Minus Tide at 9:56 AM of -0.9 feet.
Spring is sprung! Definitely this morning! The flowers are going and the grass is blooming and so is the scotch broom and I forgot my allergy meds. <grinning at myself> I sound awful, but I’m happy that it’s warm! 56F, wind at 4 and only a skosh more on the beaches. It *feels* warmer than that…. and clear. <happy sigh> Might be rain tomorrow night, late, but otherwise it looks dry even 10 days out!
Yesterday we got up late and took our time getting moving. Eating a leisurely breakfast and watching the TESS launch was nice. Tempus got a shower, then pulled the dehumidifier downstairs to work on it. I got my jam made and then sat down to some embroidery.
The sun fell into the sunroom as it does in the summer and actually hit the bird of paradise plant…. which has two more blooms coming on. Later it came under the steps, shining through and making the sunroom very bright with the ruddy evening light.
We didn’t do much, later. I pecked at my recorder book stuff and embroidery and both of us got nap-attacked, so we ended up eating supper at midnight, and then going to bed for reals. Except I didn’t sleep well. It was one of those up and down nights….
…so Tempus left me sleeping this morning and I’m only just at the shop…
…and then I had a long counseling session….
….and then another phone call and customers.
Tempus has headed for Newport. We should have a new nuker this evening! So, I’m here holding the fort and trying to catch up.
<<<<<<I miss that weigelia. <<<<<<
…and wow… I’m sorry this is so late coming out!
This made me howl with laughter. This squash is named, “Gete-okosomin”, which means “Cool Old Squash” in Menominee. It was grown from 800-year-old seeds found in a clay pot. 
Today’s Plant is Coltsfoot, Petasites frigidus var. palmatus. One of the best cough remedies out there, this is often smoked to help cases of chronic bronchitis and asthma. It is also made into cough syrups often combined with horehound. This is another plant where the medicinal and magickal uses seem to go together. Feminine, Venus, water – Add to love sachets and use in spell of peace and tranquility. The leaves, when smoked, can cause visions, and aid with breathing problems. .More here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petasites_frigidus
Today is Primrose Day in the UK in honor of Benjamin Disrali. He was a favorite of Queen Victoria and very much a conservative. After his death a Primrose League was founded to keep his principles and aims going. Why Primrose? These were his favorite flower. Victoria sent a wreath of them to his funeral and every year on this date his statue and grave are decorated with them. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primrose_Day
The shop is open 11-6pm Thursday through Monday, although we’re there a lot later most nights. (Spring Hours) Need something off hours? Give us a call at 541-563-7154 or Facebook or email at ancientlight@peak.org If we’re supposed to be closed, but it looks like we’re there, try the door. If it’s open, the shop’s open! In case of bad weather, check here at the blog for updates, on our Facebook as Ancient Light, or call the shop.
Love & Light,
Anja
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Today’s Astro & Calendar
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 4/29 at 5:58pm. Diana’s Bow – On the 3rd day after the new moon you can (weather permitting) see the tiny crescent in the sky, the New Moon holding the Old Moon in her arms. Begin on your goals for the next month. A good time for job interviews or starting a project. Take a concrete step! God/dess aspect: Daughter/Son/Innocence – Associated God/dess: Vesta, Horus. Phase ends on 4/20 at 6:57am.
The Moon crosses Gemini as it approached first quarter. (The Moon is drawn three times its actual apparent size.)
Arcturus shines brightly in the east these evenings. The Big Dipper, high in the northeast, points its curving handle lower-right down around toward it. Arcturus forms the pointy end of a long, narrow kite asterism formed by the brightest stars of Boötes, the Cowherd. The kite is currently lying on its side to Arcturus’s left, as shown here. The kite is 23° long, about two fist-widths at arm’s length.
The Big Dipper’s familiar shape rides high in the northeast on April evenings. The spring sky’s finest binocular double star marks the bend of the Dipper’s handle. Mizar shines at 2nd magnitude, some six times brighter than its 4th-magnitude companion, Alcor. Even though these two are not physically related, they make a fine sight through binoculars. (People with good eyesight often can split the pair without optical aid.) A small telescope reveals Mizar itself as double — and these components do orbit each other.
Mars and Saturn, in Sagittarius, are up after 1 a.m. daylight-saving time. By the beginning of dawn they’re two bright points in the south-southeast, above the fainter Sagittarius Teapot. Mars, slightly brighter, is on the left. Their separation widens from 6° on the morning of April 14th to 10° on the 21st.
Old Farmer’s Almanac Sky Map for April 2018 – https://www.almanac.com/sites/default/files/skymap_april2018.pdf
Goddess Month of Maia runs from 4/18 – 5/15
Celtic Tree Month of Saille/Willow, Apr 15 – May 12
Runic half-month of Mannaz/ Man, April 14-28 A time when the archetypal reality of the human condition should be meditated upon. Nigel Pennick, The Pagan Book of Days, Destiny Books, Rochester, Vermont, USA, 1992, 1992
Sun in Aries enters Taurus at 8:13pm
Moon in Gemini
Jupiter (7/10), Saturn (9/6) Retrograde
Color – Crimson
©2018 M. Bartlett, Some parts separately copyright
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Celtic Tree Month of Saille/Willow, Apr 15 – May 12 – The Willow in the Tree alphabet stands for the female and lunar rhythms of life. She is water-seeking, thriving from preference on the damp margins of lakes and streams or across the low-lying water meadows. Water and the tidal movements of the sea are governed by the pull of the moon. The moon in its monthly rhythms is female, contrasting with the male sun’s daily and yearly turnings. In several ways, the Celts held women in higher regard than we do today. On the material level, women were property owners, and whoever controlled the property controlled the marriage. Women of all types and ages appeared in the Celtic pantheon, the spiritual strength and life-giving qualities given by both female and male recognized equally. There were colleges of Druidesses – learned women and teachers – respected equally for their gifts of see-ship, often expressed through dreams, or night visions.
Magical Associations: Romantic love, healing, protection, fertility, magic for women.
Saille – Willow Ogam letter correspondences
Month: February
Color: listed only as bright
Class: Peasant
Letter: S
Meaning: Gaining balance in your life
to study this month – Ohn – Furze Ogam letter correspondences
Month: None
Color: Yellow Gold
Class: Chieftain
Letter: O
Meaning: Information that could change your life
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Tides for Alsea Bay
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Day High Tide Height Sunrise Moon Time % Moon
~ /Low Time Feet Sunset Visible
Th 19 High 3:01 AM 8.3 6:25 AM Rise 9:13 AM 9
~ 19 Low 9:56 AM -0.9 8:06 PM
~ 19 High 4:21 PM 6.7
~ 19 Low 9:50 PM 2.4
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Affirmation/Thought for the Day – What you learn today will insure tomorrow’s harvest.
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Journal Prompt – What does this quote say to you? -Show me a thoroughly satisfied man and I will show you a failure. — Thomas A. Edison
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Quotes
~ Energy follows intent. – Kerr Cuhulain
~ Familiarity breeds contempt – and children. – Mark Twain
~ Follow the three Rs: Respect for yourself Respect for others and Responsibility for all your actions. – Nepalese mantra
~ Forget those who say that we must fear. Forget those who would rule us. You are me and I am you, and we are one. – Joe Haydu (writing from Afghanistan)
Again the blackbirds sing; the streams
Wake, laughing, from their winter dreams,
And tremble in the April showers
The tassels of the maple flowers. –John Greenleaf Whittier (1807–92)
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Beltane Magick – Spells
A May Spell for Beauty
One of the time-honored methods of improving physical beauty in Scotland and England was to gather morning dew on May Day and apply it to the skin. To adapt this idea using a more spiritual tone, try mixing a little catnip tea with this dew. Anoint yourself thrice over the heart with it, saying, “Loveliness within, loveliness without, let beauty shine, remove all doubt.”
If May Day dew is not available, use rain or dew drops collected on the third or twenty-first day of any month. To gather dew, drape a fine linen or cotton cloth over a few plants at nightfall. Just after dawn the next day, wring out the fabric into a clean container. Refrigerate this, otherwise the water will quickly become stagnant and unusable for magic.
Internalizing the spirit of beauty. Grace under pressure. Poise and presence. Self-confidence. – GrannyMoon’s Herbal Course – http://goddessschool.com/courses/Herbs/herbology.html
A Sweet Woodruff Spell for Prosperity – Pagan Studies:
At dusk in my woodland garden, sweet woodruff sends out its fresh haylike scent, and its white flowers glow in the June twilight. In June, sweet woodruff reaches the height of its magical power, and is valuable in attracting prosperity. The prosperity spell which follows should be concluded next month, beneath July’s Blessing Moon. On a June evening, just before nightfall, gather some woodruff flowers, leaves, and stems. Cut them all, and put them in a darkened room to dry on a hook or beam. When July’s Moon is at its height, and the woodruff has dried, bury it with a dollar and a copper coin. Now, with what you’ve sown your wealth will increase. By: James Kambos
)0( GrannyMoon’s Coventry of Healing Arts and Pagan Studies
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Silliness – 
