Hi, folks!
The shop is closed on Tuesday/Wednesday. Winter hours are Thurs-Mon. 1-6pm. Featured photo by Ken Gagne.
Quiet, clear and *cold*! 35F, wind at 0-2mph, AQI 11-39, UV3. Chance of rain 10% today and 11% tonight. Get your outdoor stuff done today, though! SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY until 7 AM on Wednesday. Doesn’t seem possible onshore. GALE WATCH from Thursday to Friday morning. That’s the next storm. Today should be nice, still, even if it doesn’t quite make it to 50F, but on Thursday, the chance of rain starts climbing around 9am, and the storm should be in full swing during the afternoon. It should slack off during the evening, but there’s another spate due on Sunday, starting around sunrise. After that, it should just be showery for the rest of the week.
Yesterday flew past. Things didn’t go quite as well as I’d hoped. I’m going to have to go back through my class outline and get rid of the “doubles”, but I just didn’t have enough brain to see them, early in the day. I took a nap in the afternoon, hoping to get a little more energy together. It helped….some. Tempus helped by pulling things out, finding pieces and keeping me fed and watered.
Witch Hazel
The bad part was that I hadn’t gotten everything together, as well as I had thought I had, and one of the main pieces….the ziploc of cut pieces has vanished. I had it in my hand just a few days ago. Tempus said he had seen it, too, but it was nowhere to be found. I had figured that the last part of the time before class was going to be making sure I had pieces in various stages of “finished” were done, so I could just pick them up and show them instead of having to stitch along. Well, no…. I did get done before the class time was over and was helping people over the humps of getting them done.
Mushroom
The talk itself also ran 1/2 again as long as I had planned, mostly because of the “doubles”, I think. Nobody minded, thankfully. It was very laid back, with about 1/2 the people making the balls and 1/2 working on their own projects and listening. I felt rather “babbly”, so the next time I do this, I’m going to have to have it planned out better. Also, the big prints for the class don’t work with the cameras, so I’m going to have to do those differently. Andrea has offered to “powerpoint” my stuff, so she can run that end of it and I just have to talk.
A salad green, blooming
The other thing is that my desk doesn’t work for a staging space. We’re going to have to work something out so I’m not flailing to find pieces as the class goes on. Some of that will happen with taking more photos and putting them into the powerpoint, but that’s not enough.
Bay
I finished up a bit after nine and went splat. Tempus had taken off somewhere after class started, maybe by 8pm? Bulk route night. He’s done with that. We just spent a little while on the phone. He did some shopping for the usual, finished the drops and napped until just before I called.
Today I was hoping to start doing some recording while things were fresh in my mind, but we really need to get laundry finished, plants watered and everything put away from the class along with keeping going on getting the office space cleaned back up. With the new orders I’m going to need a clean space! …and we need to get crystals and smudges inventoried right away, so we know what we still have and what is from the new order. Busy, busy….
Sunset with sandpipers by Ken Gagne from 1-12-15 Used with permission
Today’s plant is Garlic, Allium sativum. This is one of those wonderful herbs in cooking. Not only is it magically cleansing, it’s marvelously tasty even in small amounts. A good cook will add it and you’ll notice, not the garlic flavor, but only that the dish tastes great!
Masculine, Earth, Mars, Hecate – Magickal uses include healing, protection, exorcism, chasing vampires (both actual and psychic), and purification of spaces and objects. Guards against negative magic, spirits, and the envy of others. Hang in the home to bring togetherness to the family. Hang by bed or desk to keep your willpower strong. Wards off bad weather when worn or carried during outside activities (without throwing off natural cycles!) Absorbs diseases — rub fresh, peeled garlic against ailing body parts then throw the garlic into running water.
Day of Remembrance for Prince Igor – Suhii (March) 3 – This pagan prince struck fear in the heart of Byzantine Christianity by attacking its capitol, Constantinople. During this time, Igor enlisted the help of many vikings who helped him rule his kingdom and fight against his enemies. Prince Igor was killed by the Drevlani when he attempted to secure fees for rent from them when they were on the lands of his kingdom (Drevlane (Drevlani), Krivichi, Vjatichi, Deregovichi: North Slavic tribes)
Aegir is from the Norse pantheon. “Older than the giants”, he is a god of the sea, known for great parties, especially with ale brewed in a cauldron that has its own saga. He is brother to fire and wind and married to the Sea Goddess Ran. Between them they have 9 daughters who are the different types of waves. More here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aegir
The shop is closed on Tuesday/Wednesday. Winter hours are Thurs-Mon. 1-6pm. For appointments contact us at 541-563-7154, anjasnihova@yahoo.com, on Facebook or here on the blog, or just leave a note on the door!
Love & Light,
Anja
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Today’s Astro & Calendar
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 3/13 at 2:21am. 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 3/5 at 5:30pm.
Wild Ducks Take Flight in Open Cluster
The Wide Field Imager on the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope at ESO’s La Silla Observatory in Chile has taken this beautiful image, dappled with blue stars, of one of the most star-rich open clusters currently known — Messier 11, also known as NGC 6705 or the Wild Duck Cluster. Messier 11 is an open cluster, sometimes referred to as a galactic cluster, located around 6000 light-years away in the constellation of Scutum (The Shield). It was first discovered by German astronomer Gottfried Kirch in 1681 at the Berlin Observatory, appearing as nothing more than a fuzzy blob through the telescope. It wasn’t until 1733 that the blob was first resolved into separate stars by the Reverend William Derham in England, and Charles Messier added it to his famous catalogue in 1764. Messier was a comet hunter and the catalogue came into being as he was frustrated by constantly observing fixed, diffuse objects that looked like comets (for example, objects that we now know to be clusters, galaxies and nebulae). He wanted a record in order to avoid accidentally observing them again and confusing them with possible new comets. This particular stellar cluster was noted down as the eleventh such object — hence the name of Messier 11.
Open clusters are typically found lying in the arms of spiral galaxies or in the denser regions of irregular galaxies, where star formation is still common. Messier 11 is one of the most star-rich and compact of the open clusters, being almost 20 light-years across and home to close to 3000 stars. Open clusters are different to globular clusters, which tend to be very dense, tightly bound by gravity, and contain hundreds of thousands of very old stars — some of which are nearly as old as the Universe itself. Image: ESO
A bright Moon sits near the border of Libra and Virgo tonight, washing out much of the sky after midnight. But there’s still plenty to see. Around 4 A.M., early risers can enjoy the large open cluster M11, also known as the Wild Duck Cluster. Located in Scutum, it’s roughly 20° high two hours before sunrise and rising. Through binoculars, you’ll see a fuzzy patch of light, easily findable with a magnitude of 6.3. Discovered in 1681, this cluster gains its nickname from the rough V shape formed by its brightest stars, which look a bit like a flock of wild ducks flying overhead. In reality, however, the cluster contains around 3,000 stars, many of which will pop out once you train a telescope on the region.
After dinnertime at this time of year, five carnivore constellations are rising upright in a row from the northeast to south. They’re all seen in profile with their noses pointed up and their feet (if any) to the right. These are Ursa Major the Big Bear in the northeast (with the Big Dipper as its brightest part), Leo the Lion in the east, Hydra the Sea Serpent in the southeast, Canis Minor the Little Dog higher in the south-southeast, and bright Canis Major the Big Dog in the south.
Uranus (magnitude 5.8, in western Aries) is far below Mars in early evening. Finder chart.
Old Farmer’s Almanac NIGHT SKY MAP FOR FEBRUARY 2021: Orion – https://www.almanac.com/sky-map-february
Runic half-month of Teiwaz/Tyr, 2/27-3/13 This is a time of positive regulation, sacrifice and hard work in order to progress.
Sun in Pisces
Moon in Scorpio
Goddess Month of Moura, runs from 2/20-3/19
Celtic Tree Month of Nuin/Nion/Ash, Feb 18 – Mar 17
Color – Yellow
Planting 3/3-4
©2021 M. Bartlett, Some parts separately copyright
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Celtic Tree Month of Nuin/Nion/Ash, Feb 18 – Mar 17, Nion (NEE-uhn), ash – the common ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) is a major tree of lowland forests in much of Europe, along with oaks and beeches. It grows to 40 m (130 feet) in open sites, with a broad crown reminiscent of American elm trees. Ash was and still is an important timber tree, and is a traditional material for the handle of a besom. The common ash is occasionally cultivated in North America, and similar native ash species are widely grown as street trees. Ashes are members of the Olive family (Oleaceae).
Nuin – Ash Ogam letter correspondences
Month: March
Color: Glass Green
Class: Cheiftain
Letter: N
Meaning: Locked into a chain of events; Feeling bound.
Ogam letter correspondences to study this month Oir – Spindle Ogam letter correspondences
Month: None
Color: White
Class: Peasant
Letter: TH, OI
Meaning: Finish obligations and tasks or your life cannot move forward.
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Tides for Alsea Bay
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Day High Tide Height Sunrise Moon Time % Moon
~ /Low Time Feet Sunset Visible
W 3 High 3:03 AM 8.4 6:49 AM Set 9:20 AM 84
~ 3 Low 9:36 AM 0.4 6:07 PM Rise 11:50 PM
~ 3 High 3:38 PM 6.9
~ 3 Low 9:30 PM 1.5
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Affirmation/Thought for the Day – Full Circle – Breaking free demands filling your own heart first, with absolute, unapologetic honesty. It is a matter of going back to where we all started.
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Journal Prompt – What does this quote say to you? – In the poem “In the Fashion,” A. A. Milne writes, “A lion has a tail and a very fine tail. And so has an elephant, and so has a whale. And so has a crocodile, and so has a quail— They’ve all got tails but me.” Explain what you think would be both the advantages and disadvantages of your having a tail.
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Quotes
~ We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature – trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence… We need silence to be able to touch souls. – Mother Teresa
~ You usually don’t find your inner reserves until circumstances force you to seek them. Only then do we find out what the limits of our powers really are. – Kerr Cuhulain
~ I’ve never had a humble opinion. If you’ve got an opinion, why be humble about it? – Joan Baez
~ Authority without wisdom is like a heavy axe without an edge, more fit to bruise than polish. – Anne Bradstreet
Daffodils,
That come before the swallow dares, and take
The winds of March with beauty. – William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
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Ostara Magick – More Correspondences – O S T A R A – http://earthwitchery.com/ostara.html – Spring Equinox – circa March 21 – Altar * Herbs * Stones * Activities * Food
Ostara, or the Spring Equinox, is an enchanted borderland time outside of time where a magickal seam joins dark and light. From this moment on, the Sun God begins his seminal journey across the sky. His light and warmth overtake the darkness of Winter until his power peaks at Summer Solstice in June.
Ostara is a time of new fire. The light and dark are in perfect balance, but the light is growing and the Sun is about to burst forth with new energy. It is a season of fertility and growth.
Eostre or Ostara is the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring to whom offerings of cakes and colored eggs were made at the Vernal Equinox. Rabbits were sacred to her, especially white rabbits, and she was believed to take the form of a rabbit.
ALTAR: For the Ostara altar:
— Candles should be light green.
— Incense may be jasmine.
— Decorate the circle with spring wildflowers.
— Place an earthenware or wooden bowl containing soil or a large seed of some kind on the altar.
HERBS to use in your magic at Ostara: lily of the valley, tansy, lavender, marjoram, thyme, tarragon, lovage, lilac, violets, lemon balm, dogwood, honeysuckle, oakmoss, orrisroot, sunflower seeds, rose hips, oak, elder, willow, crocus, daffodil, jonquil, tulip, broom (Scotch or Iris), meadowsweet, acorn, trefoil (purple clover), vervain.
STONES: Clear quartz crystal, rose quartz, agate, lapis lazuli, amazonite, garnet.
ACTIVITIES :
Perform a seed blessing and indoor planting ritual.
Have a traditional breakfast of buns, ham, and eggs.
Make natural egg dyes from herbs.
Color hard boiled eggs and add symbols for the Fertility God, the Goddess, the Sun God, unity, fire, water, agriculture, prosperity and growth, strength and wisdom, spring, love and affection, and protection.
Consecrate the eggs:
In the name of the Goddess of Spring, (name); and the ever-returning God of the Sun, (name); By the powers of the four elements — earth, air, fire, and water; I do consecrate these eggs of Ostara..
Point the athame at the eggs, make the sign of the pentagram, and see the energy flow through the blade into the eggs, and say: New life lies within as new life shall enter the soil. Let those who seek this life find it and consume it, for all life feeds on life.
The eggs may be hidden and an Ostara Egg Hunt commences.
Make pysanky and krashanky, magickal amulets of fertility, protection, and prosperity.
Make hot cross buns to honor the union of the earth and the sun for Spring. Slash the “X” with the bolline and bless the cakes.
Toss crushed eggshells into the garden and say: For fairy, for flowers, for herbs in the bowers, The shells pass fertility with springtime flowers.
Wear green clothing.
Eat an egg you have empowered with a quality you desire.
On Ostara Eve, light a purple or violet candle and burn patchouli incense. Carry them both through the house, and say: Farewell to wintry spirits and friends; On morrow we greet the spirits of spring. Our blessings to thee as your way we wend; And merry we’ll meet next winter again. Blow out the candle and say: Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again.
At this time, witches cast spells for careers, relationships, and love. It’s a time for planting new ideas. Seek harmony and balance in the incredible energy of the season, and project good health, good fortune, and confidence in achieving goals.
FOOD: Eggs! Spring lamb, cream and milk, bake bread with a decorated egg inside, spring salad, hot cross buns.
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Silliness – Squirm electric
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