necessary process for all of the caring professions. Some of these programs are even open to folks not in seminary and would be a powerful way of training Pagan caregivers. The costs are relatively low, and there are part-time as well as full-time programs. It would be great to see Pagan-focused programs developed.

Prophetic Ministry
So far we have discussed the intellectual and pastoral training of a minister. In Protestant religious space, the intellectual work feeds directly into liturgy, meaning sermons, and while Protestants are very good at public speaking, there is not much ritual knowledge there. Pagans would have to supplement. The intellectual education also enables the minister to provide thought leadership and institutional guidance. The Pastoral role is clear: caring for the emotional and spiritual needs of the population. Together, the knowledge of religious thought and history along with other-centered care leads to the last major role of the minister, the Prophetic. Once meaning “speaking-for” the Deity and ultimately derived from that authority, although not usually meaning channeling these days, it is the task of critique and persuasive correction of the people. It is the often unpleasant and rarely thanked job of telling people where they are wrong. It is easy to lead when everyone wants to follow you and they agree with you. But when they don’t, when in your judgement they are making some kind of error, it is the duty of the minister to get up and use persuasion to change the people’s hearts and minds, their words and deeds—even at the risk of losing your job, which may be supporting your family. This requires courage and conviction, and is best backed up by education and compassion.

I believe we need more Pagans trained in this way. We need to be as good at this, even better than Christian and other ministers because we are fighting an uphill battle for acceptance. Like Ginger Rogers, we need to be able to do this “backwards and in heels”. We need to know the world’s range of theological positions, as well as the entire western lexicon of spiritual thought.

We have one seminary today that is working for full accreditation, Cherry Hill. It is to be applauded for raising the money to be able to pay for that status, and the work before it is daunting. Being able to provide in one school the full range of education is so difficult today that most major seminaries are part of consortia, which lets each sect, denomination, or religion focus on their specialized curricula and draw on the others for their areas of competence. If CHS was part of a consortium, it would be able to leverage the other schools’ biblical and historical skills which are utterly necessary for a religious professional today in whatever field of service. Likewise, CHS is challenged to deliver the context for ministerial formation. Creating the culture in which the lore of ministry can be transmitted requires being embedded in that tradition and, therefore, a staff that was raised in it. Equally difficult for the process of ministerial formation is problem that distance learning creates when the immediate pressure of being face to face with a intensely challenging senior is mitigated by the computer screen. Hopefully over time and with support, CHS can mature into the seminary it desires to be.

Ministry is the other half of the job of religious leadership and service, along with Priesthood. Seminary training is essential to the delivery of that service at a professional level, paid or not. We have the fortune of one institution that is striving to deliver that training, but we need also take advantage of the more broadly available liberal seminaries that welcome Pagans. We are in a very challenging time for our religion as it diversifies and struggles to create and maintain its identity. Professional religious—trained in the tools humans have been long developing and heirs to a deep tradition of service—will help Pagans avoid many of the errors of the past and lead our community into its maturity and strength.

******

Silliness – Shorties – Suburbia: where they tear out the trees & then name streets after them.

Posted in Daily Stuff, Newsletter, Pagan, Wiccan | Tagged Affirmation, Allium ampeloprasum, Astrology, Astronomy, Brendan the Navigator, Celtic Tree Month, Goddess Month, Journal Prompt, leek, Magick, Moon, Oregon Coast, Pagan, Runic Half Month, Serving the Pagan People/s, Shorties, Silliness, St. Brendan the Navigator, The earth is waking at the voice of May, Tides, Weather, Wicca | Leave a comment

Daily Stuff 5-15-22 Mercuralia

Posted on May 15, 2022 by Anja Snihova'

Hi, folks!

Minus Tide at 6:52 AM of -1.2 feet. The shop opens at 1pm. Spring hours are 1-6pm Thurs.-Mon. Featured photo by Ken Gagne. house Capuchin Project Day 1-4pm, Potluck 5pm.

[posting at 6pm] Rain gauge at noon on 5/14 – 2.5 inch. It rained on us all the way in to town, but it’s been mostly dry and breezy since. 55F, wind at 1-8mph and gusting, AQI 2-35, UV7. Chance of rain 56% today and 49% tonight. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY until 5am on Monday. Forecast – Today(57/48) & Tomorrow(54/41 ) chance of showers off and on. Tue(55/46) mostly dry, Wed/Thu(53/42) good chance of showers, total accum. over 1/4 inch. Fri-Mon(58/47) partly cloudy and should be mostly dry.

A log that a neighbor has planted with succulents.

I was processing and adding pictures to newsletter files after the newsletter went out and I also posted the minus tide cycle to the community Facebook page. I finished up the working version of a couple of recipes for Sunday, too. (cherry pudding and cheese fritters) Oh! I can post those in today’s Magick! …and the Frumenty recipe. Uh-oh…. who did I promise that one to? Eep!

The thinned out lettuce

I made a soup when we got home, of some veg that I grabbed from the freezer (mostly leek, onion, potato and zucchini), a chicken broth, some harvested garden greens (mostly turnip leaves and a bunch of garlic/scallions, dehydrated mushrooms, plus a small chunk of onion, and then added sour cream once everything was cooked. It was really good, if overly salty, but Tempus insisted that I should have cooked it longer as he was boxing it up to fridge, since the box leapt off the counter (fortunately landing right-side up) and splattered him. He said it was still alive. 🙂

Mom’s day petunia in a hanging basket.

Yesterday noon we got moving a little sooner than usual, but we wanted to watch the SpaceX liftoff with coffee in hand. I had been so tired that I slept most of the night, though, only being really awake between 2 and 3. I was sorta awake when Tempus was leaving, but dozed back off over my tablet. He didn’t get in until nearly 11….

Lemon Balm, mother-in-law’s tongue and another plant in new pots.

Coming into town was hazardous because of the fishing derby, an estate sale and very badly parked cars. Gleep! So he got coffee and I told him to go curl up in back. Not that he did…. <sigh> Just dozed on the sofa.

The feverfew is up!

Chives – That’s very healthy looking, but it’s getting shorn for chive butter.

We watched the launch and got to see the landing of the first stage from the pov of the rocket! It was just about spot-on to the target, too! I had a stack of books and tarot decks to go on the shelves. Yes, the tarot order came in, but there are no Rider/Waite’s in this one, just the “Original” tarot. I had gotten a couple of orders placed last week, but the other won’t come in until late month, so I pulled out some baskets of back-stock and waded in. …and then Sewing was just me, at my desk.

I found a new You-tube to work by….well, new to me, by one of my favorites, John Serrie.

Tempus did a few chores during the time I was working on the newsletter, and then he started on re-organizing books. He was supposed to help with that a month ago and we still need to do the inventory, not just add books to it. We didn’t have anyone in all day. Rain? The rain didn’t stop the fishing derby in the morning and there are some adorable pix of the littles who caught their first fish!

Audrey… or Christopher… the “wauken” onion

I had some cooking to do in the evening, hoping that Tempus would to help. I wanted to do the puddings, at least. …and some sweet/sour cabbage. …and maybe start a frumenty.

Today is our “different day”. We’ve been cooking things up all week for the potluck, and the shop probably will smell yum from the roast. The shop will be open at 1pm and you might get invited to sample some our of nibble tray if you come in during the day. I’m going to be making cheese fritters during the day at some point, too.

A Ken Gagne pic from 4-25-14 of a “dear” friend. Used with permission.

Today’s plant is St. John’s Wort, Hypericum perforatum, which traditionally blooms at mid-summer on the pagan festival that the feast of St. John the Baptist replaced. It is widely used in the treatment of depression and to ward off evil, both in a medical and magickal sense. Charms made of this herbs, harvested on the summer solstice (or on June 24 or July 7, depending on your culture) make some of the best protection charms (especially against lightning) and good prosperity charms.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_John%27s_wort

Today’s Feast is the Mercuralia, an ancient Roman celebration of the “Festival of Mercury”. Mercury was the god of merchants and commerce, so in his honor and asking for his blessing on this day merchants would sprinkle their heads, their ships and merchandise, and their businesses with water taken from the well at Porta Capena. The Porta Capena was a gate in the wall of Rome, one of the main entries to the city. According to Roman tradition it was the sacred grove where Numa Pompilius and the nymph Egeria used to meet. The road leads to Capua, an important city in Campania, south of Rome. More info here: http://www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Article/1290581 and some Ovid here: http://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Latin/OvidFastiBkFive.htm#_Toc69367929 There is a recipe here and some lore about Alkermes, a type of Sicilian liqueur named after the God. http://allthingssicilianandmore.blogspot.com/2009/03/alchermes-liqueur-used-to-make-zuppa.html ….and this stuff is delicious!

Love & Light,
Anja

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Today’s Astro & Calendar

Eclipse sequence – May 26 brings a confluence of lunar events, including a lunar eclipse. Portions of the eclipse may be visible, depending on your location. – maomaochang (Pixabay)

Moon in Libra enters Scorpio at 3:34am.

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 5/15 at 9:15pm. Full Moon – The day of, the day before, and day after the true Full Moon. “And better it be when the moon is full!”! Prime time for rituals for prophecy, for spells to come to fruition, infusing health and wholeness, etc. A good time for invoking deity. FRUITION Manifesting goals, nurturing, passion, healing, strength, power. Workings on this day are for protection, divination. “extra power”, job hunting, healing serious conditions Also, love, knowledge, legal undertakings, money and dreams. God/dess Aspect: Mother/Abundance/Kingship – – Associated God/desses: Danu, Cerridwen, Gaia, Aphrodite, Isis, Jupiter, Amon-Ra. Phase ends on 5/17 at 9:15am. Eclipses – Lunar eclipses always occur on the day of the Full Moon.Positive magicks should not be performed in these months until after the eclipse is over. – Associated God/esses: Kali, Shiva the Destroyer. Exact 5/15 9:14pm. Waning Moon Magick – From the Full Moon to the New is a time for study, meditation, and magic designed to banish harmful energies and habits, for ridding oneself of addictions, illness or negativity. Remember: what goes up must come down. Phase ends at the Tide Change on 5/30 at 4:30am.

A long lunar eclipse in Libra – A total lunar eclipse graces the skies above North America the night of May 15/16. During totality, the Moon resides in Libra. – Astronomy: Roen Kelly

Total eclipse of the Moon tonight! Tonight is the night: Experience the first of 2022’s two total lunar eclipses with a Super Flower Blood Moon. That’s quite a mouthful, so let’s break it down. During a lunar eclipse, the Moon turns an orangey-red as it passes through Earth’s shadow. Hence, media outlets like to call it a Blood Moon — certainly an evocative term! Next, May’s Full Moon is also called the Flower Moon. Technically, the Moon won’t be officially Full until just after midnight (so, early on the morning of the 16th), but the eclipse is long enough that it will stretch well into the 16th, so we’re in the clear. And finally, a Super Moon occurs when the Moon is Full at or around the time it reaches perigee, or the closest point to Earth in its not-quite-circular orbit. That will occur just before noon EDT on the 17th, so within 36 hours of official Full Moon, still close enough to count. It also means the Moon will span nearly 33′ on the sky during the eclipse — slightly larger than its average of 30′ to 31′.

Total eclipse of the Moon – The Full Moon should turn orange at the height of the lunar eclipse on the night of January 20/21. – Damian Peach

The full Moon will turn into an eerie, luminous rotten orange among the stars for most of North America except the far northwest, and for all of Central and South America. Partial eclipse begins at 10:28 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time; total eclipse begins 11:29 p.m. EDT; mid-eclipse is at 12:12 a.m. EDT, total eclipse ends 12:54 a.m. EDT, and partial eclipse ends 1:56 a.m. EDT. Full timetable here. Now that we’ve gotten the name out of the way, what can you expect from this event? The eclipse occurs simultaneously everywhere, so what you see will depend on your location (i.e., the times of local sunset and moonrise). Note that the times we give in this column each week are for observers in the Midwest at a location of 40° N 90° W. Only observers on the East Coast will see the entire eclipse from start to finish in a dark sky; farther west, the Moon will rise with varying stages of the eclipse already underway and progressing as twilight darkens into night. As totality ends, the eclipse will proceed in reverse: The Moon leaves the umbra at 1:55 A.M. EDT, then slips out of the penumbra at 2:51 A.M. EDT, bringing the event to a close (note that both these times are also early on Monday morning, May 16). Europe will catch mainly the final partial stage of the eclipse, before and/or during dawn on the 16th.

Gary Randall Photography Eclipse of 2015 Mount Hood from Lolo Pass Oregon

Cloudy on the big night? A livestream of the eclipse from various sites around the world starts at 2:15 May 16th UT (10:15 p.m. May 15th EDT), courtesy of Gianluca Masi and the Virtual Telescope Project.

Scorpius and Libra – The constellations of the Scorpion and the Balance rise in the eastern sky above a lemon tree in this 25-second exposure. – Alpha (Flickr)

The Moon will be near the starry head of Scorpius. For lots more, see Witness a Total Lunar Eclipse on Sunday May 15–16. For instance, estimate the eclipsed Moon’s brightness or darkness on the Danjon Scale. This eclipse is expected to be on the dark side; use the rating scale here. Will people with video cameras on their telescopes again record the pinpoint flash of a meteoroid strike on the Moon’s dark surface? Also: the edge of the dark Moon will occult the double star S672, magnitudes 6.3 and 8.9, for telescope users in parts of the US and Canada.

Sun in Taurus

Mercury (6/3), Pluto Retrograde (10/8)
Goddess Month of Hera runs from 5/16 – 6/12
Celtic Tree Month of Huath/Hawthorn, May 13 – Jun 9
Color – Yellow
Planting 5/14-15
©2022 M. Bartlett, Some parts separately copyright

******

The very old hawthorn at Saint-Mars-sur-la-Futaie, France, planted in the 3rd century!

Celtic Tree Month of Huath/Hawthorn, May 13 – Jun 9 – I am fair among flowers – Like willows, hawthorns have many species in Europe, and they are not always easy to tell apart. All are thorny shrubs in the Rose family (Rosaceae), and most have whitish or pinkish flowers. The common hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna Jacq.) and midland hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata (Poiret) DC.) are both widespread. They are common in abandoned fields and along the edges of forests. Both are cultivated in North America, as are several native and Asiatic hawthorns. Curtis Clark

Huathe – Hawthorne Ogam letter correspondences
Month: April
Color: Purple
Class: Peasant
Letter: H
Meaning: Being held back for a period of time

******

Tides for Alsea Bay
*

Day        High      Tide Height   Sunrise    Moon Time      % Moon
~ /Low      Time    Feet Sunset Visible
Su 15      Low   6:52 AM    -1.2   5:49 AM     Set 5:31 AM      97
~    15     High   1:10 PM     6.7   8:37 PM    Rise 8:32 PM
~    15      Low   6:40 PM     1.9

******

Affirmation/Thought for the Day – In the Name of the All-Mother: I will complete a project today. – Galen Gillotte

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Journal Prompt – What does this quote say to you? – In the play I Remember Mama by John van Druten, the mother tells her daughter, “I would like to be rich the way I would like to be ten feet high. [It] would be good for some things—bad for others.” Write about some disadvantages of being rich.

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Quotes

~   A desire to be observed, considered, esteemed, praised, beloved, and admired by his fellows is one of the earliest as well as the keenest dispositions discovered in the heart of man. – John Adams (1735-1826) US President (2)
~   A sense of humor is part of the art of leadership, of getting along with people, of getting things done. – Dwight Eisenhower
~   All free governments are managed by the combined wisdom and folly of the people. – James A. Garfield (1831-1881) 20th US President
~   A straight path never leads anywhere except to the objective. – Andre Gide

Jeepers, creepers, did you hear those spring peepers? –The 1991 Old Farmer’s Almanac

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Magick – Historical Recipes – I haven’t tested these recipes, so figure that amounts might need to be adjusted! I should be working on these, today and adjustment

Cherry Pudding – Anja’s version inspired by #routiersCiekawostki – A recipe from the XIV – the eternal manuscript “The Form of Cury.”
Ingredients

cherries 1 can, drained
½ -glass half-sweet white wine (can use white grape juice)
butter (2 tablespoons)
(about a cup?) white bread crumbs
sugar (4 tablespoons)

Ingredients

Run the cherries through a blender or food processor.
Put into a large microwave bowl or pyrex cup.
Add sugar & wine, and nuke on high 3 minutes. Stir well.
Melt the butter and add. Stir well.
Add bread crumbs, 1 TBSP at a time. Stir. Zap for 1 minute. Stir.
Repeat until it gets to the consistency of wallpaper paste.
Put into small bowls to mold it and refrigerate.
To serve, plop each into a plate and sprinkle with candied flowers or sprinkles, or warm cream with nutmeg to pour over.

Another cheese fritter – Volker Bach – Zu ainem pachen in ainer schüssel

1 cup grated cheese (used a Mexican blend of cheddar, mozz and jack)
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 TBSP Cheese salt (see note1)
2-5 eggs
Frying butter

Method

Mix flour and cheese together in a kneading bowl.
Add cheese salt and mix.
Add eggs, one at a time, mixing thoroughly until you have a stiff dough, like pie dough. (Don’t add too many! If it isn’t stiff enough add 1tsp each flour and grated cheese, knead and then see if it’s ok. )
Turn onto a board.
Roll it out to about ½ inch thick.
Cut into strips about the same size. (A pizza cutter helps!)
Fry in about 1 inch fat (we used frying butter, see note2.)

Serve hot.

Note 1 – Cheese salt is a mix that I make of horseradish, caraway, mustard and salt.
Note 2 – Frying butter is saved after frying things like viener schnitzel or girdle cakes. It’s just strained into a jar. It might have bacon fat in it or other things.

Source – Volker Bach (trans) – Zu ainem pachen in ainer schüssel – Inntalkochbuch

For a fritter (served) in a bowl
Take grated cheese and flour in equal amounts, break eggs into it and season it well, knead it together and roll it out on a board. Make the dough into strips (struczel), fry them in a pan in fat and then cut them in(to?) a bowl.
This is just another of the many recipes for cheese fritters, in this case intended as a side or main dish. Not much needs be said about it. If you slice it into thin strips, it can look like a bowl of fries.
The Inntalkochbuch is from a monastic library in Bavaria’s Inntal region (the Inn is a tributary of the Danube), dating to the late 15th/early 16th century. It is written in Upper German and strongly reflects local culinary traditions, though some of its recipes are commonplaces found elsewhere.

“Norse” pork roast – speculative recipe – This is the kind of thing that a cook would do with ingredients and equipment that is to hand. Crockpots are the modern equivalent of stone or ceramic crocks set in/by the fire to slow cook. All of these ingredients would have been available at least in the southern Norse lands.

1 can dark beer
6 cloves garlic
3 teaspoons fresh thyme, (measure after stripping from stems)
3 teaspoons fresh summer savory
1 tbsp mustard seeds
1 tsp dried rosemary
1 TBSP dried horseradish
2-3 tbsp salt

To make marinade/cooking liquid

Pour beer into a fridge container.
Crush garlic into it.
Strip thyme, measure, dump in.
Chop savory and dump.
Crush mustard seed and dump.
Add rosemary, horseradish and salt.
Shake all this well, (not the onion, leeks and pork), letting the beer foam and subside, and put into the fridge overnight.

Then

1 stick butter
Pork tenderloin, 2-2 ½ pounds
1 large leek
1 large onion

To cook

Put butter into a small slow cooker. Turn it on high and let it melt.
Swish around the cooker.
Add pork.
Chop leek and onion, fairly small and dump over pork.
Pour the beer marinade over all and let cook for …..
Serve hot with the pan drippings on the side.
If you have time, you can cook some of the liquid with barley for a side dish, once the roast is done and resting. (1/3 cup barley to 1 cup liquid – 20 minutes in the microwave). Another possibility is a cheese/wheat frumenty

******

Silliness – No texting!

Posted in Daily Stuff, Newsletter, Pagan, Wiccan | Tagged Affirmation, Astrology, Astronomy, Celtic Tree Month, Goddess Month, Hypericum perforatum, Jeepers creepers, Journal Prompt, Magick, Mercuralia, Moon, No texting!, Oregon Coast, Pagan, Runic Half Month, Silliness, St. John’s Wort, Tides, Weather, Wicca | Leave a comment

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