News From the Oracle Volume 2 Issue 1 2022

News From the Oracle Volume 2 Issue 1

3 January 2022

Featured Article:

Light Language

More Articles:

Candle Scrying The legend of Kallikantzaroi The story of Pan

13 Sisters of Delphi Elder High Priestess

RavensThorn

Elder High Priestess

Lady Gloriana

High Priestess

Bee

High Priestess in Training Britannica Lady Belissama Lady Gaea Willow Yggdrasil

Lady Danu Medeina Lady Artemis Sirona Lady Brigid Lady Airmid Amphritrite Freya Gloid

Sekmet Mawu Cardea Wings of Tiamat

Thalassadorite Morningstar Lady Metsaema

Athena Jade

Members Lady Nephthys Luna Rain Njorun Jord Feronia Tethys Leucothea 2

Iria Lima Lady Atira Mat Zemlya Bella Bloodmoon Raven Lillith Rhiannon Moon

Table of Contents Feature: Light Language The Oracle Says

4-6

Power Items

7

8-31

Magical Poetry

32-46

Recipes,Spells Potions

47-55

Scrying: Candles

56-57

Mythology: The Story of Janus,Pan,Jana,Poseidon, Marzanna 58-75 Classifieds 76 History of: January Divination, Wishing Wells Tarot Cards

77-86 87-90

Oracle Cards 91 Witchy DIY

92-95

Celebrations: Thorrablot, Cold Moon 96-99 Mythic Creature: Cyclops, Wendigo, Gargoyle 100-113 Folk Lore: Rougarou

114-115

Celtic Legends:Kallikantzaroi 116-117 Elements: Spirit

118-119

Demons:

120-122

Mahaha

Archangel: Uriel Astrological Sign: Capricorn

123-124 125-128

Congratulations 129 3

Feature Light Language Shared By : High Priestess, R avensThorn

The firs t time I ever h ea rd o r s aw l ight languag e, I wa s led to i t by fol l owing a po s t a b o ut d o lp h i n s. I t ha d an ins ight f ul q uo t at i o n f ro m Ja mye Pr ice, an d I wa nted to s ee w ho this wis e p ers o n wa s. B efo re to o long, I was watch i n g a v i d eo of a b l ond e wom a n s t a n d i n g a m i d re d ro c ks in Ar izona , h er h a n d s f lowi n g a nd flas hing w i t h s i gns, ut ter i n g p hras es in s om e a n g eli c la ng ua g e t hat sou nd ed li ke g o ld, i f g o ld we re a so und. I stopp ed ever y t h i n g els e I wa s d oing and s t a red at t h e s cree n , a nd my bod y beg a n to res p o n d to t h i s da nce of sou nd a nd urg ent g es t ure, r ive rs of energ y t h at I felt i ns i d e.

S ince then, I’ve d i s covered o t h er p ra c titioners of li g ht la n g ua g e. S om e

p e o p l e sp e ak i t, so m e si n g i t, som e si gn o r d raw o r w r i te i t, as l i g ht m ap s o r co d e s o r i n sc r i p t i o n s. I t ’s c al l e d l i g ht l an g u ag e b e c au se that is h ow i t ap p e ar s to t h e i n n e r e ye as t h e p rac t i t i o n e r i s sp e ak i n g— wo rd s t h at are o n f i re o r re al l y l i t w i t h g o l d. S o m e say t h e y are c h an n e l i n g l i g ht l an g u ag e f ro m o t h e r b e i n g s i n o t h e r re al m s or sta r syste m s; so m e say t h at i t co m es f ro m t h e i r h i g h e r se l f. S o m e bel ieve t h at i t i s b o t h : Th o se “al i e n” b e i n g s are f rac t al s o f t h e i r own sel f.

E ac h p e r so n h as t h e i r ow n st yl e of ex p re ssi o n as d i st i n c t as t h e i r voice, as d i st i n c t as t h e b e i n g s o r aspec ts t h e y are b r i n gi n g t h ro u g h t h em .

Fo r ye ar s I h ave b e e n i nte re sted in fo r m s o f co m m u n i c at i o n o t h e r tha n t h e sy nt ac t i c, d e n o t at i ve o n e s that h u m an s h ave b e co m e acc u sto m ed to u si n g : h ow d o l p h i n s se n d e ac h other h o l o grap h i c b l ast s o f i n fo r m ation t h ro u g h t h e i r c l i c k s an d w h i stl es a nd w h i r r s, h ow t re e s an d t h e mycel ium o f fo re st s sp e ak to o n e an o t h er in c h e m i c al i m p u l se s. Th e se t h i ngs don’t p o i nt to d e f i n i t i o n s: Th e y t ran sm it st ate s o f b e i n g, f u l l o f e m o t i o n, c h arg e d w i t h p re se n ce.

Wh e n t h e “Ce l e st i al ” t h e m e o f t h e Wi nte r 2 0 1 8 i ssu e o f E n c h a nted Li v i n g was an n o u n ce d, I k n e w that I h ad to w r i te ab o u t l i g ht l an gua ge.

B e c au se l i g ht l an g u ag e i s t r u l y 4

Light Language Continued ce l e stial: I t is g a la c t i c a nd a ng eli c, a nc ient and fu t ur i s t i c. As m uch a s ma ny of u s are f a m i li a r wi t h i d ea s of e nchantment a nd s p ells, li g ht l a ngu ag e tak es us r i g ht to t he edg e of t he unfamili a r. B ut I a ls o k now t hat it ’s impor t a nt fo r us to k now a b ou t, becaus e we a ll ca n d o i t. I t i s a ne w k ind of ma gi c, t h i s weav i ng o f l ight. I n an ag e o f mi s und ers t a nd i n g, how beneficial i t wo uld b e fo r us to feel new ways o f co mmuni cat i n g t hat, as trees an d d o lp h i n s a n d E Ts a nd angels alrea d y k now, ca n n eve r b e misund ersto o d.

Marquez: The Pleiades

“As a child, I wo uld t r y to outr un it, I wa s s ca red o f i t,” re c a lls Eva M arq uez o f h er i nt ui t i ve a b il i t y. I n her ch i ld h o o d yea rs i n t he C zech R epub li c, M a rq uez wa s drawn to forest s a nd g a rd ens, f a i r i e s a nd natu re spi r i t s, b ut s h e la cked a f ra mewor k to help h er und ers t a nd he r perception s. Then, li ke m a ny p e ople, M arqu ez went t hro ug h wh at she calls “a forg et t i n g p er i o d.”

I t was d u r ing h er a d ult li fe, wh i le she was living i n M a i ne, t hat t h e l ight languag e ca m e o n . S he h a d b e e n read ing Op en i n g to C ha n nel

by S anaya R oma n, a g o -to referen ce for people begi n ni n g a cha n neli n g p ra c tice. Even t h o ug h t h e s ub j ec t matter enthral led her, s he i ni t i a ll y ha d trou ble connec t i n g — b ut t hat was to c h ange.

“O n e d ay I was wash i n g d i sh e s, an d I fe l t a m al e e n e rg y by my r i g ht si d e,” sh e re l ate s. “ I h e ard t h e wo rd K e n e au i n my h e ad, an d t h e n I fe l t … Pl e i ad e s. I swe ar to G o d, I d i d n’t e ve n k n ow w h at t h e Pl e i ad e s we re ! I we nt to l o o k i t u p an d sai d, ‘ I t h i n k h e i s f ro m t h e Pl e i ad e s! ’ As I st ar te d to say i t, t h i s c h ant, t h i s l an g u ag e o f l i g ht— al t h o u g h I d i d n’t k n ow w h at i t was c al l e d at t h e t i m e —was co m i n g t h ro u g h . An d I was so b b i n g, I was c r y i n g. I t was t h e m o st b e au t i f u l e n e rg y I h a d e ve r fe l t. I h ad to sto p wash i n g t h e d i sh e s, j u st to si t d ow n . I t h o u g ht, Th i s i s h i s l an g u ag e ! ” S i n ce t h e n , M arqu e z p r i m ar i l y c h an n e l s Pl e i ad i an s— b e i n g s from the Pl e i ad e s st ar syste m — an d t h ey a dd t h e i r i n f l e c t i o n to t h e l i g ht l angua ge sh e sp e ak s. “ I h ave st u d i e d w i th se ve ral o f t h e m ,” sh e says, “a p ro fe sso r, an d a h e al e r w h o h as a so f te r, al m o st t i n k l i n g vo i ce.

B u t I re al i ze i t i s m e, b e c au se t h e re i s a m e m o r y t h at g o e s b ac k f u r t h e r, an d f u r t h e r, an d f u r t h e r. I t i s al l m e.”

Th i s i s so m e t h i n g M arqu e z an d other l i g ht- l an g u ag e p rac t i t i o n e r s wa nt u s to u n d e r st an d : Any b e i n g s we e n co u nte r are asp e c t s o f u s—w hether p ast, f u t u re, o r p aral l e l l i ve s; anc ient o r i n a d i f fe re nt d i m e n si o n . When 5

Light Language Continued we g ain acces s to t hem , we recla i m so mething that may have b een lost o r forgotten withi n o urs elves.

And in that u ni q uen es s, t h e co mmunication mi g ht no t s o un d l i k e l a ngu ag e at al l. “ The la ng ua g e o f l ight d oes n’t have to b e wo rd s,” M a rquez explai n s. “I t ’s s o und, i t ’s co l o r. I t can be numb ers a nd sa c red g eometr y. We a ll have a dist i nc t d ialec t. Fi rs t, t here i s j ust the energy a n d t h e b ea ut y.

Your ‘ hu man’ si t s a s i d e a n d yo u let you rself co mmuni cate.”

Whe n s he br in g s li g ht la n g ua g e t hroug h, M arq uez s ays, “I h ave a vis ion in my hea d, b ut I d o n’t understand word by wo rd wh at is sa id. R ather, I g et a feeli ng.”

M a rquez now li ves i n S o ut h Ca rolina with her h us b a n d To m a nd their fami ly. S he d o es s o ul he a ling sess ions, li fe co a ch i n g, a nd co -lead s an a c t i ve Fa ceb o o k co mmunit y. He a li ng i s cent ra l to h e r understand ing o f li g ht la n g ua g e a nd its impor t a n ce to o ur t i mes r ight now.

I n the s tress of o ur t h ree - d i men s i o n al wor l d, M arqu ez s ays, t h e p ra c t i ce of l ight lang ua g e hea ls by b r i ngi n g to gether the s p i r i t ua l a n d t h e p hys ical. “Expres s i n g o urs elves he l ps u s mak e t he co nnec t i o n ,” she says, s ince r i t y s h i n i n g f ro m he r wid e, C zech f a i r y f a ce, “ to b r idg e the imagi n a r y i nto t h e

p hysi c al re al m , b e c au se so u n d i s p hysi c al. To b r i n g e ve r y t h i n g we c an f ro m o u r an ce st r y i nto t h e p hysi c al wo r l d. We c an t h e n ap p l y t h at w i sd o m to e ve r y t h ing we d o. B r i n gi n g i t i nto p hysi c a l e n e rg y h e l p s u s grow an d m ake o u r wo r l d b e t te r t h an i t i s.”

Any b o d y c an sp e ak l i g ht l an g ua ge, M arqu e z says: “ I f yo u h ave a m e m o r y o f i t w i t h i n yo u r h e ar t, t h e n ye s. I f yo u e ve n h ave t h e q u e st i o n , Can I d o i t ?, t h e n t h e an swe r i s ye s! Why wo u l d yo u r so u l e ve n b e g u i d e d to ask ?

Th e n w hy n o t ex p l o re i t ?

“G o o u t i nto n at u re,” sh e u rg e s. “ Le t w h at i s i n yo u r c h e st co me o u t. M ay b e i t w i l l b e a c h ant, or sy l l ab l e s, o r a st ran g e se qu e n ce t h at co m e s o u t. An d t h e re’s n o t h i n g sc ar y ab o u t i t. I t ’s t h e e m b rac i n g o f w h o yo u are. What i s e n co d e d i n t h e sl e e p i n g D N A t h at yo u h ave ?”

enchantedlivingmagazine.com/what-is-light-language

6

The Oracle Says Dear Oracle, What is the difference between white magic and black magic? I hear fellow witches talking and some consider themselves white and some consider themselves black. I know it has nothing to do with race, but it got me to wondering which I was. How do I classify myself if I do only good magic unless someone wrongs someone that I care about. Then I might do a binding or go away spell.

Curious in Tennessee.

Dear curious in Tennessee In regard to White or Black Magic, it is my belief that there is only one kind of magic, and that is the magic of your Heart. I understand that some people classify themselves as White Witches and Black Witches, you are correct it has nothing to do with race. However, in my opinion the only difference from white and black magic is your intention to create either good positive things using your magic or very dark and negative things using your magic. However, I feel like there is a in between area and I call that the Gray area and that is where you use a little of both a little of the dark a little of the light and in my opinion this creates a very safe Gray area, you see sometimes you need a little of the dark and a little of the light it is called a balance. And that goes back to life itself we must be in balance with the earth and nature as well as ourselves. So, feel free to use a little of the dark as well as a little of the light and you can call yourself a Balanced Witch.

Blessings to you sister Sincerely The Oracle 7

Power Items Animal-Ox To te m Sym bolism

The ox spir it a ni ma l h a s b een wor s hiped for cent ur i es i n ma ny re l igions, was i m p o r t a nt i n a gr icultu ral s o ci et i es, a nd i s now use d as masco t s fo r s p o r t s tea m s.

Oxe n were u s ed a s s y m b o ls fo r stre n g th and fer t i li t y i n ma ny c ul tu res and are s t i ll us ed to sy m bolize som e o f t hes e t hi n g s eve n to day. This ar ti cle wi ll d i s cus s t he oxe n’s spir itu a l to tem’s i mp o r t a nce in a ncient cult ures, i t s i mp a c t o n re l igion and ot h er b eli efs, o t h er imp or tant fac ts a b o ut oxen , a n d w h at a n ox s ymbolizes i n a d rea m .

B e c aus e of the oxen’s s t reng t h a n d p ower, it was u s ed a s a reli gi o us ico n in many an ci ent ci v i li z at i o ns.

S ometimes, peo p le wo rs hi p ed t he se a nimals to br ing s t reng t h to t h e p e ople who prayed to t h em . I n o th e r re l igions, lik e t he o n es i n a nci ent Egy pt and Gre ece, oxen were gi ve n as a nimal sacr ifices to o t h er g o d s.

The s acr ifice o f s uch a s t ro ng a ni m al wa s supposed to b r i ng s t reng t h to t h e co untr y, the p eo p le i n t h e reli gi o n , or t h e ind ivid ua l wh o s a cr i f i ced t h e a nimal. S ometi m es oxen s p i r i t to te m s we re sacr ificed to t he d i f ferent g o d s or god d ess es of a gr i cult ure o r h ar ve st to e ns ure that a ll t he f a r mi ng i n th e a re a wou ld go well. I n s o m e p la ce s, oxe n were the s y mb o l o f fer t i li t y.

One mig ht s acr i f i ce a n ox to gi ve a b e t ter chance fo r a co up le t r y i ng to have a child.

Ox Asso c iated Tra it s

St re n g t h , Fe r t i l i t y, Powe r, Far m ing, Agr i c u l t u re, Pro sp e r i t y, Ab u n da nce, St u b b o r n , an d G o o d Lu c k .

Ox S p ir it An im a l

Ox sp i r i t an i m al re ve al s t h at i f you ex p e c t t h e p e o p l e aro u n d yo u to be l i k e an g e l s, yo u m u st c re ate h eaven t h ro u g h h av i n g a g o o d c h arac ter.

E xe rc i se l ove by c ar i n g fo r t h ose aro u n d yo u e ve n w h e n yo u are an gr y. I t w i l l co st yo u n o t h i n g to be l ov i n g to o t h e r s. Cre at i n g a p ea ceful e nv i ro n m e nt aro u n d yo u w i l l al ways at t rac t t h e r i g ht p e o p l e to yo u.

Th i s an i m al i s al ways d e p i c t i n g st re n g t h i n w h at i t d o e s. Ox m ea ning i n d i c ate s t h at yo u sh o u l d al ways stay c al m an d b e st ro n g. D o n o t al l ow anyo n e to d e st roy yo u. I t m i g ht n o t b e e asy at t i m e s b u t m o t i vate yo u r se l f to b e st ro n g.

Ox To tem An im a l

Ox to te m re m i n d s yo u t h at n ot e ve r yo n e w i l l b e g o o d to yo u even if yo u sh ow t h e m a g o o d h e ar t. Lea r n to st ay w h e re yo u are ap p re c i ated if yo u g e t to a p l ace w h e re p e o pl e a re n o t we l co m i n g to yo u, l e ave.

N e ve r waste yo u r st re n g t h o n n e g at i ve at m o sp h e re s.

Th i s c re at u re c ar r i e s t h e e n e rgy o f co n qu e r i n g m any o b st ac l e s. Ox an i m al to te m si gn i f i e s t h at you sh o u l d n o t d e p e n d to o m u c h on your fe l l ow h u m an b e i n g s. Pe o p l e cha nge w h e n t h e y m e e t n e w p e o p l e. M a k e it a ro u t i n e to st an d o n yo u r ow n.

8

Power Items Animal-Ox Continued Ox symbolism tea ch es yo u t hat you sho uld always b e t here fo r p eo p le w he n they nee d a f r i en d. Thi s i s t h e b e st way to m a ke new f r i en d s. N o matter how m a ny i s s ues yo u f a ce i n l ife, wor k tireles s ly to s ee s o m eo n e e l se smile. Pure love i s wh en o t h e r p e ople s mile beca us e o f yo ur a c t i o n s.

Sy mb ol ic M e a ning O f Ox

The ox animal to tem wa s es p eci a l l y imp or tant in anci ent Celt i c cult ure.

I n some ways, p eo p le s aw t h e Cel t i c ox to have many p o s i t i ve a n d d es i re d t ra its and som e neg at i ve o nes. L i k e in some of the o t her cult ures we h ave disc uss ed, the ox wa s a ls o s een a s a sign of fer tilit y i n wo men a nd a s i gn of vir ilit y in men i n Celt i c cult ure.

Anc i ent peopl e s a i d t hat i f yo u p ut symbols of a n ox i n a co up le’s b e droom, it wo uld en co ura g e t he m or mak e it eas i er fo r t hem to p ro du ce a c hi ld. The ox wa s a ls o o f ten a ssociated wit h en erg y, rep ro d uc t i o n , a nd chores aro und t h e h o us e a nd outd oors on a f a r m.

Oxe n symbol mea ni n g s a ls o h ave an imp or tance in d rea m s y m b o li s m . I f yo u see a healt hy oxen s y m b o l i n yo ur d ream, it i s s up p o s ed to m ean t hat you will h ave g o o d luck i n t h e f uture, either wi t h f i na n ci a l m at te r s or fer tilit y mat ters. I t ca n a ls o m e an t hat new oppor t uni t i es wi t h love o r wor k will s oon b e i n yo ur f ut ure.

H owe ve r, i f yo u se e a we ak , si ck , or d e ad ox , t h e n yo u’re n o t ve r y l ik el y to h ave g o o d l u c k i n any t h i n g. You m ay h ave a d e at h i n t h e f am i l y soon, a gre at l o ss o f m o n e y, o r t ro u bl e co n ce i v i n g a c h i l d. To p u t i t si m pl y, a h e al t hy an d we l l - fe d ox sy m bol m e an s g o o d t h i n g s to co m e, w hil e a si c k l y o r d e ad ox m e an s q u i te t h e o p p o si te.

Ox Power An im a l

I n to d ay ’s t i m e, oxe n sy m b o l i c m e an i n g s are o f te n st i l l se e n in the sam e ways as an c i e nt p e o p l e saw t h e m h u n d re d s o r e ve n t h o u sands of ye ar s ag o. Wh i l e m ac h i n e s are used m o re t h an oxe n i n f ar m i n g i n m a ny co u nt r i e s, t h e oxe n’s sy m b o l i s m o f st re n g t h an d fe r t i l i t y h as n ot g o n e away.

Th e ox i s o f te n a si gn o f st re n gth as a m asco t fo r m any sp o r t s te a m s.

O ve ral l, o n e c an se e t h e ox as sy m b o l i zi n g co n f i d e n ce, p ower, st ab i l i t y, fe r t i l i t y, d e te r m i n at i on, an d e ve n st u b b o r n n e ss i n b o t h to d ay ’s wo r l d an d t h e wo r l d s of l o n g - ag o c u l t u re s.

Wh at do oxen s y m bo l ize?

Th i s an i m al sy m b o l i ze s t h at you n e e d to sto p ex p l ai n i n g yo u r sel f an d te l l i n g p e o p l e e ve r y t h i n g you are d o i n g. Eve r yo n e h as a l i fe to l i ve. Yo u d o n o t owe anyo ne a ny ex p l an at i o n o f t h e t h i n g s yo u d o. Li ve yo u r l i fe w i t h o u t i nvo l v i n g o t h e r s.

9

Power Items Animal-Ox Continued

S e e ing an ox m ea n i n g i llus t rates t h at yo u should never d i s cred i t yo ur g u t s or instinc ts. Ta ke n o te wh en yo ur b ody picks u p o n b a d v i b rat i o n s.

Tr ust you r feel i n g s when t h ey tell yo u that s ome t hi n g i s no t r i g ht a bo u t a p e rson or a si t uat i o n . There a re t im es when you need to b e cho o sy fo r w hat is bes t for yo u.

N ative Am er ica n Ox Sy mb ol ic M e a ning s

To t he Native Am er i ca n fo lks, t he ox had econo m i c i m p o r t a n ce.

I t re pres ented b raver y, wea lt h , p otenc y, and overa ll p ower. Sy mbo l i c me a ning s of the ox i llus t rated p e r s onal powe r a lways to f i n i s h a t a sk ahead.

Da il y ear thly h a p p en i n g s wo uld inte r pret the m ea n i n g o f ox s p i r i ts.

I t wou ld help co up les who wi s h ed to co nceive where t h ey wo uld ca ll o n t he ox for ass i s t a n ce. The ox s p i r i t would not br ing a ny t h i n g ex t ra to t he table. I t wo uld m a ke t hem use w hat they have to f i n d s o lut i o ns to t he ir trou bles.

Ox As A Cel t ic Anima l Sy mb ol

S ince the ox wa s s uch a n i m p o r t ant f a r m animal to t h e Celt s a nd s o ma ny other cu lt ures, f a r m i n g, a gr icultu re, and mo n ey were o f ten a ssociated wit h t h e oxen . M a ny Ce l t i c p e ople mad e ma ny o f t h ei r li v i ng by f a r m ing or by o t her t h i n g s t hat t h e y co ul d us e oxen to h elp wi t h, s o t h e

an i m al s sy m b o l i ze d f i n an c i al grow th o f st re n g t h . Th e an i m al i s al so a sy m b o l o f p hysi c al st re n g t h as wel l.

H owe ve r, t h e ox i s al so a si gn of b u l l - h e ad e d an d st u b b o r n n e ss, som e o f i t s o n l y n e g at i ve t rai t s.

Pe o p l e val u e d t h e ox i n Ce l t i c sy m b o l i sm b e c au se o f i t s h i g h p ro d u c t i v i t y. Th e ox was a sy mbol of p ro te c t i o n w h e n e ve r t h e c l an wa s in t ro u b l e. I t s p ro te c t i o n wo u l d im prove t h e we al t h o f t h e l an d. Th e ce l ts l i k e n e d t h e ox to so l ar e n e rg y.

Wh at a re Ox Drea m s?

Ox a ppea r in g in yo ur drea m tells yo u th at th e r ight peo pl e w i ll n ever get tired o f yo u. Peo ple wi ll a l ways co m e a n d go in yo ur li fe, but th e r ight o n es w il l s tay wi th yo u. N o m atter h ow to ugh your pres ent s ituatio n is, it is n o t your fin a l des tin atio n . Ox s y m bo li sm a s s ures yo u th at th e bes t is yet to co m e in yo ur l ife. B e patient wi th th e grow th pro ces s in yo ur li fe.

Ox s pir it w il l a l ways tea c h you to a pprec iate peo pl e w h o c a re for yo u. I t wo ul d h el p if yo u n oti ced th o s e peo pl e w h o wo r k effor tlessly to s tay in yo ur l ife. Love a n d a pprec iate th e peo pl e w h o d o not give up o n yo u. Th es e a re people w ith yo ur bes t interes ts in th eir h ea r ts. https://w w w.sunsigns.org/ox-animal-totemsymbolism-meanings/

10

Power Items Flower-Carnation Wi tc h e s u se d to b e l i e ve t h e y coul d b e u se d to p re ve nt b e i n g b u r ned at t h e st ak e.

I t i s b e l i e ve d t h at i f p l ante d on the f i r st qu ar te r m o o n i t wo u l d grow p owe r f u l c ar n at i o n s.

H e re are so m e o t h e r co l o r s an d their m e an i n g s:

M a gical Pro per ties o f Car n ations Fo lk n am e: Gilliflowe r, J ove’s Flower, Nel k a Ty p e: Fl ower Ruler : Cap r icor n, S atur n Plan et: Sun E le m ent: Fire M a gick al For m: Fre sh, dr ied, e s s ential oi l B a s ic Powers: Pro tec t io n, E ne rgy, Happiness Ca r nations we re ca lled t he f lower o f G o d becau s e o f t hei r s ci ent i f i c n am e, Dia nthu s. Dia i s g o d a nd a nt h o s i s f l ower in Greek .

Dif ferent color s o f Ca r nat i o n s co u l d me a n d ifferent p ro p er t i es li ke red to p ro pel neg ative energ y a n d wh i te fo r he a ling and sa cred r i t ua ls.

White carnations symbolize purity and luck.

Light red carnations symbolize admiration.

Dark red carnations symbolize love and affection.

Pink carnations symbolize gratitude.

Yellow carnations symbolize disappointment or rejection.

Purple carnations symbolize capriciousness.

Use d to re m ove h exe s an d n e gative e n e rg y, t h e c ar n at i o n i s e sp e c ia l l y g o o d fo r c l e ar i n g o u t l ove p robl em s.

Ad d w h i te an d re d c ar n at i o n s or e sse nt i al o i l to b at hwate r to s ta bil ize yo u r l ove l i fe.

Th e f l owe r s at t rac t ab u n d an ce a s we l l. Car n at i o n s are t h e t rad i tiona l f i r st we d d i n g an n i ve r sar y f l ower.

11

Power Items Stone-Garnet

The Magical Properties of the Garnet Stone

Oh, the d eep red co lo r o f t h e g a r n e t is tr uly a s ight to b eho ld ! Wh en I fe a st my g aze up o n t h i s ma gn i f i ce nt ge m stone my f i rs t i mp res s i o n i s t h at of l ove, pass ion a nd s t reng t h.

Wit h the gar net b ei n g a n element of f ire, and ju s t li ke t he co lo r sugges ts, it ’s m a gi ca l p ro p er t i es a re t he ultimate sto n e to at t ra c t love a nd d evotion.

I t re ally opens t he h ea r t, rev i t a li zi n g fe e l i ng s bu t als o enha n ces s exua l i t y, w he ther it be s ens ua l o r p a s s i o n ate.

S o, if you’re s t rug g li n g wi t h i nt i m ac y or l ow libid o thi s i s t he s to ne fo r you.

This timeless bea ut y i s a ls o a s to n e of streng th, bui ld i ng s elf - co n f i d e n ce w ithin yoursel f. I t a i d s i n s ur v i va l sk il l s to give yo u co ura g e to f a ce t h e str ugg les of ever yd ay p ro b lem s an d sce nar ios with feeli ng s o f h o p e t h at

yo u’ l l se e t h at f l i c k e r o f l i g ht at the e n d o f t h e t u n n e l.

Th e g ar n e t h as t h e ab i l i t y to b al an ce yo u r e n e rgi e s as n e e ded.

I t ’s ab l e to re l i e ve t h at e m o t i ona l d i sh ar m o ny w h i c h t h an h e l p s to al l e v i ate j e al o u si e s, an g e r, sh a r pen yo u r p e rce p t i o n o f h ow yo u se e yo u r se l f an d o t h e r s, p l u s e ase s sel fco n sc i o u sn e ss so yo u fe e l b e t ter i n si d e al l ow i n g m o re d o o r s to open fo r yo u i n w h ate ve r yo u r g o al s m ay b e.

Th e g ar n e t i s an i n c re d i b l y re f re sh i n g sto n e as i t c l e an se s the c h ak ras gi v i n g an e n e rg e t i c fe el. I t b r i n g s se re n i t y an d j oy as i t c lea r s o u t t h e n e g at i ve e n e rg y. Wi t h its co l o r an d m any at t r i b u te s i t re a l l y i s a b e au t i f u l gi f t to t h e wo r l d.

Never underestimate the power of the garnet.

12

Power Items Herb-Lavender

p ro te c t i o n d u r i n g t rave l, e tc.

- Grow n i n g ard e n s to b r i n g l u c k .

- I n so m e t rad i t i o n s, b u n d l e s of l ave n d e r we re gi ve n to wo m e n d u r i n g c h i l d b i r t h to b r i n g co u ra ge an d st re n g t h .

- I t ’s so m e t i m e s u se d to i n c re ase the p o te n c y an d d u rat i o n o f sp e l l s.

Pl a net: M ercur y El e m ent: Air

Magical Properties

- Lavend er flowers a re co mmo n ly use d for s eek ing love, h ea li ng, a n d inne r calm.

- I t ’s bu r ned dur i ng L i t h a a s a n of fe r ing.

- I t can be bu r n ed, us ed i n a b at h , or strewn aroun d a p la ce fo r p ur ification, p ro m o t i n g p ea ce, s t re ss re l ief, and anger m a n a g ement.

- I t ’s believed to b e li ked by fey, in p ar ticu lar, e lves. I t ’s a ls o us ed to increas e s en s i t i v i t y to o t h er e ntities and to a i d i n co mmuni cat i o n w ith spir its.

- Protec tion: Wo r n to p ro tec t a g a i n st a b use, u s ed for p s ychi c p ro tec t i on , p ro tec ts again s t ni g ht ma res,

- Co m m o n u se s: Co n se c rat i o n a nd c l e an si n g, h ap p i n e ss, h e al i n g, l ove, p e ace, an d p ro te c t i o n .

- Al so u se d fo r : ai d i n g d i v i n at ion, l u c k , g e nt l e n e ss, h ar m o ny, m e d i t at i o n , m e m o r y, st ab i l i t y, l i b e rat i o n , c l ai r voyan ce an d pa ssion.

Asso c i ate d w i t h c h ast i t y, se c rets, v i g o u r, we d d i n g s, at t rac t i n g money an d m e n o p au se. Use d i n d e al ings w i t h d re am s an d sl e e p. Can h el p p e o p l e d e al w i t h l o ss.

Medicinal Properties

- Lave n d e r i s o n e o f t h e fe w e ssentia l o i l s g e nt l e e n o u g h to b e ap p l ied d i re c t l y to sk i n . H owe ve r, w h en a s a n e sse nt i al o i l, i t sh o u l d o n l y b e used ex te r n al l y - e sp e c i al l y w i t h an im a l s.

- S o ak i n g i n a b at h w i t h ad d e d l ave n d e r o i l e ase s d e p re ssi o n , an x i e t y, h i g h b l o o d p re ssu re a nd it c an i m p rove c i rc u l at i o n . I t al so hel ps w i t h t h e ac h e s an d p ai n s t h at com e al o n g si d e w i t h p re gn an c y.

13

Power Items Herb-Lavender Continued

- I t ’s an effec ti ve a nt i -i n f la mmato r y an d ant i se p t i c.

- To ease head a ch es, a p p ly a d ro p o f l ave n d e r o i l to t h e te m p l e s.

- I t ’s u s ed to rep el i n s ec t s - Lavend er is rep uted fo r i t ’s a i d i n sl e e p. Co m b i n e i t w i t h val e r i an o r c ha m omile in tea , us e o i l i n a n eve n i n g b at h , sp r i n k l e a d ro p o n yo u r p il l owcas e, or a d d d r i ed lavend er to sl e e p p i l l ow m i x t u re s.

- I t ’s sometimes co mb i ned wi t h rose m ar y i n re l i e v i n g ar t h r i t i s, so re mu s cles an d n er ve p a i n . L ave n d e r c an al so b e u se d i n a m assag e o i l to re l ieve ar thr iti c s t i f f n es s i n o ld er d o g s.

- Fo r a remed y to b ur ns a n d s un b u r n s, ap p l y a we t c l o t h w i t h w i tc h h azel a nd a fe w d rops of lavend er es s ent i a l o i l to t h e b u r n .

- D o t ess ential o i ls o f laven d er, te a t re e, l e m o n , an d w i tc h h aze l o n b l e mishes a nd acne to k i ll b a c ter i a .

Aromatherapy - B ur ned to induce s leep a n d res t - Lavend er will a ls o keep i n s ec t s away

https://vayas-witchcraf t-and-spir itual.tumblr.com/post/104831222140/her b -lavender

14

Power Items Witch Tools-Book of Shadows What is a book of Shadows and why should you keep one?

Witc hcraf t was o r i gi n a lly a n o ra l t ra dition, all o f i t s r i tes a nd b eli efs we re pass ed o n by wo rd o f m o ut h , w ith nothing w r i t ten d own .

Whe n the pers ecut i o ns o f t h e M i d d l e Age s beg an wi tches ha d to m eet i n se c ret and were una b le to m a i nt a i n co ntac t with e a ch o t h er. S i nce Witc hes were h av i n g to m eet “i n th e sha dows” as it were, t hat t h e b o o k a cquired that n a me.

To b e found in p o s s es s i o n o f s uch b ook meant ce r t a i n d eat h ; t herefore, onl y one was k ep t fo r ea ch gro up of Witches, wh et her t h e gro up co mpr ised a si n g le f a m i ly o r a cove n for m ed of d ifferent f a mi li es a nd indiv id uals. I f a n i nd i v i d ua l Wi tch did k eep a B oo k o f S h a d ows, i t wo u l d b e b ur ned at hi s o r her d eat h .

The firs t B ook o f S ha d ows to a p p e ar outsid e a coven, ava i la b le to t he ge neral public, wa s p ro b a b ly t hat of t he Witch M a d d a lena , gi ven to fol k lor ist Char les G o d f rey Lela n d an d p ub lis hed by hi m i n 1899. N o f ur t h e r B o ok s of Shad ows were fo r t h co m i n g unt il the 1950 ’s.

I t is said that a B o o k o f S ha d ows sho uld contain t h e fo llowi n g w r it ten in you r own h a n d (a s i t i s re gard ed as a s a cred b o o k a n d, t he refore a boo k o f p ower) h er b a l l o re, d ivinatio n a nd a s t ro lo g y.

I t i s sai d t h at by w r i t i n g o u t a l l t h at co nt ai n s, so m e o f t h i s p ower i s t ran sfe r re d to t h e w r i te r. S om e B o o k o f S h ad ows co nt ai n r i t u a l s for I n i t i at i o n , E b at s, S ab b at s, H an fa sting an d H an d p ar i n g, h e al i n g, d i v i n ation, sp e l l s, c h ant s, d an ce s, an d so n gs.

I p e r so n al l y b e l i e ve t h at yo u r B ook o f S h ad ows sh o u l d h o l d w h at feel s i m p o r t ant to yo u at t h e t i m e on your j o u r n e y as we al l are n o t t h e s a m e as f ar as p rac t i ce s g o. Fo r ex ampl e I l ove h e r b s an d so I p u t a l i st of h e r b s t h at I wo u l d l i k e to g e t so I c an b u i l d my h e r b g ard e n . Any spel l s t h at I h ave i nvo k e d are i n my B ook of S h ad ows al so.

I al so fo u n d o u t t h at t h e t i t l e p ag e o f t h e b o o k al ways b e ar s the l e g e n d “ Th e B o o k o f S h ad ows o f t h e Wi tc h ( M aw u Card e a, fo r ex am p l e ) ”, i n my ow n h an d o f w r i te. S o m e b o o k s are w r i t ten i n a ve r y e l ab o rate st y l e ; so m e a re e ve n w r i t te n i n o n e o f t h e m agic a l al p h ab e t s. Th i s i s f i n e fo r a p er sona l b o o k , b u t fo r a b o o k t h at i s ac tua l l y u se d fo r p e r fo r m i n g r i t u al s i t c a n m ak e t h e re ad i n g o f i t ve r y d i ffic ul t, i f n o t i m p o ssi b l e.

S o m e o f t h e cove n b o o k s u se d by d e gre e, syste m cove n s h ave t he h i g h e r d e gre e m ate r i al i n o n e of the m agi c al al p h ab e t s, w i t h t h e b ul k of t h e b o o k i n n o r m al sc r i p t.

15

Power Items Book of Shadows Continued How to start a Book of Shadows

Eve r ything you lea r n o n yo ur j o ur n e y c a n be includ ed i n yo ur B o o k o f S ha d ows and sh o uld b e us ed a s a re fe rence g uide. A cruci a l p a r t o f t h i s j our ney is to reco rd ever y t h i n g you l e a r n and as yo u grow yo u may en d up with s evera l B o o ks o f S ha d ows, mostly becaus e yo u never s to p l e a r ning as you grow.

Goals and what you live by as awitch.

Nex t would be wh at yo ur wi tch p at h a l l a bou t is.

1. Do you have any deities that you would like to add to your Book of Shadows?

2. How about the elements especially the ones that you follow?

I would mak e o ne p a g e wi t h a ll t he elements and t h en I wo uld d o t he same for th e wh eel o f t he yea r a nd any of the s a b b at s – a n d h ow to celebrate th em. A s ec t i o n o f divin ation – a p a g e fo r ea ch o f wh at yo u would like to us e o n yo ur p ath a s well as the tech ni q ues yo u wi sh to use. You can have a s ec t i o n o n a nything you l ea r n a lo ng yo ur p at h .

I f you forget so m et hi n g a nd yo u l e a r n about it later i n li fe yo u ca n a l ways ad d a sub s ec t i o n .

The re is a d ifference b et ween B o o k of S had ows an d a G r i mo i re. A B o o k of S had ows is m o re o f a p ers o n a l j our nal and mo re a b o ut yo ur p erso n al j our ney where a s a G r i mo i re i s less p e r sonal bu t s t i ll may co nt a i n s o m e ite ms as in your B o o k o f S h a d ows. I n ke e ping your B o o k o f S ha d ows, yo u

c an ad d w h o yo u r d e i t i e s are, spel l s, i n c ant at i o n s, re c i p e s, yo u r p e r sona l p at h , h ow to d o t h i n g s an d t h e re aso n s b e h i n d t h e m an d ag ain m ore p e r so n al t h an a Gr i m o i re.

A cove n h as m o re o f Gr i m o i re vs a B o o k o f S h ad ows, b u t e ac h w i tc h w il l h ave t h e i r ow n B o o k o f S h ad ows.

To t al l y d e p e n d s o n t h e w i tc h or w i tc h ( s) . A B o o k o f S h ad ows must b e t ak e n c are o f an d k e p t safe a s we l l as o t h e r m agi c al to o l s. I found t h at p u t t i n g a w r i t te n sp e l l c h a r m on yo u r B o o k o f sh ad ows i s an excel l ent i d e a. Th i s way i f anyo n e g e t s a hol d o f yo u r b o o k an d w h at t h e y re a d m ay b e i n e f fe c t i ve o r h ave a n e g ative b ac k l ash to t h e m .

I f yo u g e t a b o o k o f sh ad ows a nd or a gr i m o i re p asse d d ow n to yo u from a f am i l y m e m b e r t h at i s co m pl etel y f i n e, u se w h at yo u c an f i n d i n that to o l an d p u t i t i nto yo u r b o o k of sh ad ows i n yo u r h an d w r i t i n g. This way t h e p owe r w i l l b e p asse d dow n to yo u.

“As al ways, Th e Wi tc h’s B o o k o f S h ad ows i s an i n - d e p t h , ye t ap p ro ac h ab l e g u i d e b o o k to al l t h e e l e m e nt s o f c raf t i n g yo u r ow n B o o k s o f S h ad ows. D i ve i n an d e n j oy ! ” — Lasara Fi re fox Al l en, b e st se l l i n g au t h o r o f J ai l b re ak ing the G o d d e ss: A R ad i c al R e v i si o n i n g of Fe m i n i st S p i r i t u al i t y ( The Witch B ook : The Enc yclopedia of Witchcraf t, Wicca, and Neopaganism @2002 Visible I nk Press) Video credit: (Enchanted Endeavors EP. 17)

16

Power Items Symbol-Infinity

Al t h o u g h t h e i n f i n i t y sy m b o l ha s c h an g e d i n d e f i n i t i o n ove r t h e yea r s an d h as b e e n i nte r p re te d o u t s ide of t h e m at h wo r l d, t h e i d e a o f i nfinit y i s st i l l co n si d e re d t h e b asi c concept b e h i n d t h e i m ag e. B e l ow are other i nte r p re t at i o n s o f t h e sy m b o l :

Al so k nown as t h e eter n i t y s y m b o l o r t he forever symb o l

The Infinity Symbol Origin

The infinit y sy m b o l i s ex t remely re cognizable th ro ug h o ut t he wo r l d ; however, d o we k n ow wh ere i t or iginated fro m a n d h ow i t wa s c ho sen to repres ent eter ni t y ? I f yo u ex a mine the inf i n i t y s y mb o l clo s e l y, yo u’ll s ee that i t i s a s i d eways num ber eight.

This tells u s that t h e s y m b o l wa s c re ated in the wo r ld o f m at hem at i c s.

A mathematici a n, J o hn Wa lli s, de c l ared the s i d eways ei g ht t hey re p resentation o f i n f i n i t y i n 1655 .

H istor y has shown t h at h e may have go t ten the id ea f ro m t he R o ma n num eral for 1. 000 whi ch i s C I . As yo u can see, it lo o ks ver y clo s e to t h e inf init y s ymbo l. Th e n umera l ca n al so b e inter preted to mea n “m a ny ”.

Another s imila r s y mb o l wa s create d by m athematic i a n Leo n ha rd Eule.

Eul e u s ed a sideways ei g ht s y mb ol to ind icate “ab s o lut us i nf i n i t us”, w hich is L atin fo r a b s o lute i nf i n i t y.

• Th e c i rc u l ar d e si gn o f t h e t wo p ar t s t h at m ak e u p t h e i n finit y sy m b o l are se e n by so m e to re sem bl e t h e O u ro b o ro s. Th e O u ro b o ro s is t h e sn ak e t h at i s re p re se nte d a s e at i n g i t s ow n t ai l an d c re at i n g a c i rc l e. S o m e t i m e s i t i s d raw n lik e the si d e ways e i g ht o f t h e sy m b o l a s a re f l e c t i o n o f t h e myst i c s’ b e l i ef in the e te r n al an d i n f i n i te.

• Th e t wo c i rc l e s j o i n i n g to g e t h e r, an d u n i t i n g i s al so s een a s re p re se nt i n g t wo o p p o si n g p e opl e o r fo rce s co m i n g to g e t h e r i n h a r m ony an d b al an ce. I t c an al so b e se en as an i nte rco n n e c te d n e ss b e t ween al l t h i n g s.

• Th e i n f i n i t y sy m b o l c an c a r r y t h e m e an i n g o f re g e n e rat i o n and e te r n al l i fe af te r d e at h o n a spir itua l an d m e t ap hysi c al l e ve l. I t c an refer to t h e b o u n d l e ss an d u n l i m i ted c ap ac i t y o f G o d an d t h e D i v i n e a nd to t h e e te r n al l ove we ex p e r i ence f ro m t h e d e i t y.

• Th e i n f i n i t y sy m b o l c an p o r t ray t h e Ku n d al i n i e n e rg y w ithin H i n d u i sm , w h i c h i s t rad i t i o n al l y i l l u st rate d as a co i l e d se r p e nt at t h e b ase o f t h e sp i n e. I t i s al so 17

Power Items Symbol-Infinity Continued so metimes viewed a s a rep res ent at i o n of dualit y and un i f y i ng t h e n at ure o f ma l e and fema le.

• The infini t y s y mb o l ca n re p resent G od fo r C h r i s t i a ns, who m is e ter nal by n at ure. The s y m b o l c an a l so reflec t the ever la s t i ng p ro mi se s G o d has mad e towa rd hi s p eo p le.

• I nd ivid u a ls t hat p ra c t i ce yo g a vie w the symb o l a s a n i nd i cat i o n of t he unceas i ng exi s ten ce o f t he univers e. There i s no b egi n ni n g or e nd, rather a n en d les s ci rcle o f de struc tion an d creat i o n . Ever y t h i n g in t h e cosmos i s i n co nt i nuo us mot i on. The u ni vers e p rov i d es a one ness with u s a n d a lt ho ug h we a re i nd ivid u als, we a ls o h ave a s o l i d co nnec tion wi t h ea ch o t h er.

• The infini t y s y mb o l ca n a ls o b e seen on s om e t a ro t ca rd s where it indicates the en d les s n at ure of e nergy and t he n ever- en d i n g inte rchang e bet ween en erg y a n d matter. The s ym b o l ca n a ls o b e vie wed as the i n f i n i te es s en ce o f o u r t ho ug hts or s p i r i t s.

The R eflec tion o f t he N umb er E i g ht S ome people h ave gi ven t h e i nf i n i t y sy m bol an ad d i t i o na l reli gi o us a n d sp ir itual mean i n g b eca us e o f t h e visual qualitie s i t ca r r i es t h at a re sim ilar to the numb er ei g ht. O n e ex a mple is wit hi n H i n d ui s m where t he n umber rep res ent s t h e i ni t i ate, t he i nd ivid u al wh o h a s p a s s ed

t h ro u g h t h e se ve n st ag e s o f spir itua l awak e n i n g an d t h e se ve n h e avens o f H i n d u t h e o l o g y. Th e sy m b ol c a n re p re se nt re su r re c t i o n an d re newa l in ad d i t i o n to re g ai n i n g l o st Paradise.

Fo r t h e Ch i n e se b e l i e f syste m , eight i s a p ro m i si n g n u m b e r, t h e re fore t h e i n f i n i t y sy m b o l t ak e s o n t he i nte r p re t at i o n o f g o o d l u c k an d fo r t u n e.

The Double Infinity Symbol

Th e d o u b l e i n f i n i t y sy m b o l t h at co n si st s o f t wo i nte r wove n i n finit y si gn s c an d e p i c t t h e i d e a o f t wo se p arate co m m i t m e nt s j o i n i n g to g e t h e r as a w h o l e : a u n i t y of d i f fe re nt i d e as. O n a ro m ant i c l evel, t h e sy m b o l c an i n d i c ate t h e vows t wo p e o p l e h ave m ad e to e ac h other as t h e y u n i te i n a re l at i o n sh i p.

Th e d o u b l e i n f i n i t y c an re f l e c t h ar m o n i o u s b al an ce an d an ae sthetic val u e b e h i n d t h e p e r fe c t i o n .

In the World of Jewelry and Fashion

Th e re are m any d i f fe re nt st y l es that t h e i n f i n i t y sy m b o l h as b e e n put onto i n t h e f ash i o n an d j e we l r y wo r l d. The sy m b o l h as al so b e co m e a p o pul a r t at to o d e si gn . I n f i n i t y- t h e m e d tattoos c an b e a way to re m e m b e r h ow i m p o r t ant i t i s to st ay st ro n g in the f ace o f l i fe’s c h al l e n g e s.

S o m e p e o p l e c h o o se to we ar a b ro k e n i n f i n i t y sy m b o l to re p resent t h at n o t e ve r y t h i n g i n t h e wo r l d is al ways f l u i d an d e te r n al. Th at there 18

Power Items Symbol-Infinity Continued

a re moments an d o cca s i o n s i n li fe t h at ce ase to ex i st. Th e sy m b o l i t se l f is sy m metr ical an d ca n b e us ed a s t h e fo c u s o f a j e we l r y p i e ce o r as an accent.

The s ymbol has b eco me k nown a s a ve r sat i l e ad d i t i o n to m any j e we l r y pieces.

I t s mu lti-layered s y mb o li s m a d d s to t h e val u e o f t h e sy m b o l m ak i n g t h e piece a p e r fec t gif t fo r o cca s i o n s s uch a s: • A gif t for a loved o n e: a s i ng l e i n f i n i t y sy m b o l c an b e t ak e n as a statement of eter n a l love. Wh en i n co r p o rate d w i t h a h e ar t, t h e co m b i n ed sy m bolis m stren g t hens t he ro ma nt i c asso c i at i o n .

• When the gi f t i s fo r a f r i end, t h e sy m b o l re p re se nt s e te r n al f r i e n d s hip.

This shows the recei ver t hat yo u val u e t h e i r f r i e n d sh i p an d w i l l c h e r i sh it.

• A grad u at i o n gi f t : gi v i ng a n i n f i n i t y gi f t re p re se nt s t h e e n d l e ss op p or tu nities a nd p at h a hea d o f t h e m .

• For Chr ist i a n b eli evers : a n i n f i n i t y sy m b o l w i t h a c ro ss sy m b o l i ze s G od ’s e te r nal love fo r t h em a nd eter na l l i fe o f fe re d f ro m h i s l ove. Th e p ai r i n g ca n a l so reflec t a Ch r i s t i a n’s d evo t i o n an d o b e d i e n ce to G o d. A t r i p l e i n f i n i t y c a n re p resent the f a m i ly o r t h e t r i n i t y w i t h i n Ch r i st i an i t y.

The Celtic Knot and the Infinity Symbol

The infinit y res emb les a Celt i c k no t i n w h i c h i t co n si st s o f a n e ve r- e n d i n g l o op with no begi n ni n g o r end. Th e si gn c an b e se e n i n t h e an c i e nt Ce l t i c k not cons truc t i o n , whi ch h a s n o be gi n n i n g n o r e n d b u t i s d raw n as a se r pent w ith a tail. Thi s gi ves t he rep res ent at i o n o f i n f i n i t y i t s sp e c i al m e an i n g for e te r nit y as we ll a s a nt i q ui t y. Th e m e an i n g o f t h e sy m b o l o f i n f i n i t y c an be ove rcome if we b eco me awa re o f i t s sp i r i t u al m e an i n g i n o u r ow n l i ve s a nd in t he lives of ot h ers.

In Conclusion

The infinit y sy m b o l h a s ma d e i t s way as o n e o f t h e m o st p o p u l ar sy m b o l s not only in mat hem at i cs b ut i n eve r yd ay l i fe. Al t h o u g h i t was c re ate d to re p resent an inf i n i te numb er, t he p ast 4 0 0 ye ar s sh ows u s t h at t h e sy m bol ha s been ad op ted o ut s i d e o f t he n u m b e r sp e c t r u m an d e ar n e d i t s way i nto a l a rge nu mber o f i nter p ret at i o n s for b o t h t h e ro m ant i c wo r l d an d t h e sp i r itua l wo r ld.

R esource websites: https://symbolsage.com/infinit y-symbol- or igins-meaning/ https://w w w.your tango.com/2020334636/infinit y-symbol-spir itual-meaning

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Power Items Color-Indigo I t c an h owe ve r t i p t h e sc al e s w h e n to o p re val e nt, b e co m i n g m e l o d ram at i c, i m p rac t i c al, ze al ous an d f an at i c al.

Color Indigo Meaning & Symbolism

I ndigo res id es b et ween v i o let a nd blue on the co lo r wheel. The de e per the ton e o f I n d i g o t he more l ike ly it is that t h e s y m b o li s m wi ll b e p rofound. G en era lly I n d i g o re p resents our d eep es t t ho ug ht s a nd s pir itu al w i s d o m. Th e b lue i n I ndigo helps w i t h co m m un i cat i o n , me d itation and p ea ce wh i le t he Viol et speak s to t he h i g h er s elf, co mprehension o f t he M ys ter i es a nd ins piration.

Among lig ht wo r kers I n d i g o res o n ate s w ith the third eye, a n d t h erefo r gra nts greater p ercep t i o n . Wh en yo u ne e d to see be yo n d co n crete rea l i t y, Viol et is the bes t co lo r t h at i ns p i re s yo ur sou l. Wor k i ng wi t h t h i s h ue b r ings out ou r a b i li t y to s ee t h i n g s c l e a r ly, par ticula r ly t ho s e t hi n g s t h at our H igher M in d t a p s i nto.

R e l igiou s ly I nd i g o i s t he co lo r a ssociated wit h d evo t i o n, s er v i ce, hones t y and di gn i t y. I nd i g o b r i ng s str uc ture to cha o s a nd t h e let ter o f t he law. I t is a r i g ht b ra i n co lo r t h at he l ps u s cope wi t h s t res s.

I n d i g o i s an exce l l e nt h i g h l i g ht for sac re d sp ace s, e sp e c i al l y t h o se use fo r v i si o n qu e st s an d m e d i t at i on.

I t su p p o r t s t h e i nt u i t i ve se l f and w i sd o m g ai n e d ove r m any l i ve s.

I f I n d i g o i s yo u r f avo r i te co l o r it m e an s t h at yo u r p e r so n al t r u th a nd wo rd o f h o n o r h as i nte n se m e a ning e ve r y d ay. Yo u are a p e r so n o f o rd e r l i n e ss an d co m p assi o n but have l i t t l e p at i e n ce fo r c h ao s o r l ac k of co m p assi o n i n b o t h yo u r f r i e nds an d yo u r f re qu e nte d sp ace s. Your ro u t i n e s are p at te r n e d to p re c ision, an d yo u h ave a fo n d n e ss fo r ol df ash i o n e d t h i n g s.

Pe o p l e aro u n d t h e I n d i g o p e r son k n ow t h e y are re l i ab l e an d t r u st wo r t hy. Wh e n yo u g o i nto “c r u n c h” t i m e – f i n d an I n d i g o to h e l p yo u.

I n d i g o s t ak e gre at p r i d e i n acco m p l i sh m e nt s, p ar t i c u l ar l y those h av i n g to d e al w i t h sp i r i t u al i t y, l e ar n i n g an d j u st i ce. I n d i g o p e opl e h ave n o t ro u b l e i nte rac t i n g w ith the u n se e n wo r l d s an d o t h e r re al m s.

As a I n d i g o co l o r p e r so n yo u h ave to b e c are f u l ab o u t p l an n i n g ah ea d so m u c h t h at yo u m i ss i m p o r t ant c ues h e re - an d - n ow. Th i s c au se s an xiet y 20

Power Items Color-Indigo Continued for I n d igos wh o a ls o ten d to h ave so mewhat ad d i c ted p ers o na li t i es – it cou ld be to p et s, o r wo r k , o r food, etc. bu t s o met h i n g ca p t ures t he ir focus.

I ndigo people m ay b e a li t t le over t h e to p and melod ra m at i c wh en a nxi e t y se ts in. Noneth eles s yo u a re k i nd an d f a ir to those in yo ur ci rcle, t rus t i n g yo ur instinc ts to g ui d e yo u.

I n the New Age m ovem ent t here h as b e e n much d iscus s i o n a b o ut I nd i go C hil dren. These s o uls a re t h o ug ht to have specia l s p i r i t ua l a p t i t ud es.

S ometimes cal led St a r C h i ld ren , t he se k id s may rep res ent a new ph ase in humank ind ’s evo lut i o n, b ei n g highly empathi c.

The parents of I nd i g o ch i ld ren may str ugg le becau s e t h ey d o n’t ca re muc h for bein g to ld wh at to d o. Th e y a re guid ed by s t ro n g s elf co n f i d e n ce, inve ntive, and no nco nfo r m a n ce. Gu i l t t r ip s d on’t wor k o n t h em s o wh en yo u ex p lain s omet h i n g to a n I nd i g o ch i l d b e read y for a lo t o f q ues t i o n s.

G e nerally s peak i n g t h o s e who re sonate with I nd i g o s eek o ut ha r mony and a ccep t a n ce. Yo u h ave a stro ng spir itu a l d r i ve t h at yo u n ee d to f ulfill or you wi ll f i nd yo urs elf wa nting. Love i s yo ur law, wh i ch c an co me acros s as i ntens e to t ho s e w h o do not feel thi ng s a s yo u d o. Avo i d l a b eling yourself a nd let yo ur li g ht grow and shin e n at ura lly.

Color Psychology: Indigo

Psyc h o l o gi st s te l l u s t h at I n d i go af fe c t s u s by p u t t i n g u s i n a co n ce nt rat i o n m i n d se t. Th i s i s i d e al fo r m e d i t at i o n o r w h e n you re al l y n e e d to g e t i n to u c h w i th yo u r ow n i n si g ht s. Wo r k i n g w i th I n d i g o h e l p s yo u fo c u s an d p l an, a nd al so i m p rove s fo c u s w h e n st u dying re l i gi o u s m at te r s.

As a co m p l i m e nt to o t h e r co l or s, I n d i g o st re n g t h e n s t h e r i g ht bra in.

I t i s a wo n d e r f u l co l o r fo r ro o ms w h e re yo u st u d y any t y p e o f al te r n at i ve re l i gi o n o r p h i l o sophy.

I n d i g o i n c re ase s yo u r i nt u i t i ve se l f an d i nve nt i ve n e ss, w h i l e al so st re ssi n g re sp o n si b i l i t y fo r o ne’s ac t i o n s an d o u tco m e s. A fe ar ful p e r so n , o r o n e se e k i n g f re sh i nsights wo u l d d o we l l to ad d I n d i g o to their c l o t h i n g se l e c t i o n s.

I n d i g o st re sse s l i b e rat i o n , v i sion, st r u c t u re, t h e 6 t h se n se, f ai t h an d f re e d o m . J u st b e c are f u l w ith t h e d ar k e r to n e s as t h e y m ay n e g at i ve l y i m p ac t so m e o n e suffer ing w i t h d e p re ssi o n . I t s i nte re st i n g to n o te t h at t h e Eg y p t i an s u sed I n d i g o ( Lap i s) fo r al l m an n e r of d e co rat i o n s an d p i e ce s o f j e wel r y i n c l u d i n g h e ad p i e ce s. I n te r ms o f sp i r i t u al gi f t s, i t i n sp i re s c l ai r voyan ce , g o o d d e c i si o n ma k ing, E S P, t h e Ad e p t Pat h an d ac t i vates the t h i rd e ye. Wh e n yo u want to em bra ce yo u r i n n e r p syc h i c, wo r k w i t h I ndigo.

21

Power Items Color-Indigo Continued

Indigo Color Variations:

B l ue r I nd igo re p res ent s h o nes t y, t r ust and solid fo und at i o n s. D a r k Pur ple I nd ig o rep res ent s lea d ers h i p a nd power.

Indigo Crystals List

A deep, r ich jewel to n ed I nd i g o co l o red cr ystal o r s to n e ca n b e a n inc red ible reso urce fo r t ho s e who w ish to clear, clea ns e, a nd p ower u p t he ir ps ychic co n nec t i o n .

• Pu r ple Ag ate – b a la n ce, clea r communicat i o n, s ca les o f j us t i ce.

• Alexand r ite – mult i vers e, g o o d for tu ne, ult i m ate Crown C ha k ra stone.

• Amethys t – p ro tec t i o n , p ur ification , co mmuni cat i o n w i t h t he d ivine.

• Ametr ine – o p t i m i s m , removes e motional blo ck a g es, hi g h er conscious ne s s.

• Ang elite – pea ce, co m p a s s i o n, spir itual co nnec t i o n s.

• A zu r ite – power f ul S h a ma ni c healing, hones t y.

• Celes tite – a cces s i ng t h e a ng el i c realms.

• C haroite – mi nd f uln es s, remove s neg ativit y, h elp s s up p o r t lea r n i n g.

• Flu or ite – focus, m ed i t at i o n, p s ychic pro tec t i o n .

• Labrad or ite p ower o f water, e motions, b ui ld s co n f i d en ce.

• Lapis L azu li – cha k ra b a la n ci ng, deep intros p ec t i o n, p s ychi c p rotec tion.

• S pir it Q uar tz – b r i ng s ha r mo ny

an d p e ace, u n i ve r sal l ove.

• B l u e S ap p h i re – t r u e i nte ntions, Th i rd Eye Ch ak ra, p syc h i c aware n e ss.

• S o d al i te – ast ro l o g y, i nt u i t i on, h i g h e r e d u c at i o n , sp e ak i n g.

• S u gi l i te – p e r fe c t sp i r i t u al l ove, p ro te c t s ag ai n st h ar sh re al i ties a nd p re j u d i ce.

• To p az – Th e Wr i te r ’s Sto n e, c l ea r ex p re ssi o n , co n n e c t i o n to the m u se s.

• I n d i g o Fl owe r s Li st J u st as w i t h t h e c r yst al s, b e c ause t h e co l o r I n d i g o i s b e t we e n B lue an d Vi o l e t o n t h e co l o r w h e e l, we’ve i n c l u d e d al l B l u e an d Pu r p l e f l ower s fo r t h e I n d i g o f l owe r s l i st.

• Ag ap ant h u s – k n ow n as ‘ Li l y of the N i l e’, m agi c al an d e te r n al l ove.

• Co r n f l owe r s – te n d e r n e ss, re l i ab i l i t y, f i d e l i t y.

• Pu r p l e Cro c u s – re b i r t h , r i sing ag ai n f ro m t h e ash e s.

• H yd ran g e a ap o l o g y, grat i t u de.

• B l u e I r i s I r i s ( R ai n b ow G o d dess), l i n k b e t we e n h e ave n an d e ar th.

• Pu r p l e I r i s – fe m i n i n e d i v i n e, wo m e n’s i nt u i t i o n , royal t y.

• Lave n d e r – c al m , d i gn i t y, se renit y.

• Li l ac – f i r st l ove, i n n o ce n ce, i n i t i at i o n .

• Pu r p l e Li l y – royal t y, f l e u r de l is, grace.

• Pu r p l e Lo t u s – myst i c i sm , Buddha , f ai t h .

• Pe r i w i n k l e re ac h i n g f u l l p o tentia l, d re am s co m e t r u e.

22

Power Items Color-Indigo Continued

find that you’re blue. As blue as indigo.

And you know what that means, Indigo.

Indigoing. Indigone.”

• Forget-M e -N o t rememb ra nce, t r u e l ove.

• M or ning Glo r y, love n ever en d i n g, resur rec tion .

• Sweet Pea th a n ks, b li s s, d eli cate l ove.

• Pu r ple S alv i a – p s ychi c co n nec t i o n , wisd om, lon g li fe.

• Violet bloom wh ere yo u’re p la nte d, sur viving an d t h r i v i n g a g a i ns t t h e od d s.

• Afr ican Violet – d evo t i o n, si ncer it y, pro tec t i o n .

David Levithan, The Realm of Possibility

“I have no idea how he knows when I need him. We can go weeks without speaking, and then, when my blue moods threaten to turn black, he will show up and tell me my moods are azure indigo cerulean cobalt periwinkle and suddenly the blue will not seem so dark, more like the color of a noon-bright sky.

He brings the sun.”

Quotes About the Color Indigo

“Year after year I wait for indigo, but even when the fashion is navy, you never get indigo the glow, the long slow glow of indigo in the high night sky.”

George R. R. Martin

Vadim Babenko, Semmant

“Fantasy is silver and scarlet, indigo and azure, obsidian veined with gold and lapis lazuli.”

“Once again I realized: the aura of Indigo does not save and does not protect. It can become a magic carpet, turn into sevenleague boots or a heavy cross but it’s not a guardian angel to deflect troubles with its thin hand.”

Tom Robbins

“At birth we are red-faced, round, intense, pure. The crimson fire of universal consciousness burns in us. Gradually, however, we are devoured by our parents, gulped by schools, chewed up by peers, swallowed by social institutions, wolfed by bad habits, and gnawed by age; and by that time we have been digested, cow style, in those six stomachs, we emerge a single disgusting shade of brown. The lesson of the beet, then, is this: hold on to your divine blush, your innate rosy magic, or end up brown. Once you’re brown, you’ll

Building Beautiful Souls

“My intuition is my partner in creating my world. I access my deep wisdom with clarity and joy. I perceive the world in positive and imaginative ways. I see my future, and it is good.”

Third Eye Chakra Mantra

https://w w w.buildingbeautifulsouls.com/symbolsmeanings/color-psychology-symbolism-meanings/ what- does-the - color-indigo -mean/

23

Power Items Tree-Birch B i rc h i s a n at u ral d i u re t i c, an d som e p e o p l e d r i n k B i rc h te a to c l e an se an d d e tox i f y t h e u r i n ar y system . I t is al so u se d ex te r n al l y as a sk i n tonic an d re m e d y fo r so re m u sc l e s. Birc h ex t rac t h as a f re sh , w i nte rgre en aro m a an d was o n ce a p o p u l ar f l avo r i n g fo r c h e w i n g g u m an d sof t d r i n k s. B i rc h sap i s a re l i ab l e winter fo o d so u rce fo r n at i ve p e o p l e s of S i b e r i a an d N o r t h Am e r i c a.

Ca l l ed the “ Whi te L a d y o f t he Wood s,” Birch i s a t ree o f great stre n g th and bea ut y. As o n e o f t h e f ir st plants to s p ro ut new leaves in t h e s pr ing, B i rch h a s lo n g b een a ssociated wit h ren ewa l.

B irc h is ex tremely i mp o r t a nt i n Ce l tic, Eu ropea n , a n d N at i ve Ame r ican folk lo re. B i rch i s li n ked to t he Norse ru ne B er k a na a n d a lso to B eith, the fi rs t let ter o f t h e O gham alphab et The Birch is a med i um-s i zed, stra ight- graine d t ree t hat tend s to grow in group s o r “s t a n d s.” I t i s sl e nder, gracef ul, a nd h a rd y. B i rch tre e s are fou nd a ll over t he N o r t h e r n H e misphere, t h r i v i n g i n a ll b ut t h e col des t areas of t h e N o r t h. M o s t p e o ple recogn i ze B i rch by i t s w hite paper y ba r k m a r ked wi t h gre y o r b rown.

B i rc h wo o d i s h ard an d sm o o t h w ith a f i n e ye l l ow-w h i te co l o r. Yo u c a n o b t ai n B i rc h wo o d i n m any d i fferent fo r m s, f ro m f re sh l y g at h e re d t w igs to f i re wo o d to f i n e f u r n i t u re ve n eer s.

B i rc h i s p r i ze d as f i re wo o d b e ca use i t b u r n s w i t h o u t p o p p i n g, e ven w hen h ar ve ste d f re sh . B ar k an d wo od p i e ce s are avai l ab l e f ro m n at ura l h e al t h su p p l i e r s.

B i rc h “p ap e r ” ( o r st r i p s o f t h e d r i e d b ar k ) i s val u ab l e fo r sp e l l c raf t— b u t b e c are f u l w h e n b u y i n g i t b e c au se c raf t sto re s so m e t i m e s c ar r y i m i t at i o n s. B irc h e sse nt i al o i l i s al so avai l ab l e, a nd i s u su al l y ste am - d i st i l l e d f ro m the p u l ve r i ze d b ar k .

Sy nt h e t i c B i rc h f ragran ce s rarel y g e t i t r i g ht. M o st sm e l l l i k e m i nt y m o u t hwash , san d al wo o d, o r t ar, m i ssi n g t h e co m p l ex i t y o f B i rc h’s sp i c y, wo o d y b o u qu e t.

Magickal Uses of Birch

E ar l y p e o p l e s wo u l d h ave b e e n 24

Power Items Tree-Birch Continued a ma zed to s ee B i rch groves s p ro u t i n g in b ar ren Nor ther n la nd s, gro un d onl y recently o ccup i ed by g la ci er s.

Wh e re B i rc h i s t h e g u ard i an , the wan d e re r i s sai d to b e safe f rom m ad n e ss an d Fae r y t r i c k s.

B irc h trees are co n s i d ered p i o nee r sp e cies, rapid ly co lo n i z i n g la nd t h at ha s been level ed by f i re o r clea rc ut ting. They sp ro ut f res h green l e aves in ear ly S p r i ng, j us t a s t he f ir st thaw begi n s. H ence, B i rch’s a ge - old as s oci at i o n wi t h fer t i li t y an d ne w beginnings.

B i rc h h as b e e n var i o u sl y l i n k e d to t h e N o r se g o d d e sse s Fr i g g, Freya , Id u n n a, an d H e l. I t i s al so su re l y re l ate d to t h e w h i te m ai d e n s ( Fae r i e s?) t h at h au nt t h e fo re s ts o f G e r m an i c fo l k l o re. B u t t h e Birc h sp i r i t i s a l arg e r, o l d e r b e i n g tha n e ve n t h e se gre at Lad i e s. N o r does B i rc h e asi l y f i t i nto any o n e o f the Wi cc an co n ce p t s o f t h e G o d d e ss.

I n m agick , Birc h i s a s s o ci ated wi t h ince ption, fer ti li t y, a n d s o m et i me s w ith pu r ificati o n . (B i rch h a s natural antisept i c p ro p er t i es. ) B irc h is trad iti o na lly us ed fo r t h e Witc h’s bes om , B elt a ne f i res a n d M ay poles, and Yule lo g s.

“Birch into the fire goes In sign of what the Lady knows,”

go e s the trad it i o n a l Wi cca n r hy me.

B irc h d oes well i n ro ug h, a ci d i c s oi l a nd cold climates — p la ces where l a rger d ecid u o us t rees ca n no t grow.

Al thou g h Birch a p p ea rs f ra gi le, i t i s ex t remely stro ng. The s p i r i t o f B i rc h of fe rs courage a n d p ro tec t i o n to t ho s e who would vent ure o ut s i d e o f t he safe and th e n o r m a l.

B i rc h h as t h e f re sh i n n o ce n ce of the M ai d e n , t h e g e n e ro si t y o f t h e M other, an d t h e si l e nt co u rag e o f t h e Crone.

I t h as a d e e p, l o n g re l at i o n sh ip w ith h u m an s as a p rov i d e r an d g u i de.

B i rc h b r i n g s an ab u n d an ce o f potent, p o si t i ve e n e rg y to m agi c k . I nvok e t h e B i rc h sp i r i t fo r an au sp i c i ous st ar t to n e w ve nt u re s. M e d i t ate on B i rc h fo r re si l i e n ce d u r i n g h ardship.

I n co r p o rate B i rc h i nto c h ar m s for l ove, p ro te c t i o n , an d w i sd o m .

A se cond ar y u s e o f B i rch i s fo r p ro tec tion, es p eci a lly p s ych i c p ro tec tion. Birch groves p rov i d e she l ter for the p s ych o a c t i ve Fly Aga r ic mus hro o ms, s o B i rch i s a l so a patron of s o r t s fo r ha l l ucinogenic j o ur neyers.

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Power Items Tree-Birch Continued S p ells a n d Fo r m u la s wit h Birc h

Wr i te w i sh e s o n B i rc h p ap e r an d bur n t h e m to m ak e t h e m co m e t r u e.

B i rc h h as l o n g b e e n h ai l e d as a p ro te c t i ve c h ar m ag ai n st b ad Fa er ies.

I n I re l an d, a c rad l e m ad e f ro m Birc h was sai d to p ro te c t t h e sl e e p i n g i n f ant f ro m b e i n g c ar r i e d o f f. Ca r r y a B i rc h c h ar m i n yo u r p o c k e t to wa rd o f f h exe s an d t r i c k s.

Correspondences of Birch

B irc h is a G od des s t ree wi t h li nks to t he love god des s Freya . Therefo re, most wr iters as s i gn i t to Venus. I t ’s a b e autiful tre e, to b e s ure — b ut it ’s neither fra gra nt no r s ens ua l in t h e trad ition o f Ven us p la nt s.

B irc h’s white co lo r (a n d i t s energ y of renewal and ch a n g e) co uld sup por t a Lu na r co r res p o n d ence.

This shor t-live d, f a s t- growi ng, a n d f l ex i ble tree beg s to b e a s s i gn ed to t he element of Ai r. S co t t Cun ni n g h am a nd s ome other s o urces g o wi t h Water, per haps t hi n k i n g o f t he t re e’s abu nd ant s a p o r i t s p l a n etar y attr i b ut i o n s.

B irc h cor respo nd s to t he co lo r w hite, the nu mb er 1, a n d t h e t i m e b e t ween Yu le a nd I mb o lc o n t h e Pa gan calend a r.

A b ro o m m ad e f ro m B i rc h t w i gs p u r i f i e s t h e h o m e o r r i t u al sp ace.

Swe e p t h e d u st o u t w i t h B i rc h at Yu l e t i d e, so t h at b l e ssi n g s c an fl ow i n fo r t h e n e w ye ar.

B i rc h ro d s are u se d i n Eu ro p e a n fol k m agi c k r i t u al s to d r i ve o u t e v i l sp i r i t s.

A B i rc h t re e, b o u g h , o r c ar v i n g n e ar t h e f ro nt d o o r w i l l p re ve nt il l w i sh e r s f ro m e nte r i n g t h e h o me.

B u r n p i e ce s o f B i rc h b ar k as a p u r i f y i n g i n ce n se. E sse nt i al o i l a nd i n f u si o n s o f B i rc h m ay b e ad d e d to c l e an si n g f l o o r wash e s.

A B i rc h l o g b u r n e d at Yu l e w i l l br ing l u c k an d p ro sp e r i t y fo r t h e ar r iva l of S p r i n g. ( I f t h at ’s n o t p rac t i c al, ap ar t m e nt- d we l l i n g Wi tc h e s, u se a w h i te c an d l e w rap p e d i n B i rc h p ap e r o r sce nte d w i t h B i rc h ) .

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Power Items Tree-Birch Continued A magick wand ma d e f ro m B i rch is ideal for protec t i ve ma gi ck a n d inspiration.

Precautions

B irc h is genera lly s a fe fo r ex ter n al r itual u s e, and fo r fo o d us e i n mod erate qu ant i t i es. Th e fo llowi n g p re c autions app ly to co ncent rate d for m s of Birch: B irc h ess ential o i l i s a p o s s i b le sk in ir r itant and s ho uld b e d i luted p ro per ly. Neve r co ns um e es s ent i al oil s inter nally. Us e ca ut i o n i f p re gnant or nu rs i n g.

B irc h contains met hy l s a li c y late, th e sa m e ac tive in gred i ent i n a s p i r i n.

I t shou ld not be us ed wi t h b lo o d t hinn ing med i cat i o n s, by t h e eld e r l y, or by people wi t h b leed i ng d i s o rde r s.

Scent Profile:

Wintergreen, R o o t B eer, Wo o d y, S mok y

Correspondences:

Ve nus /M oon, Ai r/Water

Occult properties of herbs are provided for historical interest only, and no outcome is guaranteed. Please use herbs responsibly. https://w w w.groveandgrotto.com/blogs/ar ticles/ magick al-proper ties- of-birch

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Power Items Bird-Blue Jay co n n e c te d to h ow a b l u e j ay l ook s.

B l u e j ays are rat h e r si m p l e to re co gn i ze d u e to t h e i r sp e c i al l ook an d b e h av i o r. I t ’s rat h e r l arg e w ith a c re st co l o r t h at c an ran g e f ro m bl ue to w h i te an d b l ac k . Th e y al so tend to b e m o re n o sy an d l o u d e r t h an m ost b i rd s. Th e b i rd i s u su al l y d e sc r ibed as c u r i o u s, t r u st wo r t hy, t al k ative, an d re so u rce f u l.

What do blue jays symbolize?

B l ue jays are m o re t h a n a s p i r i t ual a nimal totem o r a m ea n i n g f ul s y m b o l of b eau t y com mo n ly fo un d i n n at u re.

The blue jay is a p o p ula r b i rd n at i ve to e aster n Nor t h Am er i ca , k n own fo r it s l ou d song an d v i b ra nt b lue co l o r w hich is the sa m e co lo r a s t h e t h ro at c ha k ra — the ch a k ra o f t rut h .

Blue Jay Symbolism and Meanings

B l ue jays are co m m o nly s een a s a sp i r itual anim a l rep res ent i ng f a it h fulnes s, s o li d a r i t y, co ura g e, a nd protec tion. O t hers s ee t hem a s symbols of i ntelli g en ce, co mmunication, a n d cur i o s i t y. The n t he re are thos e who b eli eve t h e b l ue jay symbo li zes no i s e, m i mi cr y, mischief, and ch a n g ea b i li t y. The inte r pretation cha n g es d ep end i n g o n w ho you ask .

Blue Jay Spiritual Meaning

Th e se b i rd s are a sy m b o l o f co n f i d e n ce, c l ar i t y, v i b ran c y, an d i nte l l e c t. I f yo u se e a b l u e jay, t h e m o st co m m o n i nte r p re t at ion of i t s v i si t m e an s yo u are a l oyal a nd t r u st wo r t hy p e r so n . Yo u m ay n o t i ce t h e m m o re o f te n i n t i mes o f se l f - d o u b t.

Th e b l u e j ay ’s se n se o f c re at i v it y i s al so o n e o f t h e m o re co m m on b e l i e fs. Th e y are so n g b i rd s t h at l ove to si n g i n t h e i r sp are t i m e. Th e y e n c h ant e ve r yo n e aro u n d t h e m w ith t h e i r sp e c i al so u n d s. Th i s h e l ps u s u n d e r st an d t h e i m p o r t an ce of ex p re ssi n g o u r i n n e r se n se o f c re at i v i t y. We h ave a te n d e n c y to t r y to f i t i n o u r e nv i ro n m e nt i nstea d o f t r y i n g to st an d o u t. I f a b l u e jay c ro sse s yo u r p at h i t co u l d b e a sign to st ar t ex p re ssi n g yo u r se l f m ore f re e l y. Th e re are asp e c t s o f o u r p e r so n al i t i e s t h at are u n i qu e. Using o u r c re at i v i t y to sh are t h at w i th e ve r yo n e c an p o si t i ve l y i m p ac t our e nv i ro n m e nt an d al so o u r se l ve s.

M uc h of the sp i r i t ua l mea ni n g i s 28

Power Items Bird-Blue Jay Continued

What does it mean if you see a blue jay?

What ’s really s p eci a l a b o ut t he b l u e j ay is its natura l b eh av i o rs a nd wh at t hat represents fo r us.

Blue jays signify determination.

B l ue jays are a ls o k n own fo r t h ei r stro ng sens e o f d eter mi nat i o n a nd high level of intelli g en ce. They wor k d ilig ently d ay a nd n i g ht to a c hieve their da i ly g o a ls. B eca us e of a ll the wor k , b i rd s ca n o f ten b e come exhau s ted. D es p i te t h i s, t he ir ins tinc ts tell t hem to t a ke t i m e to rest and keep g o i n g. Thi s at t i t u d e c a n teach us the i m p o r t a n ce o f p e r s everance a n d n ever gi v i ng up on our g oals. D eter m i n at i o n i s t he ke y to achievin g o ur d rea ms i n t h e l o ng run.

Blue jays symbolize assertiveness.

The blue jay p ers o n a li t y i s n at ura l l y a ggress ive towa rd a ni ma ls t hat t hre aten them . They d o t hi s to p ro tec t their of fs p r i n g a nd en s ure t he ir s ur vival. Th e b i rd tea ches us t hat sometimes t h at wh en t h e s t ak e s a re h igh, we need to k now h ow to p ut our foot down . I n a n a ni ma li s t i c way, this is u s ua lly a g gres s i ve, b u t in our contex t, i t i s s een a s b ei n g a sse r tive. B eing a s s er t i ve d o es n’t me a n that you need to b e i mp o li te o r il l -mannered, b ut m i n d f ul t hat you have ju s t as m uch o f a r i g ht to b e o n e a r t h no d ifferent f ro m a nyo n e el se a nd you’re not a f ra i d to s t a n d up fo r yo urs elf.

Blue jays symbolize spiritual growth.

An o t h e r co m m o n sp i r i t u al i nte r p re t at i o n fo r B l u e j ays i s sp i r i t u al grow t h . S p i r i t u al grow th i s w h e n so m e o n e h as grad u ated f ro m m any d i f fe re nt l e ve l s o f sp i r i t u al i t y an d o n t h e i r way to rea c h se l f - ac t u al i zat i o n .

B l u e j ays te ac h u s t h e i m p o r t ance o f g e n e ral grow t h . Th e b i rd g oes f ro m d i f fe re nt st ag e s w i t h i n i ts l i fe t i m e an d ac h i e ve s m any g oa l s al o n g t h e way. B l u e j ays are n atura l r i sk- t ak e r s b e c au se t h e y are c ur ious an d l i k e to d i scove r n e w t h i n gs.

Co l l e c t i n g i n fo r m at i o n ab o u t their su r ro u n d i n g s h e l p s t h e m m ak e b e t te r d e c i si o n s fo r t h e m se l ve s a nd t h e i r o f fsp r i n g.

Th e y al so m aste r t h e i d e a o f tim ing t h e i r ac t i v i t i e s ( ex , m at i n g, sl e e p i n g, l o o k i n g fo r fo o d, e tc.).

Th i s c an te ac h u s t h e i m p o r t an ce of grow t h i n a sp i r i t u al se n se b e c a use e ve r y t h i n g we d o i n l i fe t ak e s tim e an d j u st a l i t t l e f ai t h .

Blue jays symbolize confidence.

B l u e j ays are al so k n ow n fo r sy m b o l i zi n g co n f i d e n ce. B l u e jays a re ve r y co n f i d e nt i n n at u re b e c au se they h ave to t ak e r i sk s i n o rd e r to e nsure t h e i r su r v i val. Co n f i d e n ce co m es f ro m b e l i e v i n g t h at yo u are c a pa bl e o f any t h i n g yo u se t yo u r m i n d to.

Wh e n yo u e nte r a si t u at i o n b el ieving t h at yo u d o n’t h ave w h at i t t ak es 29

Power Items Bird-Blue Jay Continued to succeed, yo u a re s et t i n g yo urs e l f up to fail. There a re t i m es i n li fe w he re you are g o i n g to f a i l, a n d i t ’s imp or tant not to i nter na li ze i t a n d que stion you r a b i li t i es. S ucces s i s a state of mind, s o t r y a p p ly i n g t h e b l ue jay ’s conf i d ent at t i t ud e to you r nex t challeng e. Yo u’ ll b e s ur p r i s e d by t he outcome!

B l u e j ays re q u i re h o n e st y an d a ny d e ce p t i o n o r d i sh o n e st y wo u l d l ea d to a wo r se si t u at i o n fo r u s i n rea l it y.

H owe ve r, i f yo u h ave a d re am of bl ue j ays i n a f l o c k , i t m ay m e an t h at you h ave t i e d yo u r b e l i e fs an d val ues to t h o se o f yo u r p e e r s. I t co u l d b e se n d i n g yo u a m e ssag e to pay at te nt i o n to yo u r ow n val u e s.

Blue Jay Encounters as Omens

Blue Jay Meaning as a Spirit or Totem Animal

This can teach us t he i m p o r t a n ce o f wor k ing along wi t h o t h ers to rea c h a co mmon g oal. No t hi n g great can e ve r be achieved by o ne p ers o n. I t t a ke s many d ifferent ef fo r t s to b u i l d so mething gre at t h at ever yo n e can e nj oy. Blue jays have s t ro ng f a m i l y b ond s so encounters wi t h o n e may b e e it her an encoura gi n g s i gn to lo ok into your own f a m i ly s i t uat i o n a nd he l p however yo u ca n o r to b e on aler t to t ho s e yo u d o n’t s ee a s tr u s t wor thy.

Th o se b o r n w i t h a b l u e j ay to tem are sai d to b e c h ar m i n g l y c u r i ous ab o u t any t h i n g t h at ’s b r i g ht, s hiny, o r g l i t te r y. Th i s an i m al to te m is a n e ve r-v i gi l ant i nve st i g ato r. B l u e jay p e o p l e l i k e to d ab b l e i n a l o t of t h i n g s, an d t h e y g at h e r t i d b i t s of i n fo r m at i o n as t h e y g o.

B l ue jays show t hat t h ey und ers t a n d t he i mpor tance o f co m m un i t y i n th e i r b e havior patter n. They g et cer t a i n b e nefits from memb ers o f t hei r co mmunit y so t h ey mus t a ls o b e a b e nefit to the co m m un i t y a s well.

Adult bird s wor k to g et h er i n o rd e r to complete tas ks t hat h elp t h e w ho le flock .

Blue Jay Meaning in Dreams

Dre aming of a b lue j ay m ea n s d o u b l e c l a r i t y and high er t h i n k i n g. H av i n g a b l ue jay in yo ur d rea ms ca n a ls o signify ac tion towa rd s a t rut h .

B l u e j ay sp i r i t g u i d e s are g o o d at c re at i n g l o n g - l ast i n g b o n d s w ith o t h e r p e o p l e. Pe o p l e w h o h ave a b l u e j ay sp i r i t an i m al re so n ate w i t h l oyal t y, st re n g t h , so l i d ar it y, an d p at i e n ce I f t h e b l u e j ay i s your sp i r i t an i m al yo u m ay al so p refer vo c al i zat i o n s to ex p re ss yo u r s el ves rat h e r t h an ac t i o n s.

Blue Jay Spiritual Meaning in Christianity As o p p o se d to t h e N at i ve Am e r ic a n b e l i e f, t h e B i b l e h as a g o o d p e r sp e c t i ve o n b l u e j ays. I n t h e B i b l e, se e i n g a b l u e j ay m e ant to co m m u n i c ate we l l, to p e r si st, a nd to p l an fo r t h e f u t u re Th e y al so sy m b o l i ze p ro te c t i o n an d fe ar l e ssn e ss.

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Power Items Bird-Blue Jay Continued

Blue Jay Symbolism in Mythology and Folklore

I n m any myths, t h e b lue j ays were co nsid ered to b e g o s s i p s, b ulli es, a nd s ecretive t h i eves. Th ey were de scr ibed as n o i s y, a r ro g a nt, p r idefu l, and s elf i s h b i rd s.

Blue Jay Native American Symbolism

Native Amer ica n s b eli eved t hat b l ue jays were related to R aven s, so t hey s aw blue j ays a s t r i cks ter f igures. Tr ibes a ls o b eli eved t hat t he bird, s o bea ut i f ully co lo red, was not tru s t wor thy. N o t o n ly were t h e y t r ic ksters bu t b lue j ays a ls o rep re se nt go ssips and were lo o ked up o n a s noisy, ar rog ant, p r i d ef ul, a n d se l f is h bird s. Si n ce t h e b i rd s were b e l ieved to lie a nd cheat, E ld ers b e l ieved that i f o ne wa s s p o t ted ne a r you r home i t wa s a wa r n i n g t hat somebod y wa s p la nni n g a g a i n st yo u. I n Native Am er i ca n cult ure, i f yo u see a blue j ay i t m ea n s a j ea lou s p e r s on is prayi ng a g a i ns t yo u.

Blue Jay Celtic Symbolism

The blue jay isn’t p ro m i n ent i n Ce l tic Cu ltu re s i nce t h e b i rd i s n’t native to their la nd s. H owever, t h e Ce l tic cu ltu re b eli eved t hat b lue jays c a r r i ed mes s ag es b et ween d i m ensi o n s a dding a myst i ca l elem ent to t he a nimal. B eing m es s a g e ca r r i es t h e b irds had to be s wi f t a nd s tea lt hy to de l iver them un d etec ted.

Blue Jay Tattoo Meaning

A b l ue jay tatto o m ea n i n g i s a ssociated wit h t h e b lue co lo r o f

t h e i r fe at h e r s w h i c h re p re se nts c l ar i t y o f t h o u g ht. Th e b l u e j ay t at to o m ay re p re se nt so m e o n e w ho is p u re o f h e ar t, so u l, an d m i n d. Bl ue j ays h e l p u s u n d e r st an d t h at u sing o u r gi f t s to p o si t i ve l y i m p ac t those aro u n d u s i s a way o f gi v i n g ba c k to n at u re an d so c i e t y. I n o rd e r to tr ul y b e h ap py, we h ave to f i g u re o ut how we c an b e a b l e ssi n g to t h e wor l d i n ste ad o f t h e o t h e r way aro u n d.

N at u re te ac h e s u s h ow to d o this by i n sp i r i n g u s to f i n d w h at we a re p assi o n ate ab o u t an d h ow we c a n use i t to m ak e t h e wo r l d a b e t te r pl a ce t h an t h e d ay b e fo re. Tat to o i n g a bl ue j ay o n o n e se l f i s a co n st ant re m inder fo r u s to d o o u r p ar t i n t h e wor l d.

What it means when you see blue jays and oak trees together.

B l u e j ays ad o re m ak i n g t h e i r nests in o ak t re e s. Th i s i s t h e i r h o m e, their co m fo r t, an d w h e re t h e y re p roduce.

Th e re fo re, i f yo u se e a b l u e j ay a nd an o ak t re e n e ar by, i t sy m b o l i zes fe r t i l i t y an d e ve r l ast i n g l i fe. This is gre at si n ce t h e se b i rd s m ate for l ife.

What it means when you see a blue jay and a cardinal.

B l u e j ays an d c ard i n al s d o n’t fl y aro u n d to g e t h e r. Th e y i n f ac t a re sp i r i t u al o p p o si te s. I f yo u se e them to g e t h e r i n a d re am o r i n re al it y so m e t h i n g i s o f f i n yo u r wo r l d.

I t co u l d b e i n yo u r f r i e n d sh i p s, ro m ant i c p ar t n e r, wo r k , o r se l f.

https://w w w.your tango.com/2020334004/spir itualmeaning-blue -jay

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Magical Poetry Shared by High Priestess, R avensThorn

Lilian Alfred Lord Tennyson

Airy, Fairy Lilian, Flitting, fairy Lilian, When I ask her if she love me, Claps her tiny hands above me, Laughing all she can; She ‘ll not tell me if she love me, Cruel little Lilian.

When my passion seeks Pleasance in love-sighs, She, looking thro’ and thro’ me Thoroughly to undo me, Smiling, never speaks: So innocent-arch, so cunning-simple, From beneath her gathered wimple Glancing with black-bearded eyes, Till the lightning laughters dimple The baby-roses in her cheeks; Then away she flies.

Prythee weep, May Lilian!

Gaiety without eclipse Whearieth me, May Lilian; Thro’ my every heart it thrilleth When from crimson-threaded lips Silver-treble laughter trilleth: Prythee weep, May Lilian!

Praying all I can, If prayers will not hush thee, Airy Lilian, Like a rose-leaf I will crush thee, Fairy Lilian.

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Magical Poetry Shared by High Priestess, Lady Gloriana

Pan with Us Rober t Frost

Pan came out of the woods one day, His skin and his hair and his eyes were gray, The gray of the moss of walls were they, And stood in the sun and looked his fill At wooded valley and wooded hill.

He stood in the zephyr, pipes in hand, On a height of naked pasture land; In all the country he did command He saw no smoke and he saw no roof.

That was well! And he stamped a hoof.

He heart knew peace, for none came here To this lean feeding save once a year Someone to salt the half-wild steer, Or homespun children with clicking pails Who see so little they tell no tales.

He tossed his pipes, too hard to teach A new-world song, far out of reach, For a sylvan sign that the blue jay’s screech And the whimper of hawks beside the sun Were music enough for him, for one.

Times were changed from what they were: Such pipes kept less of power to stir The fruited bough of the juniper And the fragile bluets clustered there Than the merest aimless breath of air.

They were pipes of pagan mirth, And the world had found new terms of worth.

He laid him down on the sun-burned earth And ravelled a flower and looked away Play? Play? What should he play?

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Magical Poetry The Garden Wall

Shared by Brittanica

by Denise Levertov

Bricks of the wall, so much older than the house taken I think from a farm pulled down when the street was built narrow bricks of another century.

Modestly, though laid with panels and parapets, a wall behind the flowers roses and hollyhocks, the silver pods of lupine, sweet-tasting phlox, gray lavender unnoticed but I discovered the colors in the wall that woke when spray from the hose played on its pocks and warts a hazy red, a grain gold, a mauve of small shadows, sprung from the quiet dry brown archetype of the world always a step beyond the world, that can’t be looked for, only as the eye wanders, found.

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Magical Poetry Shared by High Priestess, R avensThorn

The Fairies William Allingham

Up the airy mountain, Down the rushy glen, We daren’t go a-hunting For fear of little men; Wee folk, good folk, Trooping all together; Green jacket, red cap, And white owl’s feather!

Down along the rocky shore Some make their home, They live on crispy pancakes Of yellow tide-foam; Some in the reeds Of the black mountain-lake, With frogs for their watchdogs, All night awake.

High on the hill-top The old King sits; He is now so old and grey He’s nigh lost his wits.

With a bridge of white mist Columbkill he crosses, On his stately journeys From Slieveleague to Rosses; Or going up with the music On cold starry nights, To sup with the Queen Of the gay Northern Lights.

They stole little Bridget For seven years long; When she came down again Her friends were all gone.

They took her lightly back, Between the night and morrow, They thought that she was fast asleep, But she was dead with sorrow.

They have kept her ever since Deep within the lake, On a bed of fig-leaves, Watching till she wake.

By the craggy hillside, Through the mosses bare, They have planted thorn trees For my pleasure, here and there.

Is any man so daring As dig them up in spite, He shall find their sharpest thorns In his bed at night.

Up the airy mountain, Down the rushy glen, We daren’t go a-hunting For fear of little men; Wee folk, good folk, Trooping all together; Green jacket, red cap, And white owl’s feather!

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Magical Poetry Shared by High Priestess, Lady Gloriana

“Snow”

By Loreena McKinnett

White are the far-off plains, and white The fading forests grow; The wind dies out along the height, And denser still the snow, A gathering weight on roof and tree, Falls down scarce audibly.

The road before me smooths and fills Apace, and all about The fences dwindle, and the hills Are blotted slowly out; The naked trees loom spectrally Into the dim white sky.

The meadows and far-sheeted streams Lie still without a sound; Like some soft minister of dreams The snow-fall hoods me round; In wood and water, earth and air, A silence everywhere.

Save when at lonely intervals Some farmer’s sleigh, urged on, With rustling runners and sharp bells, Swings by me and is gone; Or from the empty waste I hear A sound remote and clear; The barking of a dog, or call To cattle, sharply pealed, Borne echoing from some wayside stall Or barnyard far afield; Then all is silent and the snow falls Settling soft and slow The evening deepens and the grey Folds closer earth and sky The world seems shrouded, far away.

Its noises sleep, and I secret as Yon buried streams plod dumbly on and dream.

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Magical Poetry Shared by : Brittanica

“Death, To the Dead For Evermore” By: Robert Louis Stevenson

Death, to the dead for evermore A King, a God, the last, the best of friends Whene’er this mortal journey ends Death, like a host, comes smiling to the door; Smiling, he greets us, on that tranquil shore Where neither piping bird nor peeping dawn Disturbs the eternal sleep, But in the stillness far withdrawn Our dreamless rest for evermore we keep.

For as from open windows forth we peep Upon the night-time star beset And with dews for ever wet; So from this garish life the spirit peers; And lo! as a sleeping city death outspread, Where breathe the sleepers evenly; and lo!

After the loud wars, triumphs, trumpets, tears And clamour of man’s passion, Death appears, And we must rise and go.

Soon are eyes tired with sunshine; soon the ears Weary of utterance, seeing all is said; Soon, racked by hopes and fears, The all-pondering, all-contriving head, Weary with all things, wearies of the years; And our sad spirits turn toward the dead; And the tired child, the body, longs for bed.

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Magical Poetry Shared by : High Priestess, Lady Gloriana

The Valley of Unrest

by Edgar Allan Poe

Once it smiled a silent dell Where the people did not dwell; They had gone unto the wars, Trusting to the mild-eyed stars, Nightly, from their azure towers, To keep watch above the flowers, In the midst of which all day The red sun-light lazily lay.

Now each visitor shall confess The sad valley’s restlessness.

Nothing there is motionless -Nothing save the airs that brood Over the magic solitude.

Ah, by no wind are stirred those trees That palpitate like the chill seas Around the misty Hebrides!

Ah, by no wind those clouds are driven That rustle through the unquiet Heaven Uneasily, from morn till even, Over the violets there that lie In myriad types of the human eye -Over the lilies there that wave And weep above a nameless grave!

They wave: -- from out their fragrant tops Eternal dews come down in drops.

They weep: -- from off their delicate stems Perennial tears descend in gems.

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Magical Poetry Shared By : High Priestess, R avensThorn

The Witch Mary Elizabeth Coleridge

I have walked a great while over the snow, And I am not tall nor strong.

My clothes are wet, and my teeth are set, And the way was hard and long.

I have wandered over the fruitful earth, But I never came here before.

Oh, lift me over the threshold, and let me in at the door!

The cutting wind is a cruel foe.

I dare not stand in the blast.

My hands are stone, and my voice a groan, And the worst of death is past.

I am but a little maiden still, My little white feet are sore.

Oh, lift me over the threshold, and let me in at the door!

Her voice was the voice that women have, Who plead for their heart’s desire.

She came—she came—and the quivering flame Sunk and died in the fire.

It never was lit again on my hearth Since I hurried across the floor, To lift her over the threshold, and let her in at the door.

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Magical Poetry Shared By : High Priestess, Lady Gloriana

The Rougarou author Dean Kuch

Deep in the bayou, past Boggy Bay, there dwells a beast where Cypress sway.

The Rougarou, it stalks its prey, by dark of night, not light of day.

With teeth like razors, made to tear, soft flesh from bone, beware its stare.

Rougarou take on many guises and it is man this beast despises.

With tapered talons made for ripping, rancid gums, saliva dripping, its breath so foul, a toxic meth, cold lifeless eyes as blank as death.

Cool clammy flesh like putrid fish it makes of man a special dish; Ferris, spice bush skunk cabbage too the foulest smelling, fetid stew.

Sparse stringy hair adorns its head, should it latch on, you’re all but dead.

The widest grin you ever saw, once Rougarou opens wide its maw.

It gulps man meat, but hardly chews, then saves the innards for its stews.

Its belly plump as ripened pumpkins, it loves to dine on bayou bumpkins.

Avoid the bayou bogs by night, should you get lost, stay out of sight.

Come dark, they stalk their hapless prey-go on, get out first light of day.

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Magical Poetry Shared By : High Priestess, R avensThorn

Do You Know Where Fairies Live?

Anne Pollock

Do you know where fairies live?

To see just one, I’d gladly give The moon and stars and galaxies That sail above the summer breeze.

Kindly sir, pray do tell, Do you know where fairies dwell?

Little friend, you look too far.

Can’t you see they’re where you are?

Tending flowers like busy bees, Standing smaller than your knees?

You must see them just like I When you bid your doubts goodbye.

Gentle sir, when I was small, I climbed above your garden wall; And there to my surprise and joy, Stood a little winged boy.

He winked at me and flew away Into the myth of yesterday.

But you were just a child then Before you ripened into ten; And as you grew up, you were taught What is real and what is not.

But trust your heart; you can unlearn.

Believe in fairies and they’ll return!

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Magical Poetry Shared By : High Priestess, Lady Gloriana

The Road Not Taken

by Robert Frost Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and II took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

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Magical Poetry Shared by Brittanica

The Angel

by Mikhail Lermontov

The angel was flying through sky in midnight, And softly he sang in his flight; And clouds, and stars, and the moon in a throng Hearkened to that holy song.

He sang of the garden of God’s paradise, Of innocent ghosts in its shade; He sang of the God, and his vivacious praise Was glories and unfeigned.

The juvenile soul he carried in arms For worlds of distress and alarms; The tune of his charming and heavenly song Was left in the soul for long.

It roamed on earth many long nights and days, Filled with a wonderful thirst, And earth’s boring songs could not ever replace The sounds of heaven it lost.

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Magical Poetry Shared By : High Priestess, R avensThorn

The Magic Box Curtis Meadowcroft

I will put in my box The blazing fire from a Chinese dragon, The first sound of a baby’s laugh, The sight of glitter from a fairy I will put in my box A wolf howling in the middle of the night, A dolphin in the Mediterranean sea, Red lava falling from the sky I will put in my box Three red wishes spoken in Japanese, The best joke ever told by my grandma, And the first smile of my baby sister I will put in my box Green snow and a maroon moon, A pencil that doesn’t write, And a gorilla that can talk My box is made from ice, gold and onyx with jade on the lid and secrets in the corners it’s hinges are rubies I will skate on my box on the yellow see across the Atlantic ocean then slide on the gold beach of Majorca the color of the sun set

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Magical Poetry Shared By : High Priestess, Lady Gloriana

Woods in Winter

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow When winter winds are piercing chill, And through the hawthorn blows the gale, With solemn feet I tread the hill, That overbrows the lonely vale.

O’er the bare upland, and away Through the long reach of desert woods, The embracing sunbeams chastely play, And gladden these deep solitudes.

Where, twisted round the barren oak, The summer vine in beauty clung, And summer winds the stillness broke, The crystal icicle is hung.

Where, from their frozen urns, mute springs Pour out the river’s gradual tide, Shrilly the skater’s iron rings, And voices fill the woodland side.

Alas! how changed from the fair scene, When birds sang out their mellow lay, And winds were soft, and woods were green, And the song ceased not with the day!

But still wild music is abroad, Pale, desert woods! within your crowd; And gathering winds, in hoarse accord, Amid the vocal reeds pipe loud.

Chill airs and wintry winds! my ear Has grown familiar with your song; I hear it in the opening year, I listen, and it cheers me long.

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Magical Poetry Shared By : Brittanica

Morpheus Aleksandr Pushkin

Oh, Morpheus, give me joy till morning For my forever painful love: Just blow out candles’ burning And let my dreams in blessing move.

Let from my soul disappear The separation’s sharp rebuke!

And let me see that dear look, And let me hear voice that dear.

And when will vanish dark of night And you will free my eyes at leaving, Oh, if my heart would have a right To lose its love till dark of evening!

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Recipes Homemade Brennivin The drink of Thorrablot The re c i p e for Bre nniv ín might have a reference in s o m e b o o t l e g liq u o r in I celand but the influence is No rdi c. B renniv ín is a t ype of aquavit or in Icelandic ák av í t i . D er ived from the Latin word aqua vitae. While S c a n di n avia n á k av íti is flavoured with a r ich selec tion o f h e r b s a nd spice s like dill, oranges, ber r ies, cumin, c ard a m o m , a nise a nd fennel the Icelandic one is solely f l avo u re d with ca raway seed.

Here’s the complicated list of ingredients:

750ml of any vodka (we used triple distilled) 1 tbs of caraway seeds

Method:

Co m b i n e t he ca raway seeds and vodk a in an air tight cont a i n e r a nd sto re for 3-4 days. I t should take on some col o u r f ro m the seed s. And once ready, strain the seeds f ro m t h e vod k a a nd e njoy.

How to serve

B re n n i v í n is u su a lly offered neat dur ing Þor rablót. D on’t wo r r y, we’ll g e t to Þo r ra b lót later. Talk ing about a shar k , it ’s us ua l l y se r ve d a long side it. I t ’s best ser ved ice cold, s tra i g ht f rom the fre ezer, in a shot glass. Another way of dr in k i n g i t is by mixing it with Coke. But that ’s a ter r ibl e way to r u i n a per fec tly bad Brennivin.

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Recipes Ingredients:

Hangikjot

2 -2 .5 k g ro l l of sm oke d l a m b o r s m o k e d th i g h o f l a m b (han gik j öt or ha ngi l æ r i ) 1 l apple c i d e r or a p p l e ju i ce 2 t bsp. app l e syr up

Directions:

Pu t th e sm oke d m e at, c id e r a n d s y ru p i n a l a rg e saucepan a nd f i l l i t w i t h wate r u nti l th e m e at i s su bmerged. You c a n a l so u s e ju s t wate r (th e ci d e r do es n ot cha nge t he t a s te o f th e m e at bu t th e broth will b e a b sol ute l y d e l i ci o u s th i s way ). B r i n g to a boil and l e t si m m e r o n l ow h e at fo r 4 0 m i n .

Take th e pa n of f t he stove a n d l e t i t s ta n d fo r 2 0 min . N ow t he m e at i s re a d y to s e r ve h o t o r co l d w i th c aramelise d or re gul a r p o tato e s, re d ca bb a g e, w h i te sauce an d gre e n p e a s a n d, i f p o s s i bl e, l e a f b re a d (l a ufabrau ð ) . The b e st d r i n k s to s e r ve w i th h a n gi k jö t are Ch r istm a s a l e or a b le n d o f m a l t ex tra c t a n d o ra n ge so da ( avail a b l e i n a l l I ce l a n d i c gro ce r y s to re s ) o r, if n eith er i s at t a i na b l e, a g o o d be e r.

Lef tover s ca n b e se r ve d co l d a n d th i n l y s l i ce d w i th bread or you c a n use t he a p p l e ci d e r bro th a n d m a k e a delic iou s soup. Use 1 l o f th e b ro th a n d h e at i n a saucepan a l ong w i t h 1 ch o p p e d fe n n e l a n d bo i l fo r 5 min . Add 1 c hop p e d a p p l e a n d 2 0 0 g o f th e s m o k e d meat, dice d, i nto t he sa u ce p a n a l o n g w i th 2 ta bl e s p o o ns o f ch opped cor i a nd e r. S e r ve w i th s l i ce d ba g u e tte.

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Recipes Rugbraud Nordic Rye Bread

Thi s d e n s e, m il d l y sweet, h ea r t y r ye b read is ub iquitous in it s nat ive Iceland, w h e re i t ’s trad it i o n al l y sl i ced ver y th i n a n d ser ved wit h smoked, c ured, or p ic k led foo ds.

That s ai d, i t ’s al so del i ci o u s w i th a s imp le smear of salted b ut ter. Since it ’s leave n e d w i t h b ak in g p owder a n d ba k i n g so da (not yeast ), it ’s sim p le to t hrow toget her : n o k n e ad in g, n o r i si n g, ju st mi x, ba ke, and enjoy.

Ingredients • • • • • • •

4 1/2 cups m ed i um r ye f lo ur 2 teaspoons s a lt 1 tables poon b a k i n g p owd er 3 / 4 teaspoon b a k i n g s o d a 2 cups bu tter m i lk 1 / 2 cu p hon ey 1 / 2 cu p mola s s es

Instructions

1. Pre h e at t h e oven to 3 2 5 ° F w ith a ra c k in th e center po s itio n .

2. We i gh yo u r f l o u r o r m ea su re it by gentl y s po o n in g into a c up, then s we e p i n g o f f a ny excess.

3. I n a large bow l, w hisk to g eth er th e fl o ur, s a l t, ba k in g powder, a nd bak i n g s o d a .

4. I n a s e p arate bow l, w hisk to geth er th e butter m il k , h o n ey, a n d molas s e s.

5. Po u r t h e wet ingred ient s into th e dr y in gredients, s tir r in g to comb i n e.

6. Tran s fe r t h e b atter to a l ig ht l y grea s ed 9” pa in de m ie (pul l m a n ) pa n an d s m o o t h the to p. L ig htl y grea s e th e l id, a n d pl a ce th e l id on th e p an .

7. Ba k e t h e brea d fo r 2 ho u r s. Tur n o ff th e oven a n d rem ove th e l id from t h e pa n. Leave the l o a f in th e tur n ed- o ff oven fo r a n o th er 1 5 m i n u te s, t h en rem ove f ro m t h e oven a n d tur n o ut o f th e pa n o nto a coo l i n g rac k .

8. Co ol co mpl etel y b efo re sl ic ing th in l y a n d s er v in g w ith butter o r your favor i te s avo r y to pping s. Pic k l ed h er r in g a n d s m o k ed s a l m o n a re trad i t i o n al, bu t c heese ( a ny t h in g fro m s a l t y a ged to s o f t m il d) ce r t ai n l y wo u l dn’t b e a m iss, eith er.

9. Sto re le f tover brea d t ig ht l y w ra pped at ro o m tem perature fo r s everal days. Fre e ze fo r l o ng er sto ra ge.

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Recipes Ingredients:

Icelandic harofiskur

• 5 -15 pieces o f who le f i s h s uch as co d, h ad d o c k , se awo l f o r l i n g ( al t h ough most non-fat t y f i s h wi ll d o) • A wood en m eat ma llet.

• A good vent i lated s p o t, li ke a c l i f f o n t h e sh o re o r an i so l ate d are a i n your gard en (your b a lco ny m i g ht d o t h e t r i c k i f yo u r n e i g h b o r s c an stand the sm ell).

• A few t wo -by-fo urs o r p i eces of wo o d to b u i l d a d r y i n g rac k . A wash l ine could wor k , b ut t h e f i s h mi g ht sl i p o f f.

• C hicken wire to b ui ld a s ma ll fe n ce aro u n d yo u r rac k ; n o t to k e e p t h e fish from es ca p i ng b ut rat h er to k e e p p re d ato r s su c h as se ag u l l s an d c ats from enter i n g.

• N ails, t wine, a ha mmer a n d s aw.

• Patience and g o o d weat her.

Directions:

1 . Star t by clea n i n g t h e f i s h i n col d wate r. R e m ove t h e i nte st i n e s an d c u t of t he head s. Fi llet t he f i s h b ut ke e p b o t h si d e s co n n e c te d by t h e t ai l. Th is way you end up wi t h t wo j o i ne d f i l l e t s.

2 . S et u p your d r y i ng ra ck . H a rð f i sk u r i s u su al l y d r i e d o n rac k s m ad e o f t wo t r ipod s with a b a r a cro s s. Two po l e s w i t h a wash l i n e c an wo r k j u st as wel l t hou g h. M o s t p ro p er d r y i n g ra c k s are b u i l t w i t h ro o fs to k e e p t h e rai n out.

I f you have cat s o r o t h er cr i t ter s i n yo u r n e i g h b o r h o o d yo u m i g ht want to b uild a fence a ro un d yo ur d r y i n g rac k .

3 . O nce your d r y i ng ra ck i s rea d y, f l i n g e ac h d o u b l e f i l l e t ac ro ss t h e b ar w ith a mple s pace b et ween t h em . M a k e su re t h e f i l l e t s d o n o t to u c h e ac h other.

Leave the fi s h to d r y a nd check o n t h e m e ve r y o t h e r d ay to m ak e su re the p rocess is go i n g well.

4 . Af ter a few weeks, d ep end i n g on yo u r c l i m ate, yo u r f i sh sh o u l d b e al l yellow and h a rd a n d lo o k ver y u n ap p e t i zi n g. Th i s i s g o o d.

5 . G ather all yo ur d r i ed f i s h a nd l ay t h e m o u t o n a wo r k b e n c h o r k i tc h e n t able. Nex t, g et a wo o d en meat m al l e t an d p o u n d t h e f i sh fo r a fe w minutes or unt i l i t i s whi te. I f a l l we nt acco rd i n g to p l an , t h e f i sh sh o ul d now be s of t a n d rea d y. Now, te ar o f a p i e ce, sm e ar i t w i t h so m e sal te d b utter and have a t a s te. .

Verði þér að góðu! (May it do you good!)

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Spells & Potions

‘Invoke Poseidon’ Say the following with devotion: Poseidon, god of the sea I pray to thee in earnest, to aid me in this spell casting, in this hour, your need is dreariest.

Almighty you are, yes indeed.

With powers of the ocean at your command, you are the master of the sea.

I pray the grace of your blessing, to aid me in this spell casting.

So mote it be!

Long live Poseidon, the god of the sea!

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Spells & Potions Winter Solstice Fairy Potion I ngredients • • • • • • •

O ne Cinnamo n St i ck 3 Cu ps All-Nat ura l Ap p le Jui ce Allspice 1 tbs p 1 cup All-Nat ura l O ra ng e Jui ce 1 teaspoon raw h o ney 1 / 2 cu p Bra n d y 1 tsp jasmin e

D i rec tion s for the Winter fair y p o t io n

Tie the loos e a lls p i ce, j a s m i n e, a n d c i n n am o n i nto a p i e ce o f c h e e se c l o t h or a coffee filter, a nd d ro p i n a la rg e sau ce p an al o n g w i t h al l t h e o t h e r ingred ients ( excep t fo r t h e b ra nd y ) .

B r ing to a boil a n d t h en red uce h e at to si m m e r. Cove r an d l e t ste e p o n sim mer for abo ut 15 mi nutes.

Ta ke ou t the s p i ce b a g, a nd s t i r i n t h e b ran d y. Ad d a te asp o o n o f h o n e y to e a c h cu p for sweet n es s.

Dr in k with you r coven i m m ed i atel y O R by yo u r se l f.

FYI M ak es enoug h fo r h a lf a d ozen w i tc h e s.

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Spells & Potions Irish spell to attract good fortune You will need a candle, some str ing, and a tr inket.

Light the candle and loop the str ing in through the tr inket and tie it. Then star t swinging the tr inket above the flame and chant:

“A candle flickers, this trinket I pass, good energy and fortune come to me, wealth, knowledge, influence, energy.

“By good means come to me, wealth, knowledge, influence, energy.

“This trinket I pass into power, to attract to me wealth, knowledge, influence, energy, come to me!”

R epeat this three times, then wear the “neck lace” around your neck . The more you do this, the more power ful.

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Spells & Potions

Slavic Spells

I f one wanted to at t ra c t a D o movo i w hich was cons i d ered to b e a household g od o f gi ven k i n, t wa s sa id that they s ho uld g o o ut s i d e th e i r home wear ing t hei r fes t i ve clo t h in g a nd s ay alou d

“Dedushka Dobrokhot, Please come into my house and tend the flocks.”

to spend a day nor pass an hour!

I t was b e l i e ve d t h at t h i s sp e l l w il l be t ran sm i t te d i n t h e fo r m o f a m essa ge by t h e t h re e b ro t h e r s w h o r u l e d the w i n d s ove r t h e o ce an : t h e N o r ther n, t h e E aste r n , an d t h e We ste r n Wa f ts.

I f o n e wante d to at t rac t h ap p i ness, t h e re was a r i t u al o f re c i t i n g over a f l am e :

“Dear Father, tsar fire, Be gentle and kind to me. Burn away all my aches & pains, tears & worries.”

I n c as e s omeo n e h a d to o ma ny D o movois and wa nted to g et r i d o f a r iva l D omovoi , t h ey n eed ed to b an g on t h e walls of t h ei r ho m e wi t h a b ro om s houting

“Grandfather Domovoi, help me chase away this intruder!”

Accord ing to R us s i a n fo lk lo re, i f o n e wa nted to gain m a gi ca l k nowled g e, t he y need ed to a d d res s t h e Fo res t Lo rd, Les hi. Th e p ers o n s ho uld cu t dow n an As pen t ree a n d h ave i t s to p f a l l d own to face t h e E a s t. Then t h e p e r s on should h ave s a i d :

“Leshi, Forest Lord, Come to me now; not as a grey wolf, not as a black raven, not as a flaming fir tree, but as a man.”

I n o rd er to attra c t love a nd g o o d ro mantic vibrat i o n s to ca p t ure t he b e l oved, the followi n g a d d res s i n g to t he ocean was cha nted :

O winds, bring on (lover’s name) sorrow and dreariness so that without me s/he may not be able

I nte re st i n g l y, t h e re was al so a spel l fo r re t r i e v i n g l o st an i m al s an d it i n c l u d e d t h re e l e t te r s, o n e l e tter f aste n e d to a t re e i n a fo re st, the se co n d o n e was b u r i e d i n t h e ea r th an d t h e t h i rd was t h row n w i t h a sto n e i nto wate r.

E ac h o f t h e l e t te r s was ac t u al l y a sc r i p t u re o n b i rc h b ar k an d i n it, the ad d re sse e wo u l d w r i te to t h e Forest Tsar an d t h e Fo re st Tsar i t sa as wel l as to t h e E ar t h an d Wate r Tsar a nd Tsar i t sa an d t h e n p ray to t h e great g o d Ve l e s an d Tsar i t sa Al ex an dra .

To c al l fo r rai n , S l avs wo u l d u su al l y h ave a v i rgi n gi r l w h o wa s st i l l to o yo u n g to co n ce i ve, d ress h e r i n f l owe r s, an d m ak e h e r s ing m agi c c h ant s to t h e g o d o f rain a nd t h u n d e r, Pe r u n w h i l e o t h e r wom en wo u l d st an d i n a c i rc l e an d t h row wate r at h e r.

54

Spells & Potions Irish beauty spell This spell makes yo u p ret t i er t ha n yo u t h i n k – j u st fo l l ow t h e i n st r u c t i o n s.

D ur ing a full m o o n, t a ke a m i r ro r an d g o o u t si d e ( i f yo u c an’t t h e n o p e n a w in d ow, make s ure t h e mo o n i s re f l e c te d o n t h e m i r ro r ) , t ak e a p ie ce of a pic t ure o f yo ur ha i r, li p s, e ye s, o r w h ate ve r yo u are i nte re ste d in c ha nging, and p la ce i t o n t h e mi r ro r. Wh i l e co n ce nt rat i n g o n i t, say,

“Moonshine, Starlight, let the wind carry your light, let your glow cover my body, and let your shine cover every eye.”

S ay it three tim es a n d co n cent rate o n t h e p ar t yo u want to c h an g e. Th e n say,

“Moonshine, Starlight, shape and mold my body, as a rose is granted beauty, let me blossom in your light, the light that brings me beauty, and grant me beauty three times three.”

S ay it three tim es a n d wh en yo u a re f i n i sh e d l i g ht a p i n k c an d l e o r i n ce n se.

55

Scrying Candles By : Brittanica I f yo u u se a c an d l e o r f i re to sc r y, it i s as si m p l e as i t so u n d s. O n ce you h ave l i t t h e f i re o r ap p ro p r i ate l y co l o re d c an d l e, p e r fo r m yo u r deep b re at h i n g an d ce nte r i n g.

Fo c u s o n t h e i nte nt b e h i n d your g azi n g an d al l ow t h e f l am e s f rom the f i re o r c an d l e to d raw yo u r at tention d e e p l y. Th e ro o m o r are a sh o u l d b e d ar k e n e d, i f yo u are i n d o o r s, or n i g ht t i m e i f yo u are o u td o o r s.

S c r ying is som e o f t h e mo s t inte resting magi ck a wi tch ca n lea r n to p rac tice. Th e m ed i um yo u us e sho uld be natura l to yo u. I f d rawn to a ir, leaves and gra s s b lowi n g i n a b reeze can revea l what yo u s eek .

I f f ire calls to yo u, us e a ca nd le o r t he flames ju mp i ng f ro m a f i re. For e a r t h, a rock c r ys t a l s p h ere o r m agi c k mir ror, ans wer s q ues t i o ns, j us t a s a c a ul dron or ch a rg ed m et a l b owl fi l l e d w ith water.

Le t you r mind rela x a ro un d t h e single qu estio n, hea r i t i n yo ur m i n d a s a whis per, feel i t a s a wei g ht i n yo ur bones. Th e a ns wer m ay co me in p ic tures viewed wi t h yo ur t h i rd e ye or as a voi ce i n yo ur mi nd. Le t yo urs elf relax a nd b e o p en to t he re sp onse you seek .

Wh e n o u td o o r s, m ak e ce r t ai n it is a st i l l n i g ht an d t h at yo u h ave t a k en al l n e ce ssar y p re c au t i o n s to k eep the f i re f ro m sp re ad i n g o r t h e c andl e f ro m f al l i n g an d i gn i t i n g o t h e r i te m s. Yo u d o n o t want to h ave to wo r r y ab o u t t h e f l am e s sp re ading to yo u o r t h e su r ro u n d i n g w h i l e you are g azi n g.

Al l ow yo u r se l f to se e t h e f l am es m ove m e nt s. Li ste n to t h e h i ss, siz z l e, an d c rac k l e o f t h e f l am e s w h e n using a f i re. Fi re m i g ht c h o o se to sp ea k t h o u g h i m ag e s o r t h ro u g h au dibl e m e an s as we l l.

As yo u fo c u s o n t h e q u e st i o n , l isten to t h e f l am e an d watc h as i t d a nces, i n o rd e r to h e ar an d se e t h e an swer s yo u se e k .

Wh e n u si n g a c an d l e o r f i re, you m i g ht al so o b se r ve t h e sm o k e a nd w i t h t h e f i re, af te r t h e f l am e s have

56

Scrying Candles Continued b ur ned ou t, yo u m ay t r y yo ur ha n d at sc r ying for ans wers i n t h e a s h es.

Whe n you prac t i ce s cr y i n g, i t i s be st to keep a reco rd o f yo ur a c t i v i t i es.

Use your gr im o i re o r p ers o na l j o u r n al to t rack res po ns es. I f yo u exp er i m e nt w ith var ious m ed i um s, reco rd i n g t h e re su lts will help to t ra ck t h e mo s t succes s ful wor k i n g s s o yo u ca n f i n d t he mos t accurate m ed i um , whi ch wor ks bes t for yo u.

Ea c h witch is u n i q ue a n d i t may t ak e t im e to d iscover wi t h med i um wo r k s b e st with your un i q ue gi f t s. S o m e w itc hes u s e d i f ferent m ed i um s for different qu est i o n s, s o, I s ug g es t t h at yo u tr y as many m et ho d s a s yo u c an to see which wo r ks b es t fo r yo u.

https://sacredhandscoven.wordpress.com/tag/candlescr ying/

He re’s a fire s cr y i ng cha nt g lea n ed f ro m the Web:

Blazing fire as you dance, Give me now the secret glance.

Call upon my second sight; Make me psychic with your light.

Blazing fire shining bright, Give me now the second sight.

I f yo u’ve b e e n p rac t i c i n g yo u r b re at h i n g exe rc i se s, yo u sh o u l d fa l l i nto at t u n e m e nt w i t h t h e f l ame in a sh o r t t i m e. Q u i e t yo u r m i n d, rel a x, an d wai t. I f sc r y i n g fo r a p ar t i c ul a r p u r p o se, f i x yo u r m i n d g e nt l y on that w h i l e g azi n g.

As I sai d e ar l i e r, t h e f l i c k e r i n g fl a m e i s a gre at ai d i n g e t t i n g i nto t he p ro p e r t ran ce st ate. Usu al l y w hil e sc r y i n g I’ l l g e t i m ag e s i n my m ind.

O f te n t h e st re n g t h o f yo u r d e sire to k n ow t h e an swe r to yo u r q uestion w i l l af fe c t t h e sp e e d, i nte n si t y an d c l ar i t y o f t h e an swe r yo u receive.

Tr u st yo u r su b co n sc i o u s b e c au se t h i s i s w h e re yo u r t r u e n at u ral ab i l i t i e s m an i fe st.

Yo u m ay n o t e ve n se e any t h i n g in t h e sc r y i n g to o l, yo u m ay re ce ive t h e an swe r to t h e q u e st i o n i n your m i n d as i f by te l e p at hy, o r t h e a nswer m ay co m e to yo u l ate r, p e r h aps in a d re am . Th e m o st i m p o r t ant thing i s to b e l i e ve i n yo u r se l f an d your ab i l i t i e s - b e l i e ve i t w i l l h ap p e n, a nd i f yo u r i nte nt an d b e l i e f i s st rong e n o u g h , i t w i l l h ap p e n .

R e p eat until yo ur eyeli d s grow he av y.

Divine the fu tu re wi t h i n t h e f i re’s re st les s flames.

I sit before the ca n d le, a s s t i ll a s p ossible and st a re i nto t h e f la m es.

57

Mythology The Story of Marzanna By : High Priestess, Lady Gloriana Cu l tu re/Co u ntr y : S l av ic my tho l o g y, central Eu ro pe R eal m s and Power s : G o ddes s o f w inte r and death Fam il y : Zhiva (s u m m er g o ddes s ), Ve s n a o r Lada (s pr ing g o ddes s ); w ith dar k C har no bo g, s he is the m o t h e r o f Tr igl av,

t h e g o d o f war

Marzanna in Slavic Mythology

Th e wi nte r goddess M ar zan n a h as several g u i s e s a nd m u lti p le n ames in Slavic my t h ology, bu t all o f t h em are evil. Sh e re p re s e nts the comin g o f winter an d is o ne o f t h re e s e as onal sisters represent in g t he c ycle of li fe and deat h ; sh e is also a f ate g o d d e s s, whos e ar r ival sign if ies misfo r tu ne; a nd s he i s a k i tc hen go ddess, wh o creates ni g htma re s and misch ievo usly f iddles w ith a wo m an’s s pi nni n g.

Key Takeaways: Marzanna

Al ter nate Na m e s: M ar zen a (Po lish ), M a re n a ( Rus s i a n), M o ran a (C zech , Bu lg ar i an, Slove ne, an d S er b o Cro ati an) , M ore n a o r Kyselica (Slovak ), M o rena ( M a ce d on ian ), M ara (B elarusian a nd Uk ra i ni a n) , but also var io usly k n ow n a s M ar u i or M ar uk h i, M ar žen a, M o rén a, M o ra , M ar m ora , M o re, an d K ik imo ra Eq u i va le nts : Ce res (R o man ); Hecate (Gre ek)

The g o ddes s o f Winter k now n as M a r z a n n a is l ik el y an anc ient l ef tover, the S l avi c ver s io n o f the anc ient g o ddes s -as - c ro n e f ig u re fo u nd thro u g ho u t I ndo -Eu ro p e a n my tho l o gies, and k now n as M ar ratu to t h e C hal deans, M arah to the J ews, and M a r i h a m to the Per s ians. As a S l av ic g o ddes s, s h e i s pr im ar il y a fear s o m e f ig u re, the br in g e r o f death, and the s y m bo l o f w inter.

Greek Gods and Goddesses

There is a m atc hing s pr ing g o ddes s ( Ve s n a o r Lada), w ho is s aid to s edu ce Per un , t h e l ig htning g o d, br inging the end to w i nte r. A s u m m er g o ddes s is nam ed Zhiva, w h o r ul e s over c ro ps. There is no au tu m n g o d d e s s ; acco rding to the my ths s he was the d a ug hte r o f the m o o n C ho r s w ho was bew itc h e d at bir th and dis appeared. M ar zanna ha d o n e c hil d, the g o d o f war Tr ig l av, by C he r n o b o g.

Seasonal Tales and Rituals

As s pr ing near s, the feas t o f M as l en i t s a i s hel d, in w hic h peo pl e dres s a s traw m a i d e n in rag s, c ar r y her thro u g h tow n into t h e f iel ds, and bu r n her in ef f ig y, o r drow n h e r in a r iver o r po nd. The ef f ig y represe nt s M ar zanna, and the bu r ning o r des truc t i o n o f the ef f ig y repres ents the banis hi n g o f w inter f ro m the l and. The drow ning i s h e r dis appearance into the u nder wo r l d.

58

Mythology The Story of Marzanna

At t h e s umme r s olst ice, t h e Kup alo cere mony i nc lu des a mix t ure o f n upt ial and fu ne re al i d e a s, a set o f joyo us an d t ragic r i tes ce le brati ng b o t h t h e Dio nysian blend o f fi re and wate r an d t h e downward co u r s e o f t h e s un towards it s wint r y grave.

As wi nte r approach es, M ar zan n a is a s s o ci ate d wi th th e “en ch anted hu nt s m an” my th. A t ale to ld by t h e R o ma i s t hat a hunte r (so met imes t h e go d o f t he sun) fa lls i n l ove wit h M ar zan n a an d s he t ra ps hi s s oul in a magic mir ro r wh e re ( rat h er li ke Pe r s ep h o n e) h e must sp en d t he l o ng wi nte r.

Kitchen Demon

As the k itc hen dem o n M ar u i o r M aruk h i , M ar zanna hides behind the s tove an d s p i n s at nig ht, m ak ing s trang e thu m ping n o i s e s w hen dang er is in s to re. S he tu r ns h e r s e l f into a bu tter f l y and hang s over the l i p s o f s l eeper s br inging them bad dream s.

I f a wo m an s pins s o m ething w itho u t f i r s t s ay ing a prayer, M o ra w il l co m e at n i g ht a n d s po il al l her wo r k . I n this as pec t, M a r z a n n a is s o m etim es nam ed K ik im o r i, a s ha d e o f t h e s o u l s o f gir l s w ho have died u nc hr is te n e d o r were c u r s ed by their parents.

H ir s t, K . K r is. “M ar zanna, S l av ic G o d d e s s o f D eath and Winter.” Tho u g htCo, Au g. 2 8 , 2 0 2 0 , tho u g htco. co m /m ar zann a - 4 7 7 4 2 6 7 .

Fate Goddess

I n s o me tale s, M ar zan n a ap pears as M ara o r M ora, a de s troyin g f ate - go ddess wh o r i d es the ni ght win ds an d dr in k s t h e b l o o d of me n. Sh e is t h e mare in t h e wo rd ni g htma re, d e s c r ibed as a “mo n st ro us ha g sq uatti ng upo n t h e breast, m u te, moti onle s s, an d malign ant, an i n ca r nati on of the evil sp ir it wh o se i nto le rable we i ght crush es t h e breat h o u t o f the bod y ” (M ac nish 1831) . Sh e is similar i n t h is re s pe c t to t h e H in du go ddess K al i t he D e s troye r, wh o se deat h aspec t mea ns “p a ss i ve we i ght an d dar k n ess.”

I n t hi s gui s e, M ar zan n a (o r M o ra) is a p er s onal tor m e nter, wh o so met imes t ur ns he r se lf i nto a horse, o r into a t uf t o f h ai r.

O ne t a le i s of a man wh o was so to r mented by he r that he lef t h is h o me, to o k h is white ho r se and rode away o n it. B ut wh erever he ro ame d the M o ra fo llowed. At last, he p a ss e d the ni ght at an in n , an d t h e mas ter o f t h e hou s e he ard h im gro an in g in a ni g htma re, and fo un d h im b ein g suf fo cated by a long tuf t of wh ite h air. Th e h o st cu t the ha i r i n t wo pi e ces wit h a p air o f scisso rs, a nd i n the m or nin g t h e wh ite h o rse was fo u n d de ad: the h air, t h e n ight mare, an d the whi te hor s e we re all M ar zan n a.

59

Mythology The Story of Jana

Shared by High Priestess, R avensThorn Fo r i n c re ase d d i sce r n m e nt to guide yo u r ac t i o n s i n t h e m o nt h s ah ea d, go o u t si d e w i t h a si l ve r- to n e d coin.

H o l d t h i s to t h e m o o n , say i n g so m e t h i n g l i k e :

‘Jana, through the darkness and through the day Light my path and guide my way.’

Ja na’s themes a re lun a r energ y a n d p e rception. Her s y m b o ls a re t he moon and s ilver o r s h i ny i tem s.

This R oman G o d d es s, wh o s e na me me a ns ‘Lumino us s k y ’, s h i n es her l ight on the new yea r, ex tend i n g im p roved ins ight a n d awa renes s a s we move ah ea d. S he i s s t ro n g ly a sso ciated with Jun o a nd D i a na an d wa s of ten invo ked b efo re a ny o t h e r goddess in im p o r t a nt un d er t a k i ng s.

Tra ditional offer i n g s to Ja n a i n clu d e d w ine, incens e a n d b a r ley. To g et Ja na’s attention a nd a s s i s t a n ce i n any m a gic you have p la nned to d ay, we ar a p iece of silve r-to n ed j eweller y o r c l o t h ing (silver i s t h e co lo r o f t h e m oon).

Car r y t h i s to k e n w i t h yo u. To uc h it an d re c i te t h e i n c ant at i o n anytim e yo u fe e l yo u r j u d g e m e nt waver ing.

To i m p rove yo u r aware n e ss o f p e r so n al l u n ar at t r i b u te s ( se n si t i v i t y, i nt u i t i o n an d t h e l i k e ) , b u r n a st i c k o f j asm i n e i n cense o r any swe e t sce nt an d m e d i t ate. G et co m fo r t ab l e, v i su al i zi n g a f u l l m oon p o u r i n g i t s l i g ht i nto t h e are a of yo u r t h i rd e ye. I f i t h e l p s yo u r foc us, c h ant :

‘Jana, Juna, Diana, awake in me.’

J an a an d H e r co n so r t J an u s were wo r sh i p p e d as t h e su n an d t h e m oon an d we re re g ard e d as t h e h i g hest of t h e g o d s an d re ce i ve d t h e i r sac r ifices b e fo re al l t h e o t h e r s.

https://jour neyingtothegoddess.wordpress. com/2012/01/09/goddess-jana/

J an a i s n o t a we l l - k n ow n G o d dess.

We k n ow b e t te r h e r h u sb an d a nd b ro t h e r J an u s, w h o g ave n am e to t h e f i r st m o nt h o f t h e ye ar. An i nte re st i n g t i d b i t h e re i s t h at J a na g ave t h e n am e to J u n e t h ro u gh her 60

Mythology The Story of Jana Continued re incar nation a s t he R o ma n Jun o.

I t hink abou t t h e H eb rew t ra d i t i on by which the yea r co n s i s t s o f t wo ha l f-years, one t hat b egi n s at R o s h Ha sh anah, at Aut um n, a n d t h e o t h e r at Pesach, at S p r i n g.

M ay be the R oma ns ha d a s i m i la r t ra dition, one yea r f ro m M i d wi nte r to M id summer, Ja n us’ yea r, a n d a nother from M i d s um m er to M idwinter, Jan a’s yea r.

Ja na is the G od d es s o f d o o r ways.

One cou ld say t h e s ay i n g “ wh en G o d closes a d o o r, S he o p en s a w in d ow ” fits p er fec t ly o n Ja n a .

The re are many k i n d s o f d o o r ways i n l ife. S ome take us to a co mpletely ne w li fe, a n d t h es e sho uld be celeb rated, li ke we ce l e brate graduat i o n .

l i k e a sp h i n x , ex p e c t s yo u to a nswer co r re c t l y to t h e q u e st i o n b e fore she l e t s yo u e nte r to E m p re ss’ p aradise.

I n t h e I t al i an t rad i t i o n , t h e n ew yea r st ar t s at M i d w i nte r. I n Fi n l an d the M i d w i nte r i s a t i m e fo r d i v i n ation.

Th e re are e sp e c i al l y t wo k i n d s o f d i v i n at i o n p rac t i ce d ; m i r ro r d i v i n at i o n an d d i v i n at i o n w i t h m o l te d t i n ( M o l y b d o m an c y ) . B oth are sac re d to J an a, b e c au se sh e, G o d d e ss w h o se e s al l, u se s e ver y re f l e c t i n g su r f ace as H e r w i n dow.

She is the Moon Goddess, and what is Moon anything else but a huge mirror reflecting the Sun’s light to Earth?

Ja na is also th e G o d d es s o f init iations. S ome d o o r ways h ave n o do ors, and pas s i ng t h ro ug h t h es e j ust wid ens th e li fe. Th es e d o o r ways c a n be us ed to b o t h d i rec t i o n s. O n e ex a mple of the s e i s t h e j o ur ney f ro m a ro le we have i n li fe to a no t her ro l e.

Jour neys are yet a no t her o f J a n a’s do minions.

S he is the G od d es s o f b egi n ni n g s, a mong them The N ew Yea r. S he i s t wo -faced, fac i n g t h e n ew a nd o ld ye a r at the sam e t i m e, f ut ure a n d p a st. Jana’s ro le a s t he g ua rd i a n of do or ways rem i n d s m e o f t he H i g h Pr ie stess of Ta ro t, s i t t i n g wi t h H er moon in front o f t he d o o r way a nd

61

Mythology The Story of Jana Continued

Ja na is the G od d es s o f d i v i nat i o n as we l l, and if Sh e li kes yo u, S he wi ll a l l ow you to s ee t hi n g s t hro ug h He r e ye s. Hers are a ll k i nd s o f mi r ro r divination and s cr y i ng.

He r animal is the p ea co ck , a n d Jan a’s e ye s are on pea co ck ’s b ea ut i f ul t a il. This is the rea s o n why p ea co c k fe athers br ing luck . Ja n a ca n s ee into your hom e t h ro ug h t h e eyes. I n so me countr ies p ea co ck feat h er br i n g b a d lu ck - peo p le d o n’t wa nt a Pa g an G o ddess to s ee i nto t h ei r ho m es.

Ja na d eveloped i nto D i a na a n d Ju n o, a nd both these G o d d es s es stil l have her q ua li t i es. D i a na kep t t he moon and J un o p ea co cks. Th e Hol y Spir it of C hr i s t i a ni t y i s a ls o Ja na trans for m ed.

Wh e n t h e Gre e k G o d s to o k ove r the R o m an Pant h e o n , J an a l i ve d on a s J u n o Lu c i n a, w h i c h i s J u n o’s n a m e a s t h e G o d d e ss o f c h i l d b i r t h . Ch i l dbir th i s j u st an o t h e r b e gi n n i n g, e nter ing t h ro u g h a d o o r way, an d Lu c i n a m ea ns “ Th e Li g ht O n e”.

J u n o Lu c i n a b e c am e St. Lu c y, w ho i s b e i n g ce l e b rate d o n t h i r te e nth o f D e ce m b e r. Th at was t h e w i nter so l st i ce d ay acco rd i n g to t h e ol d re c k o n i n g ( t h e J u l i an c al e n d ar ), an d St. Lu c y i s t h e p at r i o t S ai nt of t h e b l i n d p e o p l e.

Ar ticle S ource: https://E zineAr ticles.com/exper t/ Ketutar_Jensen/781983 Ar ticle S ource: http://E zineAr ticles.com/5421504

62

Mythology The Story of Pan

Shared By : High Priestess Lady Gloriana

The myth of Pan: myth and origins

I n t h e my t h , h e was b o r n f ro m t h e u n i o n o f t h e G o d H e r m e s w ith D r yo p e, t h e “ N y m p h o f t h e O a k ”.

H e r m e s was grazi n g sh e e p i n Arc a dia w h e n , se e i n g t h at h e h ad i t, h e fel l i n l ove w i t h D y ro p e an d p o sse ssed it: f ro m t h e i r m e e t i n g t h e l i t t l e god wa s b o r n , h al f - an i m al an d h al f - h u m a n, w i t h a b r i st l y an d b e ard e d f ace, ful l o f p re co c i o u s w i sd o m , b u t al so of a w i l d c h e e r f u l n e ss.

Who is Pan?

Pa n is a d emig o d, h a lf -ma n a nd h al f go at, with such a n ug ly a p p ea ra nce t hat he has even b een a b a n d o ned by his mother, the ny mp h D r yo p e.

H is father, it is s a i d, however, i s t h e go d Her mes, t h e d i v i n e mes s en g e r of Olympus. Wi t h t h e a d vent o f C hr istianit y, h i s ho oves, t hi ck b e a rd, tail, and h o r ns were o f ten a ssociated wit h S at a n. O ne o f hi s ma in charac te r i s t i cs wa s hi s chi lli n g sc re am, capable o f leav i ng h i s e ne mies u ncon s ci o us o r i n a s t ate of a bs olu te pan i c, hence t h e n a m e “p a nic attack ” fo r p s ych o lo gi ca l co nd ition of our d ay. I n f a c t, i t wo u l d se e m that the co n d i t i o n “ ha lf -ma n a nd half-beas t ” a p p ro a ches t he se nsation of c li ni ca l p a n i c.

H i s m o t h e r f l e d u p o n se e i n g h im , l e av i n g h i m to H e r m e s, w h o w ra pped h i m i n h are sk i n s an d to o k h i m to O l y m p u s, w h e re e ve r yo n e l i k e d h i m , e sp e c i al l y D i o nysu s. H e wa s c al l e d “ Pan” b e c au se “e ve r yo n e” liked him.

O cc u l t l y, H e r m e s, o r M e rc u r y, the “m e sse n g e r o f t h e g o d s”, i s a sy m b o l fo r t h e co n sc i o u sn e ss of the Ad e p t w h o, by m ov i n g to t h e va r ious Lo c at i o n s o r D i v i n i t i e s o f t h e body, re al i ze s d i f fe re nt fo r m s o f su btl e ex p e r i e n ce o f re al i t y.

Fro m t h e co nt ac t o f t h e sp i r i t ua l co n sc i e n ce w i t h t h e f l u i d, “ fe m i n i n e”, an d an i m p e r so n al e nt i t y t h at h as t h e n am e o f N ym ph ( f ro m “ny m p h a” o r “ l y m p h a”, t h e v i t al e n e rg y o f p l ant s t h at i s p l ace d u n d e r t h e si gn o f t h e M o o n ) , d e si re i s b o r n , w h i c h i s p re c i se l y Pan .

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B ir t h itself, d ep r i v i ng h i m o f h i s mot h er, who “f lees” b eca us e t he fl uid, u nconsci o us elem ent s o f t h e p e r sonalit y are “f i xed ” by t he co nscious nes s t hat d es t roys t h em , inco r porating t hem a ll i nto it se lf (Pan) .

I n fac t, Pan wa s a n d ro g y no us, b r inging together co ns ci o us n es s, w isd om—the bei ng o f m a n (t he ol d ma n) —and the un co ns ci o us n es s, t h e na ivet y—the nat ure o f t h e wo ma n (the child ) .

The animal and d i v i n e s i d e o f c re ation, the s y nt h es i s o f o p p o s i te s, w ith d u al for m s o f co n s ci o us n es s unk nown to ind i v i d ua ls. H er mes, t he conscience, reco gni zes hi m a n d ma kes him his own , wra p p i ng h i m in hare sk ins ( a s y m b o l fo r t h e he r m aphrod ite ) a n d b r i n gi ng h i m “u p”, among th e O ly mp i c g o d s, b e c au s e the en li g hten ed d es i re a l ways tend s u pwa rd s, gi v i ng li fe to a l l hig her s pir i t ua l fo r m s, whi ch ex i st onl y in him an d t hro ug h h i m.

b e e n se e n as t h e g e n e rat i n g force i n m al e fo r m an d i s st i l l re co gnized to d ay by t h e Wi cc an re l i gi o n a s the b e n e f i c i al f at h e r, as o p p o se d to the G o d d e ss, t h e E ar t h , G ae a, w h o is the p r i m ar y fo rce.

As a fe r t i l i ze r, h e h ad a gre at sexua l co n n o t at i o n f ro m t h e b e gi n n i n g, w h i c h to g e t h e r w i t h h i s re p e l l ent asp e c t h ave m ad e h i m t h e sy mbol of m al e su p re m ac y.

Th e l arg e h o r n s, t h e sh ag g y l e gs, a nd h o ove s, t h e t ai l, t h e t h i c k b e ard, a s we l l as t h e st ro n g sex u al c h arge, the ab i l i t y to g e n e rate p an i c o n l y w ith h i s ap p e aran ce an d h i s sc re am, m a de i t i n e v i t ab l e t h at w i t h t h e ad vent o f Ch r i st i an i t y h e was i d e nt i f i ed w i t h t h e d e v i l. O r, as so m e sc hol a r s d e c l are, t h at h e h as b e e n assi mil ated to t h e Ch r i st i an re l i gi o n w i t h t h i s n am e.

The natu ral s eat o f t h e g o d wa s t he deser ted a n d s o li t a r y p la ces w he re hovered a s i lent a n d p ower f u l p re sence, fear f ul, s ens ua l, wh i ch c a used d esire (t h e ma n), b ut a ls o sub tle, melod i o us a nd i r res i s t i b le, w hich was attra c ted a s i f by m a gi c (the woman) .

The old belief

A re pres entati o n o f nat ure i n a ll i t s w il d streng th, t h e g o d Pa n h a s a lways 64

Mythology The Story of Pan Continued

Ch r i st i an i t y c h an g e d e ve r y t h i n g, assi m i l ate d t h e o l d re l i gi o n s by ad ap t i n g t h e m , an d si n ce t h e re wa s n o p l ace fo r t h e m i n H e ave n , they we re t h row n i nto H e l l.

Pan b e c am e S at an , an d h i s sat yr s the d e v i l s. Th e l asc i v i o u s ny m p h s b e c am e w i c k e d w i tc h e s, an d the p l e asant am u se m e nt s o f sat y r s a nd ny m p h s i n t h e h e ar t o f t h e fo rest b e c am e i n fe r n al sab b at h s w h ere w i tc h e s m ate d w i t h g o at s an d d e fo r m e d d e v i l s.

N y m phs have a lways b een a s s o ci ate d w ith Pan and hi s s at y rs, p r i m o rd i a l c re atu res, s pir i t s o f nat ure t he m s elves, whi ch were g enerate d by it. B eau tiful gi r ls, a ls o cus to d i a ns o f a strong sexu a l ch a rg e, to t he p o i nt t hat the word ny mp h o m a n i a c d er i ve s f ro m their nam e.

The nymphs an d s at y rs h ave a lways mated in the t hi ck o f t he fo res t s, under the bran ch es o f t h o us a n d -ye arol d oak s, in an a n ci ent s exua l g a m e.

That was the pr i m a r y o ccup at i o n o f suc h creatu res, b ei n g s created by nature its elf and d o mi nated by i t.

Th e st at u e s an d p ai nt i n g s d e pic ting t h e se u n n at u ral an d b l asp h e m ous u n i o n s al l to o re se m b l e d t h e more fe st i ve o n e s o f t h e p ai r i n g b e t ween sat y r s an d ny m p h s.

Th e g o d Pan p l ay i n g t h e f l u te — Pa n, t h e u n d i sp u te d g o d o f n at u re — was t ran sfo r m e d i nto t h e l o rd of t h e U n d e r wo r l d, a t i t l e t h at woul d ce r t ai n l y h ave b e e n m o re ap propr iate fo r H ad e s. O n ce ag ai n , p o o r Pan ha d b e e n b e t raye d by h i s b e st i al a spec t.

Th e g o d o f n at u re, o f grow t h , of l ife i t se l f, t h e g e n e rato r, t h e o n e who g ave su ste n an ce to m e n , was now p o r t raye d as t h e d e st roye r, a sym bol o f al l e v i l an d co r r u p t i o n .

G e nerate. G en erate li fe, cro p s, e ve r y plant s p eci es, h erd s, a n d w i l d a nimals. Protec to rs o f t h e wo o d s an d f ie l ds, they led a s i m p le a nd b uco l i c l ife, played the i r f lutes, s lep t i n t h e sha de of old trees, t a s ted a ll t h e p l e asures of sex.

How did this come about?

Why had the shy and ethereal nymphs turned into wicked witches?

Why had their earthly joys become abominable sabbaths?

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Obvious ly, a reli gi o n t h at rep res se d sex and that co n s i d ered i t t h e ca u se of a ll mis for tun e co uld n o t a ccep t myt h olog y that ha d m a d e s ex i t s ve r y reas on fo r b ei n g. I t co uld n o t sim ply forg et t hem a nd co n s i gn th e m to oblivion, bu t i t wa s n eces s a r y to de m onize them , s o t hat t h ey were a l ways a war ni ng to men .

The ver y u nion o f a p p a rent ly hum an gir ls w i t h b ei ng s o f a ni ma l de scent was, i n t h ei r eyes, a n a b omination, whi ch t h ey t r i ed to e ra se throu g h cent ur i es o f o p p res si o n a nd inquisition.

The coupling bet ween t h e s at y rs an d t he nymphs, o f t he wo ma n wi t h t h e b e a st, had entered t he co llec t i ve ima gination.

The ver y fou ndat i o n o f t he fo r b i dd e n , w hich attrac ted a nd ca us ed rep ul si o n a l ike. A s ponta neo us, p r i mi t i ve, w il d u nion, d isco nnec ted f ro m t he Chr is tian co ncep t o f love, b ut do minated only by lus t a nd p lea su re.

An ir repress ible d es i re o f t h es e f ra gi le gir ls fo r t h e p ure s exua l a c t, a ccompanied by t he ver y hi g h s ex u al c ha rge of these h uma no i d b ei n g s, ex t remely gif ted to t he p o i nt t hat a nor m al woman wo uld h ave run away j ust by seeing t h em .

an d acce p te d h e r gi f t s, so m e innocent v i c t i m s o f c i rc u m st an ce s.

Th i s assi m i l at i o n was ve r y st range b e c au se Pan i s t h e o n l y H e l l e nic d i v i n i t y o f w h i c h t h e re i s a myth ab o u t h i s d e at h .

Th e re fo re h e i s t h e o n l y g o d, a nd t h e re fo re i m m o r t al, w h o i s st i l l dea d.

I n d e e d, t h e d e at h o f t h at b e i n g w ho l ove d t h e wo o d s, m e ad ows, and m o u nt ai n s, w h o graze d h i s f l oc k s a nd rai se d b e e s, a p e re n n i al l y c h e er ful g o d, so v i sce ral l y l i n k e d to n ature an d t h e p l e asu re s o f t h e f l e sh , threw t h e w h o l e wo r l d i nto an g u i sh w hen n e ws o f h i s d i sap p e aran ce wa s given.

Wi t h h i m , t h e w i l d n at u re d i sap p e are d, t h e i m p e n e t rab l e woods we re n ow v i o l ate d by m an , t h e free an i m al s i n c re asi n g l y d e c i m ate d, the ve r y e qu i l i b r i u m o n w h i c h ex i stence was fo u n d e d was d e st roye d.

I n the fad ed memo r y o f Pa n a nd h i s nymphs, thous a nd s a n d t h o us a n d s o f women faced t h e s t a ke, s o me g ui l t y of having met hi m o nly i n t h ei r dre ams, some o f hav i n g loved nat u re 66

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Th e re i s n o si n g l e p re c i se c au s e to u n d e r st an d f ro m w h at t h e p an ic at t ac k ar i se s, b u t i t i s ce r t ai n that t h e re i s b asi c n o n - l i ste n i n g. I n t h e p re se n ce o f al ex i t hy m i a ( the i n ab i l i t y to fe e l an d ex p re ss e m o t i o n s) , t h e re w i l l b e a gre at acc u m u l at i o n o f fe ar s, i m p u l ses, a nd q u e st i o n s; t h i s w i l l i n e v i t ab l y c a use, su b se qu e nt l y, an u n co nt ro l l abl e a nd su d d e n ex p l o si o n .

The myth, that o f b ei ng a g o at, h ad it s roots in a ver y d i s t a nt p a s t a nd t ra ces could be fo un d i n ma ny o f t h e most d is parate my t ho lo gi es. I n I t a l y, his n ame was Fa un, a n d h i s s p eci e s wa s called by t he n a mes o f f a uns a nd s ylvanians, lo n g b efo re t h ey we re id entified wi t h s at y rs. M a gi c al b e ings who always, i n p re - C hr i s t i an t im es, were ever y wh ere co n s i d ere d b e nevolent d e i t i es, b ea rers o f li fe.

Al m ost t wo mi llen ni a h a d to p a s s b e fore Pan wa s gi ven b a ck hi s p r imord ial role a s a p a g a n d ei t y.

Al o ng s id e myt h o lo g y, a cer t a i nly more med ical a n d well-fo un d ed i d e a wa s bor n. I t wo uld s eem p reci s ely t h e e t ymology of the wo rd Pa n to s ugg e st t he word panic.

Why does Pan appear in our head?

S o m e t i m e s, we l o o k at t h e se sy m p to m s an d re ac t i o n s w i t h su sp i c i o n , t ak i n g l i g ht l y t h e f a c t that Pan i s n o t h i n g m o re t h an a m e ssa ge n o t re ce i ve d p re v i o u sl y, t h at if it ha d b e e n l i ste n e d to c are f u l l y, i t woul d h ave b e e n re so l ve d i n t h e b u d.

A demigod with a strong sexual connotation

Pan , l i k e D i o nysu s an d Pr i ap u s, wa s al so g e n e ral l y re p re se nte d w i th a l arg e p h al l u s. J u st re ce nt l y, t he d e m i g o d was re fe r re d to as t h e god o f m ast u r b at i o n by J am e s H i l l m a n, a we l l - k n ow n Am e r i c an p syc h ol ogist, w h o c l ai m s Pan i s t h e i nve ntor o f m ast u r b at i o n .

B e c au se o f h i s u n p l e asant ap p e aran ce, Pan was fo rce d to p rac t i ce au to e ro t i c i sm , o r to e nga ge i n sex u al v i o l e n ce. I t co u l d b e sai d t h at h e was su f fe r i n g f ro m ny m p h o m an i a, u n d e r sto o d as a rea l o b se ssi o n fo r ny m p h s.

Pan’s u n re q u i te d l ove o f te n t u r ned i nto a re al m an i a, an o b se ssi o n w ith 67

Mythology The Story of Pan Continued

ne f a r ious effec t s. Pi t i s, fo r exa m p l e, wa s a nymph who h a d t wo s ui to rs, Pa n and B oreas (t he n o r t h wi nd ).

Pitis, however, wa s i n love wi t h Pan a nd, when s he cho s e to b o nd wi t h him, the cold n o r t h wi nd b lew s o ha rd that she fell o f f a cli f f. The go ddess Ear th t h en t ra ns fo r med h e r into a pine.

B ut the mos t f a m o us ny mp h p e r s ecu ted by Pa n i s un d o ub ted ly Syr inx. Syr inx, wa s a fo llower o f Ar temis, and wh en Pa n fell i n love w ith her, he fl ed to t h e b a nks o f th e R ive r L ad on . B ut i t wa s a us eles s e sc a pe, becau s e Pa n co nt i nued to c ha se her, unda unted. To es ca p e him for good, s he t ra ns fo r med i nto a b u nd le of mars h reed s wi t h t h e he l p of r iver ny mp h s. Pa n, a n gr y, to re s ome off to b ui ld a mus i ca l instrument that emi t ted d i v i n e m u si c : t he syr inx. S o, he wo uld h ave own e d he r forever.

o f a sh e p h e rd, e tc. ; t h e b e st k now n m ad e h i m a so n o f t h e g o d H e r m es. A my t h to l d o f h i s l ove fo r t h e nym ph Eco. H i s c u l t se e m s to o r i gi n ate in Arc ad i a, b u t i t i s st i l l w i d e sp rea d t h ro u g h o u t Gre e ce.

What is Pan god of?

G o d o f t h e wo o d s. Th e R o m an s i d e nt i f i e d h i m w i t h t h e i r g o d Fa un.

How do you know that Pan is calling you?

• I f yo u fe e l i n t u n e w i t h n at u re • I f, w h e n a sto r m co m e s u p, you fe e l exc i te d by t h e d e st r u c tive fo rce o f n at u re • I f yo u d re am o f h i m an d yo u r sex d r i ve i s b o o ste d • I f yo u k e e p se e i n g f l u te s and n at u ral e l e m e nt s al l aro u n d you

As such, he is a ls o a g o d o f s h ep h e rd s a nd lives tock , a s p a s to ra li s m wa s p a r t i ally the sy mb o l o f a ci v i li zed hum an cond iti o n , t hat i s, a nter i o r to a grar ian civ i li z at i o n . Pa n wa s re ve red, bu t als o fea red, by t he she pherd s ; his p res en ce, however, wa s d ang erou s fo r ever yo ne, e sp ecially in t he mi d d ay h o urs : i t wa s an ind icati o n o f a cr i s i s t h at t ra nslated into “fea r ” (ca lled “p a nic ”, from h i s n a me).

Accord ing to d i f ferent vers i o ns, h e wa s a s on of Zeus, o r o f Cro n us, or 68

Mythology The Story of Pan Continued • H ave a p i c n i c o u t si d e i n n ature S p e n d so m e t i m e i n an o l d - f as hioned way. S p e n d so m e t i m e o u t si d e — e sp e c i al l y at m i d d ay, as t h at ’s Pa n’s h o u r— an d d r i n k a fe w g l asse s of w i n e i n h i s h o n o r, h ave so m e fun p l ay i n g a f l u te, si n gi n g, d an c i ng, or l i ste n i n g to m u si c. O f co u r se, a sk him to j o i n yo u d u r i n g t h i s sp e c i al tim e i n n at u re.

Best ways to connect with Pan

• Cas t a sex s p ell a nd a s k Pa n fo r help I f you need to b o o s t yo ur s ex d r i ve a nd you r s ex li fe, yo u ca n a s k Pa n for help. I nvoke hi m a n d a s k hi m to sup por t your s p ell ca s t i n g wi t h h i s e ne rgy and his p ower. Yo u ca n cre ate a c us tom prayer fo r h i m a n d us e a statue or pic tu re o f hi m a s a s p ec i al a ddition to yo ur s a cred s p a ce.

• M ed itate an d v i s ua li ze hi m p lay i n g his flu te Pa n can eas ily co n nec t wi t h yo u w ith the powe r o f v i s ua li z at i o n a nd med itatio n. Wh en yo u feel you ne e d s ome stro ng en erg y i n yo ur l ife, especially o n a p hys i ca l a nd sex ual level, us e m ed i t at i o n a nd visualization to let hi m s up p o r t yo u.

• I f yo u’re a m an an d st r u g g l i ng w i t h i n fe r t i l i t y, ask h i m to h el p yo u Cast a fe r t i l i t y sp e l l an d d e d i c ate yo u r c raf t to h i m a s he i s a g o d o f wo o d s b u t al so of m a l e fe r t i l i t y. H e w i l l d e f i n i te l y h el p yo u b o o st b o t h yo u r fe r t i l i t y a nd yo u r sex l i fe.

How do you honor Pan?

• S p e n d t i m e i n n at u re • H ave f u n • D r i n k an d d an ce l i k e n o o n e is watc h i n g • S p e n d m o re t i m e w i t h yo u r pa r tner an d g e t sex y • E n j oy t i m e al o n e as we l l • Cre ate an al t ar d e d i c ate d to him • S i n g an d p l ay t h e f l u te

What are Pan’s favorite offerings?

• Wi n e ( Pan l ove s i t ; i t ’s a great way to re l ax an d h ave f u n ) • H o n e y ( t h i s i s a gre at o f fe r i ng to at t rac t h i s ny m p h s! ) • A f l u te ( to fe e l a co n n e c t i o n to h i s sac re d i n st r u m e nt ) 69

Mythology The Story of Pan Continued Prayer for Pan

“ Pa n, my beloved g o d o f t h e wo o ds,

Let your joy and your powerful energy take over, let it be the energy to rule my whole life, Give me the chance to enjoy nature, life, and the pleasures around me So be it”

What are Pan’s symbols?

The flute, s ing le o r d o ub le -b a r rele d, or in the s hape o f a b a gp i p e, or “syr inx “, exp res s es h ow the force d ivides, mult i p li es infinitely, especi a lly i n t h e s y m b o l of t h e “S even”, li ke t h e p i p es o f t he bagpipe.

fo re h e ad, i n t h e p o i nt s o f t h e w il l, ex p re sse s t h e w i l l to f u l f i l l o n esel f i n a p hysi c al, m ate r i al se n se, to m ate r i al l y e m b o d y o n e’s b e i n g. Their n u m b e r, t wo, o r “d i a” ( h e n ce t h e ad j e c t i ve “d i ab o l i c al ” ) , t h e i r b ran c h e d fo r m i n t h e sh ap e o f a deer ( a sy m b o l fo r i n i t i at i o n ) , m e an d i v i si o n an d f ragm e nt at i o n , but in t h e t r u e se n se o f m u l t i p l i c at i on, o f am p l i f i c at i o n i n a si n g l e i m a ge, c re at i n g an e te r n i t y t h at, o n e a r th, i s ex p re sse d o n l y i n t h e i n d e f inite m u l t i p l i c i t y o f b e i n g s an d fo r ms. https://magick alspot.com/pan/

I n o ccu lt relati o ns h i p s, t h e s evenfo l d for m is ass umed by t he v i t a l energ y (the s even Centers o r Pla net s ), to t h e r hy thm of which t h e ny mp h s d a n ce.

I n this way, Pa n’s a c t i o n h a r mo n i ze s t he i ns tinc tual ch a o s i n a h i g h er sp ir itu al for m. Th e v i t a l, b i o lo gi ca l natu re of this a c t i o n , o f t h i s ha r m ony, whic h i n t h e b o d y s t ruc t u re wa s caus ed by v i b rat i o n s p ro d uce d by b re ath (a s ymb o l o f t he S p i r i t ).

The t wo hor ns, f i rs t o f a ll, s i gn i f y hol in ess, as in t h e p ro p h et s, b ut i t is different, m ater i a l h o li n es s o f a sp ir itu alit y im m ers ed i n t h e ea r t h , w hich creates i n mat ter, li ke a n a nc ient d emiurg e.

The pos ition o n t h e s i d es o f t he 70

Mythology The Story of Janus Shared by High Priestess, R avensThorn

make open.

Thou art Janus Curiatius, the good creator art thou.

Good Janus is coming, the chief of the superior rulers.”

- “ The S alian H y mn to Janus”

Two -faced Jan us (I a nus ), p res ume d to b e native to I t a ly, i s t he g o d o f b e gi nning s /en d i n g s. I t ’s a f ter Ja n u s t hat the first mo nt h o f t he yea r, Ja nuar iu s ‘Janua r y ’, i s n a med. Th e k a l e nd s ( the 1s t ) o f ea ch mo nt h m ay have been d ed i cated to hi m.

Janus Basics

Ja nus was u s ua lly t he f i rs t o f t h e go ds to receive o f fer i n g s. Co ns uls e ntered office o n t h e K a len d s o f h i s month -- Janu a r y.

J an u s, l i k e so m any an c i e nt g ods w h o l ac k e d t h e grace o f a sto r y, was a m e ssy co n c re sce n ce o f sc ra ps f al l e n f ro m t h e t ab l e o f m e m or y. H is i n co h e re n ce was t h e c au se o f som e p u zzl e m e nt i n t h e R o m an I m per ia l e ra, an d so h e was p e r i o d i c al l y su b j e c te d to re asse ssm e nt s by m aste r yar n - sp i n n e r s l i k e O v i d or by co sm o l o gi st s an d p h i l o so pher s se e k i n g to f i n d p ro fo u n d sy m bol ism i n h i s d u al i t y.

A Transitional God: War, Peace, Crossings J an u s was n o t o n l y a g o d o f b e gi n n i n g s an d t ran si t i o n s, b u t wa s al so asso c i ate d w i t h war / p e ace since t h e d o o r s o f h i s sh r i n e we re o pened exce p t i n t i m e s o f p e ace. H e m ay h ave b e e n a g o d o f st re am c rossings.

Ovid on the Myth of Janus

“’I have learned much indeed; but why is the figure of a ship stamped on one side of the copper coin, and a two-headed figure on the other?’

Janus and the Salian Priests

Hol ding sacred s hi eld s, S a li a n p r ie sts sang a hy mn to J a n us. Th i s hymn includ es li n es t hat h ave b ee n t ra nslated as:

“Come forth with the cuckoo [in March] Truly all things dost thou

U n d e r t h e d o u b l e i m ag e,’ sai d he, 71

Mythology The Story of Janus Continued

earth could bear with gods, and divinities moved freely in the abodes of men. The sin of mortals had not yet put Justice to flight (she was the last of the celestials to forsake the earth): honour’s self, not fear, ruled the people without appeal to force: toil there was none to expound the right to righteous men. I had naught to do with war: guardian was I of peace and doorways, and these,’ quoth he, showing the key, ‘these be the arms I bear.’”

The First of the Gods

‘you might have recognized myself, if the long lapse of time had not worn the type away. Now for the reason of the ship.

In a ship the sickle-bearing god came to the Tuscan river after wandering over the world. I remember how Saturn was received in this land: he had been driven

by Jupiter from the celestial realms.

From that time the folk long retained the name of Saturnian, and the country, too, was called Latium from the hiding (latente) of the god. But a pious posterity inscribed a ship on the copper money to commemorate the coming of the stranger god. Myself inhabited the ground whose left side is lapped by sandy Tiber’s glassy wave. Here, where now is Rome, green forest stood unfilled, and all this mighty region was but pasture for a few kine. My castle was the hill which the present age is accustomed to call by my name and dub Janiculum. I reigned in days when

J an u s was al so an au g u r an d m e d i ato r, p e r h ap s t h e re aso n he i s n am e d f i r st am o n g t h e g o d s in p raye r s. Tay l o r says J an u s, as the fo u n d e r o f sac r i f i ce an d d i v i n ation, si n ce h e c an se e t h e p ast an d the f u t u re t h ro u g h h i s t wo f ace s, i s the wo r l d ’s f i r st p r i e st.

Janus for Luck

I t was R o m an t rad i t i o n at t h e N ew Ye ar to gi ve t h e g o d h o n e y, c a k es, i n ce n se an d w i n e to b u y f avo ra bl e si gn s an d a g u arante e o f g o o d l uc k .

G o l d b ro u g ht b e t te r re su l t s t h a n b ase r co i n s.

Th e n I ask e d,

” Why, Janus, when I placate other gods, do I bring incense and wine to you first?”

“So that you may gain entry to whatsoever gods you wish,” 72

Mythology The Story of Janus Continued he replied,

“through me, who guard the threshold.”

“But why are glad words spoken on your Kalends? And why do we give and receive best wishes?”

The n the god, lea ni n g o n t h e s t a ff i n h i s r i g ht h an d, sai d,

“Omens are wont to reside in beginnings. You train your anxious ears on the first call, and the augur interprets the first bird he sees. The temples and ears of gods are open, no tongue intones wasted prayers, and words have weight.”

Ja nus had finis hed. I wa s no t s i lent fo r l o n g, b u t t ag g e d h i s f i n al wo rd s with words of my own.

“What do your dates and wrinkled figs mean, or the gift of honey in a snowwhite jar?”

“The omen is the reason,” said he - “so that the sweetness replicates events, and so that the year should be sweet, following the course of its beginnings.”

https://w w w.thoughtco.com/who -is-janus-119326

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Mythology The Story of Poseidon Shared By : Brittanica H ad e s) an d r u l e s ove r t h e o ce a n a nd al l b o d i e s o f wate r. H e was e spec ia l l y i m p o r t ant to Gre e k sai l o r s an d f i sh e r m an .

How was Poseidon usually pictured?

Po se i d o n i s p i c t u re d w i t h a t h ree p ro n g e d sp e ar c al l e d a t r i d e nt.

H e u su al l y h as c u r l y h ai r an d a b e ard. S o m e t i m e s h e i s sh ow n r i d i n g h i s c h ar i o t w h i c h i s p u l l ed by h i p p o c am p u se s ( h o r se s t h at have f i sh t ai l s) .

What powers and skills did he have?

G o d of : The s ea , ea r t hq ua kes, a nd hor ses Symbols : Tr id e nt, d o lp h i n , ho rs e, b ul l, and fish Pa rents: Cronus a n d R h ea C hil dren: O r ion , Tr i to n, Th es eus, a n d Po l yphemus S p ou s e: Amphi t r i te Ab od e: M ou nt O ly m p us a nd t h e oce an R o man name: N ep t un e Po seid on is a g o d i n G reek my t ho l o g y a nd one of the Twelve O ly m p i a ns.

He is one of th e t h ree mo s t p owe r f u l G re ek g od s ( alo ng wi t h Zeus a nd

Po se i d o n h ad co m p l e te p owe r a nd co nt ro l ove r t h e o ce an . H e co ul d c re ate sto r m s to si n k sh i p s o r c l ea r we at h e r to h e l p t h e m al o n g. He al so co u l d c au se e ar t h qu ak e s on l an d w h i c h e ar n e d h i m t h e t i t l e “e ar t h - sh ak e r.”

Birth of Poseidon

Po se i d o n was t h e so n o f Cro n us a nd R h e a, t h e k i n g an d q u e e n o f t he Ti t an s. Af te r b e i n g b o r n , Po se idon was swal l owe d by h i s f at h e r Cronus b e c au se o f a p ro p h e sy t h at sa id Cro n u s’ c h i l d re n wo u l d so m e day ove r t h row h i m .

Po se i d o n was e ve nt u al l y save d by h i s yo u n g e r b ro t h e r Ze u s. D e feating t h e Ti t an s Po se i d o n an d h i s b rother s, Ze u s an d H ad e s, we nt to b at t l e w ith t h e Ti t an s. Th e y ove r t h re w t h e Tita ns an d to o k co nt ro l o f t h e wo r l d.

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Mythology The Story of Poseidon The y d ivid ed u p t h e wo r ld by drawing lots. Po s ei d o n d rew t he oce an and too k co nt ro l o f t h e S ea (Ze us d rew the s k y a nd H a d es t he U nd er wor ld ).

Creating the Horse

One of Pos eid o n’s mo s t f a m o us d e e d s is the creation o f t he h o rs e. Th ere a re t wo s tor ies t hat tell h ow h e di d t his. The first s ays t h at h e fell i n l ove w ith the god des s D em eter. I n o rde r to impress her h e d eci d ed to create t he wor ld ’s mos t b ea ut i f ul a ni ma l.

He wor k ed for s o me t i me a n d e ve ntually pro d uced t he h o rs e.

However, it to o k h i m s o lo ng to m ak e t he h ors e that h e wa s n o lo n g er i n l ove with D emeter. Th e o t h er s to r y te l l s how he m a d e t he h o rs e to wi n t he cit y of Ath ens f ro m At hena .

Rivalry with Athena

B o t h Pos eid on a nd At hena wa nted to b e t he patron g o d o f t h e G reek ci t ystate of Athen s. As p a r t o f a co nte st, t he y each presented a gi f t to t h e l e a ders of Athens.

Athena created t h e o li ve t ree w hich would pro d uce wo o d, o li ve s, a nd olive oil. Po s ei d o n p res ented t he h ors e, a valua b le a n i ma l t h at co ul d help in wo r k , b at t le, a n d t ra nspor tation (n o te t hat i n s o m e stor i es he pres ent s a well o f s ea water ins tead o f t h e h o rs e).

At h e n a wo n t h e co nte st an d bec a m e t h e p at ro n g o d d e ss o f At h e n s. From t h at t i m e fo r ward, Po se i d o n and At h e n a we re r i val s.

Th i s p l ays o u t i n t h e sto r y o f the O d ysse y w h e re Po se i d o n t r i e s to t hwar t O d ysse u s w h i l e At h e n a tr ies to h e l p h i m o n h i s j o u r n e y.

Interesting Children

Po se i d o n h ad a n u m b e r o f i nteresting c h i l d re n w i t h b o t h h u m an wo m en an d g o d d e sse s. S o m e o f h i s c h i l d re n we re m o n ste r s l i k e t h e sea c re at u re Ch ar y b d i s an d t h e Cyc l ops Po l y p h e m u s ( b o t h o f w h o m t r ied to k i l l O d ysse u s) .

O t h e r s we re n o t so sc ar y l i k e the Gre e k h e ro Th e se u s, t h e f am o u s h u nte r O r i o n , an d t h e w i n g e d h o r se Pe g asu s.

Interesting Facts About the Greek God Poseidon

H e l i ve d i n a p al ace u n d e r t h e sea t h at was m ad e f ro m j e we l s an d cora l.

H e d e fe ate d t h e gi ant Po l y b o tes by b re ak i n g o f f a p i e ce o f t h e i sl a nd of K o s an d t h row i n g i t at h i m .

Acco rd i n g to Gre e k my t h o l o g y, Po se i d o n h e l p e d b u i l d t h e tower ing wal l s t h at su r ro u n d e d t h e c i t y o f Troy. https://w w w.ducksters.com/histor y/ancient_ greeceposeidon.php

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Classifieds

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History of

Shared by : High Priestess, Lady Gloriana

January History of January

Th e m o nt h s o f J an u ar y an d al s o Fe b r u ar y we re n o t o r i gi n al l y i n the an c i e nt R o m an c al e n d ar as t h e w inter m o nt h s we re co n si d e re d d o r m a nt, b o t h i n te r m s o f agr i c u l t u re b ut a l so i n te r m s o f m ak i n g war. Th i s wa s a t i m e o f p e ace. U nt i l 4 5 0 B CE, the R o m an c al e n d ar was 1 0 m o nt h s, b e gi n n i n g i n M arc h ( M ar t i u s) , due to t h e M arc h Eq u i n ox . R e m e m ber M arc h was n am e d fo r “M ar s,” t h e g o d o f War w h o was al so an agr i c u l t u ral g u ard i an .

January Calendar Ja nuar y was na med fo r t he R o ma n go d Janus, k nown a s t he p ro tec tor o f gates and d oo r ways wh o s y m b o li ze b e gi nning s an d end i n g s. J a n us i s de p i c ted with t wo f a ces, o ne lo o k i n g into the past, t he o t h er wi t h t h e a b il i t y to see i nto t he f ut ure. What a f it ting symbol fo r t h i s f i rs t d ay o f t h e ye a r ; this mont h i s o ur d o o r i nto th e ne w year. The R o m a n s o f ten ma d e p ro mises to Jan us a nd exch a n g ed go od wis hes.

Janus am I; oldest of potentates; Forward I look, and backward, and below I count, as god of avenues and gates, The years that through my portals come and go.

–Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, American poet (1807–82)

J an u ar y 1 i s N e w Ye ar ’s D ay.

J an u ar y 5 b r i n g s Twe l f t h N i g ht, a n E n g l i sh fo l k c u sto m t h at m ar k ed t h e e n d o f Ch r i st m as m e r r y m a k ing, an d i n an c i e nt Ce l t i c t rad i t i o n , the e n d o f t h e 1 2 - d ay w i nte r so l stice ce l e b rat i o n . O n Twe l f t h N i g ht, it was c u sto m ar y fo r t h e asse m bl ed co m p any to to ast e ac h o t h e r from the wassai l b ow l.

J an u ar y 6 i s E p i p h any. Acco rd i ng to t h e N e w Te st am e nt ’s G o sp e l s, on this d ate t h e M agi — t h e t h re e w i se m en or k i n g s—ve n e rate d an d b ro u g ht gif ts to t h e i n f ant J e su s. B ak e a b e a utiful E p i p h any Tar t o r a K i n g Cak e w ith a l u c k y b e an i n si d e !

“Just for Fun” Days

J an u ar y i s N at i o n al Cl e an U p Your Co m p u te r M o nt h an d N at i o n al Hot Te a M o nt h ! H e re are so m e m o re fun 77

History of January Ch r i st m as b re ak w h e n i t was tim e to f ace t h e “d ai l y gr i n d.” O f te n , t hese we re “ j o k e” h o l i d ays t h at m i xe d up t h e f i r st d ays b ac k to h ard wor k w ith so m e p l ay f u l n e ss t h row n i n .

January 7: Distaff Day

Th e d ay af te r E p i p h any ( J an u a r y 6 ) was o n ce c al l e d D i st af f D ay a nd m ar k e d w h e n t h e wo m e n we nt ba c k sp i n n i n g af te r t h e 1 2 - d ay Ch r i stm a s ce l e b rat i o n . A d i st af f i s a wo oden rod ( st af f ) t h at h o l d s f l ax o r wo o l.

t hings to celeb rate i n Ja n ua r y : • Januar y 1: Z D ay (O n t h i s d ay, t hose whos e la s t na me b egi ns with “Z” get to g o f i rs t i ns tea d of las t.)

• Januar y 3: N at i o n a l C h o co late Covered Ch er r y D ay • Januar y 6: N at i o n a l B ea n D ay • Januar y 8: E lv i s Pres ley ’s B i r t h d ay • Januar y 10: Nat i o n a l H o us ep la nt Appreciation D ay • Januar y 14: Nat i o n a l D res s U p You r Pet Day • Januar y 20: Nat i o n a l Peng ui n D ay • Januar y 22: Nat i o n a l An s wer Yo u r Cat ’s Q uest i o n s D ay • Januar y 29: Nat i o n a l Puz z le D ay

Forgotten Customs: Going Back to Work!

I f you enjoy un us ua l, fo rg o t ten , o r bygone cus tom s, here a re t wo t h at t ra ditionally ma r ked t he en d o f t h e

B e fo re t h e S p i n n i n g Wh e e l ar r ived, sp i n n i n g was sl ow l y an d te d i ousl y d o n e o n a D ro p S p i n d l e. As i s of ten t h e c ase, i t ’s h ard to g o b ac k to wor k af te r t h e h o l i d ays an d n o t m uc h got d o n e ! Th e wo m e n’s h u sb an d s woul d m i sc h i e vo u sl y t r y to se t f i re to the f l ax o n t h e i r w i ve s’ d i st af fs, w h il e t h e wo m e n , l y i n g i n wai t, wo u l d re t al i ate w i t h h u m o r by d o u si n g them w i t h b u c k e t s o f wate r.

Partly worke and partly play Ye must on S. Distaffs day: From the Plough soone free your teame; Then come home and fother them.

If the Maides a spinning goe, Burne the flax, and fire the tow: Scorch their plackets, but beware That ye singe no maiden-haire.”

–Robert Herrick (17th-century English lyric poet and cleric)

January 10, 2022: Plough Monday

D at i n g b ac k to t h e f i f te e nt h centur y, t h e f i r st M o n d ay af te r E p i p h any 78

History of January ( Ja nuar y 6) mar ked t he s t a r t o f t h e a gr icultu ral s ea s o n, s p eci f i ca lly fo r p l o ug hing the f i eld s fo r s p r i n g -s ow n c rops. O f cours e, n o t much wo r k was a c tu ally d one o n t h e f i rs t d ay !

Dre ssed in clea n wh i te s m o cks de corated with r i b b o n s, t he men dra gg ed a plow (p lo ug h ) t hro ug h t he v illag e and co llec ted m o ney fo r t he “plow lig ht ” t hat wa s kep t b ur ning in the ch urch a ll yea r.

O f ten men fro m s evera l f a r ms j o i n e d to gether to pu ll t h e p low t hro ug h al l t he ir villages. They s a n g a nd d a nce d t he ir way from v i lla g e to v i lla g e to t he accompa n i ment o f mus i c. I n t he evening, e a ch f a r mer p rov i d e d a Pl oug h M onday s up p er fo r h i s wor kers, with p lent i f ul b eef a nd a l e for all.

January Astronomy

Eve n i n ast ro n o my, t h e re i s a sense o f n e w b e gi n n i n g s. I n t h e N o r ther n H e m i sp h e re, t h e d ays are st ar ting to g e t l o n g e r ag ai n an d we l o o k for wa rd to t h e l i g ht ’s re - e m e rg e n ce.

Perihelion: Earth Passes Its Closest to the Sun

O n J an u ar y 4 , 2 0 2 2 , E ar t h re aches p e r i h e l i o n , w h i c h i s t h e p o i nt in the p l an e t ’s o r b i t w h e re i t i s c l o se st to t h e S u n . At p e r i h e l i o n , E ar t h wil l b e 9 1 , 4 0 6 , 8 4 2 m i l e s f ro m o u r b r i g ht st ar.

The Full Wolf Moon

J an u ar y ’s M o o n i s c al l e d t h e Wol f M o o n . Th e S axo n wo rd fo r t h e m onth was Wu l f - m o n at h o r “ wo l f m o nth.”

January is here, With eyes that keenly glow A frost-mailed warrior striding A shadowy steed of snow.

–Edgar Fawcett, American poet (1847–1904)

I n the Nor ther n H emi s p h ere, Ja n u ar y is the cold es t m o nt h o f t he yea r i n most regions.

Did You Know:

Accord ing to fo lk lo re, t h e weat h e r o f t he firs t 12 d ays o f t h e yea r i s s a id to b e ind icative o f t he fo llowi n g 1 2 months.

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History of January Weat h er Fo lk lo re fo r Ja n u a r y

1. Fog in January brings a wet spring.

2. A favorable January brings us a good year.

3. If grass grows in January, it will grow badly the whole year.

4. A summerish January, a winterish spring.

This year, the f ull M o o n rea ch es p e a k illuminati o n at 6: 51 P. M . E S T on M ond ay, Jan ua r y 17. I t ca n b e se e n r is ing fro m t h e h o r i zo n a ro u n d sunset that eveni n g.

https://w w w.almanac.com/content/month-januar yholidays-fac ts-folk lore

The Quadrantid Meteor Shower

The Q uad ranti d m eteo rs a p p ea r i n t he ear ly Janua r y s k y, p ro d uci ng u p to 2 5 meteors p er ho ur at t h ei r p e ak .

The y ’ll be at th ei r b es t o n t h e n i ght of M ond ay, Jan ua r y 3, i nto Tues d ay, Ja nuar y 4. For t he b es t cha n ce at sp o tting them, vent ure o ut b et we e n midn ight and d awn (i f yo u ca n sta nd the cold ).

Gardening: Start Planning!

Fo r mu ch of th e co unt r y, J a n ua r y i s t he best time to s t a r t p la n ni n g you r ga rd en for the up co mi ng s ea s o n.

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History of Divination Shared By :High Priestess, R avensThorn p r i e ste sse s i n b o t h p ast an d present c i v i l i zat i o n s, an d are sp e c i al l y t rai n e d i n t h e p rac t i ce an d i nte r p re t at i o n o f t h e i r d i v i n ato r y sk i l l s.

Prac t i ce o f d i v i n at i o n i s w i d e sprea d an d h as b e e n k n ow n i n v i r t u al l y e ve r y h i sto r i c al p e r i o d. Th e b i bl ic a l p ro p h e t s u se d var i o u s fo r m s of d i v i n at i o n i n re ad i n g t h e f u t u re, a s d i d p ag an p r i e st s an d sh am an s.

Divination is the at tem p t o f a sce r taining info r m at i o n by inte r pretation o f o m ens o r a n a lle g e d sup er natu ral a g ent, ei t her by o r on b e half of a querent (t h e p ers o n t h e inte r pretation i s m ea nt fo r).

From the ear lies t s t a g es o f c ivil ization, pe o p le have us ed va r iou s means o f d i v i n at i o n to co mmunicate wi t h t h e s up er nat ural w he n seek ing help i n t h ei r p ub li c a nd pr ivate lives. I t i s o ne o f t he p r imar y prac ti ces us ed by s ha ma n s, se e r s, pr ies ts, med i ci ne men , so rcerers, and wi tch es.

S uc h persons are o f ten ca lled diviners, who o f ten b elo n g ed to special clas s es o f p r i es t s a nd

I n t h e N e w Te st am e nt, t h e m agi rea d t h e si gn s i n t h e h e ave n s to f i n d the Ch r i st c h i l d. M e d i e val k i n g s an d m o d e r n p re si d e nt s h ave co n su l ted ast ro l o g e r s to d e te r m i n e t h e most p ro p i t i o u s t i m e fo r var i o u s e vents.

Ast ro l o g y was o n e o f t h e f i r st so p h i st i c ate d fo r m s o f d i v i n ation, d at i n g b ac k to an c i e nt M e so p ota m ia n t i m e s. To d ay, m i l l i o n s o f p e o pl e p rac t i ce var i o u s fo r m s o f d i v i n ation, so m e t i m e s w i t h o u t b e i n g aware of i t, ran gi n g f ro m co n su l t i n g o n e’s d ai l y h o ro sco p e i n t h e n e wsp a per to f l i p p i n g a co i n to d e c i d e a co ur se o f ac t i o n .

I n b i b l i c al t i m e s, t h e o b se r vation of t h e f l i g ht o f b i rd s fo r t h e p u r pose of d i v i n at i o n i s sh ow n i n Ecc l e si astes J o se p h p rac t i ce d hyd ro m an c y. He d i v i n e d t h e f u t u re by p o u r i n g water i nto a c u p, t h row i n g l i t t l e p i e ces o f g o l d o r j e we l s i nto t h e f l u i d, o b se r v i n g t h e f i g u re s t h at we re

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History of Divination an o t h e r p rac t i ce o f d i v i n at i o n . I n f ac t, w h e re ve r Ch r i st i an i t y we nt, d i v i n at i o n l o st m o st o f t h e n atura l p owe r an d was co nve r te d to t he su p e r n at u ral “sp i r i t u al ” p owe r.

Th e Gre e k s h ad t h e i r o rac l e s w ho sp o k e fo r t h e g o d s. I n t h e M i ddl e Ag e s grai n , san d o r p e as we re tossed o nto a f i e l d i n o rd e r to re ad t h e p at te r n s af te r t h e su b st an ce s fel l.

for m ed, and pred i c t i n g a cco rd i n g l y (G e nesis). At t he t i m e o f J es us, t h e ma gi lear ned by o b s er v i n g t h e s t ar s t hat the Chr is t ch i ld wo uld b e b or n at a ce r t a i n t i m e a nd p la ce in B ethlehem.

Wit h in the Church, d i v i nat i o n p rove d so strong and at t ra c t i ve to new co nver ts that s y no d s fo r b a d e i t a n d co un cils legislated a g a i ns t i t. Th e Council of Anc y ra d ecreed a f i ve ye ar p e nance to con s ulters o f d i v i ners, a nd cler ics were fo r b i d d en to b eco m e ma gicians or to ma ke a m ulet s ; t ho se w ho wore them were d r i ven o ut of t he Chu rch.

Excommunicati o n o f t ho s e who p ra c ticed d ivin at i o n a ug ur i es wa s e vid ently a gre at f avo r i te. To d ay ’s C hr istian theo lo g y i n clud es i nvo k i n g t he n ame of th e H o ly S p i r i t a n d p raying in the n a me o f t h e s a i nt s to a ccomplish s o m e p ers o na l g o al,

As f ar b ac k as 1 0 0 0 B C t h e Ch i nese h ad “ I CH IN G,” an o rac l e w h i c h i nvo l ve d t h e to ssi n g an d re ading of l o n g sh o r t yar row st i c k s. An o ther an c i e nt Ch i n e se d i v i n ato r y p rac tice w h i c h i s st i l l u se d i s “ fe n g - sh ui,” o r g e o m an c y, w h i c h i nvo l ve s the e re c t i n g o f p hysi c al st r u c t u re s by d e te r m i n i n g t h e c u r re nt s o f e n ergy co u r si n g t h ro u g h t h e e ar t h .

I n t h e M i d d l e Ag e s, t h e p h i l o sopher s we re ave r se to d i v i n at i o n . H owever, am o n g t h e co m m o n fo l k an d som e myst i c s, t h e p rac t i ce was we l l k now n.

A co m m o n p rac t i ce i n t h e M i ddl e Ag e s was to to ss grai n , san d, or pea s o nto a f i e l d i n o rd e r to re ad t h e p at te r n s af te r t h e su b st an ce s fel l.

Al l d u r i n g t h e so - c al l e d D ar k Ages, d i v i n i n g ar t s m an ag e d to l i ve in se c re t, b u t af te r t h e Cr u sad e s they we re fo l l owe d m o re o p e n l y. M a nm a de o r “ vo l u nt ar y ” p h e n o m e n a i s d e f i n e d as b e i n g d e l i b e rate l y p ro d u ce d fo r t h e so l e p u r p o se of so o t h say i n g an d i n c l u d e s su c h a c ts a s n e c ro m an c y, p o u r i n g o i l i nto a ba sin

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History of Divination of water to ob s er ve t h e fo r mat i o n o f b u b b l e s an d r i n g s i n t h e re ce p t ac l e, sho oting ar rows, ca s t i n g lo t s, a nd n u m e ro u s o t h e r ac t s.

The ancient R o m a n s, Eg y p t i a n s, D r u i d s, an d H e b re ws re l i e d o n d i f fe re nt for m s of d ivinat i o n fo r t h ei r q uest i o n s an d sp i r i t u al g u i d an ce. D i v i n at i on p ra c tices in Fra nce a nd G er ma ny we re var i e d.

S l ivers of woo d, f ro m wh i ch t h e bar k h ad b e e n re m ove d o n o n e si d e, we re thrown into t h e a i r, a n d t h e o m e n was i nte r p re te d as f avo rab l e o r unfavorable dep end i n g o n h ow i t l an d e d. Fl am e s l e ap i n g u p o n t h e h e ar th indicated that a g ues t wa s co m i n g.

The latter par t o f t h e n i n eteent h ce nt u r y w i t n e sse d a re v i val, e sp e c i al l y in t he U nited States a nd E ng la n d, wi t h su c h p rac t i ce s as ast ro l o g y, sp i r i t u a l ism a nd other t ype s o f d i v i nat i o n b eco m i n g w i d e l y p o p u l ar.

Today, d ivinati o n h a s b eco me co m m o n p l ace, f ro m ast ro l o g y co l u m n s i n ne wspapers, to la rg e s ec t i o ns o f bo o k sto re s fe at u r i n g d i v i n at i o n to o l s f rom p a l m-read ing a nd p h ren o lo g y to r u n e sto n e s, t h e I Ch i n g an d a vast ar ray of t a rot d ecks es p eci a lly i n p a g a n i s m , w i tc h c raf t, vo o d o o an d S ante r i a. https://corespir it.com/ar ticles/the -histor y- divination

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History of Wishing Wells Shared By :High Priestess, Lady Gloriana to o u r an ce sto r s. O cc asi o n al l y, fresh wate r sp ran g f ro m u n ex p e c te d p l ace s, l i k e f ro m u n d e rgro u n d sp r i n g s o r r i ve r s.

Fo r m any c u l t u re s, p ar t i c u l ar l y an c i e nt Eu ro p e an c u l t u re s, u n d e rgro u n d sp r i n g s we re v i e wed as sp e c i al, sac re d wate r s t h at were gi ve n to m an k i n d as a gi f t f ro m the g o d s. To t h an k t h e g o d s fo r t h eir gif t, t h e y wo u l d d ro p sm al l to k e n s of their ap p re c i at i o n i nto t h e sp r i n g. L ater, co i n s we re u se d.

Wishing Wells and Clean Water I n the mall, in t h e p a r k , o r i n yo ur ne ighbor ’s fro nt ya rd, we s ee wi s h i n g we l l s in a lot o f p la ces a nd we a ll k now what we a re s up p o s ed to d o… drop a coin in a nd ma ke a wi s h .

But how did this custom start and what was the original meaning of it?

Did our ancestors truly believe that they had to pay for their wishes?

And what is the significance of a well?

Le t ’s d ive d eep i nto t he fo lk lo re of w ishing wells.

Wishing Wells and Sacred Water

S ince water is t he key to li fe, f i nd i n g so urces of fresh water wa s i mp o r tant

Cl e an , p o t ab l e d r i n k i n g wate r was— an d st i l l i s— a co n ce r n .

Ant h ro p o l o gi st s w i l l te l l yo u t h at se t t l e m e nt s an d tow n we re e st ab l i sh e d n e ar so u rce s o f c l ea n d r i n k i n g wate r.

To p ro te c t t h e wate r an d k e e p it sa fe f ro m co nt am i n ant s, t h e p e o p l e of ten b u i l t st r u c t u re s, su c h as we l l s or we l l h o u se s an d, t h e se st r u c t ures b e g an a g at h e r i n g p l ace fo r t he p e o p l e o f t h e tow n .

Eve n i f t h e wate r so u rce was l a rge, l i k e a r i ve r o r h ar b o r, fo r t s an d c ast l e s we re co n st r u c te d to p rotec t i t. O f te nt i m e s, i t was t h o u g ht that sp i r i t s o r g o d s l o rd e d ove r t h e se wate r so u rce s an d k e p t t h e m cl ea n.

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History of Wishing Wells Wishing Wells and Ancient Rome

Wish ing wells s eem to b e a ver y ol d t ra dition that wa s p reva lent a cro ss Europe. O ne o f o ur ea r li es t wr i t te n re fe rences to wi s hi n g wells ca me f ro m the second cent ur y i n t h e wo r k s of Pliny the Young er. H e d es cr i b ed se veral ind ividua l s p r i n g s t hat co nverg e into a s t i ll b o d y o f wate r.

He wrote,

“There the water, clear as glass, allows you to see gleaming pebbles on the bottom and the coins the people have thrown in.”

Wishing Wells and the Germanic People

The G er manic t r i b es o f Euro p e b e l ieved that s p i r i t s li ved i n t h e waters and ac tua lly created t he water. The spir i t s li ked to i nter ven e in t h e lives of t he h uma ns li v i ng n e ar t he m .

Th e p e o p l e b u i l t a sm al l te m pl e to Cove nt i n a aro u n d t h e so u rce of the sp r i n g wate r. Arc h e o l o gi st s h ave d i scove re d sm al l to k e n gi f t s to Cove nt i n a, i n c l u d i n g co i n s, g l a ss a nd p o t te r y i te m s, b u t to n s, an d b ea ds, d at i n g b ac k as f ar as 4 0 7 C. E.

Wishing Wells and the Norse

O n e p o p u l ar N o r se l e g e n d re vol ves aro u n d a wate r d e i t y n am e d M im ir.

Acco rd i n g to t h e sto r i e s, M i m i r l ived i n t h e We l l o f Wi sd o m an d g u arded t h e sac re d wate r s. H e d ran k f rom t h e we l l e ve r y d ay, m ak i n g h i m the w i se st b e i n g i n al l t h e l an d. The N o r se g o d O d i n , d e sp e rate to save t h e wo r l d f ro m d e st r u c t i o n , sought a si p f ro m t h e We l l o f Wi sd o m .

I f a person spo ke a lo ud a wi s h o r hop e while s tand i n g over t he wate r, t he spir its mig ht t a ke p i t y o f t h em a nd grant thei r wi s h. A p ers o n cou l d swe eten the d ea l by d ro p p i n g a s m al l co in or another va lua b le to ken i nto t he well in hop es t hat t h e s p i r i t s would be plea s ed.

Wishing Wells and the Celts

The id ea of app ea s i n g t h e s p i r i t s by tos s ing tok en s i nto a well wa s e sp ecially com m o n i n t h e Celt i c c ul tu re. The Celt i c g o d d es s, Coventina, wh o ruled over hea li ng a nd child bir th, ha d a f a mo us well att r ibu ted to h er i n N o r t humb er lan d.

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History of Wishing Wells Th i s l e g e n d was u se d to ex p l a in the re d co l o r o f t h e wate r. S i n ce t hen, p e o p l e h ave p ai d t h e i r re sp e c ts by l e av i n g o f fe r i n g s at t h e we l l.

Wishing Wells are Big Business

S i n ce to ssi n g a co i n i nto a w i shing we l l o r fo u nt ai n i n exc h an g e for a grante d w i sh i s su c h a w i d e sprea d c u sto m , i t h ad b e co m e b i g b usiness.

Tak e R o m e’s Tre v i Fo u nt ai n , for ex am p l e. M o re t h an 3 , 0 0 0 co i n s a re to sse d i nto t h e f am e d fo u nt ai n ea c h d ay. Th at ad d s u p to ab o u t $ 1 .5 m i l l i o n U. S . d o l l ar s p e r ye ar ! The c i t y o f R o m e u se s t h e m o n e y to fund p ro gram s fo r n e e d y p e o p l e i n the co m m u n i t y.

M imir, howeve r, d em a n d ed p ay me nt f ro m O d in befo re h e co uld d r i nk .

The pr ice M im i r d ema nd ed wa s h i g h .

He a sked for O d i n’s r i g ht eye. O d i n e ve ntually agreed to p ay t he p r i ce a nd his eye was t hrown i nto t h e we l l so others could s ee t hat a p r i ce m u st b e p aid in order to s eek wi s d o m f ro m t he well.

https://histor ydaily.org/folktale - origins- of-wishingwells

Wishing Wells and the Holy Grail

The Chalice We ll, o r R ed Well, i s l o c ated in S omers et, E n g la n d. I ron ox id e gives the water a red co lo r t hat the ancient B r i t s a s s o ci ated w ith human blo o d. Acco rd i ng to l o c a l legend s, t he well wa s t he p l ace w he re Joseph o f Ar i m at hea hi d t h e Hol y Grail, the ch a li ce t h at wa s use d to c atch Jes us’s b lo o d at t h e t i m e o f his crucifixion .

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Tarot of the Month The Lovers love is a union with somebody, or something, outside of ones self, under the condition of retaining the separateness and integrity of one’s own self. It is an experience of sharing, or communing, which permits the full unfolding of one’s own interactivity”.

Erich Fromm (Psychologist)

description

t h e l ove r s c ard sh ows a n ak e d m a n an d wo m an st an d i n g b e n e at h the An g e l, R ap h ae l, w h o se n am e m ea ns’ G o d h e al s’ an d re p re se nt s b o th p hysi c al an d e m o t i o n al h e al i n g. The An g e l b l e sse s t h e m an an d wom a n an d re m i n d s t h e m o f t h e i r u n i on w ith t h e d i v i n e.

K e y words Upright:

l ove, har mony, relat i o ns h i p s, va lu e s a l ignment, cho i ces.

Reversed:

se l f -love, d isha r m o ny, i m b a la nce, misalignment o f va lues.

Quotes

I love you not only for what you are but for what I am when I am with you. I love you not only for what you have made of yourself but for what you are making of me. I love you for the part of me that you bring out”.

-Roy Croft(poet)

Th e co u p l e st an d s i n a b e au t i ful, fe r t i l e l an d sc ap e, re m i n i sce nt of The G ard e n o f Ed e n . B e h i n d t h e wom a n st an d s a t al l ap p l e t re e, w i t h a sna k e w i n d i n g i t s way u p t h e t r u n k . The se r p e nt an d t h e ap p l e t re e re present t h e te m p t at i o n o f se n su al p l e a sures t h at m ay t ak e o n e fo c u s away from t h e d i v i n e.

B e h i n d t h e m an i s a t re e o f f l am es, w h i c h re p re se nt s p assi o n , t h e p r i m ar y co n ce r n o f t h e m an . The 1 2 f l am e s su g g e st t h e 1 2 Zo d i ac signs, t h e sy m b o l o f t i m e an d e te r n i t y.

Th e m an l o o k s to t h e wo m an , w ho watc h e s t h e An g e l, sh ow i n g t h e path o f t h e co n sc i o u s to t h e su b co nsc ious to t h e S u p e r- co n sc i o u s, o r f rom p hysi c al d e si re to e m o t i o n al n eeds to sp i r i t u al co n ce r n s.

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Tarot of the Month The Lovers Continued The volcanic m o unt a i n i n t h e b a c kgrou nd is rat her p h a lli c a n d re p resents the erup t i o n o f p a s s i o n t hat happens w h en ma n a nd wo m an me e t in fu ll fro nt a l n ud i t y.

co m m u n i c at i n g o p e n l y an d h onestl y w i t h t h o se yo u c are ab o u t, yo u w i l l c re ate a h ar m o n i o u s an d f u l f i l l i n g re l at i o n sh i p b u i l t o n tr ust an d re sp e c t.

Up r i ght tarot c ard mean in gs

O n a m o re p e r so n al l e ve l, Th e Love r s c ard re p re se nt s g e t t i n g c l ea r ab o u t yo u r val u e s an d b e l i e fs. You are f i g u r i n g o u t w h at yo u st an d for an d yo u r p h i l o so p hy. H av i n g gone t h ro u g h t h e i n d o c t r i n at i o n o f The H i e ro p h ant, yo u are n ow re ady to e st ab l i sh yo u r b e l i e f syste m a nd d e c i d e w h at i s an d w h at i s n o t e sse nt i al to yo u. I t ’s t i m e to g o into t h e b i g w i d e wo r l d an d m ak e c hoices fo r yo u r se l f, st ay i n g t r u e to w h o you are an d b e i n g au t h e nt i c an d genuine i n al l yo u r e n d e avo r s.

General

in it s pures t for m , The Lovers ca rd re p resents cons ci o us co nnec t i o n s an d me a ning fu l relat i o ns h i p s. Th e a r r i val of t his card in Th e Ta ro t rea d i n g shows that you h ave a b ea ut i f ul, s o u l honor ing conn ec t i o n wi t h a loved one. You may beli eve yo u have fo u n d yo ur sou lmate o r li fe p a r t n er, a nd t he sexu al ene rg y b et ween yo u b ot h go e s way beyon d i ns t a nt grat i f i cat i o n a nd lus t to som et h i n g t h at i s ver y sp ir itual and alm o s t t a nt r i c.

While The Lovers ca rd t y p i ca lly re fe rs to a rom a nt i c t i e’s, i t ca n a l so re p resent a clo s e f r i en d s h i p o r f a m i l y re l ations hip w here love, res p ec t a n d co mpas s ion flow. Th e Lovers i s a c a rd of open co m m un i cat i o n a nd raw honest y.

G ive n that the ma n a nd wo ma n a re na ked, they are b o t h wi lli n g to b e i n t he ir most vuln era b le St ates a nd h ave l e a r ned to ope n t h ei r hea r t s to one another a n d s ha re t hei r t r ue s t feelings.

The y shaped th e co nt a i n er f ro m w hich tru s t an d co n f i d en ce ca n e me rg e, and thi s ma kes fo r a p ower ful bond b et ween t h e t wo. I n a re ad ing, this ca rd i s a s i gn t h at by

At i t s h e ar t, Th e Love r s i s ab o u t c h o i ce. Th e c h o i ce ab o u t w h o you want to b e i n t h i s l i fe t i m e, h ow yo u co n n e c t w i t h o t h e r s an d on w h at l e ve l, an d ab o u t w h at you w il l an d wo n’t st an d fo r. To m ak e good c h o i ce s, yo u n e e d to b e c l e ar a bout yo u r p e r so n al b e l i e fs an d val u es- a nd st ay t r u e to t h e m .

N o t al l d e c i si o n s w i l l b e e asy either.

Th e l ove r s c ard i s o f te n a si gn that yo u are f ac i n g a m o ral d i l e m m a an d m u st co n si d e r al l co n se q uences b e fo re ac t i n g. Yo u r val u e system is b e i n g c h al l e n g e d, an d yo u are being c al l e d to t ak e t h e h i g h e r p at h , even i f i t i s d i f f i c u l t.

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Tarot of the Month The Lovers Continued D o not car r y out a d eci s i o n b a s ed o n fe a r or wor r y or g ui lt o r s h a me. N ow, more than ever, yo u m us t cho o s e l ove -love for yo urs elf, love fo r o t h e r s a nd love for th e un i vers e. C h o o s e t h e b e st version o f yo urs elf.

Fina lly, The Lovers ca rd en co ura g e s yo u to unify dua l fo rces. Yo u ca n b r ing tog ether t wo p a r t s t hat a re se e m ing ly in o p p o s i t i o n to o n e a nother and create s o met h i n g t h at is ‘ w hole’, Unif i ed a nd h a r mo n i o us.

I n e ver y choice, t h ere i s a n e qual amou nt o f a d va nt a g e a nd disa d vantag e, o p p o r t uni t y a nd c ha l leng e, pos i t i ve a nd n eg at i ve.

Whe n you acce p t t hes e d ua li t i es, yo u b uil d the u nit y f ro m wh i ch l ove flows.

Career, Work and Finances

I n a career rea d i n g, The Lovers card sugges t you are s eek i n g to a li gn yo u r p ro fes s ional g o a ls wi t h yo ur p ers o n al a sp irations an d va lues. Yo u m ay fe e l c a l l ed to chan g e yo ur ca reer p at h so yo u can follow yo ur p a s s i o n a nd do wor k that tru ly li g ht s yo u up.

I t m ay not make s ens e to o t her p e ople, bu t yo u k n ow d eep wi t h i n yo u that you h ave no cho i ce b ut to fol l ow you r he a r t. Yo u a re a ls o b e i n g a ske d to br ing yo ur wh o le se l f to your wo r k p er i o d d o n’t p re tend to be s o m eo ne yo u’re no t j ust to fit in. B e g en ui ne a nd a uthentic in yo ur i ntera c t i o n s a n d co mmunicate f ro m yo ur center. B e

yo u r se l f, an d yo u’ l l i n sp i re o t h er s to sh ow u p au t h e nt i c al l y, to o, m a k ing fo r a m u c h m o re co h e si ve an d h ar m o n i o u s wo r k p l ace.

Personality types

Th e Love r ’s p e r so n al i t y i s au t h entic an d g e n u i n e. Th i s p e r so n i s ve r y c l e ar ab o u t h i s o r h e r val u e s and b e l i e f syste m s an d c an ar t i c u l ate w h at h e o r sh e b e l i e ve s i n an d sta nds fo r ( an d w hy ) . sh e i s i n to u c h w i t h h e r se l f an d in h ar m o ny w i t h h e r i n n e r fe e l i n gs a nd e m o t i o n s. H i s h e ar t i s o p e n , a nd he c an sh are h i m se l f au t h e nt i c al l y w ith o t h e r s. Th e re are n o re se r vat i ons, no b ar r i e r s an d n o d e fe n se m e c h a nism s.

Wh at yo u se e i s w h at yo u g e t. As a re su l t, Th e Love r s p e r so n al i t i es a re h i g h l y e t h i c al an d l i ve l i fe f ro m their co re b e l i e fs, val u e s an d p r i n c ipl es.

R e l at i o n sh i p s an d l ove Th e Love r ’s c ard i s t h e t aro t c ard for l ove ! I t re p re se nt s t h e re l at i o n ships i n o u r l i ve s, p ar t i c u l ar l y i nt i m ate an d / o r sex u al re l at i o n sh i p s. I t spea k s to are as i n o u r l i ve s w h e re l ove is p r i m ar y an d m ay re f l e c t t h e state of o u r co n n e c t i o n s.

I f yo u are l o o k i n g fo r l ove, Th e Love r s c ard c an su g g e st t h e b e gi n n i n g o f a ro m an ce. Lo o k out fo r o t h e r c ard s t h at m ay co n f i r m t h i s, su c h as Th e Ace o f Cu p s, Two o f Cu p s, o r K n i g ht o f Cu p s.

I t i s al so ve r y i m p o r t ant to you to c re ate a re l at i o n sh i p fo u n d e d on 89

Tarot of the Month The Lovers Continued mutual respec t rat h er t h a n lus t o r p ure physical at t ra c t i o n . Thi s ca rd co un s els you n o t to b e to o ha s t y a nd not to rus h i nto a relat i o ns h ip or mar r iag e befo re yo u have t h o u g ht it throug h.

The Lovers in Reverse

The Lover card i s p ure love a n d ha r mony. R eve rs ed, i t ca n s i gn a l a t im e when you’re o ut o f s y n c wi t h t ho s e around yo u, p a r t i cula r ly yo ur loved one s. Yo u m ay f i nd yo ur relationsh i p s a re s t ra i ned a n d co mmunication i s ch a llen gi ng.

The Lovers revers ed ca n a ls o re fl ec t that the feeli ng s wi t h i n a re l ations hip are no t mut ua l. O ne p e r s on may be mo re em o t i o n a lly invo lved than t he o t h er, a nd t h i s g ap co ul d lead to a d i s a p p o i nt ment a n d inse cu r it y later d own t h e t ra ck . Th e re ve rse lovers a ls o s p ea k to s elf -l ove a nd res pec t. To wh at ex tent d o you honor and accep t who yo u a re a nd t he value you o f fer i n t h i s wo r ld ?

B e mind fu l, too, i f yo u lo o k at o t h e r p e ople and wi s h yo u were m o re li k e t he m . I f the lovers revers ed s h ows u p in a read ing, yo u mi g ht f a ce a to u g h c ho ice with signi f i ca nt co ns eq uen ce s.

I nstead of mak i n g a d eci s i o n b a s e d on your valu es, yo u feel tem p ted to c ut cor ners an d avo i d res p o n s i b i l i t y for you r ac tions. The Lovers rever se d c a n als o s ug g es t i nner co n f li c t s a n d b e ing at war w i t h yo urs elf rat her t ha n with ex te r na l fo rces.

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Oracle of the Month Enchanted Map Oracle Deck

The future has no substance right now; it is a place that has no grounding as of yet. You can’t live there, yet you can take measured steps toward a goal or dream. These steps are impor tant now.

Gu idebook Q uote

“You can learn from the past and imagine a beautiful future, but you must live in the here-and-now.”

G u i d eb ook Exce r pt

“Whenever you set your sights too far ahead, you run the risk of losing your footing, for rarely do the present and future match up exactly on the Enchanted Map that is your life stor y.

The same goes for nostalgia.

You can look into the past wistfully and remember beautiful moments or revisit lessons learned.

However, you can’t live there, nor can you go back and change what was. Yesterday is gone forever. Live fully in the present.

The “now ” is the most power ful place to put your attention. Its magic reaches out in every direction, further than the hear t and soul can see.“ 91

Witchy DIY Make Your Own Rune Set The re are many run i c a lp ha b et s, b ut the mos t co mmo n o n e fo r run e divination is the E ld er Fut ha r k , ma d e of 24 let ters. S o me run e s et s inc l u d e a blan k rune ca lled Wy rd r une or O d in’s run e, b ut t hi s i s a more mod er n a d d i t i o n a nd t h ere i sn’t histor ical evidence o f i t s exi s ten ce.

I n this case, it ’s yo ur cho i ce wh et h e r to a d d it to your s et o r no t.

Al so, it is impo r t a nt to no te t hat r une read ing i s n’t us ed to p red i c t t h e f uture, bu t as a way to a cces s yo u r sub cons cious mi nd a nd g et so me guid ance fo r a p a r t i cula r i s s u e or qu estion.

Runes can be blunt when giving you answers, so be prepared!

M a k i ng your own rune s et wi ll ma k e yo u feel more co nnec ted to i t a s i t w il l have you r energ y a n d p ers o nal to uch. I t ’s also a b ud g et-f r i end ly way to star t, in cas e yo u a ren’t s ure i f t his d ivination m et ho d i s fo r yo u.

Tra ditionally, run e s et s were ma d e w ith natural m ater i a ls a n d t h e g oo d t hing is that m o s t o f t h em a re f re e a nd easily avai la b le!

WOOD

This is my favour i te cho i ce, a s t re e s we re a ver y im p o r t a nt elem ent i n Nor se M ytholog y, es p eci a lly t h e a sh tree ( it is tho ug ht t hat t h e

By : High Priestess, Lady Gloriana

Yg g d rasi l was an ash t re e ) , b ut fe e l f re e to u se wo o d f ro m o t h er sp e c i e s.

Th e b e st wo o d to m ak e yo u r ow n r u n e s wo u l d b e a b ran c h f ro m a f r u i t- b e ar i n g l i v i n g t re e, b u t you c a n al ways u se o t h e r sp e c i e s o f wood i f t h i s i s n o t p o ssi b l e fo r yo u. Ask p e r m i ssi o n b e fo re c u t t i n g i t and l e ave a sm al l o f fe r i n g o f wate r b e fo re l e av i n g. Yo u c an e i t h e r pa int, c ar ve o r py ro grap h t h e r u n e s for a l o n g e r- l ast i n g o p t i o n .

STONES OR PEBBLES

G o to a b e ac h o r r i ve r n e ar you a nd se l e c t so m e sm al l an d f l at stones. I f yo u c h o o se t h i s o p t i o n , b e awa re that t h e y w i l l b e m o re d i f f i c u l t to ca r ve.

Yo u c an al so p ai nt t h e m , b u t it w il l we ar o f f ove r t i m e.

BONES

Th i s i s a m o re co nt rove r si al o ption an d i t i sn’t an e asy m ate r i al to wo r k w i t h . Th e b o n e s sh o u l d be f ro m an i m al s t h at d i e d o f n at ura l c au se s p re fe rab l y.

CLAY

A ve r y e asy m ate r i al to wo r k with, al t h o u g h i t c an al so c h i p p re tt y q u i c k l y w i t h u se i f yo u d o n’t ba k e it p ro p e r l y. B e su re to se al i t, so it l a sts a b i t l o n g e r.

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Witchy DIY Make Your Own Rune Set The most impor t a nt t hi n g to co nsi d e r is that you will need 24 p i eces (o r 2 5 if you d ecide to i n clud e t h e b l a n k ru ne) of whi chever mater i a l yo u prefer and t hey a ll mus t have a sim ilar size a nd s ha p e. Als o, t h e y sho uld be sma ll eno ug h s o a ll o f t he m fit in the p a lm s o f yo ur h a n d s.

Have a cou ple ex t ra p i eces o n t h e side, in case a m i s ha p o ccurs.

Consecrating your runes

Once you have t h e 24 p i eces rea d y, it ’s time to car ve o r p a i nt t he E ld e r Futhar k alphab et. Th e p h o to b elow l ist s them all a s well a s m ea n i n g s.

T HE C A NDLE M E T HO D

To co n se c rate yo u r r u n e se t, i t ’s c r u c i al fo r yo u to b e i n a g o o d h e ad sp ace, so d o n’t r u sh t h i n gs if yo u h ad a b ad d ay o r are fe e l i ng se n si t i ve.

H e re i s a si m p l e m e t h o d, b u t you c a n f i n d m any co n se c rat i o n r i t u al s by d o i n g a q u i c k se arc h .

Li g ht a c an d l e an d p l ace al l your r u n e s o n t h e l e f t si d e, t ak e a mom ent to m e d i t ate an d fo c u s yo u r m i nd on t h e t ask ah e ad.

Th e n p i c k o n e o f t h e r u n e s an d say i t s n am e, m e d i t ate ab o u t i t s m ea ning fo r a m o m e nt an d p ass i t ove r the c an d l e f l am e. O n ce yo u are f i nished, p l ace i t o n t h e r i g ht si d e o f t h e c an d l e an d d o t h e sam e w i t h the rest.

Pl ay s ome nice a nd rela xi ng mus i c, foc us your intent i o ns a n d yo ur mi n d on t h e task an d s ay t h e n a me o f e ac h r une ou t lou d a s yo ur ca r ve o r p a i nt t he m , s o you st a r t g et t i ng f a m i li ar w ith them.

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Witchy DIY By : High Priestess, R avensThorn

Make your own floral incense sticks and indulge your inner earth child.

Got a bunch of fresh, leftover kitchen herbs from last night’s Italian dinner?

Need a project to use up your herb garden surplus? Got some fading wildflowers from your last nature walk? Make a batch of incense wands to store for the winter or give away for Summer Solstice.

Step 1: Choosing Herbs and Flowers

Whe n s elec tin g h er b s a n d f lowers fo r yo u r i n ce n se wan d s, co n si d e r t h e fol l owing:

Minimal Pesticides

The only suref i re way to g ua ra nte e p e st i c i d e - f re e i n ce n se f l o ral sm u d g e stic k s is to grow the i ngred i ent s yo urs el f. Th at sai d, fo o d - grad e h e r b s f ro m t h e grocer y s tore o r wi ld f lowers g at he re d f ro m a re m o te are a g e n e ral l y m ake a p re tt y high- qua li t y wa n d.

Toxicity

S ome her bs, li ke n i g ht s ha d e a n d j i m so n we e d, are tox i c w h e n b u r n e d. Chec k to make sure yo ur her b s a nd f lowe r s are safe to b u r n .

Beauty

Fl owers ad d co lo r a n d f la re to yo u r wan d s. Ch o o se o n e s t h at l o o k p re t t y.

Metaphysical Properties

Fina lly, when s elec t i n g h er b s a nd f l owe r s ( an d e ve n sp i ce s, l i k e c inn amon) for yo ur f lo ra l i n cens e wan d s, co n si d e r t h e i r m e t ap hysi c al p ro per ties and t r y to m atch t h em to t h e i r i nte n d e d u se. Fo r ex am p l e, i f you p l a n to us e it i n a love s p ell, t r y ro se, c i n n am o n an d Q u e e n An n e’s l ace. Or, if yo u want a wa nd to clea r neg at i ve e n e rg y i n yo u r h o m e, ad d l e m o n p e e l or mint.

Step 2: Binding the herbs.

G at her your he r b s a n d f lowers ro u g h l y i n t h e ar ran g e m e nt yo u want t h em .

Unwind s ome n at ura l j ute t wi n e, an d p l ace yo u r b u n d l e o n to p.

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Witchy DIY D o NOT us e s y nt h et i c ro p e o r t h re ad, w h i c h p ro d u ce s tox i c f u m e s w h e n b ur ned. (A 100 % co t to n s ewi n g t h re ad al so wo r k s f i n e, b u t t h e t w i n e give s it a pleas i ng, rus t i c lo o ks ).

Step 3: Tie a firm knot at the top.

Tie a s imple, fi r m k no t a n i nch o r t wo d ow n f ro m t h e to p o f t h e f l o ral sm udg e s tick . Yo u wa nt leave s o m e l o o se at t h e to p so t h at t h e y w i l l “ b re athe” when yo u b ur n i t.

Step 4: Wind the twine.

Fir mly hold ing t he t wi n e wi t h yo u r t h u m b as yo u g o, w i n d i t aro u n d t h e b undle, movin g d own i n a s p i ra l, an d t h e n d o u b l i n g b ac k .

Step 5: Tying off the bundle

Once you secu re t h e b und le wi t h t w i n e, l o o p t h e e n d o f t h e t w i n e ro p e under neath an d p ull t i g ht. Allow t h e b u n d l e to d r y fo r 2 - 3 we e k s ( o r l o n ger if yo u live in a h umi d cli mate). Th e l o n g e r t h e d r y t i m e, t h e b e t te r i t w il l bur n.

Pro Tip: Natu ra lly a i r d r y i ng t h e bu n d l e y i e l d s t h e b e st re su l t s. B u t i f you do n’t have tim e to wa i t, yo u ca n pl ace t h e b u n d l e i n t h e ove n at 2 0 0 d e grees Fa hrenheit for 10 m i n utes. D o NOT l e ave i t i n t h e ove n u n at te n d e d.

Step 6: Anointing with essential oils.

This par t is op t i o n a l, b ut i t ma kes a h u g e d i f fe re n ce. O n ce t h e b u n d l e i s co mpletely d r i ed, co n s i d er a d d i n g a fe w d ro p s o f co m p l i m e nt ar y e sse nt ia l oil s. Exper iment wi t h d i f ferent co m b i n at i o n s an d e n j oy t h e c re at i ve p u r suit!

Burning the floral incense wands.

To b ur n, simpl y li g ht t he t i p a nd bl ow o n i t g e nt l y u nt i l i t b e gi n s to sm ok e.

I f you are havi n g t ro ub le g et t i ng i t to b u r n , i t p ro b ab l y i sn’t d r y e n o u g h yet.

Just ex tinguish i t co m p letely a n d gi ve i t a fe w m o re d ays. https://w w w.moodymoons.com/2021/08/06/how-to -make -floral-incense -sticks/

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Celebrations Thorrablot Shared By : High Priestess, Lady Gloriana t h e N o r we gi an k i n g o f t h at n am e a nd al so a re fe re n ce to Th o r t h e G od of t h u n d e r. Th e wo rd b l o t re fe re n ces a co m m u n al e ve nt.

Th e l i n e ag e o f K i n g Th o r r i h as been d e b ate d as to w h e t h e r h e was a h i sto r i c al p e r so n . H i s n am e appea r s i n m any we l l k n ow M e d i e val poem s i n c l u d i n g B e ow u l f i n t h e e ar l y 1 1 th ce nt u r y.

Th o r r i S n ae r sso n was b e l i e ve d to be t h e K i n g o f Kve n l an d ( N o r way ) a nd G o t l an d ( Fi n l an d ) f ro m 3 2 0 – 36 5 .

This Nord ic holi d ay celeb rates t h e Vik ings and the Anci ent N o rs e G od s w ith a mid -winter fea s t. The “m a i n” fe stival is held i n I cela n d wi t h sm a ller festivals h eld t h ro ug h o ut S c a n d inavia an d wherever N o rd i c re sid ents reside. Tra d i t i o na l m us ic, da ncing, and g a mes a re p o p ula r.

ORIGIN OF THE HOLIDAY

Tho r rablot was a s a cr i f i ci a l ce l e bration to ho no r t h e G o d s. I t was a b olis hed by co n q uer i n g C hr i s t i a n s dur in g the 8th to 11t h cent ur i es. I t wa s res ur rec te d i n t h e late 1800s to honor and rem em b er t h e h i s tor y a nd cultu re of t h e Vi k i ng s. Wr i t ten a ccounts d ate b a ck to t h e 1700s.

KING THORRI SNAERSSON

The celebration co i nci d es wi t h m o nt h of Thor r i in the 13t h week o f wi nte r.

The month of Tho r r i i s n a med fo r

THE GOD THOR OF THUNDER

Th o r, o f te n p o r t raye d c ar r y i n g his h am m e r, was t h e G e r m an i c / N or se G o d o f t h u n d e r, l i g ht n i n g, an d trees.

H e sy m b o l i ze s st re n g t h , p owe r, an d p ro te c t i o n o f m an k i n d. Thor is p o r t raye d as a p owe r f u l m an that wa s st ro n g an d o f te n m e rc i l e ss.

TRADITIONAL FOODS

Vi k i n g s ate a l o t o f fo o d s t h at seem ve r y u n f am i l i ar to u s. D u r i n g this t i m e o f w i nte r d ar k n e ss, f re sh food was sc arce.

M u c h o f t h e fo o d e ate n was t he u n d e si rab l e b o d y p ar t s t h at h a d been p re se r ve d w i t h fe r m e nte d mys a . M ysa i s a h e av y w h e y t h at p re se r ve s a nd b re ak s d ow n p ro te i n to m ak e the m e at s m o re te n d e r.

I n Ice l an d, t h e y ce l e b rate w i t h t rad i t i o n al N o rd i c fo o d s su c h a s

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Celebrations Thorrablot co nte m p o rar y Ice l an d i c f are suc h as sm o k e d sal m o n , l am b, sau sa ges, r ye b re ad, e g g s, an d se a f i sh s uc h a s h ad d o c k an d sh r i m p.

I f yo u are a ve g e t ar i an , t h e y do eat so m e i nte re st i n g ve g e t ab l e s suc h as se awe e d, l ovag e, r h u b ar b, a nd c row b e r r y. M o re m ai n st ay ve geta bl es su c h as t u r n i p s an d c ab b ag e s a re st ar te d i n gre e n h o u se s. O t h e r p o p u l ar fo o d s i n c l u d e b l u e b e r r ies an d w i l d m u sh ro o m s.

STORYTELLING

Th e Ice l an d i c p e o p l e are ve r y wel l re ad an d i t ’s t h e m o st l i te rate co u nt r y i n t h e wo r l d. Th i s l i te ra c y ste m s f ro m a l o n g o ral h i sto r y o f sto r y te l l i n g.

• B rennivin - a lco ho l refer red to as b lack d eath . I t ’s a t y p e o f s ch nap p s mad e from p o t ato es a n d ca raway • • Hangik jot- smo ked la mb • • Ru g brau d - r ye b rea d • • H rutspunga r - ra m’s tes t i cles • • Hak ar i – shar k

O n e way to ce l e b rate Th o r rab l ot is to re ad p o e t r y. Po e t r y o r Kve osk a pur i s ve r y p o p u l ar. E p i c p o e m s c an be t race d b ac k to t h e 1 1 t h ce nt u r y. The Po e t i c Ed d a i s sto r i e s an d p o em s of t h e N o r se G o d s.

R e c i p e s to so m e o f t h e l i ste d foods are i n c l u d e d u n d e r t h e re c i p e sec tion i n t h i s i ssu e.

Enjoy if you dare.

ENJOYING THORRABLOT

The re are many ways we ca n ce l e brate and en j oy t h i s Nor se holid ay.

FEASTING

Have a feas t! S er ve mo re 97

Celebrations Bondadagur Shared By : High Priestess, Lady Gloriana M e an i n g e n d o f w i nte r o r l i t t l e food l e f t… ag ai n , t h e Ice l an d i c l an gua ge p l ay i n g g am e s. Þo r rab l ó t ( S ac r i f i ce Fe ast ) i s k n ow n f ro m t h e sag a l i te rat u re, l i k e l y a m i d w i nte r ce l e b rat i o n hel d i n p ag an t i m e s. Þo r r i o f te n appea r s i n l i te rat u re as t h e p e r so n i f i c ation o f k i n g Wi nte r. R e p re se nte d as a m aj e st i c f i g u re, an an c i e nt h e ro, a n o b l e Vi k i n g war r i o r. H e c an be c r uel an d h ar sh , d e m an d i n g an d b ad te m p e re d.

How do we survive the last days of winter in Iceland?

The for th winter mo nt h (i n t h e ol d Iceland ic ca len d a r) b eg a n, t his month is c a lled “Þ o r r i ”. Þor r i mar ks the h a lf way p o i nt o f w inter! ! Þor r i begi ns o n a Fr i d ay, th e l a st Fr id ay of Ja n ua r y i s ca lled “ B ó nd ad ag ur ” wh i ch mea ns “ Fa r m ers Day ”. “ B ó nd i ” is of te n us ed i n t h e m e a ning “ hus b a nd ”. Th e I cela nd i c l a ngu ag e has m a ny mys ter i o us ways. Þ or r i has been k nown f ro m b a ck in t h e 12th cent ur y. Th e mea ni n g co ul d be from t he g o d Þ ó r o r f ro m t he Iceland ic wo rd “Þ ur r/ þ ver ra” m e a ning d r y o r co mi ng to a n en d.

Þo r rab l ó t s are p o p u l ar i n m o der n t i m e s an d so i s t h e Þo r ram at u r / foodt rad i t i o n al o l d Ice l an d i c w i nte r diet, co nt ai n i n g sm o k e d, p i c k l e d, s a l ted an d d r i e d fo o d. Þo r rab l o t fe asts a re h e l d al l aro u n d t h e co u nt r y, w here p e o p l e e n j oy g o o d fo o d ( l am bs h e ad s, ram s te st i c l e s, c u re d sh ar k , r ye b re ad, d r i e d f i sh an d m any m o re d e l i c i o u s Ice l an d i c d i sh e s! ) S i n gi n g, d an c i n g an d d r i n k i n g, t h e fe ast g o e s o n u ntil the l ate h o u r s… . .

Af te r t h e ad o p t i o n o f Ch r i st i an it y in t h e ye ar 1 0 0 0 t h e t rad i t i o n gradua l l y f ad e d an d t h e n d i sap p e are d. D ur ing Ice l an d ‘s st r u g g l e fo r i n d e p e n dence f ro m D e n m ar k i n t h e 1 9 t h ce ntur y, yo u n g Ice l an d e r s st u d y i n g i n Co p e n h ag e n d e c i d e d to re v i ve the o l d c u sto m o f Þo r rab l ó t, g at h e r ing to fe ast o n t rad i t i o n al Ice l an d i c foods, si n g o l d so n g s an d to d re am of a n 98

Celebrations Bondadagur independ ent Icela n d. Th e f i rs t m o d e r n Þo r r i fe ast to o k p l ace i n t h e D anish c a p ital on Jan ua r y 24t h 1873.

Greeting Þorri dressed in one leg of your pants

The re are many o ld, t ra d i t i o n s li n k e d to t h e m o nt h o f Þo r r i . Th e f i r st d ay of Þ or r i is B ónd ad a g ur, o r h us b a n d ’s d ay. Th e m aste r o f t h e h o u se was t h e refore sup posed to r i s e b efo re t he res t of t h e h o u se h o l d o n t h e f i r st d ay o f Þo r r i to we l come Þor r i wi t h a s p eci a l cere m o ny :

He was to exit the house, wearing only his shirt and dressed in just one leg of his pants, and then hop around the house on one foot, all the while dragging the other pant-leg behind him. After these strange schenanigans a large feast was organized with people from neighbouring farms in attendance.

B y o ther accou nt s Þ o r r i wa s to b e gre e te d by t h e h o u se w i fe, w h i l e t h e ma ster of t he hous e wa s to welco m e t h e m o nt h o f G ó a ( t h e f i f t h m o nt h o f w i nter t hat beg an on a S un d ay b et ween t h e 1 8 t h an d 2 4 t h o f Fe b r u ar y ) : The firs t d ay o f G ó a i s K o n ud a g ur, a d ay o f ce l e b rat i o n o f t h e h o u se w i fe. https://icelandmag.is/ar ticle/today-bondadagur-first-day-thorri-when-icelanders-celebrate -mid-winters-feasts

99

Mythological Creature Gargoyle Shared By : High Priestess, Lady Gloriana an d gro te squ e s are ant h ro p o m or phic, zo o m o r p h i c, an d ve r y m o n ste rous.

St i l l g arg oy l e h as b e co m e t h e a l l e n co m p assi n g te r m u se d to d e fine the c re at u re s c ar ve d o n arc h i te c t ure a nd g u ard i n g t h e g ard e n s o f t h o se w ho l ove t h e h i d e o u s c re at u re s.

Th e M e d i e val p e r i o d h e l d m any su p e r st i t i o u s sto r i e s an d l e g e n ds a nd p ro d u ce d gre at wo r k s o f st r u c tura l ar t. Am o n g t h e se are t h e g argoyl es t h at d e co rate d t h e i r c h u rc h e s a nd i m p o r t ant b u i l d i n g s.

G a rgoyles are us ua lly lum p ed i nto one categor y a s t he s t ra n g e a nd hor r ific car vin g s a n d s t at ua r y o n b uil d ing s. S er v i ng a s s p i r i t ua l gua rd ians thes e s to ne mo n s ters watc h ove r the cit y by ni g ht a n d o b s er ve a ll that pas s b elow t h em . Wh i le al l suc h creatu res a re ter m ed g a rg oyl e s a t r ue g arg oyle i s o n e t h at s er ves as a water spou t.

The name G argoy le co mes f ro m t he Old French “g a rg o ui lle” a n d the L ate L atin “g urg uli o”, b o t h m e a ning throat. Thes e were t h e e ar l y ra in g utters an d s er ved to d i rec t water away fro m b ui ld i ng s. The o th e r c re atures that a d o r n a b ui ld i ng bu t do not ser ve as a water s p o ut a re k nown as grotes q ues. M a ny g a rg oy l e s

Th e sto n e c ar v i n g s se r ve d as i l l u st rat i o n s an d b o o k s fo r t h ose t h at we re i l l i te rate, d o c u m e nting sto r i e s an d l i fe an d re co rd i n g it in a n i n d e st r u c t ab l e i m ag e t h at al l coul d se e an d u n d e r st an d w i t h e ase. S om e g arg oy l e s d ate b ac k to an c i e nt Greece an d R o m e an d we re co n st r u c ted out o f te r ra co t t a.

N o o n e t r u l y k n ows t h e o r i gi n s a nd re aso n i n g b e h i n d t h e g arg oy l e s al t h o u g h m any t h e o r i e s an d l e gends h ave ar i se n i n re ce nt t i m e s. Whether t h e y are ac t u al l y val i d, n o o n e k nows fo r su re.

Mythical and Spiritual Connections

I n M e d i e val t i m e s re l i gi o n an d su p e r st i t i o n so m e t i m e s wal k e d ha nd i n h an d an d we re ve r y i m p o r t a nt to t h e p e o p l e. M any l o o k e d to gods an d g o d d e sse s, sp i r i t s an d g h osts, 100

Mythological Creature Gargoyle to c ar ve t h e i m ag e s o f an c i e nt G ods u p o n t h e h o u se o f t h e o n l y t r u e G o d was b l asp h e my. I t was m erel y a l o gi c al ste p to t ak e t h e g u ardia n asp e c t s o f t h e g arg oy l e an d u se them as p ro te c to r s, e sp e c i al l y si n ce they we re k n ow n i n my t h s to b e g u a rdia ns an d h ave p owe r f u l ab i l i t i e s.

Myth Of The Gargoyle

or other super n at ura l ent i t i es fo r guid ance, fu nda ment a l a ns wers to l ife’s problems, a nd fo r p ro tec t i o n .

The people co uld s ee no b et ter p ro tec tion from ev i l s p i r i t s t ha n p l a c ing imag es o f s up er n at ura l b e ings u pon thei r p la ces o f wo rs h i p.

The se s tone creat ures wo uld wo r k for you and gua rd yo u f ro m t h o s e t hat would see k yo u ha r m . O ne m i g ht have thoug ht t h at h o ly i m a g es wou l d have been u s ed a nd i nd eed ma ny hol d the cruci f i x to b e a p ower f ul e mb lem of god b ut i n o t h er a s p ec t s i t wa s frowned u p o n to ca r ve a n i m ag e of G od u pon on e’s p la ce o f wo rs h i p.

I t was presump t uo us to k now wh at G o d looked like. I ma g es o f C hr i s t we re also thou g ht o f b ut h e wa s me rely a man a nd a lrea d y i n s i d e th i s house of G od. Per ha p s even i m a ge s of t he old G od s were t h o ug ht o f bu t

G arg oy l e s we re k n ow n to st and g u ard an d ward o f f e v i l sp i r i t s a nd f r i g hte n away o t h e r c re at u re s that so u g ht h ar m . Th e m o re h i d e o u s a nd f r i g hte n i n g i n ap p e aran ce i s a l l the b e t te r to sc are o f f al l so r t s o f da r k c re at u re s. At n i g ht t h e y co m e to l ife an d p ro te c t w h i l e o n e i s asl e ep a nd v u l n e rab l e. An d t h e w i n g e d g argoyl es c an f l y aro u n d t h e w h o l e are a a nd cove r an e nt i re v i l l ag e o r tow n a s we l l as t h e c h u rc h .

As t h e su n r i se s t h e G arg oy l e s resum e t h e i r p l ace o n ce m o re to se r ve a s g u ard i an s d u r i n g t h e d ay w h e n their f i e rce v i sag e c an b e se e n an d fr ighten o f f t h o se t h at se e t h e i r f ace s. One o t h e r my t h d at i n g b ac k to an c ient gre e ce i s t h at a g arg oy l e c an pur ify any t ai nte d wate r, an d se e i n g a s how m any se r ve d a f u n c t i o n al p u r pose a s rai n sp o u t s, i t was t h o u g ht t h at w hen i t rai n e d t h e y p u r i f i e d t h e water d e sce n d i n g f ro m t h e sk i e s an d p re ve nte d d i se ase s an d foul wate r su p p l i e s. Th e re are m any m e an i n g s an d sy m b o l i sm t h at dwel l w i t h i n t h e sto n e g u ard i an s.

101

Mythological Creature Gargoyle Disembodied Heads

Figures in fac t f ro m t he 5t h cent u r y ce l t s who were i n f a c t h ea d hunte r s.

The y worshipp ed t h e s evered h ead s a nd claimed th at t h ey h eld p ower f u l forces. To gaze wi t h i n t h ei r eyes would reveal thei r p ower f ul n at ure to t he behold er.

Gender/Species Combinations

Figures of ambi g uo us g en d er a nd sp e cies are fre q uent ly enco untere d in t h e wor ld o f g a rg oy les. Anci ent p e ople were n o d i f ferent f ro m p e ople tod ay i n f i nd i n g a m a lgra m s of male/female o r huma n/ a n i ma l b odi es somewhat f r i g hteni n g. Pa g an re l igion existed to co nf ro nt a n d sur m ou nt chaos a n d d a ng er. C ha os is re presented by li fefo r m s whi ch d o not fit into k n own categ o r i es.

co m i n g f ro m t h e m o u t h o r c row ning t h e h e ad we re a si gn o f d i v i n i t y.

O f te n , t h e b ran c h e s are o f t h e oa k t re e w h i c h was sac re d to t h e Dr uids.

I m ag e s l i k e t h i s h ave co m e to be c al l e d “J ac k O ’Gre e n” o r “ Th e Gre e n M an”

Sex Objects

Fe r t i l i t y was t h e m aj o r t h e m e of p ag an re l i gi o n s, an d fe r t i l i t y sym bol s we re n o t exc l u d e d f ro m c at h e dra l wal l s. I f t h e se sy m b o l s we re o n the o u t si d e wal l s, t h e y m i g ht sc are off e v i l sp i r i t s. Th i s wo u l d ex p l ai n h ow so m e f ai r l y c r u d e sex u al i m ag e r y c am e to b e p re se r ve d on the o u te r wal l s.

Open Mouth

You will find t h at a n i no rd i n ate num ber of garg oy les h ave t h ei r mou ths wid e o p en a nd t h ei r to ng u e s p ro trud ing. Th e mo ut h p ulled o p e n is a frequent sy mb o l o f d evo ur i ng gia nts. I n ord e r to co nvey s i ze i n a sm a ll sculptu re, m uch s m a ller f i g u re s a re placed nex t to t he “gi a nt ”. Th e a c t of pulling t he mo ut h o p en i s a t hre atening ges t ure wh i ch s er ves to re m ind u s that we a re v uln era b le to forces larger th a n o urs elves.

Men with Foliage

The Celts of ten d ep i c ted a huma n he a d ent wined wi t h fo li a g e. B ra n c h e s 102

Mythological Creature Gargoyle Fro m t h e sto n e g u ard i an s t h at a dor n t h e c at h e d ral s an d c h u rc h e s of ol d, an d t h e l e g e n d s o f t h e i r p ro tec tion, sp ran g a t al e o f f ant asy an d wonder i n a c ar to o n k n ow n si m p l y as G arg oy l e s. B y d ay t h e y are m erel y sto n e c re at u re s to ad o r n b u i l dings, by n i g ht t h e y are d e fe n d e r s o f a c it y.

True it is just a cartoon, a show of fancy and imagination, but aren’t all great creatures born from the imagination?

However, s ome wo uld a rg ue t h at t he se imag es m ay a ro us e mo re t h an t he y d iscou rage. The mo s t crud el y sex ual image i s p er h a p s t h at o f S he elagh-na- G i g, co mmo n ly fo un d o n me d ieval I r ish churches. H er eyes are t yp ically round a n d d eep ly d r i lled, w ith no mou th a n d a n o b s cene p ose.

S he ela Na G igs a re q ua s i - ero t i c s to n e c a r v ings of a fem a le f i g ure us ua ll y foun d on Nor m a n churches.

The y consist o f a n o ld wo m a n squatting and p ulli n g a p a r t her vul va, a fair ly s t ra ng e t h i n g to f i n d on a chu rch.

O u t o f al l t h e my t h s, l e g e n d s, a nd g u e sse s t h at h ave g o n e i nto t h e re aso n i n g fo r g arg oy l e s, I t h i nk t h at t h e y sp e ak m o st e l o qu e ntl y fo r t h e m se l ve s w h e n yo u v i e w the b e au t i f u l l y h o r r i f i c i m ag e s t h at a dor n a c at h e d ral o r si t q u i e t l y i n a ga rden.

Wh e t h e r t h e y t r u l y d o g u ard us from e v i l sp i r i t s o r j u st ad o r n o u r l i ves, p e r h ap s i t i s g o o d to k n ow t h at they are st i l l o n watc h w h e n t h e d ar k ness i s t h i c k ab o u t an d t h e su n i s f a r from o u r e ye s.

https://about-mythical- creatures.weebly.com/ g argoyle.html

103

Mythological Creature Wendigo Shared By : Brittanica re l at i ve o f B i g fo o t. B u t o t h e r repor ts co m p are t h e we n d i g o to a we rewol f i n ste ad.

S i n ce t h e we n d i g o i s sai d to be a co l d -we at h e r c re at u re, m o st s ightings h ave b e e n re p o r te d i n Can ad a , a s we l l as co l d e r n o r t h e r n st ate s in the U. S . l i k e M i n n e so t a. At t h e t u r n of t h e 2 0 t h ce nt u r y, t h e Al g o n quia n t r i b e s b l am e d m any u n so l ve d d i sap p e aran ce s o f p e o p l e o n we n d i g o at t ac k s.

What Does The Wendigo Look Like?

Accord ing to Alg o n q ui n leg en d s, t h e we nd igo hau nt s t h e n o r t her n fo re st s of t he United St ates a nd Ca n a d a , a l ways look ing fo r p eo p le to eat.

As the tale g o es, t he wen d i g o wa s once a los t hu nter. D ur i ng a b rut al l y co l d winter, th i s ma n’s i ntens e hunger d rove h i m to ca nni b a li s m .

Af te r feas ting o n a no t her h uma n’s f l e sh, he trans fo r med i nto a cra ze d ma n-beas t, roa mi ng t h e fo res t i n se a rch of more p eo p le to eat.

The s tor y of th e wen d i g o (sometimes sp elled wi nd i g o) co mes from Al g o n q ui a n N at i ve Ame r ican folk lo re, a n d t h e exa c t de tails var y d e p end i n g o n wh o you a sk . S ome peop le wh o h ave cla i m e d to e ncou nter t he b ea s t s ay i t ’s a

Fo r b e i n g an i n sat i ab l e p re d ator, the we n d i g o i s d e f i n i te l y n o t t h e l a rgest o r m o st m u sc u l ar b e ast o u t t h ere.

Th o u g h h e i s sai d to b e al m o st 1 5 fe e t t al l, h i s b o d y i s o f te n d e s c r ibed as e m ac i ate d.

Pe r h ap s t h i s c an b e at t r i b u te d to the n o t i o n t h at h e i s n e ve r sat i sf i ed w ith h i s c an n i b al i st i c u rg e s. O b se ssed w i t h h u nt i n g fo r n e w v i c t i m s, he i s fo re ve r h u n gr y u nt i l h e’s e ating an o t h e r p e r so n .

Acco rd i n g to Le g e n d s o f t h e N ah an n i Val l e y, a N at i ve au t h or an d e t h n o grap h e r n am e d B asil H. J o h n sto n o n ce d e sc r i b e d t h e wendigo i n h i s m aste r wo r k Th e M an i to u s as su c h :

“The Wendigo was gaunt to the point of emaciation, its desiccated skin pulled 104

Mythological Creature Wendigo tightly over its bones. With its bones pushing out over its skin, its complexion the ash gray of death, and its eyes pushed back deep into the sockets, the Wendigo looked like a gaunt skeleton recently disinterred from the grave.

What lips it had were tattered and bloody Unclean and suffering from suppurations of the flesh, the Wendigo gave off a strange and eerie odor of decay and decomposition, of death and corruption.”

Accord ing to et hno hi s to r i a n N at h an Ca r l son, it ’s al s o b een s a i d t h at t h e we nd igo has l a rg e, s h a r p claws a n d ma ssive eyes l i ke a n owl. H oweve r, so me other pe o p le s i m p ly d es cr i be t he wend ig o a s a s keleto n-li ke f i gu re w ith ash-toned s k i n .

Dif ferent versi o ns o f t h e wen d i g o l e ge nd s ay d ifferent t hi n g s a b o ut his speed and a gi li t y. S o me cla i m he is u nu s ually f a s t a n d ca n en d u re wa l k ing for lon g p er i o d s o f t i m e, e ve n in hars h wi nter co n d i t i o ns.

O t hers say he wa lks i n a mo re ha ggard mann er, a s i f h e i s f a lli ng a p a r t. But s peed wo uld n’t b e a ne cess ar y sk ill fo r a m o ns ter o f t his natu re.

Unl ike other te r r i f y i ng ca r n i vo res, t he wend ig o d o es n’t rely o n p urs u i n g his prey in ord er to ca p t ure a n d e at it. R ather, o ne o f hi s creep i es t t ra its is his abi li t y to m i mi c huma n

vo i ce s. H e u se s t h i s sk i l l to l u re p e o p l e i n an d d raw t h e m away from c i v i l i zat i o n . O n ce t h e y ’re i so l ated i n t h e d e so l ate d e p t h s o f t h e w i l d e r n e ss, h e at t ac k s t h e m an d then fe ast s o n t h e m .

Th e Al g o n qu i an p e o p l e say t h at d u r i n g t h e t u r n o f t h e 2 0 t h ce ntur y, a l arg e n u m b e r o f t h e i r p e o p l e went m i ssi n g. Th e t r i b e s at t r i b u te d m a ny o f t h e myste r i o u s d i sap p e arances to t h e we n d i g o, t h u s c al l i n g h i m the “sp i r i t o f l o n e l y p l ace s.”

An o t h e r ro u g h t ran sl at i o n o f wendigo i s “ t h e e v i l sp i r i t t h at d e vo u r s m an k i n d.” Th i s t ran sl at i o n i s re l ate d to ye t an o t h e r ve r si o n of the we n d i g o t h at h as t h e p owe r to c ur se h u m an s by p o sse ssi n g t h e m .

O n ce h e h as i n f i l t rate d t h e i r m inds, h e c an t u r n t h e m i nto we n d i g os a s we l l, i n st i l l i n g u p o n t h e m a si m il a r l u st fo r h u m an f l e sh .

O n e o f t h e m o st i n f am o u s c as es is t h e sto r y o f Sw i f t Ru n n e r, a N ative Am e r i c an m an w h o m u rd e re d a nd ate h i s w h o l e f am i l y d u r i n g t h e w inter o f 1 8 7 9 . Acco rd i n g to An i m al Pl a net, Sw i f t Ru n n e r c l ai m e d to b e p ossessed by a “ w i n d i g o sp i r i t ” at t h e t i m e o f t h e m u rd e r s. St i l l, h e was h a nged fo r h i s c r i m e.

Fr i g hte n i n g l y e n o u g h , t h e re were q u i te a fe w o t h e r sto r i e s ab o ut 105

Mythological Creature Wendigo t he se spir its sup p o s ed ly p o s s es s in g p e ople in com muni t i es s t retch i n g f ro m nor ther n Q ueb ec to t he R o c k ies. M any o f t hes e rep o r t s we re shock ingly s i mi la r to t he Sw i f t Runn er case.

The Deeper Meaning Of The Word “Wendigo”

Whe ther you beli eve t h e wen d i g o l ur ks in the wo o d s at ni g ht o r not, this is not j us t a n o t her b oog eyman sto r y mea nt to s ca re p e ople for no rea s o n. I t a ls o ha s histor ical sign i f i ca nce fo r m a ny I ndigenou s com m un i t i es.

B u t i ro n i c al l y e n o u g h , t h e se stor ies m i g ht ac t u al l y re p re se nt t h e I n d i g e n o u s p e o p l e’s re sp o n se to the h o r r i f i c v i o l e n ce u n l e ash e d o n them by n o n - N at i ve p e o p l e. I n f ac t, m a ny ant h ro p o l o gi st s b e l i e ve t h at the co n ce p t o f a we n d i g o o n l y d e vel oped af te r t h e N at i ve p e o p l e h ad conta c t w i t h t h e Eu ro p e an s.

R e w r i t i n g Ap o c al y p se ad d s t h at som e m o d e r n - d ay co n f u si o n ab o u t the we n d i g o m ay h ave to d o w i t h cer ta in te r m s g e t t i n g l o st i n t ran sl at i on:

“One well-known mistake was traced to the compiler of a dictionary, who entered the information regarding the word ‘Wendigo’ and substituted the word ‘ghoul’ for the appropriate word ‘fool’ because he thought the Native people meant ‘ghoul.’”

The legend of t h e wen d i g o ha s l o ng been ass o ci ated wi t h rea ll ife problems l i ke i ns at i a b le greed, se l f is hness, an d v i o lence. I t ’s a ls o l inked to the m a ny cult ura l t a b o o s a ga i ns t these neg at i ve a c t i o ns a nd behaviors.

B a sically, the wo rd wend i g o ca n a l so f unc tion as a s y mb o l fo r g lut to ny a nd the image o f exces s. As B a s i l Johns ton has w r i t ten, t he i d ea o f “ t ur n ing Wend i g o” i s a ver y rea l p ossibilit y when t h e wo rd refers to se l f - d estruc tio n, rat her t h a n li teral l y b e coming a mo n s ter i n t h e fo res t.

Accord ing to R ewr i t i n g Ap o ca ly p se in Canad ian Fi c t i o n , wend i g o stor i es were on ce v i ewed a s a n “il l ustration” of t h e v i o lent a n d p r imitive natu re o f t he ver y p eo pl e te l l in g thos e s to r i es.

B u t w h at ab o u t t h o se sc ar y wendigo sto r i e s t h at su p p o se d l y af fe c ted re al p e o p l e ? S o m e ant h ro p o l ogists al so arg u e t h at we n d i g o sto r i e s — e sp e c i al l y t h o se i nvo l v i n g we n digo acc u sat i o n s — are l i n k e d to st re ss w i t h i n t h e N at i ve Am e r ic a n co m m u n i t i e s. Th e l o c al te n si on l e ad i n g u p to su c h acc u sat i o ns m ay e ve n b e co m p arab l e to t h e fe ar that p re ce d e d t h e S al e m w i tc h t r i a l s.

H owe ve r, i n t h e c ase o f t h e N ative Am e r i c an co m m u n i t i e s, m o st of the st re ss was d u e to a d w i n d l i n g a m ount 106

Mythological Creature Wendigo of resou rces, no t to ment i o n t h e ex ter mination o f fo o d i n t h e a rea.

h ap p e n e d b e t we e n t h e 1 8 0 0 s a nd 1 9 2 0 s. Fe w re p o r t s o f t h e c re ature h ave su r f ace d si n ce t h e n .

Under those circumstances, who could blame them for having a fear of starvation?

https://allthatsinteresting.com/wendigo

Just abou t the o n ly t h i n g s ca r i er might be what o n e wo uld d o i f t h e sta r vation bec a me to o much to ha nd le. Bu t wh at a b o ut t ho s e s car y we nd igo s tor ie s t h at s up p o s ed ly a f fe c ted real p eo p le?

S ome anthropo lo gi s t s a ls o a rg ue t hat wend ig o s to r i es — es p eci a lly t ho s e involvin g wend i g o a ccus at i o n s — a re link ed to s t res s wi t hi n t h e Native Amer ica n co mmuni t i es. Th e l o c a l tension lea d i ng up to s uch a cc u s ations m ay even b e co m p a rab l e to t he fear that p reced ed t h e S a le m w itc h tr ials.

However, in the ca s e o f t he N at i ve Ame r ican com m un i t i es, m o s t o f t h e stre ss was d u e to a d wi nd li n g a m o u nt of resou rces, no t to ment i o n t h e ex ter mination o f fo o d i n t h e a rea.

Under those ci rcum s t a nces, wh o co ul d blame th em fo r h av i n g a fear o f sta r vation?

Just abou t the o n ly t h i n g s ca r i er might be what o n e wo uld d o i f t he star vation b eca me to o m uch to hand le. The va s t m a j o r i t y of supposed wen d i g o s i g ht i ng s 107

Mythological Creature Cyclops By : Mawu Cardea

I n Greek mytho lo g y a n d later R o m an myt h olog y, the Cyclo p es a re gi a nt one - eyed creat ures. Th ree gro up s of Cyclopes can b e d i s t i n g ui s h ed.

I n H omer ’s O d ys s ey, t hey a re a n unc ivilized gro up o f s h ep herd s, t h e b re thren of Poly p hem us en co unte re d

by O d yss eu s. Cyclo p es were a ls o f a mou s as the b ui ld ers o f t he Cyc l opean wal ls o f M ycen a e a n d Tir y ns.

Th e y we re sh e p h e rd s w h o l i ve d in the so u t hwe ste r n p ar t o f S i c i l y, ac tivel y ate h u m an s an d l i ve d w i t h t h e ir w i ve s an d c h i l d re n i n c ave s r ul ing ove r t h e m w i t h ar b i t rar y p ower.

Cyc l opes mean s ‘ro und eye’ co nsid ered the s o ns o f U ra nus a nd G a ia, they were t h e wo r k m en o f t h e G o d Hephaes t us wh o s e wo r ks ho p was in t h e hear t of t he vo lca n i c mo unt ai n Et na in Sicily.

https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/myths/ cyclopes/”>Cyclopes: https://greekgodsandgoddesses. net</a> - Greek G ods & G oddesses, Januar y 3, 2017

https://en.wik ipedia.org/wik i/Cyclopes

The re is a medi ca l co n d i t i o n ca lle d Cyc l opia, als o ca lled s y no p ht h a lm i a, c ha rac ter ized by t h e p res ence o f o n e e ye i n the midd le o f t he h ea d, i n t he place where t h e n o s e wo uld b e p l a ced. Cyclopi a i s a b i r t h d efec t t hat hard ly ever h a p p en s. I t i s ra re a nd hu man ba b i es a re p res er ved i n me d ical mu s eu m s.

w w w.google.net

Accord ing to G reek my t h o lo g y t h e y we re a wild race o f lawles s creat u re s w ho poss ess n ei t her s o ci a l m a n ne r s nor fear of the G o d s. Als o d es cr i be d a s w ild savag es, who a b s t a i n ed f ro m a gr icultu re an d laws o t her t h a n e ve r y ma n for himself.

An o t h e r p o ssi b l e o r i gi n fo r t h e myth o f t h e se m o n ste r s i s An c i e nt Greek s m ay h ave fo u n d p re h i sto r i c d wa r f e l e p h ant sk u l l s t h at h ad l arg e nava l c av i t i e s an d m ay h ave b e e n mista k en fo r o n e l arg e e ye. M y qu e st i o n is an swe re d.

Two Cyc l o p s i n H e si o d ’s Th e o gony we re t h e so n s o f U ran u s ( S k y ) G a ia ( E ar t h ) . Acco rd i n g to H e si o d, t h e re we re t h re e Cyc l o p e s, k n ow n a s Arg o s ( “ Vi v i d l y B r i g ht ” ) , Ste ropes ( “ Li g ht n i n g M an” ) an d B ro nte s ( “ Th u n d e r M an” ) , an d t h e y we re sk i l l e d an d p owe r f u l b l ac k sm i ths.

I n l ate r t al e s t h e y are sai d to h ave assi ste d w i t h sm i t h - g o d H e p h a istos i n h i s fo rg e u n d e r M t. Et n a i n Sic il y.

Th e se wo r k m e n are c re d i te d with c re at i n g t h u n d e r b o l t s, t h e we a pons u se d by Ze u s to d e fe at t h e t i t a ns, a nd t h e y are al so t h o u g ht to h ave m a de t h e al t ar at w h i c h Ze u s an d h i s a l l ies swo re al l e gi an ce b e fo re t h at wa r.

108

Mythological Creature Cyclops The altar was e vent ua lly p la ced i n t h e sk y as t h e co n ste l l at i o n k n ow n as Ara (“Al tar ” in L ati n), Th e Cyclo p s a ls o fo rg e d a t r i d e nt fo r Po se i d o n an d t h e He l met of Dar k nes s fo r H a d es.

The most famo us c yclo p s i s Po ly ph e m u s, w h o c ap t u re d t h e Gre e k h e ro O dysseu s and h i s men o n ly fo r t h e m to e sc ap e by b l i n d i n g t h e p o o r gi ant.

Cyc l ops were the g en erat i o n b efo re t h e O l y m p i an g o d s. R o b e r t Grave s (ex per t on Gre ek my t h o lo g y ) m a k e s t h e fo l l ow i n g co n n e c t i o n b e t we e n Cyc l ops, fire & m et a llurg y : The Cyclopes seem to have b een a g u i l d o f E ar l y H e l l ad i c b ro n ze sm i t h s.

Cyc l ops means ‘r i ng - eyed ’, a nd t h e y are l i k e l y to h ave b e e n t at to o e d w i th co ncentr ic r in g s o n t h e fo rehea d, i n h o n o r o f t h e su n , t h e so u rce o f t h e ir f ur nace fires… . Th e Cyclo p es were o n e - e ye d al so i n t h e se n se t h at sm i t hs of te n shad e one eye wi t h a p atch ag ai n st f l y i n g sp ar k s.

This exac t same p a s s a g e i s rep eate d i n Pl ato’s Laws ( B k . III 6 8 0 b) Th e p hil os opher, wr i t i ng t h i s later wor k i n t h e m i d - 4 t h ce nt u r y B CE , h as h i s c ha rac ters d is cus s t h e v i r t ues a nd f au l t s o f ex i st i n g p o l i t i c al syste m s as they se a rch for the i d ea l fo r m o f g over n m e nt, an d t h e Cyc l o p e s are h e l d u p as one of t he poorer exa m p les o f co mmu n al ex i ste n ce.

Pe r haps d u e to t h ei r s t at us a s law l e ss m o n st ro si t i e s rat h e r t h an g o d s, t he Cyc l opes d id n o t p lay ver y much par t i n Gre e k re l i gi o n . Th e re was o n e pl a ce w he re the one - eyed gi a nt s were wo r sh i p p e d, t h o u g h , t h at was t h e Ist h mus of Cor inth, per ha p s b eca us e o f a co n n e c t i o n w i t h Po se i d o n , o f te n se e n as t he father of t he c yclo p s Po ly p hem u s. Th e Ist h m i an G am e s we re h e l d h ere e ve r y t wo years i n h o no r o f Po s ei d o n , an d t h e re was an al t ar w h i c h re ce ived sa c r i fices for th e Cyclo p es.

https://w w w.wor ldhistor y.org/Cyclops_(Creature)

109

Mythological Creature The Abominable Snowman Shared By : Brittanica

History of the Yeti

Th e Ye t i i s a c h arac te r i n an c i e nt l e g e n d s an d fo l k l o re o f t h e H i m a l aya p e o p l e. I n m o st o f t h e t al e s, t h e Ye t i i s a f i g u re o f d an g e r. Th e m o ral o f t h e sto r i e s i s o f te n a war n i n g to avo i d d an g e ro u s wil d an i m al s an d to st ay c l o se an d sa fe w i t h i n t h e co m m u n i t y.

Al ex an d e r t h e Gre at d e m an d e d to see a Ye t i w h e n h e co n q u e re d t h e I ndus Val l e y i n 3 2 6 B. C. B u t, acco rd i n g to N at i o n al G e o grap h i c, l o c al p e opl e to l d h i m t h e y we re u n ab l e to present o n e b e c au se t h e c re at u re s co ul d not su r v i ve at t h at l ow an al t i t u d e.

The Yeti, once b et ter k nown a s t he Abominable S n owm a n , i s a myster iou s bip ed a l creat ure s a i d to l ive in the m o unt a i n s o f As i a . I t so metimes leaves t ra cks i n s now, b ut is also s aid to d well b elow t he H im alayan snow li n e.

The Yeti is said to b e mus cula r, covered with d a r k gray i s h o r red d i sh b rown hair, an d wei g h b et ween 2 0 0 a nd 400 lbs. I t i s relat i vely s h o r t co mpared to N o r t h Am er i ca’s B i g fo o t, ave raging about 6 feet i n h ei g ht.

Tho u g h this is t he mo s t co mmo n for m , repor ted Yet i s have co me i n a va r iet y of s hapes.

I n m o d e r n t i m e s, w h e n We ste r ner s st ar te d t rave l i n g to t h e H i m al aya s, t h e my t h b e c am e m o re se n sationa l, acco rd i n g to t h e B B C. I n 1 9 2 1 , a j o u r n al i st n am e d H e n r y N e w ma n i nte r v i e we d a gro u p o f B r i t i sh ex p l o re r s w h o h ad j u st re t u r n ed from a M o u nt Eve re st ex p e d i t i o n .

Th e ex p l o re r s to l d t h e j o u r n alist t h e y h ad d i scove re d so m e ve r y l arg e fo o t p r i nt s o n t h e m o u nta in to w h i c h t h e i r g u i d e s h ad at t r i b u ted to “m e to h - k an gm i ,” e sse nt i al l y m e an i n g “m an - b e ar sn ow- m an.”

N e w m an g o t t h e “sn ow m an” pa r t r i g ht b u t m i st ran sl ate d “m e to h” a s “ f i l t hy.” Th e n h e se e m e d to t h i nk “ab o m i n ab l e” so u n d e d e ve n b etter 110

Mythological Creature The Abominable Snowman a nd us ed this mo re m ena ci n g n a m e i n t he paper. Thus a leg en d wa s b o r n .

I n her book “St i ll L i v i n g ? Yet i , S a squatch, and t h e N ea n d er t ha l Enigma” ( 1983, Th a mes a nd Hudson), research er M y ra S h a ck le y of fe rs the followi ng d es cr i p t i o n, re p or ted by t wo hi kers i n 1942 wh o saw “ t wo black s p ecks mov i ng a c ros s the snow a b o ut a q ua r ter mil e below the m.”

D e spite this si gni f i ca nt d i s t a n ce, t h e y of fe red the followi ng ver y d et a i le d de scr iption:

“The height was not much less than eight feet ... the heads were described as ‘squarish’ and the ears must lie close to the skull because there was no projection from the silhouette against the snow. The shoulders sloped sharply down to a powerful chest ... covered by reddish brown hair which formed a close body fur mixed with long straight hairs hanging downward.”

Another pers o n s aw a creat ure “a b ou t the s ize a nd b ui ld o f a sm a ll man, the hea d covered w ith long hair b ut t h e f a ce a nd ches t not ver y ha i r y at a ll.

R e dd ish-brown i n co lo r a n d b ip ed al, it was b us y gr ubbing u p ro o t s a n d occ as ionally emi t ted a lo ud high-pitched c r y.”

H e d e sc r i b e s h i s ow n e n co u nter w i t h a l arg e, u n i d e nt i f i ab l e c reature i n h i s b o o k “M y Q u e st fo r t h e Ye t i : Co n f ro nt i n g t h e H i m al ayas’ D e e p e st M yste r y ” ( St. M ar t i n’s, 2 0 0 1 ) .

I n M arc h 1 9 8 6 , Ant h o ny Wo o l dr idge, a h i k e r i n t h e H i m al ayas, saw what h e t h o u g ht was a Ye t i st an d i n g in t h e sn ow n e ar a r i d g e ab o u t 5 0 0 feet away. I t d i d n’t m ove o r m ak e noise, b u t Wo o l d r i d g e saw o d d t rac k s in t h e sn ow t h at se e m e d to l e ad towa rd t h e f i g u re. H e to o k t wo p h o to gra phs o f t h e c re at u re, w h i c h we re l ater an al y ze d an d p rove n g e n u i n e.

M any i n t h e B i g fo o t co m m u n i t y se i ze d u p o n t h e p h o to s as c l e a r e v i d e n ce o f a Ye t i , i n c l u d i n g J o h n N ap i e r, an an ato m i st an d ant h ro p o l o gi st w h o h ad se r ve d a s the S m i t h so n i an I n st i t u t i o n’s d i re c tor of p r i m ate b i o l o g y.

M any co n si d e re d i t u n l i k e l y Wo o l d r i d g e co u l d h ave m ad e a m i st ak e b e c au se o f h i s ex te n sive h i k i n g ex p e r i e n ce i n t h e re gi on. The fo l l ow i n g ye ar, re se arc h e r s re tur ned to w h e re Wo o l d r i d g e h ad t ak e n the p h o to s an d d i scove re d t h at h e ha d si m p l y se e n a d ar k ro c k o u tc ropping t h at l o o k e d ve r t i c al f ro m h i s p o si t i o n . I t was al l a m i st ak e — m u c h to t h e e m b ar rassm e nt of som e Ye t i b e l i e ve r s.

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Mythological Creature The Abominable Snowman Yeti evidence?

Russian search for Yeti

I n 1 960, Sir Ed m un d H i lla r y, t h e f i r st ma n to s cale M t. Everes t, s ea rch ed for evid ence o f t he Yet i . H e fo und w hat was claim ed to b e a s ca lp f ro m t he beast, tho ug h s ci ent i s t s later de ter mined th at t h e h elm et-s h a pe d hide was in fac t m a d e f ro m a s erow, a H imalayan an i ma l s i mi la r to a g o at.

B i g fo o t re se arc h e r an d b i o l o gist J ohn B i n d e r n ag e l c l ai m e d t h at h e s aw e v i d e n ce t h at t h e Ye t i n o t o n l y exist b u t al so b u i l d n e st s an d sh e l te r s out o f t w i ste d t re e b ran c h e s. Th at group m ad e h e ad l i n e s aro u n d t h e wor l d w h e n t h e y i ssu e d a st ate m e nt that t h e y h ad “i n d i sp u t ab l e p ro o f ” of t h e Ye t i , an d we re 9 5 p e rce nt sure i t ex i ste d b ase d o n so m e gre y ha ir s fo u n d i n a c l u m p m o ss i n a c ave.

M o st of the ev i d ence fo r t he Yet i co mes from s ight i ng s a n d rep o r t s.

Like Big foot and t h e Lo ch N es s mons ter, there i s a d i s t i n c t la ck o f ha rd proof for t he Yet i ’s exi s tence, t ho ug h a few p i eces o f ev i d en ce h ave e me rg ed over t he yea rs.

I n 2 007, Amer i ca n T V s h ow h o s t Josh G ates clai m ed h e fo un d t h re e myster iou s foot p r i nt s i n s now n ear a stre am in the H i m a laya s.

I n 2 010, hu nte rs i n C hi n a ca ug ht a strang e anima l t h at t h ey cla i m e d wa s a Yeti. This mys ter i o us, ha i r le ss, four-legg ed an i ma l wa s i ni t i a lly de scr ibed as h av i ng feat ures re se mbling a b ea r, b ut wa s f i na lly ide ntified as a ci vet, a s m a ll catl ike animal that ha d lo s t i t s h a i r f ro m d is ease.

A f inger once revered i n a mo n a s te r y in Nepal and lo ng cla i m ed to b e f ro m a Ye ti was exami ned by res ea rch er s at t he Ed inbu rg h Zo o i n 2011.

Th e Ru ssi an g ove r n m e nt to o k a n i nte re st i n t h e Ye t i i n 2 0 1 1 , an d o rg an i ze d a co n fe re n ce o f B i g foot ex p e r t s i n we ste r n S i b e r i a.

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B i n d e r n ag e l m ay h ave b e e n i m p re sse d, b u t an o t h e r sc i e ntist w ho p ar t i c i p ate d i n t h e sam e ex p edition co n c l u d e d t h at t h e “i n d i sp u t a bl e” e v i d e n ce was h o axe d. N o t o n l y wa s t h e re o bv i o u s e v i d e n ce o f to ol m ad e c u t s i n t h e su p p o se d l y “ Yetit w i ste d ” b ran c h e s, b u t al so t h e t re e s we re co nve n i e nt l y l o c ated just o f f a we l l - t rave l e d t rai l an d h a rdl y in a re m o te are a.

DNA samples

I n 2 0 1 3 , Ox fo rd g e n e t i c i st B r ya n Sy k e s p u t o u t a c al l to al l Ye t i b e l i e ve r s an d i n st i t u t i o n s aro u nd the wo r l d c l ai m i n g to h ave a p i e ce of Ye t i h ai r, te e t h o r t i ssu e t ak e n from a si g ht i n g. H e re ce i ve d 5 7 sam pl es, 112

Mythological Creature The Abominable Snowman 3 6 of which were cho s en fo r D NA te st i ng, accord i ng to U n i vers i t y Col l ege Lond on.

M o st of the sa m p les t ur ned o ut to b e f ro m well-k nown a ni ma ls, s uch a s cows, horses an d b ea rs. H owever, t wo ot her s cientis t s, Cei r i d wen Ed wa rd s a nd R oss Bar net t, co n d uc ted a re a na lys is of the s a m e d at a . They s ai d t hat the sample a c t ua lly b elo ng ed to a H imalayan bea r, a ra re s ub s p eci e s of t he brown bea r. Thei r s t ud y res u l t s we re pu blished i n t h e R oya l S o ci e t y j our nal, Proceed i n g s o f t h e R oya l S oc iet y B.

True believers undeterred

Th e l ac k o f h ard e v i d e n ce d e spite d e c ad e s o f se arc h e s d o e sn’t deter t r u e b e l i e ve r s; t h e f ac t t h at t h ese myste r i o u s c re at u re s h ave n’t been fo u n d i s n o t t ak e n as e v i d e n ce that t h e y d o n’t ex i st, b u t i n ste ad how rare, re c l u si ve, an d e l u si ve t h ey a re.

Li k e B i g fo o t, a si n g l e b o d y woul d p rove t h at t h e Ye t i ex i st, t h o u gh no am o u nt o f e v i d e n ce c an p rove they d o n’t ex i st. https://www.livescience.com/25072-yeti-abominable snowman.html

Another team o f res ea rch ers, R o n al d H. Pi ne and Eli écer E. G ut i ér rez , a l so a na lyzed the D N A a n d a ls o co nclu d e d t hat “ there is n o rea s o n to b e l ieve that Sykes et a l.’s t wo sa m ples came f ro m a ny t h i n g b ut ordinar y brow n b ea rs.”

And in 2017, yet a no t her tea m o f re se archers an a ly zed ni n e “ Yet i ” sp e cimens, includ i n g b o n e, to o t h , sk in, hair and feca l s a m p les co llec te d f ro m monaster i es, caves a n d o t h e r site s in the H im a laya s a nd t h e Tib etan Plateau. They a ls o co llec te d sa m ples from b ea rs i n t h e regi o n an d f ro m animals e ls ewhere i n t h e wor l d.

113

Folk Lore The Rougarou Shared By : Brittanica d ay c u r se, u n l e ss t h e af fe c ted p e r so n c an t ran sfe r t h e c u r se to an o t h e r h u m an b e i n g. Th e i r c ur se u su al l y co m e s f ro m a l o c al w itc h, so m e t i m e s a vo o d o o p r i e stess.

Fu n Fa c t !

Can’t co u nt p ast t h e n u m b e r 12 I t i s sai d t h at yo u c an p ro te c t yo u r se l f ag ai n st t h e R o u g aro u by l ay i n g 1 3 sm al l o b j e c t s by yo ur door s Ap p are nt l y, w h e n a p e r so n c h a nges i nto a R o u g aro u t h e y fo rg e t h ow to co u nt p ast 1 2 .

G en era l Ha b it at Or i gi n s o f t h e R o u g a ro u

• I n French ca lled ‘ Lo up - G a ro us’ which mean werewo lf • Th e French Cat ho li cs cla i med yo u wou ld be tur n ed i nto a Lo up - garo u if you d id n’t fo llow t h e rules o f Lent for 7 co n s ecut i ve yea rs • When the Fren ch mi grated to th e sou ther n Un i ted St ates t hey too k t he legend wi t h t h em • Legend has ch a n g ed to match t h e Cajun d ialec t -> na me ch a n g ed f rom Lou p - ga ro u to R o ug a ro u Le gend s of the R o ug a ro u • Cajun legen d s ays t hat t h e b ea st hu nts d own Cat ho li cs who d o n’t follow the r ules o f Lent • Another telli ng o f t he s to r y s ays t hat the R oug a ro u i s und er a 1 0 1 -

Preferences

• Lowe r E l e vat i o n • M ar sh / Swam p Are as • Low Po p u l at i o n Are as

Threats • Ci t i e s • Fi re

W HO S T HE R O U GA R O U ?

Th e “ R o u g aro u” i s a c re at u re who’s h al f m an an d h al f wo l f. H i s f ace a nd u p p e r b o d y l o o k l i k e a wo l f, b ut he wal k s u p r i g ht l i k e a m an . O h , a nd h e’s re al l y h ai r y. An d m e an .

H i s n am e co m e s f ro m t h e p h ra se “ l o u p - g aro u,” w h i c h co m b i n e s the Fre n c h wo rd s fo r “ wo l f ” an d “ma n w h o t ran sfo r m s i nto an an i m al.”

Th e se d ays, m o st p e o p l e c al l him

114

Folk Lore The Rougarou Continued R o ugarou, bu t yo u’ ll s t i ll hea r t he te r m “ loup - ga ro u” wi t h i n mo re Fre nch-speak i ng Ca j un co m m un i ti e s.

The ter ms are i nterch a n g ea b le, b u t we l i ke the way “R o ug a ro u” j us t ro l l s off your to ng ue.

WHAT’S HE DOING?

M o st leg end s s ay t h at t h e R o ug a ro u is und er a spell; s o m e rep o r t t hat i t l a st s for 101 days, o t hers s ay i t ’s fo r a ye ar and a d ay. E i t h er way, d ur i n g t his time he’s o ut to g et o t h ers a n d suc k their blood, cur i ng h i ms elf bu t t ur ning his vic t i m s i nto werewo lve s a l o ng the way.

WHEN DOES HE APPEAR?

B y day the R ou g a ro u lo o ks j us t li k e a ny other man , t ho ug h h e p ro b a b l y a p p ears sick ly a n d i s n’t i n cli ned to give you a s tra i g ht a n s wer i f yo u ask him what ’s wron g. B ei n g a R o ug a ro u is something yo u’re s up p o s ed to k e e p se c ret. Bu t at n i g ht, a ll b et s a re of f : t hat weird wolf h ea d em erg es a nd h e go e s out look i ng fo r t ro ub le.

WHERE MIGHT YOU FIND HIM?

Ca jun legend tells us t h at t h e R o ugarou is m o s t o f ten fo un d wa nd er ing in t he s wa m p s o f so utheaster n Lo ui s i a n a o r lur k i n g i n t he region’s m a ny s ug a r ca ne f i eld s, w hich are bein g h a r ves ted at t hi s t im e of year.

I t ’s probably n o co i n ci d ence t h at t h e t wo places that a re m o s t d a n g ero u s

fo r k i d s grow i n g u p i n t h i s re gion are, i n f ac t, swam p s an d su g ar fiel ds.

WHY IS HE OUT THERE?

Th e Caj u n c u l t u re i s o n e w i t h tight t i e s to t h e Cat h o l i c c h u rc h ; i n p ast ce nt u r i e s i t was sai d t h at the R o u g aro u was se arc h i n g fo r p e opl e w h o d i d n’t o b se r ve Le nt.

Caj u n f am i l i e s h ave al so to l d t h e i r k i d s ab o u t t h e R o u g aro u for g e n e rat i o n s, u si n g h i s p re se n ce to m ak e c h i l d re n b e h ave an d k e e p t h e m away f ro m d an g e ro u s area s n e ar t h e i r h o m e s.

HOW DO YOU AVOID HIM?

Wh e n t h e R o u g aro u co m e s to get yo u, h e’ l l st ar t co u nt i n g an d wil l be co n fo u n d e d by t h at t h i r te e nt h objec t.

H e’ l l h ave to st ar t h i s co u nt over a nd ove r ag ai n , u nt i l e ve nt u al l y t he sun co m e s u p an d h e m u st sl i n k b ac k to t h e swam p s w i t h o u t c l ai m i n g a nother victim.

O n t h e l ast we e k e n d o f e ac h O c tober, t h e Lo u i si an a tow n o f H o u m a hosts a “ R o u g aro u Fe st,” w h i c h fe at ures a p arad e, co st u m e co nte st s ( for ad u l t s, k i d s an d p e t s) , l i ve m u sic an d p l e nt y o f st re e t ve n d o r s. The e ve nt i s h e l d to rai se aware n e ss ab o u t an d m o n e y fo r co ast al p ro te c t i o n an d re sto rat i o n , e nsur ing t h at t h e R o u g aro u an d al l re si dents o f t h e re gi o n c an co nt i n u e to enjoy Lo u i si an a’s r i c h n at u ral re so u rces.

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https://mindybiancapr.com/wp - content/ uploads/2019/05/R ougarou- O c t-19.pdf

Ancient Legends The Kallikantzaroi

Shared By : High Priestess, Lady Gloriana Th e ap p e aran ce o f t h e K al l i k antz a roi var i e s by re gi o n . S o m e t i m e s t hey a re e n o r m o u s, at o t h e r t i m e s d i m inutive.

O t h e r s se e t h e m as h u m an s o f sm a l l si ze t h at sm e l l h o r r i b l e.

M a ny of the s a me cus to ms a nd t ra ditions, as well a s fo lk lo re, a re p ra c tised and b eli eved, a ll over t he Wor ld, no m at ter where t h ey or iginated fro m. Th ro ug h t h e yea r s, t he y have been t wea ked here a nd a l te red there, b i t s a re a d d ed, a nd b it s are tak en away. B a s i ca lly, t h e y a re the same s to r y, to ld i n a no t he r co untr y, anoth er a g e, a no t her re l igion, anoth er b eli ef.

Th e K al l ik ant za ro i is o n e s uch s to r y

K a l l ik antzaroi a re mi s chi evo us go b lins, elves o r gn o m es t hat a p p e ar dur in g the t welve d ays o f C h r i s t m as, f ro m the end o f D ecemb er unt i l Ep iphany, Janua r y s i x t h. Thes e t we lve d ays are a ls o k n own a s t he w inter s olstice, a nd, i n med i eva l t im es, yule or Yulet i d e. Sto r i es a bo u t t he K allik antzaro s o r i t s eq ui va lent s c a n be found i n G reece, B ulg a r i a , S e r bia, B osnia a n d Tur key.

Th e y are p re d o m i n ant l y m al e, o f te n w i t h p ro t r u d i n g sex u al c h arac te r i st i c s. M any Gre e k s have i m agi n e d t h e m as t al l, b l ac k a nd h ai r y, w i t h b u r n i n g re d e ye s, goats’ o r d o n k e ys’ e ar s, m o n k e ys’ ar m s, to n g u e s t h at h an g o u t an d h e a ds that are h u g e.

Th e y o n l y co m e o u t at n i g ht, a nd, are af rai d o f t h e su n , f i re an d Hol y Wate r. Th e y sp e ak w i t h a l i sp and e at sm al l c re at u re s, su c h as wor m s, sn ai l s an d f ro g s.

I t i s b e l i e ve d t h at K al l i k ant zaroi stay u n d e rgro u n d saw i n g t h e Wo r l d Tree so t h at i t w i l l co l l ap se, al o n g with E ar t h . H owe ve r, w h e n t h e y are a bout to saw t h e f i n al p ar t, Ch r i st m as d aw n s an d t h e y are ab l e to com e to t h e su r f ace. Th e y fo rg e t t h e Tree a nd co m e to b r i n g t ro u b l e to m o r ta l s.

Th e y co m e o u t o f h i d i n g at n i ght to e nte r h o u se s any way t h e y c a n, t h ro u g h w i n d ows, d ow n c h i m neys, t h ro u g h k e y h o l e s, an d any c rac k s t h at t h e y m ay f i n d, i n wal l s an d aro u n d d o o r s. O n ce i n si d e t h ey c a use h avo c. Th e re we re ways p e o p l e coul d p ro te c t t h e m se l ve s d u r i n g t h e days w h e n t h e K al l i k ant zaro i we re loose.

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Ancient Legends The Kallikantzaroi Continued They could leave a colander on their doorstep: if a Kallikantzaros approached for his evildoings, he would instead decide to sit and count the holes until the sun rose and he was forced to hide. The Kallikantzaroi also could not count above 2, since 3 is a holy number, and by pronouncing it, they would kill themselves.

Another for m o f p ro tec t i o n i s to m ar k yo u r d o o r w i t h a b l ac k c ro ss o n C hr istmas Eve. Yet a no t her i s to b u r n a sm e l l y sh o e o n t h e f i re, t h e fo u l sm e ll will keep t h em away. To s top t h e K al l i k ant zaro i f ro m co m i n g d ow n the c himney, a ver y la rg e lo g i s fo un d an d b u r nt fo r t we l ve d ays, u nt i l t h e si x th of Januar y, wh en t h e K a lli k a nt z a ro i w i l l g o b ac k to t h e ce nt re o f t h e E ar th.

This ties in with t h e N o rs e t ra d i t i on o f Yu l e t i d e, t h e Yu l e Lo g, b u r nt fo r the duration of th e wi nter s o ls t i ce unt i l t h e su n i s o n t h e m ove ag ai n .

I n Greek folk lo re, t h e K a lli k a nt z a ro i , d i sap p e ar o n t h e si x t h o f J an u ar y, Ep iphany, whe n G reek p r i es t s, g o t h ro u g h al l t h e h o u se s, b l e ssi n g t h e m , w ith holy wate r, s p la s hed a ro un d w i t h a b u n c h o f f re sh b asi l. Wh e n t h e K a l l ik antzaroi a r r i ve b a ck , at t h e ce nt re o f t h e E ar t h , t h e y f i n d t h at Th e Wor ld Tree has f ully grown a g a i n. O u t co m e s t h e i r l arg e saw, an d t h e y sta r t to c h op it d ow n, a ll over a g a i n. Le g e n d h as i t t h at any c h i l d b o r n d u r i n g the t we lve d ays of t he S at ur n a li a (17th t h ro u g h 2 3 D e ce m b e r ) was i n d an g e r of b ecoming a K a lli k a nt z a ro s. The ant i d o te : B i n d i n g t h e b aby i n t re sse s of ga r l i c or straw, o r s i ng ei n g t h e ch i l d ’s to e n ai l s.

https://fromtinypennies.com/2018/11/25/k allik antzaroi- chr istmas- goblins/

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Elements Spirit b o t h w h e n we are aware o f i t a nd w h e n we are n o t. B u t w h e n we a re aware o f S p i r i t, an d w h e n we have c l e ar an d fo c u se d i nte nt i o n s, we c a n u t i l i ze t h i s co re, f u n d am e nt al energy to m an i fe st d e si re d c h an g e t h rough m agi c al wo r k .

A U NIV ER S A L ENER GY

While the four “cla s s i ca l ” El e m ents —Ear t h, Ai r, Fi re a nd Water—together co mp r i s e t h e p hys ical wor ld, t here i s a Fi f t h El e m ent, of ten refer red to a s S p i r i t, t hat exists wit hi n a ll fo ur o f t h em .

The Spir it Elem ent i s i m m ater i a l, ye t present in a ll t h i n g s, a n d d o es not exist apar t f ro m a ny t h i n g els e.

I t is invisible, b ut es s ent i a l fo r co nnec tion an d b a la nce b et ween al l ot her Element s.

S p ir i t is what i s ca lled fo r t h i n r i t u al, t hroug h the invo k i ng o f t he G o d a nd G od d es s, a nd o f t he E lem ent s.

I t dwells in us a s li v i n g b ei ng s,

S p i r i t i s u n l i k e t h e o t h e r fo u r E l e m e nt s i n t h at, si n ce i t i s p ar t o f e ve r y t h i n g, i t d o e s n o t h ave any sp e c i f i c r i t u al o r m agi c al co r re sp o n d e n ce s ( at l e ast i n most t rad i t i o n s) . O n e exce p t i o n i s co l o r— i t m ay b e re p re se nte d by the co l o r w h i te, as w h i te i s co m p r ised of al l co l o r s co m b i n e d. S p i r i t d o e s not h ave an asso c i ate d g e n d e r, e nergy t y p e, se aso n , o r c ard i n al d i re c tion. I t i s asso c i ate d w i t h t h e e nt i re Wheel of t h e Ye ar, an d al l m agi c al to o l s.

S p i r i t i s re al l y t h e E l e m e nt o f divine i nte l l i g e n ce, w h i c h n e e d s n o spec ific sy m b o l s to b e re co gn i ze d. H owever, t h e p e nt ac l e i s o f te n m e nt i o n ed, si n ce t h e st ar h as f i ve p o i nt s— one fo r e ac h E l e m e nt— an d i s su r rounded by a c i rc l e, w h i c h c an sy m b o l i ze t h e way i n w h i c h S p i r i t h o l d s a l l of c re at i o n to g e t h e r.

THE SPIRIT ELEMENT: NAMINGTHE UN-NAMEABLE I n an c i e nt Gre e ce, w h e re t h e Wester n co n ce p t o f t h e E l e m e nt s o r i gi nates, i t b e c am e o bv i o u s to Ar i sto t l e a nd o t h e r s t h at so m e t h i n g was m i ssing f ro m t h e c l assi c al se t o f p hysi c a l 118

Elements Spirit o u r m o d e r n se n se o f “o u te r spa ce,” b u t rat h e r an ab se n ce o f p hysic a l fo r m , an e n e rg y t h at i s p re se nt in a l l t h i n g s b u t i s n o t p hysi c al i t se l f.

Ak ash a i s se e n as t h e “o r i gi n al ” E l e m e nt, f ro m w h i c h al l c re at ion c am e. Th i s E aste r n co n ce p t i s not ex ac t l y i d e nt i c al to t h e We ste r n co n ce p t o f “sp i r i t,” b u t t h e si m i l ar i t i e s we re su f f i c i e nt fo r l ate r sp i r i t u al an d re l i gi o u s t rad i t i o n s to ad o p t “Ak ash a” i nto t h e i r te r m i n o l o gi e s.

sub s tances—E a r t h , Ai r, Fi re a nd Water. Af ter all, t he G reeks were n o t str ic t mater iali s t s — t hey reco gn i ze d a div ine presence a nd wo rs hi p p ed ma ny ind ivid u a l d ei t i es, s o t h ey k n e w t hat there was mo re to t h e U n i ver se t ha n meets the eye.

The word “Aeth er ” wa s a p p li ed to w hat the Greek p hi lo s o p hers s aw as t he “upper air,” o r t h e a i r t hat t h e go ds breathed i n t h e celes t i a l s p h e re.

I t had initially b een co n s i d ered to b e p a r t of the Elem ent o f Ai r, b ut late r it b ecame clear t h at t h i s en erg y was a n Element in i t s own r i g ht.

N o m at te r w h i c h te r m i s u se d, t h e E l e m e nt o f S p i r i t— t h e Fi f th E l e m e nt— c an b e e l u si ve to gra sp, e ve n t h o u g h i t i s w i t h i n an d al l aro u n d u s.

I t c an b e p ar t i c u l ar l y d i f f i c u l t to k eep i n o u r aware n e ss i n t h e b u sy, noisy m o d e r n wo r l d we l i ve i n . Th at ’s w hy m e d i t at i o n , p raye r, an d r i t u al a re t re asu re d p rac t i ce s am o n g sp ir itua l se e k e r s o f al l k i n d s.

Wh e n we g e t q u i e t an d st i l l, w hen we co m e to t h e al t ar an d o b se r ve our sac re d r i t u al s, we c an m o re e a sil y g e t b ac k i n to u c h w i t h t h i s al l e n co m p assi n g E l e m e nt— an e nergy t h at i s so i nt an gi b l e an d myster ious, i t ’s n o wo n d e r t h at i t h as so ma ny d i f fe re nt n am e s.

O t hers, however, refer to t h e S p i r i t El e m ent as Ak a s h a , a S a ns k r i t wo rd t ra nslating rou g hly a s “s p a ce” o r “at m osphere.” Thi s i s no t mea nt i n

https://wiccaliving.com/spir it- element/

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Mythological Demons Mahaha

Shared By High Priestess Lady Gloriana w h o are k i l l e d by t h e M ah ah a a re l ef t w i t h t h e sam e ex p re ssi o n o n their f ace i n d e at h – a co l d an d p ai ned f roze n sm i l e.

I f yo u want to d e fe at t h e M ah a ha , yo u m u st o u t w i t i t, an d t h i s i s the c ase i n o n e I n u i t t al e. Th e M aha ha was te r ro r i zi n g an Ab o r i gi n al tr ibe i n t h e Arc t i c re gi o n , an d t h e peopl e d e v i se d a p l an to fo o l t h e c re ature.

Th e y l u re d t h e d e m o n to t h e water an d t r i c k e d i t to b e n d ove r to ta k e a d r i n k . Wh e n t h e M ah ah a b e nt over, t h e ab o r i gi n al p e o p l e s p u sh e d the d e m o n i nto t h e wate r, an d i t wa s t ak e n away i n st ro n g c u r re nt s.

What does the Mahaha look like?

The M ahaha is a d emo n wi t h p i erc i n g w hite eyes that ha s t h e a b i li t y to f re e ze enemies wi t h i t s d eat hly col d to uch. The d em o n i s a p ro m i n ent fe atu re in many I n ui t t a les a n d i s usually d epic ted i n a mi s chi evo us f a shi on, evilly gi g g li n g a nd t a k i n g p l e asure in the d emi s e.

I f you d on’t lik e b ei ng t i ck led, yo u’ l l p ro bably hate t hi s d emo n . I t i s o f te n re fe r red to as M a ha h a t he Ti ck ler a nd, in many t a les, t he M a h a h a ha s der id ed intens e p lea s ure f ro m t ic k ling u nsus p ec t i ng v i c t i ms to de ath with its lo n g, s h a r p claws. I n f a c t, I nuit eld ers cla i m t hat a ll t h o se

Th e M ah ah a i s a gro te squ e c re ature w i t h l o n g, si n e w y l i m b s an d an ic y b l u e sk i n co l o r. I t i s p i e rc i n g w hite e ye s t h at st are st rai g ht i nto t h e so u l. Th e m ah ah a i s a sl e n d e r but m u sc u l ar d e m o n , w i t h st r i n g y bl a c k h ai r t h at h an g s f ro m i t s h e ad in a d i sh e ve l l e d m an n e r.

I t h as l o n g, t h i n f i n g e r s w i t h ex tra sh ar p c l aws at t h e e n d o f t h e m , a nd i t i s al ways we ar i n g a sad i st i c sm il e o n i t s f ace. Yo u’ l l p ro b ab l y h e a r t h e M ah ah a b e fo re yo u se e i t, a s t h e d e m o n l au g h s co n st ant l y w ith a m an i ac al gi g g l e t h at w i l l se nd sh i ve r s d ow n yo u r sp i n e. https://mythologyplanet.com/what-is-the -mahaha/

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Mythological Demons Lamashtu Shared By High Priestess Lady Gloriana I t was b e l i e ve d, i n t h e f i r st i n sta nce, t h at t h e we ar i n g by t h e ex p e c ta nt m o t h e r o f an am u l e t i c b ro n ze hea d of t h e d e m o n Pazu zu m i g ht t hwar t the g o d d e ss’ e v i l p l an s.

An o t h e r ap o t ro p ai c d e v i ce i n wa rding o f f Lam ašt u was t h e p o si t i o n i n g of t h e so - c al l e d ‘ Lam ašt u - p l aq u e s’ o f m e t al o r sto n e ab o u t t h e h ouse, t h e se i n c l u d i n g a d e p i c t i o n o f Pazu zu fo rc i n g Lam ašt u b ac k into the U n d e r wo r l d f ro m w h e n ce sh e c a m e.

La m aš tu (also wr i t ten L a ma s ht u) wa s an evil and ma levo lent d em o n go ddess withi n t h e M es o p o t a m i a n p a ntheon – as t h e d a ug hter o f t he go d An and ac t i ng a cco rd i ng to h e r ow n initiative, rat h er t h a n at t he go ds’ instruc ti o n, s h e rep res ented so mething more t h a n t h e us ua l de m onic powe r. The wr i t i ng o f he r na me in cunei fo r m f ur t her s ug g es t s t hat L amaštu wa s co ns i d ered a go ddess in her own r i g ht.

La m aš tu prac ti s ed ev i l a p p a rent ly for its own sake, her p r i ma r y v i c t i m s co nsid ered to b e unb o r n chli ld ren a nd new-bor n b a b i es. Pregn a nt women were t h erefo re a ls o h er t a rgets, L amaš t u g en era lly b ei n g h e l d re sp onsible fo r m i s ca r r i a g e a n d co t de ath amongs t b a b i es.

R at h e r t h an a p re gn ant wo m an, h owe ve r, t h e se p l aqu e s d e p i c t a b e d - r i d d e n m an , su g g e st i n g t hat Lam ašt u was al so asso c i ate d with d i se ase. Fi n al l y, t h e r i t u al o f fe r ing o f ce nt i p e d e s an d b ro o c h e s, am onst o t h e r i te m s, we re co n si d e re d to d i st rac t Lam ašt u f ro m h e r i nte nt.

I n i n c ant at i o n s Lam ašt u i s d e s c r ibed as p o sse ssi n g t h e h e ad o f a l i on, a d o n k e y ’s te e t h , b are b re ast s a nd a h ai r y b o d y, b l o o d - st ai n e d h ands w i t h l o n g f i n g e r s an d n ai l s, and the c l awe d, t al o n - l i k e fe e t o f t h e birdd e m o n An zû ( I m d u g u d ) .

Ico n o grap h i c d e p i c t i o n s o f Lam a štu i n t h e 9 t h – 7 t h ce nt u r i e s B CE have h e r we ar i n g u p r i g ht e ar s, l i k e those o f a d o n k e y, w h i l st a p i g l e t and a w h e l p su c k l e at h e r b re ast s. S h e f re q u e nt l y st an d s o r k n e e l s o n the f i g u re o f a d o n k e y an d h o l d s sna k es 121

Mythological Demons Lamashtu in b oth hand s. H er p a r t i cula r b east was t h e d o n k e y an d h e r asso c i ate d objec t a b oat, in whichL a m a š t u wa s t ho u g ht to n av i g ate t h e r i ve r o f t h e U n d e r wor l d.

Incantation against Lamaštu:

Great is the daughter of Heaven who tortures babies Her hand is a net, her embrace is death She is cruel, raging, angry, predatory A runner, a thief is the daughter of Heaven She touches the bellies of women in labor She pulls out the pregnant women’s baby The daughter of Heaven is one of the Gods, her brothers With no child of her own.

Her head is a lion’s head Her body is a donkey’s body She roars like a lion She constantly howls like a demon-dog.

https://w w w.ancientneareast.net/mesopotamian-religion/lamastu-lamashtu/

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Archangel Uriel Shared By High Priestess,Lady Gloriana Arc hang el Ur iel i s k n own a s t he a ngel of wisd o m. H e s h i n es t he li g ht of G od ’s tru th i nto t h e d a r k n es s of co nf u s ion. Ur iel m ea n s “G o d i s my l ight ” or “fire of G o d.” O t h er sp e l lings of hi s n a me i n clud e Us i e l, Uz z iel, O r iel, Aur i el, S ur i el, U r i a n a nd Ur yan.

ap o c r y p h al tex t s. Ap o c r y p h al tex ts are re l i gi o u s wo r k s t h at we re i n c l u d e d i n so m e e ar l y ve r si o n s o f t h e B i b l e b u t to d ay are co n si d e re d to b e se co n d ar y i n i m p o r t an ce to t h e sc r i p t u re o f the O l d an d N e w Te st am e nt s.

The faithfu l tur n to U r i el fo r help se e k ing G od ’s wi ll b efo re m a k i ng de c is ions, lear n i n g n ew i nfo r mat i o n , so l vi ng proble ms a nd res o lv i n g co nf lic ts. They a ls o t ur n to h i m for help letting g o o f d es t ruc t i ve e motions such a s a n xi et y a n d a ng e r, w hich can prevent b eli evers f ro m discer ning wis d o m o r reco gni z i n g da ngerou s situat i o n s.

Th e B o o k o f E n o c h ( p ar t o f t h e J e w i sh an d Ch r i st i an Ap o c r y p ha ) d e sc r i b e s U r i e l as o n e o f se ve n arc h an g e l s w h o p re si d e ove r the wo r l d. U r i e l war n s t h e p ro p h e t N oa h ab o u t t h e u p co m i n g f l o o d i n Enoc h c h ap te r 1 0 . I n E n o c h c h ap te r s 1 9 an d 2 1 , U r i e l re ve al s t h at t h e fa l l en an g e l s w h o re b e l l e d ag ai n st G od w il l b e j u d g e d an d sh ows E n o c h a vision o f w h e re t h e y are “ b o u n d u nt il t h e i n f i n i te n u m b e r o f t h e d ays o f t h e i r c r i m e s b e co m p l e te d.”

(Enoch 21:3)

Symbols of Uriel

I n a r t, Ur iel is o f ten d ep i c ted c a r r ying either a b o o k o r a s cro ll, b ot h of which rep res ent wi s d o m .

Another s ymbo l co nnec ted wi t h U r i e l is a n open hand h o ld i n g a f la m e or t h e s un, wh i ch rep res ent s G o d ’s t r ut h . L ik e his fellow a rch a n g els, Ur ie l has an an g eli c energ y co lo r, in t h is case, red, whi ch rep res ent s him and the wo r k h e p er fo r ms. S o m e so urces also at t r i b ute t he co lo r ye l l ow or g old to U r i el.

Uriel’s Role in Religious Texts

Ur ie l isn’t ment i o ned i n ca n o ni cal re l igiou s tex ts f ro m t h e wo r ld ’s ma j or religions, b ut he i s m ent i o n e d significantly in ma j o r reli gi o us

I n t h e J e w i sh an d Ch r i st i an ap o c r y p h al tex t 2 E sd ras, G o d sends U r i e l to an swe r a se r i e s o f q u e stions t h at t h e p ro p h e t E zra ask s G o d. When an swe r i n g E zra’s q u e st i o n s, U r iel te l l s h i m t h at G o d h as p e r m i t ted him to d e sc r i b e si gn s ab o u t g o o d a nd evil at wo r k i n t h e wo r l d, b u t i t w i l l stil l b e d i f f i c u l t fo r E zra to u n d e r sta nd f ro m h i s l i m i te d h u m an p e r sp ec tive.

I n 2 E sd ras 4 : 1 0 - 1 1 , U r i e l ask s E zra: “ Yo u c an n o t u n d e r st an d t h e t h i n g s w i t h w h i c h yo u h ave grow n u p ; h ow t h e n c an yo u r 123

Archangel Uriel Continued mind comprehend t h e way o f t he M ost H igh? An d h ow ca n one who is alrea d y wo r n o ut by t he cor ru pt wor ld und ers t a nd inco r ru ption?”

an d E aste r n O r t h o d ox c h u rc h e s) co n si d e r U r i e l a sai nt. H e se r ves as t h e p at ro n sai nt o f t h e ar t s a nd sc i e n ce s fo r h i s ab i l i t y to i n spire a nd awak e n t h e i nte l l e c t.

Whe n E zra asks q ues t i o ns a b o ut h i s p e r s onal life, s uch a s how lo n g h e’ l l l ive, Ur iel repl i es : “Co ncer ni n g t h e signs about wh i ch yo u a s k m e, I c a n tell you i n p a r t ; b ut I wa s not sent to tell yo u co ncer n i n g yo ur life, for I d o n o t k n ow.” ( 2 Esdras 4:52)

I n so m e Cat h o l i c t rad i t i o n s, t he arc h an g e l s al so h ave p at ro n age over t h e se ve n sac ram e nt s o f t h e churc h.

Fo r t h e se Cat h o l i c s, U r i e l i s t h e p at ro n o f co n f i r m at i o n , g u i d i ng the f ai t h f u l as t h e y re f l e c t o n t h e hol y n at u re o f t h e sac ram e nt.

I n var ious Chr i s t i a n a p o cr y p ha l go spels, Ur iel res cues J o hn t h e B a p tis t from bei n g murd ered by K i n g He rod ’s ord er to m a s s a cre yo un g b oys a ro und the tim e o f J es us C h r i s t ’s b ir t h.

Ur ie l car r ies bo t h Jo hn a nd h i s mot h er Elizabet h to j o i n Jes us a n d his parents in Eg y p t. Th e Ap o ca ly p se of Peter d es cr i b es U r i el a s t he a ng e l of repentance.

I n Jewis h trad i t i o n , U r i el i s t he one who check s t h e d o o rs o f ho m e s t hroug hout Eg y p t fo r la m b’s b lo od (re p resenting f a i t h f uln es s to G o d) d ur ing Pa s s over, wh en a d ea d l y p l a gue s tr ikes f i rs t-b o r n chi ld ren as a j udgment fo r s i n b ut s p a res t h e c hil d ren of fai t hf ul f a mi li es.

Uriel’s Role in Popular Culture

Li k e m any o t h e r f i g u re s i n J u da ism an d Ch r i st i an i t y, t h e arc h an g el s h ave b e e n a so u rce o f i n sp i ration in p o p u l ar c u l t u re.

J o h n M i l to n i n c l u d e d h i m i n “ Parad i se Lo st,” w h e re h e se r ves as t h e e ye s o f G o d, w h i l e R al ph Wal d o E m e r so n w ro te a p o e m a bout t h e arc h an g e l t h at d e sc r i b e s him a s a yo u n g g o d i n Parad i se.

M o re re ce nt l y, U r i e l h as m ad e ap p e aran ce s i n b o o k s by D e an Koontz an d Cl i ve B ar k e r, i n t h e T V se r ies “ S u p e r n at u ral,” t h e v i d e o g am e se r i e s “ D ar k si d e r s,” a s we l l as m an g a co m i c s an d ro l e p l ay i n g g am e s. https://www.learnreligions.com/meet-archangel-urielangel- of-wisdom-124717

Other Religious Roles

S ome Chr istian s (s uch a s t ho s e w ho worship in t h e Ang li ca n

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Zodiac Signs Capricorn Shared by : High Priestess, Lady Gloriana I mean, how else do you expect this zodiac sign to let loose and have fun?

I n d e e d, i n si d e e ve r y e ar n e st Cap r i co r n i s a m i sc h i e vo u s t ro u b l e m ak e r ( i n t aro t, Cap r i cor n i s sy m b o l i ze d by t h e “d e v i l ” c ard ) . Th o u g h t h i s e ar t h si gn m ay se e m a b i t co n se r vat i ve and re st rai n e d at f i r st, Cap r i co r n’s c l osest f r i e n d s an d l ove r s k n ow t h at these se a g o at s l ove to p ar t y.

The las t ear th s i gn o f t he zo d i a c, Ca p r icor ns and t h ei r un i q ue s p i r i t s a re power fu l, to s ay t h e lea s t.

Perhaps it’s their fearless ambition?

Their limitless resilience?

Their ability to keep pushing forward, even in the face of challenging adversity and painful strife?

Or, m aybe it ’s t h ei r s ecret wi ld side that ’s ver y ra rely d ep i c ted i n st a n d ard pers o n a li t y a s s es s ment s, b ut that ru mb les wi t h i n t h e s o ul o f e ve r y Capr icor n : No t ever yo n e g e t s to see Capr ico r n o rd er i ng ro und s o f te quila, d ancin g o n t h e t a b le, a n d st ay i ng out unt i l t h e cra ck o f d aw n — b ut that reb elli o us, unt a m ed s p i r i t is a Capr icor n a s s et.

I nte re st i n g l y, Cap r i co r n s are s a id to ag e b ac k ward s: t h e y b e co m e i n c re asi n g l y yo u t h f u l, o p t i m i s tic, an d p l ay f u l as t h e y m at u re. I n deed, i n si d e e ve r y e ar n e st Cap r i co r n is a m i sc h i e vo u s t ro u b l e m ak e r Th ough t h i s e ar t h si gn m ay se e m a b i t co n se r vat i ve an d re st rai n e d at fir st, Cap r i co r n’s c l o se st f r i e n d s an d l ove r s k n ow t h at t h e se se a g o ats l ove to p ar t y.

Cap r i co r n i s sy m b o l i ze d by t h e sea g o at, a my t h o l o gi c al c re at u re w ith t h e b o d y o f a g o at an d t ai l o f a fish.

Th i s i m ag e r y sp e ak s to Cap r i cor n’s b i f u rc ate d ab i l i t i e s: Cap r i co r ns are sk i l l e d at n av i g at i n g b o t h the m ate r i al an d e m o t i o n al re al m s. They sc al e t h e ste e p e st m o u nt ai n s — Cap r i co r n r u l e s t h e k n e e s, m ak ing it e asi e r fo r t h i s si gn to c l i m b — w hil e si m u l t an e o u sl y b u i l d i n g u p t h eir p syc h i c fo r t i t u d e.

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Zodiac Signs Capricorn Continued S u re, t h i s m ay t ran sl ate to Cap r i co r n s p u n c t u al i t y o r c al e nda r m an ag e m e nt, b u t — to b e h o nest — i t ’s a b i t m o re ex i ste nt i al t h an that.

Cap r i co r n re co gn i ze s t h at l i fe is shor t an d, l i k e w i se, t h e y ’re al ways ra c ing ag ai n st t h e c l o c k .

Ca p r icor ns are relent les s : Th ey a re de ter mined to overco me whateve r st a n d s in their way. They h ave b ig pic ture, lon g -ter m g o a ls a n d the y abs olu tel y d o n’t wa nt to b e b o gged - d own by a n noy i n g d et a i l s o r sup er flu ou s info r m at i o n .

H owever, becaus e o f t h ei r unwaver ing fo cus, Ca p r i co r n s ca n sometimes be p ercei ved a s co ld, une motional, o r even cut t h ro at — b ut that ’s only b eca us e Ca p r i co r n h as p e r spec tive. I f i t wo n’t m at ter i n fi ve ye a r s, Capr icor n s i mp ly ca nno t b e b o t h ered with i t to d ay.

O f cou rse, this s p ea ks q ui te li teral l y to Capr icor n’s p la net a r y ruler : S atu r n. The r in g ed - g a s gi a nt i n o u r distant solar sys tem , S at ur n i s t he p l a net as s ociated wi t h t a s ks, rule s, re spons ibilitie s, a n d — p er h a p s m ost impor tant ly — t i me. Th a n ks to S atu r n, Capr ico r n i s s o i n cred i b ly connec ted to t h e co n cep t o f t i m e.

Th e re are so m any t h i n g s Cap r icor n want s to acco m p l i sh an d ac h i eve in t h i s l i fe t i m e ; sl ow i n g d ow n i s sim pl y n o t an o p t i o n . As a c ard i n al si gn, Cap r i co r n i s re al l y m o t i vate d to sta r t n e w p ro j e c t s — t h i s si gn i s consta ntl y co m i n g u p w i t h n e w i d e as!

O f co u r se, so l ar an d l u n ar e c l i pses w i l l h e l p p ro p e l t h e i r i d e as for wa rd, so b e su re to l o o k o u t fo r t h e se l ife al te r i n g, d e st i ny- p ac k e d ast rol ogic a l e ve nt s, as we l l.

What are Capricorns known for?

Cap r i co r n s are k n ow n to b e ex t re m e l y h ard wo r k i n g v i si o n a r ies, l e ad e r s, an d t rai l b l aze r s. Cap r icor ns are d y n am i c i n d i v i d u al s w h o express a u n i qu e b al an ce o f co n f i d e n ce a nd h u m i l i t y : Th e y h ave a gro u n d ed, p rac t i c al sp i r i t t h at m ak e s p e opl e fe e l co m fo r t ab l e i n t h e i r p re se nce.

Al t h o u g h t h e y ’re ve r y se l e c t i ve ab o u t w h o t h e y l e t i nto t h e i r l ives, Cap r i co r n s are i n c re d i b l y gracious f r i e n d s w h o p r i d e t h e m se l ve s on h o n e st y an d l oyal t y. O n e i m p or ta nt t h i n g to n o te : Cap r i co r n s d e f i nitel y d o n’t su g arco at.

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Zodiac Signs Capricorn Continued I f a Capr icor n d o es n’t a p p rove o f yo ur choices or b eh av i o r, t hey wi l l b e sure to let you k now. B ut t he great t hing about Cap r i co r n i s t hat t h ey w il l als o help yo u co m e up w ith solu tions, a c t i o n i tems, a nd p ra c tical id eas o n h ow to i mp rove yo ur situation.

Ca p r icor ns are d o - ers, whi ch mea n s t he y ’re all abo ut m a k i ng i t h a p p e n .

You k now that exp res s i o n , “I f yo u wa nt somethin g d o ne, gi ve i t to a bu s y perso n ? ” Well, t h at ’s de finitely the way Ca p r i co r n ro lls.

Eve n if Capr icor n i s k nee - d eep i n de a dlines and hi g h -s t a kes cr i s es, t he y will g o ou t o f t h ei r way to co nsid er the need s o f t h ei r c l oses t compan i o n s.

to t h e to p. S o m e fo l k s j u st wa nt to l i ve a c al m , re l axe d, an d p e ace ful ex i ste n ce — an d t h e re’s ab so l utel y n o t h i n g w ro n g w i t h t h at.

Wh at ’s m o re, e ve r y Cap r i co r n shoul d d e f i n i te l y c u l t i vate a grat i t u d e p rac t i ce. B e c au se Cap r i co r n h as suc h l o f t y g o al s, i t ’s d i f f i c u l t fo r t h is e ar t h si gn to ap p re c i ate t h e i r c ur rent re al i t y, b e l i e v i n g t h at n o t h i n g w il l b e g o o d e n o u g h u nt i l t h e y re a c h the m o u nt ai n’s p e ak .

B u t t h e j o u r n e y i s t h e d e st i n ation an d, l i k e w i se, by f i n d i n g d e e p ap p re c i at i o n fo r t h e i r c u r re nt b l e ssi n g s, Cap r i co r n w i l l b e su re to fe e l e ve n m o re f u l f i l l e d w h e n they f i n al l y re ac h t h e i r d e si re d o u tcom e.

What are Capricorn’s weaknesses?

O f cou rse, Cap r i co r n mus t rem em b e r t hat not ever yo n e wa nt s, n eed s, o r de sires the same li fes t y le Ca p r i co r n l ive s. Althou g h Ca p r i co r n i s ex t remely ambi t i o us — a n d t h ei r de ter mination i s un d o ub ted ly ex t remely insp i r i ng — i t ’s i mp o r tant t hat Capr icor n d o es n’t i mp o s e t h e i r sta nd ard s on o t h ers.

I t ’s no problem when Ca p r i co r n foc uses on thei r own a s p i rat i o n s… b ut projec ting t h ei r va lues o n t h e i r c l oses t fr iend s a n d f a m i ly i s a to t al l y different stor y. Ca p r i co r n mus t re m ember to k eep t h ei r eyes o n th e i r ow n paper : Af ter a ll, n o t ever yo n e wa nts to climb t h e la d d er s t ra i g ht

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Zodiac Signs Capricorn Continued n o t al l si gn s v i b e w i t h Cap r i cor n’s se r i o u s, sto i c sp i r i t : Fi re si gn s — Ar i e s, Le o, an d S agi t t ar i u s — m ight f i n d Cap r i co r n’s ste r n e sse n ce a bit d rab, w h i l e t h e ai r si gn s — G e m ini, Li b ra, an d Aqu ar i u s — c an b e tur ned o f f by Cap r i co r n’s j u d gm e nt al tone.

Al t h o u g h Cap r i co r n c an m ak e a d y n am i c wo r k w i t h any zo d i ac sign, t h e se se a g o at s m u st re m e m ber t h at n o t e ve r y p e r so n ap p re c i ates “ to u g h l ove.”

Who’s the best match for Capricorn?

R o m ant i c al l y sp e ak i n g, Cap r i cor ns are se e k i n g an an c h o r : Th e se loya l l ove r s are b u sy as f * c k , so t h e y ap p re c i ate l oyal t y, co n si ste n c y, a nd ste ad f ast co m m i t m e nt.

Who should Capricorn avoid?

Ca p r icor ns can co nnec t wi t h a ll zo di ac s igns — t he o n ly co n d i t i o n , however, is th at t h ey d o n’t s t a nd in t h is sea g oat ’s way. B eca us e Ca p r icor n d oes n’t have t i m e fo r pe t t y ga m es, this sign va lues ho nes t y a n d t ra nsparenc y.

Fra n k ly, they wo uld p refer i f so meone was s up er b lunt — yes, p e r h aps even k i n d a ha rs h — b eca u se t he y abs olu tel y ca n no t s t a n d p eop l e p l e asing and e g o -s t ro k i ng. O f co u r se,

Fe l l ow e ar t h si gn s — Tau r u s and Vi rg o — are at t rac te d to Cap r i cor ns’ am b i t i o n , d e te r m i n at i o n , an d h ard wo r k i n g sp i r i t, so Cap r i cor n w i l l o f te n fo r t i f y d e e p co n n e c tions w i t h t h e se l i k e - m i n d e d zo d i ac signs.

Th e wate r si gn s — Can ce r, S cor pio, an d Pi sce s — are al so exce l l e nt f i t s fo r Cap r i co r n : Th e wate r signs are se n si t i ve, co m p assi o n ate, a nd p syc h o l o gi c al l y d e e p, so t h e y c a n ac t u al l y h e l p Cap r i co r n co n n ec t w ith t h e i r i nt u i t i ve qu al i t i e s. R e m e m ber, Cap r i co r n i s re p re se nte d by t he sea g o at, so t h i s si gn d o e s, i nt u i t i vel y, k n ow h ow to n av i g ate m o re e m o t i o n al te r rai n . https://www.allure.com/stor y/capricorn-zodiac-signpersonalit y-traits

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Thank You

Thank you wonderful ladies for your help in working on this magazine!!!

Elder High Priestess, RavensThorn Elder High Priestess, Lady Glorianna Britannica Mawu Cardea Wings of Tiamat MorningStar Lady Metsaema 129