Hi, folks!
The shop opens at 1pm. Winter hours are Thurs-Mon. 1-6pm. Featured photo by Sam Standeven.
Dry and mostly cloudy out there. It’s a lot warmer than it’s been at night. 45F, wind at 0-4mph, AQI 16-36, UV5. Chance of rain 6% today and 8% tonight. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY from 3am today to 5am on Monday. The rest of the forecast hasn’t changed much…. dry and partly cloudy through Wednesday night. Slight chance of showers from Thursday through Saturday, then dry and partly cloudy again for several days.
Yesterday went by pretty quickly. I wrote a bit in the morning, then worked on mail and messages and a few orders. Tempus went out to get his shot at 2pm. When I started to fade in the late afternoon, Tempus chased me into the back and I slept for several hours.
We had a couple of people in shopping and a few sales, but it was pretty quiet. Tempus was working out with the guy that sold us the tiny home how to sort out the last few bits, getting the supports under the bump-out and the stuff that isn’t ours, gone. There was quite a lot of junk and tools in various of the cabinets and drawers. Apparently, there are a couple of pieces of paperwork yet and one more signature and then we’ll have it all transferred.
I’ve been steadily tracking down things that need to go and making lists of what needs to be pulled from storage, first. I spent awhile on that in the evening and I need to get Dad’s easy chair pulled from the corner of the office space for Tempus to put into the car to go, along with my summer shirt box and some odds and sods. I’m going to miss the stepstool, but I think I’m going to grab a couple of the floor pillows to put under there for a footrest.
Today is our “different day”. We’ll be open at 1pm. Tempus has to work on needles and I need to get photos of my sewing. I have some chicken to cook and to make broth. I’m going to snag some of the broth to try making soup of some of the dehydrated veg that we did last fall, instead of just adding them to soups as I go. I’m going to make an apple and strawberry mush from the last strawberries and hopefully, I’ll get to marzipan today.
…and it all may go into a cocked hat because Kaleb got hold of me yesterday and wants to stop for a visit! Well, we’ll see. Maybe he can give Tempus a hand with getting stuff into the car or something? We’ll probably get some chinese food for supper. I’m not likely to get much of a chance to cook if we’ve got company and it’s been over a decade since we say Kaleb? I wonder how much he’s changed?
At the Alsea Port Docks – 4/3/19 photo by Sam Standeven
Today’s plant is Blue Elderberry, Sambucus cerulea. It’s a rather wild shrub that can be trained into a small tree, with icky-smelling white flowers that then produce dark fruits that appear blue because of a whitish coating on them. In Oregon it grows mostly from the valley out to the coast with some isolated pockets in the Eastern part of the state. There’s a lot of folklore surrounding the tree. “In some areas, the “elder tree” was supposed to ward off evil influence and give protection from witches, while other beliefs say that witches often congregate under the plant, especially when it is full of fruit. In some regions, superstition, religious belief, or tradition prohibits the cutting of certain trees for bonfires, most notably in witchcraft customs the elderberry tree; “Elder be ye Lady’s tree, burn it not or cursed ye’ll be” – A rhyme from the Wiccan rede [poem]. If an elder tree was cut down, a spirit known as the Elder Mother would be released and take her revenge. The tree could only safely be cut while chanting a rhyme to the Elder Mother.” From Wikipedia – Feminine, Venus, Water – The flowers are used for Crossing the Bridge rituals. Carry for protection and to prevent rheumatism and toothache. Dried berries are helpful in sleep pillows. All parts are good for protection. Grow near the home for prosperity. Magic wands and flutes are often made from this wood. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambucus_ceruleaorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambucus
Today’s Feast is the first mention of Moskva (Moscow, short for Grad Moskva, “big city on the Moscow River”) in history The first reference to Moscow dates from 1147 when Yuri Dolgorukiy called upon the prince of the Novgorod-Severski to “come to me, brother, to Moscow”. It’s the largest city in Russia, about the 6th largest in the world. It’s been burned to the ground several times (once by its own populace in the Napoleonic Wars). The kreml (Kremlin) was built as a wooden stockade about 7 years after the first mention and has grown to a huge complex of palaces and government buildings. Almost 20% of the population of Moskva, calls itself, “Spiritual, but not religious” and about 1% are Rodnoveri, the pagan faith “ancestral faith”. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscow
The shop opens at 1pm. Winter hours are Thurs-Mon. 1-6pm. For appointments contact us at 541-563-7154, anjasnihova@yahoo.com, on Facebook or here on the blog, or just leave a note on the door!
Love & Light,
Anja
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Today’s Astro & Calendar
Moon in Capricorn
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 4/11 at 7:31pm. 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 4/4 at 3:02am. Waning Crescent Moon –Best time for beginning introspective magicks that are more long term (full year cycle) A good time for beginning knot magicks to “bind up” addictions and illness (finish just before the Tide Change of Dark to New) and “tying up loose ends” God/dess aspects – Demeter weeping for her Daughter, Mabon, Arachne Tyr. Phase ends on 4/7 at 10:30am.
Last Quarter Moon occurs today at 6:02 A.M. EDT.
Two hours later, asteroid 9 Metis reaches opposition at 8 A.M. EDT in the constellation Virgo. Early risers can find the magnitude 10 asteroid about 3.4° southeast of Auva (Delta [δ] Virginis).
For those who celebrate Easter, there’s an Easter Rabbit waiting in the sky for you tonight. After sunset, look southwest to spot the stars of the constellation Lepus the Hare, who sits at the feet of Orion the Hunter. The Hare contains about a dozen easily visible stars scattered over 290 square degrees, or 0.7 percent of the sky. Its brightest stars are magnitude 2.6 Arneb and magnitude 2.9 Nihal. To find Lepus, locate magnitude –1.4 Sirius, the Northern Hemisphere’s brightest star. Lepus lies due west of this star and due south of a line connecting Orion’s knees (Rigel and Saiph). The Hare contains one Messier object: magnitude 7.7 globular cluster M79, easily visible with binoculars or a small scope. You’ll find it 3.5° south-southwest of Nihal.
Canis Major
Right after it’s fully dark, Sirius shines brilliantly in the south-southwest. Lower left of Sirius, by about one fist, is the triangle of Adhara, Wezen, and Aludra, from right to left. They form Canis Major’s hind foot, rear end, and tail, respectively. Or, alternatively, the lower end and handle of the Meat Cleaver.
Open cluster M46 – The constellation Puppis the Stern holds many wonderful open star clusters, but few equal the pair of M46 (seen here) and M47. Although both reward a look through binoculars, M46 has a bonus if you view it through a a 4-inch or larger telescope. The planetary nebula NGC 2438 sits just 7′ north of the cluster’s center. Most astronomers agree that NGC 2438 is a foreground object, somewhat fortunately superimposed upon M46. Chuck Kimball
A little upper left of them, forming a 3rd- and 4th-magnitude arc 7° long, are the three uppermost stars of the constellation Puppis. No, that’s not a puppy, despite following right behind the Big Dog. It’s the Poop Deck (stern) of the giant ancient constellation Argo Navis, the ship of Jason and the Argonauts. These three are the only stars of Argo that are readily visible naked-eye from mid-northern latitudes. Just 1.5° upper right of the middle of the three, binoculars on a dark night will show the 6th-magnitude open cluster M93. It’s elongated northeast-southwest.
Mercury, Venus, and Neptune are out of sight in the glare of the Sun.
Runic half-month of Berkana/ Beorc, 3/14-29 Half-month ruled by the goddess of the birch tree; a time of purification for rebirth and new beginnings.
NIGHT SKY FOR APRIL 2021 – https://www.almanac.com/night-sky-april
Goddess Month of Columbina runs from 3/20 – 4/17
Celtic Tree Month of Fearn Alder Mar 18 – Apr 14
Color – Amber
Planting 4/3&4
©2021 M. Bartlett, Some parts separately copyright
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Celtic Tree Month of Fearn/Alder, Mar 18 – Apr 14. Fern (FAIR-n) Alder – The common alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertner) is common along lowland rivers, where it grows with aspens, poplars, and willows. Like willows, alders sprout from stumps. This allows them to regenerate after heavy flooding. In protect sites they may grow to 20 m (65 feet) tall. Their leaves are more blunt-tipped than most North American alders, which look more like the grey alder (A. incana (L.) Moench). This species is more common in the mountains of Europe, and is not restricted to moist soils. Like ashes, European alders are not widely cultivated in North American (they are often sold as black alders), but several native species are. Alder wood is said to resist rotting when it is wet, and was the wood of choice for pilings in many regions. Alders are members of the Birch family (Betulaceae).
Fearn – Alder Ogam letter correspondences
Month: January
Color: Crimson
Class: Cheiftain
Letter: F, V
Meaning: Help in making choices; spiritual guidance and protection.
Ogam letter correspondences to study this month – Ailim – Silver Fir
Month: None
Color: Light Blue
Class: Shrub
Letter: A
Meaning: Learning from past mistakes; Take care in choices.
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Day High Tide Height Sunrise Moon Time % Moon
~ /Low Time Feet Sunset Visible
Su 4 Low 12:09 AM 3.5 6:51 AM Rise 3:22 AM 57
~ 4 High 6:06 AM 7.5 7:48 PM Set 12:00 PM
~ 4 Low 1:31 PM 0.1
~ 4 High 8:27 PM 5.9
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Affirmation/Thought for the Day – Cats are smarter than dogs. You will NEVER get eight cats to pull sled through snow.” – Jeff Valdez
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Journal Prompt – What is? – What is the best way to treat busybodies?
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Quotes
~ I have always had a great respect for a Philippine proverb: ‘Into the closed mouth the fly does not get.’ – attributed to Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.,
~ It’s no use having a good memory unless you have something good to remember. – Unknown
~ When your friends begin to flatter you on how young you look, it’s a sure sign you’re getting old. – Mark Twain
~ Life has to be lived. That’s all there is to it. – Eleanor Roosevelt
Come down the mountains, April! with young eyes,
And roguish daisy-children trooping after,
Draw from the sullen clay red peonies,
Bring back the sun as a stripling full of laughter! –Mary Webb (1881–1927)
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Beltane Magick – Recipes
Incenses
http://crystalforest3.homestead.com/beltane.htmlBy Dawn Thebarge Hill
Beltane
- 2 parts Frankincense
- 2 parts Myrrh
- 1 part Benzoin Gum
- 1 part Red Copal
- 1 part Lavender
- 1 part Night Blooming Jasmine Flowers
- 1 part Rose Petals
- 1part Sandalwood
Love
1 part each:
- dragon’s blood resin powdered
- myrtle
- rose petals
- orris root powder
- lavendar buds
4 drops each:
- musk
- patchouli
grind and mix evenly and allow to dry out for 1 week
Beltane Oil By Dawn Thebarge Hill
Mix the following essential oils in 2 tablespoons of almond or other light weight odorless oil:
- 5 drops Rose
- 1 drop Lavendar
- 1 drop musk
- 4 drops Jasmine
Beltane Oil 2 – http://www.chroniclesofavalon.com/beltane2003print.html
When mixing oils, use either almond oil or any other colourless lightweight oil.
Wear to rituals or use to anoint candles.
Recipe:
5 drops Patchouli
5 drops Cypress
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Silliness – Never Turn Your Back on the Ocean
Ancient Light's Daily Stuff 
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