Ancient Light's Daily Stuff

Daily Stuff 6-25-21 Rainbow Flag

Posted on June 25, 2021 by Anja Snihova'

Hi, folks!

Minus Tide at 7:55 AM of -2.5 feet. The shop opens at 1pm. Summer hours are Thurs-Mon. 1-6pm. Featured photo by GirlInWaterPhotography. Herbs Workshop re-starts Thursday 7/8 from 7-9pm.

Mostly cloudy 5F, wind at 2-5mph and gusting, AQI 21-51, UV9. Chance of rain 8% today and 12% tonight. Sunday’s forecast calls for a high of 76F. The rest of the week looks like mid-60’s and partly cloudy. The CUTOFF Fire (East of Klamath Falls) is still at 1288 Acres, but is 67% contained. The S-503 FIRE (Warm Springs) is up to 6679 Acres, but 50% contained….and there’s one firespot just outside of Donald.

We’ve been having a string of frustrating days with important things not happening because something immediate must and then energy runs out and… <sigh> Yesterday was one of those.

For some blasted reason, someone decided to start using a string trimmer around our spot in the park (after Tempus cut everything yesterday) at about 11am… an hour before we were supposed to get up. …and did one side…and then the other… and then went around to the other end and started up again! Whoever it was doing it woke us both, cut things he shouldn’t have, like our neighbors’ flowers, left marks in the plant buckets and just generally started our day off *really* cranky!

The sky and river were very blue when we were heading into town, but it clouded back up toward evening. We got the shop open and got coffee and that helped. Tempus also made me a delicious sandwich after a bit. We started the day with a number of customers and by the time I was done with messages and mail and developing pictures I was having trouble concentrating. It finally got bad enough that Tempus chased me into the back and I slept until nearly 6pm.

Once I was back up he made us a pizza for supper and I worked on shell correspondences for quite some time. He headed out for the bulk route at around 9:30. I curled up with some sewing for a bit, then got back to work on the computer.

Today I was supposed to spend the day at home, making a stew and getting some sewing done. Dunno if that’s still the plan or not because Tempus still hasn’t gotten those errands run. If it is, he’ll open the shop and stay open at least until 6pm, maybe later. If not, he’ll be running errands and I’ll open the shop. We’ll see how it works out!

Photo from 6/24/17 of a Juvenile Red Rock crab by Jamie Marie@girlinwaterphotography Perfect for the Sun in Cancer! (used with permission)

Today’s feast is in honor of the day that the Gay Pride Rainbow Flag first flew in 1978. It has a history and the color order is that of the spectrum. It may have been used in he 60′s as a diversity symbol but this is the first one associated with a large Gay Pride day. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_flag_(LGBT_movement)

Today’s Plant is Cow parsnip, Heracleum lanatum, or Indian Celery. Growing in every damp place along the roads out here, this is easily confused with seacoast angelica, and other plants, and even dangerously with water hemlock, if you don’t look carefully, or dig it up to check the root. It’s a huge plant (over 6 feet tall) with leaves large enough to make a hat from! Local peoples used it as a poultice plant for bruises and sores. The young stems and leaf stalks can be peeled and eaten in spring. The root makes a nice yellow dye. – Feminine, Water, Moon, Hathor – The flowers glow in the moonlight and I have used this as a plant of sacrifice to Bona Dea or the Great Mother in one of her many aspects as it is a symbol of the plenty of spring. More here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heracleum_lanatum

The shop opens at 1pm. Summer 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

Moon in Capricorn

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 6/24 at 11:40am. 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 6/25 at 11:40pm. 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 7/9 at 6:17pm. 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 7/1 at 2:11pm .

With a bright Moon still in Sagittarius, it’s best to focus on easy targets on the other side of the sky today. Early in the morning a few hours before sunrise, the Great Square of Pegasus — formed by the stars Alpheratz, Algenib, Markab, and Scheat — is high in the east. Magnitude 2.4 Enif, in the constellation’s southwestern region, marks the Winged Horse’s nose. At 670 light-years away, this yellow giant star’s total luminosity is 6,700 times greater than our Sun’s. The star itself is also 185 times larger than the Sun. Home in on Enif with binoculars or a small scope, and you’ll see a fainter “companion” about 2′ northwest of the star. This is a chance alignment — these two stars are not associated in real space, but make a nice visual double. Next, slide your gaze 4° northwest of bright Enif and you’ll run right into the bright globular cluster M15. This densely packed grouping of around 100,000 stars sits 33,600 light-years away and glows at magnitude 6.2, spanning about 18′ on the sky. It is home to numerous variable stars — at least 112 have been identified within it so far.

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

Leo the Lion is mostly a constellation of late winter and spring. But he’s not gone yet. As twilight ends look due west, somewhat low, for Regulus, his brightest and now lowest star: the forefoot of the Lion stick figure. The Sickle of Leo extends upper right from Regulus. The rest of the Lion’s constellation figure runs upper left from there for a couple of fist-widths, to his tail star Denebola, the highest. He’ll soon be treading offstage into the sunset.

Venus (magnitude –3.8, in Gemini) shines low in the west-northwest during twilight. It hardly moves now with respect to your landscape from week to week, but its background stars are certainly moving right along. Watch Castor and Pollux, to Venus’s right, position themselves to line up with the dazzling planet on June 24th.

Runic half-month of Dagaz/ Dag, 6/14-6/28. – Beneficial rune of light, health, prosperity and openings, signifying the high point of the day and the high point of the year when in light and warmth all things are possible. Runic New Year’s Eve, final day of the runic year June 28 Runic New Year and half-month of Fehu/ Feoh, 6/29-7/13 Important in the runic year cycle, today marks beginning of the first rune, Feoh, sacred to Frey and Freya (Freyja), the lord and lady often worshipped in modern Wicca. It is the half-month of wealth and success. Nigel Pennick, The Pagan Book of Days, Destiny Books, Rochester, Vermont, USA, 1992, 1992

NIGHT SKY MAP FOR JUNE 2021: SEE THE STARS MOVE – https://www.almanac.com/night-sky-map-june-see-stars-move

Goddess Month of Rosea runs from 6/13 – 7/10
Celtic Tree Month of Duir/Oak, Jun 10 – Jul 7
Neptune Retrograde 12:21pm (12/1)
Pluto (10/6), Saturn (10/10)Jupiter (10/18) Retrograde
Color – Coral
Planting 6/25
©2021 M. Bartlett, Some parts separately copyright

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Celtic Tree Month of Duir/Oak, Jun 10 – Jul 7 – The oak of myth and legend is the common oak (Quercus robur L.). It is sometimes called the great oak, which is a translation of its Latin name (robur is the root of the English word “robust”). It grows with ash and beech in the lowland forests, and can reach a height of 150 feet and age of 800 years. Along with ashes, oaks were heavily logged throughout recent millennia, so that the remaining giant oaks in many parts of Europe are but a remnant of forests past. Like most other central and northern European trees, common oaks are deciduous, losing their leaves before Samhain and growing new leaves in the spring so that the trees are fully clothed by Bealltaine. Common oaks are occasionally cultivated in North America, as are the similar native white oak, valley oak, and Oregon oak. Oaks are members of the Beech family (Fagaceae). Curtis Clark

Duir – Oak Ogam letter correspondences
Month: May
Color: Black and Dark Brown
Class: Chieftain
Letter: D
Meaning: Security; Strength

to study this month – Eadha – White Poplar or Aspen Ogam letter correspondences
Month: None
Color: Silver White
Class: Shrub
Letter: E
Meaning: Problems; Doubts; Fears.

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Tides for Alsea Bay
*

Day        High      Tide Height   Sunrise    Moon Time      % Moon
~ /Low      Time    Feet Sunset Visible
F 25     High 12:43 AM     9.0   5:33 AM     Set 6:14 AM      99
~    25      Low   7:55 AM    -2.5   9:05 PM    Rise 10:37 PM
~    25     High   2:33 PM     6.7
~    25      Low   7:44 PM     2.5

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Affirmation/Thought for the Day – Be happy. Be bright. Be you.

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Journal Prompt – Favorites – Explain how to play your favorite game.

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Quotes

~   There is no marvel in a woman learning to speak, but there would be in teaching her to hold her tongue. – Queen Elizabeth I; to the French Ambassador after he had praised her linguistic skills
~   There is nothing more servile, despicable, cowardly and narrow-minded than a terrorist. – François-René de Chateaubriand
~   Thus in a royal swoop unanimously perceived as sudden, unexpected, astounding and unheard of, the knights of a religious order which had come to symbolise in its white mantle and red cross the essence of medieval knighthood, which was said to possess 9,000 manors scattered throughout Europe, and which, owing to their efficiency and capillary structure, facilitated payments and tax collection, managed the royal treasuries of England and France, found themselves quite literally thrown from a position of wealth and power into stinking dungeons. – Edward Burman, on the raid on the French Templars in 1307; Supremely Abominable Crimes, 1994
~   Virgil was large in person and stature, with a swarthy complexion, a peasant’s brow, and uneven health, for he commonly suffered from pain in his stomach, throat, and head; indeed, he often spat up blood. He was sparing of food and wine. With regard to pleasure, he was partial to boys. – Aelius Donatus, Life of Virgil; tr. David Wilson-Okamura

Your voice, with clear location of June days,
Called me outside the window. You were there,
Light yet composed, as in the just soft stare
Of uncontested summer all things raise
Plainly their seeming into seamless air. – –Richard Wilbur (1921–2007)

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Magick – Ganesha – Old European culture – Posted: 26 Nov 2020 02:46 PM PST

Ganesha, the god with an elephant head, is one of the best-known and most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon. He is revered as the god of beginnings, the remover of obstacles and the patron of arts and sciences and the god of intellect and wisdom. I talked about the reason why in my post “Elephant memory“.

Ganesha may have emerged as a deity as early as the 1st century BCE, but most certainly by the 4th and 5th centuries CE, during the Gupta period…

There are many legends abut Ganesha. But interestingly, most of these stories concentrate on three things: his birth, his elephant head, and his single tusk.

In this article I would like to talk about these legends and would try to extract from them data that will help us to understand who this god really is…

While Ganesha is popularly considered to be the son of Shiva and Parvati, the Puranic myths relate several different versions of his birth. These include versions in which he is created by Shiva, by Parvati, by Shiva and Parvati, or in some other manner and is later discovered by Shiva and Parvati.

The most well-known Ganesha creation story is probably the one taken from the Shiva Purana.

The goddess Parvati had started preparing for a bath. As she didn’t want to be disturbed during her bath and since Nandi (Bull servant of Shiva) was not at Kailash to keep guard of the door, Parvati took the turmeric paste (for bathing) from her body and made a form of a boy and breathed life into him. This boy was instructed by Parvati to guard the door and to not let anyone in until she finished her bath.

After Shiva had come out of his meditation, he wanted to go and see Parvati but found himself being stopped by this strange boy. Shiva tried to reason with the boy saying that he was Parvati’s husband but the boy did not listen and was determined to not let Shiva enter until his mother Parvati finished her bath. The “usually peaceful” Shiva who was “desperate” to “see” Parvati got so mad with the boy that his “divine fury” severed the boy’s head with his Trishul thereby killing him instantly.

When Parvati learned of this, she was so enraged and insulted that she decided to destroy the entire Creation. Lord Brahma, being the Creator, naturally had his issues with this, and pleaded that she reconsider her drastic plan. She said she would, but only under two conditions: one, that the boy be brought back to life, and two, that he be forever worshipped before all the other gods.

Shiva, having cooled down by this time, agreed to Parvati’s conditions. He sent his Shiva-dutas out with orders to bring back the head of the first creature that is lying with its head facing North. The Shiva-dutas soon returned with the head of a strong and powerful elephant Gajasura which Lord Brahma placed onto boy’s body. Breathing new life into him, he was declared as Gajanana and gave him the status of being foremost among the gods, and leader of all the ganas (classes of beings), Ganapati.

Goddess Parvati derives her name from Parvata (पर्वत), one of the Sanskrit words for “mountain”. She is the daughter of king Himavan (also called Himavat, Parvat), the god of the Himalayas and the personification of the Himalayas range.

It is Himalayas that create the monsoon.

And it is that monsoon which is “the bath of Parvati”.

So Parvati created Ganesha from turmeric to guard her bath and stop anyone from coming in…

Now interestingly, turmeric is planted “right after the first monsoon showers” and in a way is the symbol of the beginning of the monsoon season…Monsoon season which in Ganges river catchment area starts in May/Jun and ends in Oct/Nov.

The monsoon season peaks at the end of Jul beginning of Aug. Right at point when summer (symbolised by a bull, Shiva’s vahana) meats autumn (symbolised by a lion, Parvati’s vahana)…

So Shiva who was “in meditation” wakes up (at the beginning of summer, end of Apr beginning of May, in Taurus) and goes on to “see” his wife. But he is stopped by the “strange boy made of turmeric” (beginning of monsoon). He tries to argue with the boy, but is getting more and more hot and bothered (temperature peaks towards the end of summer). Finally he blows up and kills the boy. At that moment Parvati is in the bath (monsoon in full swing). She comes out totally pissed off and starts yelling at Shiva who knows that he has screwed it up and will not get to “meet” Parvati unless he fixes the shit he has made pronto. So he sends his goons to get another head for the boy and they bring back an elephant head…Abrakadabra…Elephant boy…By the way, the fight between Parvati and Shiva happens in the middle of Parvati’s bath, in the middle of monsoon, at its peak, at the end of summer, beginning of autumn, and of Jul beginning of Sep. At the peak of the Indian elephant mating season…Which overlaps with the monsoon season…

I talked about all this in detail in my posts “Ardhanarishvara” and “Musth“.

This Ganesha creation story simply states that he was born by Parvati…

Parvati gave birth to a beautiful boy. All the gods came to see him. Except Shani. He had not come due to a curse which made the head of anyone he glanced at get burnt to ashes. When Parvati heard about this, she felt her son faced no such threat. She pressed Shani to visit her. But, even his hesitant glance at the child – with just one of his eyes; proved his fears right. The child’s head went up in flames. A distraught Parvati demanded that Shani restore her child’s head. She asked him to send a servant to bring back the head of the first person he met. But Shani could punish someone only if he had erred. His emissary, who went looking for an erring individual, found an elephant sleeping with his face turned northwards. He cut off his head and brought it back to be placed on Parvati’s little son.

It is interesting as it says that Parvati’s son’s head “went up in flames”…I believe that this is the description of what happens to nature, which Parvati gives birth to, during the last few scorching hot days before the arrival of the monsoon. This is the time of drought, the time of fires. The nature dies…But then the elephant musth starts and the rain arrives and the nature is revived…This time with an elephant head…

But why do both of these stories state that “the elephant was lying with his head pointing north”? Well I believe that this has to do with the direction of the monsoon winds…They blow northward during the rain season.

Do elephants face away from the prevailing winds, basically facing the same direction as the wind blows? Or is this just a symbol for “when the rain winds blow and elephants mate”? Either way it’s all there, in plain sight…

This next version of the Ganesha creation story links it directly with the elephant matins season, which starts in June and lasts until September. Basically covering the whole monsoon season:

Shiva and Parvati went to rest in a forest on the slopes of Himalaya. They found two elephants making love there. Their passions ignited, Shiva and Parvati wanted to enjoy themselves like these elephants. They turned into elephants and made love. This is why Ganesha, the son who was born to them afterwards, had the face of an elephant.

I fully believe that ancient Indians directly linked elephant Musth (mating season) with the arrival of rains. Which is why the Thunder god Indra “rides” on Airavata, a white elephant which is also called “Abhra-Matanga” meaning “elephant of the clouds”.

And which is why Ganesha, the elephant god, is the product of the union of Shiva and Parvati. Shiva “rides” on a white bull (symbol of summer, May-Jul). Parvati “rides” on a lion (symbol of Autumn, Aug-Nov). Their union, meeting place, is the moment when summer meets autumn, end of Jul, beginning of Aug, the peak of the monsoon…Also the peak of the Elephant Musth…Hence the elephant boy…

I talked about all this in detail in my post “Ardhanarishvara“.

By the way, this is why this story makes perfect sense:

Once there was a competition between Ganesha and his brother to see who could circumambulate the three worlds faster and hence win the fruit of knowledge. Skanda went off on a journey to cover the three worlds while Ganesha simply circumambulated his parents. When asked why he did so, he answered that his parents Shiva and Parvati where his whole world and was thus given the fruit of knowledge.

Several other versions of the Ganesha creation myth involve Parvati creating Ganesha “after her bath”.

1. After finishing her bath, Parvati made a human figure from the bathing oil and the dirt scrubbed away from her skin. It came to life after she sprinkled water from the Ganga on it.

2. Parvati took the mixture of bathing oil and the dirt cleaned from her body to where the river Ganga began her course. She made Malini, a rakshashi with an elephant’s head, drink it. Malini conceived afterwards and gave birth to an elephant headed son. Parvati took him away from her and kept him with her.

Like in all areas with a monsoon driven climate, it is the annual monsoon rain which creates the annual floods which rejuvenate and replenish the alluvial soil with nutrients and prepare it for another agricultural season…

You can see that the Ganges river level peaks right at the time when Shiva (summer, bull) meets Parvati (autumn, lion), at the peak of the elephant mating season.

Is this why Ganesha is revived by the water of the river Ganges? After all it is Parvati “the mountain that gives birth to the monsoon. And it is the monsoon that gives birth to the holy river Ganges…And it is the silt rich waters of the holy river Ganges which create abundant harvests in the Ganges catchment area…

There is a very interesting festival called Ganesh Chaturhi. This festival celebrates Ganesh’s arrival from his mother’s place (Himalayas). It takes place in late August, early September. It is a 10 days festival during which a clay statue of Ganesha are installed in people’s homes, worshiped, and then submerged into rivers to dissolve in river water.

There are two explanations for the practice of immersion. It is said that Ganesha is immersed in order to send him back home to Mount Kailash. It is also said that the process of immersion is considered a proper way of disposing of the deity or rather a way of its safekeeping.

This is very interesting as this “disposing of deity” coincides with the peak of the monsoon and the peak of the musth, the mating season of the Indian elephants…It also coincides with the peak of the flood sediment deposition…

And so it is the literally the “dirt scrubbed away from Parvati’s skin” and “Partvati’s bath water” which create Ganesha, the god of harvest and of abundance. You did know that Ganesha was explicitly connected to the grain harvest? To the point where he is considered to be an old harvest god?

You can read all about it in the intro to the “The Origin of the Ganapati Cult” by S. M. Michael.

That Ganesha represents the bountiful harvest can be seen from one of his names “suprakarna”. Supra means winnowing basket. One of the names for the last sheaf of grain harvested from the field is “benappu” which is a synonym for Ganesha…It is also believed that Ganesha’s customary yellow color was derived from the color of the ripe grains…

And who is one of the biggest enemies of the grain farmers? Mice and rats who can devastate the granaries. So in order to have a bountiful harvest, people need to destroy mice, rats…Which is why it is believed that Ganesha, the god of bountiful harvest, rides on (subdues) a mouse, rat…

Rats were sacrificed to Rudra and his sister Ambika. Rudra later became Shiva and Ambika became Parvati, whose son is rat riding (subduing) Ganesha…After the clay statue of Ganesha is dissolved in the river during Ganesh Chaturhi festival, a bit of clay is brought back home and ceremoniously thrown into the granary. It is believed that it would protect the grain from rats…In Ratnagiri district (🙂) they have a special rat festival during which both Ganesha and a rat a worshiped. The food offerings placed before the rat are taken to the grain fields the next day and are crumbled among the grains to appease the rodents so they don’t eat the grains…

Interestingly, in India, people see rats more often from April through June (spring breeding). This is basically during the wheat harvest, just before the beginning of the elephant musth (mating season) which starts in June and which announces the beginning of the monsoon…

Elephant arrives on (comes after) a rat…

Oh and guess when is the second best time of the year to see feeld rats in India? In October and November as the season changes, the monsoon, which coincides with elephant mating season (June to September) has ended, and when the rice harvest begins…

Rat – Elephant – Rat…Elephant riding on a rat…

Oh and guess what is the first thing that people do when the elephant arrives on a rat? They plant rice…The the main rice planting season is in May/Jul. What is the only thing that can make insatiable Ganesha full? A bowl of rice…And guess when the rice is harvested? After the end of monsoon, in Sep/Dec…This article has dates of rice seasons per region.

Oh and guess who is one of the biggest enemies of the field mice and rats in India? Cobra. Which is why Ganesha “wears cobra around his neck or around his fat belly, which is the symbol of bountiful harvest, oh holds it in his hand or…”

These next two Ganesha creation stories indicates that he is actually Shiva:

1. A good looking boy emerged out of Shiva’s laughter. Noticing Parvati getting attracted towards him, Shiva turned jealous. He cursed the boy and took away his good looks by giving him an elephant’s head and a fat belly.

2. A part of Shiva turned into a handsome being and emerged from Parvati’s womb.

Ganesha is Shiva. Shiva “wearing elephant skin”.

This is basically spelled out to us in the first, most famous Ganesha creation story: “The Shiva-dutas soon returned with the head of a strong and powerful elephant Gajasura which Lord Brahma placed onto boy’s body“…

Who the hell is Gajasura?

Well he is the demon Rakshasa who assumed the form of an elephant and terrorized Brahmins who were worshipping the Shiva linga. Shiva emerged from this linga, slew the demon, and removed the elephant skin, thereafter wearing the hide on his upper body.

Since then Shiva became known as Gajasurasamhara (lit. “The Slayer of the elephant demon”), also Gajasamhara, Gajantaka and Gajaha (all three lit. “the Slayer of the elephant”) and Matangari (“The Enemy of the elephant”).

So here we can see that Shiva literally wears elephant skin. His slaying of the elephant demon just depicts the anthropomorphisation of the original elephant worship…

Here is another, even better story about Gajasura and Shiva.

Once, there existed an Asura (demon) with all the characteristics of an elephant, called Gajasura, who was undergoing a penitence (tapas). Shiva, satisfied by this austerity, decided to grant him, as a reward, whatever gift he desired. The demon wished that he could emanate fire continually from his own body so that no one could ever dare to approach him. The Lord granted him his request. Gajasura continued his penitence and Shiva, who appeared in front of him from time to time, asked him once again what he desired. The demon responded: “I desire that You inhabit my stomach.” Shiva agreed.

Parvati sought him everywhere without results. As a last recourse, she went to her brother Vishnu, asking him to find her husband. He, who knows everything, reassured her: “Don’t worry, dear sister, your husband is Bhola Shankara and promptly grants to his devotees whatever they ask of him, without regard for the consequences; for this reason, I think he has gotten himself into some trouble. I will find out what has happened.”

Then Vishnu, the omniscient director of the cosmic game, staged a small comedy. He transformed Nandi (the bull of Shiva) into a dancing bull and conducted him in front of Gajasura, assuming, at the same time, the appearance of a flutist. The enchanting performance of the bull sent the demon into ecstasies, and he asked the flutist to tell him what he desired. The musical Vishnu responded: “Can you give me that which I ask?” Gajasura replied: “Who do you take me for? I can immediately give you whatever you ask.” The flutist then said: “If that’s so, liberate Shiva from your stomach.” Gajasura understood then that this must have been no other than Vishnu himself, the only one who could have known that secret and he threw himself at his feet. Having agreed to liberate Shiva, Gajasura asks him for two last gifts: “I have been blessed by you with many gifts; my last requests are that everyone should remember me adoring my head and you should wear my skin.”

So, Shiva, “who was inside Gajasura”, basically “who was Gajasura”, gets to wear Gajasura’s skin while his son, Ganesha, gets to wear Gajasura’s head…Together Shiva and Ganesha are Gajasura…

Oh and by the way, the depictions of Shiva dancing triumphantly after slaying Gajasura, show him “holding one of Gajasura’s tusks in one of his hands”…For those wondering “how did Ganesha loose one of his tusks”…

Another very interesting part of the above story is the very first sentence: “Once, there existed an Asura (demon) with all the characteristics of an elephant, called Gajasura, who was undergoing a penitence (tapas)“. Tapas is a variety of austere spiritual practices in Indian religions. Basically it’s asceticism, inner cleansing…The word “Tapas” which means “warmth, heat, fire”, is based on the root Tap (तप्) meaning “to heat, to give out warmth, to shine, to burn”. The term evolves to also mean “to suffer, to mortify the body, undergo penance” in order to “burn away past karma” and liberate oneself…But I believe that originally it just meant to suffer (from heat, thirst and hunger) during the last few scorching hot months before the grain harvest (Apr-May) and before the monsoon returns (May-Jun)…This is the “Tapas” endured by Gajasura before “Shiva started dancing in his belly”…Before the monsoon returned and the elephant Musth started…

This last Ganesha creation story is brilliant as it actually confirms what I just said abut tapas:

The gods were feeling alarmed: there were too many humans entering heaven after performing penance. They rushed to Shiva for succour. After listening to them, Shiva turned towards Parvati. Rubbing some dirt off her body, she made a plump figure with four arms and an elephant head from it. It came to life soon afterwards. Parvati directed him to place obstacles in the path of humans seeking to enter heaven through penance.

Now if penance (suffering, no food, no water, to procreation) is what brings people to heaven, then lots of food, lots of water, lots of procreation is what stops them from going to heaven…What keeps people alive, satiated and happy…And definitely keeps them out of heaven…Tapas “warmth, heat, fire” causes drought which causes nature to wither, which causes suffering which cause causes lots of people to die from suffering which causes lots of people to go to heaven (whether they want it or not). On the other hand, the mad humping Elephant of rain causes monsoon, which causes nature to flourish, which causes wells to swell and crops to grow, people to procreate and get born and “puts a lot of obstacles in the path of humans seeking to enter heaven through penance”.

Thank Shiva and Parvati…Oh, and Ganesha, “the remover of obstacles”???

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Silliness – Silly Q&A – – Q: What do you call a bearded maker of ceramics? A: Hairy Potter

Posted in Daily Stuff, Newsletter, Pagan, Update | Tagged Affirmation, Astrology, Astronomy, Celtic Tree Month, Cow parsnip, Goddess Month, Heracleum lanatum, Indian Celery, Journal Prompt, Juvenile Red Rock crab, Magick, Moon, moon phase, Oregon Coast, Pagan, Rainbow Flag, Runic Half Month, Silliness, Silly Q&A, Tides, Today’s Feast, Today’s Plant, Weather, Wicca, Your Voice | Leave a comment

Daily Stuff 6-24-21

Posted on June 24, 2021 by Anja Snihova'

Hi, folks!

Minus Tide at 7:07 AM of 2.3 feet. The shop opens at 1pm. Summer hours are Thurs-Mon. 1-6pm. Featured photo by Ken Gagne. Herbs Workshop re-starts Thursday 7/8 from 7-9pm.

Something must have kicked in because the smoke plume that was over us is gone. It’s overcast, should be partly sunny late in the afternoon. 56F (yeah *warm*!) wind at 3-6mph and gusting, AQI 33-43, UV9. Chance of rain 7% today and 14% tonight. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY from 3pm today to 5am on Friday. Even though everyone else is, there’s no heat advisory for the Coast! We could hit 80F on Sunday, though…. the forecast for the 10 days, (other than that) is partly cloudy and mid-60’s. S-503 is 30% contained. Dry Creek and Joseph Canyon are up to 95% containment. CUTOFF Fire is up to 1288 Acres, but 41% contained. …but folks are starting to worry about the heat over this coming weekend. Send good energy to no lightning and no stupids!

Yesterday was productive, but not as much as we’d hoped. I’m re-reading 5th Sacred Thing and City of Refuge (by Starhawk) and we got to talking before, during and after coffee about some of the ethical problems that the stories go into. It was 6pm before we were actually starting to work on things. I made a chocolate cake and we had raspberries on it, and I had mine with milk. That was a childhood treat from my memories. It was past 7 before I got out to the garden.

We got a bunch of hawkweed pulled up in places where it shouldn’t be. Tempus got some string trimming done, but hit one of the hoses that’s going to have to be replaced. Not that they weren’t going to have to be done, it’s just we hadn’t planned on it quite so soon. …and it’s going to get wrapped with pool noodle or insulation or something…..

I got a couple of buckets planted (radish, garlic and carrot), plus some extra seed and/or extra dirt into pots that seemed to need those and got a *lot* of pictures! Tempus moved a few more plant pots for me and the bigger pots that were in the way got shifted, as well. While I worked on weeding, he washed a couple more buckets and then got the watering done, which is starting to take awhile. I’m hoping he can find the drip irrigation stuff and I can get that line set up for the main part of the garden to cut that chore down to size. One more bucket to go, for planting vegetable ends and that will be the last for this year. I want to do a couple more pots with lettuce, but I don’t have the right seed, yet.

When we came back in, I did some sewing and he did dishes and we talked for awhile before both getting a nap before it was time to come back into town. The sky is very bright from the Moon despite thick cloud. I did a little writing before he headed into Newport and I’ve been sidetracked on catching up on mail from the last couple of days.

Today we should be open on time. Tempus has errands to run and I have shells to work on, still. I’m at the point of the next set of pictures, at least. Most of the things that I got from Dennis have been priced. It’s mostly pendulums at this point that I still need to get done.

A photo from 6/22/17 by Ken Gagne. Look at his feet! He’s got an eel! Used with permission

Today’s feast is Inti Raymi, the ancient Incan festival of the Sun, which is the Winter Solstice festival in the southern hemisphere. In 1944 a re-creation of the festival was celebrated and has been ever since. Here’ s a Wiki article. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inti_Raymi

Today’s Plant is Nodding Onion, Allium cernuum. This is sometimes called Lady’s Leek. It’s an edible plant in the Allium family, but not particularly choice. (Yeah, personal experience…) It’s called “Nodding” because the inflorescences, the “flower”, tend to droop, unlike a lot of the alliums that end up with a ball on a stick. Most of the plants in this family are edible, but be careful! There are a few that are either disgusting or at least mildly poisonous and there are bulbs that *are* poisonous that are easy to mistake. Onions have been very important as a food/nutrition source for a long while and have even been worshiped at times. These are grown as ornamentals, mostly, but are found wild here on the coast. – Masculine, Mars, Fire, Isis – Cut and dry the flowers and add to a grapevine or rosemary wreath for a house protection spell. These are great for house blessings. Grown in pots indoors or in the garden they protect against evil and particularly against poisonous snakes. When you harvest in the fall, make a decorative braid of onions and hang over bedroom doors to prevent infections. Nodding onions are great for this purpose because, not being particularly great as food, you won’t mind replanting them in the spring as they start to sprout! Purify swords and athames after particularly heavy magicks, by rubbing the blade with a cut bulb, then wash with clear water, then oil with rosemary-infused almond oil. Place the dried flowers in a vase at the head of the bed, or pack into a pillow sachet to help clarify prophetic dreams. More here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allium_cernuum and on Alliums here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allium

The shop opens at 1pm. Summer 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

******

Today’s Astro & Calendar

Moon in Sagittarius enters Capricorn at 6:06am

Strawberry Moon – A Full Moon rises over West Virginia on the summer solstice in 2016. June’s Full Moon is called the Strawberry Moon. – Gene (Flickr)

Full Moon occurs at 11:40 A.M. PDT today. The June Full Moon is also popularly known as a Strawberry Moon and can best be seen rising in the southeast about half an hour after sunset. Tonight, the Moon floats near the lid of Sagittarius’ Teapot asterism, which may be a bit difficult to make out with the bright moonlight in the region. The Moon sits a mere 48′ from Phi Sagittarii, which marks the left-hand corner of the Teapot’s body and lid, as well as the top of the handle where it attaches to the pot. Because the Moon will be the biggest, brightest object in the sky, take some time to admire our natural satellite. Lunar observing is easy and fun for all, whether you have binoculars, a telescope, or choose to simply use your eyes. Even the naked eye can discern the large dark patches across the Moon’s face, known as maria or seas, which are actually ancient lava flows that have smoothed out portions of the surface. Rugged rings of mountains and the spreading rays of craters are also visible to all; the higher your magnification, the more detail you’ll get in your view. Observing at high magnification can also make viewing the Full Moon a bit easier, as it cuts down on the amount of light reflected off the surface — and into your eyes.

Almost there. . . . Venus lines up with Castor and Pollux in one more day, on Thursday the 24th, just like Mars did on June 7th.

Mercury hides very low in the glow of dawn.

NIGHT SKY MAP FOR JUNE 2021: SEE THE STARS MOVE – https://www.almanac.com/night-sky-map-june-see-stars-move

Goddess Month of Rosea runs from 6/13 – 7/10
Celtic Tree Month of Duir/Oak, Jun 10 – Jul 7
Pluto (10/6), Saturn (10/10)Jupiter (10/18) Retrograde
Color – Crimson
©2021 M. Bartlett, Some parts separately copyright

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Duir – Oak Ogam letter correspondences
Month: May
Color: Black and Dark Brown
Class: Chieftain
Letter: D
Meaning: Security; Strength

to study this month – Eadha – White Poplar or Aspen Ogam letter correspondences
Month: None
Color: Silver White
Class: Shrub
Letter: E
Meaning: Problems; Doubts; Fears.

******

Tides for Alsea Bay
*

Day        High      Tide Height   Sunrise    Moon Time      % Moon
~ /Low      Time    Feet Sunset Visible
Th 24      Low   7:07 AM    -2.3   5:33 AM     Set 5:12 AM      98
~    24     High   1:42 PM     6.5   9:05 PM    Rise 9:38 PM
~    24      Low   6:51 PM     2.5

******

Affirmation/Thought for the Day – We rise by lifting others.

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Journal Prompt – What do you think? – How do you think the divorce of parents affects the lives of their children?

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Quotes

~   What would you attempt if you knew you could not fail? – Robert Schuller
~   You’re only as good as the people you hire. – Ray Kroc, McDonald’s restaurants founder, born on October 5, 1902
~   As my artist’s statement explains, my work is utterly incomprehensible and is therefore full of deep significance. – Calvin
~   Between falsehood and useless truth there is little difference. As gold which he cannot spend will make no man rich, so knowledge which he cannot apply will make no man wise. — Samuel Johnson

Wake up, Golden Head! Wake up, Brownie!
Cat-bird wants you in the garden soon.

You and I, butterflies, bobolinks, and clover,
We’ve a lot to do on the first of June. –Charles G.D. Roberts (1860–1943)

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Magick – Recipes

Bacon & Egg Squares – Hello, new favorite brunch idea! These cheesy Bacon & Egg Squares start with a golden brown hash brown crust—and just get more delicious from there. http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/bacon-egg-squares-182859.aspx

Prep Time 30min.
Total Time 50min.
Servings 12 servings

Ingredients

10 frozen hash brown patties (2.3 oz. each), thawed
1 doz. eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup Sour Cream
1 pkg. (8 oz.) Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese, divided
6 slices cooked Bacon, crumbled, divided
4 green onions, thinly sliced

Make It

Heat oven to 450ºF.
Crumble hash browns into 15x10x1-inch pan sprayed with cooking spray; press gently to form even layer.
Bake 15 to 20 min. or until golden brown. Meanwhile, whisk eggs, milk and sour cream in large bowl until blended; stir in half eachof the cheese and bacon.
Reduce oven temperature to 350ºF. Pour egg mixture over crust; bake 15 to 20 min. or until set. Remove from oven. Top with remaining bacon and cheese; sprinkle with onions. Let stand 5 min. before cutting to serve.

Bacon ‘n Eggs Pie – http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/bacon-n-eggs-pie-51292.aspx

Recipe by Kraft

Prep Time 20min.
Total Time 20min.
Servings 6 servings

An easy refrigerated biscuit crust is baked in a pie plate and then filled with scrambled eggs made with cream cheese and sprinkled with crumbled bacon.

What You Need

1 can (7.5 oz.) refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
2 Tbsp. butter or margarine
6 eggs
1/3 cup milk
1/4 tsp. pepper
3 oz. Cream Cheese, cubed
6 slices Bacon, cooked, crumbled

Make It

Tap or click steps to mark as complete
Heat oven to 375ºF.
Separate biscuits; press onto bottom and up side of 9-inch pie plate.
Bake 10 to 12 min. or until lightly browned.
Meanwhile, melt butter in medium skillet on low heat.
Whisk eggs, milk and seasonings until blended; pour into skillet.
Cook 4 to 5 min. or until eggs begin to set, stirring occasionally.
Add cream cheese; cook 3 to 4 min. or until cream cheese is melted and eggs are completely set, stirring occasionally.
Spoon egg mixture into crust; top with bacon.

Bacon Egg and Cheese Crescent Rolls – http://breakfast.about.com/od/Sandwiches-and-Burritos/r/Bacon-Egg-and-Cheese-Crescent-Rolls.htm , By Leah Maroney, Breakfast & Brunch Expert – Updated November 29, 2016.

Crescent rolls are the holy grail of breads. They come in a can, are fluffy and delicious and are ready in minutes. They are even better when they are stuffed with bacon, scrambled eggs, and cheddar cheese. As much as I love making things from scratch there is something sacred and special about crescent rolls. It’s probably because we always made them at Christmas because my grandfather loved them so much.

These are like a beautiful little breakfast sandwiches without any of the over the edge of the bread spillage. Since they’re all rolled up they are easy to grab and eat, it’s even easier than a breakfast burrito!

Crescent rolls definitely work the best in this recipe. I love using from scratch ingredients, but puff pastry is difficult to make well and is almost never the same. You could use pizza dough if you wanted to, but it would be missing that beautiful, buttery, fluffy texture. It’s easy to make a big batch of these for Christmas morning. You can also make a large batch and then freeze them and reheat them when you are ready to eat!

You can stuff them with sausage instead of bacon or other kinds of cheese instead of cheddar. You can also skip the scrambled eggs if you want to and just do bacon and cheese. If you like it spicy you can add a little hot sauce after they are finished. You can also brush the tops of the rolls with melted butter for a little extra buttery flavor!

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Yield: 12 rolls

INGREDIENTS

1 can of refrigerated crescent roll dough
4 extra large eggs
1 tablespoon of butter
salt and pepper
6 slices of bacon
1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese

PREPARATION

Preheat the oven to 350 F.
Heat the tablespoon of butter in an omelet pan. Whisk together the eggs and salt and pepper. Pour the eggs into the omelet pan and scramble until completely cooked. A little underdone is ok since it will be cooked again in the rolls.
Cook the bacon in the oven or in a pan until crispy. Drain the bacon and let it cool. Chop the bacon finely and set aside.
Unroll the crescent dough and separate the triangles. Place a tablespoon of the egg mixture, and a sprinkle of bacon and cheese over the egg. Roll up the triangle as you would a regular crescent roll.
Place the roll on an un-greased baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough.
Bake for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown.
Let them cool slightly and then enjoy. You can also freeze them and reheat when you are ready to eat.

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Silliness – Kitty Haiku

The rule for today –
Touch my tail, I shred your hand.
New rule tomorrow.

Grace personified.
I leap into the window.
I meant to do that.

The Big Ones snore now.
Every room is dark and cold.
Time for “Cup Hockey”.

You’re always typing.
Well, let’s see you ignore my
sitting on your hands.

You never feed me.
Perhaps I’ll sleep on your face.

I want to be close
to you. Can I fit my head
inside your armpit?

My small cardboard box.
You cannot see me if I
can just hide my head.

Humans are so strange.
Mine lies still in bed, then screams.
My claws are not that sharp.

Blur of motion, then –
silence, me, a paper bag.
What is so funny?

©poofcat.com

Posted in Daily Stuff, Newsletter, Pagan, Update | Tagged Affirmation, Allium cernuum, Astrology, Astronomy, Celtic Tree Month, Goddess Month, Inti Raymi, Journal Prompt, Kitty Haiku, Lady’s Leek, Magick, Moon, moon phase, nodding onion, Oregon Coast, Pagan, Runic Half Month, Silliness, Tides, Today’s Feast, Today’s Plant, Weather, Wicca | Leave a comment

Daily Stuff 6-23-21 Kupalo

Posted on June 23, 2021 by Anja Snihova'

Hi, folks!

Minus Tide at 6:18 AM of -1.9 feet. The shop is closed on Tuesday/Wednesday. Summer hours are Thurs-Mon. 1-6pm. Featured photo by Clifford Paguio.

The whole state is in a light smoke plume from fires in CA, NV and Utah. There are a couple of smaller ones and the fire near Warm Springs is putting out a pretty thick cloud. It’s really foggy right now. We actually got a little rain in the late evening, and things are still wet. 55F, winds are calm, AQI 23-56, UV8. Chance of rain 5% today and 14% tonight. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY from noon Thursday through 5am on Friday. The rest of the forecast is for partly cloudy weather with temps in the mid-60’s for most, but upper 60’s on Saturday/Sunday. The worst fire right now is the S-503 FIRE. It’s up to 6046 Acres and only 20% contained. The others are unchanged. One firespot in French Prairie.

Yesterday felt very long, but I slept through much more of it than I should have. I had mostly gotten enough sleep overnight, but woke around 7 and waited for Tempus…and waited…and waited. I kept dozing off, but I started to get pretty worried and that kept me from staying asleep. He finally pulled in at around 10:30. That’s way later than usual, but there was a good reason for it. He had stopped to see if the window on the car could get fixed. (Saturday looks like the day…) He also had done some shopping and then stopped at the shop to put things away. …but it worried me. We really need to do something about computer and phone at home.

I had managed to do some sewing overnight, but not a lot. I need to cut things out, but I need some room to work. I might take one of the days, maybe Friday, and stay home to get that done. It’s getting hotter and I only have a couple of lighter dresses and one of those is the 50-button dress that I still haven’t finished.

Tempus didn’t wake until 5pm. I spent most of the afternoon in my chair, dozing and reading and dozing again. I finally made some supper (breakfast? 🙂 ) around 4pm, ate and then realized around 5 that I was getting sleepy. Tempus was just getting up, but I curled up and fell asleep almost right away. He woke me at 6:30, so that I could get to my online meeting.

He didn’t head out for the paper routes until 9:30, by which time I was back offline. The meeting had been about block printing… and the usual gossip, afterwards. 🙂 I managed to finally get through messages and some of the mail from the last couple of days, then started in on more writing… except I’ve been fighting with the programs and the WordPress formatting. Everything locked up on me! I spent about two hours trying to get things working again, after a several hours trying to find bits and pieces and get started.

…and I’m still tired enough that I’m going to crawl into the nap bed once this is done. I managed to get yesterday’s newsletter out a couple of hours ago.

Photo by Anja 6/14/16

Today I’m hoping we’re going to stop at Grandma’s Greenhouse to possibly take advantage of their 50% off on plants. We have a bunch of things to work on at home, not just chores, but Tempus *still* needs to carpet my bed step and I’m still trying to figure on something for blackout curtains for the bedroom. …and lots of work on plants needs to be done.

…and everything just locked up on *again*!!!! …and it’s taken almost 20 minutes to fix the problem! Dang, it’s late and I’m getting really tired….. …and yet one more time…. argh…..

by Clifford Paguio Used with Permission

240px-Иван_Купала.Гадание_на_венках.2008.Доска,масло150х85_см

Today’s feast is Jan Kupalo or Ivan Kupala, the Slavic Midsummer festival. Depending on whose version you’re working with (it goes from Poland and the Czech Republic to the far end of Russia) it can mean bonfires, bathing (especially naked bathing in lakes and rivers, flower wreaths worn, floated on rivers or as divination. Running into the woods in search of fern flowers (yes, I know, ferns don’t bloom, but people in those areas “find” babies under ferns or in mushroom patches instead of under cabbage leaves) is another favorite pastime. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Kupala_Day

Kupala – Kresen (June) 23 – (In the Old Russian tongue, Kupala means “bather”). Today the holiday of the Summer Solstice and remembrance of the human sacrifices made in olden times to the Master of things Sub-marine, Jasse (Dragon). All through the night people are celebrating, singing songs, hiking, doing readings (fortune-telling). A blot is held near water. In times gone by, fires were lit in preparation for a sacrifice of a young maiden by drowning in the river. Later, however, the human sacrifice was replaced by a doll made of bread (a loaf-doll).

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

Wise

The shop opens at 1pm. Summer 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

******

Today’s Astro & Calendar

The full Moon of June is called the Honey Moon because it rides low across the sky through the night, where summer humidity-haze often colors it yellow. Above, the Moon is getting very close to being full on the 24th. (The 10° scale is roughly the size of your fist at arm’s length, a handy angular measure.)

Mars meanders through the Manger – Mars passes through the Beehive Cluster (M44) — also known as Praesepe or the Manger — late this month. – Astronomy: Roen Kelly

Mars is passing through the heart of the Beehive Star Cluster, M44, this evening for North America. Get your binoculars or low-power, wide-field telescope on Mars, very low in the west-northwest, right at the end of dusk. (Faint Mars is about a fist at arm’s length upper left of bright Venus.) At the time of dusk at other longitudes around the world, Mars will be more toward one edge of the cluster.

The Moon reaches perigee, the closest point to Earth in its orbit, at 5:55 A.M. EDT. At that time, our natural satellite will sit 223,666 miles (359,956 kilometers) away.

Neptune at its best – The subtle blue-gray color of Neptune shows up through amateur telescopes, though the cloud features Voyager 2 captured in 1989 are out of reach. – NASA/JPL

The Moon also sets around 4:15 A.M. local time, giving you a narrow window of dark sky in which to find our solar system’s most distant planet, Neptune. Located in northeastern Aquarius, the magnitude 7.8 planet is visible in binoculars or a small telescope. It sits 21° northeast of Jupiter and 5.7° northeast of magnitude 4.2 Phi (ϕ) Aquarii. Once you’ve zoomed in on its location, you’ll see the planet sits just 7′ from a magnitude 7.2 field star, making the pair appear almost like a double star. Of the two, Neptune is a bit fainter and “flatter,” its 2″-wide disk distinctly different from the more pointlike star.

Neptune (magnitude 7.9, in Aquarius 20° east of Jupiter) is well up in the southeast before dawn.

NIGHT SKY MAP FOR JUNE 2021: SEE THE STARS MOVE – https://www.almanac.com/night-sky-map-june-see-stars-move

Goddess Month of Rosea runs from 6/13 – 7/10
Celtic Tree Month of Duir/Oak, Jun 10 – Jul 7
Pluto (10/6), Saturn (10/10)Jupiter (10/18) Retrograde
Color – Brown
©2021 M. Bartlett, Some parts separately copyright

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Duir – Oak Ogam letter correspondences
Month: May
Color: Black and Dark Brown
Class: Chieftain
Letter: D
Meaning: Security; Strength

to study this month – Eadha – White Poplar or Aspen Ogam letter correspondences
Month: None
Color: Silver White
Class: Shrub
Letter: E
Meaning: Problems; Doubts; Fears.

******

Tides for Alsea Bay
*

ay        High      Tide Height   Sunrise    Moon Time      % Moon
~ /Low      Time    Feet Sunset    Visible
W   23      Low   6:18 AM    -1.9   5:32 AM     Set 4:21 AM      94
~    23     High 12:49 PM     6.3   9:05 PM    Rise 8:27 PM
~    23       Low   5:57 PM     2.4
~    23     High 11:54 PM     9.0

******

Affirmation/Thought for the Day – Become present to the earth, and open to the sky. Then begin.

******

Journal Prompt – Favorites – Explain how to play your favorite game.

******

Quotes

~   Every day, ask yourself this: What can I do today to change my world? – Kerr Cuhulain
~   I am myself spiritually dead unless I reach out to the fine quality dormant in others. For it is only with the god enthroned in the innermost shrine of the other, that the god hidden in me, will consent to appear. – Felix Adler
~   Outside show is a poor substitute for inner worth.- Aesop
~   I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship. – Louisa May Alcott

There is a bird in the poplars –
It is the sun!
The leaves are little yellow fish
Swimming in the river.
The bird skims above them—
Day is on his wings.
Phoenix!
It is he that is making
The great gleam among the poplars. – William Carlos Williams (1883–1963)

******

Magick –

Seekers and Guides: The Charge of the Goddess – A Wiccan Ethic

July 10, 2015 by Sable Aradia

In modern Wicca, we don’t have a lot of commandments, and creedal statements that we are all pledged to believe. But that doesn’t mean that we don’t have theology and ethics – just that we express them in less obvious ways. In fact, there are many unspoken beliefs that we think of as being essentially “Wiccan.” Where do they come from?

The answer should be self-evident but often isn’t. What is the one piece of liturgy that most Wiccans share? The answer is the Charge of the Goddess.

These days, most of us treat this poem simply as a lovely way to invoke the Goddess, and it does work well that way. But consider the original meaning of the word “charge” – a command, an exhortation – and it become apparent that this is actually a series of theological and ethical principles in poetic form.

There are two most popular versions of this document, attributed to Gardnerian elder Doreen Valiente and Reclaiming founder Starhawk. In this article, I’m going to examine both versions, with the aim of explicating and analyzing what each tells us about a common Wiccan code of ethics.

Valiente:

Listen to the words of the Great Mother;
she who of old was also called among men
Artemis, Astarte, Athene, Dione, Melusine,
Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Cybele, Arianrhod,
Isis, Dana, Bride and by many other names:

Starhawk:

Listen to the words of the Great Mother, Who of old was called Artemis, Astarte, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Diana, Arionrhod, Brigid, and by many other names:

The Goddess says, first and foremost, “Listen!” This isn’t merely a poetic way of beginning the Charge, but rather, a command to attend carefully to what follows.

Many of the same Goddesses are also mentioned in both Charges. The goddesses common to both versions are Artemis, Astarte, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Arianrhod (different spellings,) and Bride/Brighid. (The additions to this list probably reflects the tastes of the two authors.) But notice the variations! There are Maiden Goddesses, Mother Goddesses, and Crone Goddesses. There are Goddesses of Death and Goddesses of Life. There are Goddesses from multiple cultures. But in both cases, the Goddess is named “Great Mother . . . and by many other names.” This reflects the common Wiccan belief in the One Goddess being present in all goddesses. But it also acknowledges that these individual Goddesses are separate beings, otherwise why mention them separately at all?

By listing Them together, the authors are also claiming that all these Goddesses are equals and are equally worthy of our respect. I think it is important, then, that if we personally follow a goddess who is not mentioned in this passage of the Charge, we should make sure to include Her when we recite it.

Valiente:

Whenever ye have need of anything,
once in the month, and better it be when the moon is full,
then shall ye assemble in some secret place
and adore the spirit of me,
who am Queen of all Witcheries.

Starhawk:

Whenever you have need of anything, once a month, and better it be when the moon is full, you shall assemble in some secret place and adore the spirit of Me Who is Queen of all the Wise.

Although many, if not most of us practice as solitaries, our Goddess still wants us to gather together in groups for Her worship, with a specific guideline: “Better it be when the moon is full.” Why?

Most Witches know that magick brought to fruition on the Full Moon has the power of the waxing moon behind it. Wiccan writers in the past have postulated that maybe it’s just that since we were supposed to meet in secret, we would most likely be meeting at night, and with a full moon, you can see where you are going when you wander into the woods. Maybe it’s just because the Full Moon has always captured our imagination.

The Goddess also says, “You should gather in a secret place.” Once a month, She wants us to gather away from the public eye. This emphasizes that much of a Witch’s work is mystical in nature and should be shared only to those who are willing to understand (which is why you traditionally had to be initiated first, though of course this is no longer the case.) This Inner Work (connecting with the Goddess) is necessary before one can do the Outer Work.

The Lady also says, “You shall adore Me, who is the Queen!” That means that we need to worship and respect Her as a Power greater than ourselves. Note that She says “adore,” not “fear” – we don’t need to fear the Goddess. She wants us to love Her. She also loves us, because real love is a two-way street. This is an important distinction.

Valiente:

There shall ye assemble,
ye who are fain to learn all sorcery,
yet have not won its deepest secrets;
to these will I teach things that are yet unknown.

Starhawk: no equivalent section.

Which Charge do you follow? This is the first really significant difference between these two Charges: in Valiente’s version, you are commanded to learn magick. If you choose to follow Starhawk’s Charge, there is no requirement to learn (or do) magick. There is also a strong indication that we will never “win its deepest secrets,” and thus we are exhorted to always keep learning.

Valiente:

And ye shall be free from slavery;
and as a sign that ye be really free,
ye shall be naked in your rites;
and ye shall dance, sing, feast,
make music and love,
all in my praise.
For mine is the ecstasy of the spirit,
and mine also is joy on earth;
for my law is love unto all beings.

Starhawk:

You shall be free from slavery, and as a sign that you be free you shall be naked in your rites.

Sing, feast, dance, make music and love, all in My Presence, for Mine is the ecstasy of the spirit and Mine also is joy on earth.

For My law is love is unto all beings.

These are some of my favourite verses! The Goddess says, “You shall be free from slavery.” In this section, Wicca is explicitly named as a counter-cultural movement. In order for us to be free, we have to think for ourselves. We should also abhor slavery and try to fight it. (Note that I do not consider BDSM relationships between consenting adults to be “slavery” in this context, and I will elaborate further later in the essay.)

She also commands that we shall “be naked in our rites.” At one time, all Wiccans took this to mean skyclad (clothes-free) practice, but many, if not most, of us have since adopted ritual robes. The question is, what did She mean by “naked?” The obvious answer is, of course, without clothing, but it can also mean unadorned and willing to be vulnerable.

Next, we are exhorted to “sing, feast, dance, make music and love.” Wicca is, at its root, a joyous, earthy, embodied religion. So says the Goddess! She wants us to make a joyous noise, to sample freely of the fruits of life, to offer up celebratory and joyful movement, to create art, and to love freely and without guilt.

Finally in this passage, the Lady announces very clearly that “Her law is love unto all beings.” That includes the jerk who cut you off in traffic, the miserable boss who is riding you for no good reason, the irritating cousin you would rather not admit that you know, that dog next door that won’t shut up at 3 a.m., mosquitoes and wasps and spiders and snakes and beetles too. All beings, no exceptions.

Valiente:

Keep pure your highest ideal;
strive ever towards it;
let naught stop you or turn you aside.

Starhawk writes no equivalent passage.

I think this passage is already very clear and it doesn’t require much paraphrasing. The Goddess wants us to hold to our highest ideal (note that She said, “your highest ideal,” not “My highest ideal,” which means that this is a matter of personal choice for us, and we get to decide what that ideal is.) She wants us to always work to achieve it, and not to allow anyone to dissuade us from it or distract us from it. Those who follow Aleister Crowley’s work will recognize this as a clear command to focus on, and work consistently to achieve, our True Wills!

Valiente:

For mine is the secret door
which opens upon the Land of Youth,
and mine is the cup of the wine of life,
and the Cauldron of Cerridwen,
which is the Holy Grail of immortality.

Starhawk:

Mine is the secret that opens the door of youth, and Mine is the cup of wine of life that is the cauldron of Cerridwen, that is the holy grail of immortality.

There is a fine distinction here between the two Charges. Valiente refers to the “secret door which opens upon the Land of Youth,” and Starhawk refers to the “secret that opens the door of youth.” This represents a difference in Gardnerian Wiccan and Reclaiming Wiccan theologies. For the Gardnerians (Valiente’s tradition,) the Land of Youth is the Summerlands, an occult mystery. For the Reclaiming Witches, the “fountain of youth” is a mental state that can be reached by anyone of any age through the Secrets of the Goddess. For Doreen Valiente, the Goddess asks us to seek the Summerlands through occult practice. For Starhawk, the Goddess wants us to seek inner youth.

Either interpretation fits the rest of the passage, in which the Lady claims the mysteries of Life, Death, and Rebirth as Her own. “The cup of the wine of life” can be seen both as the joy of Life celebrated and as the Mother’s womb. The Cauldron of Cerridwen is the cauldron of transformation; the tomb that is also a womb. The Holy Grail has long been seen in occult circles as a symbol of the power of the Divine Feminine and of immortality. By claiming these mysteries, the Goddess tells us not to fear death, but to accept it as part of the process of life. She tells us to remember that all things come in cycles. She reminds us that no matter how difficult things are, this, too, shall pass.

Valiente:

I am the Gracious Goddess,
who gives the gift of joy unto the heart of man.
Upon earth, I give the knowledge of the
spirit eternal;
and beyond death, I give peace and freedom
and reunion with those who have gone before.

Starhawk:

I give the knowledge of the spirit eternal, and beyond death I give peace and freedom and reunion with those that have gone before.

The Lady is telling us, “If you’re in touch with My mysteries, then when you die, I will give you peace, and freedom, and you will be reunited with those you love.” What form this reunion will take is subject to debate.

Valiente:

Nor do I demand aught in sacrifice;
for behold,
I am the Mother of all living,
and my love is poured out upon the earth.

Starhawk:

Nor do I demand aught of sacrifice, for behold, I am the Mother of all things and My love is poured out upon the earth.

So, our Goddess does not ask for us to sacrifice anything! Her love is not a transaction: She does not require payment, but freely gives abundance. I believe it is only good manners to return the favour, and at rituals I offer Her the first portion of the wine and the feast; at every harvest, I offer Her the first portion of my carrots, grapes, pumpkins and so forth. I offer it freely in gratitude for all that She has given that I have received.

I believe this also means that She doesn’t want us to sacrifice our self-respect, our needs, our self-esteem, our code of honour, our personal space . . . nothing.

She goes on to remind us that She is the Mother of all living things and She loves all of them. Note, too, that She makes sure to clarify, by telling us that Her “love is poured out upon the earth,” that this includes plants and spirit-beings as well (and in Starhawk’s version, it also includes “unliving” things, like mountains, computers and dirt.) If Her “love is poured out upon the earth,” shouldn’t ours be as well?

Valiente:

Hear ye the words of the Star Goddess;
she in the dust of whose feet are the hosts of heaven,
and whose body encircles the Universe.

Starhawk:

Hear the words of the Star Goddess, the dust of Whose feet are the hosts of Heaven, whose body encircles the universe

Who is the Star Goddess? Well, this is the Great Cosmic Goddess, of Whom all Goddesses are but a part. Since Her “body encircles the universe,” She encompasses all of us and we are contained within Her. She goes far beyond the “hosts of heaven” (the gods;) so this is the “Goddess of the gods,” the Great Creatrix.

Author’s Note: I wrote this piece a couple of years ago and have since amended my analysis. There are many possible interpretations of “the Goddess,” as I wrote about recently. And I’ll be writing more about possible interpretations of the Wiccan concept of the Star Goddess in the near future. But I did not remove this passage because it is what I originally wrote.

Valiente:

I who am the beauty of the green earth,
and the white Moon among the stars,
and the mystery of the waters,
and the desire of the heart of man,
call unto thy soul.
Arise, and come unto me.

Starhawk:

I Who am the beauty of the green earth and the white moon among the stars and the mysteries of the waters, I call upon your soul to arise and come unto me.

The Creatrix identifies Herself with the earth, the moon, and the mysterious waters. She is a part of all creation, not separate and standing above it. She tells us that She is “the beauty of the green earth.” If the earth is sacred, and our Goddess is there, we must, must care for it and treat it with reverence and respect! Through these mysteries, the Lady calls to our very souls, and She asks us to arise – not to kneel – and come to Her.

Valiente:

For I am the soul of nature, who gives life
to the universe.
From me all things proceed,
and unto me all things must return;

Starhawk:

For I am the soul of nature that gives life to the universe.
From Me all things proceed and unto Me they must return.

Our Goddess proclaims that She is the soul of nature, and this soul is what gives life to the universe. So We can infer by this that our cosmology has both spirit and body; as does She. She also says that everything comes from Her and returns to Her in the end. She is the great cosmic consciousness, and the womb and tomb. The cycle of life includes the cycle of death; the two are not separate. So She asks us in this to accept change and transformation, ebb and flow.

Valiente:

and before my face, beloved of Gods and of men,
let thine innermost divine self be enfolded
in the rapture of the infinite.

Starhawk again writes no equivalent.

Valiente’s Goddess tells us that in Her presence, we are loved by the Gods and by humanity. She reminds us that our innermost self is divine, and She asks us to “be enfolded in the rapture of the infinite.” In this simple phrase She reminds us to appreciate the earth, moon and sky, and ocean, but She also encourages us to seek the mystical state of enlightenment.

Valiente:

Let my worship be within the heart that rejoiceth;
for behold, all acts of love and pleasure are my rituals.

Starhawk:

Let My worship be in the heart that rejoices,
for behold, all acts of love and pleasure are My rituals.

The Goddess commands us to worship Her by celebrating love and pleasure. Thus, sexuality is sacred. When you take this proclamation together with the appreciation of nakedness earlier in the Charge, it makes for a very liberating sexuality. But take note: anything that cheapens the experience of love and pleasure insults the Goddess. (That’s a pretty good definition of sin.)

Valiente:

And therefore let there be beauty and strength,
power and compassion, honour and humility,
mirth and reverence within you.

Starhawk:

Let there be beauty and strength, power and
compassion, honor and humility, mirth and
reverence within you.

This is the most ethically explicit in the Charge. Note the balance emphasized here. The Goddess wants beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence. When we Wiccans speak of finding balance, it is these qualities we are especially trying to embody.

Valiente:

And thou who thinkest to seek for me,
know thy seeking and yearning shall avail thee not
unless thou knowest the mystery;
that if that which thou seekest
thee findest not within thee,
thou wilt never find it without thee.

Starhawk:

And you who seek to know Me, know that the
seeking and yearning will avail you not,
unless you know the Mystery: for if that
which you seek, you find not within yourself,
you will never find it without.

To me, this is the most profound passage in the Charge: the Goddess tells us not to waste time looking to others for our validation, but to look within. The Goddess also reminds us that changing what is within changes what is without. Be the change you would see in the world. “As above, so below.”

Valiente:

For behold,
I have been with thee from the beginning;
and I am that which is attained
at the end of desire.

Starhawk:

For behold, I have been with you from the beginning, and I am That which is attained at the end of desire.

In conclusion, the Lady reminds us that She has always been with us, She will always be with us, and She is what we ultimately seek – and will find! For me, that’s a pretty comforting thought.

The Charge of the Goddess encapsulates theology, cosmology, and ethics in a lyrical poem of great beauty. If you wish to understand the Goddess, I have no better advice than this: study, contemplate, and drink deeply of Her words.

References:

Starhawk, “The Charge of the Goddess,” from The Spiral Dance, HarperSanFrancisco, 1975, 2010.

Valiente, Doreen, “The Charge of the Goddess,” from The Gardnerian Book of Shadows, 1957, 2007, available at www.sacred-texts.com.

This piece was published in Witches & Pagans Magazine Issue #29 (Winter 2014), as “The Charge of the Goddess: A Wiccan Manifesto,” p. 20-23. Additions reflect aspects of the original text, which was edited for brevity

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About Sable Aradia

Sable Aradia (Diane Morrison) has been a traditional witch most of her life, and she is also a licensed Wiccan minister and a Third Degree initiated Wiccan priestess in the Star Sapphire tradition. She makes her living doing psychic and Tarot readings, writing, and teaching workshops, and she is also a speculative fiction writer and a musician. Sable is the author of “The Witch’s Eight Paths of Power: A Complete Course in Magick and Witchcraft” (Red Wheel/Weiser, 2014). She continues to write “Seekers and Guides” at her new blog Between the Shadows here at Patheos Pagan, and she also writes a column called “49 Degrees: Canadian Pagan Perspectives” at PaganSquare. For further information, please visit her website http://www.sablearadia.com.

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Silliness – Punny Thought – I just found out Claussen pickles contain high fructose corn syrup. It’s a dill breaker. Dedicated to Ty Leggit

Posted in Daily Stuff, Newsletter, Pagan, Update | Tagged Affirmation, Astrology, Astronomy, Celtic Tree Month, Goddess Month, Hypericum perforatum, Journal Prompt, Magick, Moon, moon phase, Oregon Coast, Pagan, Punny Thought, Runic Half Month, Silliness, St. John’s Wort, Tides, Today’s Feast, Today’s Plant, Weather, Wicca | Leave a comment

Daily Stuff 6-22-21 Brest Fortress

Posted on June 23, 2021 by Anja Snihova'

Hi, folks!

Minus Tide at 5:27 AM of -1.2 feet. The shop is closed on Tuesday/Wednesday. Summer hours are Thurs-Mon. 1-6pm. Featured photo by Ken Gagne.

So this is Tuesday’s info…..

A Ken Gagne photo from June 2017 of a goldfinch on his feeder.

Today’s feast is from Belarus, in remembrance of the victims of the Great Patriotic War (WWII). “In solemn remembrance of all the victims of the Second World War, and in commemoration of the heroic last stand of Brest Fortress in 1941, on the very country and city (Brest) in which the Eastern Front began.” It is much like the US Memorial day in the remembrances, but without the picnics. Here’s a bit about the war and the Eastern Front. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Patriotic_War

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. Solar spells: Use buttercup in solar spells involving energy and prosperity.

The shop opens at 1pm. Summer 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

Moon in Scorpio enters Sagittarius at 5:55am

The nearly-full Moon shines over Antares this evening. By 11 or midnight they’re due south on the meridian, as shown below, meaning that Scorpius is as high as it gets. In addition to Antares, how much else of the constellation can you make out through the moonlight?

Venus passes 5° south of Pollux in Gemini at 11 A.M. EDT. By sunset, they’re about 5.5° apart. About half an hour later, both should be visible: Venus is magnitude –3.9 and will appear before the magnitude 1.2 star pops out against the deepening twilight. As darkness continues to fall, magnitude 1.6 Castor will appear to the right of Pollux as Gemini sinks feet-first below the horizon. Within two days’ time, Venus will appear directly in line with these two stars, then standing 6.5° from Pollux.

Mercury is stationary tonight at 7 P.M. EDT in Taurus the Bull. It’s currently a morning object, rising as the sky brightens in anticipation of sunrise. If you want to see the solar system’s smallest, speediest planet, it rises around 4:40 A.M. local time and hangs amid only a few other bright stars in the sky as it climbs above the horizon, including Aldebaran and Capella. Through a telescope, it’s a mere 16-percent-lit crescent that spans 10″ in apparent diameter on the sky.

Jupiter and Saturn (in Aquarius and Capricornus, respectively) rise in the middle of the night, Jupiter about an hour after Saturn. They shine at their highest and telescopic best in early dawn, a time when the atmospheric seeing often steadies. Jupiter dominates at magnitude –2.5. Saturn, 20° to Jupiter’s right, is a more modest +0.5. They’ll reach opposition in August. As dawn begins, look 20° below Jupiter for Fomalhaut, the “Autumn Star.” It’s emerging from the sunrise glow even before the official start of summer.

NIGHT SKY MAP FOR JUNE 2021: SEE THE STARS MOVE – https://www.almanac.com/night-sky-map-june-see-stars-move

Goddess Month of Rosea runs from 6/13 – 7/10
Celtic Tree Month of Duir/Oak, Jun 10 – Jul 7
Mercury Directs at 3pm
Pluto (10/6), Saturn (10/10)Jupiter (10/18) Retrograde
Color – Scarlet
©2021 M. Bartlett, Some parts separately copyright

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Duir – Oak Ogam letter correspondences
Month: May
Color: Black and Dark Brown
Class: Chieftain
Letter: D
Meaning: Security; Strength

to study this month – Eadha – White Poplar or Aspen Ogam letter correspondences
Month: None
Color: Silver White
Class: Shrub
Letter: E
Meaning: Problems; Doubts; Fears.

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Tides for Alsea Bay
*

Day        High      Tide Height   Sunrise    Moon Time      % Moon
~ /Low      Time    Feet Sunset Visible
Tu 22      Low   5:27 AM    -1.2   5:32 AM     Set 3:40 AM      87
~    22     High 11:50 AM     5.9   9:05 PM    Rise 7:08 PM
~    22      Low   5:02 PM     2.3
~    22     High 11:06 PM     8.8

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Affirmation/Thought for the Day – Take it easy.

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Journal Prompt – What do you think? – How do you think the divorce of parents affects the lives of their children?

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Quotes

~   Though I might be very fond of particular individuals, humanity in general fills me with contempt and despair. I hate most of what passes for civilization. I hate the modern world. – Robert Crumb
~   Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain. – Author Unknown
~   You really can change, your reality is based on the way you think. – Oprah
~   The road to success is a tightrope that the warrior walks, maintaining the balance in their life. – Kerr Cuhulain

When sun-rays crown thy pine-clad hills
And summer spreads her hand,
When silvern voices tune thy rills,
We love thee, smiling land. – –Sir Cavendish Boyle (1849–1916)

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Magick – Crafts

Sun & Moon Wheels – You will need a small wreath (either made or found at craft store), ribbons (for Sun – gold and yellow. for Moon – silver and blue), sun and moon charms to tie to the ribbons, items from nature such as twigs, pine cones, dried flowers and greenery, floral wire and hot glue. For each wheel, gather all materials needed. Start by tying the ribbons onto the wreath. Make them a variety of lengths. Alternate colors (yellow/gold or silver/blue) in whatever pattern you wish. Then decorate the wreath part with dried greenery, flowers, pine cones and twigs in whatever pattern desired. Once you are finished with this, attach the charms to the ribbons. For each charm you attach, declare something you are bringing into your life and your home. Then attach the charm to the ribbon. Once you are finished with all of them, hang the wheel in your home to bring abundance into your home.

http://paganwiccan.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=paganwiccan&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dreamcatcher.net%2Fmoonwise%2Fcrafts.html

Soul Mandala – You will need large square piece of wood, items that represent different aspects of your soul (i.e. mother, healer, teacher, speaker, solitude, etc..) and a central object that represents your expanded self as a whole. First, using a pencil, draw a border around the wood. Make the border about 3-4 inches wide all around. Within the smaller square (created by the line you just drew) divide it into as many equal sized squares as will fit (should be 6-12). In each square, decorate it as one aspect of yourself. Get in touch with as many “selves” as you can and represent them each visually. In the border around these, seperate it into sections to represent the cycles of life. You can divide it into four sections and decorate it for the seasons. Or divide in into 13 sections and represent each of the moons. There’s no wrong way to do this project. It’s all yours.

http://paganwiccan.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=paganwiccan&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dreamcatcher.net%2Fmoonwise%2Fcrafts.html

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Silliness – First Date

Posted in Daily Stuff, Newsletter, Pagan, Update | Tagged Affirmation, Astrology, Astronomy, Buttercup, Celtic Tree Month, creeping buttercup, crowfoot, First Date, Goddess Month, Journal Prompt, Magick, Magickal Crafts, Moon, moon phase, Oregon Coast, Pagan, Ranunculus bulbosus, Ranunculus repens, Runic Half Month, Silliness, St Anthony’s Turnip, Tides, Today’s Feast, Today’s Plant, Weather, When sun-rays crown thy pine-clad hills, Wicca | Leave a comment

Daily Stuff 6-22-21 extra

Posted on June 22, 2021 by Anja Snihova'

Hi, folks!

No newsletter today (Tuesday) until the evening! Tempus has a “ride along” this evening that’s going to disrupt our usual schedule.

Love & Light,
Anja

Posted in Update | Leave a comment

Daily Stuff 6-21-21 National Indigenous Peoples Day

Posted on June 21, 2021 by Anja Snihova'

Hi, folks!

First Minus Tide of the cycle at 4:34 AM of -0.3 feet. The shop opens at 1pm. Summer hours are Thurs-Mon. 1-6pm. Featured photo by Photos by Mike.

Very foggy! Well, it’s hot in the Valley. 52F, wind at 1-5mph and gusting, AQI 45-86, UV8. Chance of rain 15% today and 21% tonight. The 10-day forecast is mostly unchanged. Partly cloudy or foggy and the temps climbing up into the weekend. The Cutoff Fire is 10% contained but up to 1150 acres and there are *lots* of local fire-spots downwind. That doesn’t look promising. The S-503 fire (Warm Springs) is up to 4000 acres and only 5% contained, with as many fire-spots. The other fires are unchanged and there are 3 more new fire-spots.

Yesterday we didn’t get home in the morning. Tempus’ paper route ran late and I was so solidly asleep on the nap bed that he just crawled in next to me. I was up in plenty of time and he got us coffee before it was time to open, so I got going on messages and mail and got well started.

I mostly was writing once that was done. Tempus was working in back and we did have a few customers in, “just looking”. Around 4:30 we started working on the potluck foods and ate around 6pm. I got pictures done and Tempus kept going on some of the things he’d been doing and we finally headed home around 8:30.

I finished my leftovers from the night before and we crashed hard. It was very still as we drove back into town. We’ve been discussing the possible route changes and it’s not looking so good, although Tempus is doing a ride-along tonight. I’m not sure, but it sounded like we might close a bit early and I may be home overnight. If so, I’ll put out a notice and a timed notice and finish up on Tuesday.

Photo by Anja 6/14/16

Today we’re back to our usual pursuits. I do still have a batch of marzipan to go out. I want to get farther on the shells and books.

Mt. Hood on 5/1/16 Photos by Mike Used with permission

National Indigenous Peoples Day (wikipedia) (French: Journée nationale des peuples autochtones) is a day recognising and celebrating the cultures and contributions of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Indigenous peoples of Canada.^[1] The day was first celebrated as National Aboriginal Day in 1996, after it was proclaimed that year by then Governor General of Canada Roméo LeBlanc, to be celebrated annually on 21 June. This date was chosen as the statutory holiday for many reasons, including its cultural significance as the Summer solstice, and the fact that it is a day on which many Indigenous peoples and communities traditionally celebrate their heritage. It was renamed from National Aboriginal Day in 2017. …

National Indigenous Peoples Day is now the first of a series of Celebrate Canada days, followed by the National Holiday of Quebec on 24 June, Canadian Multiculturalism Day on 27 June, and concluding with Canada Day on 1 July. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Indigenous_Peoples_Day

Today’s plant is Sage, Salvia Officinalis, sometimes called true sage, or culinary sage, is a plant that has been used in cookery, magick and medicine for many thousands of years. It is one of the ingredients in Four Thieves Vinegar. The blossoms make a delicious tea. – Masculine, Jupiter, Air – In purple cloth, brings wisdom. Worn in an amulet sewn into a horn shape protects against the evil eye. Used as a wash, or sniffed, enhances youthful mindset and appearance. Eat sage in May for long life. Carry to promote wisdom. Write a wish on a sage leaf and sleep on it. If you dream of it, it will happen, else bury the leaf in the ground. More here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvia_officinalis

The shop opens at 1pm. Summer 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

Moon in Scorpio

Mars meanders through the Manger – Mars passes through the Beehive Cluster (M44) — also known as Praesepe or the Manger — late this month. – Astronomy: Roen Kelly

astro

If evening observing is more your speed, you won’t be disappointed. Tonight through the 23rd, Mars is crossing the Beehive Cluster (M44) in Cancer. Step outside about an hour after sunset to find the Red Planet roughly 13° high and shining at magnitude 1.8 amid a fuzzy smattering of blue stars. Binoculars or a telescope will net you the best view, but you’ll need to be quick, as Mars sets by 11 P.M. local time. The clearer your view of the western horizon, the longer you’ll be able to follow it down. Mars will sit smack dab in the middle of the cluster tomorrow evening, and at the opposite edge of the grouping by the night of the 23rd.

Comet 7P/Pons-Winnecke – Comet 7P/Pons-Winnecke passes closest to Earth on June 12. Three days later, on the 15th, it skims less than 1° from the Helix Nebula. The positions of Jupiter and Saturn are shown on the 15th. – Astronomy: Roen Kelly

Jupiter’s eastward progression grinds to a halt as the giant planet stands stationary at 1 A.M. EDT in the constellation Aquarius. After today, it will begin moving retrograde, or westward, against the background stars. You can find the planet early this morning in the southeastern sky, blazing at magnitude –2.6. Saturn sits in Capricornus, 19.3° to Jupiter’s west and glowing a more muted magnitude 0.3. Both are outstanding telescopic targets: Jupiter spans 44″ and is flanked by its four Galilean moons, while Saturn’s disk stretches 18″ and its rings cover a width of about 41″. The ringed planet is surrounded by an array of moons, including magnitude 8.6 Titan, nearly 3′ to Saturn’s east. The large moon will sit due south of the planet is just a few days, on the 24th.

The middle star of the Big Dipper’s bent handle is Mizar, with tiny little Alcor right next to it. On which side of Mizar should you look for Alcor? As always, on the side toward Vega! Which is now the brightest star in the east. If your eyes aren’t quite sharp enough, binoculars show Alcor easily.

After nightfall, look for the Big Dipper hanging straight down high in the northwest. Its bottom two stars, the Pointers, point lower right toward modest Polaris, the end of the Little Dipper’s handle. Examine the middle star of the Big Dipper’s handle, Mizar. Can you see its faint little companion Alcor nestled next to it? It’s just upper right of Mizar — pointing, as always, the direction from Mizar to Vega.

Uranus (magnitude 5.8, in Aries) is low in the east just before dawn begins.

NIGHT SKY MAP FOR JUNE 2021: SEE THE STARS MOVE – https://www.almanac.com/night-sky-map-june-see-stars-move

Goddess Month of Rosea runs from 6/13 – 7/10
Celtic Tree Month of Duir/Oak, Jun 10 – Jul 7
Mercury (6/22), Pluto (10/6), Saturn (10/10)Jupiter (10/18) Retrograde
Color – White
Planting 6/20&21
©2021 M. Bartlett, Some parts separately copyright

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Duir – Oak Ogam letter correspondences
Month: May
Color: Black and Dark Brown
Class: Chieftain
Letter: D
Meaning: Security; Strength

to study this month – Eadha – White Poplar or Aspen Ogam letter correspondences
Month: None
Color: Silver White
Class: Shrub
Letter: E
Meaning: Problems; Doubts; Fears.

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Tides for Alsea Bay
*

Day        High      Tide Height   Sunrise    Moon Time      % Moon
~ /Low      Time    Feet Sunset Visible
M   21      Low   4:34 AM    -0.3   5:32 AM     Set 3:08 AM      78
~    21    High 10:44 AM     5.6   9:04 PM    Rise 5:46 PM
~    21      Low   4:06 PM     2.0
~    21    High 10:18 PM     8.4

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Affirmation/Thought for the Day – Make this an uplifting day!

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Journal Prompt – Auto-Biographical narrative – Aphorisms are statements that express a principle or truth: If you want to have a friend, you have to be a friend. There’s no free lunch. You reap what you sow. Choose an aphorism and tell the story of a time in your life when that aphorism proved true. The aphorism should be the title of your story

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Quotes

~   From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life. – Arthur Ashe
~   Do it big, do it right and do it with style – Fred Astaire
~   Victory belongs to the most persevering. – Napoleon Bonaparte
~   Humor is just another defense against the universe. – Mel Brooks

Till to my garden back I come,
Where bumble-bees for hours and hours
Sit on their soft, fat, velvet bums,
To wriggle out of hollow flowers. – –William Henry Davies (1871–1940)

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Litha Magick – Lore deborah <isis_snow_tiger@yahoo.com> wrote:

To: Hearth_Witch@yahoogroups.com
From: “deborah” <isis_snow_tiger@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 06 Jun 2006 16:47:09 -0000
Subject: [Hearth_Witch] Midsummer Traditions

Midsummer Traditions

Midsummer has always been a time for celebration and dancing. Traditionally, there were bonfires to celebrate the Sun. The bonfires were believed to have the power to burn away all negativity and evil. People jumped the flames, much as they had at Beltane, making wishes. It was believed that the summer grains would grow only as high as they were able to jump. The Celts built their bonfires near holy wells or on a border or boundary of some sort because they considered borders to be magickal entrances to the Underworld. In some places, people light fires on midsummer eve. They stay up until midnight to welcome in midsummer day, and, when the fires die down, men run or jump through the embers to bring good luck.

Ancient Pagans had a custom for Midsummer which consisted of wrapping straw around the wheel of a cart, lighting it on fire, and then rolling it down a tall hill. These flaming wheels were called “Catherine Wheels” and they emulated the action of the sun, which would begin waning after Midsummer day. If the fire went out before the wheel got to the bottom of the hill, it indicated a good harvest.

Since Midsummer is both a time of protection and of divination, in ancient times, the rootstock of a male fern plant was trimmed into the likeness of a hand and smoked in the Midsummer fires. These ‘Hands of Glory’ were hung in houses for protection. It was said that if the hands glowed with a blue flame, they were revealing hidden treasure in the earth.

There is still a famous summer solstice celebration at Stonehenge, the ancient stone circle on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire. On the night before midsummer, a group of white-robed Druids gather at Stonehenge to watch the sun rising. As it comes up, the sun rises exactly over the Heel Stone, one of the stones that lies outside the main circle at Stonehenge.

Many midsummer celebrations were moved to the feast of St John the Baptist (24th June). But since Midsummer was a time of magic and wonder-working, evil spirits were said to appear, and people gathered herbs and flowers to protect themselves. One of the most powerful was the plant known as ‘chase-devil’, which we now call St John’s Wort. People used it in potions, and wove the flowers into garlands to decorate their houses or protect their farm animals. They believed that the herb could shield them from the power of evil spirits and could help them foretell the future. ~author unknown

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Silliness – Silly Q&A – Q: Why Did Tigger Wash His Hands? He Played With Pooh All Day..

Posted in Daily Stuff, Newsletter, Pagan, Update | Tagged Affirmation, Astrology, Astronomy, Celtic Tree Month, culinary sage, Goddess Month, Journal Prompt, Litha, Magick, Mid-summer, Moon, moon phase, National Indigenous Peoples Day, Oregon Coast, Pagan, Runic Half Month, sage, Salvia Officinalis, Silliness, Silly Q&A, Summer Solstice, Tides, Till to my garden back I come, Today’s Feast, Today’s Plant, true sage, Weather, Wicca | Leave a comment

Daily Stuff 6-20-21 Litha

Posted on June 20, 2021 by Anja Snihova'

Hi, folks!

Litha Blessings to all! The shop opens at 1pm. Summer hours are Thurs-Mon. 1-6pm. Featured photo by Beth Kattelman.

Mostly overcast. 53F, wind at 0-4mph and gusting, AQI 28-46, UV8. Chance of rain 9% today and 22% tonight. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY though 5am on Monday. The 10-day forecast hasn’t changed much. Less wind after today, more clouds at this end and higher temps at the other. The Cutoff Fire blew up in a hurry today. It’s not too far east of Klamath Falls and I have friends who have had to evacuate. It’s over 1000 acres. The S-503 Fire on the Warms Springs Reservation is up over 100 acres and there are a *lot* of firespots in that area. It’s generating a huge smoke plume. There a huge one south of Oregon, as well. I can’t tell where it’s coming from but *wow*. Counting the firespots in Warmsprings as one there are a total of 6 spots. Messy… and could get nasty.

Yesterday flew past. Tempus was early getting back from the paper route and we went home and crashed, dragging ourselves awake and then getting shop open. Coffee happened quickly or I don’t think I would have been able to stay awake at my desk.

I had a couple of meetings (online) that I needed to get to, so that was most of my time from 1-3. Tempus worked with a bunch of customers during that time.

I was pretty tired by the time the meetings were over, but there were more customers to take care of and I spent quite a long while with a young lady from Michigan, who hasn’t had anyone pagan to hang out with other than the friend that came in with her. They needed some direction on books and things and I printed a copy of our Sabbat ritual for them.

Then, late in the day, a lady came in with her granddaughter who is really into crystals. She spent most of an hour, browsing. I discussed the Herbs Workshop with the grandmother.

At that point it was past 6pm, so Tempus went across to the China Restaurant to get us some supper and we closed up and went home. I was so tired I dozed off in the car, twice, and methodically chomped my dinner, put 1/2 in the fridge and crawled into bed. I didn’t wake, other than the use the bathroom until 12:30.

It had clouded up and it’s fairly warm, still. Tempus headed out before 2, and I’ve been writing since, although I’ve fallen asleep twice…. Yes, I’m going to crawl into the nap bed as soon as this is out.

Today is our “different day” and we have the potluck, as well. I’m planning to put a nibbles tray together, first thing, and we’ll work on that during the day. I have an address for the last box of marzipan, so I’m going to get that put together, as well. There are a couple of dishes that I hope to make, late in the day. With any luck I can get the seedcake batter put together and bake those when we get home. …but those are at the bottom of the priority list. I *have* had a taste for them for awhile, though.

Good night, heron. Good night, seals. Good night, gulls. Goodnight, sun. Goodnight, Waldport. ❤️- by Beth Kattelman, 6/18/19

Today’s feast is that of Ceridwen who is the Mother form of the Triple Goddess worshiped in Wicca and modern paganism, probably mostly derived from the writings of Robert Graves. Goddess of inspiration, she is also goddess of fertility and re-birth, because of her ever-flowing cauldron. She is not the ancient goddess-form known by this name although the old stories get used as part of her symbolism. This modern feast is celebrated by burning vervain in small cauldrons, tying green ribbons to trees and using green altar coverings and clothing on this day. Here is a Wiki article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerridwen and another on the Triple Goddess http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_Goddess_(Neopaganism)

My Daddy with my brother and me.

Today’s feast is also Father’s Day – Father’s Day is a holiday of honoring fatherhood and paternal bonds, as well as the influence of fathers in society. In Catholic countries of Europe, it has been celebrated on 19 March as Saint Joseph’s Day since the Middle Ages. Observed by: 111+ countries Honors fathers and fatherhood. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father%27s_Day_(United_States)

And, of course, today’s feast is Litha, the festival of Midsummer, the Heiros Gamos of Goddess and God. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midsummer

Today’s Plant is Cascade Oregon Grape, Mahonia aquifolium, or Dull Oregon Grape, Mahonia nervosa, occasionally called Holly Grape. It’s a lovely, spiky-leaved large shrub or small tree with amazing clusters of bright, yellow flowers in the early spring. Dull Oregon Grape is a shorter plant with duller leaves with a nerve-like pattern of veins, but they both have the same magickal properties. The locals used it to help with rheumatism and it has been tested to replace Goldenseal in the pharmacopeia with some good results. The fruits can be made into jam or wine, although they’re too sour to eat on their own. Feminine, Earth, carry to draw money and prosperity, or popularity. More on aquifolium here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_grape and on nervosa here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahonia_nervosa

The shop opens at 1pm. Summer 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

Moon in Libra enters Scorpio at 4:58am

Summer evening – The summer solstice occurs June 20, bringing the longest day of the year and kicking off the summer season in the Northern Hemisphere. – Alice Popkorn (Flickr)

We pass through the solstice today at 8:32 p.m. PDT. This is when the Sun is farthest north for the year (in Earth’s sky) and begins its six-month return southward. Summer officially begins in the Northern Hemisphere, winter in the Southern Hemisphere. For us northerners, this is the year’s longest day and shortest night. June 20 is the day with the most sunlight this year: 14 hours 53 minutes 41.6 seconds.It’s also the day when (in the north temperate latitudes) the midday Sun passes the closest it ever can to being straight overhead, and thus when your shadow becomes the shortest it can ever be at your location. This happens at your local apparent [solar] noon, which is probably rather far removed from noon in your civil time (clock time). And if you have a good west-northwest horizon (in mid-northern latitudes), mark carefully where the Sun sets. In a few days you should be able to detect that the Sun is again starting to set a just little south (left) of that point.

Messier 13 – This 2016 shot shows the Great Cluster in Hercules, cataloged as M13 and the finest globular cluster in the northern sky. – TheWitscher (Flickr)

You can ring in summer by enjoying one of the summer sky’s finest sights: the Great Globular Cluster in Hercules. Officially cataloged as M13, this ancient grouping of stars reigns high in the summertime night sky among the stars of the Son of Zeus. Discovered by Edmond Halley — who also discovered that famous comet — in 1714, M13 spans 20′ and contains several hundred thousand stars with a combined magnitude of 5.8. It’s a treat through any binoculars or telescope, and is even a naked-eye object under the right conditions (it will appear as a dim bit of “fuzz”). You can find it about one-third of the way from Eta (η) Herculis to Zeta (ζ) Herculis, roughly 2.5° south of the former.

Mars (magnitude +1.8, in Cancer) glows very modestly in late twilight low in the west-northwest, upper left of Venus. Mars is about as faint and small as it can ever get, glimmering with only 1/175 of Venus’s light. The two planets narrow from 14° apart on June 18th to 10° on the 25th. They’ll reach conjunction, ½° apart, on July 12th and 13th. On the 23rd Mars is smack in front of the delicate Beehive Star Cluster, M44.

NIGHT SKY MAP FOR JUNE 2021: SEE THE STARS MOVE – https://www.almanac.com/night-sky-map-june-see-stars-move

Goddess Month of Rosea runs from 6/13 – 7/10
Celtic Tree Month of Duir/Oak, Jun 10 – Jul 7
Jupiter Retrograde at 8:06am (10/18)
Mercury (6/22), Pluto (10/6), Saturn Retrograde (10/10)
Color – Yellow
Planting 6/20&21
©2021 M. Bartlett, Some parts separately copyright

******

Duir – Oak Ogam letter correspondences
Month: May
Color: Black and Dark Brown
Class: Chieftain
Letter: D
Meaning: Security; Strength

to study this month – Eadha – White Poplar or Aspen Ogam letter correspondences
Month: None
Color: Silver White
Class: Shrub
Letter: E
Meaning: Problems; Doubts; Fears.

******

Tides for Alsea Bay
*

Day        High      Tide Height   Sunrise    Moon Time      % Moon
~ /Low      Time    Feet Sunset Visible
Su 20      Low   3:36 AM     0.7   5:32 AM     Set 2:40 AM      67
~    20     High   9:30 AM     5.3   9:04 PM    Rise 4:26 PM
~    20      Low   3:08 PM     1.5
~    20     High   9:31 PM     7.9

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Affirmation/Thought for the Day – I can and I will.

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Journal Prompt – What does this quote say to you? – For all of us today, the battle is in our hands. The road ahead is not altogether a smooth one. There are no broad highways to lead us easily and inevitably to quick solutions. We must keep going. — Martin Luther King Jr.

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Quotes

~   We need to restore the full meaning of that old word, duty. It is the other side of rights. – Pearl Buck
~   A balanced, healthy diet will help to stabilize your energy and clarify your mind. This, in turn, will make your magick more effective. Kerr Cuhulain
~   An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind. – Buddha
~   The most drastic and usually the most effective remedy for fear is direct action. – William Burnham

The summer morn is bright and fresh,
the birds are darting by
As if they loved to breast the breeze
that sweeps the cool clear sky. – William C. Bryant (1794–1878)

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Litha Magick – Recipes

Bright Memories Litha Parfait – from Hearth & Home Witchery

1 (2 3/4 ounce) package vanilla custard powder (no bake)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups milk
1 (21 ounce) can pineapple pie filling
2 (3 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

In sauce pan prepare custard according to the package directions using the milk. Remove from heat. Gradually stir cheese into hot mixture, mixing well. Stir in vanilla. Chill custard mixture and pie filling separately until ready to serve. When ready to serve, spoon alternate layers of mixture and pie filling into parfait or juice glasses. Top with some type of berries if desired.

Rose Petal Ice Cream –
14 oz. whole milk
1 1/2 oz. fresh rose petals (rugosa roses or deep red tea roses)
2 oz. crystallized ginger, minced
1 cup sugar
3 egg yolks
2 cups heavy whipping cream

In a saucepan, slowly heat the milk to approximately 200 degrees F.
Remove from heat, add flowers, and steep for 15 minutes.
While it is still warm, strain the milk through a cheesecloth.
Add the ginger and sugar to the milk.
Place the egg yolks in a small bowl and pour in half of the milk mixture.
Stir the mixture with a spoon, and then pour it back into the saucepan.
Place the pan over low heat and cook until the mixture is approximately 200 degrees F.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the whipping cream.
Refrigerate the mixture until it is well chilled, then process in any ice cream machine.
Quick method: – Soften high-quality vanilla ice cream, add the roses and re-freeze. Leave in the freezer for at least one day.

GOOSEBERRY FOOL – <isis_snow_tiger@yahoo.com>
4 cups Gooseberries
1/4 cup Water
2 cups Sugar
Whipped cream

Cook gooseberries in water until done (or you may use the equivalent of canned gooseberries).
Mash gooseberries in blender or food processor.
Beat sugar into hot gooseberries.
Cool mixture in fridge or freezer

When cold, mix with stiffly whipped cream and pour into sherbet glasses for serving.

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Silliness – The Best of the Worst Country Music Song Titles

– If My Nose Were Full of Nickels, I’d Blow It All On You
– Do You Love As Good As You Look?
– Get Your Tongue Outta My Mouth ‘Cause I’m Kissing You Goodbye
– Her Teeth Were Stained, But Her Heart Was Pure
– Here’s A Quarter, Call Someone Who Cares
– How Can I Miss You If You Won’t Go Away?
– I Changed Her Oil, She Changed My Life
– I Don’t Know Whether To Kill Myself Or Go Bowling
– I Fell In A Pile Of You And Got Love All Over Me
– I Flushed You From The Toilets Of My Heart.
– I Keep Forgettin’ I Forgot About You
– I Wanna Whip Your Cow
– I Would Have Wrote You A Letter, But I Couldn’t Spell Yuck!
– I Wouldn’t Take Her To A Dawg Fight,(even if she had a chance to win)
– I’d Rather Have A Bottle In Front Of Me Than A Frontal Lobotomy
– I’m Just A Bug On The Windshield Of Life
– I’ve Been Flushed From The Bathroom Of Your Heart
– I’ve Got The Hungries For Your Love And I’m Waiting In Your Welfare Line
– If I Can’t Be Number One In Your Life, Then Number Two On You
– If Love Were Oil, I’d Be A Quart Low
– If The Phone Don’t Ring, Baby, You’ll Know It’s Me
– If You Don’t Leave Me Alone, I’ll Go And Find Someone who will
– If You Leave Me, Can I Come Too?
– Mama Get The Hammer (There’s A Fly On Papa’s Head)
– May The Bird Of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose
– My Every Day Silver Is Plastic
– My Head Hurts, My Feet Stink, And I Don’t Love Jesus
– My John Deere Was Breaking Your Field, While Your Dear John Was Breaking My Heart
– My Wife Ran Off With My Best Friend, And I Sure Do Miss Him
– Oh, I’ve Got Hair Oil On My Ears And My Glasses Are Slipping Down, But Baby I Can See Through You
– Pardon Me, I’ve Got Someone To Kill
– She Got The Gold Mine And I Got The Shaft;
– She Got The Ring And I Got The Finger
– She Made Toothpicks Out Of The Timber Of My Heart
– She’s Got Freckles On Her, But She’s Pretty
– Thank God And Greyhound She’s Gone
– They May Put Me In Prison, But They Can’t Stop My Face From Breakin’ Out
– Velcro Arms, Teflon Heart
– When You Leave Walk Out Backwards, So I’ll Think You’re Walking In
– You Can’t Have Your Kate And Edith Too
– You Can’t Roller Skate In A Buffalo Herd
– You Done Tore Out My Heart And Stomped That Sucker Flat
– You’re The Reason Our Kids Are So Ugly

Posted in Daily Stuff, Newsletter, Pagan, Update | Tagged Affirmation, Astrology, Astronomy, Cascade Oregon Grape, Celtic Tree Month, Dull Oregon Grape, Goddess Month, Holly Grape, Journal Prompt, Litha, Magick, Mahonia aquifolium, Mahonia nervosa, Mid-summer, Moon, moon phase, Oregon Coast, Pagan, Runic Half Month, Silliness, Summer Solstice, The summer morn is bright and fresh, Tides, Today’s Feast, Today’s Plant, Weather, Wicca | Leave a comment

Daily Stuff 6-19-21 Juneteenth

Posted on June 19, 2021 by Anja Snihova'

Hi, folks!

The shop opens at 1pm. Summer hours are Thurs-Mon. 1-6pm. Featured photo by Zach Martin.

Driving into town tonight the river was reflecting the sky glow, even had a star trail in one spot. The Moon was still up, but only just. She was behind the buildings when we pulled into the shop. There were a few wisps of cloud around her, but not very many elsewhere.49F, wind at 0-14mph and gusting, AQI 6-30, UV8. Chance of rain 6% today and 13% tonight. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY until 5am Monday. Looks like still some wind today, but that will ease off over the 10-day. More cloud at this end and sun at the other, with high’s in the low 60’s climbing to near or over 70 next weekend. Only the same 3 fires, but there are 7 firespots….

Yesterday I slept right up until the last minute, which helped. Arnica compresses overnight had reduced the bruising, at least, even if it took until past 4 for my fingers to be working well enough to get the full newsletter out. My right side has some interesting yellow and green markings.

Tempus had to run into Newport during the day, checking on getting a window replaced on the car, and then ran some errands in town. A whole *bunch* of boxes came in, one was a book in a series that I’ve been following, so that ate a chunk of my evening and I’m going to finish it once I’m done here. Tempus’ recliner cover showed up and some sundries that we get by subscription.

We weren’t busy during the day, just a few sets of customers and a friend who comes in to chat every so often. It was marvelously sunny and just cool enough, but the wind was pretty strong. A couple of times I wanted to pull out my broom and swat a couple of mischievous sylphs!

We got supper ingredients together, headed home and got that cooked, then we both went splat. I didn’t stay that way for more than a couple of hours. That book was on my mind!

Today I’m hoping Tempus is either going to do laundry (which got put off by me getting injured) or finish the herb wall re-stock. I’m hoping to get in back and start bagging some more of those, but it depends on how well my hands are working. We’ll be open at the usual time.

A lovely quiet evening on Alsea Bay – 6/11/20 by Zach Martin. Used with permission.

Today’s feast is in honor of Minerva’s Temple in Rome, which had a commemoration of some kind on this date, two months after the anniversary of the temple’s founding. No one’s sure what they did, why or how, just the basic fact of “they did something….” She was the goddess of wisdom and has been honored down through the millennia. There’s a good Wiki article here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minerva

Juneteenth! The other Independence Day! This is the day that slavery finally ended. It was celebrated in many communities until the aftermath of the Civil War caused such bitterness that it was suppressed. Now, it’s a federal holiday, which makes my heart happy. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/juneteenth-our-other-independence-day-16340952/

Today’s Plant is Big-leaf Maple, Acer macrophyllum. This tree has the largest leaves of any maple. I remember being startled by that when I first moved to Oregon. Have you ever played with the seeds? A twin pair, before they separate, is a good charm for separated lovers. Maple syrup can be made from the sap, although it is subtly different from the taste of sugar maple and a bit thinner. Masculine, Jupiter, Air – Maple leaves are used in prosperity and love spells. When doing a baby blessing, walk the child down a row of people with maple wands to help the child to a long life. Maple has long been used for wands, being easy to work and directing energies very well. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acer_macrophyllum

The shop opens at 1pm. Summer 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

******

Today’s Astro & Calendar

Moon in Libra

3-30-21 – 8th-magnitude Nova in Cassiopeia. Nova Cassiopeiae 2021, now also known as V1405 Cassiopeiae, has faded a trace to about magnitude 8.1 as of March 26th, after it was discovered at 9.6 on March 18th and quickly peaked around 7.7. For finder charts and more info, see Bright Nova Erupts in Cassiopeia. Moonlight will give you trouble with binoculars, even large ones, but the moonlight will be gone from the early-evening sky starting on the 30th. To get a light curve with the most up-to-date brightness measurements, go to aavso.org and in “Pick a Star”, enter “V1405 Cas” and choose “Plot a light curve”. There, visual observers’ estimates are the open black circles, and photoelectric V magnitudes are the green squares. (You can see calendar dates instead of Julian Days using “Preferences”.) And where’s Cassiopeia itself? Catch it sinking in the north-northwest right after the end of twilight. Look early before it gets too low

Nova Cassiopeiae carries on. It’s been three months since Nova Cas 2021 erupted to magnitude 7.7. Surprisingly, it has stayed roughly that bright ever since — except for swelling to 5.3, faint naked-eye visibility, for a week in early-mid May before dropping back to 7.7. As of June 17th it had crept back up to 6.8. The nova is moderately low in the north-northeast after dark, depending on your latitude. It climbs higher through the night. Charts and comparison stars.

And now, Nova Herculis. On June 12th Seiji Ueda of Japan discovered an 8.4-magnitude nova at the Hercules-Aquila border. Within hours Nova Herculis 2021 reached 6.3, then began fading fast. As of June 17th it was down to 9.5 visually. It’s distinctly reddish. See Bob King’s Bright Nova in Hercules on a Roller Coaster Ride, with charts.

The Moon shines with Gamma Virginis, then over Spica. It won’t actually appear this close to the stars; the Moon here is always drawn about three times its actual apparent size.

Last night, the waxing Moon stood near Spica’s magnitude 2.7 star Porrima. Tonight, the Moon remains in the Maiden, now just over 5° above (northeast of) the constellation’s magnitude 1 alpha star, Spica. Spica is easy to find by following the Big Dipper’s handle as it “arcs to Arcturus” in Boötes, then simply “spike to Spica,” which lies nearly 33° south-southwest of Arcturus. Because Spica lies close to the ecliptic, or plane of the solar system, the Moon frequently passes nearby or even in front of the star, occulting it. Given its bright magnitude and its relatively small distance of 250 light-years, Spica is an intrinsically brilliant star some 1,900 times brighter than the Sun. But Spica is a bit deceiving — it’s not one but two hot, bright B-type stars separated by about one-tenth the average Earth-Sun distance and circling each other every four days. Spica is pale, icy blue-white. Arcturus is candleflame yellow-orange.

NGC 6121 M4

An hour after sunset, the bright red star Antares, located in Scorpius, is visible above the southern horizon. This magnitude 1 star is located in a rich region of the sky rife with star clusters, including M4, a globular cluster less than 1.5° due west of Antares. M4 is an easy magnitude 5.6 and spans about 36′. At just 7,200 light-years from Earth, it’s one of the nearest globular clusters to our planet. Many observers can see a straight “bar” structure of 11th-magnitude stars within the cluster’s core. Wait a little longer, and two open clusters — M6 and M7 — will appear as Scorpius’ tail clears the horizon. These are much younger, looser groupings of stars than M4, and excellent binocular targets for even beginning observers to enjoy. M6 is located about 5° north-northeast of magnitude 1.6 Shaula; M7 is 2.4° north-northeast of 3rd-magnitude G Scorpii.

Venus (magnitude –3.8, in Gemini) shines low in the west-northwest during twilight. Catch it while you can; it sets before dark.

NIGHT SKY MAP FOR JUNE 2021: SEE THE STARS MOVE – https://www.almanac.com/night-sky-map-june-see-stars-move

Goddess Month of Rosea runs from 6/13 – 7/10
Celtic Tree Month of Duir/Oak, Jun 10 – Jul 7
Mercury (6/22), Pluto (10/6), Saturn Retrograde (10/10)
Color – Brown
©2021 M. Bartlett, Some parts separately copyright

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Duir – Oak Ogam letter correspondences
Month: May
Color: Black and Dark Brown
Class: Chieftain
Letter: D
Meaning: Security; Strength

to study this month – Eadha – White Poplar or Aspen Ogam letter correspondences
Month: None
Color: Silver White
Class: Shrub
Letter: E
Meaning: Problems; Doubts; Fears.

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Tides for Alsea Bay
*

Day        High      Tide Height   Sunrise    Moon Time      % Moon
~ /Low      Time    Feet Sunset Visible
Sa 19       Low   2:32 AM     1.6   5:31 AM     Set 2:16 AM      56
~    19     High   8:08 AM     5.3   9:04 PM    Rise 3:08 PM
~    19      Low   2:11 PM     1.1
~    19     High   8:45 PM     7.4

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Affirmation/Thought for the Day – Blessed are the curious for they shall have adventures.

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Journal Prompt – What would you? – What would you fear most about moving to another country?

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Quotes

~   The last ever dolphin message was misinterpreted as a surprisingly sophisticated attempt to do a double-backwards-somersault through a hoop whilst whistling the ‘Star Spangled Banner’, but in fact the message was this: So long and thanks for all the fish. – Douglas Adams in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
~   Vocabulary enables us to interpret and to express. If you have a limited vocabulary, you will also have a limited vision and a limited future. – Jim Rohn
~   How long should you try? Until. – Jim Rohn
~   Shifting from Knight to Master is shifting from “this is what I do with our stuff” to “this is my stuff” – Kerr Cuhulain

The moon, rising, is a white eye to the hills;
After it has risen, it is the bright heart of the sea.
Because I love it—so—round as a fan,
I hum songs until the dawn. – Li Po (701–762)

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Litha Magick – Juneteenth – Because this is a new federal holiday, although it’s been celebrated since just after the Civil War, I thought I ought to put a little in here. This is a good resource. It’s a holiday about sacrifice and commitment, as well as freedom, so it even fits in with the Solstice.

9 articles about the holiday https://www.atlasobscura.com/series/juneteenth

A personal remembrance – https://www.jsonline.com/story/opinion/columnists/james-causey/2021/06/15/what-my-southern-grandparents-taught-me-juneteenth-traditions-jubilee-day/7668711002/

Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juneteenth

What Is Juneteenth? – https://www.pbs.org/wnet/african-americans-many-rivers-to-cross/history/what-is-juneteenth/

And look at today’s Google Doodle!

******

Silliness – Punny Thought – I can name the capital of ALL 50 states in under 5 seconds ! Yeah! Washington D.C. 🙂

Posted in Daily Stuff, Newsletter, Pagan, Update | Tagged Acer macrophyllum, Affirmation, Astrology, Astronomy, Big-Leaf Maple, Celtic Tree Month, Goddess Month, Journal Prompt, Juneteenth, Litha, Magick, Mid-summer, Minerva’s Temple, Moon, moon phase, Oregon Coast, Pagan, Runic Half Month, Silliness, Summer Solstice, The moon rising, Tides, Today’s Feast, Today’s Plant, Weather, Wicca | Leave a comment

Daily Stuff 6-18-21 Dragon Boat festival

Posted on June 19, 2021 by Anja Snihova'

So, this was posted early this morning.

Hi, folks!

Ow…. As we were leaving for the shop yesterday morning, [6/17] I lost my balance and went over… into gravel. I just missed clocking my head on the pavement. I managed to roll enough that I didn’t jar my back, but to protect my head, my right hand and elbow got pretty battered. There’s a reason I use a walker… and now I know I need a handrail in that spot….

I seem to be ok except for my right side. Swollen wrist and hand, bruised elbow and shoulder. I’m going to head home a bit early and just not try to do much tonight. I’ve got a couple of books I was going to get into. Not going to put the newsletter out. Well, that’s the first I’ve missed since we moved…..

So, assuming that I’m in good enough shape to come in to the shop today, I’ll put the full newsletter out later. Tempus will have the shop open, whatever chances.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I did manage to get myself up and moving, but it’s 4pm. It took me this long to get my fingers working, and I still haven’t gotten the newsletter for today out. I’m going to do that and then start on tomorrow’s.

Love and Light,
Anja

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

It’s gorgeous right now. Pale blue sky, brilliant sunshine, good stiff breeze (which occasionally strips the bulletin board!) The sun is hitting the nasturtiums by my office window and they’re brilliantly orange. The breeze makes them glitter as they flash in and out of each other’s shadows. 62F, wind at 4-29mph and gusting, AQI 13-31, UV8. Chance of rain 11% tonight. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY until 5am Saturday. More warm = Sunday/Monday and then next Sat/Sun. More cloud = Tues/Wed, but the whole 10-day is partly cloudy to full sun and temps in the 60’s to 70. New firespots in Medford and one near Lakeview. Same three fires.

Geese and goslings on 6/15/19 by Greg Anderson, OCD Photography. Used with permission

Today’s feast is the Dragon Boat festival, which is being celebrated again in China after having been banned for quite a while under the communists. It is celebrated with rice dumplings, realgar wine (which seems to be poisonous!) and dragon boat races.
“The sun is considered to be at its strongest around the time of summer solstice (“mid-summer” in traditional East Asia) when the daylight in the northern hemisphere is the longest. The sun, like the Chinese dragon, traditionally represents masculine energy, whereas the moon, like the phoenix, traditionally represents feminine energy. The summer solstice is considered the peak annual moment of male energy while the winter solstice, the longest night of the year, represents the peak annual moment of feminine energy. The masculine image of the dragon is thus naturally associated with Duanwu.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_boat_festival

plant pic Rhododendron_occidentale_Strybing

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.

The shop opens at 1pm. Spring 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

Moon in Virgo enters Libra at 1:45am.

The Moon shines with Gamma Virginis, then over Spica. It won’t actually appear this close to the stars; the Moon here is always drawn about three times its actual apparent size.

The waxing Moon lies nestled in the heart of the constellation Virgo this evening. The Moon shines close to 3rd-magnitude Gamma (γ) Virginis, or Porrima. This is a fine, close, equal-brightness double star for telescopes. The components are 3.1 arcseconds apart now and widening slightly year by year. They’re both F1 stars somewhat larger and hotter than the Sun, shining from 39 light-years away. Shortly after sunset, as the brightest stars begin to pop out, you’ll notice our satellite sits close — within 1.2° — of magnitude 2.7 Porrima. Porrima is named for the Roman goddess of prophecy. Like the name Spica, it derives from Latin, unlike the Arabic names most stars carry. Home in on Porrima with a telescope and you’ll see it is not one, but two stars: Both are nearly identical F stars that blaze hotter than the Sun. Lying nearly 40 light-years away, these stars orbit each other once every 169 years. That means a human observer who revisits this star throughout their lifetime will notice their motion over time. Their orbits are highly elliptical (egg-shaped) and their last closest approach was in 2005. They are now slowly growing farther apart. To their southeast is brighter magnitude 1 Spica, Virgo’s alpha star.

Arcturus

Vega

We’re getting into the time of year when the two brightest stars of summer, Arcturus and Vega, are about equally high overhead as evening grows late: Arcturus toward the southwest, Vega toward the east. Arcturus and Vega are 37 and 25 light-years away, respectively. They represent the two commonest types of naked-eye star: a yellow-orange K giant and a white A main-sequence star. They’re 150 and 50 times brighter than the Sun, respectively — which, combined with their nearness, is why they dominate the evening star-scene.

Mercury is out of sight in the glare of the Sun.

NIGHT SKY MAP FOR JUNE 2021: SEE THE STARS MOVE – https://www.almanac.com/night-sky-map-june-see-stars-move

Goddess Month of Rosea runs from 6/13 – 7/10
Celtic Tree Month of Duir/Oak, Jun 10 – Jul 7
Mercury (6/22), Pluto (10/6), Saturn Retrograde (10/10)
Color – White
©2021 M. Bartlett, Some parts separately copyright

******

Duir – Oak Ogam letter correspondences
Month: May
Color: Black and Dark Brown
Class: Chieftain
Letter: D
Meaning: Security; Strength

to study this month – Eadha – White Poplar or Aspen Ogam letter correspondences
Month: None
Color: Silver White
Class: Shrub
Letter: E
Meaning: Problems; Doubts; Fears.

******

Tides for Alsea Bay
*

Day        High      Tide Height   Sunrise    Moon Time      % Moon
~ /Low      Time    Feet Sunset Visible
F   18      Low   1:21 AM     2.4   5:31 AM     Set 1:53 AM      45
~    18     High   6:45 AM     5.5   9:04 PM    Rise 1:54 PM
~    18      Low   1:16 PM     0.6
~    18     High   8:00 PM     6.9

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Affirmation/Thought for the Day – If have something to say, say it with love. If you want to move from where you are, take the first step. If you love someone, let them know, and if not let them go. You will never see what is in front of you, if you never look back. Don’t just talk the walk, walk it. If you know you made a choice that isn’t what you thought it would be, change it. MOST OF ALL BE TRUE TO YOURSELF.

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Journal Prompt – Schoolish Stuff – Explain why you do or do not like to give a speech in front of your class.

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Quotes

~   Most people work hard enough not to get fired and get paid just enough not to quit. -George Carlin
~   Part of the happiness of life consists not in fighting battles, but in avoiding them. – Norman Peale
~   You may not be able to single handedly blow away the “smoke” people often create to obscure the truth, but you can light the way through the murk for people who have eyes to see. – Kerr Cuhulain
~   Start from wherever you are and with whatever you’ve got. – Jim Rohn

Lady! in this night of June
Fair like thee and holy,
Art thou gazing at the moon
That is rising slowly?
I am gazing on her now:
Something tells me, so art thou. – Alfred Austin (1835–1913)

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Litha Magick – Crafts – Sun Medallions

June 4, 2012 at 5:29 pm (Holidays, Arts & Crafts, Pagan Parenting)
Tags: Pagan Parenting, Arts & Crafts, Midsummer, Summer Solstice

With Summer Solstice coming up in a couple of weeks, now is the perfect time to make sun medallions for a treasure hunt! I first came across this idea well over a decade ago in the book “Wiccacraft for Families” by Margie McArthur. My older kids and I had so much fun making them. Once we painted sun symbols on wooden disks, but then found it was much more fun to use salt dough. I even found sun-print fabric and made little drawstring bags for them to put their sun treasures.

Its been a while, but I’m making some again! I rolled out a batch on my own today, but will probably make more with my teenagers later- they’ll have fun hiding them on Solstice for their little brother!

I used regular strength salt dough for this:

1 cup salt
2 cups flour
¾ cup water
yellow food coloring
gold glitter

First, I mixed together the salt and flour. Then I tinted the water with food coloring and worked it into the flour, kneading in more food coloring to get the color I wanted. Then I kneaded in a bunch of gold glitter. (The medallions we made when my older kids were little were made with just plain salt dough, then painted when they were dry. Doing it this way saves that step.)

I rolled out the dough (not too thin) and cut out medallion shapes with a small biscuit cutter. I used a cookie spatula to move the disks to a pizza box lid.

I used some of the samples of sun symbols from Margie’s book, but also, just dug around in the kitchen for things to use as imprinting tools. I used a gluestick cap to make medium circles, a skewer to make dots, a butter knife to make lines, and a jumbo bendy straw to make some of the sunrays. I also had some sun stamps, but they didn’t leave a very deep impression. (I may have to sponge some darker paint into the depressions when they are dry.)

Now is a great time to make these, because they’ll have plenty of time to dry before the Solstice.

******

Silliness – Chihuahua

Posted in Daily Stuff, Newsletter, Pagan, Wiccan | Tagged Affirmation, Astrology, Astronomy, Celtic Tree Month, Chihuahua, Dragon Boat festival, Goddess Month, Journal Prompt, Litha, Magick, Mid-summer, Moon, moon phase, Oregon Coast, Pagan, Rhododendron Occidentale, Runic Half Month, Silliness, Summer Solstice, Tides, Today’s Feast, Today’s Plant, Weather, Western Azalea, Wicca | Leave a comment

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