Hecate's Libri Umbra

Some History of Hekate--the Greek Goddess I am named after

2010-09-11T13:53:00.002-05:00

HEKATE (or Hecate) was the goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, moon, ghosts and necromancy. She was the only child of the Titanes Perses and Asteria from whom she received her power over heaven, earth, and sea.

Hekate assisted Demeter in her search for Persephone, guiding her through the night with flaming torches. After the mother-daughter reunion became she Persephone's minister and companion in Haides.

Two metamorphosis myths describe the origins of her animal familiars: the black she-dog and the polecat (a mustelid house pet kept to hunt vermin). The bitch was originally the Trojan Queen Hekabe, who leapt into the sea after the fall of Troy and was transformed by the goddess into her familiar. The polecat was originally the witch Gale who was transformed into the beast to punish her for her incontinence. Other say it was Galinthias, the nurse of Alkmene, transformed by the angry Eileithyia, but received by Hekate as her animal.

Hekate was usually depicted in Greek vase painting as a woman holding twin torches. Sometimes she was dressed in a knee-length maiden's skirt and hunting boots, much like Artemis. In statuary Hekate was often depicted in triple form as a goddess of crossroads.

Hekate was identified with a number of other goddesses, including Artemis and Selene (Moon), the Arkadian Despoine, the sea-goddess Krataeis, the goddess of the Taurian Khersonese (of Skythia), the Kolkhian Perseis, and Argive Iphigeneia, the Thracian goddesses Bendis and Kotys, Euboian Maira (the dog-star), Eleusinian Daeira and the Boiotian Nymphe Herkyna.

HE′CATE (Hekatê), a mysterious divinity, who, according to the most common tradition, was a daughter of Persaeus or Perses and Asteria, whence she is called Perseis. (Apollod. i. 2. § 4; Apollon. Rhod. iii. 478.) Others describe her as a daughter of Zeus and Demeter, and state that she was sent out by her father in search of Persephone (Schol. ad Tleocrit. ii. 12); others again make her a daughter of Zeus either by Pheraea or by Hera (Tzetz. ad Lyc. 1175; Schol. ad Theocrit. ii. 36) ; and others, lastly, say that she was a daughter of Leto or Tartarus. (Procl. in Plat. Cratyl. p. 112 ; Orph. Argon. 975.) Homer does not mention her. According to the most genuine traditions, she appears to have been an ancient Thracian divinity, and a Titan, who, from the time of the Titans, ruled in heaven, on the earth, and in the sea, who bestowed on mortals wealth, victory, wisdom, good luck to sailors and hunters, and prosperity to youth and to the flocks of cattle; but all these blessings might at the same time be withheld by her, if mortals did not deserve them. She was the only one among the Titans who retained this power under the rule of Zeus, and she was honoured by all the immortal gods.

She also assisted the gods in their war with the Gigantes, and slew Clytius. (Hes. Theog. 411-452; Apollod. i. 6. § 2.) This extensive power possessed by Hecate was probably the reason that subsequently she was confounded and identified with several other divinities, and at length became a mystic goddess, to whom mysteries were celebrated in Samothrace (Lycoph. 77; Schol. ad Aristoph. Pac. 277) and in Aegina. (Paus. ii. 30. § 2; comp. Plut. de Flum. 5.) For being as it were the queen of all nature, we find her identitied with Demeter, Rhea (Cybele or Brimo); being a huntress and the protector of youth, she is the same as Artemis (Curotrophos); and as a goddess of the moon, she is regarded as the mystic Persephone. (Hom. Hymn. in Cer. 25, with the commentat.; Paus. i. 43, § 1.) She was further connected with the worship of other mystic divinities, such as the Cabeiri and Curetes (Schol. ad Theocrit. ii. 12; Strab. x. p. 472), and also with Apollo and the Muses. (Athen. xiv. p. 645; Strab. x. p. 468.) The ground-work of the above-mentioned confusions and identifications, especially with Demeter and Persephone, is contained in the Homeric hymn to Demeter; for, according to this hymn, she was, besides Helios, the only divinity who, from her cave, observed the abduction of Persephone. With a torch in her hand, she accompanied Demeter in the search after Persephone; and when the latter was found, Hecate remained with her as her attendant and companion. She thus becomes a deity of the lower world; but this notion does not occur till the time of the Greek tragedians, though it is generally current among the later writers. She is described in this capacity as a mighty and formidable divinity, ruling over the souls of the departed ; she is the goddess of purifications and expiations, and is accompanied by Stygian dogs. (Orph. Lith. 48; Schol. ad Theocr l. c. ; Apollon. Rhod. iii. 1211; Lycoph. 1175; Horat. Sat. i. 8. 35; Virg. Aen. vi. 257.) By Phorcos she became the mother of Scylla. (Apollon. Rhod. iv. 829 ; comp. Hom. Od. xii. 124.) There is another very important feature which arose out of the notion of her being an infernal divinity, namely, she was regarded as a spectral being, who at night sent from the lower world all kinds of demons and terrible phantoms, who taught sorcery and witchcraft, who dwelt at places where two roads crossed each other, on tombs, and near the blood of murdered persons. She herself too wanders about with the souls of the dead, and her approach is announced by the whining and howling of dogs. (Apollon. Rhod. iii. 529, 861, iv. 829; Theocrit. l. c. ; Ov. Heroid. xii. 168, Met. xiv. 405; Stat. Theb. iv. 428 ; Virg. Aen. iv. 609; Orph. Lith. 45, 47; Eustath. ad Hom. p. 1197, 1887; Diod. iv. 45.) A number of epithets given her by the poets contain allusions to these features of the popular belief, or to her form. She is described as of terrible appearance, either with three bodies or three heads, the one of a horse, the second of a dog, and the third of a lion. (Orph. Argon. 975, &c.; Eustath. ad Hom. pp. 1467, 1714.) In works of art she was some-times represented as a single being, but sometimes also as a three-headed monster. (Paus. ii. 28. § 8. 30. § 2.) Besides Samothrace and Aegina, we find express mention of her worship at Argos (Paus. ii. 30. § 2.) and at Athens, where she had a sanctuary under the name of Epipurgidia, on the acropolis, not far from the temple of Nice. (Paus. ii. 30. § 2.) Small statues or symbolical representations of Hecate (hekataia) were very numerous, especially at Athens, where they stood before or in houses, and on spots where two roads crossed each other; and it would seem that people consulted such Hecataea as oracles. (Aristoph. Vesp. 816, Lysistr. 64; Eurip. Med. 396; Porphyr. de Abstin. ii. 16; Hesych. s. v. Hekataia). At the close of every month dishes with food were set out for her and other averters of evil at the points where two roads crossed each other; and this food was consumed by poor people. (Aristoph. Plot. 596 ; Plut. Synmpos. vii. 6.) The sacrifices offered to her consisted of dogs, honey, and black female lambs. (Plut Quaest. Rom. 49; Schol. ad Theocrit. ii. 12 ; Apollon. Rhod. iii. 1032.)

Source: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.

Hekate was one of the Titan-gods who allied themselves with Zeus.

Hesiod, Theogony 404 ff (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or C7th B.C.) :
"Hekate whom Zeus the son of Kronos honoured above all. He gave her splendid gifts, to have a share of the earth and the unfruitful sea. She received honour also in starry heaven, and is honoured exceedingly by the deathless gods . . . For as many as were born of Gaia (Earth) and Ouranos (Heaven) [the Titanes] amongst all these she has her due portion. The son of Kronos [Zeus] did her no wrong nor took anything away of all that was her portion among the former Titan gods: but she holds, as the division was at the first from the beginning, privilege both in earth, and in heaven, and in sea. Also, because she is an only child, the goddess receives not less honour, but much more still, for Zeus honours her."

For MORE information on the Titan-War see THE TITANES

Homeric Hymn 2 to Demeter 19 ff (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C7th - 4th B.C.) :
"Then she [Persephone] cried out shrilly [as she was seized by the god Haides] with her voice, calling upon her father, the Son of Kronos [Zeus], who is most high and excellent. But no one, either of the deathless gods or mortal men, heard her voice, nor yet the olive-trees bearing rich fruit: only tender-hearted Hekate, bright-coiffed, the daughter of Persaios, heard the girl from her cave, and the lord Helios (the Sun) . . .
Then for nine days queenly Deo [Demeter] wandered over the earth with flaming torches in her hands, so grieved that she never tasted ambrosia and the sweet draught of nektaros, nor sprinkled her body with water. But when the tenth enlightening dawn had come, Hekate, with a torch in her hands, met her, and spoke to her and told her news: `Queenly Demeter, bringer of seasons and giver of good gifts, what god of heaven or what mortal man has rapt away Persephone and pierced with sorrow your dear heart? For I heard her voice, yet saw not with my eyes who it was. But I tell you truly and shortly all I know.'
So, then, said Hekate. And the daughter of rich-haired Rheia answered her not, but sped swiftly with her, holding flaming torches in her hands. So they came to Helios (the Sun), who is watchman of both gods and men, and stood in front of his horses: and the bright goddess enquired of him."

Homeric Hymn 2 to Demeter 436 ff :
"[After Persephone was returned from the underworld to Demeter :] Then bright-coiffed Hekate came near to them, and often did she embrace the daughter of holy Demeter: and from that time the lady Hekate was minister and companion to Persephone."

Pausanias, Description of Greece 9. 39. 2 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) :
[In the following passage, Herkyna, the Warding Dog (eruô, kunos), may be Hekate:]
"[The city Lebadeia, Boiotia] is separated from the grove of [the chthonian oracular daimon] Trophonios by the river Herkyna. They say that here Herkyna, when playing with Kore [Persephone], the daughter of Demeter, held a goose (khên) which against her will she let loose. The bird flew into a hollow cave and hid under a stone; Kore entered and took the bird as it lay under the stone. The water flowed, they say, from the place where Kore took up the stone, and hence the river received the name Herkyna. On the bank of the river there is a temple of Herkyna, in which is a maiden holding a goose in her arms. In the cave are the sources of the river and images standing, and serpents are coiled around their sceptres. One might conjecture the images be of Asklepios and Hygeia, but they might be Trophonios and Herkyna, because they think that serpents are just as much sacred to Trophonios as Asklepios."

For MORE information on Persephone's abduction see RAPE OF PERSEPHONE

Hekate was probably described as the consort of Khthonian (Underworld) Hermes in the cults of Thessalian Pherai and Eleusis. Both gods were leaders of the ghosts of the dead, and were associated with the spring-time return of Persephone.

Pausanias, Description of Greece 1. 38. 7 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) :
"The hero Eleusis, after whom the city [of Eleusis] is named, some assert to be a son of Hermes and of Daeira [Hekate?], daughter of Okeanos."

Propertius, Elegies 2. 29c (trans. Goold) (Roman elegy C1st B.C.) :
"Brimo [Hekate?], who as legend tells, by the waters of Boebeis [in Thessalia] laid her virgin body at Mercurius’ [Hermes’] side."

Antoninus Liberalis, Metamorphoses 29 (trans. Celoria) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"At Thebes Proitos had a daughter Galinthias. This maiden was playmate and companion of Alkmene, daughter of Elektryon. As the birth throes for Herakles were pressing on Alkmene, the Moirai (Fates) and Eileithyia (Birth-Goddess), as a favour to Hera, kept Alkmene in continuous birth pangs. They remained seated, each keeping their arms crossed. Galinthias, fearing that the pains of her labour would drive Alkmene mad, ran to the Moirai and Eleithyia and announced that by desire of Zeus a boy had been born to Alkmene and that their prerogatives had been abolished.
At all this, consternation of course overcame the Moirai and they immediately let go their arms. Alkmene’s pangs ceased at once and Herakles was born. The Moirai were aggrieved at this and took away the womanly parts of Galinthias since, being but a mortal, she had deceived the gods. They turned her into a deceitful weasel (or polecat), making her live in crannies and gave her a grotesque way of mating. She is mounted through the ears and gives birth by bringing forth her young through the throat. Hekate felt sorry for this transformation of her appearance and appointed her a sacred servant of herself."

Aelian, On Animals 12. 5 (trans. Scholfield) (Greek natural history C2nd A.D.) :
"The inhabitants of Thebes, although Greeks, worship a marten [Galanthis], so I hear, and allege that it was the nurse of Herakles, or if it was not the nurse, yet when Alkmene was in labour and unable to bring her child to birth, the marten ran by her and loosed the bonds of her womb, so that Herakles was delivered and at once began to crawl."

Aelian, On Animals 15. 11 (trans. Scholfield) (Greek natural history C2nd A.D.) :
"I have heard that the land-marten (or polecat) was once a human being. It has also reached my hearing that Gale was her name then; that she was a dealer in spells and a sorceress (Pharmakis); that she was extremely incontinent, and that she was afflicted with abnormal sexual desires. Nor has it escaped my notice that the anger of the goddess Hekate transformed it into this evil creature. May the goddess be gracious to me : fables and their telling I leave to others."

Odysseus received Queen Hekabe as his captive followingr the fall of Troy. During the voyage back to Greece she murdered a Thracian king and was stoned by the locals. The gods then transformed her into a black dog, and she became the animal familiar of the goddess Hekate. In this myth the queen was clearly identified with Bendis, the Thrakian Hekate, who was offered dogs in sacrifice.

Lycophron, Alexandra 1174 ff (trans. Mair) (Greek poet C3rd B.C.) :
"The maiden daughter of Perseus, Brimo Trimorphos (Three-formed), shall make thee [Queen Hekabe of Troy] her attendant [after her transformed into a dog], terrifying with thy baying in the night all mortals who worship not with torches the images of Zerynthia [Hekate] queen of Strymon [in Thrake], appeasing the goddess of Pherai with sacrifice. And the island spur of Pakhynos [in Sikelia, Sicily] shall hold thine [Hekabe’s] awful cenotaph, piled by the hands of thy master [Odysseus], prompted by dreams when thou hast gotten the rites of death in front of the streams of Heloros. He [Odysseus] shall pour on the shore offerings for thee, unhappy one, fearing the anger of the three-necked goddess [Hekate], for that he shall hurl the first stone at thy [Hekabe's] stoning and begin the dark sacrifice to Haides."

Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 111 (trans. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"When Ulysses was taking into servitude Hecuba, Priam's wife . . . she threw herself into the Hellespont, and is said to have been changed into a dog. the place is called Cyneus (of the Dog) from this."

Ovid, Metamorphoses 14. 430 & 561 ff (trans. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) :
"Troy fell and Priam too. His ill-starred wife [Hekabe] lost, after all besides her human shape; her weird new barking terrified the breeze on foreign shores where the long Hellespont contracts in narrows . . . There lie across the strait from Phrygia, where Ilium was, the provinces of Thrace, where Polymestor had his wealthy palace. To him in secret Praim gave in charge his young son Polydorus to be reared . . . When Troy;s fair fortune fell, that wicked king took his sharp sword and slit his charge's throat . . .
Upon the beach cast up she [Hekabe] saw her Polydorus' corpse and the huge wounds the Thracian knives had made . . . Hecuba, rage linked with grief, oblviious of her years . . . made her way to Polymestor, author of that foul murder, and sought an audience . . . She attacked the king and dug her fingers in his eyes, his treacherous eyes, and gouged his eyeballs out . . . Incensed to see their king's calamity, the Thracians started to attack the queen with sticks and stones, but she snaped at the stones, snarling, and whn her lips were set to grame words and she tried to speak, she barked. The place remains today, named from what happened there [Kynossema, or Dog's Barrow]. Then still remembering her ancient ills, she howled in sorrow through the land of Thrace. That fate of hers stirred pity in the hearts of friend and foe, Trojans and Greeks alike, and all the gods as well--all: Juno [Hera] too, Jove's wife and sister, did herself declare the tragic end of Hecuba unfair."

Ovid, Metamorphoses 7.362 ff :
"Past the tomb of Paris [in the Troad] buried in the shallow sand; the meadowlands that Maera terrified with monstrous barks [N.B. Ovid connects Hekabe or Hekate with the dog-star Seirios or Maira]."

Votum pro Friday--Pro Patientia

2010-06-25T13:18:00.002-05:00

Votum pro Friday--Pro Patientia
(Prayer for Friday--For Patience)

(Latin Text)

O Propitius Matris Dea,
EGO sum no ex Vestri viscus
quod Vos teneo mihi melior quam
EGO teneo myself.

Vos agnosco cavum quod preoccupo,
quod sollicitudo.

Succurro mihi, Matris Dea,
tempero illa affectus,
quod succurro mihi converto illa
validus sensus in pacis quod diligo
Plurimus Propitius Dea, Matris of Veneficus.

EGO gratias ago Vos huic donum
quod diligo quod spes
Docui mihi, O Matris Dea,
professio of tolerance quod patientia
quod succurro mihi ut vita problems
fio quoque difficilis perfero.

Sic mote is exsisto.

Are there any conservatives or moderates here?

2009-10-30T18:27:00.002-05:00

Blessed be everyone.

I found this conservative blog titled "U.C.A.--United Conservatives of America 2009", and I have to say, I found that blog (and some others) to be rather informative and interesting. Just in case you all would like to check it out, and 'blogroll' it, here is the URL:

http://unitedconservativesofamerica2009.blogspot.com

Anyway, I will be reading this blog over the weekend.

Guess Who's BACK?!?

2009-08-17T23:03:00.002-05:00

Blessed be.

Hello everyone. I am back and with some good news and some bad news.

First, the good news--I FINALLY got my new laptop computer from Gateway. It is a blessing to have gotten it. So, now, I will be able to visit my blog and keep it updated more often now, without all the freezing and crashing.

The bad news is--well, I guess I really won't bore you with my problems. So, anyway...

I will be having a yard sale tomorrow (and maybe Wednesday) as well. Need money really bad and things are not going well at Pizza Hut. A lot of people there are getting their hours cut (even management) so, time to break out the 'Yard Sale' signs.

I have really missed you all. And I am really glad to be back. Especially now that I have a decent computer and all. I guess you all thought that I had dropped off the face of the earth. I do apologise for my very long absence and I hope that now I will be able to be online more often.

Everyone have a great week, and look for me to be updating the blog really soon.

WHO raises pandemic alert level

2009-04-29T16:23:00.002-05:00

Blessed be everyone. I wanted to share this story with everyone. I think it is important that we should know what is going on, and what is (or is not) being done
about this potentially dangerous situation. Our health is most important as is the health of our loved ones.

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WHO raises pandemic alert level

The UN's World Health Organization has raised the alert over the spread of swine flu to level five - one short of a full-blown pandemic.

A phase five alert means human-to-human transmission in at least two countries.

The move comes after a 23-month-old Mexican child died in Texas - the first death from swine flu outside Mexico, where the outbreak originated.

In Spain, officials confirmed the first case of swine flu in a person who has not travelled to Mexico.

Announcing the latest alert level after an emergeny WHO meeting in Geneva, Director General Margaret Chan urged all countries to activate their pandemic plans, including heightened surveillance and infection-control measures.

CONFIRMED CASES

Mexico: 159 suspected deaths - seven confirmed cases
US: one death, at least 91 confirmed cases
Canada: 13 confirmed cases
UK: 5 confirmed cases
Spain: 10 confirmed cases
Germany, New Zealand: 3 confirmed cases each
Israel: 2 confirmed cases
Austria: 1 case

She said action should be undertaken with "increased urgency".

She added: "It really is the whole of humanity that is under threat in a pandemic."

The Mexican boy fell ill during a visit to relatives in southern Texas earlier this month.

He was transferred to a hospital in Houston, where he died on Monday night.

Speaking in Washington, President Barack Obama offered his condolences and said the federal government was doing the utmost to contain the virus.

He also urged local public-health bodies to be vigilant and said schools with confirmed cases "should consider closing".

Officials put the number of suspected deaths from swine flu in Mexico at 159.

Texas Governor Rick Perry said closing the US border with Mexico was an option, but added that taking that step now would be "a little premature".

Spanish case

Since the virus emerged last week, it has also spread to Canada, Europe, Israel, and New Zealand.

Several countries have restricted travel to Mexico and many tour operators have cancellled holidays.

SYMPTOMS - WHAT TO DO

Swine flu symptoms are similar to those produced by ordinary seasonal flu - fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills and fatigue
If you have flu symptoms and recently visited affected areas of Mexico, you should seek medical advice
If you suspect you are infected, you should stay at home and take advice by telephone initially, in order to minimise the risk of infection

France will ask the European Union on Thursday to suspend all flights going to Mexico because of the flu outbreak, Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot said.

In Spain, the government said the first person to contract swine flu without having travelled to Mexico was the boyfriend of a young woman who had recently returned from there.

Spanish Health Minister Trinidad Jimenez said such cases were to be expected.

In total, the number of confirmed cases in Spain rose from two to 10 on Wednesday. None of the patients is seriously ill.

In Mexico, the search for the source of the outbreak continues, with the focus on the vicinity of a pig farm in the eastern part of the country.

The Mexican government is urging against jumping to conclusions and is suggesting the possibility remains that the virus originated outside the country.

Schools across Mexico have closed, public gatherings are restricted and archaeological sites have been placed off-limits.

A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below.

Story from BBC NEWS

Thought for the Day--"Belongingness"

2009-04-17T18:24:00.002-05:00

Our thought for the day today is 'Belongingness'.

"When I diminish another's belongingness in the universe, my belongingness becomes uncertain. Acceptance of all of creation secures my place.'

What does this mean to you? Do you sometimes feel as if your 'belongingness' has been diminished? Or have any of you diminished someone else's belongingness (unintentionally)? Let's face it, we all have (at one point or another) probably done this before, without even meaning to, or knowing that we did it.

What are your thoughts on this topic?

Thought for the Day--"Friends"

2009-04-13T18:49:00.002-05:00

Today's thought for the day is:

Remember your friends--those who stood behind you when others disappeared...study partners...hanging-out friends...confidants...buddies.

These were--and are--friends.

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How often do we really remember our friends?

Playing Catch-Up

2009-04-11T11:55:00.002-05:00

Blessed be and Happy Saturday everyone. Well, so far, my new time management table is working out well for me. I am playing 'catch-up' right now, going through my blog list and trying to catch up on everyone's blogs, and post a comment here and there.

Just wanted to stop by and say hello and wish everyone a happy weekend.

A Wiccan Song/Chant

2009-04-10T15:34:00.001-05:00

Blessings everyone. I found another really good video that I would like to share with you all. I hope that you will all enjoy it.

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Blessed be and good morning

2009-04-10T08:08:00.002-05:00

Blessings and good morning everyone. Hope everyone has had a great week and that you all have a great weekend as well.

I finished one book that I was writing, and now I have started a new one (before I even send the first one off to be viewed and published). I am now writing a book on my particular brand of Wiccan Tradition.

I bought this book a while back called 'Crafting Wiccan Traditions', and I crafted my own Trad a few years ago, known as Matriarchal (or Matrifocal) Wicca. My Trad focuses on the 'spiritual aspect of Wicca more than the magickal aspect, and relates more to the female aspect of deity, i.e. women's mysteries, cauldron mysteries, etc.

Included in my newest book will be a basic outline of how my personal Book of Shadows is arranged, and my particular way of altar set-up and ritual circle creation.

I will keep you updated on my progress of this book.

Anyway, just wanted to stop by before I leave for work and see how everyone is doing. Hope you all have a great weekend and Happy Easter.

Blessed be.

The Goddess Chant

2009-04-09T17:30:00.002-05:00

Blessings everyone. I was searching on YouTube for some videos and ran across this one (and some others) that I posted on my web site. I hope that you will enjoy it. I will also be posting more related videos.

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Well, It's Here--Dogwood Winter

2009-04-06T21:48:00.001-05:00

Folklore of the eastern United States tells gardeners not to plant until after the dogwood trees have bloomed. The reason: Dogwood Winter, known regionally as Blackberry Winter. Hi, I'm Bryan Yeaton, and this is The Weather Notebook.

Dogwood Winter generally arrives following an extended mid-spring warm spell and brings several days of cold, cloudy, disagreeable weather, often accompanied by frost and perhaps a flurry of snow. It usually occurs during May and coincides with the blooming of dogwood trees and blackberry bushes, from which it derives its popular names.

Dogwood Winter appears to be one of several weather "singularities" -- one time events common to North America, such as Indian Summer and January Thaw, but in a retrograde thermal direction. As someone once described it: "It's spring, then suddenly winter returns."

The American, or flowering, dogwood ranges from Texas to Minnesota eastward to the Atlantic shoreline from Florida to southern New England. This small tree, often as wide as it is tall, favors the well-drained but moist, fertile sites of mixed hardwood forests and pine forest edges.

Many gardeners believe that the safest time to plant cold-sensitive species, such as tomatoes, comes in the returning warm weather following Dogwood Winter. Native Americans also watched for dogwood blossoms as signs to begin planting crops.

The dogwood's beauty and utility have long been celebrated in North America. Early colonists reportedly used every part of the dogwood except "the rustle of its leaves."

Thanks to our contributing writer, meteorologist Keith Heidorn. The Weather Notebook is a production of the Mount Washington Observatory. Our support comes from Subaru of America and The National Science Foundation.

Hello and Blessed Be

2009-04-04T19:21:00.002-05:00

Hello and blessed be everyone.

I apologise for my even longer absence from the blog, but I have been very busy. I am still working on my books to be published, and have just recently started another one.

I also have some new kittens. My cat, Sweetpea, had 7 baby kittens on March 22, and they will be 2 weeks old tomorrow. They are absolutely beautiful and all of them look like their momma except 1.

I am also working on getting my own home business started. I am going to start a psychic reader shop out of my home to earn some extra money to put toward opening my own Pagan/Wiccan store.

I just finished redecorating my den and am getting ready to start redecorating my office. My home office will be my 'psychic reader room for now. Once I am able to open my own shop, I will perform the readings from there.

I am also working on some new material to start posting on the blog, and I will be updating and re-doing my website soon, as well, and that will most likely take up a lot of my time from the blog for a while, as the website will be tied in with the blog and vice verse.

Also, I will be going out of town soon, and that will mean another absence from the blog and the website, as I am hosting a Wiccan camping trip for my ladies coven. That will last, most likely, for a month, as it is to help us all get back in tune and alligned with Nature and our Goddess. I am not sure when we are taking our trip, yet, though, as we have not decided on a date, but it will be most likely in June or July.

Hope everyone is doing good, and all is well with you all. I am doing much better (physically) and sustained no permanant damage to any nerves or muscles. I am completely well, now, fully recovered, and I feel great!

Everyone have a great week ahead and stay safe. I will be back online soon--I hope.

Blessings Everyone

2009-02-27T19:04:00.002-06:00

Good evening everyone. It's been a while since I was on here, I know. I have just been really busy trying to write these 3 books, plus my job. Life has been busy.

I am doing ok, had a cold for a little while but doing better.

I was online doing some research and decided to stop by and say hello and check in with all of you. I hope that everything is ok with you all. I kiss you all and hope to be able to get back on here regularly once I finish these books I am writing.

Everyone have a great weekend and blessed be.

Message from the Goddess Mary Magdalene--Unconditional Love

2009-01-03T19:43:00.002-06:00

Today, the Goddess Mary Magdalene has come to share with us this message of unconditional love. It is a practice that we all try very hard to accomplish in our daily lives, but at times, find it hard to do so.

Mary Magdalene's message to us is this:

"Love yourself, others, and every situation--no matter what the outward appearances may be".

Thought for the Day--Feeling Awe

2009-01-03T19:37:00.002-06:00

Today, I pulled this particular card to help me see what I should be thinking about.

Our thought for the day is this--

"I have only to look around me to remember the feeling of awe I had as a child".

When I look around me today, and really 'see' the wonder and beauty of the world itself, I see what I have been missing in the last few years, because I was not concentrating on Nature itself, but instead, the mundane actions and reactions of humanity.

It is sometimes better to concentrate on the beauty of Nature, and not the every day activities.

Brightest Blessings

2009-01-01T21:49:00.003-06:00

Brightest blessings everyone. I hope that everyone had a wonderful Yule and Christmas, and hope that your New Year was grand.

I am going to try to be online a little more this year. I am working on getting a new computer, as this one has started to give me some problems. It likes to crash at times and I am sick and tired of having to take it to the repair shop, so I am working on getting a new one. Hopefully a laptop this tax season.

As for my health, I am doing better, thank you all for your healing vibrations, and prayers. It was much needed and appreciated.

As for the book I am currently writing, it is keeping me busy, which is another reason for my long absence from the blog and the internet. At least it is enjoyable and relaxing.

I just wanted to stop by and say hello and check in with you all. You all are very dear to me, and you have become sort of an 'online family' for me. I love you all, and I just want you to know that I am still around and have not forgotten you.

Have a blessed day, week, and year.

Slowly Returning to Cyberworld of Blogging

2008-11-26T09:45:00.002-06:00

Blessings everyone.
I am sorry for my long absence, I have been very sick. I suffered a mild stroke, with no apparent permanent damage. But I am still a little weak, so I am not sure as to how often I will be on my blog.

I am still trying to write my first book. Although I am now typing it, and not writing it by hand, as I had first begun. I am actually in the process of writing two books, at once. One is a collection of short story essays about things that I have personally experienced, and one is a muder suspense short story.

Anyway, I just wanted to update you all about what is going on with me, and that I have not forgotten about you all or my blog. One way or the other I am going to make it to the blog(s). LOL.

Happy Thanksgiving and Blessed Be to you all. I love you all and miss you, too. :(

Taking a Break

2008-11-13T21:44:00.002-06:00

Blessed be everyone. Sorry I have not been online here lately, I am a little under the weather, and not feeling very well. I just wanted to stop by and say hello and that I will be back online soon (I hope) to update my blog for you all and to catch up on all of your blogs.

I have been having some really bad headaches lately and not feeling too good.

I miss you all and hope to be back online soon.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Thought for the Day--Accomplishments

2008-10-31T18:23:00.002-05:00

Today, Samhain, the Pagan New Year, is a time to reflect back on what we have accomplished, and to look toward what we hope to accomplish in the coming year.

Out thought for today about our 'accomplishments' is this:

"Today is an awareness day for what I've accomplished. A celebration is in order".

Celebrate today.

Happy Samhain.

Message from the Goddess Kali--Endings and Beginnings

2008-10-31T18:13:00.004-05:00

Blessed be and Happy Samhain. Today's 'message from the Goddess' is just perfect--Endings and Beginnings.

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Today, the Goddess Kali comes to us on this our Blessed Samhain night and Pagan New Year with the message of endings and beginnings. The new year marks the time when we should reflect back on the past experiences and look forward to making new changes. "Out with old--in with the new".

The message that Kali would like to convey with us this night, is this:

"The old must be released so that the new can enter".

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Thought for the Day--Giving Up Expectations

2008-10-29T16:46:00.003-05:00

Our thought for the day centers around our expectations from others and ourselves, as well as our expectations of what we may seek for the coming days, etc.

Our thought for today about our expectations is this:

"Expectations are like girdles. We should have given them up long ago. Expectations are premeditated resentments. Cleaning them out frees us".

Have there been times when your expectations were not met and you felt a little bit of resentment toward someone or something because they or it did not 'live up to your expectations'? It happens to us all at some point in our lives, and this thought for the day should be able to help us deal with it better.

Message from the Goddess Ostara--Fertility

2008-10-29T16:41:00.003-05:00

Blessings everyone.

Today, the Goddess Ostara comes to us to share with us this message about fertility. Today, the message that She would like to share with us is this:

"It is the perfect time for you to start new projects, access new ideas, and give birth to new conditions".

As it is well known in the Craft, 'fertility' does not always relate to 'sexual reproduction. Fertility can mean the growth of new harvests, and the birth and growth of new ideas, projects, and belief systems.

Thought for the Day--Learning from Discouragement

2008-10-27T06:41:00.003-05:00

Good morning and blessed be. Our 'thought for the day' today is about learning from discouragement. There is always a lesson to learn from everything (good or bad) that we do or that comes our way. Even when we get discouraged about something, there is a lesson to be learned from it, if we look deeper into the situation.

Our thought for the day about this is:

"We all get discouraged at times. Just remember that growth is more like a spiral than a straight line. Discouragement is inevitable--and so is rejoicing".

Message from the Goddess White Tara--Sensitivity

2008-10-27T06:37:00.003-05:00

Good morning and blessed be everyone. Today, the Goddess White Tara comes to us with a message about sensitivity. The message that She would like to convey to us is this:

"You are becoming increasingly sensitive. Avoid harsh relationships, environments, situations, and chemicals".

Thought for the Day--Mini Vacations

2008-10-26T07:37:00.003-05:00

Today's thought for the day is about our need for a mini vacation. At times we just need to get away from it all, even if it is just for a short period of time.

Here is our thought for the day:

"We can learn the art of mini vacations--a minute to gaze at a flower on our desk, hold a rock, take a soak. It won't hurt to check out massages, facials, and pedicures while we are at it".

Message from the Goddess Coventina--Purification

2008-10-26T07:35:00.002-05:00

Today, the Goddess Coventina comes to us to share this message about purification with us. Her message to us is this:

"It is time for a cleansing detoxification of your body and mind".

Thought for the Day--The Fullness of Thinking

2008-10-25T10:05:00.003-05:00

Our thought for the day is about the fullness of our thinking.

Here is our thought for the day:

"Our minds are more than linear logic. When we inform our logic with our feelings, our intuition, our being, and our spirituality, we are clearer and stronger".

Message from the Goddess Sige--Quiet Time

2008-10-25T08:11:00.004-05:00

Good morning everyone. It is really good to be back online with all of you.

This morning, the Goddess Sige comes to us to deliver this message about using quiet time. We all need a little quiet time to ourselves every now and then. Here is the message that She wishes to share with us this morning:

"Take some quiet time alone to rest, meditate, and contemplate".

Message from the Goddess Mother Mary--Expect a Miracle

2008-10-24T16:25:00.003-05:00

Today, the Mother Mary comes to us with a message about miracles. The message that She wants to convey to us about expecting miracles is this:

"Have faith that your prayers have been heard and are being answered".

Thought for the Day--Discovering Decisions

2008-10-24T16:21:00.003-05:00

Today's 'Thought for the Day' concerns our decisions that we make daily. Here is what we should always try to remember about the decisions that we make on a daily basis:

"Our most important decisions are discovered, not made. We can 'make' the unimportant ones, but the major ones require us to wait for the discovery".

Thought for the Day--Spirituality

2008-10-23T21:58:00.002-05:00

Our thought for the day is:

"What a delight to know that I have within me all I need in order to know and experience my spirituality. I am my spirituality. I have only to step out of the way".

Message from the Goddess Pele--Divine Passion

2008-10-23T21:55:00.001-05:00

Today, the Goddess Pele comes to us to share this message about divine passion. Her message to us is this:

"Be honest with yourself: What is your heart's true desire?"

How to do a Book of Shadows Content Audit

2008-10-22T10:01:00.002-05:00

**REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION**

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How to do a Book of Shadows Content Audit
September 30, 2008 at 3:34 pm (Book of Shadows, journal, written by Garnet)

While shopping at my local Border’s I found a great black journal on clearance. When I saw it the first thought that popped into my head was “this will be my new Book of Shadows”. While I’ve tried to maintain physical copies of my Book of Shadows, they’ve never turned out like I’d hoped. As I thought about all the stuff in my current physical BoS (a small 3 ring binder), I thought it was messy and included a lot of unnecessary stuff. Plus, I really like the idea of a lovely bound tome that I could pass down, not a haphazard collection of scrap pages, unintelligible writing and outdated stuff (which is totally cool if that works for you!)

What’s a Witch to do? Book of Shadows Audit!

1. Audit : Go through your current BoS and pick out the stuff that’s still timely to you. I went through my BoS binder of randomness and picked out all the stuff that I still use and find valuable. These entries will be reproduced into a permenant way into my bound BoS. The old binder BoS will still be used as a storehouse of witchy tidbits. Here they will remain for a time until I feel they deserve to be entered into my bound tome.

2. Research : Comb through resources (books, online) and see if there’s anything that should be added to your Book. Now with a collection of sheets with my favorite material, I’m now going through books and resources I’ve collected to see if a year or so out there’s any new info I can glean from them again to be included in my new BoS. If I find that a book no longer resonates, I’ll get rid of it. So far, I’ve returned to a few books and have read things as a more “experienced” witch and have gotten a new level of understanding from them - these are books worth holding onto and including parts of it in a BoS. Jot new insights down on sheets of paper.

3. Compile & Arrange : Add and rearrange your notes (either on note cards or on sheets of paper you’ve stacked up). Maybe you haven’t liked how your BoS was previously arranged or maybe it wasn’t arranged and you’d like to change that - here’s your opportunity! If you like your notes organized by date in a journal style, that’s cool too. You may be thinking “Hey Garnet once you put these items into a bound book, you won’t be able to re-arrange!” - True I won’t and I’m ok with that right now. If I ever feel the need to rearrange my Book in a few years I can do that by following these similar steps, though it might be more painful than just using a 3 ring binder. However, since I have this wonderful image of a lovely bound tome full of insights, pictures, herbs and goodies stuffed in it, then that’s what I shall have

4. Divvy : Separate your material into sections (or not). If you’d like to organize your massive amount of notes into sections for easy reference, here’s a good opportunity. If you prefer something more organic (perhaps based on date of discovery/use), then that works too. I’m going to divide mine up into sections, which tentatively include: Ritual Notes, Correspondences, Spells, Oils/Incense recipes, the Sabbats, God/dess notes. Blank pages will be left in-between sections for future additions. I also see myself adding or taping notes over stuff to create layered pages (lift the tab to read! lol).

5. Create : Begin putting your book together to house your collection of insights, ideas, correspondences, rituals, spells, whatever! This is the fun part! Though I’m still in the “Research” phase of this plan, I’ve already started collecting stamps, art, pictures, herbs, stickers etc to decorate the pages of my Book. Right now my book contains a book blessing and the Wiccan Rede (handcopied because I’m hardcore now lol). As I work thorough my collecting, compliling and sorting, I’ll add to my tome slowly but surely.

Have you ever needed to do a Book of Shadows audit? When’s the last time you did it? How do your organize your BoS - sections or randomly? Do you prefer a bound book or the freedom of loose leaf?

Solitude: Seeking Wisdom in Extremes

2008-10-22T09:53:00.002-05:00

Blessed be everyone.

I found this last night while searching the web for something about having some 'alone time'. I really enjoyed reading it and I wanted to share it with you all this morning, especially since the particular 'Thought for the Day' post was about 'Solitude'.

I hope that you all will find it enlightening and inspiring as much as I did.

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Solitude: Seeking Wisdom in Extremes
by Bob Kull
Posted by: DailyOM
Years after losing his lower right leg in a motorcycle crash, Robert Kull traveled to a remote island in Patagonia's coastal wilderness with equipment and supplies to live alone for a year. He sought to explore the effects of deep solitude on the body and mind and to find the spiritual answers he'd been seeking all his life. With only a cat and his thoughts as companions, he wrestled with inner storms while the wild forces of nature raged around him. The physical challenges were immense, but the struggles of mind and spirit pushed him even further.

Solitude: Seeking Wisdom in Extremes is the diary of Kull’s tumultuous year. Chronicling a life distilled to its essence, Solitude is also a philosophical meditation on the tensions between nature and technology, isolation and society. With humor and brutal honesty, Kull explores the pain and longing we typically avoid in our frantically busy lives as well as the peace and wonder that arise once we strip away our distractions. He describes the enormous Patagonia wilderness with poetic attention, transporting the reader directly into both his inner and outer experiences.

Kull went into solitude fishing for enlightenment, seeking the Answer, but came back empty-handed. Wilderness, he found, is a place to clearly see the insanity of denying that the world is as it is. He discovered that life itself teaches us all we need to know — once we pause to really listen.

Excerpt:

But when I left the magic of the forest and returned to the chaos of the human world, I lost my way, and the clear inner light faded. I traveled to Mexico with my lover, and sat for long hours by the sea, but caught only brief glimpses of the joy and wonder I'd thought would always fill my life. I didn't know what I'd done wrong, but I felt I'd somehow failed an important spiritual test. I sank deeper and deeper into darkness, clinging to the dead memory of what had been a living flame. My lover tried to understand, but I couldn't explain what I was going through, and she finally left me.

Alone again, I drifted north to California, and lived for a while in a cave in Death Valley — sleeping long hours and attempting to interpret my dreams. During the day, I read the Bible and Carl Jung, trying to understand and accept what had happened to me in the wilderness, without getting sucked back into the fundamentalist Christian dogma I'd grown up with. The depression and the grief for what I'd lost eased only when I discovered Buddhist meditation practice and learned that peak spiritual experiences are inherently transient.

As my mind cleared, I began to remember something I'd thought about in the wilderness. When I was twenty, I'd left the United States to live in Canada rather than fight in the Vietnam War. It had been an ethical choice, but during the months in solitude I came to recognize that I'd avoided an important social responsibility: not to go to war but to contribute two years of my life to serve the community in a positive way.
A friend told me about an agency that sent volunteers to teach organic vegetable gardening in the Caribbean. I signed up to spend two years in the rural mountains of the Dominican Republic, beyond the reach of cars, electricity, and running water. A month after I arrived, the agency sent word that they had lost their funding and I should use my return ticket back to the States.

But I believed in the work and decided to stay. I built a small shack to live in, continued to cultivate the demonstration garden, practiced my Spanish, and traded vegetables for the staples I needed. I also did small carpentry jobs to earn the thirty dollars a month I learned to live on. After I'd been there for a year, Hurricane David swept through and wiped out the homes of many of the poorest people in the tiny village where I was living. I abandoned the garden and focused on bringing in relief supplies, doing first aid, and rebuilding houses.

Despite the political strife that sometimes caught me up, those years were magical. The deep connection I felt was as much with the people as with the land, and I was overwhelmed by how much I received from those I had gone to help. Even though we didn’t share much intellectually, our heart connection was, and still is, strong.

Then I fell in love — with an American woman who was on the island filming the reconstruction effort. She returned to the States but came back to share my one-room shack. As a gift to her, I poured a layer of concrete over the dirt floor and replaced the dim oil lamp with a brighter propane light. We lived together in the mountains for two years before moving to the sea.

On the coast, I found a job running the water sports department in a resort hotel, where I learned and taught windsurfing and scuba diving. The party atmosphere of the Caribbean was very different from our quiet life in the mountain village. We began to each go our own way until our relationship broke, and I was alone again...except for a steady stream of tourist women. During the next four years, the inner light almost flickered out as I leapt jubilantly into sex, alcohol, and scuba diving. Then one morning, while I was riding my motorcycle across the island to go diving with humpback whales, a drunken farmer crashed his pickup into me. I was flown to Montreal, where the doctors in the Royal Victoria Hospital tried unsuccessfully to reattach my right foot, which had been ripped off in the crash. When I emerged from the hospital a year later with a prosthetic leg, I'd lost my dive business and could barely walk. My life in the Caribbean was over.

The World of Intellect
It was hard to accept that my body was no longer what it had been, but rather than cling to what I'd lost, I focused on developing my mind instead. I decided to go back to school. I'd dropped out of the University of California at Berkeley when I was nineteen because I felt too restless to sit in a classroom. Rather than the nine-to-five office job I believed a university degree would lead to, I'd wanted a life of physical activity and adventure. Now at forty, I enrolled in McGill University to study biology and psychology. Studying science as a mature student was challenging and occasionally amusing. Sometimes, when I walked into a lecture hall on the first day of class, the other students would stop talking and sit up to attention...until I scrunched down into one of the desks among them. "Huh? He's not the professor? What's this old fart doing here?" It was often a lonely life.

I immersed myself in the intellectual world like a dry sponge soaking up a flood of new information. I'd always read on my own, but now I was studying in a directed and systematic way. I loved it at first, but slowly the academic approach began to pall, and by the time I graduated — with a fellowship to pursue a master's degree in biology — something vital was missing from my life. I felt as though I'd become a hollow shell filled with abstract facts and theories that seemed to have little connection to my heart or to my own actual experience. Once again I heard solitude calling and spent two months canoeing alone in northern Quebec. During that summer, the world came alive again. The sense of existing in a living universe was what had been missing in the university.

I decided against graduate school, worked for a year as a carpenter to earn money, and left for what I thought would be three months in Mexico. A year and a half later, after lingering in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Mexico, and Argentinean Tierra del Fuego, I found myself sailing up the remote wild coast of southern Chile. It was astonishingly beautiful, and during the three-day ferry ride, I began to imagine an exciting project that braided together two apparently disconnected threads of my life: I would use the money from the academic fellowship I'd been awarded to carry out a biological study, while living alone for a year in that pristine coastal wilderness.

I made my way back to Canada and enrolled in the master's degree program at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, but the deeper I settled into graduate studies, the more I realized that biology was not my main interest. What I truly wanted to explore was the effect of deep wilderness solitude on a human being — in this case, on me. I would be both researcher and subject. I also wanted to examine my relationship with the nonhuman world and to learn how the direct experience of profound belonging in the universe might lead to changes in human behavior that would be less damaging to the Earth. I expected there to be resistance among conservative professors to this unorthodox approach, but I would risk it. I transferred to the Interdisciplinary Studies PhD program.

One of the most important, but often trivialized, tasks facing a new graduate student is selecting a research supervisor and supervisory committee. This is the group that will most directly support or hinder the PhD process. Especially when wishing to carry out nonconventional research, choosing individuals who are open-minded, ready for adventure, and with whom you can openly communicate is vital. I was very careful and selected such people. They were excited about my proposal to study myself as I lived for a year alone in the wilderness. But there were two strong caveats: they offered no additional funding, and they did not guarantee that I would actually be awarded a PhD for the adventure. I willingly accepted those conditions.

My relationship with the rest of the university was sometimes less positive. Mostly, I pursued my academic study on my own. I had friends among my peers, but no close associates. The faculty frequently treated me with amused tolerance rather than respect or disapproval. One professor told me I was too old for such a radical project, that such things were for younger people. I suspected his comment might apply to my graduate work in general. A fellow graduate student, who was also doing nontraditional research, said she was very glad I was in the department because my project made everyone else's seem fairly conventional.
I learned an important lesson at the university. Walls of resistance often turn into doorways if you lean steadily against them for a while. Once I was asked to give advice to a group of new graduate students, and I suggested that they take as long as possible to earn their degree. At first their supervisory committee would find many reasons why their dissertation was not acceptable; eventually the committee would just want to get rid of them and would support damn near anything. Of course the quality of the work must be excellent when you step outside the usual framework.

Thought for the Day--"Solitude"

2008-10-22T09:42:00.003-05:00

Today's "Thought for the Day" deals with our need for solitude. Here is what we all need for ourselves:

"Returning to our solitude is much like returning home to an old friend or lover after we have been away for much too long...visiting places that felt foreign and unfamiliar to us at times".

Message from the Goddess Cordelia--Go Outside

2008-10-22T08:49:00.001-05:00

Today, the Goddess Cordelia comes to visit us with a message about going out. Cordelia wants to share this message with us:

"You have been indoors too long. Go outside and get some fresh air".

The Unwelcomed House Guest

2008-10-20T21:15:00.002-05:00

'Murphy' and His 2 Brothers Moved in for 5 days!!!!

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Blessed be everyone.

Ok, so I know that everyone is wondering why I have not been here in the last 5 days (since Wednesday). Well...."Murphy" and his 2 brothers decided to move in with us around 5:35 pm Wednesday evening and they did not leave until 8:30 pm tonight.

So, here is what happened........

A while back, we had a heavy storm here in Frayser, and it took some shingles off our roof near our 'meter' box. This caused a major 'roof leak' that we were unaware of for about a month or two.

Water had begun to get down into our wall between the meter box and our breaker box. This in turn caused a 2nd problem with our lights flickering and dimming in and out.

Our light/water/gas company came out this past Wednesday (while I was on the computer on Blogger) and checked everything out, and the man told me that he was going to have to 'cut our power off until we could get the problems fixed' because in his very words,....'if I don't cut your power off NOW, you stand a 98% chance of your house catching fire......'

So, at exactly 5:35pm this past Wednesday, we had no electricity until 1 hour ago.

However, 'Murphy and both of his brothers have now been "evicted" from the house. The entire last five days without my wonderful Blogger friends have been PURE HELL!!!!! LOL!!! I missed you all. I missed 2 days of work, we had to take showers at the gym, and wash our clothes at the coin-op laundry, and even though we had 2 large ice chests we still lost a little over 1/2 of our food.

BUT, at least we still have our home, and our lives, which is truly most important.

I will update the blog in a couple of days because it is going to take me a while to get back organized. I just wanted to come by and inform you all as to what had happened.

Thought for the Day--Giving Up "Frantic"

2008-10-15T10:16:00.003-05:00

**NOTE**

Ok...could this be just a coincidence, or did I plan it this way???

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Thought for the Day--Giving Up Frantic

"We may have believed in the past that anything worthdoing was worth doing frantically. We can learn that 'frantic' isn't necessary to get the job done".

Slowing Down to the Speed of Life

2008-10-15T09:52:00.002-05:00

Blessed be everyone,
I found this little article in the DailyOM yesterday and I wanted to share it with you all. I believe it kind of goes along with that last post about 'taking it easy'. Anyway, it is a pretty good article and I hope that you will all enjoy it.

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From "Slowing Down to the Speed of Life: How To Create A More Peaceful, Simpler Life From the Inside Out" by Richard Carlson & Joseph Bailey
Posted by: DailyOM
As young children we were full of life, always playing or running around with our friends. We would turn from one activity to another with endless enthusiasm. Games of hide-and-seek were an opportunity for unlimited imagination, exploration, and curiosity. It seemed we never got bored or tired of whatever we were doing in the moment. For the most part, our childhoods were an endless series of positive feelings--joy, laughter, curiosity, surprise, confidence, and adventure. We had not learned yet to worry, to hold grudges, or to have regrets about the past.

Most young children, in fact, are generally unstressed, full of awe and curiosity, and rarely bored. Most have enormous amounts of energy, are unconditionally loving, and seem to have boundless energy that make adults envy their innocent approach to life. These uncontaminated children live from a state of mind that we practitioners of Psychology of Mind like to call mental health. They live naturally in the moment.

As adults we still have the capacity for mental health, but we have been socialized into the busy ways of Western culture, and many of us have grown serious, analytical, stressed, depressed, and unimaginative. Beginning when we reach age five or six, and steadily progressing into adulthood, our experience of mental health declines. This decline seems to correspond with our propensity to use memory and analytical thinking more often as we get older and our creative, in-the-moment thinking less often.

As you will see, it is not only unnecessary but actually unnatural for human beings to lose this experience of mental health. It is only through a lack of understanding about the nature of our psychological functioning that this deterioration occurs. Understanding how to maintain this natural mental well-being and our capacity to live in the moment is what practitioners of pom generally call wisdom or maturity

Mental Health, Toolkit of the Mind
Mental health is our birthright. We don't have to learn how to be mentally healthy; it is built into us in the same way that our bodies know how to heal a cut or mend a broken bone. Mental health can't be learned, only reawakened. It is like the immune system of the body, which under stress or through lack of nutrition or exercise can be weakened, but which never leaves us. When we don't understand the value of mental health and we don't know how to gain access to it, mental health will remain hidden from us. Our mental health doesn't really go anywhere; like the sun behind a cloud, it can be temporarily hidden from view, but it is fully capable of being restored in an instant.

Mental health is the seed that contains self-esteem--confidence in ourselves and an ability to trust in our common sense. It allows us to have perspective on our lives--the ability to not take ourselves too seriously, to laugh at ourselves, to see the bigger picture, and to see that things will work out. It's a form of innate or unlearned optimism. Mental health allows us to view others with compassion if they are having troubles, with kindness if they are in pain, and with unconditional love no matter what they believe, how they act, or what their nationality or religion happens to be. Mental health is the source of creativity for solving problems, resolving conflict, making our surroundings more beautiful, managing our home life, or coming up with a creative business idea or invention to make our lives easier. It gives us patience for ourselves and toward others as well as patience while driving, catching a fish, working on our car, or raising a child. It allows us to see the beauty that surrounds us each moment in nature, in culture, in the flow of our daily lives.

Although mental health is the panacea for living our lives, it is nothing short of ordinary. If you reflect on your life, you will see that it has been there to direct you through all your difficult decisions. It has been available even in the most mundane of life situations to show you right from wrong, good from bad, friend from foe. Mental health has commonly been called conscience, instinct, wisdom, common sense, or the inner voice. We think of it simply as a healthy and helpful flow of intelligent thought. As you will come to see, knowing that mental health is always available and knowing to trust it allow us to slow down to the moment and live life happily.

Six Reasons Why it is Critical; to Slow Down to the Speed of LIfe

Reduction of stress

Improved physical health

More present, intimate, and loving relationships

Heightened sensory awareness and enjoyment of the natural beauty around us

Greater peace of mind and serenity

Dramatically improved ability to be productive and creative and to stay focused

Unleashing Innate Human Potential
Mental health is an innate capacity that is complete in itself. It is the human potential for healthy psychological functioning--self-esteem, creativity, insight, wisdom, unconditional love, healthy relationships, motivation, humor, problem solving, optimism, and many more virtues. It lies dormant in each human being in its complete form, waiting to be unleashed.

You can think of innate mental health as a one-hundred-watt lightbulb, burning constantly and consistently. The light that we see in our lives is limited by the aperture of our thinking in the moment. We may live in total darkness most of the time and have only a momentary glimpse of this light. We call this flash of light an insight, a peak experience, or a moment of happiness. As we gain more understanding of how our mind and life work, this aperture stays open farther and farther, exposing more of the light of our innate mental health. Though our mental health will fluctuate with our moods and our thoughts, the source of the light we see remains constant. As we mature, we realize more of this innate mental health in our lives. The power of this innate mental health is the unlimited human potential to live a happy and productive life.

Living in the Moment, Entry Point
into Healthy Functioning
The entry point into healthy psychological functioning is living in the moment. But what does being in the moment really mean? We all have experienced living in the moment many times--during a crisis, being struck by the beauty of a sunset or some other natural phenomenon, falling in love, taking a shower, listening to music, hearing an inspiring speaker. During these moments, time seems to stand still and the buzz of our personal thinking briefly subsides. We see life firsthand, for we have slowed down to the speed of life. These rare moments have the ability to reduce our stress, give us hope, and fill us with joy and inspiration.

The key to making these apparently serendipitous moments the norm for our daily lives is to understand that our experience of life is directly linked to the way we are thinking. Your thought process can be either healthy or unhealthy, a topic we will discuss in great detail a little later. Knowing the difference between healthy and unhealthy thinking is one of the most important insights you can gain about your mental health.

Thought, the Creator of Experience
Thought is the power that creates human experience--the ultimate force that creates, shapes, and transforms our lives. We create our experience of life through our thinking. We can't have an experience without thought. It's as though thought is the ink in the pen of life, and we are the illustrators. What we think becomes our emotions, perceptions, sensations, decisions, behavior. It also influences the reactions we get from others and our interpretations of those reactions. Without thinking, there would be no experience. The tree may fall in the woods, but someone alive and conscious needs to experience it. We are not saying that our thinking creates the outside world in any absolute sense--the tree still falls even if we don't experience it--but our thinking does create our experience of the event.

It's impossible to experience any negative feeling without first creating a negative corresponding thought. The truth is, our thinking will always create the reality we perceive. For example, when we see life as being full of demands and we feel overwhelmed, our thoughts coincide with this view of life. When we are impatient, we are thinking impatient thoughts: "When is he going to call me back for that order?" When we are stressed, we are thinking stressed thoughts: "I hate my supervisor. He demands a ridiculous amount out of me. Does he think I'm Superwoman?"

The foregoing is excerpted from Slowing Down to the Speed of Life by Richard Carlson, and Joseph Bailey.

Message from the Goddess Oonagh--Easy Does It

2008-10-15T09:38:00.002-05:00

Today, the Goddess Oonagh comes to us to share a message about taking it easy, and not overdoing ourselves.

The message that Oonagh wishes to share with us is this:

"There is no need to hurry or force things to happen. Everything is occurring in perfect timing".

Thought of the Day--Giving Up Blame

2008-10-14T07:49:00.002-05:00

"Giving up blaming others for our unhappiness, our perceived failures, and our lives may leave us silent for a while. But the silence is worth it. It leads to clamoring awareness".

I Am the World

2008-10-13T18:32:00.001-05:00

I was reading one of my favorite blogs and found this test that was really cool. Turns out that my Tarot card is 'The World'.

You are the World

Completion, Good Reward.

The World is the final card of the Major Arcana, and as such represents saturnian energies, time, and completion.

The World card pictures a dancer in a Yoni (sometimes made of laurel leaves). The Yoni symbolizes the great Mother, the cervix through which everything is born, and also the doorway to the next life after death. It is indicative of a complete circle. Everything is finally coming together, successfully and at last. You will get that Ph.D. you've been working for years to complete, graduate at long last, marry after a long engagement, or finish that huge project. This card is not for little ends, but for big ones, important ones, ones that come with well earned cheers and acknowledgements. Your hard work, knowledge, wisdom, patience, etc, will absolutely pay-off; you've done everything right.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Who's Following WHO???

2008-10-13T17:44:00.002-05:00

Blessed be.

I want to say thank you to the wonderful people who are 'following me', and I wanted to give everyone an updated list of who I am following.

Here is a list of blogs that I am following:

1--Moonlit Herbals
2--Astarte Moonsilver
3--At the End of Desire
4--Earth and Sun Folk
5--Garnet's Tarot Journal
6--Gypsy Magic
7--Heather's Blog
8--Hecate
9--House of Inanna
10--Knight's Yarn
11--Knitted Specks
12--Magick and Mystery
13--Mermaid
14--My Land
15--Spirit Witch
16--The Art of Zen
17--The Waxing Goddess
18--The Zen in You
19--Tumult of Emotions
20--Witchy Draven
21--Lola Enchanted

Brave Spirits (poem)

2008-10-13T15:19:00.002-05:00

Blessed be, everyone. It is so wierd that I would post the 'Message from the Goddess Freyja' and then I go to check my e-mails and one of my internet pen-pals sends me this poem. I don't know where she got it from, but it was so beautiful and timely that I had to post it and share it with you. I think it goes kind of well with the previous post, don't you?

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy it.

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Brave Spirit

If the moment is spent,
the time spacious
and gently irretrievable
then I grace it
with complete devotion
moving
lost in the morning light
tenuous
stepping into morning haze
sheer skin
once mine...
twice born
and as many times
awakened by the voices of those
still awaiting
a chance at this earthly dance.

I’ve learned
watching those close to death
bodies beaten down
by the weight of life
their eyes turning inward
looking toward home
where the lotus flower
blooms in vapors of the unseen
as winter calls to them
away from one more migration-
back
to slender threads of ice
sheer and
glistening
with their dreams
come and gone
and now finally done.

Learned to see
eyes closed
with my skin,
to imprint sunsets
and moon rises
in my heart center
full
traced
with whispers
in silence
of those that knew
but did not share.

Winter light
reflects white upon white,
the horizon turns
blurred
seamless
relentless in its vastness,
an amber dagger,
the sun
bleeds
gold in the morning heat:
constant
warrior king,
in its wake
burning years -
consuming
the short canvas of time.
I stand
alone,
yet
borne by the force of so many
faceless
formless
waiting in the wings
for a chance to birth
and brave
the fight.

Message from the Goddess Freyja--Bold

2008-10-13T15:11:00.003-05:00

Today, the Goddess Freyja comes to us with this message about being bold, being brave, and taking a risk. The Goddess Freyja wishes to share with us this message, and Her message to us is this:

"Unleash your adventurous side! Take risks and be daring".

Kali

2008-10-13T15:05:00.003-05:00

The love between the Divine Mother and her human children is a unique relationship. Kali, the Dark Mother is one such deity with whom devotees have a very loving and intimate bond, in spite of her fearful appearance. In this relationship, the worshipper becomes a child and Kali assumes the form of the ever-caring mother.

"O Mother, even a dullard becomes a poet who meditates upon thee raimented with space, three-eyed, creatrix of the three worlds, whose waist is beautiful with a girdle made of numbers of dead men's arms..." (From a Karpuradistotra hymn, translated from Sanskrit by Sir John Woodroffe)

Who is Kali?
Kali is the fearful and ferocious form of the mother goddess. She assumed the form of a powerful goddess and became popular with the composition of the Devi Mahatmya, a text of the 5th - 6th century AD. Here she is depicted as having born from the brow of Goddess Durga during one of her battles with the evil forces. As the legend goes, in the battle, Kali was so much involved in the killing spree that she got carried away and began destroying everything in sight. To stop her, Lord Shiva threw himself under her feet. Shocked at this sight, Kali stuck out her tongue in astonishment, and put an end to her homicidal rampage. Hence the common image of Kali shows her in her mêlée mood, standing with one foot on Shiva's chest, with her enormous tongue stuck out.

The Fearful Symmetry
Kali is represented with perhaps the fiercest features amongst all the world's deities. She has four arms, with a sword in one hand and the head of a demon in another. The other two hands bless her worshippers, and say, "fear not"! She has two dead heads for her earrings, a string of skulls as necklace, and a girdle made of human hands as her clothing. Her tongue protrudes from her mouth, her eyes are red, and her face and breasts are sullied with blood. She stands with one foot on the thigh, and another on the chest of her husband, Shiva.

Awesome Symbols!
Kali's fierce form is strewed with awesome symbols. Her black complexion symbolizes her all-embracing and transcendental nature. Says the Mahanirvana Tantra: "Just as all colors disappear in black, so all names and forms disappear in her". Her nudity is primeval, fundamental, and transparent like Nature — the earth, sea, and sky. Kali is free from the illusory covering, for she is beyond the all maya or "false consciousness." Kali's garland of fifty human heads that stands for the fifty letters in the Sanskrit alphabet, symbolizes infinite knowledge.
Her girdle of severed human hands signifies work and liberation from the cycle of karma. Her white teeth show her inner purity, and her red lolling tongue indicates her omnivorous nature — "her indiscriminate enjoyment of all the world's 'flavors'." Her sword is the destroyer of false consciousness and the eight bonds that bind us.

Her three eyes represent past, present, and future, — the three modes of time — an attribute that lies in the very name Kali ('Kala' in Sanskrit means time). The eminent translator of Tantrik texts, Sir John Woodroffe in Garland of Letters, writes, "Kali is so called because She devours Kala (Time) and then resumes Her own dark formlessness."

Kali's proximity to cremation grounds where the five elements or "Pancha Mahabhuta" come together, and all worldly attachments are absolved, again point to the cycle of birth and death. The reclined Shiva lying prostrate under the feet of Kali suggests that without the power of Kali (Shakti), Shiva is inert.

Forms, Temples and Devotees
Kali's guises and names are diverse. Shyama, Adya Ma, Tara Ma and Dakshina Kalika, Chamundi are popular forms. Then there is Bhadra Kali, who is gentle, Shyamashana Kali, who lives only in the cremation ground, and so on. The most notable Kali temples are in Eastern India — Dakshineshwar and Kalighat in Kolkata (Calcutta) and Kamakhya in Assam, a seat of tantrik practices. Ramakrishna Paramhamsa, Swami Vivekananda, Vamakhyapa, and Ramprasad are some of the legendary devotees of Kali. One thing was common to these saints — all of them loved the goddess as intimately as they loved their own mother.
"My child, you need not know much in order to please Me.
Only Love Me dearly.
Speak to me, as you would talk to your mother,
if she had taken you in her arms."

'Thought for the Day'--Respecting Our Anger

2008-10-13T00:47:00.004-05:00

**NOTE**

All the posts in this particular secion titled 'Thought for the Day' comes from a wisdom deck that I picked up at (in all places) a thrift store for $.50 cents. Not a bad find actually. The deck is titled, 'Words of Wisdom for Women Who Do Too Much' by Anne Wilson Schaef, and before I decided to share these cards with you all, I went through and read each one, and I must say now that I am very excited about sharing them with you all, and I hope that you will all find them to be very helpful in the coming days that I post them.

There are 50 cards in this deck, and I will be sharing each one with you every chance I get to post.

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Today, we begin our 'thought-of-the-day' with these words of wisdom about respecting our anger. What we all must remember about our anger in our daily lives is this:

"When we respect our anger and deal with it, we discover doors into our inner being that weren't obvious to us before".

Creativity For Life

2008-10-12T23:46:00.002-05:00

Blessed be evryone.
Well, since the last post was a message from the Goddess Sarasvati about expressing yourself through creativity, I remembered that I had this little article saved in my favorites about using creativity in our lives. I thought that now would be a great time to share it with you all.

I hope you all enjoy it.

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Creativity For Life

From "Creativity for Life" by Eric Maisel, Ph.D.
Posted by: DailyOM
The phrase "creativity for life" means at least three different things. The first meaning is that creativity can permeate a life: that a person can be creative in the way that she handles her job, solves problems around the house, plans menus for dinner parties, or takes in a sunset. She manifests the qualities of a creative person, like imagination, resourcefulness, self-direction, and so on, and shines them like a beacon on whatever she thinks about or tackles. One shorthand moniker for this is that she is "everyday creative" or that she is engaged in "artful living."

The second meaning of the phrase "creativity for life" is that people who love things like art, music, literature, science, and, more broadly, smart things, gorgeous things, and evocative things, want them in their life. They do not want a life devoid of foreign movies, intellectual puzzles, or natural beauty. They love it that bookstores, museums, and concert halls exist and they love it that they can fill their living space and their spare time with art. Our shorthand for this is "an art-filled life" or "art-filled living." In this sense, "creativity for life" means filling all the days of your life with art and the joy that art brings.

You probably want these two things: to be "everyday creative" and to have an "art-filled life." You may also be someone who falls into a third category. A third meaning of the phrase "creativity for life" is that a person spends a lifetime creating in a particular domain, a domain to which she decides to devote herself. She can be creative as a violinist and devote herself to music. She can be creative as a writer and devote herself to writing novels. She can be creative as a research biologist and devote herself to scientific inquiry. Our shorthand for this is "an art-committed life" or "identifying as an artist." Millions of people make this choice, with all of the joys and challenges that come with it.

An artful life, an art-filled life, and an art-committed life are not mutually exclusive ideas or mutually exclusive ways of being. But they do present different challenges. As soon as you decide to be creative in a domain and decide that you mean to live your life as a novelist, biochemist, actor, or sculptor, you introduce a set of profound challenges that would not have confronted you if you had "settled" for artful living and an art-filled life. It is one thing to decorate your apartment with found objects that tickle your fancy. It is another thing to decide to live your life as a "found object" artist and to pay the bills from your art proceeds. When you decide to devote yourself to creativity in a domain, you raise the stakes tremendously, you organize your life around that dream, and your emotions rise and fall with your successes and failures.

Whether your goal is artful living, an art-filled life, or an art-committed life, two keys to success are careful attention and regular practice. We tend to do a pretty poor job of paying attention to our realities; we seem programmed to repeat our days without improving our circumstances or deepening our awareness. Nor do we tend to want to commit to the patient apprenticeship that is required of someone who wants to translate her love of an art form into mastery. As general rules, we pay too little attention and we practice too little. Whether you are looking to live more artfully or produce more art, you will feel more positive, motivated, and on track if you commit to a daily practice that involves you in activities that encourage your native creativity and that bring more art into your life.

These daily activies might include such simple things as listening to music that moves you or getting fresh flowers for the living room. They might include carving out islands of mindfulness, five minutes here and five minutes there, where you pay quiet atteention to your life and consider how your might live more joyfully, wisely, and artfully. If you are intending to live an art-committed life, they would include the regular practice of your instrument, daily writing on your novel, or taking care of the busisness of art by networking and marketing. None of these tasks sound outlandisly difficult and yet, because we keep ourselves busy and resistant, we tend to avoid them-and by avoiding them miss our chance for artful living, an art-filled life, and, if it is one of our dreams, an art-committed life.

You maintain lifelong creativity by maintaing daily creativity. Even on the busiest days, when the commute to work, a stressful job, and the commute home take up most of your waking hours, you can still have an art-committed first hour of the day, as you work on your novel, an art-filled evening, with music and the scent of flowers, and an artful day throughout as you mindfully bring your talents and your passion to the ordinary tasks of living. Artful living, an art-filled life, and an art-committed life are each available to you if you build up the habits of daily awareness and daily practice.

Eric Maisel, Ph.D., is America's foremost creativity coach and is widely known as the creativity expert. He is a columnist for Art Calendar Magazine, the number one business on-line and print magazine for visual artists, coaches individuals and trains creativity coaches, and offers workshops and keynotes nationally and internationally.

Based on the book Creativity for Life (c) 2007 by Eric Maisel. Printed with permission of New World Library, Novato, CA. www.newworldlibrary.com or 800-972-6657 ext. 52.

Message from the Goddess Sarasvati--The Arts

2008-10-12T23:41:00.002-05:00

Today, the Goddess Sarasvati comes to us to convey Her message about the arts to us. Her message to us is this:

"Express yourself through creative activities".

What I Am Watching This Month--October Horror Movies

2008-10-11T13:44:00.003-05:00

Ok, so it is October, and for me, that spells 'HORROR MOVIE TIME' for the entire month. October is my #1 favorite month of the entire year. And all through the month of October, I watch nothing but horror movies all the way from October 1st right up until Halloween.

Here is a list (complete list) of the movies that I am watching this month:

October 1--The Raven, and Dracula

October 2--The Wolfman, and frankenstein

October 3--Bride of Frankenstein, Son of Frankenstein

October 4--Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, The Picture of Dorian Gray

October 5--Creature from the Black Lagoon, Psycho

October 6--House on Haunted Hill, Night of the Living Dead

October 7--Jaws 1, 2, &3

October 8--It, Thinner, and Christine

October 9--Salem's Lot, The Tommyknockers, Children of the Corn

October 10--Firestarter, Creepshow, Pet Semetary

October 11--The Devil's Child, The Devil's Bride

October 12--The Devil's Rain, Eye of the Devil

October 13--Friday the 13th 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

October 14--Witchery, Witch Hunt, I Married a Witch

October 15--The Entity, Prince of Darkness, Demon Wind

October 16--King Kong, Wishcraft

October 17--Nightmare on Elm Street 1, 2, & 3

October 18--E! True Hollywood Story: The Curse of Poltergeist, Poltergeist the movie

October 19--Arachnophobia

October 20--Satan's School for Girls

October 21--Rosemary's Baby, Midnight's Child, Mephisto Waltz

October 22--The Omen, The Omen 2: Damian

October 23--The Omen 3: The Final Conflict, The Omen 4: The Awakening

October 24--The Crucible, The Seventh Sign

October 25--The Thing, The Howling

October 26--Amityville Horror

October 27--Amityville Horror 2:The Possession

October 28--Amityville 3: The demon

October 29--The Ring

October 30--1408

October 31--Halloween 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6

Air Force Inertia Axiom

2008-10-11T13:42:00.000-05:00

"Consistency is always easier to defend than correctness".

Making Talismans

2008-10-11T10:16:00.002-05:00

Blessed be everyone.
I found this article a few days ago, actually, and I saved it in my favorites so that when I found the time I could share it with you all. I was searching the internet for some talismans and I came across this article that I found to be rather helpful and informative. I am posting it now for you all to read and I hope that you will enjoy reading it as much as I did.

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From "Making Talismans: Living Entities of Power" by Nick Farrell
Posted by: DailyOM

Talismans and How They Work

A talisman, amulet, or charm is any physical object that stores and radiates a magical energy to create change. A metallic disk, stone, wand, sword, pen, paper, or television remote control can be a talisman provided that it is dedicated toward a "magical purpose. The definition of magic, however, has successfully eluded occultists for centuries.

Aleister Crowley, a Golden Dawn adept, devised the most widely accepted definition of magic. He argued that magic is "the science and art of causing change to occur in conformity with will, but this is too wide a definition to be of much use. Crowley, himself, admitted that this definition implies that any willed act is magical. While turning on a light switch may be perceived as magical to someone who has not seen electricity, most would not define it as a magical act.

Another definition of magic, touted by more than one magical school of which I have been a member, is "the art of causing meaningful coincidences at will." This is equally unsatisfactory, though, since magical work does not always create coincidences that can be seen on the material plane.

While it is not entirely satisfactory either, my definition of magic is " the art and science of becoming a co-creator with a Supreme God. This is not to say that we can be co-equal with the Most High, but rather that we merge into Divinity and its purpose. Occultism teaches that everyone has unlimited potential. We stop becoming successful only when we forget that we are part of an infinite creator. This divine creator aspect of us is like a divine secret self; Jung called it the Higher Self. As this self is realized, we become more in tune with the Divine and have access to more of its powers.

Occult techniques bring us to a gradual realization of our immortal nature over a period of incarnations. In the early stages of occult training, we develop enough belief in its concepts to effect changes in our material surroundings.
Using my definition, a talisman, amulet, or charm is a material object that stores and transmits a fusion of the magician's will and universal powers to create something new.

How Talismans Work

To know how talismans, amulets, and charms work, it is important to know how things in the universe are created.

Like a physicist, an occultist defines the universe as being made up of energy vibrating at different frequencies. Occultists, however, say this energy is intelligent and is the material part of a single divine being. They go further to say that this energy extends to higher frequencies than have been identified by physicists.

Occultists define four frequencies or levels that exist within different dimensions of the same space (figure 1). These are sometimes called the four worlds of the Cabbalah. These worlds interact and affect each other. An event that happens on one level of creation will affect all the others. A form of Jewish mysticism called Cabbalah named these levels Atziluth, the world of deity; Briah, the world of creation; Yetzirah, the world of formation; and Assiah, the world of matter.

The highest frequency is the creative intelligence of the universe or a Supreme God. This is where all ideas in the universe are born.

These divine ideas filter down to the next level where they become an impulse toward a particular direction. At this level, the ancients noted that parts of God divided into specializations. For example, one specialization would bea creator and another a destroyer. The ancients named these divine specializations archangels. If God's idea were to create dogs, then the archangel would map out the details of what would make up a dog and its evolutionary destiny.

The work of the archangels filters down to the next level. Here the divine plan is drawn in greater detail. The ancients noted that different parts of the archangel would specialize again into what they called angels. There was one angel for each part of the creation. Using the last example, there would be an angel responsible for creating each dog's teeth, another for its hair, and another for working out each animal's time of death.

Once this work has been carried out, the image of the dog is strong enough to manifest on the material plane. Here the images are formed, under the angel's instructions, out of beings called elementals. These creatures are partly built of spirit, but resonate to different types of matter and effectively build the image on the material level.

There are four types of elementals, which are described in terms of the type of matter they resemble. The lowest level of elementals are the earth elementals, or gnomes, which represent solids. Higher up are the water elementals, or undines, which represent liquids. The next highest are the air elementals, or sylphs, which represent gases. The highest level of elementals are the fire elementals, or salamanders, which represent radiant energy.

A talisman is like the foot of a ladder through the four worlds. It contacts the divine idea and the correct archangel, angel, and elemental builders. It continuously pours power into all four levels until the desired result takes place.

Making its physical design resonate to the forces that it is trying to contact makes the loading of the talisman easier. The talisman should be a color and shape that corresponds to the force that you wish to attract. It should have occult signs and divine names of power that occultists agree are the earthly representations of the four worlds, and it should be made at a time when those powers are the strongest.

We will be looking at talisman designs in chapter 3. The technique we will use will utilize the colors, angels, and names of power used in a Cabbalistic glyph called the Tree of Life. This glyph, which is the basis of Jewish esoteric tradition, has influenced countless Jewish and Christian talisman makers for centuries, especially those in magical orders like the Esoteric Order of the Golden Dawn.

Claiming Your Power to Build a Talisman

It is possible to build powerful magical objects because we exist simultaneously on all four levels and can become consciously aware of each of them. Like a deity, we can formulate a creation and then work with the archangels, angels, and elementals to build it on Earth. With this power, we theoretically create whatever situation we want. We do this instinctively every day.

If we have this power, then why do we experience so much suffering? Surely we would create environments that are happy and prosperous.

The problem is that the creative process is forged by the unconscious beliefs of each of us. Most of us unconsciously believe that our lives will remain the same or get worse. We worry about bad things happening to us, and our moments of happiness are spoiled with the fear that everything will be taken away.

Psychological fears and phobias built by environmental conditioning add more bogus beliefs to the miix so that most of us use our magical powers to build a hell on Earth rather than creating a happy environment.

Occultists are in the process of reclaiming the use of their creative powers. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done. The psychological blocks to our success are not always embedded in one lifetime, but in many incarnations. Even after all our personal blocks are resolved, there are the complexes shared by all humans, however spiritually developed we may be.

It is hard to be successful in magic without first removing our psychic blocks; however, success in magic often removes these blocks. Nothing succeeds like success. Magicians who have used talismans to improve their environment are more likely to believe that such techniques will improve their future.

What is the way out of the catch-22? The ancients used ritual magic to bypass that which stands in the way of success.

How Ritual Works

Ceremonial magic is a drama in which a magician plays the main character. His stage is set in a candle-lit room, with thick, sweet-smelling incense, and usually an altar; but the magician's mind is far away.

The magician is imagining that his ritual is taking place in a mystical temple in sun-scorched Egypt or on top of a sacred mountain. In his mind's eye, he calls to beings that exist in other worlds and imagines that they arrive.

As the magician loses himself in the drama of the ritual, something strange happens. The illusion becomes real. The magician feels like the gods and angels that he called feel are really there. Energy can be seen crisscrossing the room, which is charged with a strange atmosphere.

The ritual magician can enter an altered state of consciousness. He becomes aware of the next world, and, in his mind, operates upon it. He has effectively laid a new reality over this one. It is a reality where he talks to gods and goddesses because he is like a god or goddess. Because this altered reality flows down the worlds, an observer with no psychic ability often sees things that are not on the material level.

Because these worlds are built of thought, the language the magician uses are symbols and images. The ritual act of drawing a pentagram in the air has a reality in realms of thought. Symbolic systems have the power to take the magician to even higher states of consciousness.

There is a further advantage. Once the magician is walking in the realms of the angels, he can cooperate with them to change patterns of creation. It is easier to make changes in the worlds above this one. They are made out of thought and can be controlled by thought. Immediately after they have been placed in the worlds above, the changes flow downward until they have a material reality.

These are the acts of a high-level magician, but even a novice can obtain staggering effects from the most basic ritual without hitting deep altered states.

This happens for two reasons. The first reason is because of the great occult maxim " As above, so below, and as below, so above." This statement (which was written in an early Hermetic treatise called the "Emerald Tablet" ) implies that everything that happens on Earth also happens on the other frequencies or levels of creation and vice versa; so a simple ritual actually does stir the angelic levels.

Simple rituals also work because they can unlock potential from us that is so subliminal that we never knew we had it.

One talisman consecration ritual only requires a colored candle to be plungeed into a bowl of water as a simple ritual phrase is spoken. Having tested a talisman consecrated by this ritual, I discovered that it is as effective a talisman as those made by more elaborate means.

The reason that this ritual works so well is that it focuses the magician's concentration on the task at hand. This focus sets up a vortex on all planes of manifestation, drawing astral beings toward the magician's goal.

Some of the simpler talisman systems work because the angelic contacts, whose job it is to empower it, have agreed to let it work that way. Countless magicians and Wiccans have used this ritual and each success has added to its power. When you use this ritual, it is like you have been given a key that bypasses the need for a large amount of technical knowledge.

This ritual's weak point, however, is its simplicity. Many people find that they cannot work with such rituals because they don't believe anything that simple will work. This attitude prevents the ritual from achieving its goal.

That which is built from thought can be destroyed by another contradictory thought. It is useless to spend hours performing a ritual to earn yourself money if at the end of it you say things like " This will never work, nothing good ever happens to me." You have to suspend disbelief and believe you will get the result you want until long after the ritual has ended. Only after you have gotten your result, or realized that the ritual has not worked, should you analyze it too closely.

This is one of the reasons why occult orders insist on secrecy and keep silent about their ritual activities. If you tell someone that you have performed a ritual, then you are dependent on them not to have negative thoughts about its success and accidentally destroy your results. Since this cannot be guaranteed, it is always better to keep quiet about it.

Later in this book, we will examine different types of talisman consecration rituals.

Reasons to Build Talismans

Theoretically, it is possible to make a talisman for any magical purpose, certainly those that have survived the passage of time do not give any indication that their tasks were limited. Talismans have been created for esoteric reasons like spiritual development, to help the soul transverse the afterlife, and more mundane tasks like helping someone sing properly.

Many of these tasks could be performed equally well by an act of ritual magic; however, there are some advantages for creating a talisman, even for an established ritual magician.

A ritual targets those three levels above the material with a single mental image and aims for an eventual physical result as the wish percolates downward. A ritual is generally a one-shot technique that either works or fails. A talisman, however, draws magical power all the way down the levels and connects it to the earth plane extremely effectively. A talisman keeps the doors to these levels open over a long period of time and organically draws the right circumstances to it, while repelling negative suggestions. To achieve the same effect, a magician would have to do many rituals regularly.

Another advantage of making a talisman is that while a ritual is usually performed in a secret place, a talisman can be carried to the scene where it is most needed. If a traveler wants protection, by carrying the talisman with him, it can work directly with the minds of those who might attack him.

One magician, who was having trouble with his boss, made a tallisman so that his boss would leave him alone. He taped the talisman underneath the lid of his boss' desk. Every working day, his boss was exposed to the energy radiating from the talisman, and he did leave the magician alone.

Talismans have also been made for writers to help the creative energies flow into their work. A friend of mine who is a writer has a talisman beside his computer that he touches whenever he experiences "writer's block."

The tactile nature of talismans is one of the key reasons that they are so popular. You can make talismans for friends, who are then constantly reminded of the work you have done for him or her. When they touch the talisman, they unconsciously cooperate with the energies that it represents. People who are sick will feel reassured knowing that a healing talisman is under their pillow, slowing enabling the changes in their bodies to make them well again.

On a more cynical level, a talisman provides some material proof that a ritual has been performed. Historically, a layperson would not want to hand over large amounts of cash to a magician or priest to perform a ritual unless some material result was seen.

A less technological culture would allow people to see their shaman go into a trance and dance about while possessed by the spirits; however, secrecy of magicians and witches prevents people from entering their circles or lodges to see the work that they have commissioned being carried out. For some reason, people who walk away with a charm or a piece of paper with Cabbalistic signs written on it feel that they have gotten something for their money.

The purpose of a talisman is often something general, like healing, wealth, influence, or protection. This has led some to say that a talisman should be for a general purpose, while a ritual is for something specific, but this is not always the case; at times, the aim of a talisman is specifically identified.

I tend to make talismans for the following reasons:

When power needs to be brought to bear on the situation over time and there are a large number of factors that will need to be brought into line before the desired physical result manifests.

When nonmagical people ask for my help and may not believe that anything will happen unless they have something tangible to hold.

When exposure to the talisman's energies is a key component in getting the desired result. For example, theenergy of a healing talisman often works on the patient at a cellular level and thus needs to be in close proximity to him or her.

When placement of power in a different location will help bring about the desired result. One occult order in New Zealand buried a talisman in the ground next to the road just before an intersection that was a local accident black spot. Every time a driver approached the intersection, the talisman would cause him or her to take extra care. Following the order's action, there was some reduction in accidents at that intersection, although the talisman had no effect on drunken drivers. Planetary Influences

We will be looking at several different types of talismans in this book, but we will mostly use the energies of the seven main "planets" of the ancients, the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. It seems odd that, in a developing science like occultism, we seem reluctant to embrace energies of the recently discovered planets Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. The truth is, though, that the energies from theseseven bodies can be used to get everything talisman makers could want.

Dion Fortune, a magician and writer who set up her own magic order in the late 1920s, once described the planets as the physical bodies of beings of extremely complex energies. These planetary beings orbit the aura of the Sun, which is the higher self of the solar system. Together they make a huge physical body of a living being that we call the solar system. Like the energy centers described in the magical systems of India and China, the planets are vortexes of energy for this solar system's body.

Each center has a special function; for example, Venus provides the love force and the energies of creativity.

These vortexes bombard the other centers with their unique energies, creating and effecting change upon them. Fortune said that it is these fields of energy that have enabled Earth to develop and evolve life. It was this rare condition that enabled the Divine to send a life wave of divine sparks to incarnate and evolve among this matter, and it was these divine sparks that became human.

Whether or not you accept this rationalization, it shows how important the planets are considered to be by the working occultist. A planetary talisman aims to form a vortex to capture more of the planetary energy than is normal. It then takes this energy and directs it toward your heart's desire.

A magician wishing to make a talisman would decide which planetary energy would match the talisman's purpose and would then build one that would attract that particular force.

Each planet is listed below with its attributions. To figure out which planet you should use, think about what you specifically want your talisman to do. If you want to find the right sort of house, you would use a Saturn talisman. If you want protection from a bully, you would use a Mars talisman.

Saturn

Fate, time, the past, limits and boundaries, form, structures including houses, old age, serious, ambition, bones, knees, skeleton, shins, ankles and circulation, rheumatism, arthritis, envy, suffering, fear, guilt, toxins, repressed aspects of the self, death, vermin and lice, politicians, scientists, architects, teachers, mines, mountains, and wastelands.

Jupiter

Lawmaking, opportunity, growth, progress, evolution, money, banks, rulers, royalty, faith, hope, charity, redemption, freedom, spiritual wisdom and development, hypocrisy, hips, thighs, feet, lawyers, priests, counselors, actors, open spaces, public _laces, and panoramic views.

Mars

Wars, anger, action, sexual desire, physical energy, quarrels, courts, justice, courage, protection, transformation, revenge, destruction, surgery, the head, genitals, excretory system, rashes, red spots, migraine, predators, soldiers, surgeons, athletes, furnaces, foundries, and metal work.

Venus

Love, eroticism, desire, pleasure, inspiration, joy, partnerships, peace, laughter, friendship, creativity, the arts, beauty, evaluation, promiscuity, overindulgence, lewdness, gentle animals, the throat and neck, kidneys, lower back, diplomacy, artists, fashions, bedrooms, and gardens.

Mercury

Communication, movement, messages, computers, the media, language, trade, theft, magic, skill, learning, intellect, psychology as a science, science, rationality, cunning and mischievous animals like monkeys, the digestive system, arms and hands, merchants, clerks, accountants, scholars, universities, examinations, shops, schools, airports, and train and bus stations.

Moon

The unconscious, habits, instinct, sea, rhythm, the astral realm, mysteries, women (particularly their health), mothers, childbirth, psychism, menstruation, mental health, the stomach, breasts, warts, sterility, obsessions, delusions, insanity, cleaners, brewers, midwives, sailors, and harbors.

The Sun

Leadership, general health, healing, organization, arrogance, display, drama, fathers, power, individualization, the heart, the back, the lungs, kings, directors, managers, actors, palaces, and theaters.

Most magicians make healing talismans using the Sun, as this aligns well with Raphael the angelic healer; however, each planet rules a certain part of the body, and many complaints are caused by pathology of that particular planetary energy. A talisman of an appropriate planet provides a correct template of the energy with which the body can heal itself, it also uses the healing function of other lesser known angels.

1. A talisman is the generic term. An amulet is a talisman that is specifically designed to protect the wearer. A charm is the "spell" that empowers the talisman; however, over the years it has also come to denote a talismanic object that is usually worn on a necklace or bracelet.

2. Aleister Crowley's book Magic in Theory and Practice dedicates thirteen pages of the Introduction to his definition of magic. See Aleister Crowley, Magic in Theory and Practice (New York, NY: Dover Publications, 1976) xii-xxiii.

3. Much of this process takes place after the incarnation process. There are great adepts, or Bodhisattvas (in the Buddhist tradition), who are carrying on their evolution, progressively becoming more godlike, after incarnation.

4. Although I am using the terms of the Jewish and Christian hierarchies, many religions carry a fourfold hierarchical structure. In ancient Egypt, there was the creator god Atum; major gods like Isis, Osirus, and Horus; and lesser gods like the domestic god Bes.

5. There are some rituals that are repeated over a long period of time to achieve this effect. However, they tend to be significant workings that work on a large scale, like the development of humanity, rather than the more personal functions that talismans perform.

6. It is a magical rule that you don't intervene in someone else's life unless he or she asks you to do so.

7. See Dion Fortune, Cosmic Doctrine (Wellingborough: Aquarian, 1988) chapters 6-9.

© Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.

A Chant to Bless a Besom

2008-10-11T10:12:00.002-05:00

Here is a simple little chant that I use whenever I purchase a new besom, and I wish to bless it.

"Verrimus sicco malum, verrimus sicco peius, qua EGO operor Era mos, besom, besom, Era virga, verrimus sicco obscurum, verrimus sicco fatum".

Message from the Goddess Aine--Leap of Faith

2008-10-11T09:48:00.001-05:00

Today, the Goddess Aine comes to us to share with us Her message about the 'Leap of Faith'. The message that She wishes to share with us about our leap of faith is this:

"Take a risk, and put your heart's TRUE desire into action".

Coming Soon-part 2

2008-10-10T16:31:00.002-05:00

Blessed be everyone, and may I have your attention please.

I will be bringing something else new to our lovely little blog very soon.

Starting Monday, I will be posting some very insightful 'thought-for-the-day' type messages for all of us to think about for when times get too hectic for our mundane lives.

Everyone have a safe and blessed weekend.

It's a beautiful day here in Rainy Memphis, TN!

2008-10-08T10:13:00.002-05:00

Yeah, it has been a couple of days since my last post. Been busy with work, and I am trying my hand at writing my first novel. Yay! I am off from work today, and I had planned on going downtown to Mud Island just to sit and relax, and maybe work on my book a little, but it is 10:13 am here in Memphis, and the bottom just fell out of the sky. It is pouring with rain and a little windy.

Yesterday, it was dark and stormy with some scattered tornado watches and warnings throughout the Memphis/metro area.

Anyway, I am just playing catch-up with everyone. Since the weather is bad right now, and I really cannot just stand at the bus top for an hour in the rain to go downtown I guess today would be a great day for me to finally finish my kitchen floor and maybe work on my book.

I bought a used type writer last week at a thrift store for $4.98 (with tax it came to $5.44--not a bad deal. It works, and all it needs is a new ribbon. The one in it now is old and faded, but it works great.

As of right now, I am writing my first book the 'old-fashoined' way--BY HAND. I have already written 7 chapters, and will start chapter 8 sometime today.

Oh, I guess I could tell you a little bit about the book, huh? LOL! It is a combination of a murder suspense plus romance. About a serial killer in a small town called Mountain View, (I chose the state of Virginia for the setting). So far, it is turning out to be a really good book. Although my hand hurts a little. I think they call that "WRITERS' CRAMP" or something, but I am thoroughly enjoying it.

In my next writing on this blog (that has nothing to do with Wicca, etc.) I will post about one of my trips to Mud Island. I kept a record of one of my trips and took lots of pictures. Sorry though, they were not on digital camera. I will have to find a way to get them scanned and post them.

Ok, well, I have rambled on enough right now. I have a house to clean, and a kitchen floor to finish, and a book to write and one to read, and I have a couple of things (Wicca-related) to post. Wow, I wonder if I can do all this before I have to go to bed by 10 pm?????

I so need another me. HELP!!!!!

Have a great day everyone.
Blessed be.

Samhain part 8

2008-10-03T19:48:00.002-05:00

Samhain part 7

2008-10-01T18:36:00.002-05:00

Message from the Goddess Isis--Past Life

2008-10-01T18:33:00.002-05:00

Today, the Goddess Isis comes to us to share with us this message about our past life. Her message toi us is this:

"This situation involves your past-life memories".

Special Note to My Readers

2008-09-30T22:41:00.002-05:00

Blessed be everyone.

I am just stopping by to say hello to all of you and to say that I really appreciate everyone who reads and views my page.

I try to keep my page updated for you all so that there will be something new for you to view each day, however, yesterday I was just too tired by the time I got home.

Sorry I haven't been reading and posting on everyone's pages lately. I am going to try to catch up and read everyone's pages tomorrow and post to them, if I get home early enough and I am not too tired.

Everyone have a wonderful week and I hope to see you all posting soon.

Blessed be all.

Samhain part 6

2008-09-30T22:39:00.000-05:00

Samhain part 5

2008-09-29T16:34:00.001-05:00

Samhain part 4

2008-09-27T09:49:00.001-05:00

Message from the Goddess Sedna--Infinite Supply

2008-09-26T19:16:00.001-05:00

Today, the Goddess Sedna comes to us to share this message about the infinite supply. Her message to us is this:

"You are supplied for today and all of your tomorrows".

Bowman's Law of Probable Dispersal

2008-09-26T19:15:00.001-05:00

"Whatever it is that hits the fan will not be evenly distributed".

Samhain part 3

2008-09-26T17:35:00.000-05:00

Samhain part 2

2008-09-25T21:50:00.000-05:00

Message from the Goddess Artemis--Guardian

2008-09-25T21:47:00.002-05:00

Today the Goddess Artemis comes to deliver this message to us about the guardian. The message that She wishes to share with us is this:

"You and your loved ones are safe and spiritually protected".

OMG! I Just HAD to Share This With You All!--TOO FUNNY!!!

2008-09-23T20:12:00.002-05:00

Ok, here is something for EVERYONE to get in on! It is just too funny, if you read it closely. I just had to share this with you all, maybe bring some laughter (if possible) to your day/night.
***********************************************************************************

Message from the Goddess Maeve--Cycles and Rhythm

2008-09-23T19:34:00.002-05:00

Today, the Goddess Maeve comes to us to convey this message about cycles and rhythms to us. Her message to us is this:

"Honor the cycles of your body, energy levels, and emotions".

Segal's Law

2008-09-23T19:33:00.001-05:00

"A man with one watch knows what time it is. A man with two watches is never really sure".

Samhain part 1

2008-09-23T19:29:00.000-05:00

Lemar's Parking Postalate

2008-09-22T23:13:00.001-05:00

"If you have to park six blocks away, you will find two new parking spaces right in front of the building entrance that were not there before".

Get Ready! It Is Almost Time!

2008-09-22T21:13:00.001-05:00

What is Samhain?:
Samhain is known by most folks as Halloween, but for Wiccans and Pagans it's considered a Sabbat to honor the ancestors who came before us. It's a good time to contact the spirit world with a seance, because it's the time when the veil between this world and the next is at its thinnest.

Myths and Misconceptions:
Contrary to a popular Internet-based (and Chick Tract-encouraged) rumor, Samhain was not the name of some ancient Celtic god of death, or of anything else, for that matter. Religious scholars agree that the word Samhain (pronounced "sow-en") comes from the Gaelic “Samhuin,” but they’re divided on whether it means the end or beginning of summer. After all, when summer is ending here on earth, it’s just beginning in the Underworld. Samhain actually refers to the daylight portion of the holiday, on November 1st.

All Hallow Mass:
Around the eighth century or so, the Catholic Church decided to use November 1st as All Saints Day. This was actually a pretty smart move on their part – the local pagans were already celebrating that day anyway, so it made sense to use it as a church holiday. All Saints’ became the festival to honor any saint who didn’t already have a day of his or her own. The mass which was said on All Saints’ was called Allhallowmas – the mass of all those who are hallowed. The night before naturally became known as All Hallows Eve, and eventually morphed into what we call Halloween.

The Witch's New Year:
Sunset on Samhain is the beginning of the Celtic New Year. The old year has passed, the harvest has been gathered, cattle and sheep have been brought in from the fields, and the leaves have fallen from the trees. The earth slowly begins to die around us.

This is a good time for us to look at wrapping up the old and preparing for the new in our lives. Think about the things you did in the last twelve months. Have you left anything unresolved? If so, now is the time to wrap things up. Once you’ve gotten all that unfinished stuff cleared away, and out of your life, then you can begin looking towards the next year.

Honoring the Ancestors:
For some of us, Samhain is when we honor our ancestors who came before us. If you’ve ever done genealogy research, or if you’ve had a loved one die in the past year, this is the perfect night to celebrate their memory. If we’re fortunate, they will return to communicate with us from beyond the veil, and offer advice, protection and guidance for the upcoming year.

If you want to celebrate Samhain in the Celtic tradition, spread the festivities out over three consecutive days. You can hold a ritual and feast each night. Be flexible, though, so you can work around trick-or-treating schedules!

Samhain Rituals:
Try one -- or all -- of these rituals to celebrate Samhain and welcome the new year.

Celebrating the End of the Harvest
Samhain Ritual for Animals
Honoring the Ancestors
Hold a Seance at Samhain
Host a Dumb Supper
Honor the God and Goddess at Samhain
Celebrating the Cycle of Life and Death
Ancestor Meditation
Halloween Traditions:
Even if you're celebrating Samhain as a Pagan holiday, you may want to read up on some of the traditions of the secular celebration of Halloween.

Magical Use of Saint Brigid of Kildare

2008-09-22T16:24:00.006-05:00

***SORRY I WAS UNABLE TO POST THIS YESTERDAY***
___________________________________________________________________________

During magical ritual and workings on Sundays, the magic of Saint Brigid of Kildare may be invoked. The candle colors to use for her are yellow.

Saint Brigid of Kildare may be invoked for aid in childbirth, protection from fires, fertility, the hearth, healing, inspiration, and prophecy.

To leave offerings to her, set up an altar and decorate it with the following herbs, oils, and stones:

Herbs-

2 bulbs of garlic
1 small jar of honey
1 yellow egg
2 aloe leaves
2 marigold flowers
2 yellow foxglove blooms
1 small elm branch

Oils-

3 drops amber oil
3 drops citronella oil
3 drops juniper oil
3 drops patchouli oil

Stones-

1 crystal
1 hemetite
1 fluorite
1 moonstone

Saint Brigid's feast day is held on February 1st.

Message from the Goddess Butterfly Maiden--Transformation

2008-09-22T06:25:00.002-05:00

Today, the Goddess known as the Butterfly Maiden has come to us to share Her message about transformation to us. The message that She wishes to convey to us is this:

"You are experiencing enormous change right now, which brings great blessings".

Magical Use of Saint Benedict

2008-09-20T15:31:00.002-05:00

Saint Benedict may be invoked during magical workings and rituals for kidney diseases, against poisons, against evil temptations, to increase faith, for a prosperous business, during storms, healing sick animals, and to help expectant mothers have a safe delivery.

The colors to use with him are white candles.

You may set up an offering altar for him using the following herbs, oils, and stone:

Herbs-

2 aloe leaves
2 cups chamomile
2 ceder chips
2 cups allspice
2 cinnomon sticks

Oils-

2 drops frankincense oil
2 drops patchouli oil
2 drops cinnomon oil
2 drops lodestone oil
2 drops rue oil

Stones-

1 aventurine
1 hemetite
1 amber
1 magnet

The feast day for Saint Benedict is held on July 11th.

Message from the Goddess Rhiannon--Sorceress

2008-09-20T15:29:00.001-05:00

Today, the Goddess Rhiannon comes to us to share with us this message about the sorceress. Her message is this:

"You are a magical person who can manifest your clear intentions into reality".

Choclate Raspberry Avalanche Cake

2008-09-20T15:28:00.000-05:00

Choclate Raspberry Avalanche Cake
Umm-a choloclate brownie cake served with a chololate sauce and raspberry cream.

Ingredients
1 2/3 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups low-fat plain yogurt
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large egg whites at room temperature
1 1/4 cup raspberries
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons hot tap water
1/4 cup raspberry all fruit preserves, melted

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat a 9” x 9” baking dish with cooking spray.

2. In a large bowl, mix the flour, 1/2 cup of the sugar, 1/4 cup of the cocoa, the baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

3. In a small bowl, mix 1 cup of the yogurt, the oil, and vanilla.

4. Place the egg whites in a medium bowl. Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in the remaining 1/2 cup sugar until stiff, glossy peaks form.

5. Stir the yogurt mixture into flour mixture just until moistened. Fold in the egg whites until no streaks of white remain. Pour into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with 1 cup of the raspberries.

6. Bake for 40 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a rack for 10 minutes. Remove from the pan and place on the rack to cool completely.

7. In a small bowl, mix the honey, water, and the remaining 1/4 cup cocoa. In another small bowl, mix the preserves and the remaining 1/2 cup yogurt. To serve, cut the cake into squares and top with a dollop of yogurt and a drizzle of chocolate sauce. Garnish with the remaining 1/4 cup raspberries.

* 1 3/4 cups whole grain pastry flour can be used instead of the whole wheat

Peanut Butter Dream Pie

2008-09-20T15:24:00.000-05:00

This is an excellent pie. Tastes like peanut butter fudge. Sells for $2.95 a
slice at a local restaurant.

Peanut Butter Dream Pie

Serves 8

1 package (3 oz.) cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
1/3 cup peanut butter
1 package topping mix and 1/2 cup milk (or
frozen whipped topping)
1 (8-inch) graham cracker crust
1/4 cup peanuts (dry roasted -- finely chopped)

Whip cheese until soft and fluffy. Beat in sugar and peanut butter. Fold
topping into mixture. Pour into baked pie shell and sprinkle with chopped
peanuts and chill until firm.

Mother Earth

2008-09-20T15:07:00.002-05:00

There is no accurate record of how Mother Earth came to be. Despite that fact
theories abound. From the simple creation theory of fundamental believers, to
complicated big bang and expanding matter theories offered by the scientific
community. None of us know for sure what spark started our planet's birth.

Even the history of the planet has been shrouded in misdirection and false
beliefs for thousands of years. The earliest attempts to accurately date our
home were thwarted by the established church's efforts to make history conform
to biblical dates. This went on until sometime in the 1800's when carbon
dating and other scientific advances made it impossible to ignore the
empirical evidence. Earth is some 4.6 billion years old.

In that very early beginning, there was no life. The atmosphere consisted of
gases like methane and ammonia. For the first 800 million years the surface of
our planet was molten. This period is called Hadean time. Meteorites and Lunar
debris are the only physical remnants of this very distant past. Carbon dating
puts the oldest of this impact material at 4.5 billion years old.

Archean time marks the solidifying of Earth. The continental plates form and
photosynthetic bacteria form. The oldest stones come from this period, 3.8
billion years ago. Fossils of bacteria found on Archean stones in South Africa
and Australia are the oldest evidence of Earth's birthing process.

The longest geological measurement of time is the Proterozoic period. It spans
Earth's formative years from 2.5 billion to a more recent 543 million years
ago. It was also the most violent time in the planet's geological history. The
continents that formed during the Archean era began to move. Molten magma
bubbling beneath the surface of these land masses was constantly seeking to
escape. For the next billion years or so, our Mother would endure some intense
growing pains.

To help you imagine how much things changed during this time period, North
America, which would end the Proterozoic era in its current position began the
era with the West coast of California laying in an East to West direction,
parallel to the Equator. Africa was at the South Pole.

Life on Mother Earth would go through dramatic changes during this period as
well. Oxygen began to build up in the atmosphere through the middle millennia.
While this caused the extinction of some life forms, for the first time multi
cell organisms began to appear and animals. Marking the beginning of Paleozoic
time.

Over the span of these two eras many of the gemstones and crystals we enjoy
today began their journey of birth as well.

Some gems are the remnants of the planet's primordial mountains. These
prehistoric mountain ranges no longer exist except as minor bumps and hills on
our modern landscape. Natural erosion wore down these ancient ranges while
colliding land masses created huge pressures and heat which would transform
the sediment created by the erosion. Hundreds of varieties of gemstones and
crystals were born during this process. So, the next time you enjoy your
favorite gemstone, remember that you may be holding the remnant of a once tall
and proud mountain peak. Perhaps this is why so many crystals grow into
points.

Some of the oldest mountains still visible on the planet are the Ozark
Mountains in South Central US and the Appalachians along the East coast of the
United States. Both of these mountain ranges began forming as the result of
colliding land masses between 650 and 400 million years ago. Africa ran into
the East coast of North American and South American was slamming into the
Southern area of the continent.

Remnants of even older mountains can be found around Mother Earth. Avarallis
is a primal mountain range that can still be seen as hills around Delhi India.
In their youth (1 billion years ago) the peaks of the Avarallis Mountains
would have dwarfed the Himalayan mountains that we recognize as Earth's
highest today.

The Himalayas are the youngest mountains on our planet. During the reign of
the mighty Avarallis peaks, India was not a part of the European/Asian
continent as it is today. According to geological theory, about 140 million
years ago the Indian continent (aka Gondwanaland) began moving across the now
extinct Tethyan ocean which separated it from Asia.

It took 60 million years for this land mass to complete its journey and
conjoin with the Eurasian continent. Primordial sediments from the floor of
the Tethyan Ocean, crumbled remnants of the Avarallis peaks and all matter of
stone and debris from the contact area were thrust together to form the infant
Himalayas (and untold treasures of gems and crystals).

Apparently Gondwanaland has not stopped moving (ultimately all of the Earth's
land masses are in constant motion). Over the last 1 million years the
Himalayan Mountains and the regions in its shadows have risen another 5,000
meters above sea level. Tibet is considered one of the highest regions on
Earth. Today geologists calculate this area is rising an average of 10 meters
every 100 years. In the last century Mt. Everest has grown 8.2 meters.

Our Mother Earth is in a permanent state of change. Volcanos are still
erupting, continents constantly moving causing earthquakes. This is not a good
place to come for peace and quiet.

Mason's First Law of Synergism

2008-09-20T14:13:00.002-05:00

"The one day you would sell your soul for something, souls are obsolete".

Mabon History: The Second Harvest

2008-09-19T23:46:00.001-05:00

Two days a year, the Northern and Southern hemispheres recieve the same amount of sunlight. Not only that, each recieves the same amount of light as they do dark -- this is because the earth is tilted at a right angle to the sun, and the sun is directly over the equator. In Latin, the word equinox translates to "equal night." The autumn equinox takes place on or near September 21, and its spring counterpart falls around March 21. If you're in the Northern hemisphere, the days will begin getting shorter after the autumn equinox and the nights will grow longer -- in the Southern hemisphere, the reverse is true.

Global Traditions:
The idea of a harvest festival is nothing new. In fact, people have celebrated it for millennia, all around the world. In ancient Greece, Oschophoria was a festival held in the fall to celebrate the harvesting of grapes for wine. In the 1700's, the Bavarians came up with Oktoberfest, which actually begins in the last week of September, and it was a time of great feasting and merriment, still in existence today. China's Mid-Autumn festival is celebrated on the night of the Harvest Moon, and is a festival of honoring family unity.

Giving Thanks:
Although the traditional American holiday of Thanksgiving falls in November, many cultures see the second harvest time of the fall equinox as a time of giving thanks. After all, it's when you figure out how well your crops did, how fat your animals have gotten, and whether or not your family will be able to eat during the coming winter. However, by the end of November, there's not a whole lot left to harvest. Originally, the American Thanksgiving holiday was celebrated on October 3, which makes a lot more sense agriculturally. It was later moved by Franklin Roosevelt in a bid to help post-Depression holiday sales.

Symbols of the Season:
The harvest is a time of thanks, and also a time of balance -- after all, there are equal hours of daylight and darkness. While we celebrate the gifts of the earth, we also accept that the soil is dying. We have food to eat, but the crops are brown and going dormant. Warmth is behind us, cold lies ahead.

Some symbols of Mabon include:

Mid-autumn vegetables, like squashes and gourds
Apples and anything made from them, such as cider or pies
Seeds and seed pods
Baskets, symbolizing the gathering of crops
Sickles and scythes
Grapes, vines, wine

You can use any of these to decorate your home or your altar at Mabon.

Feasting and Friends:
Early agricultural societies understood the importance of hospitality -- it was crucial to develop a relationship with your neighbors, because they might be the ones to help you when your family ran out of food. Many people, particularly in rural villages, celebrated the harvest with great deals of feasting, drinking, and eating. After all, the grain had been made into bread, beer and wine had been made, and the cattle were brought down from the summer pastures for the coming winter. Celebrate Mabon yourself with a feast -- and the bigger, the better!

Magic and Mythology:
Nearly all of the myths and legends popular at this time of the year focus on the themes of life, death, and rebirth. Not much of a surprise, when you consider that this is the time at which the earth begins to die before winter sets in!

Demeter and Her Daughter

Perhaps the best known of all the harvest mythologies is the story of Demeter and Persephone. Demeter was a goddess of grain and of the harvest in ancient Greece. Her daughter, Persephone, caught the eye of Hades, god of the underworld. When Hades abducted Persephone and took her back to the underworld, Demeter's grief caused the crops on earth to die and go dormant. By the time she finally recovered her daughter, Persephone had eaten six pomegranate seeds, and so was doomed to spend six months of the year in the underworld. These six months are the time when the earth dies, beginning at the time of the autumn equinox.

Inanna Takes on the Underworld

The Sumerian goddess Inanna is the incarnation of fertility and abundance. Inanna descended into the underworld where her sister, Ereshkigal, ruled. Erishkigal decreed that Inanna could only enter her world in the traditional ways -- stripping herself of her clothing and earthly posessions. By the time Inanna got there, Erishkigal had unleashed a series of plagues upon her sister, killing Inanna. While Inanna was visiting the underworld, the earth ceased to grow and produce. A vizier restored Inanna to life, and sent her back to earth. As she journeyed home, the earth was restored to its former glory.

Modern Celebrations

For contemporary Druids, this is the celebration of Alban Elued, which is a time of balance between the light and the dark. Many Asatru groups honor the fall equinox as Winter Nights, a festival sacred to Freyr.

For most Wiccans and NeoPagans, this is a time of community and kinship. It's not uncommon to find a Pagan Pride Day celebration tied in with Mabon. Often, PPD organizers include a food drive as part of the festivities, to celebrate the bounty of the harvest and to share with the less fortunate.

If you choose to celebrate Mabon, give thanks for the things you have, and take time to reflect on the balance within your own life, honoring both the darkness and the light. Invite your friends and family over for a feast, and count the blessings that you have among kin and community.

Magical Correspondences

2008-09-19T23:15:00.002-05:00

Here are some astrological signs, dates, angels, planets, elements, stones, flowers/herbs, colors, and days of the week that I would like to share with you all. These correspondences have always worked for me.

ARIES March 21 - April 19, Samuel, Mars, Fire, Ruby, Garnet,
Bloodstone, Diamond, Thistle, Wild Rose, Grose Red, bright colors,
Tuesday

TAURUS April 20 - May 21, Anael, Venus, Earth, Sapphire, Emerald,
Jade, Opal, Violet, Wild, Red Roses, Coltsfoot Blues, Greens, Friday

GEMINI May 22 - June 20, Raphael, Mercury, Air, Diamond, Jade, Topaz,
Aquamarine, Parsley, Dill, Snapdragons, Iris, White, Spr. Green,
Silver, Yellow, Wednesday

CANCER June 21 - July 22, Gabriel, Moon, Water Emerald, Cat's Eye,
Pearl, Moonstone, Poppy, Water Lily, White Rose, Moonwort, Pale Blue,
Silver, Pearl, White, Monday

LEO July 23 - August 22, Michael, Sun, Fire, Amber, Topaz, Ruby,
Diamond, Marigold, Sunflower, Hops, Cowslip Gold, Red, Yellow,
Orange, Sunday

VIRGO August 23 - Sept 22, Raphael, Mercury, Earth, Diamond, Jade,
Jasper, Aquamarine, Rosemary, Cornflower, Valerian, Pastel Blue,
Gold, Peach, Wednesday

LIBRA Sept 23 - Oct 22, Anael, Venus, Air, Opal, Lapis Lazuli,
Emerald, Jade, Violet, White Rose, Love-in-the- Mist, Cerulean Blue,
Royal Blue, Amethyst, Friday

SCORPIO Oct 23 - Nov 21, Samuel, Azrael, Mars, Pluto, Water,, Ruby,
Garnet, Bloodstone, Topaz, Basil, Heather, Chrysanthemum, Dark Red,
Brown, Black, Gray, Tuesday

SAGITTARIUS Nov 22 - Dec 21, Sachiel, Jupiter, Fire, Sapphire,
Amethyst, Diamond, Carnation, Wallflower, Clove pink, Sage, Lilac,
Mauve, Purple, Amethyst, Thursday

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 19 Cassiel, Saturn, Earth, Onyx, Obsidian,
Jet, Garnet, Nightshade, Snowdrop, Rue, Black, Grey, Violet, Dk
Brown, Saturday

AQUARIUS Jan 20 - Feb 18, Uriel, Cassiel, Saturn, Uranus, Air,
Zircon, Amber, Amethyst, Garnet, Snowdrop, Foxglove, Gr. Valerian,
All Colors, Saturday

PISCES Feb 19 - Mar 20 Sachiel, Asariel, Jupiter, Neptune, Water,
Sapphire, Amethyst, Coral, Heliotrope, Carnation, Opium, Poppy,
Purple, Violet, Sea Green, Thursday

Correspondences Elementals and Common Associations

The Elementals: Colors

Earth - Brown, Green, Black
Air - White, Yellow, Pink, Pastels, Lavender
Fire - Red, Crimson, Orange, Fuchsia, Burgundy
Water - Blue, Turquoise, Aqua, Gray, Indigo

Colors: Properties, Day of the Week, Astrological Sign

Red - Lust, energy, love, health, strength; Tuesday; Taurus
Orange - Creativity, Attraction; Leo
Yellow - Confidence, Charm; Sunday; Gemini
Blue - Protection, peace, tranquility; Thursday; Pisces & Libra
Green - Growth, prosperity, luck, healing; Friday; Cancer
Purple - Wisdom, spirituality, psychic power, enchantment; Thursday;
Aquarius
Pink - Love, Honor, Friendship
Black - Banishing, Crone Magick, loss, mourning; Saturday; Scorpio
White - Truth, purity, protection, spirituality; Monday; Aries
Brown - Heighten awareness of the earth, animal magick; Capricorn
Gold - God; Virgo
Silver - Goddess; Sagittarius

Crystals, Stones: Purpose, Uses

Beauty - Amber, Cat's Eye, Jasper, Opal, Zircon
Courage - Agate, Amethyst, Aquamarine, Bloodstone, Carnelian,
Diamond, Tiger's Eye
Divination - Amethyst, Azurite, Flint, Hematite, Jet, Moonstone,
Sodalite Obsidian
Dreams - Amethyst, Charoite, Fluorite, Hematite, Sugilite
Enchantment - Amethyst, Fluorite, Sugilite
Friendship - Chrysoprase, Pink Tourmaline, Turquoise
God - Citrine, Malachite, Sunstone
Goddess - Chrysocolla, Moonstone
Grounding - Hematite, Jet, Kunzite, Obsidian, Salt, Tourmaline (Black)
Healing - Agate, Amber, Aventurine, Calcite, Clear Quartz, Coral,
Garnet, Jade, Malachite
Longevity - Agate, Fossils, Jade, Petrified Wood
Love - Alexandrite, Amber, Chrysocolla, Emerald, Lepidolite, Pearl,
Moonstone, Rose Quartz, Rhodochrosite, Tourmaline (Pink)
Magickal Power - Bloodstone, Fluorite, Malachite, Ruby
Meditation - Geodes, Sapphire, Sodalite
Mental Ability - Aventurine, Emerald, Zircon
Peace - Aquamarine, Lepidolite, Rhodonite, Tourmaline (Blue)
Physical Energy - Beryl, Citrine, Selenite, Sunstone, Tiger's Eye,
Zircon (Red)
Prosperity - Aventurine, Calcite, Emerald, Jade, Malachite, Peridot,
Staurolite, Tourmaline (Green)
Protection - Agate, Apache Tear, Calcite, Hematite, Lapis, Mica,
Obsidian, Topaz, Quartz (Clear)
Spirituality - Amethyst, Lapis, Lepidolite, Moonstone, Sugilite

The Elementals: Crystals, Stones

Earth - Agate, Jet, Malachite, Obsidian, Salt
Air - Aventurine, Lepidolite, Mica, Quartz (Clear)
Fire - Beryl, Citrine, Hematite, Jasper, Pipestone, Ruby
Water - Amethyst, Aquamarine, Chrysocolla, Coral, Moonstone, Pearl,
Quartz (Rose)

Seasons: Crystals, Stones

Spring - Emerald
Summer - Ruby
Autumn - Sapphire
Winter - Diamond

Power Stone Talismans:

Amethyst - Wisdom, enhances motivation
Aventurine - Success, enhances prosperity
Black Onyx - Strength, enhances willpower
Clear Quartz - Healing, transforms energy
Green Jade - Wealth, enhances comfort & elegance
Hematite - Confidence, enhances independence
Lapis Lazuli - Intuition, enhances sixth sense
Malachite - Transformation, confers guidance
Red Jasper - Clarity, focus your goals
Rhodonite - True Love, balances yin & yang
Rose Quartz - Love, opens the heart
Reticulated Quartz - Passion, enhances sexuality
Tiger's Eye - Creativity, inspires imagination
Snowflake Obsidian - Knowledge, enhances awareness

Astrological Stone Associations:

Capricorn - Onyx, Quartz, Jet, Garnet, Obsidian, Beryl, Black & White
Gold, Silver

Aquarius - Blue Sapphire, Lapis, Aquamarine, Amethyst, All metals

Pisces - Diamond, Jade, Tourmaline, Bloodstone, Amethyst, Turquoise
(soft azure & light blue), Silver

Aries - Ruby, Red Jasper, Carnelian, Coral, Diamond, Red-Orange Gold,
Bronze

Taurus - Emerald, Agate, Lapis, Azurite, Topaz, Silver, Gold, Copper

Gemini - Crystal, Beryl, Alexandrite, Aquamarine, Pearl, Gold, Silver

Cancer - Ruby, Pearl, Moonstone, Green Turquoise, Silver

Leo - Amber, Peridot, Ruby, Jacinth, Sardonyx, Gold

Virgo - Pink Jasper, Sapphire, Azurite, Rhodochrosite, Star Sapphire,
Gold

Libra - Opal, Fire Agate, Agate, Tourmaline, All Metals

Scorpio - Topaz, Garnet, Coral, Ruby, Zircon, Gold, Silver

Sagittarius - Amethyst, Zircon, Malachite, Blue-Green Turquoise,
Copper, Gold

Weekday Stone Associations:

Sunday - Topaz, Sunstone
Monday - Pearl, Rock Quartz, Moonstone
Tuesday - Ruby, Emerald, Star Sapphire
Wednesday - Amethyst, Lodestone, Star Ruby
Thursday - Sapphire, Carnelian, Tiger's Eye
Friday - Emerald, Tiger's Eye, Alexandrite
Saturday - Turquoise, Diamond, Labradorite

SABBAT CANDLE COLOURS:

Samhain: Black, orange
Yule: Red, green & white
Candlemas: Red, pink & brown.
Spring Equinox: Green, yellow & gold
Beltaine: Dark green
Summer Solstice: Green, blue
Lammas: Yellow, orange
Autumn Equinox: Orange, brown & yellow

ASTROLOGICAL CANDLE COLOURS:

Aquarius (January 20 - February 18): Light Blue or Pale Yellow
Pisces (February 19 - March 20): Aquamarine
Aries (March 21 - April 19): Red
Taurus (April 20 - May 20): Green
Gemini (May 21 - June 21): Yellow or Orange
Cancer (June 22 - July 22): White or Dark Green
Leo (July 23 - August 22): Gold or Yellow
Virgo (August 23 - September 22): Gray or Marbled
Libra (September 23 - October 22): Royal Blue
Scorpio (October 23 - November 21): Black or Red
Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - December 21): Dark Blue or Purple
Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) : Black or Dark Brown

DAY OF THE WEEK CANDLE COLOURS:

Sunday: Yellow
Monday: White
Tuesday: Red
Wednesday: Purple
Thursday: Blue
Friday: Green
Saturday: Black

Goddess Candle Colors

2008-09-19T22:56:00.004-05:00

Although white alter candles alone can usually be used to invoke the female Deities, using a special candle of the appropriate sacred color when invoking a particular goddess will bring better results.The following alphabetical list contains the names, description and sacred candle color of most of the Goddesses worshiped by the various Craft traditions as well as many of the ancient Deities honored by different Pagan cultures throughout history.

Aditi: Hindu Sku-Goddess. Her sacred candle color is blue.

Amaterasu-O- Mi-Kami: Japanese Sun Goddess. Her sacred candle colors are yellow and gold.

Anaitis: Persian fertility-goddess. Her sacred candle color is green.

Anu: Celtic Mother-Goddess, Dawn Mother, and Goddess of death and the dead. Her sacred candle colors are white and black.

Aodh: Celtic Fire-Goddess. Her sacred candle color is red.

Aphrodite: Greek Goddess of love and beauty and one of the twelve great Olympians. She is also knows as Cytherea, and is identified with the Roman Love-Goddess Venus. Her sacred candle colors are red and pink.

Arrianrhod: Welsh Mother Goddess and Neo-Pagan Goddess of fertility. Her sacred candle colors are green and white.

Artemis: Greek Goddess of the Moon, hunting, and wild beasts. As a lunar Goddess, she has been an influential archetype for Witches and worshipers of the contemporary Goddess cult. She is the equivalent of the Roman Moon-goddess Diana . Artemis is identified with Hecate and Selene in Greek mythology. Her sacred candle color is white.

Asherali: Phonician Goddess of love and fertility. Her sacred candle colors are green and white.

Astarte: Greek Goddess of innocence and purity and daughter of Themis. The Goddess of justice. It is said that after leaving earth, she was placed among the stars where she became the constellation Virgo the Virgin. Her sacred candle color is white.

Athena: Greek Goddess of wisdom and the arts and one of the twelve Olympians. She is identified with the Roman Goddess Minerva and Her sacred candle colors are purple and white.

Bast: Egyptian Fertility Goddess and daughter of Isis. Also known as the Lady of Light. She bestows health and symbolizes sexual passion. In ancient times, she was worshiped in the form of a cat. Later, she was envisaged as a woman with the head of a Cat. Bast is one of the most popular ancient Egyptian Goddesses in modern day Witchcraft and sex magick cults. Her sacred candle colors are red, green and white.

Benten: Japanese Buddhist love Goddess. She is also the Goddess of femininity, music, literature and the sea. Her sacred candle color is pink.

Brigit: Celtic and Neo-Pagan goddess of fire, wisdom, poetry and sacred wells and also a deity associated with prophecy, divination and healing. Her sacred candle colors are red and white.

Ce-Aehd: Celtic Goddess of Nature. Her sacred candle color is green.Ceara: Ancient Pagan goddess of Nature and feminine equivalent to the God Cearas. Her sacred candle color is green.

Centeotle: Mexican fertility goddess. Her sacred candle color is green.

Ceres: Roman Goddess of Harvest and fertility of the Earth and mother of Proserpina. In Greek Mythology, she is Demeter the Goddess of Agriculture and mother of Persephone. Her sacred candle colors are green, orange, brown and yellow.

Cerridwen: Celtic and neo-pagan Goddess of mountains, fertility and inspiration. Her sacred candle color is green.

Chloris: Greek Goddess of flowers, and equivalent of the Roman Flower-Goddess Flora. Her sacred candle colors are white and all floral colors.

Cybele: Phrygian Goddess of nature and fertility.Demeter : Greek Goddess of fertility, husbandry and harvest, mother of Persephone, and an important Deity in the mysteries of the Eleusis. She is identified with the Roman Goddess Ceres and her sacred candle colors are green and orange.Dew: Greek fertility goddess. Her sacred candle color is green.

Diana: Roman and neo-pagan moon goddess, mother goddess and virgin huntress of the moon. She is identified with the Greek Lunar Goddess Artemis and is worshiped mainly by Witches of the Dianic tradition. Her sacred candle colors are silver and white.

Durga (also Durva): Hindu goddess and the God Shiva is her consort who was worshiped throughout India. But especially in Bengal. Durga is depicted as a ferocious ten-armed dragon-slayer, but it is said she is loving and gentle to those who worship her. Her sacred candle color is red.

Eostre: Saxon and neo-pagan Goddess of fertility and springtime whom the holiday of Easter is named after. Her sacred candle color is green.

Epona: Celtic mare goddess who sacred candle color is white.

Ereshkigal: Sumerian horned-goddess and Queen of the Underworld. She is identified with the Greek-lunar Goddess Hecate and is depicted as having the body of a fish with serpent-like scales and the ears of a sheep. Her sacred candle is black.

Esmeralda: South American Goddess of love. Her sacred candle color is emerald green.

Flora: Roman Goddess of flowers and all that flourishes. She is the equivalent of the Greek flower Goddess Chloris and her sacred candle colors are with and all floral colors.

Fortuna: Roman Goddess of happiness, good fortune and chance who possesses the power to bestow upon mortals either wealth or poverty. She is identified with the Greek Goddess Tyche, and her sacred candle colors are green, gold and silver.

Freya (also Freyja): Scandinavian Goddess of fertility, love and beauty who sacred symbols and familiars were cats. She was also Queen of the Underworld and the sister and consort of the God Frey. As a neo-pagan Goddess, she is worshiped mainly by Wiccans of the Saxon tradition. Her sacred candle colors are green, red and black.

Frigga: Scandinavian Mother Goddess and consort of the God Odin. She is also the patroness of marriage an fecundity and is represented in myth riding in a chariot drawn by sacred rams. Her sacred candle color is white.

Frija: Pagan-Germanic earth mother and consort of the God Tiwaz. The day of the week sacred to her is Friday. Her sacred candle color is brown.

Hathor: Egyptian Goddess of beauty and the heavens and patroness of fecundity, infants and music. She is often depicted as a woman with a Cow’s head, wearing the head-dress of two plumes and a solar disc decorated with stars symbolizing her role as a Sky Goddess. Her sacred candle color is blue.

Hecate: Greek Moon Goddess, neo-pagan Goddess of fertility and Moon magick, Queen of the Underworld and protectress of all Witches. She is also known as both the Goddess of Darkness and Death. She is the Queen of Ghosts and Crossroads. She is Hecate the maiden, Hecate the Mother and Hecate the Crone but in later years, She became most familiarized as the Crone. She is also known as Trivia, Goddess of the Crossroads and Antea bestower of nocturnal vision. Hecate’s sacred candle colors are black and silver.

Hera: Greek Goddess of death and rebirth, earth Goddess, and consort of the God Zeus. Her sacred candle colors are black and dark brown.

Hestia: Greek Hearth Goddess. Her sacred candle color is red.

Inanna: Sumerian Goddess of both love and war, who is identified with the Babylonian Goddess Ishtar. Her sacred candle color is red.

Ishtar: Asyrian, Babylonian and neo-pagan Goddess of love, fertility and war, who personifies the planet Venus. She was a mother goddess and the consort of Tammuz, the God of Grain an Bread who died each winter and was reborn the following spring. As a triple goddess, she represents birth, death and rebirth. In her aspect as mother, she is the giver of life. In her aspect as Warrior maiden, she is the bringer of death. In her aspect as Crone, she brings rebirth and resurrection. The crescent of the new moon rising is ne of her sacred symbols and she is depicted as a woman with bird-like facial features and braided hair, wearing a bull’s horns and jeweled necklaces, bracelets and anklets. She is associated with the Sumerian goddess Inanna and the Phoenician Goddess Astarte. Her sacred candle colors are red and green.

Isis: Ancient Egyptian Mother Goddess of fertility and neo-pagan Goddess of magick and enchantment. She was the sister and consort of the sun-God Osiris, and was at times identified with the Goddess Hathor. Isis is the symbol of divine motherhood and she was regarded in her mysteries as the single form of all Gods and Goddesses. She is often called the Goddess of Ten Thousand Names and in Hellespont (now Dardanelles) She was known as Mystis, the lady of the Mysteries. Her sacred candle color is green.

Kali: Hindu death Goddess, personifying the dark and terrifying forces of nature. She is depicted as a fanged, dark-skinned warrior-like woman wearing a necklace of human skulls around her neck. Her sacred candle color is black.

Kuan Yin: Chinese Goddess of fertility, childbirth and compassion. She hears the cries of the world and just uttering her name, She appears. Her sacred colors are green and white.

Kupala: Slavic Goddess of life, sex and vitality. She is worshiped on midsummer’s day, and her sacred candle color is red.

Lucina: Roman Goddess of the Moon who is also associated with childbirth. Her sacred candle colors are silver and white.

Luna: Roman and neo-pagan Moon Goddess whose name is Latin for Moon. She is identified with Selene and Artemis and her sacred candle colors are white and silver.

Maat: Egyptian Goddess of truth, justice and the order of the universe. Her symbol was a feather. Her sacred candle color is white.

Morrigan: Celtic War Goddess of Death and destruction and the Mother of all Irish Gods. She is said to appear in the form of a Raven (a bird of ill-omen in the Celtic tradition) before and during battles. She is also known as the "spectre queen" and "Great Queen Morgan." As a Goddess trinity, she was called Macha when she worked magick with the blood of the slain, Badb when she appeared in the form of a giantess on the eve of war t warn soldiers of their fates, and Neman when she appeared as a shape-shifting crone. Her sacred candle colors are scarlet and black.

Mut: Egyptian Goddess of fertility. Her sacred candle color is green.

Mylitta: Babylonian Goddess of fertility. Her sacred candle color is green.

Nemesis: Greek Goddess of anger and vengeance and mythological daughter of Erebus and Nyx. Her sacred candle color is red.

Ninhursag: Mesopotamian earth Goddess. Her sacred candle color is dark brown.

Nut (also Nuit): Egyptian Sky Goddess and Mother of Osiris, Isis, Set and Mephthys. Her sacred candle color is royal blue.

Parvati: Hindu Goddess of mountains and consort of the god Shiva. She is known as the ruler of Elves and nature spirits. The daughter of the Himalayas and the personification of cosmic energy. Her sacred candle colors are white and brown.

Pele: Polynesian Volcano-Goddess who is currently believed to reside in Kilauea on the main island of Mauna Loa, Hawaii, where she is worshiped as the essence of earthly fire. To this day, various offerings such as flowers, sugarcane, white birds, money and brandy are made t her whenever volcanic eruptions threaten the Hawaiian islands. Her sacred candle colors are red and orange.

Persephone: Greek Goddess known as the Queen of the Underworld. She is equivalent of the Roman Goddess Proserpina. Her sacred candle color is black.

Pomona: Roman Goddess of fruits and fertility. Her festival of Pomonalia was celebrated in ancient Rome on the first day of November to mark the End of the Harvest. Her sacred candle color is green.

Rhiannon: Celtic/Welsh Mother Goddess, originally called Rigatona (Great Queen) and identified with the Gaulish Mare Goddess Epona, as she is pictured riding astride a pale-white horse carrying a magickal bag of abundance. Her sacred candle color is white.

Sekhmet: War Goddess of Ancient Egypt. She is depicted as a woman with the head of a lion and is the Egyptian counterpart of the Hindu Goddess Shakti. Her sacred candle color is crimson.

Selene: Greek Moon Goddess. She is known as the "Full Moon" and Goddess of Enchantments. Her sacred candle colors are silver and white.

Tlazolteotl: Central American earth-Goddess associated with fertility and love. She is also known as the Mother of All Gods and her sacred candle colors are brown and green.

Venus: Roman and neo-pagan Goddess of love and beauty who personified sexuality, fertility, prosperity and good fortune. She is Roman counterpart of the Greek Love Goddess Aphrodite. Her sacred candle color is pink.

Vesta: Roman Hearth-Goddess whose temple was lit by a sacred fire tended by six virgin priestesses known as the vestal virgins. Her sacred candle color is red.

Xochiquetzal: Central-American goddess of flowers. Her sacred candle colors are white and all floral colors.

Message from the Goddess Diana--Focused Intention

2008-09-19T22:05:00.002-05:00

Today, the Goddess Diana comes to us to deliver this message about our focused intention to us. The message that She wants to convey to us is this:

"Keep your unwavering thoughts, feelings, and actions focused on your target, and you will make your mark".

The Magical Use of Our Lady of Grace

2008-09-19T21:51:00.003-05:00

Friday is the day we can call upon Our Lady of Grace during our magical rituals for special requests, calming anger in another, fidelity in marriage, and finding love.

The color of the candles to use when invoking her is blue.

Set up an offering altar for her using the following herbs, oils, and stones.

Herbs-

1/4 cup anise seeds
1/4 cup jasmine
1 to 2 magnolia blossoms
1 to 2 red or pink rose buds (1/2 open)
1/4 cup hibiscus
1/4 cup chamomile

Oils-

3 drps frankincense oil
3 drops vanilla oil
3 drops coconut oil
3 drops myrrh oil
3 drops orange oil

Stones-

1 onyx
1 agate
1 lapus lazuli
1 amethyst
1 hematite

The feast day for Our Lady of Grace is held on January 21.

Davis' Law of Traffic Density

2008-09-19T21:48:00.002-05:00

"The density of rush-hour traffic is directly proportioned to 1.5 times the amount of extra time you allow yourself to arrive on time".

Spell Mix to Help Improve Your Self-Esteem

2008-09-18T21:43:00.012-05:00

Here is a spell mix that you can make up for helping improve your self-esteem. I have made this one for various people in the past who said it helped them out pretty good during job interviews, etc.

*************************************************************************************

1 malachite
1 onyx
2 tsp. oak moss
2 cherry blossoms
2 petals from a geranium
2 lily petals
2 drops frankincense oil
2 drops musk oil
2 drops orris oil

Magical Use of Saint Alphonsus Liguori

2008-09-18T21:43:00.008-05:00

Saint Alphonsus Liguori may be used in your magical rituals on Thursdays for health issues such as, rheumatic ferver and disease, arthritis, gout, ailments that affect the joints and muscles, and osteoarthritis.

The color associated with him is purple, and his feast day is on August 1st.

You may set up an altar for offerings to him using the following herbs, oils, and stones.

Herbs-

3 leaves of aloe
3 cedar chips
3 petals from an evening primrose
3 tsp. flax
3 petals from a marigold
3 peach blossoms, dried

Oils-

3 drops chamomile oil
3 drops frankincense oil
3 drops juniper oil
3 drops olive oil
3 drops patchouli oil
3 drops sunflower oil

Stones-

1 aventurine
1 crystal
1 jade
1 malachite

Haber's Hypothesis

2008-09-18T21:43:00.004-05:00

"For an employee, the number and length of coffee breaks varies directly with the amount of uncompleted work".

Message from the Goddess Isolt--Undying Love

2008-09-18T21:43:00.002-05:00

Today, the Goddess Isolt comes to us to share this message of undying love with us. Her message to us is this:

"The love you have shared is eternal, regardless of the situation".

Goldenrod Salad--FABULOUS!!!

2008-09-17T18:47:00.010-05:00

Ok, here is a wonderfully FABULOUS salad that I would like to share with you all.

Ingredients:

1 head of lettuce (shred by hand)
1 carrot, grated
4 green onions, chopped
1 large tomato,sliced and quartered
2 stalks celery, thinly sliced
1 cucumber, diced
4 hard boiled eggs, shelled and grated

Directions:

Tear lettuce into small pieces and put into a large bowl. Add vegetables to lettuce. Grate the hard boiled eggs on top of salad. Add your favorite dressing and toss.

This is a nice little addition to a Spring and Summer Sabbat feast gathering.

Message from the Goddess Yemanya--Golden Opportunity

2008-09-17T18:47:00.006-05:00

Today, the Goddess Yemanya has come to us to share with us this message about a golden opportunity that is waiting for us. here is the message that She wishes to share with us:

"Important doors are opening for you right now. Walk through them".

Andrea's Admonition

2008-09-17T18:47:00.004-05:00

"Never bestow profanity upon a driver who has wronged you. If you think his/her window is closed and cannot hear you, it isn't and he/she can".

Magical Use of Saint Lucy

2008-09-17T18:47:00.002-05:00

Saint Lucy is petioned on Wednesdays for eye problems, to keep away legal problems, when life has you down, to conquer temptations, and for protection from the 'evil eye'.

The colors to use for her are white.

You can also set up an offering for her by using the following herbs, oils, and stones:

Herbs:

3 tsp. arrowroot
3 tsp. curry
3 tsp. henna

Oils:

3 drops citronella oil
3 drops dragonsblood oil
3 drops patchouli oil

Stones:

1 amber stone
1 moonstone
1 tiger's eye stone

Saint Lucy's feast day is held on December 13 and she is the patroness of peasants, peddlers, saddlers, and salesmen.

Magical Use of 'Saint Martha'

2008-09-16T21:00:00.002-05:00

Today is a day to use Saint Martha in your magical workings for money problems, domestic problems, and to helpkeep your husband or boyfriend faithful.

The colors for use with her are green and white.

You may also use as offerings to her the following herbs:

Money-

2 tsp. alfalfa
2 tsp. buckwheat
2 tsp. flax
2 drops apple oil
2 drops clove oil
2 drops jasmine oil
1 bloodstone
1 jade
1 lodestone

Marital-

1 set of Adam and Eve roots
2 tsp. cumin
2 tsp. ginger
2 drops peach oil
1 azurite stone
1 rose quartz stone

The feast day for Saint Martha is held on July 29th.

Message from the Goddess Maat--Fairness

2008-09-16T20:56:00.002-05:00

Today, the Goddess Maat comes to deliver this message about fairness to us. Her message to us is this:

"This situation will be handled in a fair and just manner".

Is there a certain situation that you are going through today? Heed the words of the Goddess and meditate upon Her message to us. And above all, have faith.

Clarke's Second Law

2008-09-16T20:52:00.001-05:00

"The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible".