Ancient Light's Daily Stuff

Daily Stuff 1-27-20 Lewis Carroll

Posted on January 27, 2020 by Anja Snihova'

Hi, folks!

Featured photo by Ken Gagne. Wicca 101 7pm.

Did we actually get any rain yesterday? With 100% chance? So much for forecasts like the one that says, 100% chance of rain today and tonight…. GALE WARNING 9am-10pm. 44F, wind at 0-3mph, AQI32, UV2. They’re predicting rain and wind today, rain for two more days and then showers with a possible break on Monday and Tuesday.

Yesterday felt very long. We had a few shoppers in and a couple of sales, but it was pretty quiet. I did a lot, mostly in the way of cleaning/organizing and working on the cookbook. I also spent an hour talking to Amor. I managed a little embroidery and marked the pieces for my puppet so Tempus could cut them out for me.

Tempus made bread and picked up an organizer in South Beach during the day. Once he was back with it, I managed to pick up and sort out a major obstacle in my computer area. I still have some things that need to go elsewhere, but it’s sorted. In the later part of the day he worked on sanding and finishing a couple of boxes.

Today we still have to do the 2nd batch of bieroks. We ran out of day… The shop will be open until at last 6pm. Wicca 101 tonight.

A pic from 1/26/16 by Ken Gagne of the surf.

Today’s Plant is Oregon White Oak, Quercus garryana, also called Garry oak, or just Oregon oak. It doesn’t grow well out here on the coast, although supposedly there are some specimens. I’ve never seen one out here, but they’re *all* over the Willamette Valley, many of them hosting our local mistletoe, Phoradendron flavescens. This is the same relation of tree and herb that gave rise to the legends of the Golden Bough in Europe, although these are *far* different species. – Masculine, Sun ,Fire, Dagda, (Jupiter, Thor, Pan) – Use in magicks for protection, money, potency, fertility – Burn the bark to draw off illness, carry and piece of the for luck and protection, acorns are used to tip male power wands and worn as necklaces by some priests and can be carried to increase fertility and male potency to preserve health and long life. Place in windows to ward off lightning. Plant an acorn at the new moon if you need money. Fires of oak wood draw off illness. – Wiccaning or Seining – Wiccaning or Seining is the ceremony where we welcome a new child to the world. Holly water is used for girls and Oak for boys. Make by a tablespoon of powdered leaf brew in 1 cup of very hot water for about 10 minutes, then adding that to 2 cups of cold water. Sprinkle or wash baby with it. More here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_white_oak Mistletoe lore here :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mistletoe#Culture.2C_folklore.2C_and_mythologyand more about our variety here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoradendron

Today is the birthday of the English mathematician and author, Lewis Carroll (Charles Dodgson; d. January 14, 1898), in 1832. He wrote lots of wonderful nonsense verses, including the “Hunting of the Snark” and Jabberwocky, but is best known for his books “Alice in Wonderland” and the sequel “Through the Looking Glass”. This despite him being a mathematician and logician and teacher! These latter things were his life’s work, but he has been immortalized in his hobbies. There is a wonderful article here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Carroll

The shop opens at 11am. Winter hours are 11am-5pm Thursday through Monday. Need something off hours? Give us a call at 541-563-7154 or Facebook or email at ancientlight@peak.org 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

Watch the waxing crescent Moon pass elusive Mercury, then ultra-showy Venus. The visibility of points of light in bright twilight is exaggerated here, Mercury especially.

Now the Moon hangs higher under Venus in twilight, as shown here.

A conjunction for the ages – The evening of January 27 finds Venus passing within a few arcminutes of distant Neptune in their closest approach since 1984. – Astronomy: Roen Kelly

Neptune proves even easier to find tonight, when it passes just 5′ north of Venus — the closest approach between these two planets since January 1984. The conjunction occurs at 2 p.m. EST, which places western Europe in the best viewing position. By the time night falls across North America a few hours later, Neptune lies 12′ west of Venus while Phi Aquarii stands a nearly equal distance to Venus’ east-northeast. Although 10×50 binoculars will separate the three objects, Neptune may be a challenge to see in Venus’ glare. A telescope shows the trio much more clearly. As if to draw attention to this extraordinary conjunction, a slender crescent Moon appears 7° below the two planets.
Brilliant Venus and dim Neptune are in conjunction this evening. Venus is magnitude –4.1 while Neptune is +7.9, meaning Neptune is 60,000 times fainter! You’ll want a telescope for this. At nightfall in North America, Neptune is located 1/4° below Venus and a bit to the right. Once you think you’ve got it, switch to very high power to check whether your find looks not quite stellar — if the seeing is good enough! Neptune is a mere 2.2 arcseconds in apparent diameter, while stars, of course, are mere points.

A distant world’s close encounter – Neptune lies in eastern Aquarius at opposition the night of September 9/10, when it lies just 0.1° from 4th-magnitude Phi (φ) Aquarii. – Astronomy: Roen Kelly

Much easier with optical aid is Phi Aquarii, a 4.2-magnitude orange star that’s a roughly similar distance on the opposite side of Venus (depending on your location).
Mars (magnitude +1.4, in the feet of Ophiuchus) glows in the southeast before and during early dawn. It’s left of twinklier, Mars-colored Antares, which is about magnitude +1.1. Don’t bother with a telescope; Mars is a very tiny 4.7 arcseconds in diameter.

Old Farmer’s Almanac Sky map for January – https://www.almanac.com/sky-map-january
Old Farmer’s Almanac February Sky Map! https://www.almanac.com/sky-map-february
Goddess Month of of Bridhe, runs from 1/23 – 2/19
Celtic Tree Month of Luis/Rowan, Jan 21-Feb 17, Luis (LWEESH)/rowan
Runic half-month of Perdhro/ Peorth, 1/12-1/27. – Feast of Brewing, Druidic, Source: The Phoenix and Arabeth 1992 Calendar. Runic half-month of Elhaz/Algiz, from 1/28-2/11. This half month: optimistic power, protection and sanctuary.

Sun in Aquarius
Moon in Pisces
Color: Yellow

Planting 1/27-8

©2020 M. Bartlett, Some parts separately copyright

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

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

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

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Tides for Alsea Bay
*

Day        High      Tide Height   Sunrise    Moon Time      % Moon
~ /Low      Time    Feet Sunset Visible
M   27     High   2:25 AM     7.1   7:40 AM    Rise 9:30 AM      3
~ 27      Low   7:58 AM     2.9   5:18 PM     Set 8:16 PM
~ 27     High   1:38 PM     7.8
~ 27      Low   8:28 PM     0.0

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Affirmation/Thought for the Day – I listen to my body.

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Journal Prompt – I wish… – I wish everyone would learn to ….. Then everyone would…..

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Quotes

~ Pasteur’s theory of germs is ridiculous fiction. – Pierre Pachet, Professor of Physiology at Toulouse, 1872
~   Action is the foundational key to all success. – Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Spanish artist
~   Who does not thank for little will not thank for much. – Estonian proverb
~   A person should exhibit frith whatever may come. Though many wish for good, ill is oft the more mighty. – Atlamol en Gronlenzku 34

Chill airs and wintry winds! my ear
Has grown familiar with your song;
I hear it in the opening year,
I listen, and it cheers me long. – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–32)

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Imbolc Recipes

Poppy Seed Bread

Seeds are often used in any Imbolc recipe. Here is a simple seed bread that is just delicious!

INGREDIENTS:

5 eggs
3 3/4 cup flour
2 cups half n half
1 cup vegetable oil
2 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/3 cup poppy seeds
7 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp vanilla

PREPARATION:

Preheat your oven to 350F. With a hand mixer, blend together the poppy seeds, oils, eggs, sugar, vanilla and half n half. Add flour and baking powder. Mix together on high speed for 30 seconds. Pour into 2 greased loaf pans. Bake for one hour or until tops of loaves are brown.

Maiden Wakes Muffins – Adapted by Akasha Ap Emrys

2 cups flour
2 Carrots, grated
1/2 cup raisins
1 green apple, peeled, cored, grated
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup almonds, sliced
2 tsp. baking soda
3 eggs
2 tsp. cinnamon
2/3 cup vegetable oil
1/2 tsp. salt
vanilla

Soak raisins in hot water, in a covered bowl, for 30 minutes. Drain thoroughly. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large non-metal bowl, mix flour, soda, cinnamon, and salt. Stir in carrots, raisins, apple, and almonds. In a separate bowl, beat eggs, oil, and vanilla until well blended. Stir egg mixture in to the flour mixture until just wet. Grease muffin pan with a little butter or use cupcake/muffin cups. Divide the batter into the cups and bake for 20-22 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan. Makes 8 servings.

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Silliness – Speeding Ticket

Posted in Daily Stuff, Newsletter, Pagan, Wiccan | Tagged Affirmation, Astrology, Astronomy, Candlemas, Celtic Tree Month, Chill airs and wintry winds! my ear, Garry oak, Goddess Month, Imbolc, Journal Prompt, Lewis Carroll, Magick, Moon, moon phase, Oregon Coast, Oregon oak, Oregon White Oak, Pagan, Quercus garryana, Runic Half Month, Silliness, Tides, Today’s Feast, Today’s Plant, Weather, Wicca

Daily Stuff 1-26-20 Vaclav Havel

Posted on January 26, 2020 by Anja Snihova'

Hi, folks!

Featured photo by Ken Gagne. Last Minus Tide of the cycle at 7:55 PM of -0.4 feet. House Capuchin Project Day 1-5pm.

Mostly cloudy at the moment. The rain should start up again after lunchtime. 100% chance today and 80% tonight. BEACH HAZARD STATEMENT and SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY through tomorrow morning. 51F, wind at 3-9mph and gusting, AQI42, UV1. GALE WATCH Monday morning through Tuesday morning. By 10am Tuesday, though the chance of wind and rain drops way after and we should have a break over that night, going back to showers on Wednesday…

Yesterday we had to wait for Tempus to finish up in the back before we could start the Herbs Workshop, but once we got started we really whomped through in good time! We made starts of a bunch of succulents and plants that Anja had dug up on Monday (ivy in the fennel pot?) went out and harvested some more and planted those, got a greenhouse tray planted with chives and tarragon and cleaned up the crocosmia corms. Wow….

After that Tempus ran back and forth from the freezer with bags of stuff for me to ID. We finally found the filling that I needed for the bierok after about an 1/2 hour of that….

We had lunch of more of the chicken salad. Dang, that turned out tasty!

There were a few people in shopping during the afternoon up until around 7. By then I was in full roar on the bierok, which turned out pretty well. I’ll get better at making them, I hope. They went into the freezer.

Today we have to get the 2nd batch made and then I need to make at least one mustard and then figure out what other sauces and things need to get done. I figured out one yesterday and went, “Oh! Don’t forget!” Guess what I promptly forgot? …and I need to get some sewing done.

A gull fly-by in Yachats by Ken Gagne on 1/23/19

Today’s Plant is the Linden Tree, tilia species. It is also called lime tree (no relation to the fruit) and basswood. It is the national tree of many countries, particularly in Central Europe, (the Czech Republic!) where at one time it was sacred and councils met at the sacred linden, just as in the British Isles they met at an oak. The wood is widely used for carving and for guitars. The inner bark of the tree has been used in making fabric. The flowers, which smell delicious, are used in teas and perfumes and a valuable honey is derived from them. The flowers, leaves, wood, and charcoal (obtained from the wood) are used for medicinal purposes.– Feminine, Jupiter, Water, Taurus – Bark used for protection, leaves and flowers for immortality. Good Fortune, Sleep and Love. Hang branches over the door for protection or grow in the garden. Use in love spells/mixtures and protection spells & incenses. Mix equal parts Linden and Lavender flowers and place in a sachet under your pillowcase to relieve insomnia. Keep Linden on a table to release the energies needed to keep the spirit alive and healthy.

Today’s feast is the anniversary of the day in 1993 that Vaclav Havel was elected President of the Czech Republic. How many playwrights, even dissident playwrights, become president? How many countries would *pick* a playwright as president? Maybe the country whose anthem is this:

Kde domov můj, kde domov můj?
Voda hučí po lučinách,
bory šumí po skalinách,
v sadě skví se jara květ,
zemský ráj to na pohled!
A to je ta krásná země,
země česká domov můj,
země česká domov můj!

Where is my home, where is my home?
Water roars across the meadows,
Pinewoods rustle among crags,
The garden is glorious with spring blossom,
Paradise on earth it is to see.
And this is that beautiful land,
The Czech land, my home,
The Czech land, my home!

No war, no battles, no glorious gore…. More here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaclav_Havel and on the republic here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czech_Republic and the anthem here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czech_national_anthem A youtube of the anthem http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPTwOZWnm6E and another with some lovely sights http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn87PI9K99M Or even better still for today…. The version from Havel’s state funeral. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL1fBSyXI5U Can you tell that I love my ancestral home?

Love & Light,
Anja

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Today’s Astro & Calendar

Waxing Moon Magick – The waxing moon is for constructive magick, such as love, wealth, success, courage, friendship, luck or healthy, protection, divination. Any working that needs extra power, such as help finding a new job or healings for serious conditions, can be done now. Also, love, knowledge, legal undertakings, money and dreams. Phase ends at the Tide Change on 2/8 at 11:33pm. New Moon – The beginning of a new cycle. Keywords for the New phase are: beginning, birth, emergence, projection, clarity. It is the time in a cycle that you are stimulated to take a new action. During this phase the new cycle is being seeded by your vision, inner and outer. Engage in physical activity. Spend time alone. VISUALIZE your goals for the 29.6-day cycle ahead. The new moon is for starting new ventures, new beginnings. Also love and romance, health or job hunting. God/dess aspect: Infancy, the Cosmic Egg, Eyes-Wide-Open – Associated God/dess: Inanna who was Ereshkigal. Phase ends at 1:42am on 1/26. Diana’s Bow – On the 3^rd day after the new moon you can (weather permitting) see the tiny crescent in the sky, the New Moon holding the Old Moon in her arms. Begin on your goals for the next month. A good time for job interviews or starting a project. Take a concrete step! God/dess aspect: Daughter/Son/Innocence – Associated God/dess: Vesta, Horus. Phase ends on 1/29 at 1:42am.

Orion on December 22nd, when Betelgeuse was already down to about visual magnitude 1.3 and obviously much fainter than white Rigel in Orion’s foot (mag 0.2). – Bob King

Betelgeuse remains dim. The red supergiant Betelgeuse in Orion’s shoulder has always been slightly variable, but for the last month or so it’s been in an unusually low dip. As of January 22nd it was still about visual magnitude +1.5 instead of its more typical +0.5, according to observations logged by the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO). It clearly looks fainter than similarly-colored Aldebaran, magnitude +0.9, with which it’s often compared and normally outshines quite obviously. Here’s a light curve of Betelgeuse for the last four years, ending January 23, 2020, as measured in the photoelectric V (“visual”) band.
Go look! If you’re familiar with Orion, he looks distinctly odd with his two shoulders now almost equal. The other shoulder is bluish-white Bellatrix, visual magnitude +1.6, but that’s a poor comparison star because of its very different color. As you age your eye lenses yellow, so older people see the world through yellow filters. Thus they will judge the brightness of an orange-red star compared to a blue-white star somewhat differently than young folks do. I’m 68, so I see Bellatrix looking pretty definitely fainter than Betelgeuse, by more than their actual difference of a mere 0.1 visual magnitude (a difference that’s barely detectable with time and care).
In any case, Orion this winter wears an aspect you’ve never seen before and may never again! Read Bob King’s What’s Up With Betelgeuse?
And no, this does not mean Betelgeuse is about to go supernova, despite the hype. Yes, it’s a massive star close to the end of its 10-million-year lifespan — but on an astronomical timescale! Expect to wait maybe another 100,000 years for it to violently gulp down its core and blaze, for a few weeks, as bright as the Moon.

Watch the waxing crescent Moon pass elusive Mercury, then ultra-showy Venus. The visibility of points of light in bright twilight is exaggerated here, Mercury especially.

About 30 minutes after sunset, spot the thin crescent Moon low in the southwest and use it to point your way to even lower Mercury, as shown at lower right. Binoculars will help penetrate the still-bright twilight. Much easier is high Venus!
This evening, Venus serves as a guide to the solar system’s outermost major planet, Neptune. Because the distant world glows feebly at magnitude 7.9, you’ll need binoculars or a telescope to spot it. Once the sky grows dark about 90 minutes after sunset, target Venus with binoculars or a telescope at low power. Note the 4th-magnitude star Phi (φ) Aquarii 1.4° above it. Neptune lies two-thirds of the way from Venus to Phi. Don’t confuse the outer planet with a slightly brighter star that stands 0.5° to its right. Through a telescope, Venus appears 15″ across and three-quarters illuminated while Neptune shows a 2.2″-diameter disk colored blue-gray. If clouds interfere this evening, don’t despair — the two planets will appear even closer to each other tomorrow night.
Saturn is out of sight deep in the sunrise glow.

Old Farmer’s Almanac Sky map for January – https://www.almanac.com/sky-map-january
Goddess Month of of Bridhe, runs from 1/23 – 2/19
Celtic Tree Month of Luis/Rowan, Jan 21-Feb 17, Luis (LWEESH)/rowan
Runic half-month of Perdhro/ Peorth, 1/12-1/27. – Feast of Brewing, Druidic, Source: The Phoenix and Arabeth 1992 Calendar. Runic half-month of Elhaz/Algiz, from 1/28-2/11. This half month: optimistic power, protection and sanctuary.

Sun in Aquarius
Moon in Aquarius enters Pisces at 3:44pm
Color: Yellow

©2020 M. Bartlett, Some parts separately copyright

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

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

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Tides for Alsea Bay
*

Day        High      Tide Height   Sunrise    Moon Time      % Moon
~ /Low      Time    Feet Sunset Visible
Su 26     High   1:52 AM     7.1   7:41 AM    Rise 9:03 AM      0
~ 26      Low   7:18 AM     3.0   5:17 PM     Set 7:14 PM
~ 26     High   1:00 PM     8.2
~ 26      Low   7:55 PM    -0.4

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Affirmation/Thought for the Day – A warm smile is the universal language of kindness!

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Journal Prompt – I wish… – I wish there were a law that said….. This would be a good law because….

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Quotes

~   Better to fight and fall than to live without hope. – Volsunga Saga, c.12
~   My eyes to look after them, my ears to hear for them, my voice to warn them, my hand to guard them, my shield to ward them. – Order of Scathach Arming Ritual
~   Being realistic is the most commonly traveled road to mediocrity. -Will Smith
~   It is what a man thinks of himself that really determines his fate. – Henry David Thoreau

The night’s drifts
Pile up below me and behind my back,
Slide down the hill, rise again, and build
Eerie little dunes on the roof of the house. – James Wright (1927–1980)

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Imbolc Magick – Studies

Crios Bríde, or Saint Brigid’s Girdle, made from braided straw rope and carried in procession with the effigy of Bride throughout the town. At each house, the occupants were expected to pass through it, to obtain Bride’ protection and good health for the coming year. As they did this, the bearers of the crios chanted a verse. One version goes in translation:

Brighid’s girdle is my girdle
The girdle with the four crosses
Arise, housewife
And go out three times.
May whoever goes through my girdle
Be seven times better a year from now.

Priestess – We stand at the crossroads of the year where Brigid will meet us. If we ask, she will guide us.

The Priest takes the basket of rosemary branches and gives an even-numbered amount to each participant along with a length of white yarn.

Priest – To make Brigid’s cross, take one branch in each hand. Lay one branch perpendicular to the other, creating an equal-armed cross. Wrap the yarn over and under at the center to secure them. While you work, let your mind roam freely and think of yourself approaching a crossroads. When you arrive, Brigid is standing in the middle. She points to one of the roads. When you finish making your cross, close your eyes and hold it between your hands. Meditate on the path Brigid pointed out for you. Let this path inspire you; let it bring you to a place of beauty. Let these thoughts and images flow into the cross you hold. As you hold the vision of the crossroads in your mind, it may feel appropriate to stand or move around the circle.

The Priestess or other designated participant may drum a steady rhythm.

When everyone has finished their cross and had a chance to meditate or move around the circle, bring the drumming to stillness.

Brighids Crossroads Divination By Patti Wigington, About.com Guide

One of the many aspects of the goddess Brighid is that of a crossroads deity. She knows where we’ve been, and can guide us to where we belong.

Image © Dimitri Vervitsiotis/Getty Images

Imbolc is a time when the Wheel of the Year has reached a crossroads between light and dark. The earth is about to quicken, and yet no one knows exactly what lies ahead of us. There are twists and turns on the path to come, although where it leads is anyone’s guess.

Among her many aspects, Brighid is considered a goddess of the crossroads. She is said to be able to see where we’ve been, and where each road might take us, should we choose to follow it. A Brighid’s Cross unites the four elements, and creates paths which travel in the four directions. Because of this, Imbolc is an ideal time for divination. Not sure where your headed this year, or what choices lie before you? Let Brighid help guide you as you weave a crossroads of your own in her honor. As you create a Brighid’s Cross as part of this divination, ask her to inspire you, and guide you towards the right path in the coming months.

For this divination, you’ll want to find a place where you can be alone and undisturbed. If it’s warm enough, try to get outside, perhaps out in the woods where two paths intersect. Before you begin, read the instructions here on how to Make a Brighid’s Cross. Have all your supplies on hand prior to beginning your divination ritual.

Begin by closing your eyes, and thinking about where you’ve been in the past year, spiritually, emotionally, even physically. What things have you done that bring your regret? What things have brought you joy? Is there anything you wanted to do, but didn’t get a chance to? Picture yourself wandering along a path, out of the past and into the present. Let your mind roam freely, and visualize yourself approaching a crossroads. Perhaps it’s a place in a forest, where a pair of deer trails run together. Maybe it’s in the mountains, where streams intersect. Or maybe you picture yourself out in a wide open space, with roads connected in the middle of nowhere.

Regardless, see yourself at that crossroads. You are at the center, and branching out from where you stand are many paths. Each leads in a different direction. Each path will take you to something new. Begin creating your Make a Brighid’s Cross, and as you weave the straws together, think about what may lie in each direction. As you look out over your choices, thinking about which way to travel, Brighid herself is standing beside you. Continue weaving your cross, and watch her. She points out one of the roads.

When you’ve finished your cross, close your eyes once more, and meditate on the path which Brighid indicated for you. What lies in that direction? Is it something familiar and comforting? Something new and unknown? Focus on the cross you’ve made, and let this newly chosen path inspire you. Know that it will ultimately bring you to something good and positive and strong.

When you’ve finished, you may wish to make an offering to Brighid as a gesture of thanks for her guidance.

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Silliness – Punny Business Slogan – Sign over a Gynecologist’s Office: “Dr. Jones, at your cervix.”

Posted in Daily Stuff, Newsletter, Pagan, Wiccan | Tagged Affirmation, Astrology, Astronomy, Basswood, Candlemas, Celtic Tree Month, Goddess Month, Imbolc, Imbolc Studies, Journal Prompt, Lime Tree, Linden Tree, Magick, Moon, moon phase, Oregon Coast, Pagan, Punny Business Slogan, Runic Half Month, Silliness, The nights drifts, Tides, Today’s Feast, Today’s Plant, Vaclav Havel, Weather, Wicca

Daily Stuff 1-25-20 Lunar New Year

Posted on January 25, 2020 by Anja Snihova'

Hi, folks!

Happy Lunar New Year of the Rat!

Featured photo by Greg Anderson. Minus Tide at 7:20 PM of -0.6 feet. Herbs Workshop at 11am. Sewing Workshop at 3pm.

It’s just cloudy at the moment, with wet streets, but 100% chance of rain today and tonight. We’re under a GALE WARNING and SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY from midnight to 6am, although the warning for through 10am today was cancelled. It did get pretty windy from midnight to about 3am, it looks like. 50F, wind at 3-9mph and gusting, AQI39, UV1. Rain, rain and wind on Tuesday, and then it turns to showers. It’s been a wet month, for certain!

Yesterday flew past. We had some odd sorts come in to look around and a few real shoppers.

Wicca 103 went well. We’re done with the Magic of Science and well into the Science of Magick part of the course. Fascinating stuff. We also worked out what we’re doing for the Imbolc Open Circle, which will be on 2/5 at 7pm.

Tempus was really tired and putzed more than worked on anything specific, but he was doing some research. I spent a good while working on the feast cookbook and dozed off with my face in potato chip crumbs leftover from supper. That was…. special … We turned in early, too.

Today we need to do some clean-up before we open. Herbs is at 11 and we have more plants to work on, plus I’m thinking to make mustard. Sewing is at 3pm and that will be on hand-work, as usual. I’m hoping to make bieroks after that.

The Yachats Wayside Spouting Horn. Photo by Greg Anderson from 1/22/15

Today’s Plant is the Western Azalea, Rhododendron Occidentale. Azaleas are a subset of the rhodys. This is the main one that grows around here. It’s hard to tell from the shape and size of the plant that it’s an azalea, or even from the flowers, although the branches are thinner and the leaves shorter and rounder than those of rhododendrons. It least it’s hard for those of us who are familiar with the showy garden hybrids, which tend to be small and compact. The other West Coast azalea is Rhododendron Albiflorum, and there’s not a whacking lot of info floating around about that one. The wiki is here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhododendron_occidentale The Chinese call azaleas “thinking of home bush”. Magickal uses for azalea are to encourage light spirits, happiness and gaiety.

Today is the eve of Disting, or Disablot, a festival in honor of the Disir, the female helper spirits. Here’s one version of a ritual. http://www.adf.org/rituals/norse/disting/disting.html and a link about the Disir here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disir …and here’s another link with related information. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%ADsabl%C3%B3t

Love & Light,
Anja

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Today’s Astro & Calendar

The Hunter rises – Two astrophotographers capture Orion the Hunter as it rises. This 30-second exposure shows the brilliant constellation — with ruddy Betelgeuse appearing significantly brighter than it does currently — along with the Orion Nebula (M42) to the lower right of the Hunter’s Belt, the Rosette Nebula (NGC 2237) at bottom left, and the huge red partial circle known as Barnard’s Loop. http://www.messier.seds.org/xtra/ngc/b-loop.html
– Jeff Da

After dark now the Great Square of <<< Pegasus is declining low in the west, tipped onto one corner. It’s far to the upper right of Venus. Meanwhile the Big Dipper >>> is creeping up in the north-northeast, tipped up on its handle.

The Moon passes Mercury – A waxing crescent Moon passes near Mercury in bright twilight the evening of January 25. A similar scene occurred January 31, 2014, when this photographer captured the two solar system objects. (The planet appears as a bright dot at upper left.) – Gilbert Ahlstrand

Mercury returns to the evening sky late this week. If you have a sharp eye, a clear sky, and an unobstructed horizon toward the west-southwest, you should be able to glimpse it through binoculars. For observers at mid-northern latitudes, it lies just 2° high 30 minutes after the Sun goes down tonight. Fortunately, you’ll have some help spotting it: A wafer-thin crescent Moon appears just 2° to the left of the magnitude –1.1 planet. You’ll have only about 10 minutes to catch them before they sink out of sight.
Jupiter (magnitude –1.9, in Sagittarius) is very low in the glow of sunrise. About 30 minutes before sunup, use binoculars to help scan for it just above the southeast horizon, far lower left of faint Mars.

Sun in Aquarius
Moon in Aquarius
Color: Grey

©2020 M. Bartlett, Some parts separately copyright

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

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

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Tides for Alsea Bay
*

Day        High      Tide Height   Sunrise    Moon Time      % Moon
~ /Low      Time    Feet Sunset Visible
Sa 25     High   1:18 AM     7.0   7:42 AM    Rise 8:31 AM      0
~ 25      Low   6:37 AM     3.1   5:15 PM     Set 6:11 PM
~ 25     High 12:21 PM     8.5
~ 25      Low   7:20 PM    -0.6

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Affirmation/Thought for the Day – I Am Grateful, For I Feel Abundantly Blessed.

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Journal Prompt – What does this quote say to you? – The eye of the master will do more work than both his hands. — Benjamin Franklin

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Quotes

~   You are here to enable the divine purpose of the universe to unfold. That is how important you are. – Eckhart Tolle
~   Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservations. – Elton Trueblood
~   if we wait for the moment when everything, absolutely everything is ready, we shall never begin. – Ivan Turgenev
~   I doubt that the imagination can truly be suppressed. If you truly eradicated it in a child, he would grow up to be an eggplant. – Ursula K. Le Guin

The sprawling Bear
Growled deep in the sky;
And Orion’s hair
Streamed sparkling by:
But the North sighed low,
“Snow, snow, more snow!” – –Walter de la Mare (1873–1956)

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Imbolc Magick – Crafts

Candlemas Candle Wheel – (For Imbolc) – http://members.aol.com/ivycleartoes/cndlweel.html

Materials:

Craft wreath
Eight white candles
Ivy leaves or vines
Glue gun

Directions:

Either drill thick holes into the wreath so that candles can be placed inside, or just secure them with screw-bottom candleholders or glue gun glue. Place the ivy leaves around in a decorative fashion.

Ritual use:

The eight candles are symbolic of the eight spokes of the year, and spinning the circle into motion at Imbolc is important. In ritual, the candles can be solemnly lit with a cauldron or bowl placed in the middle of the candle wheel. The cauldron or bowl can have a Wish Tree in the middle of it, with water all around it, and have new pennies thrown into it while cementing the wishes. Also the tree and the candle wheel can be toasted with milk and honey.

Imbolc Priapic Wand – Source unknown

Children will love the sound of this magical wand as they walk about pointing and shaking it at plants and trees, invoking them to wake up from Winter’s sleep to witness the union of the Bride and the Lord of the Forest.

**PARENTAL SUPERVISION REQUIRED!**

Materials:

Small Tree Branch
Acorn
Thin Brown String or Thread
Yellow, Green, and Gold 1/4″ Ribbon
Small Gold/Silver Jingle Bells.

Select a small branch about 1/2″ to 3/4″ in diameter.
Cut top end flat.
Approx. 1/2″ below top score a groove (parents only) with a sharp knife.
Take 1′ long piece of string/thread and tie in groove.
Take another 1′ piece of thread and tie in groove on opposite side of branch.
Place acorn at top of branch (flat end) and adhere with some glue.
Now pull the string up over the cap and wind once around acorn.
Repeat with all 3 other pieces of string.
Pull strings back down to the groove in the branch and tie off. This will hold the acorn in place.
Decorate the branch by wrapping it with the ribbons, leaving enough length at top for streamers.
Tie gold/silver jingle bells to the ends of the ribbons.
For smaller children, thread the bells onto the ribbon while wrapping the branch.

Tell the children about how the acorn-wand is a symbol of the Lord of the Forest, and how this magical wand helps the sleeping plants and animals wake up and prepare for Spring.

Laminated Window Hangings for Imbolc

you will need:
– lined paper
– laminating paper
– crayons
– Imbolc cookie cutters(the big ones) (candle shapes, beehive, triple moon, babies, milk jugs
– scissors & a single hole punch
– a pencil
what to do:

Lightly trace the shapes of candles, babies, a Triple Moon or other Imbolc figures with your pencil.
Cut out those shapes with scissors.
Colour in the shapes with your crayons lightly.
Laminate the shapes with laminate paper, and cut off the excess edges, leave about 3mm extra laminate paper.
Punch a hole through the top of the shape and hang it up in your window.

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Silliness – Car Insurance Excuses

– The other car collided with mine without giving warning of its intention.
– The accident occured when I was attempting to bring my car out of a skid by steering it into the other vehicle.
– I was driving my car out of the driveway in the usual manner, when it was struck by the other car in the same place it had been struck several times before.
– Coming home, I drove into the wrong house and collided with a tree I don’t have.
– The indirect cause of this accident was a little guy in a small car with a big mouth.
– As I approached the intersection, a stop sign suddenly appeared in a place where no stop sign had ever appeared before. I was unable to stop in time to avoid the accident.
– The telephone pole was approaching fast. I was attempting to swerve out of its path when it struck my front end.
– An invisible car came out of nowhere, struck my vehicle and vanished.
– I thought my window was down but found it was up when I put my hand through it.
– To avoid hitting the bumper of the car in front, I struck the pedestrian.
– A pedestrian hit me and went under my car.
– The pedestrian had no idea which direction to go, so I ran him over.
– I saw the slow-moving, sad-faced old gentleman as he bounced off the hood of my car.

Posted in Daily Stuff, Newsletter, Pagan, Wiccan | Tagged Affirmation, Astrology, Astronomy, Candlemas, Car Insurance Excuses, Celtic Tree Month, disablot, Disting, Goddess Month, Imbolc, Imbolc Crafts, Journal Prompt, Magick, Moon, moon phase, Oregon Coast, Pagan, Rhododendron Occidentale, Runic Half Month, Silliness, The sprawling Bear, Tides, Today’s Feast, Today’s Plant, Weather, Western Azalea, Wicca

Daily Stuff 1-24-20 Francis de Sales

Posted on January 24, 2020 by Anja Snihova'

Hi, folks!

Featured photo by Ken Gagne. Minus Tide at 6:44 PM of -0.8 feet. Wicca 103 at 1pm.

The rain slowed and stopped sometime last evening and it’s been spitty, occasionally, but mostly dry. 10% chance today, 90% tonight. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY through 10 am tomorrow. 52F, wind at 7-17mph and gusting, AQI39, UV1. There’s quite a lot of rain in the forecast over the next few days, tonight and tomorrow evening, especially, and some serious wind over Saturday night.

Yesterday was very quiet, and it rained and rained. I spent the day dealing with invites for the House Capuchin feast and setting up newsletter frames. Tempus was working in back most of the day, trying to get caught up. Susanne stopped by and we got to visit for a few minutes. Otherwise it was just quiet.

I had trouble sleeping last night. I was really sleepy, but my sinuses kept filling up and that would wake me.

Tempus set out around 8pm for the paper route. It went fairly smoothly last night except for the wind making off with a few papers. I got picked up around 3:15 and was back by 4:15. He got finished at about 6:30.

The internet was out overnight. No clue why. So this is late. I couldn’t post at the usual time.

We have Wicca 103 at 1pm today and after that I’m going to work on some more of the cookery stuff for the feast….putting the cookbook together, now that the invites are out. If you’d like to come, let me know.

Interesting podcast on the nature of the sun’s light. https://www.almanac.com/podcast/why-isnt-sun-green ?

A Waldport Beach – Photo by Ken Gagne on 1/13/19

Feast day of St Francis de Sales – Francis, Count of Sales, left a life of riches for poverty and became a preacher. Francis died in 1622, aged 55. Francis of Sales was beatified in 1661 by Pope Alexander VII, who then canonized him in 1665. More here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_de_Sales With Jane Frances de Chantal, he founded the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary, called the Salesian Sisters. More here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_Visitation_of_Holy_Mary I went on a retreat at their convent in Georgetown. picture is Francis de Sales and Jane Frances de Chantal, medal 1867

Flowering fern [Royal fern], Osmunda regalis, is today’s plant, dedicated to this saint. 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.

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 1/23 at 1:42pm. Dark of the Moon, End of the cycle – In the time leading up to the “New Moon” you may do banishings and other baneful magicks and healings that require blasting a disease away, as well as using the time for introspection and self-work. Do scrying, now. Good for reversing circumstances. God/dess Aspect: The One Beyond, the Watchers in the Outer Dark, psychopomps – Associated God/desses: Hecate, Kali, Arianhrod, Anja, Kore in the Underworld, Ereshkigal who was Inanna, Set/Seth, Hades, Osiris. Phase ends at 1:42pm on 1/24. Waxing Moon Magick – The waxing moon is for constructive magick, such as love, wealth, success, courage, friendship, luck or healthy, protection, divination. Any working that needs extra power, such as help finding a new job or healings for serious conditions, can be done now. Also, love, knowledge, legal undertakings, money and dreams. Phase ends at the Tide Change on 2/8 at 11:33pm. New Moon – The beginning of a new cycle. Keywords for the New phase are: beginning, birth, emergence, projection, clarity. It is the time in a cycle that you are stimulated to take a new action. During this phase the new cycle is being seeded by your vision, inner and outer. Engage in physical activity. Spend time alone. VISUALIZE your goals for the 29.6-day cycle ahead. The new moon is for starting new ventures, new beginnings. Also love and romance, health or job hunting. God/dess aspect: Infancy, the Cosmic Egg, Eyes-Wide-Open – Associated God/dess: Inanna who was Ereshkigal. Phase ends at 1:42am on 1/26.

Orion and Sirius – Jagged, tooth-shaped ice structures known as penitentes dominate the high-altitude hills of Chile’s Atacama Desert in the foreground of this image. In the sky above, the familiar constellation Orion the Hunter stands at center with the night sky’s brightest star, Sirius, to its lower right. The sky’s second-brightest star, Canopus, appears farther to the right. – ESO/Babak Tafreshi

The brightest star in the night sky puts on a nice show January evenings. Gleaming at magnitude –1.5, Sirius shines nearly four times brighter than the next brightest star visible from mid-northern latitudes: Arcturus in the constellation Boötes. (Although Venus shines some 10 times brighter.) Sirius rises shortly after sunset and climbs highest in the south by late evening.
Right after dark face east and look very high for bright Capella, the Goat Star. To the right of it, by a couple of finger-widths at arm’s length, is a small, narrow triangle of 3rd and 4th magnitude stars known as “the Kids.” Though they’re not exactly eye-grabbing, they form a never-forgotten asterism with Capella.
New Moon occurs at 4:42 p.m. EST. At its New phase, the Moon crosses the sky with the Sun and so remains hidden in our star’s glare.
Venus (magnitude –4.0, in Aquarius) is that bright point shining in the southwest during and after twilight. In a telescope Venus still appears small (14 arcseconds) and gibbous (77% sunlit), but it will enlarge in size and wane in phase as it shines in the evening for the next four months.

Sun in Aquarius
Moon Capricorn enters Aquarius at 5:20am.
New Moon exact at 1:42pm
Color: Coral

©2020 M. Bartlett, Some parts separately copyright

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

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

******

Tides for Alsea Bay
*

Day        High      Tide Height   Sunrise    Moon Time      % Moon
~ /Low      Time    Feet Sunset Visible
F   24     High 12:41 AM     6.9   7:43 AM    Rise 7:53 AM      1
~ 24      Low   5:54 AM     3.3   5:14 PM     Set 5:08 PM
~ 24     High 11:40 AM     8.6
~ 24      Low   6:44 PM    -0.8

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Affirmation/Thought for the Day – Laugh. Play. Dance. Let go.

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Journal Prompt – What does this quote say to you? – I complained that I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet. — Persian proverb

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Quotes

~   Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books. – John Lubbock
~   Their rage supplies them with weapons. – Virgil
~   Without hope we live in desire. – Dante Alighieri
~   Little beginnings sometimes have great endings. – Benvenuto Cellini

I’m bright as an angel, and light as a feather,
But heavy and dark, when you squeeze me together.
Though candor and truth in my aspect I bear,
Yet many poor creatures I help to insnare.
Though so much of Heaven appears in my make,
The foulest impressions I easily take.
My parent and I produce one another,
The mother the daughter, the daughter the mother. – Jonathan Swift, “On Snow” (1667–1745)

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Imbolc Magick – Lore

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Silliness – Frosted

Posted in Daily Stuff, Newsletter, Pagan, Wiccan | Tagged Affirmation, Astrology, Astronomy, Candlemas, Celtic Tree Month, Flowering fern, Francis de Sales, Frosted, Goddess Month, I’m bright as an angel, Imbolc, Journal Prompt, Magick, Moon, moon phase, Oregon Coast, Osmunda regalis, Pagan, Perun’s flowers, Royal fern, Runic Half Month, Silliness, Tides, Today’s Feast, Today’s Plant, Weather, Wicca

Daily Stuff 1-23-20 Hathor

Posted on January 23, 2020 by Anja Snihova'

Hi, folks!

Featured photo by Arthur Bartlett. Minus Tide at 6:05 PM of -0.8 feet.

Most of the weather map is green, but we’re in a hole. The computer says, “Showers in the vicinity”. …well we were in a hole. I took 10 minutes drooling over camping tents and we’re already back to pouring rain! There’s 100% chance of rain both today and tonight and we’re under a GALE WARNING. 55F, wind at 4-16mph and gusting, AQI41, UV1. Rain should taper off to showers tomorrow and likely be dry late in the day before picking up again. The rest of the forecast is rain and showers and some extra wind over the weekend.

I was back up around noon and working on writing, trying to catch up from last week. Tempus had made me a bottle of cold coffee, so I got into that and had some oatmeal for breakfast. I worked steadily until 3pm, then got myself some lunch at which point I started getting sleepy again.

Tempus woke somewhere around 3:30, by which time I was discussing baby outfits with Raven. At around 4:30 he headed out to pay bills and then pick up some more rum. I had been working on the rumtopf and discovered that I had miscalculated. I got those finished and by 6pm he was back out doing laundry. I was in the middle of a book discussion that I get to once a month.

…and I went to sleep after that. I think I’m hibernating….. Tempus got back with the laundry long after I was asleep and stayed up doing dishes.

I was up for a bit during the night, but too early to get the newsletter out. Tempus is getting coffee. Once this is out I’ll be trying to fill in the files again and to see whether I can add some data back to the newsletters from last week. We’ll be open today 11-5, at least, and probably have the doors open a bit later than that. At least the newsletter is starting to look more normal…..

A photo taken by Arthur Bartlett on 1/22/18 near Puget Sound.

And another from a different angle.

Today’s Plant is Miner’s Lettuce, Claytonia perfoliata (aka winter purslane, or Indian lettuce). It’s a plant native to our area, growing and blooming in our soggy spring and drying out and dying back in the summer. I’ve seen in re-bloom in the fall. It’s a leaf vegetable that can be eaten raw or cooked like spinach. It’s really choice in salads and very high in vitamin C. It got the name because the Gold Rush miners ate it to prevent scurvy, since they really weren’t eating right. Like any lettuce or most of the salad greens it’s Feminine and Water, but as any high Vitamin C food, its planet correspondence is the Sun. – Sprinkling it inside the home brings happiness, so it’s good in floor washes or new home blessings. Carry it with you for luck and to protect from violence. Put it into sleep pillows or add to a dream catcher to keep away nightmares. I’ve actually slipped it between the mattress and sheets for this purpose. More here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miner%27s_lettuce More on the genus here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claytonia

Hathor is an Egyptian mother/death/sky goddess. She’s familiar to everyone as the cow-headed goddess whose symbol of cow horns as lunar crescents on either side of the disc of the sun/moon was worn by many other goddesses (and gods) in the pantheon. On her feast day offerings of cow’s milk are poured into the Nile. More here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hathor

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 1/23 at 1:42pm. 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 1/23 at 1:42am. Dark of the Moon, End of the cycle – In the time leading up to the “New Moon” you may do banishings and other baneful magicks and healings that require blasting a disease away, as well as using the time for introspection and self-work. Do scrying, now. Good for reversing circumstances. God/dess Aspect: The One Beyond, the Watchers in the Outer Dark, psychopomps – Associated God/desses: Hecate, Kali, Arianhrod, Anja, Kore in the Underworld, Ereshkigal who was Inanna, Set/Seth, Hades, Osiris. Phase ends at 1:42pm on 1/24.

Zero-magnitude <<< Capella, very high in the east after dark, and zero-magnitude Rigel >>>, in Orion’s foot, have almost the same right ascension. This means they cross your sky’s meridian at almost exactly the same time: around 9 p.m. now, depending on how far east or west you live in your time zone. (Capella goes exactly through your zenith if you’re at latitude 46°N.) So whenever Capella passes highest, Rigel always marks true south over your landscape, and vice versa.
Venus gleams in the southwestern sky after sunset. The brilliant planet stands out just a half hour after sunset, when it appears nearly 30° above the horizon, and remains on display until after 8 p.m. local time. Shining at magnitude –4.1, it is by far the brightest point of light in the night sky. A telescope shows Venus’ disk, which spans 15″ and appears three-quarters lit.
Mars (magnitude +1.5, in the feet of Ophiuchus near the head of Scorpius) glows modestly in the southeast before and during early dawn, not very high. It’s a very tiny 4 arcseconds in diameter. Lower right or right of it, by 5° to 7° for North America, twinkles Mars-colored Antares, which at magnitude 1.1 is noticeably brighter than Mars is now (not counting effects of atmospheric extinction).

Sun in Capricorn
Moon Capricorn
Color: Green

Planting 1/22-3

©2020 M. Bartlett, Some parts separately copyright

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

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

******

Tides for Alsea Bay
*

Day        High      Tide Height   Sunrise    Moon Time      % Moon
~ /Low      Time    Feet Sunset Visible
Th 23     High 12:00 AM     6.7   7:44 AM    Rise 7:06 AM      4
~ 23      Low   5:06 AM     3.4   5:13 PM     Set 4:07 PM
~ 23     High 10:56 AM     8.7
~ 23      Low   6:05 PM    -0.8

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Affirmation/Thought for the Day – Stand tall, face each day, make your dreams come true…life will reflect all that you do…..

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Journal Prompt – What do you think? – What do you think should be done to keep people who are under the influence of alcohol off the road?

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Quotes

~   Avoiding problems you need to face is avoiding the life you need to live. – Paulo Coelho
~   It is now the only place in our overly active world that does. – John Kenneth Galbraith
~   A noble person attracts noble people, and knows how to hold on to them. – J Wolfgang von Goethe
~   All summer she scattered the daisy leaves; They only mocked her as they fell. She said: “The daisy but deceives; ‘He loves me not,’ ‘he loves me will,’ One story no two daisies tell. Ah foolish heart, which waits and grieves Under the daisy’s mocking spell. – Helen Hunt Jackson (1830-1885) US writer

One must have a mind of winter
To regard the frost and the boughs
Of the pine-trees crusted with snow;
And have been cold a long time
To behold the junipers shagged with ice,
The spruces rough in the distant glitter. – –Wallace Stevens (1879–1955)

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Imbolc Magick – Recipes

Imbolc Ritual Cake – Adapted by Akasha Ap Emrys

13/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tbs. poppy-seeds
1 tbs. grated lemon peel
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tbs. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. salt
powdered sugar

This is all done in one pan, so clean up is a breeze! Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix flour, sugar, poppy-seeds, baking soda, and salt with a fork in an ungreased 9″x 9″ x 2″ baking pan. Stir in the remaining ingredients, except the powdered sugar. Bake 35-40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, and the top is golden brown. Remove from oven and cool. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Makes 8 servings.

Haman’s Ears

I think this recipe for Haman’s Ears would go nicely with Agatha’s breasts at a whimsical spring full moon feast.

Beat up 2 eggs and stir in 3 tablespoons oil. Then mix in sufficient flour to make a soft dough. Knead very thoroughly, break off small pieces and roll out on a floured board as thin as possible, to about the size of a meat patty to dry for an hour longer. Fry in hot oil until a very light brown. Drain and, if liked, sprinkle with castor sugar. Handle very carefully as they break easily.

Blessed Bride’s Cake – Adapted by Akasha Ap Emrys

1 cup sugar
1 cup nut meats, chopped (walnuts, pecans, filberts)
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup golden raisins
1 cup flour
4 eggs
1 tsp. baking powder

Mix all the ingredients together until they are wet. Do not over mix.
Pour into a greased and floured 9″x9″x2″ square baking pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes, or until knife inserted in middle of cake comes out clean.
Allow to cool before serving.

St. Agatha Loaves for Breast Disorders

St. Agatha, patron saint of breast disorders, is celebrated on February 5. The custom on February 4 is to bake loaves of bread called “Agathas” that are shaped like breasts. These loaves are blessed and distributed to friends of an ill woman. Use any bread recipe that will hold its shape when baked. Make as many of these loaves as you can. Hold your friend’s good health in your mind and heart as you mix the dough, knead, and shape it. When the Agathas are baked, distribute them to everyone who loves your friend. Tell them to hold her good health in their hearts as they eat. By: Lily Gardner )0( From Llewellyn and GrannyMoon’s Morning Feast

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Silliness – Failure is God’s way of saying, ‘Excuse me, you’re moving in the wrong direction.'” –Oprah Winfrey

Posted in Daily Stuff, Newsletter, Pagan, Wiccan | Tagged Affirmation, Astrology, Astronomy, Candlemas, Celtic Tree Month, Claytonia perfoliata, Goddess Month, Hathor, Imbolc, Imbolc Recipes, Indian lettuce, Journal Prompt, Magick, Miner's Lettuce, Moon, moon phase, One must have a mind of winter, Oprah Winfrey, Oregon Coast, Pagan, Runic Half Month, Silliness, Tides, Today’s Feast, Today’s Plant, Weather, Wicca, winter purslane

Daily Stuff 1-22-20 St. Vincent

Posted on January 22, 2020 by Anja Snihova'

Hi, folks!

Featured photo by Ken Gagne. Minus Tide at 5:22 PM of -0.6 feet.

It’s been dripping on us as we finished up the paper route, breezy down in Bayshore. 47F, wind at 4-11mph and gusting into the 20’s, AQI38, UV1. Today should be more windy than wet, even with an 80% chance, but tomorrow they’re talking about 1 1/3 inches! After that it’s all rain or showers or rain or showers….

I think I said something about “interesting weather” on Tuesday? https://www.thenewsguard.com/news/waterspouts-possible-tornado-and-large-hailstones-hit-the-oregon-coast/article_e40b69e0-3ca2-11ea-a191-b7720efea2e0.html?fbclid=IwAR3j0_aE8PiqUmVwS9Dlr-woS7LXm1Ks0HIs9tUaYY2dJkCDbXvGEJ9dWW4#utm_campaign=blox&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social

Yesterday started a bit later than usual. We took an extra hour or so to get caught up on sleep. We were still working on coffee when the computer arrived. Tempus got it set up while the tech and I talked and then I spent a little while looking at what he had been doing.

After that we scrabbled together the care packages for the boys in Newport and headed out. Tempus had us take a side trip to a house that really decorates for the holidays and they’ve set up for Valentine’s. That put a big smile on my face.

We stopped at Taco Bell to give Sash his, first, then at Jay’s, and the silly fellow came trotting out in bare feet and shorts. I told him he was definitely still a kid! He retorted that those were his *winter* shorts! <giggling>

Freddie’s was the next stop for some seeds, some new sheets (I put a foot through the one set….) and a pair of slippers, plus a few random food things. We went to Cash ‘n Carry after that because I needed to check some prices (thinking ahead to the feast) and we picked up a couple of other needed things, then headed home.

Once we were back I worked at the computer until it was time for supper, then I curled up on the nap bed while Tempus finished some more dishes and then headed for Newport. I woke when he was just starting the bulk drops, talked to him, went back to sleep and then got up around 1, when he was most of the way through South Beach.

By that point I had a new newsletter template filled in and was starting to set up frames. …and I side-tracked into figuring out how to edit photos. …and then started working on the ones from this week. …and we dropped the last paper at 7:15, but had one left over…

Today we’re going to sleep late, after Tempus figures out where that last paper is supposed to go. (…and he has and it’s delivered….) After that it’s back to chores. I’m going to have to get the astro later, though. Still don’t have everything quite put back together.

A photo from 1/18/17 by Ken Gagne – Looks like just a big wave until you realize those dots are seagulls!

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 is the feast of St. Vincent who is a thinly-veiled version of Apollo as the sun-god. It’s a little weird that so many of the saints end up having been gods, but the needs of humans for beings to work with that are a little more understandable than ”God the all-seeing, all-knowing, all-powerful” dictate that we gotta have ‘em. Take away the old gods and we’ll invent new…. The plant associated with him is Draba Verna, Whitlow Grass. Today is a weather/prosperity prognostication day.

If on St Vincent’s Day the sky is clear
More wine than water will crown the year. – Traditional

Or….

Remember on St Vincent’s Day
If that the sun his beams display,
Be sure to mark his transient beam
Which through the window sheds a gleam;
For ’tis a token bright and clear,
Of prosperous weather all the year. – Traditional

The shop is closed today. Winter hours are 11am-5pm Thursday through Monday. Need something off hours? Give us a call at 541-563-7154 or Facebook or email at ancientlight@peak.org 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

astro

Old Farmer’s Almanac Sky map for January – https://www.almanac.com/sky-map-january
Goddess Month of Hestia runs from 12/26 – 1/22
Goddess Month of of Bridhe, runs from 1/23 – 2/19
Celtic Tree Month of Luis/Rowan, Jan 21-Feb 17, Luis (LWEESH)/rowan
Runic half-month of Perdhro/ Peorth, 1/12-1/27. – Feast of Brewing, Druidic, Source: The Phoenix and Arabeth 1992 Calendar.

Sun in Capricorn
Moon Capricorn
Color: Topaz

Planting 1/22-3

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

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

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Tides for Alsea Bay
*

Day        High      Tide Height   Sunrise    Moon Time      % Moon
~ /Low      Time    Feet Sunset Visible
W   22      Low   4:13 AM     3.5   7:45 AM    Rise 6:12 AM      10
~ 22     High 10:09 AM     8.7   5:11 PM     Set 3:12 PM
~ 22      Low   5:22 PM    -0.6

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Affirmation/Thought for the Day – Life is what one makes it, and the outside world only reflects what is in your heart.

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Journal Prompt – What is? – What would be your perfect day?

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Quotes

~   The more you know yourself, the more clarity there is. Self-knowledge has no end, you don’t come to an achievement, you don’t come to a conclusion. It is an endless river. – J. Krishnamurti
~   I see no reason why I should tickle stones or waste time on polishing bronze. – Louise Nevelson (1889-1988) Russian artist
~   He who warns is not to be blamed. – Fljotsdale Saga, c.23
~   Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be. – John Wooden

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To know that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice. –Robert Frost (1874–1963)

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Imbolc Magick – Prayers

Prayer for Imbolc

On this Imbolc day, as I kindle the flame upon my hearth,
I pray that the flame of Brigid may burn in my soul,
and the souls of all I meet today.

I pray that no envy and malice,
no hatred or fear, may smother the flame.
I pray that indifference and apathy,
contempt and pride,
may not pour like cold water on the flame.

Instead, may the spark of Brigid light the love in my soul,
that it may burn brightly through this season.
And may I warm those that are lonely,
whose hearts are cold and lifeless,
so that all may know the comfort of Brigid’s love. – Morgana West

Source: The Wheel of the Year, Copyright © 2001 Morgana West
TAGS: compassion, Guidance, holidays, New Age, pagan, Peace
http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Prayer/Prayer-of-the-Day.aspx?d=20090202&source=NEWSLETTER

The Shield of Brigid

Every day, every night
that I praise the goddess,
I know I shall be safe:
I shall not be chased,
I shall not be caught,
I shall not be harmed.
Fire, sun, and moon
cannot burn me. Not
lake nor stream nor sea
can drown me. Fairy
arrow cannot pierce me.
I am safe, safe, safe,
singing her praise. ~ Irish Prayer

Ceremony for Candlemas Eve

Down with the Rosemary and Bayes
Down with the Mistletoe
Instead of Holly, now upraise
The greener Box (for Show).

The Holly hitherto did sway
Let Box now domineer;
Until the dancing Easter-day
Or Easter’s Eve appear. ~Robert Herrick (1591-1674)

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Silliness – Twenty Uses for Fruitcake

Use as a doorstop
2. Use as a paperweight
3. Use to clean your pots and pans
4. Use as boat anchor
5. Use as bricks in fireplace
6. Build a house with them
7. Use it to hold up your Christmas tree
8. Use as a pencil holder
9. Give it to the cat for a scratching post
10. Put it in the back yard to feed the birds and squirrels
11. Hold up your car when changing tires
12. Slice and use for poker chips
13. Use it to carve your turkey on
14. Use as replacement for Duraflame log
15. Take it camping with you…use it to weigh down the tent
16. Use it as a seat at a stadium event
17. Stand on it when you change a lightbulb
18. Put it in the back of your car/truck for snow/ice driving
19. Replaces free weights when you work out
20. Use as book ends at the school library

Posted in Daily Stuff, Newsletter, Pagan, Wiccan | Tagged Affirmation, Astrology, Astronomy, Candlemas, Celtic Tree Month, Goddess Month, holidays, Hypericum perforatum, I shall not be caught, Imbolc, Imbolc Prayers, Journal Prompt, Magick, Moon, moon phase, New Age, Oregon Coast, Pagan, Runic Half Month, Silliness, Some say the world will end in fire, St. John's Wort, St. Vincent, sun, Tides, Today’s Feast, Today’s Plant, Twenty Uses for Fruitcake, Weather, Wicca

Daily Stuff 1-21-20 Kings’ Crusade

Posted on January 21, 2020 by Anja Snihova'

Hi, folks!

Featured photo by Ken Gagne.

Everything is wet and the weather map shows a big green blodge offshore that ought to run over us about mid-morning. We’re under a GALE WARNING until 4pm. 70% chance of rain today and 100% tonight. 47F, wind at 6-12mph and gusting, AQI41, UV1. The forecast for 10 days out is for rain and showers….

Yesterday was really busy. Tempus is making a lot of headway on re-organizing his workspace so a lot of the clutter that’s been living around the sofa is diminishing. I’m making some progress, too, although it’s getting some of the smaller things finished and put away. Several pincushions vanished, for example, which is a good thing, because I sold some last week.

The towers got picked up but we don’t know how far the tech has gotten on data transfer and all. I’m really champing at the bit to get back at my files. You can see how skimpy the newsletter is and I’ve gotten a couple of really annoyed comments from people.

I spent quite awhile yesterday working on the planters out front. I got a lot of old, dead foliage pulled and a lot of weeds. I filled a tote that Tempus took out to a compost pile that we have use of for stuff of that sort. I managed to dump the small pots that had no plants into some of the planters that needed a bit of new dirt, like my fennel and the sorrel. I also ended up pulling up a *lot* of crocosmia corms in the process. I need to thin those out!

So I have a small bucket of corms that are free to the first person that wants them and there will be more. Crocosmia have long, green sword-shaped leaves and stems of bright orange or red flowers in the summer. They love our climate out here, so after the first year, when they do need some water, they’re a no-care filler plant that chokes out grass and other weeds.

The shop was fairly busy, not as much so as over the weekend. I got a nap late in the afternoon so that I’d be ready for 101. We were still trying to find a set of the class files when people were coming in, but eventually we tracked them down. There were 5 people last night and we have two more that might join the class, still. Class went pretty well, I think. We got through the first couple of sections of Lesson 1.

I crashed afterwards. I had just about enough energy to eat my supper and then I slept almost straight through until 7:30 this morning.

Today we were supposed to go to Sash’s, but it’s not working out, so Tempus is going to go out to do laundry while I keep working on clean-up. We’re hoping to hear about the computer today, which will be awfully good, if we can get it back. Paper run tonight.

Another Ken Gagne photo from the morning of 1/21/15. Table Rock in Yachats.

Today’s plant is Nasturtium, Tropaeolum majus, (not watercress, which is true nasturtium). It’s certainly not native to the PNW, but grows well here. I love the brilliant oranges and yellows of the flowers. They’re yummy, too, with a slightly peppery taste, both leaf and flower and the seeds serve as a substitute for capers in pickles. The flowers stand for Victory in Battle; Patriotism and Affectation and are little used in magicks other than as symbols and foods for Ostara and Beltane celebrations because of their association with the Sun. They also can be used as a symbol for sacrifice to the larger good of soldiers, firemen and police, but are usually only seen at funerals in this context. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropaeolum_majus

Today in 1189 the 3rd Crusade began, sometimes called the Kings’ Crusade since Richard Lionheart of England, Phillip II of France and Frederick Barbarossa put it together. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Crusade The Crusades were an odd phenomenon, part political, part religious and really caused more damage than they did any good. On the other hand, they set off the industrial revolution of the Middle Ages (wind and water power) and eventually the Renaissance. Also, there were a *lot* of crusades that didn’t include the holy land at all, hacking up heretics in Provence, anyone? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crusades We’re still paying the price for the hubris that set the whole thing off.

Love & Light,
Anja

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Today’s Astro & Calendar

Old Farmer’s Almanac Sky map for January – https://www.almanac.com/sky-map-january
Goddess Month of Hestia runs from 12/26 – 1/22
Celtic Tree Month of Luis/Rowan, Jan 21-Feb 17, Luis (LWEESH)/rowan
Runic half-month of Perdhro/ Peorth, 1/12-1/27. – Feast of Brewing, Druidic, Source: The Phoenix and Arabeth 1992 Calendar.

Sun in Capricorn

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Posted in Daily Stuff, Newsletter | Tagged Kings’ Crusade, nasturtium, Tropaeolum majus

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