News From the Oracle Volume 2 Issue 6

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News From the Oracle Volume 2 Issue 6

Featured Article: More Articles:

3 June 2022

Gerald Gardner All Seeing Eye Story of Goddess Hera The story of Helios


13 Sisters of Delphi Elder High Priestess

RavensThorn

Elder High Priestess

Gloriana Danu

High Priestess

Bee

High Priestess in Training Britannica Lady Gaea

Sekmet Mawu Cardea Wings of Tiamat

Thalassadorite Morningstar Khaos

Members Lady Artemis

Rhiannon Moon

Iria Lima

Amphritrite

Bella Bloodmoon

Lady Atira

Namaka

Lozen Spirit

Freyja Glod

Terra Gaea

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13 Sisters of Delphi


Feature Story Gerald Gardner

Shared By : High Priestess, R avensThorn i n t h e co l o n i al e ra. B o r n i n 1 8 8 4 , h e h ad b e e n se nt to t h e war m e r c l i m e s o f M ad e i ra as a c h i l d i n a b i d to al l e v i ate h i s ast h m a. Co n se q u e nt l y h e re ce i ve d l i t t l e e d u c at i o n an d l ate r c l ai m e d h e h ad t au g ht h i m se l f to re ad. A blu e p la q ue i s being unvei led i n D orset at t he fo r mer home o f G era ld Bros s ea u G a rd n er. He is reg a rd ed by ma ny a s t h e “father o f mo d er n witch cra f t ”, b ut who wa s he a nd wh at was h i s leg a c y ? S ou th r i d g e, a comfo r t a b le 1920s hous e i n H i g hcli f fe, was bo ug ht by G ard ner a nd h i s wi fe, D orot h ea , i n 1938 when t h ey moved from Lo nd o n. Until t hen G a rd ner ’s life had b een unrem a r k a b le fo r s omeo ne o f hi s wealthy b a ckgro un d

13 Sisters of Delphi

As a yo u n g m an , h e sp e nt t i m e wo r k i n g i n Ce y l o n , B o r n e o an d M al aya b e fo re re t u r n i n g to Lo n d o n i n 1 9 3 6 . Af te r ar r i v i n g i n H i g h c l i f fe, sh o r t l y b e fo re t h e o u t b re ak o f war, h e b e c am e acqu ai nte d w i t h a gro u p c l ai m i n g to b e w i tc h e s an d was i n i t i ate d i nto t h e N e w Fo re st Cove n at n e ar by M i l l H o u se. I t p rove d to b e a t u r n i n g p o i nt fo r G ard n e r w h o, f ro m t h at t i m e, d e vo te d h i m se l f to p ro m o t i n g h i s n e wfo u n d re l i gi o n . B i o grap h e r an d Wi cc an i n i t i ate Ph i l i p H e se l to n sai d : “ H e wasn’t a re l i gi o u s p i o n e e r.”

Wh at h e did wa s to p u b l i c i se it a nd w r i te ab o u t it a nd h e grad u a l l y bec a m e k n ow n t h rough t h at an d peopl e m ad e co nta c t. “ H e i n i t i ated q uite a l o t o f p eopl e i nto t h e Wicc a n c u l t u re. H e fel t i t was i m por ta nt t h at i t su r vived.” Af te r t h e wa r G ard n e r re tur ned w i t h h i s w ife to Lo n d o n w here he w ro te a n um ber o f b o o k s, the b e st k n own being Wi tc h c raf t Today. Pu b l i sh e d in 1 9 5 4 , i t o f fe re d rea der s an i n si g ht into the h i sto r y an d pra c tices o f t h e w i tch- c ul t a nd o f fe re d t he press a fe e d i n g f renz y. M r H e se l ton a dded: “ Th e re we re h e ad l i n e s a bout l u r i d r i te s a nd e v i l b l ac k m a gic b u t, i n ac tua l

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Feature Story: Gerald Gardner fac t, q ui te a lo t of peo p le s aw throug h i t. H e g o t lots of let ters a s a result o f t h at, which h elp ed h i m enor m o us ly.” Unreliable witch?

G ard ner ’s t heo r i es were d rawn from numero us s ou rces, i n clud i n g Freem a s o n r y, magic a l o rd ers s uch as the G o ld en Dawn a n d fellow occu lt i s t s, i nclud i n g Aleister Crowley. He al s o fo r mulated the Wi cca calen d a r o f ei g ht fes tiva ls, b r i n gi ng tog eth er exi s t i n g fes tiva ls f ro m d ifferent t ra d i t i o n s.

wo r l d w i d e ran g e f ro m 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 to 8 0 0 ,0 0 0 . B u t w h i l e G ard n e r ’s l e g ac y i s v i r t u al l y u n d i sp u te d, d e t ai l s o f h i s l i fe co nt i n u e to b e sc r u t i n i se d. H i sto r i an Pro f R o n al d H u t to n sai d : “ H e was a m an o f ex t rao rd i n ar y c h ar m an d m i sc h i e f, g e n e ro u s an d w i t h war mt h of h e ar t, b u t so m e t h i n g o f a t r i c k ste r. M ost o f t h o se w h o k n e w h i m fo u n d h i m f u n but sl i g ht l y u n re l i ab l e w h e n i t c am e to w i tc h c raf t.” H e sai d G ard n e r o f te n st re tc h e d t h e t r uth a nd e n co u rag e d cove n m e m b e r s to c l ai m they were f ro m an an c i e nt l i n e ag e o f w i tc h e s. “ I t h i n k h e e n co u rag e d p e o p l e to te l l t h e p re ss t h i n g s ab o u t t h e m se l ve s t h at we re n’t t r u e,” h e sai d. Th e p l aq u e i s b e i n g u nve i l e d o n Fr i d ay, the 1 3 0 t h an n i ve r sar y o f G ard n e r ’s b i r t h in 1884.

https://w w w.bbc.com/news/uk- england-27782244

B y the t i me o f h i s d eath i n 1964, G ard ner i a n Wi cca , as it b eca m e k n own, had s p rea d to t he Unite d St ates and b eyo n d. Es timates o f t h e nu mb er o f Wi cca n s

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13 Sisters of Delphi


Power Items Animal-

Horse

o n w h e t h e r t h e H o r se i s w i l d o r te t h e re d. Wh e n t h e Wi l d H o r se e nte r s yo u r aware n e ss, o f te n t h e re i s m o re t h an e n o u g h e n e rg y to m o t i vate yo u an d c ar r y yo u t h ro u g h any t h i n g.

Horse Symbolism & Meaning

Horse s y m b o li s m a nd meani n g to uches t he ver y h ea r t a nd s o ul of all who love to ru n free.

Feelingalittlefenced-inas oflate?Areyoucalledto exploreunknownplaces? Horse, a s a S p i r i t, Totem , a n d Power Animal, ca n h elp ! Horse h elp s yo u s ee that yo ur s o ul is raci n g towa rd total f reed o m whi le teach i n g yo u h ow to travel t he ent i re unive rs e at wi ll. Horse s y m b o li s m chang es d ep en d i n g

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A Wi l d H o r se b r i n g s v i t al i t y an d f re e d o m i n o n i t s g al l o p i n g h o ove s. Th e re i s n o co n st rai n i n g H o r se w h e n i t r u n s w i t h t h e w i n d, b u t t h e c re at u re al so e n j oys t h e co m p any o f f am i l y an d f r i e n d s. I t ’s al ways m o re f u n to g al l o p to g e t h e r i n a se t t i n g w h e re i n d i v i d u al i t y n e ve r g e t s l o st. H o r se s sy m b o l i ze p e r so n al p owe r, t h e t h i n g s yo u m aste r i n yo u r l i fe, an d yo u r n at u ral gi f t s. H o r se i s a c re at u re re p re se nt i n g su cce ss an d se l f ac t u al i zat i o n . Wh e n yo u k n ow w h at d r i ve s yo u an d p u t s t h e aware n e ss o f yo u r m o t i vat i o n s to wo r k , yo u c an g e t m u c h f u r t h e r an d f aste r t h an yo u e ve r i m agi n e d p o ssi b l e.

Wh e n t am e, Hor se re p re se nt s those p ar t s o f your p e r so n al i t y you re st r i c t and confine, l i k e sex u al urges. Th e t am e Hor se al so sy m b ol izes se r v i ce and tr usting re l at i o n ships. I f H o r se s sh ow up i n i m ag e s w here t h e y ’re i n a sta bl e o r t i e d u p, it coul d b e a m e ssa ge t h at so m e thing is h o l d i n g you ba c k an d l i m i t i ng your au to n o my. I t m ay al so sp e ak of l ow e n e rg y l e vel s a nd the n e e d to p ay attention w h e n u si n g your p hysi c al resources. H o r se c an onl y c a r r y so m u c h ba gga ge b e fo re i t gets wea r y f ro m t h e burden. Th e c re at u re’s ap p e aran ce a s a S p i r i t An i m a l Guide m i g ht m e a n it ’s tim e to l e t g o of item s you n o l o n g e r need. Wh e n t h e Hor se t ro t s i nto your l ife, so m e t i m e s it ’s there to u rg e you to figure o u t w h at you need to

13 Sisters of Delphi


Power Items Animal-

Horse

put d own to li g hten the lo a d i n yo ur s o ul.

i t ’s t i m e to c h o o se a n e w p at h fo r ward ! ”

White H o rs es’ ro le i n g lobal my t h o lo g y i s s ignif i ca nt b eca us e the creat ure h a s intim ate s y m b o li c ties to hero es a n d S olar D ei t i es.

Li k e w i se, H o r se’s re p e ate d ap p e aran ce i s a m e ssag e fo r yo u to al l ow H o r se E n e rg y to gi f t yo u w i t h t h e p owe r an d e n d u ran ce yo u n e e d. Th e S p i r i t o f t h i s t r u st y ste e d c an c ar r y yo u d ow n t h e r i g ht p at h to b re ak i n g f re e o f w h ate ve r b o n d s h o l d yo u b ac k fo r ac h i e v i n g m e nt al c l ar i t y, grow t h , o r su cce ss.

Horses a ls o a p p ea r in var i o us p hra s es or id i o ms li ke, “Strai g ht f ro m t h e Horse’s mo ut h,” as s oc i at i n g H o rs e with a ccurate o r unadulterated comm uni cat i o n , a n d “G et o f f yo ur h i g h horse,” i mp ly i ng cond es cend i n g behav i o r. Horse Spirit Animal

As your S p i r i t Anim a l, H o rs e appears to yo u a s a n omen , o ne i nd i cat i n g a call fo r f reed o m is gallo p i ng i nto you r wo r ld. I f yo u find yo urs elf i n a n unhap py relat i o ns h i p or wh at feels li ke a d ead - end j o b, H o rs e’s mant ra i s “Sto p horsi n g a ro un d ;

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H o r se i s a b e n e vo l e nt S p i r i t An i m al Gu i d e t h at f ac i l i t ate s yo u r sp i r i t u al awak e n i n g an d grow t h by te ac h i n g yo u h ow to e st ab l i sh an e n e rg e t i c sy m m e t r y b e t we e n i n d e p e n d e n ce an d d u t y. Th e re i s a t i m e to re st, a t i m e to r u n , an d a l o t o f l i v i n g i n b e t we e n . H o r se u rg e s yo u to e n j oy t h e swe e t ap p l e t h at d ro p s f ro m t h e t re e, p ar t ak e o f t h o se swe e t m o m e nt s i n yo u r l i fe, b e fo re t ak i n g yo u r n ex t c h al l e n g e.

H o r se S p i r it l oves to wo r k w i t h the w inds. As an An i m a l Spir it Gu i d e, H or se is a n exce l l e nt Tea c her ab o u t p e r s ona l e n e rg y an d wor k ing w i t h Ai r E l em enta l s. N o m at te r w here H o r se S p i r it ta k es yo u, yo u wil l a l ways h ave a se n se of b al an ce — of how to r i d e an d not fa l l or f ai l i n yo ur dut y. R e m e m b e r that Hor se i s a m e ssenger to an d f ro m the Angel ic R e al m . I f you have a sp e c i f i c prayer, w h i sp e r to Hor se a nd l e t t h e c reature sa fe k e e p an d ca r r y it to a Gu ard i an Hel per. Horse Totem Animal

Pe o p l e w ho identify w i t h H o r se a s their To te m An im a l e n j oy f re e dom of ex p re ssi o n, a nd it w i l l se e m nothing sh o r t o f m ira c ul ous. H o r se s are Anim a l s o f ad ve nt ure, p owe r, f r i e ndship, an d f am i l y. With H o r se as a Totem An i m al, j u m ping l i fe’s h u rdl es com es

13 Sisters of Delphi


Power Items Animaleasy to t h o s e who walk i n t h i s p ower f ul creature’s E nerg y. But bei n g a b le to jump h urd les i s o nly one s ma ll p a r t o f Horse To tem m a gi c. The An i ma l h a s a las er-s h a r p fo cus, one t hat a i d s t h em i n d eter mi ni n g h ow a nd when to j um p over s uch o b s t a cles. I t ’s ra re fo r H o rs e to remai n s t uck i n a rut. Horse To tems a re a ll abou t g o i n g i n a n ew d irec ti o n !

Is it time to move on? Shouldyougetanewhome ortraveltoplacesunknown? Car r y a H o rs e To tem when yo u s eek answers to t h o s e k ind s o f q ues t i o n s. Horse Power Animal

I n Sha m a n i s m , t he Horse Power Ani ma l car r ie s t he M ed i ci n e Pers o n b et ween t h e Wor lds. A H o rs e helps yo u co nnec t with s p i r i t ua l

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Horse

e n e rgi e s an d ab i l i t i e s. H o r se al so su p p o r t s yo u i n se e i n g t h i n g s i n a d i f fe re nt l i g ht, w h i c h o p e n s t h e p at h to v i si o n ar y gi f t s an d a re n e we d co n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e E ar t h . H o r se M e d i c i n e te ac h e s yo u to b e t r u e to yo u r se l f. As an An i m al S p i r i t Gu i d e, H o r se re m i n d s yo u to re m ai n at te nt i ve an d l i ve i n t h e p re se nt. Th e c re at u re al so su p p o r t s yo u i n ex p re ssi n g t h e grat i t u d e i n yo u r h e ar t toward t h o se w i t h w h o m yo u are yo u r l i fe. Native American Horse Symbolic Meanings

WhatdoesaHorsesymbolizein Native American cultures? N at i ve Am e r i c an s c al l H o r se s “G o d D o g s.” Th e n am e al o n e i l l u st rate s t h e re ve re n ce t h e y h ave fo r t h i s c re at u re. Th e te am o f a r i d e r an d a h o r se i s so m e t h i n g N at i ve Am e r i c an s se e as b ase d o n t re m e n d o u s re sp e c t.

H o r se s f i gured into b at t l e sy mbol ism a s a to k e n o f power, au t h o r i t y, a nd su cce ss. Ar t wor k d e p i c t s S ha m a ns on t h e b ac k of fl ying H o r se s w hen m a k ing safe p assage to the S p i r i t R e al m . They m ay al so represent t h e ab i l i t y to ove rco m e a diffic ul t si t u at i o n . H o r se i s an i m p o r t ant a nim a l in m any c u l t ures a nd t h i s i s e spec ia l l y tr ue i n N at i ve c ul tures. H o r se g ave N ative p e o p l e t h e a bil it y to t rave l f ar ther a nd h e l p e d w i n vic tor ies i n war. I t ’s e asy to forget t h at H o r ses that we re n at i ve to N o r t h Am e r ic a ac t u al l y went ex t i n c t. I n the f i f te e nt h centur y, S p an i sh col onizer s b ro u g ht Hor ses e vo l v i n g f rom a d i f fe re nt l inea ge, Eq u u s, w h ic h a re t h e an ce stor s of w h at are n ow co n si d e re d N or th Am e r i c an Hor ses.

13 Sisters of Delphi


Power Items Animal-

Horse

Thou g h N at i ve Peo p le reg ard H o rs e wi t h revere nce a nd s ee Horse to have s i mi la r s ymbo li c mea ni n g as cu lt ures a ro un d the wo r ld, t h ei r conne c t i o n to H o rs e was re - es t a b li s hed when t h es e a n i ma ls were b ro ug ht to Nor th Am er i ca . L i ke Conqui s t a d o rs a n d other Euro p ea n explorers, H o rs e a ls o s er ved a n i m p o r t a nt pur pos e i n a i d i ng Native p eo p le i n wa r and b eca me a s y mb o l of wea lt h.

h o r se by c ar v i n g t h e H o r se’s i m ag e o n a st i c k t h at wo u l d l ate r b e co m e an i m p o r t ant p ar t o f t h e ce re m o n i al H o r se D an ce.

Horse i s a ls o a s ymbo l o f t he voya g e, jou r ney o r wo r k t hat Horse hi s to r i ca lly helped h uma ns wi t h . This is es p eci a lly true i n wa r f a re.

Horse Christianity Symbolism

I n many Nat i ve cultu res, i t i s und ers to o d t he fate o f t h e H o rs e and H um a n a re inter t wi ned. I t wa s comm o n fo r a N at i ve pers o n wh o s ur v i ved battle to h o no r o r memor i a li ze a f a llen

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Areyoudependentonothers toaccomplishyourgoalsand complete your journey? H o r se m ay re m i n d yo u t h at yo u r su cce ss i s at t r i b u t ab l e to t h o se aro u n d yo u w h o h e l p to l i f t yo u u p an d c ar r y yo u t h ro u g h t ran si t i o n s yo u co u l d n’t m ak e o n yo u r ow n .

Wh i te H o r se sy m b o l i sm m ay b e t h e f i r st t h i n g t h at co m e s to yo u r m i n d w h e n yo u t h i n k o f H o r se sy m b o l i sm i n Ch r i st i an i t y. Th e B i b l i c al re fe re n ce to t h e Fo u r H o r se m e n o f t h e Ap o c al y p se m ay al so co m e to m i n d. I n R e ve l at i o n , H o r se sy m b o l i sm i s u se d to co nve y t h e fo u r si gn s o f t h e co m i n g rap t u re t h at si gn al s t h e re t u r n

o f Ch r i st. These re fe re n ce s a l so o cc u r i n E zek ia l an d are d e sc r ibed as p u n i sh ments f ro m G o d. I n R e ve l ation, the S e ve n S e al s of S o l o m o n or S even S c ro l l s are desc r ibed as b e i n g h el d in the r i g ht h an d of G od. Wh e n J e sus, in this se c t i o n d e sc r ibed as t h e “ Li on of J u d ah ,” o pens the f i r st fo u r S ea l s, the Fo u r H o r se m en of the Ap o c al y p se a ppea r a s r i d e r s u p on the ba c k s o f d i st i n c tl y col ored H o r se s. A White H o r se, R e d Hor se, B l ac k H o r se a nd “ Pal e” H o r se. I n so m e accounts, t h e Wh i te Hor se c ar r i e s a f igure w ith a b ow w h o represents co n q u e st. Thus White H o r se Sy mbol ism i s asso c i ated w ith v i c to r y as the figure we ar s a c row n a s we l l. I ro n ic a l l y, t h i s f i g u re is b o t h asso ciated w i t h Ch r i s t a nd ant i - Ch r i s t.

13 Sisters of Delphi


Power Items AnimalUpon t h e s eco nd, a R ed H o rs e, r i d es a figure b ra n d i s hi n g a s word. Th i s Horse a n d r i d er are ass o ci ated with wa r f a re. The th i rd, a B la ck Horse, b ea rs a r i d er repres ent i ng Fa m i n e. Finally, t h e Pa le Horse b ea rs H a d es and is a s s o ci ated with d eat h. The Pa le H o rs e s omet i mes d ep i c ted as lig ht green o r grey- i s reco gni z a b le to thos e wh o have s een Pa mela Colema n-S m i t h’s rend it i o n o f t he D eath Ta ro t Ca rd. S ome C hr i s t i a n s p ay little m i n d to t he d ire fo reca s t s i n t h e final sec t i o n o f t he Bible, b ut to o t her s ec ts o f C h r i s t i a n i t y, R evelat i o n t a kes o n a signi f i ca nt a n d s omet i mes li tera l, inter p ret at i o n . I t is beli eved by these f a c t i o n s o f

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Horse

Ch r i st i an fo l l owe r s t h at e ac h o f t h e Fo u r H o r se m e n w i l l se t u p o n a d i f fe re nt q u ar te r o f t h e wo r l d an d w re ak h avo c at a p ar t i c u l ar t i m e w h i c h w i l l si gn al t h e e n d o f d ays. To so m e, t h i s i s l i te ral l y t ak e n as a h ar b i n g e r o f t h e e n d o f c i v i l i zat i o n o r d o o m sd ay e ra. To o t h e r s, t h i s i s m o re sy m b o l i c as a t i m e o f gre ate r awak e n i n g an d e n l i g hte n m e nt t h at w i l l f i r st re q u i re u s to sy m b o l i c al l y ex p e r i e n ce a d e at h - an d - re b i r t h l i k e p ro ce ss. Th i s i s al so asso c i ate d w i t h p u rgi n g, c l e an si n g an d j u d gm e nt an d t h e re t u r n o f Ch r i st. Th u s e ve n i n c asu al ve r n ac u l ar, t h e p h rase Fo u r H o r se m e n h as co m e to b e sy n o ny m o u s w i t h a b e aco n , war n i n g o r d i re e ve nt s t h at si gn al t h e n e e d fo r a se r i o u s wak e u p c al l. We c an al so l o o k at t h e Fo u r H o r se m e n an d t h e i r d i st i n c t H o r se s as sy m b o l i c o f

d e e p e r u pheava l. A Wh i te H o r se, in this se n se, b e a r s either a r i g hte o us vic tor or p o m p o u s conq ueror. I t i s n o sur pr ise then, t h at we h ave com e to re fe r to som eone w ho n e e d s to get off their “ h i g h H o r se” as so m e o n e w ho h as assi gn ed t h e m se l ve s status t h e y d o n’t deser ve. Wh e n yo u see a Wh i te H o r se, you m ay au to matic a l l y t h i n k o f v ic tor y or p u r i t y, b u t in this se n se, Wh ite Hor se is al so a war ning a bout b e i n g o n the l ook out fo r t h o se w ho onl y want p owe r for their ow n p u r p oses. A R e d H o r se c a n b e a sy m bol o f ag gre ss ion an d d e st r uc tiveness asso c i ate d w ith war f are. Th e B l ac k Hor se in t h i s c ase cor responds to h u n g e r a nd a s the r i d e r i s som etim es co n si d e re d a food ve n d o r, t h is a dds to t h e se nse of d e sp e rat i on a nd d i sp ar i t y a ssoc iated

13 Sisters of Delphi


Power Items Animalwith t he wo r ld b ei ng on th e b r i n k o f tu r bulent awaken i n g, a s R evelat i o n s ug g es t s. But an o t her inter p ret at i o n o f t he r id er o f t he B la ck Horse i s t h at t h i s is the b r i ng er o f jus tice. The r i d er hold s s ca les t hat wou ld h ave b een us ed to wei g h b rea d, s o the B la ck H o rs e i s als o a s s o ci ated wi t h d olin g o ut j us t i ce and co n s eq uen ces or ju d gi n g wh o d eser ves what t y p e of co n s eq uen ces. The Pa le H o rs e may s i gn i f y li tera l d eath o r s i t uat i o n s in wh i ch ma s s cas ua lt i es o ccur. Yet this H o rs e ca n a ls o s ignif y a j o ur n ey toward growt h a nd rebir t h o r s o me k i n d of relea s e o f t he Eg o in favo r o f greater enlightenm ent. I n add i t i o n to the d ep i c t i o n i n R evelat i o n , t he

10

Horse

sy m b o l i sm o f H o r se i n t h e B i b l e i s q u i te f re qu e nt l y t h at o f War H o r se. I n m o re re ce nt t i m e s, m o d e r n Ch r i st i an s m ay l o o k at H o r se as a sy m b o l o f t h e S p i r i t an d t h e d e si re fo r f re e d o m o r as a sy m b o l o f f ai t h , st re n g t h an d p u r i t y. Horse as a Celtic Animal Symbol

Th e an c i e nt Ce l t s’ u n d e r st an d i n g an d acce p t an ce o f e ac h An i m al ’s way o f l i fe was so ab so l u te t h at t h e H o r se To te m h e l d a D i v i n e p l ace i n t h e i r c u l t u re. As M yst i c s an d S h am an s, t h e Ce l t i c Pe o p l e v i e we d al l l i fe as i nte r t w i n e d, co n n e c te d at t h e so u rce, as se e n i n Ce l t i c k n o t wo r k . I n Ce l t i c l o re, H o r se s h ave st ro n g asso c i at i o n s with the Deities like E p o n a an d M ac h a, b o t h o f w h i c h m an i fe st as H o r se s w h o p ro te c t t h e E ar t h , sh ow yo u t h e f u t u re, an d g u i d e h u m an k i n d w i t h su re fo o te d n e ss. E p o n a’s n am e m e an s “m are “,

an d S h e i s the onl y Ce l t i c G o ddess som e R o m an s wor shiped. S h e i s ve r y sim il a r in fo r m an d func tion to t h e We l sh R hia nnon, w h o r i d e s a Pa l e H o r se an d gover ns fe r t i l i t y. There a re o t h e r k i n ds of Hor ses am o n g t h e Cel tic D i v i n e b e ings l ik e t h e Wate r Hor se co m p an i o n to the S e a G o d M a na nna n M ac Li r. Thus, the Ce l t i c H o r se bec a m e sy m b o l i c of the ab i l i t y to br idge the g ap b e t we en peopl e an d S p i r i t s, both gre at an d sm a l l. H o r se sy mbol ism an d m e an i ng were al so asso c iated w i t h st ro n g a nd co u rag e o us wa r r ior s. Th e p owe r, strength an d st am i na of Hor se are asso c i ated w ith H o r se S p i r it Anim a l i n Ce l t i c l ore. Th e re are a l so ta l es o f a D r u i d tra dition o f co nte n der s for l e ad e r sh i p sl eeping i n si d e o f the sk in of a d e ad h o r se before b e i n g ascended to

13 Sisters of Delphi


Power Items Animalthe th ro ne a s K i n g. Therefo re, H o rs e, i n Celtic s y mb o li s m, i s als o a s s o ci ated wi t h royalt y a n d p ower. S ome a ls o tell o f a Pook a H o rs e, a b ei ng that l ured t ravelers to the i r d eat hs. Thus H o rs e ca n b e as s oc i ated wi t h tr icke r y, a s i s a ls o the ca s e wi t h t h e G reek Tro j a n H o rs e. Horse Dreams A hor s e s y m b o li zes s tami n a , cha r i s ma , and s exua l energi es. When a h o rs e appears i n a d rea m , it mig ht p o i nt to yo ur futu re s ucces s, a s i f you are r i d i n g i nto town a f ter a v i c to r y at war. I f t h e H o rs e s hows n o movement, cons i d er whet her a s ituati o n yo u a re i n is no lo n g er wo r t h the en erg y. As k yo urs elf,

“Are you beating a dead horse?” 11

Horse

Co n si d e r i n g i f t h e H o r se i s re al o r n o t i s al so i m p o r t ant to yo u r d re am m e ssag e. An i n an i m ate H o r se, l i k e a toy o r f i g u re, al l u d e s to a Tro j an H o r se, w h i c h i s so m e t h i n g u n d e si rab l e t h at m ay sl i p i nto yo u r l i fe t h ro u g h an u n ex p e c te d o p e n i n g. Wh e n a H o r se t al k s to yo u i n a d re am , l o o k at t h e m e ssag e as a gi f t st rai g ht f ro m H o r se’s m o u t h . I f yo u se e a m u l t i co l o re d H o r se, i t su g g e st s t ran si t i o n i n g si t u at i o n s w h e re yo u assu m e o n e t h i n g w i l l h ap p e n , b u t yo u’ l l e n d u p w i t h a d i f fe re nt o u tco m e. I f t h e H o r se se e m s to sn i f f t h e ai r w i t h e ar s p e r k e d u p r i g ht, p e r h ap s i t ’s t i m e yo u t u n e i nto yo u r e nv i ro n m e nt to p i c k u p o n su b t l e e n e rgi e s. At a m i n i m u m , u se yo u r “ h o r se se n se” o r co m m o n se n se to wo r k yo u r way t h ro u g h e ve nt s o r co m p l ex si t u at i o n s.

A h o r se sym bol izes o n e’s ab i l i t y to m ove t h ro u g h situations. Th e re fo re, the H o r se’s m ovem ent is te l l i n g ; i f the Hor se i s st an d i n g stil l, it su g g e st s a per iod of re st, co ntem pl ation, o r p l an n i ng. I f t h e H o r se is p ran c i n g, it suggests sl ow m ovem ent fo r ward with projec ts o r re l at i o nships. Wh e n t h e Hor se is g al l o p i n g or r unning, i t m e an s ra pid p ro gre ssi on a nd l e ap i n g h u rdl es w i t h e ase. I f t h e H o r se is w il d, i t st an d s a s a sym bol o f f re e d o m, but if b r i d l e d, o r ta m ed, i t si gn i f i e s f u n n e l e d a nd fo c u se d e n ergies. Th e Wi l d Hor se m ay c al l to you to al l ow yo u r sel f som e p l ay t i m e. The br idl ed H o r se p ro m ises a c h al l e n g e a hea d, re qu i r i n g your direc t fo c u s. I f t he Hor se d rag s a c ar t behind i t, yo u are c a r r ying to o m any em otiona l

13 Sisters of Delphi


Power Items Animalburd e n s o r t a k i n g o n the pro b lem s of others. Also co n s i d er t h e color o f t he H o rs e you see i n yo ur d reams. I f yo u d rea m of a Wh i te H o rs e, s ymbo li s m f ro m this v i s i o n may includ e p ur i t y, vic tor y, s t ren g t h and a d vent ures. I f you d rea m o f a Brown H o rs e, t he s ymbo li s m may have more to d o wi t h prac ti ca l m at ters, phys i ca l h ea li ng o r the need to lea n on your own Ear thy nat ure. Cons i d er t he impor t a nce o f co lo r mean i ng s when tr ying to d i s cer n Horse m ea n i n g s. Horse Far Eastern Symbolism

Amon g S p i r i t Animals, H o rs e i s quite co n s i s tent i n mean i ng s a cro s s ver y d ifferent cult ures. I n Far Eas ter n cult ures,

12

Horse

H o r se re m ai n s a sy m b o l o f we al t h , v i c to r y, st at u s, n o b i l i t y an d su cce ss. I n B u d d h i st b e l i e f syste m , H o r se i s t h e c ar r i e r o f Pran a an d i s asso c i ate d w i t h D h ar m a. B u d d h i st s al so se e H o r se as a sy m b o l o f d e vo t i o n . Th e re i s a sto r y t h at w h e n B u d d h a se t o u t o n h i s j o u r n e y o f asce t i c i sm , h i s H o r se re al i ze d h e wo u l d n o l o n g e r b e “n e e d e d ” an d d i e d o f a b ro k e n h e ar t. H o r se i s al so u se d as a sy m b o l to re p re se nt h ow h u m an s c an g ai n co nt ro l o f o u r m i n d s. Th e Wi n d H o r se d e p i c t s t h e f l i g ht o f t h o u g ht s an d i d e as t h at co n st ant l y d i st rac t u s f ro m o u r t ask s an d p at h . B u t w h e n we e nv i si o n o u r h i g h e r co n sc i o u sn e ss as b e i n g t h e r i d e r w h o “ t am e s” t h e f l i g ht y H o r se, t h e n we c an fe e l o u r se l ve s re sto r i n g b al an ce b e t we e n t h e f l i g ht s o f f an c y t h at sh i f t o u r

at te nt i o n a nd our n e e d to g a in control o f o u r ow n m inds. Th u s, as a Spir it An i m al, H or se c a n be a re m i n d e r that we n e e d to re in in our ow n m i n d s a nd not l e t t h o u g hts c a r r y u s away i n different d i re c t i o n s. As a S p i r i t Anim a l, H o r se k e e ps us fo c u se d and rem inds u s t h at w h il e we m ay want to freedom to r u n i n different d i re c t i o n s, this is not al ways w h at is tr ul y b e st fo r o ur m ind. I n t h e Ch i n ese Zo d i ac, H or se re p re se nt s nobil it y, co u rag e and strength. Th o se b o r n under t h i s Zo d i ac sign a re co n si d e re d good l e ad e r s and a l so ha rd wo r k i n g a nd sol id. I n Ch i n e se l ore, a H al f - H o r se, Ha l fD rag o n c reature k n ow n as a K il in or Q i l i n , i s as soc iated w i t h p e ace, ha r m ony an d sp i r i t u a l it y.

13 Sisters of Delphi


Power Items AnimalTheir mea ni n g ca n be s im i la r to t hat of the U ni co r n . I n s ome t a les, t hey avoid wa lk i n g o n the gro und s o a s to not h a r m a ny o t her creatures. I ns tea d, they a re s a i d to f lo at or wa lk o n clo ud s. They a re a s s o ci ated with g o o d luck and p ro s p er i t y a nd are co ns i d ered aus pi ci o us s y mb o ls. Horse s p i r i t ua l mean i ng i n C hi n es e cultu re, t hen, i s als o co n nec ted to for t unate circums t a n ces. S ome a cco unt s i n H ind u lo re a re les s flatte r i n g. K r i s h na i s s aid to have k i lled a d emon i c b ei ng i n the for m o f a H o rs e, for exa mp le. Horse Tattoo Meaning

When yo u s ee a Horse t at to o, yo u can res t a s s ured the pers o n b ea r i ng it has a f ree a n d ind epend ent s p i r i t.

13

Horse

A H o r se t at to o m ay re l ate to so m e o n e’s l ove an d o b se ssi o n w i t h t h e se c re at u re s. H o r se s c ap t i vate t h e i m agi n at i o n an d re m i n d u s o f o u r w i l d si d e. B o t h i n te r m s o f sex u al i t y an d o u r d e si re fo r f re e d o m to ro am w i t h o u t re st r i c t i o n s. A H o r se Tat to o m ay al so b e sy m b o l i c o f o n e o f t h e Fo u r H o r se m e n , gi v i n g an e d gi e r m e an i n g i n t h e c ase o f t h o se w h o are i nte re ste d i n st u d y i n g gre at awak e n i n g s an d E n d Ti m e s my t h o l o g y. A H o r se m ay al so b e a sy m b o l o f we al t h , su cce ss, a j o u r n e y o r co n q u e st w h e n d e p i c te d as a Tat to o. A B l ac k H o r se c an re p re se nt p owe r, m agi c, myste r y, al so j u d gm e nt, d e at h , t ran sfo r m at i o n an d i n i t i at i o n . A G o l d e n H o r se c an b e asso c i ate d w i t h S o l ar e n e rg y, v i t al i t y an d c re at i v i t y.

I f so m e o n e ha s a t at to o o f Pega sus o r a U n i cor n, the sp i r i t u al m ea ning of H o r se c an a l so be ap p l i e d. I n the c a se o f U n i co r n, there is al so an assoc iation w i t h i n n o cence an d p u r i t y. Horse Spiritual Meaning

Wh e n i t com es to H o r se S p i r itua l M e an i n g, this a nim a l c an co nvey the power o f royal t y, nobil it y, co n q u e st a nd c a n co m e to re present the co n ce p t o f jour ney, t rave l an d vehic l e. B o t h t h e body a s t h e ve h i c l e for the S o u l, as wel l a s the co n ce p t o f a jour ney o r asp e c t of your p at h o n t h e w hol e. H o r se’s S pir itua l M e an i n g ca n spea k to yo u r connec tion w i t h t h e wil d a spec t o f yo u r se l f that re f u se s to confor m o r b e l i m i ted. The p ar t o f your sel f that wo u l d rat h er be i n d e p e n d ent tha n fit in.

13 Sisters of Delphi


Power Items AnimalHorse s p i r i t ua l mean i ng ca n a ls o be connec ted to a cha n g e o n t h e hor izo n i n yo ur li fe. This i s d emo n s t rated by ca ref ul exam i n at i o n o f H o rs e imager y i n t h e Ta ro t. Thou g h H o rs e s hows up in a n umb er o f card s s uch a s D eat h, when yo u exa mi ne the H o rs es i n t h e K nig ht ca rd s, yo u can d er i ve ad d iti o n a l m ea n i n g. As s um i n g t h e trad iti o n a l elem ent a l cor res p o nd ences, each o f t he K ni g ht s in the Ta ro t d ep i c t s a r id er o n a H o rs e i n d ifferent s t a g es of mo ment um . Drawi ng f ro m t he R id er-Wa i te -S mi t h d eck , t he K ni g ht of Wan d s, o r Fi re element, s hows a n exu bera nt K ni g ht with a H o rs e in mot i o n . The K n i g ht i s up r i g ht and t h e H o rs e’s

14

Horse

fo re l e g s are l i f te d i n t h e ai r. Cl e ar l y, we c an se e t h at ac t i o n i s o cc u r r i n g an d p ro gre ss o n t h e j o u r n e y i s b e i n g m ad e. Th e H o r se i s u su al l y d e p i c te d as O ran g e o r R e d, t h u s t h e co n n e c t i o n to War H o r se i s m ad e. Th e K n i g ht o f Swo rd s, o r Ai r e l e m e nt, i n co nt rast, i s c h argi n g ah e ad sp e e d i l y o n a Wh i te H o r se. Th u s co n qu e st an d sp e e d are su g g e ste d. Th e K n i g ht o f Cu p s, o r Wate r e l e m e nt, r i d e s a Wh i te H o r se w h o i s wal k i n g b u t at a sl owe r p ace, t h e e n e rg y i n t h e c ard i s n o t as f re n e t i c an d su g g e st s ar r i val o r ap p ro ac h . Th e K n i g ht o f Pe nt ac l e s, o r E ar t h e l e m e nt, r i d e s a B l ac k H o r se. Th i s H o r se i s t h e o n l y o f t h e fo u r to st an d st i l l i n t h e co m m o n d e p i c t i o n s. Al so, re c al l t h e B l ac k H o r se i s h u n g e r o r j u d gm e nt i n R e ve l at i o n .

Ye t t h e E a r th e l e m e nt i s a bunda nce an d h ar ve st. Th u s t h e K night of Pe nt ac l e s’ Bl a c k H o r se su g gests t h at t h e e nergy of st ab i l i t y, grow th a nd ab u n d an ce req uires p at i e n ce and l ess e r rat i c m ovem ent t h an t h e other H o r se s. Pu t a nother way, yo u may be c al l e d to H ol d your H o r se s i f you wa nt to su cce e d i n c a reer o r f i n an ce s. I n my t h and l ore, H o r se sy mbol ism i s o f te n as soc iated w i t h D i v i ne Fem inine e n e rg y o r connec ted to g e nt l e ness a nd i nt u i t i o n . Yet the sp i r i t u al m ea ning o f H o r se i s a l so asso c i ate d w ith st re n g t h a nd p e r se ve rance. I n so m e t ra ditions, H o r se h ai r is asso c i ate d w ith h e al i n g. A Grey H o r se i s considered l u c k y o n the day of yo u r we d ding a nd a H o r se w ith the sy m b o l o f a Sta r on

13 Sisters of Delphi


Power Items Animaltheir fo rehea d i s a ls o cons i d ered a s i gn o f g ood luck . I n Gui n ea , t h e Horse’s t a i l i s us ed as an o f fer i n g fo r abun d a n ce. Nea r the no r t her n p a r t s of Afr i ca , t he trad iti o n k n own a s Fanta s i a , co n s i s t s o f men r i d i n g H o rs es while d res s ed i n cerem o n i a l g a r b.

Horse

H o r se’s sp i r i t u al m e an i n g, w h e t h e r yo u see H o r se s o n Taro t c ard s, i n d re am s, o r t hrough sy n c h ro n i c i t i e s, sp e ak to t h e p h ase your jour ney m ay b e t ak i n g. Ew h az, o n e o f t h e N o r se Ru n e s, l i te ral l y m ea ns H o r se. Th i s i s a r u n e t h at re m i n d s yo u to tr ust yo u r se l f an d co n n e c t t h e w i sd o m o f your body an d m i n d. B e c au se H o r se s are so se n sitive a nd i nte l l i g e nt b u t al so p hysi c al l y st ro n g, they a re co n si d e re d a sy m b o l o f t h e b e st o f t h e tra its h u m an s st r i ve to d e ve l o p. H o r se sp i r i tua l m e an i n g re l ate s to o u r i nt u i t i ve, se n sitive side an d o u r co u rag e an d fo r t i t u d e.

This i s a r i t ua l relate d to ch o o s i ng a mar r i a g e p a r t ner.

H o r se’s S p i r i t u al m e an i n g c an al so b r i n g you i nto al i gn m e nt w i t h yo u r d e si re fo r f reedom , i n d e p e n d e n ce an d to sh ow yo u r co u ra ge an d n o b i l i t y.

R ame s es t he S eco nd was sa i d to h ave d ined wi t h h i s Horses, n o t h i s g enera ls, b eca us e h e prefe r red t h e n o b i li t y of his H o rs es. Th us the re g a l n at ure o f Horses ca n a ls o b e s een a s p a r t o f H o rs e s pir it ua l m ea n i n g.

Horse Symbolic Meanings Key • M ove m e nt • Nobility • War • Fre e d o m & S e r v i ce • I n d e p e n d e n ce • Li fe an d D e at h ( Wh i te H o r se / B l ac k Hor se) • Ti m e & S p ace Trave l • M i n d, B o d y, & S p i r i t Al i gn m e nt • Tr u st • Pat h s to O t h e r wo r l d l y R e al m s

Isyourlifeabouttotakea surprising twist? Areyounotgainingground onthejourneythewayyou expected to?

15

https://whatismyspir itanimal.com/spir it-totem-power-animalmeanings/mammals/horse -symbolism-meaning/

13 Sisters of Delphi


Power Items Bird- Dove

Dove Symbolism & Meaning

The s weet p ur i t y o f a whi te D ove h a s become a s y mb o l fo r G od, S p i r i t a nd h o p e aroun d t h e wo r ld.

Butdidyouknowthatnot all doves are white? They co m e i n a lovely a r ray o f co lo rs each o n e h av i n g d ifferent m ea n i n g s. A red D ove rep res ent s red em p t i o n a nd s peck led D oves s ymb o li ze va r i et y and d i vers i t y. Daint y D oves have b een us ed a s mess a g e ca r r i ers becau s e t h ey s eem to always f i nd t h ei r way home. S o i f D ove s hows up i n yo ur li fe per ha p s i t i s t i me to cons i d er a q ues t to

16

t h e p l ace yo u c al l h o m e, an d p ay c l o se at te nt i o n to any h ar b i n g e r s yo u e n co u nte r o n t h e way.

t h e H o l y Spir it, an d a swe et sym bol o f af fe c t i on a nd t r u e p i e t y.

Am o n g t h e an c i e nt Gre e k s D ove was sac re d to b o t h Ze u s an d Ap h ro d i te, t h e G o d o f t h e sk y an d r u l e r o f O l y m p u s an d t h e G o d d e ss o f l ove an d p assi o n .

I t i s i nte re sting to n o te t h at the words u se d fo r Hol y Spir it i n t h e N e w Testa m ent h ave fe m i nine i m p l i c at i ons, w hic h m ay b e w hy D ove al so co n n e c ts w ith t h e M o t h er M a r y ( an d by ex tension, t h e G o d d e ss). Le g e n d c l a im s that o u r l ove l y spir it an i m al i s so pure t h at n o e v il c a n ta k e i t s fo r m .

Th i s co m b i n at i o n i s o n e o f t h e re aso n s h u m an s f avo re d D ove s as an e m b l e m o f f am i l y u n i t y at o cc asi o n s su c h as m ar r i ag e. Th e i r w i n g s b e ar w i sd o m , g o o d co u n se l an d acce p t an ce. I n n at u re, d ove s are m o n o g am o u s. B aby l o n i an s re g ard e d D ove as a f i e rce sp i r i t w h o t au g ht h o n o r i n al l t h i n g s, p ar t i c u l ar l y b at t l e. S o m e w h at co nt rar i w i se, t h e B i b l e says a D ove b ro u g ht N o ah a si gn t h at t h e Lo rd ’s w rat h h ad e n d e d, an d t h e re wo u l d b e p e ace ag ai n . Th e N e w Te st am e nt u se s D ove as t h e ve sse l fo r

A m o t h e r G oddess, Isht ar al so hel d the D ove sac red, per ha ps b e i n g c al med a nd e n co u rag ed by the b i rd ’s swe et song. S o m e c u l t ures c l ai m e d D ove gentl y g u i d e s t h e soul s of t h e d e ad to their f i n al re st i n g pl a ce. Gy p sy t radition says w h e n D ove a ppea r s i t b r i n g s hea l ing m e ssag e s from

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Power Items Bird- Dove par ted loved o n es to ou r ea rs. Dove Spirit Animal

A D ove i n t h e wi ld i s ver y awa re a n d o f ten uneas y a s a res ult. When s p i r i t D ove enters yo ur li fe L i g ht wor k ers a s k ,

areyoufeelingoutofyour comfort zone? I f s o, d eter m i n e the s o urce o f yo ur uneas i nes s a nd s eek s acred p ea ce. D ove calls yo u towa rd centered n es s – away f ro m t he s tress o f d a i ly n o i s e and movement. Anoth er mes s a g e from d ove h a s to d o wi t h yo ur clo s e relati o ns h i p s.

Wheredoproblemslieand howcanyousmoothout ruffled feathers? D ove d o es not to lerate c ynic i s m, cha o s o r d ispa ra g em ent.

R ather, D ove ra d i ates throug h yo ur i nner child wi t h s i mp li ci t y

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an d p u re i nte nt. I f so m e o n e i s ro b b i n g yo u o f t h at i n n o ce nt j oy i t m ay b e t i m e to c u t t h o se co rd s an d re c l ai m yo u r se n se o f se l f as we l l as st re n g t h e n i n g yo u r t i e s to S p i r i t. D ove o f te n o p e n s o p p o r t u n i t y ’s d o o r. I f yo u h e e d h e r m e ssag e, yo u r d re am s m ay m an i fe st f ar m o re qu i c k l y t h an ant i c i p ate d. Dove Totem Animal Th o se b o r n w i t h D ove as a to te m an i m al are am o n g t h e m o st co m p assi o n ate i n t h e wo r l d. I t ’s as i f D ove s g e nt l e vo i ce i s yo u r ow n , an d yo u r yo u t h f u l o u t l o o k o n l i fe m ak e s yo u ve r y e asy to b e aro u n d. D ove p e o p l e d i sl i k e c au st i c e nv i ro n m e nt s, c h ao s an d i l l w i l l. Th e y avo i d t h e se, se e k i n g o u t se re n i t y an d t h e o p p o r t u n i t y to n u r t u re o t h e r s i n ste ad. Wi t h D ove as yo u r to te m , yo u h ave n at u ral

p are nt i n g sk il l s be i t fo r a c h il d or a p ro j e c t t h at needs so m e co ax ing. D i p l o m ac y a nd w i sd o m t hy na m e i s D ove. Th e re i s a fem inine p owe r ab out you, a nd m any d ove peopl e f i n d t h e y have natura l p ro p h e t i c a bil ities. Yo u c an soa r bet ween t h i s wo r l d a nd other re al m s as ea sil y a s a 7 4 7 j e t l i ner, guided by t h e e ve r- sure a nd h o n e st D ove’s w ings. D ove p e o pl e a re l ove r s, n o t fighter s. Th e y m u st ta k e c a re, h owe ve r, that other s d o n o t u se that l ove as a m ea ns of m an i p u l ation. B ec a use yo u l ove purel y a nd d e e p l y, you hur t l i k e w i se so. I n re l at i o nships you are a o n e - pa r tner p e r so n t h at buil ds a n e st w i t h great d i l i g e n ce, w ishing n o t h i n g b ut wa r mth, co m fo r t an d sa fet y within.

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Power Items Bird- Dove

Dove Power Animal

D ove sp i r i t, gi v i n g yo u gre ate r i n si g ht, h o p e f u l n e ss an d a se n se o f c al m so we c an at t u n e to t h at sm al l vo i ce w i t h i n .

D ove wi ll h elp yo ur comm uni cat i o n s a n d keep t h em p ure – free f ro m a n g er t h at wou nd s rat her t h a n heals. D ove en erg y is ver y s o o t h i n g. I t rem i n d s us to keep t h e s i mp le a n d s ublim e at the foremo s t o f ou r relat i o n s h i p s.

H e al e r s wo u l d d o we l l to se e k o u t D ove as a Powe r An i m al to re n e w t h e i r so u l.

As a Power Ani ma l D ove i s a un i q uely well-sui ted p a r t n er for peo p le s t a r t i n g on th e p at h o f parent h o o d. H o m e and fa m i ly m ea n s ever y t h i n g to d ove, and h er en erg y s uppo r t s fer t i li t y, loving emo t i o ns, and n ur t ur i ng.

Th e D ove’s c al l i s a m e ssag e, o f te n o n e o f p o ssi b l e f u t u re s. I t i s sai d w h e n D ove co m e s i nto yo u r l i fe, yo u sh o u l d re l e ase t h i n g s f ro m yo u r p ast t h at h o l d yo u d ow n . O n ce yo u l e t g o, t h e D ove’s p e ace f u l n e ss se t t l e s i n yo u r h e ar t an d yo u c an m ove fo r ward.

When wo r k i n g with D ove en erg y cons i d er ca r r y i n g an am et hys t, wh i ch has a co o p erat i ve energy mat r i x wi t h

Am o n g t h e B l ac k fo o t p e o p l e D ove i s a h ar b i n g e r o f safe t y i n b at t l e. M ex i c an t r i b e s re g ard t h e D ove as a sy m b o l o f l ove, an d

S eek o ut D ove a s a Power Ani ma l wh en you w i s h to ren ew peace a nd love i n a situat i o n .

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Native American Dove Symbolic Meanings

I n N at i ve Am e r i c an t rad i t i o n D ove re p re se nt s t h e m e e t i n g o f t h e E ar t h re al m an d sp i r i t u al wo r l d s.

u se d d e p i c tions of D ove s i n wedding r i t u al s. Am ong the Al g o n qu i n a D ove’s c r y fo re tol d death w h i l e t h e Puebl o h o n o r D ove a s a rai n b r i n ger. Dove as a Celtic Animal Symbol

Th e Ce l t i c peopl e fel t t h at h e ar i ng a D ove’s c r y m e ant som eone h ad p e aceful l y t ran si t i o n e d from l ife to d e at h . Ce l t i c d e i ties asso c i ate d w ith h e al i n g o f ten ha d i m ag e s o f D oves nea r t h e i r sac re d sites. Th i s an i m a l spir it al so h ad strong ties w i t h p ro p hetic a r ts. Dove Dreams D ove d re a m s t y p i c al l y m ea n a t i m e o f h a r m ony a nd p e ace. Th ey a l so re p re se nt s l oving, l oyal re l ationships an d d i v i n e Bl essings.

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Power Items Far Eastern Dove Symbolic Meanings

Bird- Dove

I n Ch i n a D ove i s nea r ly u n i ve r sal l y re g ard e d as a sy m b o l o f fe r til it y a nd d evot i o n. Feng S h ui p ra c t i t i o n e r s u se D ove i m ag e s to i m p rove the fl ow of Chi fo r p ea ce, lo n g ev i t y an d l ove. Dove Symbolic Meanings Key • Sp i r i t Co m m un i cat i o n • D e d i cat i o n • Hop e • Love • Pea ce • Div i ne G ra ce • M ater n a l I n s t i nc t • Pu r i t y • Pro p hec y • G ent len es s • Forgi ven es s • Co mp a s s i o n https://whatismyspiritanimal.com/spirit-totem-power-animal-meanings/birds/dove-symbolism-meaning/

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Power Items Stone-Alexandrite

Alexan d r i te i s a ber yll i um , Alum i n i um Oxid e. I t i s a c t ua lly a Chr ys o b er y l whi ch belong s to t he Oxi d e Clas s o f m i n era ls. Alexan d r i te i s n a med for th e fo r mer cz a r of Ru s s i a , Alexa n d er II, and wa s f i rs t d iscovered i n t h e Ural M o unt a i n s o f Ru s s ia, s up p o s ed ly on the d ay o f h i s bir th. Alexa nd r i te has si nce b een d iscovered i n R us s i a , Aus tra li a , B ra z i l, I nd ia, M a d a g a s ca r and M ya nm a r. ​S ynthet i c co rund ums s pik ed wi t h t ra ce element s t h at y i eld an alexa n d r i te -li ke color ch a n g e a re s old a s a lexa n d r i te on the g ems to ne

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m ar k e t. Th e se sto n e s h ave a re d -v i o l e t, n e ar- am e t hyst co l o r i n i n c an d e sce nt l i g ht an d a b l u e -v i o l e t co l o r i n d ay l i g ht. Th e y are f ar c h e ap e r t h an n at u ral al ex an d r i te s, w h i c h are so m e o f t h e rare st an d m o st ex p e n si ve o f g e m sto n e s i n t h e wo r l d. ​Ch ro m i u m gi ve s al ex an d r i te i t s co l o u r an d w h i l e i n m o st m i n e ral s a t race e l e m e nt l i k e c h ro m i u m wo u l d p rov i d e o n l y o n e co l o u r to t h e m i n e ral, i n al ex an d r i te i t gi ve s i t t wo. Co l o u r i n g ag e nt s are d e p e n d e nt o n t h e wave l e n g t h o f l i g ht an d t h e c h e m i c al b o n d s i n t h e c r yst al to d e te r m i n e t h e co l o u r t h at t h e y w i l l c au se. An e l e m e nt l i k e co p p e r, i n n o r m al l i g ht, c an c au se a gre e n co l o u r i n m al ac h i te an d a b l u e co l o u r i n azu r i te, i t al l d e p e n d s o n t h e c h arac te r o f t h e c h e m i c al b o n d i n g. I n a si n g l e sp e c i m e n o f al ex an d r i te, t h e c h ro m i u m i s i n su c h a

b al an ce d s ituation t h at t h e col our of the sp e c i m e n depends o n t h e c h ara c ter of l i g ht t h at hits the c r yst al. I f the l ight i s n at u ral sunl ight or f l u o re sce nt l ight, the c r yst al w i ll be green; h owe ve r, if the l ight i s i n c an d e scent l ight f ro m a co mm on i n d o o r l i g ht bul b, t h e n t h e c r ysta l w il l ap p e ar re d. ALEXANDRITE AND PHYSICAL HEALTH

Al ex an d r i te ba l a nces t h e n e r vo us system an d g l an dul a r syste m , i t w il l soothe i n f l am m ation a nd te n si o n i n the nec k m u sc l e s. Al exa ndr ite w i l l h e l p ea se t h e sy m p tom s o f l e u k ae m ia . I t su p p o r ts a nd st re n g t h e n s the p i n e al an d pituita r y g l an d s, spl een, p an c re as, m a l e re p ro d u c tive orga ns an d n e u rol ogic a l t i ssu e. Al exa ndr ite w i l l h e l p you to be ab l e to assim il ate

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Power Items Stone-Alexandrite prote i n s m o re ea s i ly. I t has a p ower f ul d etoxi f y i n g a c t i o n and s t i mulates t h e liver s o t h at i t wi ll wor k at i t s p ea k per fo r ma nce. ​T his sto ne h elp s in hea li n g t h e ner vo us s ys tem , reprod uc t i ve o rg a n s and reg en erates neurolo gi ca l t i s s ue. ALEXANDRITE AND YOUR FEELINGS

​A lexa nd r i te i n s p i res you r i m a gi n at i o n encou ra g es yo u to lis ten to yo ur feeling s a n d at t unes you r i nner vo i ce. I t will help yo u a ch i eve emot i o na l m at ur i t y and en co ura g es you to f i n d j oy i n ever yd ay li fe. Alexa nd r i te s treng t h ens willpower a n d a s s i s t s you to a ccurately as s ess emo t i o ns b o t h you rs a n d o t h ers and rea c t to t h em appro p r i ately. ​ ​A lexa nd r i te enha n ces feeling s o f creat i v i t y. I t hel p s yo u to

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acce p t c h an g e an d e m o t i o n al i ssu e s t h at g o w i t h t h at c h an g e. I t i s p ar t i c u l ar l y u se f u l fo r c h ak ra wo r k an d m assag e i nvo l v i n g t h e h e ar t w h e n yo u w i sh to c al m fe e l i n g s o f b e i n g l o st an d h ave n o i nte re st i n p u r su i n g a f u l f i l l i n g c are e r. ALEXANDRITE AND YOUR MIND

​ l ex an d r i te wo r k s to A ce nt re yo u r m i n d, b o o st yo u r se l f e ste e m , o p e n yo u to su r ro u n d i n g v i b rat i o n s an d al l ow t h e c l o se d h e ar te d to ex p e r i e n ce l ove an d j oy. ​​W i t h i t s ab i l i t y to sh ow t wo co l o u r s Al ex an d r i te w i l l al l ow yo u to se e b o t h si d e s o f an i ssu e an d w i l l l i n k t h e h e ar t an d m i n d so t h at t h e y co m e f ro m a d i sp assi o n ate, i l l u m i n ate d p e r sp e c t i ve t h at e n co m p asse s an d i nte grate s t h e rat i o n al an d t h e i nt u i t i ve v i e w p o i nt s. ALEXANDRITE AND THE SPIRIT

Al ex an d r i te re i n fo rce s an d re al i gn s t h e m i n d, e m o t i o n an d

sp i r i t w i t h in yo u. Al ex a ndr ite o p e n s i nt uition an d m e t aphysic a l ab i l i t i e s. I t c reates a st ro n g wil l a nd p e r so n al m a gnetism . Al ex an d r i te is a sy m b o l o f roya l p owe r an d a c ts a s an e f f i c i e nt g u ard i an stone. Al ex an d r i te is a u se f u l sp i r itua l p u r i f i e r an d renewa l sto n e. Al exa ndr ite al l ows yo u to co n n e c t with the f re qu e n c i e s of Divine K n ow l e d ge a nd D i v i n e Love. I t assi st s you to re so n ate with these f re qu e n c i e s a nd u t i l i si n g t h em to g at h e r k n ow l edge fo r t h e grow th of t h e se l f o r other s w h i l e sh ar ing this k n ow l e d g e from the h e ar t. I t f a c il itates t h e re cove r y of al te r n at i ve - l ife i n fo r m at i on a nd Ak ash i c re cords. I t i s c l o se l y rel ated to b o t h an c ient

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Power Items Stone-Alexandrite Eg ypt i a n a nd Atlantea n en ergi es and ca n a s s i s t t h o s e who were o n ce pr ies t s o r p r i es tes s es in recover i ng a nci ent s acred k nowled g e. ALEXANDRITE AND THE CHAKRAS

• Bas e • He a r t • Thro at • Crown The ch a k ra s a re the bo d y ’s i nter n a l energy cent res, a nd are al i gn ed ver t i ca lly near t he s p i n e. Energy enters t he bod y t h ro ug h t h e head (heaven) a n d the ba s e (ea r t h ). The s even cha k ra s are vo r tex p o i nt s where t hes e fo rces ming le, wi t h each p ro d uci ng a d istinc t i ve energ y patter n. Th e p ur p o s e of thes e cha k ra s i s to abs o r b, t ra n s fo r m and d i s t r i b ute t h e bod y ’s i nter na l energy, k nown by ter m s s uch a s prana , li fe fo rce or chi . S p eci f i c

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o rg an s an d b o d y p ar t s are asso c i ate d w i t h e ac h c h ak ra, as we l l as co r re sp o n d i n g b e h av i o u ral, e m o t i o n al an d p e r so n al i t y p at te r n s. I t i s i m p o r t ant to n o te t h at t h e c h ak ras are i n co n st ant i nte r p l ay, an d c an n o t re al l y b e se p arate d. Th e re h ave b e e n t wo ex t ra c h ak ras d i scove re d re ce nt l y ; t h e E ar t h St ar Ch ak ra an d t h e S o u l St ar Ch ak ra. ALEXANDRITE AND THE SEVEN AURIC BODIES

• Et h e r i c • Ast ral • Et h e r i c Te m p l ate • Ketheric H u m an b e i n g s are n o t j u st t h e p hysi c al b o d y. Yo u h ave se ve n au r i c b o d i e s. Th e se se ve n u n se e n b o d i e s are k n ow n as e n e rg y b o d i e s, e n e rg y l aye r s o r au ras. Th e se ve n n o n p hysi c al b o d i e s are n’t se p arate f ro m t h e p hysi c al b o d y, t h e y are al l i nte rco n n e c te d w i t h e ac h o t h e r. Th e h e al t h o f any o f t h e se b o d i e s co nt r i b u te s toward t h e

ove ral l p hysic a l, m e nt al, e motiona l an d sp i r i t u a l we l l b e i n g of a p e r so n . Th e se e n ergy b o d i e s are a ffec ted by al l asp ec ts of yo u r l i fe st yl e. The e n e rg y t h at feeds t h e m co m es from o u t si d e an d inside. Eve r y t h i n g in your l i fe i n f l u e nces these b o d i e s. The hea l th of t h e se e n e rgy bodies d e p e n d s on the am o u nt and q ua l it y o f p ran a or c hi f l ow i n g t hrough them w h i c h i s generated i n t h e Ku nda l ini L ine an d Ch ak ra s. Wh e n any one of the au r i c b o d i es is not wo r k i n g proper l y, i t af fe c t s the other b o d i e s an d the p hysi c al body, a s e ac h b o d y rel ies o n t h e o t her s to g at h e r an d distr ibute e n e rg y.

https://w w w. healingwithcr ystals.net.au/ alexandr ite.html

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Power Items Flower-Rose o f h e r so n E ro s by re ar ran gi n g j u st o n e l e t te r i n h i s n am e. I n l aye r t i m e E ro s g ave t h e ro se to H ar p o c rate s, g o d i f si l e n ce, as a b r i b e to co n ce al t h e we ak n e ss o f t h e g o d s. Eve nt u al l y m ak i n g t h e ro se sy m b o i c o f se c re c y, si l e n ce an d l ove. Ah, th e s mell o f the ros e.

Beautiful isnt it? From p o em s, s to r i es, s ong s, p i c t ures, holidays, a n d even for s p ells i t s a well us ed a nd loved f lower.

Butwhatalldowetruly knowabouttherose? Origins. The ro s e b elo n g s to the fa mi ly R o s a cea and g en us R o s a , conta i n i n g a lm o s t 150 sp eci es. I n greek my t ho lo g y, Aphrod i te, t he g od d e s s o f b ea ut y, g ave t h e ro s e i t s name i n h o no r

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Fo ssi l re co rd s h ave sh ow n t h e ro se to b e o n e o f t h e m o st an c i e nt o f f l owe r s. M o st l i k e l y o r i gi n at i n g i n Ce nt ral Asi a b u t t h ro u g h t i m e sp re ad an d gre w w i l d ove r n e ar l y t h e e nt i re n o r t h e r n H e m i sp h e re. Two h i sto r i c al g e o grap h i c al gro u p i n g s o f ro se s c an b e m ad e 1 . Eu ro p e an / M e d i te r ran e an ro se s, i n c l u d i n g t h e G al l i c as, Al b as, D am ask s, D am ask Pe r p e t u al s, Ce nt i fo l i as an d M o sse s 2 . O r i e nt al ro se s, w h i c h are re p re se nte d by t h e Ch i n a an d Te a ro se s.

Cu l t i vat i o n m ost l i k e l y b e g a n in Asia ab o u t 5 0 0 0 yea r s ag o an d h ave becom e an i nt i m ate pa r t of h i m an c i v i l iz ation si n ce. Co nfuc ius ha d w r i t te n o f grow ing ro se s i n t he im per ia l g ard e n s about 5 0 0 B. C. an d ha d m e nt i o n e d that t h e e m p e ror ’s l i b rar y co nta ined h u n d re d s of book s o n t h e su bjec t. M e m b e r s if the H an d y n as t y were i n c re d i b l y obsessed w i t h ro se s a nd d e co te d roses to t h e i r p ar k s. S o m a ny, t h at t h e f l ower took u p so m u ch of their l an d, t h re atening the f i o d su p p ly. This then fo rce d t h e E m peror to o rd e r som e to be p l owe d u n der. Pai nt i n g s on wa l l s an d o t h e r a r tifa c ts d e p i c t i n g roses were fo u n d i n the fif th ce nt u r y o f Egyptia n to m b s. I t s bel ieved t h at Cl e o patra wa s a f an c i e r of roses

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Power Items and us ed t hem to tr y to s ed uce M a r k Anthony. R ep o r ted ly s he ha d her fo unt a i n filled wi t h f ra gra nt ros e water a n d h er cham b er h a d b een filled wi t h t wo feet of ros e p et a ls i n an attemp t to wi n his affec t i o n. Ad d iti o n a lly, the Pers i a n K i n g Nebucha d n ez z a r i s believed to have s lept o n a mattres s f i lled wi t h ros e p et a ls. Centur i es later, the ros e b eca m e s ynony mo us wi t h lavis h exces s es por tray i ng chara c ter i s t i cs o f the R o m a n s, who as s oc i ated t he ro s e with love, b ea ut y, pur it y a nd p a s s i o n . R oman emp ero rs wou ld h ave t h ei r baths f i lled wi t h ros e water a n d s i t o n car pet s o f ro s e p et a ls for th ei r fea s t s.

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Flower-Rose R o se p e t al s we re al so u se d as co n fe t t i an d N e ro was sai d to b e ve r y fo n d o f h av i n g t h e m f al l l i k e sh owe r s f ro m t h e ce i l i n g at b an qu e t s ( to t h e p o i nt d i n n e r g u e st s h ad so m e t i m e s su f fo c ate d i n t h e i r exce ss) .

S o i n sat i ab l e was t h e d e m an d fo r t h i s b e au t i f u l f l owe r t h at p e asant s we re o f te n fo rce d to grow t h e m i n ste ad o f fo o d to sat i sf y t h e d e m an d s o f t h e R o m an ar i sto c rac y. E ar l y Ch r i st i an s sad l y co n si d e re d t h e ro se to b e sy m b l i c o f p ag an i sm an d so t h e i r o p p re sso r s t h e R o m an s an d so we re war n e d by c h u rc h l e ad e r s n o t to p l ant i t. Th i s war n i n g h owe ve r was i gn o re d an d i t sl ow l y g ai n e d p o p u l ar i t y an d was t h e n i se d re l i gi o u s ce re m o n i e s. I n t i m e t h e ro se b e c am e a Ch r i st i an sy m b o l an d h as b e co m e a r i c h p ar t o f b o t h i t s c u l t u re an d l i te rat u re.

Al ex an d e r the great h as b e e n credited by so m e for having i nt ro d u ce d the rose i nto Eu ro pe w hil e o t h e r s at t r ibute the l at te r to k nights re t u r n i n g from the c r u sad e s of 1 2 th a nd 1 3 t h ce nt u r y. D u r i n g t h e da r k ag e s Eu ro pea n m o n aste r ies p re se r ve d the t rad i t i o n of roses a nd i n t u r n re q uired that at l e ast o n e m onk be sk i l l e d i n botony a nd b e k n ow l edgea bl e ab o u t t h e vir tues of t h e ro se. D u r i n g t h e 1 7 th ce nt u r y i n Europe, t h e ro se bec a m e so p r i ze d t h at both ro se s an d rose water we re co n s idered a so u rce of l ega l te n d e r an d coul d be u se d to p ay debts co m m o n e r s owed to royal t y. I t i s al so bel ieved t h at d u r i n g this era N ap o l e o n’s w ife J o se p h i n e, a l over

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Power Items Flower-Rose of ros es, es t a b li s hed one o f t h e f i rs t ex tens i ve co llec t i o ns of ros es at C hatea u d e M a lm a i s o n wh ere her g a rd en h a d conta i n ed mo re t ha n 250 ro s e va r i et i es. Presum a b ly m o s t o f Jos eph i n e’s ro s es were o f Euro p ea n / M ed iter ra n ea n t y p e s ince i t wa s no t unt i l late 18t h cent ur y that the chi n a gro up was int ro d uced i nto Eu rop e. S h o r t ly therea f ter t he China ro s e ( R o s a chine ns i s ) wa s cros s ed by hy b r i i zers with R o s a gi g a ntea , the Eu ro p ea n/ M ed iter ra n ea n t y p e to for m a new ro s e. Since s o m e b eli eved the newly o p en ed flowers o f t he res ult a nt cro s s ha d fragrance o f a n excu i s i te cup o f tea , it was gi ven t h e name tea ro s e. D ecad es later anoth er t y p e wo uld be d evelo p ed by

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c ro ssi n g D am ask ro se ( a hy b r i d o f fo r m e d i n t h e M i d d l e E ast by c ro ssi n g R o sa g al l i c a w i t h R o sa m o sc h at a) w i t h o t h e r var i o u s ro se sp e c i e s. Th e o f fsp r i n g o f t h e se c ro sse s re b l o o m e d f re e l y an d we re gi ve n t h e n am e hy b r i d p e r p e t u al s an d b e c am e qu i te p o p u l ar t h ro u g h o u t m o st o f t h e 1 9 t h ce nt u r y. A l an d m ar k ac h i e ve m e nt fo r ro se b re e d i n g h ad o cc u r re d i n t h e m i d 1 9 t h ce nt u r y w i t h te a ro se s b e i n g c ro sse d w i t h hy b r i d p e r p e t u al s gi v i n g u s t h e m o d e r n hy b r i d te a ro se. R e p l e te w i t h t h e i r l arg e f l owe r s t h at are avai l ab l e i n a p al l e t te o f co l o r s an d t h e i r v i g o ro u s p l ant s w i t h g l o ssy gre e n fo l i ag e, t h e y h ave b e co m e t h e m o st p o p u l ar t y p e o f ro se i n t h e wo r l d to d ay. Th e y are co n si d e re d to b e t h e st an d ard o f exce l l e n ce by w h i c h al l o t h e r t y p e s o f ro se s are j u d g e d.

Th e re are severa l sp e c i e s i n digenous to N o r t h Am er ic a an d t h e rose wa s a f avo r i te a m ong m any w h o a re c re d i te d with sha ping Am e r i c an histor y. Wi l l i am Pe nn ha d i m p o r te d 1 8 rose b u sh e s f rom E ngl a nd b ac k i n 1 69 9 . G e o rg e Wa shington h ad e ve n pl a nted ro se s at M ount Ve r n o n w hil e Thom a s J e f fe r so n grew them at M o nt i cel l o. J ohn Ad am s h ad been c re d i te d for pl a nting t h e f i r st rose at the Wh i te H o use a nd t h e fo r m al rose g ard e n t h at exists to t h i s d ay ha d been e st ab l i sh e d dur ing t h e p re si dentia l ter m o f Wo o d row Wil son. To d ay t h e Am er ic a n R o se S o c i et y l ists ove r 4 0 d i fferent t y p e s o f roses in i t s c l assi f i c ation syste m . I n genera l, t h e y are grouped i nto O l d Wor l d R oses ( i nt ro d u ce d before

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Power Items 1867) a n d M o d er n R oses ( d evelo p ed af ter 1867). I n ad di t i o n to t he hybr id tea , o t h er impor t a nt m o d er n ros e gro up s h ave been i n clud ed s uch a s polya nt h a , f lo r i b und a and gra nd i f lo ra . Polyant h a ro s es a re more s hrub by a n d low growi n g ro s es with s m a ll clus ters of flowers. Thes e a re quite ha rd y b lo o m freely t hro ug h o ut t he s easo n . Flo r i b und a s have b een d er i ved from cro s s es b et ween hybr id tea a n d polya nt h us ro s es. These ro s es p ro d uce much la rg er, ha rd y, s hrub by b us hes t hat will b lo o m p ro f us ely and p ro d uce clus ters of flowers. Th e G rand i f lo ra ro s e i s a res ult f ro m cro s s i n g flor ib un d a s a nd hybr id tea ro s es. L ik e t h e f lo r i b und a parent, t h es e ro s es prod uce f lowers

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Flower-Rose i n c l u ste r s. H owe ve r, i n d i v i d u al f l owe r s are m u c h l arg e r an d f avo r t h e i r hy b r i d te a p are nt i n si ze.

o f h i sto r y w hom have al so p ai d hom a ge to t h i s exq u i site fl ower.

As se e n , t h e ro se l i n e ag e i s q u i te co m p l ex . O ve r ce nt u r i e s o f b re e d i n g e f fo r t s h ave at te m p te d to p ro d u ce t h e “i d e al ” ro se, w h ate ve r t h e l at te r m ay i m p l y to t h e d e ve l o p e r.

Pe o p l e h ave of ten re p o r te d s m el l ing the f ragran ce of roses w h e n co m m unic ating w i t h an g e l s dur ing p raye r o r m editation. An g e l s u se rose sce nt s ad physic a l si gn s o f t h eir sp i r i t u al presence w i t h p e o pl e since ro se s h ave power ful e n e rg y f i e l ds that v i b rate at a high e l e v t r i c al freq uenc y - t h e h i g h e st of a ny f l owe r o n ea r th.

I n sp i te o f al l o f i t s p ro gre ss m ad e fo r i m p rove m e nt, t h e ro se c an st i l l b e qu i te a fo r m i d ab l e c h al l e n g e to t h e ave rag e g ard e n e r b e c au se o f t h e i r su sce p t i b i l i t y to d i se ase s an d co o l e r te m p e rat u re s. Pe o p l e te n d to to h o l d m o st d e ar l y t h o se t h i n g s i n l i fe w h i c h are d i f f i c u l t to o b t ai n . O n e c an n o t h e l p b u t wo n d e r i f a sm al l p ar t o f t h e f asc i n at i o n p e o p l e h ave i s t h e i r f ragi l e n at u re. S o t h e n ex t t i m e yo u ad m i re a ro se, co n si d e r t h e numbers of people t h ro u g h o u t t h e co u r se

Spirituality

Roses and Angels

S i n ce an g e l ic energy v i b rate s at a high rate, t h e y c a n co n n e c t e a sier w ith ro se s t h e n otjer f l owe r s w i th l ower v i b rat i o n al rates. R o se e sse ntia l oil v i b rate s at a rate o f 3 2 0 m h of e l e c t r i c al energy. I n co m p ar ison, l ave n d e r essentia l oil v i b rate s at a rate of 1 1 8 m h . A hea l thy

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Power Items Flower-Rose hu ma n b ra i n us ua lly vibrates b et ween 71 and 90 m h. Barac h i el, t h e archa n g el o f bless i ng s i s us ua lly d epic ted i n a r t wi t h either ro s e o r ro s e petals, s y mb o li z i ng G od s b les s i ng s t hat Barac h i el help s d elive r to p eo p le. R oses a p p ea r i n accou nt s f ro m m a ny religi o ns a s a s y m b o l of mi ra culo us love at wor k i n t h e wo r ld. I n anci ent my t h o lo g y, ros es s y mb o li zed eter n a l love i n t h e s tor ie s o f how g o d s intera c ted wi t h each o t h er a nd hu ma n b ei ng s. Pagan s us e ro s es as d e co rat i o n s to repre s ent t hei r hear ts. M us li m s v i ew ros es a s s y m b o ls o f a hum a n s o ul, a nd s mell i ng t h e s cent remin d s t h em o f their s p i r i t ua li t y.

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H i n d u s an d B u d d i st s b e l i e ve ro se s an d o t h e r f l owe r s are ex p re ssi o n s o f sp i r i t u al j oy. I n Isl am , a ro se s f ragran ce c an re p re se nt t h e sac re d n e ss o f p e o p l e’s so u l s. I f t h e sce nt o f a ro se p e r m e ate s t h e ai r w i t h n o ac t u al ro se s n e ar by, i t s a si gn t h at G o d o r an an g e l i s se n d i n g a sp i r i t u al m e ssag e su p e r n at u ral l y, t h ro u g h c l ai ral i e n ce. Th e se m e ssag e s are m e ant to e n co u rag e p e o p l e. I n Cat h o l i c i sm , t h e f ragrant sce nt o f ro se s i s o f te n c al l e d t h e “o d o r o f san c t i t y ” b e c au se o f i t s i n d i c at i o n o f t h e p re se n ce o f sp i r i t u al h o l i n e ss. Pe o p l e re p o r t sm e l l i n g ro se s w h e n p ray i n g to sai nt s i n h e ave n to i nte rce d e fo r t h e m w i t h G o d ab o u t so m e t h i n g. Meaning of Rose Colors

Th e co l o r o f a ro se i s asso c i ate d w i t h sy m b o l i c m e an i n g s. E ac h co l o r o f t h e ro se, i n c l u d i n g t h e b l o sso m

sh ap e an d a ge ( i . e. ro se b uds a s o p p o se d to ful l y b l o o m e d roses) co nve ys a different m e an i n g or per ha ps si l e nt m e ssa ge f ro m t h e giver to t h e re c i p i ent. •

R e d - sym bol izes ro m an ce, bea ut y, l ove, and coura ge. A re d rosebud si gn i f i es both b e au t y a nd pur it y. A t h o r n l ess red ro se sy m bol izes l ove at fir st sight. Ye l l ow - sy m b ol izes joy an d f r i endship a nd n e w b e ginnings. O ran g e sy m b o l ize f asc i n ation, se n su al it y a nd d e si re. Pi n k- sym bol ize grat i t u de a nd ap p re c iation , e sp e c i a l l y da r k p i n k ro s es. L ight p i n k ro s es a re u su al l y indic itive fo r sy m pathy a nd/ o r ad m i ration.

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Power Items •

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Whi te - s y mb o li ze pur i t y a n d inn o cence. Als o, s ile nce, reverence and s ecrec y. Whi te ro s eb ud s are s y m b o li c fo r gir lh o o d. B r i d es have o f ten s elec ted whi te ro s es fo r thei r b r i d a l bo uq uet s. G re en- s y m b o li ze fre ed o m, fer t i li t y, ren ewa l a nd n ew begi nni n g s. Blue - s y m b o li ze Hon o r, loya lt y, trus t a nd fr ie n d s h i p. H en ce they ma ke n i ce gif t s to clo s e fr ie n d s, co llea g ues or o t h er p eo p le who m yo u t rus t and res p ec t. Pu r p le s ymb o li ze R oya lt y, Pea ce, and s p i r i t ua l enli g htenm ent. I n ad d i t i o n , L aven d er ros es s y m b o li ze B ea ut y, Luxur y, R om a n ce a nd Eleg a nce. D a r k Pu r p le b len d a war mt h o f red with t h e co o ln es s

Flower-Rose

o f b l u e, sy m b o l i zi n g M aj e st i c, S e n su al i t y, Fu n , E l e g an ce an d H ar m o ny. Lave n d e r o r p u r p l e ro se s are i d e al fo r m e d i t at i o n o r p e ace g ard e n s as t h e y sy m b o l i ze f i n d i n g h ar m o ny w i t h o t h e r s an d re ac h i n g fo r sp i r i t u al e n l i g hte n m e nt. B l ac k - Sy m b o l i ze Lu xo r y, E l e g an ce, Fo r m al i t y, d i sc re t i o n , myste r y an d re b e l l i o n .

O n a sp i r i t u al l e ve l, l i k e t h e l o t u s f l owe r, a ro se i n f u l l b l o o m re p re se nt s re ac h i n g sp i r i t u al e n l i g hte n m e nt. Fu r t h e r m o re, t h e t h o r n s o n t h e ste m o f t h e ro se sy m b o l i ze t h e t ravai l s o n w h i c h we g o t h ro u g h o n y h e p hysi c al p l an e, e h i c h h e l p s o u r so u l s to l e ar n an d e vo l ve. Goddess Flowers A n u m b e r o f an c i e nt c u l t u re s asso c i ate d ro se s w i t h t h e i r G o d d e sse s. An ex am p l e i s t h e Gre e k s asso c i at i o n o f t h e ro se w i t h t h e i r G o d d e ss o f

Love, Ap h rodite. Eg y p t i an s a ssoc iate y h e ro se with I sis. Ch r i st i an s a ssoc iate ro se s w i t h the b l e sse d M a r y. Spirit Animals Th e R o se s ha res t rai t s an d sym biosis as we l l w i th w il d an i m al s and insec ts. An ex am p l e woul d be b e e s, b u t ter fl ies a nd h u m m i n g birds w hic h are al l at t ra c ted to t h e ro se. The rose fe e d s t h e m w hil e t h e y i n t u r n pol l inate m o re ro se s a nd ex te n d t h e ir l ife fo rce. I n addition, an i m al s su c h a s deer o r rab b i t s w i l l grav i tate toward s t h em a s a fo o d so u rce. O n a sy m bol ic l evel, an i m al s su c h a s the Swan , S e a hor se, an d E ag l e sha re sy m b o l i sm w ith t h e ro se bec a use as m o n o g am ous an i m al s, t h ey a l l sy m b o l i ze tr ue l ove an d d e vo tion.

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Power Items Herb-Coriander o f u n i o n ) . I t c an b e u se d to e ase t h e p ai n o f b ad l ove af f ai r s, an d to p ro m o te p e ace b e t we e n p e o p l e w h o st r u g g l e to g e t al o n g.

Planet : M a rs Eleme nt : Fire Magical Properties

Cor iand er i s b es t us ed i n mat ters relati ng to love. I t can b e a d d ed to s ache t s, cha r ms, or spells. I t ’s ed i b le a n d ca n be us ed i n mi xes a nd d r inks to enha n ce love o r lus t. I t can b e crus hed into i ncens e a n d bur ned to a chi eve t he s ame energi es. D u e to i t s a s s o ci at i o n with love i t i s o f ten us ed at h a n d f a s t i n g s (and ot her r i t ua ls

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I t i s al so u se d fo r p ro te c t i o n . Grow i n t h e g ard e n an d h an g i n t h e h o m e to b r i n g p e ace an d ward ag ai n st n e g at i v i t y an d (depending on the u se r ’s i nte nt ) an ar ray o f n e g at i ve t h i n g s. We ar o r c ar r y t h e se e d s to ward o f f d i se ase an d m i grai n e s. Also used for: h e al i n g, g o o d h e al t h , l o n g e v i t y, c l ai r voyan ce, d i v i n at i o n , fe r t i l i t y, p ro sp e r i t y, k e e p i n g se c re t s, p assi o n , an d re te nt i o n . Medicinal Properties

Co r i an d e r ’s ant i i n f l am m ato r y p ro p e r t i e s c an h e l p re d u ce j o i nt swe l l i n g i n r h e u m ato i d ar t h r i t i s. Wh e n t h e h e r b i s ad d e d to t h e d i e t al o n g w i t h o t h e r n at u ral i m m u n e

syste m b ooster s, c h ro n i c i nfec tions c an b e e l i m inated. Aromatherapy B u r n e d to enha nce l ove an d pa ssion https://vayas-witchcraf tand-spir itual.tumblr.com/ post/105586004735/her b cor iander

Coriandrum sativum

Th i s sp i ce is of ten u se d i n l ove m a gic k ( o r p e r h aps l ust m agi c k ) , e spec ia l l y w h e n ad d e d to w ine. Th e y are al so wor n fo r h e al i n g. S om e co n si d e r these seeds a M o o n h er b bec a use o f t h e i r sha pe, b u t m o st think of i t as a M ar s her b, b e c au se t he ta l ented R e n ai ssan ce her ba l ist Cu l p e p e r designated t h i s m agi c k her b as “ h o t i n the f i r st d e gre e.” Th i s sp i ce ha s a so m e w h at nutt y sce nt w h e n bur ned an d are n ice m ixed w i t h o l i b a num , c y p re ss, sa nda l wood,

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Power Items Herb-Coriander and ci n na mo n a s an incens e fo r cons ecrat i o n o r fo r pros p er i t y s p ells. I n Chi n es e fo lk lo re, eating co r i a n d er while p regna nt mean s t h e b a by wi ll be a gen i us. Thes e make a g o o d incen s e i ngred i ent. In Cosmetics I ts tas te a nd s cent remin d s o me people o f o ra ng e bloss o m s, b ut m o s t think i t res em b les a combi n at i o n o f s a g e & citr us. Th e s cent chang es gra d ua lly over ti me, i m p rov i n g for fra gra n ce us e. S eed s relea s e t hei r s cent to a lco h o l, o r tr y an o i l ma cerat i o n ; ins tea d o f gr i n d i n g the s eed s, j us t b rui s e them b efo re s o a k i n g. I t was a n i ngred i ent in the 14t h- cent ur y Car me li te water, a com p lexi o n a i d and fra gra nce ma d e by nu ns. Ca r meli te water i nclud ed 1 lb of lem o n b a lm

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l e ave s, 2 oz o f l e m o n p e e l, 1 oz n u t m e g, 1 oz c l ove s, 1 oz co r i an d e r se e d, an d 1 oz an g e l i c a ro o t d i st i l l e d i n 1 q u ar t o ran g e b l o sso m o r e l d e r f l owe r wate r an d 2 q u ar t s al co h o l.

I n t h e N e ar E a st, t h e se e d s a re suga rco ate d an d c hewed as a c an d y. B ec a use i t ’s ant i - b a c ter ia l a nd ant i - f u n g a l, i t ’s g o o d for p re ve nt i n g c avities.

Culinary Uses Co r i an d e r i s a p o p u l ar sp i ce i n b o t h t h e O l d Wo r l d an d t h e N e w. I t h as b e e n fo u n d i n an c i e nt Eg y p t i an to m b s, an d t h e an c i e nt Gre e k s m i xe d i t w i t h f l ax se e d i n ro aste d b ar l e y to m ak e a p o r r i d g e.

A re c i p e for a n Ay u r ve d i c digestive su g g e st s toa sting co r i an d e r seeds in a d r y sk i l l e t w ith fe n n e l se eds a nd a p i n c h o f sa l t, then n i b b l e o n the seeds af te r d i n n er (spit o u t t h e sh el l s).

Th e R o m an s p re se r ve d m e at an d f l avo re d fo o d w i t h i t an d i nt ro d u ce d co r i an d e r to n o r t h e r n Eu ro p e, w h e re i t i s st i l l u se d to f l avo r l i qu e u r s l i k e c h ar t re u se, gi n , an d ve r m o u t h an d so m e t i m e s b e e r.

https://w w w.alchemy-wor ks. com/her b_cor iander.html

Th i s was o n e o f t h e f i r st h e r b s t h e Co l o n i al i st s gre w i n t h e N o r t h Am e r i c a. I n Ay u r ve d i c m e d i c i n e, an ap h ro d i si ac i s m ad e f ro m war m m i l k , h o n e y, an d co r i an d e r.

13 Sisters of Delphi


Power Items Witch Tools-Wand The Wa nd i s archet y p a l to o l o f t h e magic us er. Wh et her a Wiza rd o r Wi tch , a S eer o r a S o rceres s ; the qui ntes s ent i a l mar k o f t hi s ma gi ca l being i s t he wa n d they b ea r. I t ’s a b i g t h i n g, j us t look at t he cent ra l role t he wa n d p lays in the H a r r y Po t ter s er ies. Fro m t he ou tset o f b o o k o n e the Wa nd s t a n d s o ut as the o b j ec t t hat ‘mak es’ a nd, by t he end of b o o k s even , ‘ break s’ t he Wi z a rd. I n Pag a n ci rcles, espec i a lly a m o ng s t the fled g li n g members, a great d eal o f em p ha s i s o n that fi rs t wa n d. M a ny will in s i s t yo u mus t make yo ur own, others wi ll s ay purch a s ed i s f i n e. S ome wi ll s ay keep it plai n a nd s i mp le, others wi ll p i le o n the bli n g. A lo t o f thing s a re d own to ind ivi d ua l p referen ce

13 Sisters of Delphi

an d t aste s. Th e re i s so m e t h i n g to b e sai d fo r h an d c raf te d i te m s ove r m ass p ro d u ce d o n e s. Wh e t h e r c raf te d by yo u r ow n h an d s o r t h o se o f an o t h e r t h e re i s so m e t h i n g to b e sai d fo r a u n i qu e o r b e sp o k e m agi c al i te m . Yo u r c h o i ce s sh o u l d b e p e r so n al an d b ase d o n yo u r p e r so n al p rac t i ce. Th e re are fo u r co m m o n m ate r i al s f ro m w h i c h wan d s are c raf te d. Types of Material Crystal

Wh e n I t al k ab o u t c r yst al wan d s I am n o t t al k i n g ab o u t sm al l ( o r e ve n b i g ) e m b e l l i sh m e nt s to o t h e r t y p e s o f wan d s b u t t h o se t h at are m ad e w h o l l y f ro m se m i p re c i o u s sto n e s. Wh e t h e r t h e y are m ad e f ro m si n g l e sto n e o r e ve n t h o se h e l d to g e t h e r by ap ox y an d / o r m e t al f i t t i n g s t h e se wan d s are m o st o f te n asso c i ate d w i t h co m p l i m e nt ar y h e al i n g te c h n i qu e s.

Th e re are som e w ho w i l l u se t h ese for m agi c al p u r poses an d p rac t i ces but t h i s i s t h e exception rat h e r t h an the r u l e. M o re of ten t h an n o t cr ysta l s m ak e u p el em ents o f e m b e l l ishm ent in c raf t i n g your ow n wan d an d is c hosen b ase d i n i ts hea l ing, sp i r i t u al a nd m agi c al assoc iations. Metal

Wh e t h e r sl ender a nd d e l i c ate or dense a nd u t i l i t ar i an , m eta l wan d s are a com m on si g ht. Th i s k ind of wan d o f ten com es w i t h f i t t i n gs a nd e m b e l l i sh ments suc h as c r yst al s a nd ha s a b i t m o re dur ibil it y i n co m p ar ison to o t h e r k i n ds of wan d avai l a bl e. Th i s k i n d wa nd i s n o t u su al l y the f i r st p o r t of c a l l for t h o se w h o venerate n at u re o r those w ho w i sh to m ak e their ow n wan d however m e t al, p ar tic ul a r l y m e t al w i re, is a

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Power Items Witch Tools-Wand us efu l co mp o n ent in craf t i n g a nd ca n be cho s en fo r i t s cor resp o n d ences. Pottery/Clay

Poss ibly t h e lea s t comm o n k i nd o f wand, I o nly ment i o n it beca us e clay i s a u s eful cra f t i ng mater i a l a nd I was once gi f ted a beau t i f ul clay wa nd by my p a rent s. Clay wa nd s ca n b e easily p ro d uced at hom e a nd embe lli s h ed wi t h cr ys tal s et t i n g s. Polym er clay is beco m i n g increa s i ng ly p o p ula r with craters, par tic ula r ly fo r f a nc y wand s. I n t h i s ca s e clay is t he med i um and in i t s elf h a s n o t s trong a s s o ci at i o ns excep t wi t h t h e ear th a nd i t i s t he embe lli s h m ent s a nd cons ecrat i o n whi ch gives i t p ur p o s e. That bei ng s a i d polym er clay i s a n excep t i o n gi ven

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t h at i t co m e s i n su c h a var i e t y o f co l o u r s an d c an t h e re fo re b e c h o se n b ase d o n co l o u r co r re sp o n d e n ce s. Wood

Th e m o st p o p u l ar k i n d o f wan d aval i b l e i s t h e wo o d e n wan d. Th i s re f l e c t s t h at m any p ag an s are i n t u n e w i t h n at u re an d n at u ral fo rce s. M any Pag an c raf te r s are t ran sp are nt i n t h e i r m e t h o d s, t h o u g h n o t t h e i r r i t u al s, b u t st i l l m any fe e l d raw n to m ak e t h e i r ow n b e c au se o f t h e i n h e re nt p owe r i n t h i s p ro ce ss. Wo o d i s t h e e asi e st m e d i u m to f i n d an d wo r k w i t h i n yo u r ow n h o m e an d i t c an b e e m b e l l i sh e d e i t h e r h e av i l y o r l i g ht l y o r e ve n n o t at al l. Th e c h o i ce o f t h e wo o d u se d c an , i n i t se l f, b e a m agi c al ac t an d d r i ve n by i nte nt an d n e e d an d fo r t h e se re aso n s wo o d e n wan d s are t h e m o st co m m o n an d m o st d i sc u sse d.

Wand vs The Point Finger

Th e re i s always a big d e b ate as to w hether o r n o t yo u need tool s to p rac t i ce w itc hc ra f t an d ce nt ra l to this i s w h e t h e r or not a wan d i s a c tua l l y n e ce ssar y. An arg u m e nt c a n be m ad e t h at ol d fol k t rad i t i o n s woul dn’t h ave a d e dic ated wan d b u t woul d rat h e r u se a ny l im b ( re ce nt l y rem oved f ro m t h e tree a nd e asi l y d i sc a rded) to h an d o r woul d si m p l y u se their f i n g e r. Fo lk histor y i s f u l l o f c unning an d w i se wom en w h o n e e d do l ittl e m o re t h an direc t t h e i r p o i nt y finger toward s t h eir ta rget fo r t h e m to be str uc k d ow n . O n ce upon a t i m e ‘ watc h w here yo u’re p o i nting t h at f i n g e r ’ ha d re al m e an ing. https://k notmagick101. wordpress.com/2016/08/26/ what-is-the -witches-wand/

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Power Items Tree- Oak h o l d i n g sp ace fo r al l o f u s as we m ove f u r t h e r i nto t h e d ar k h al f o f t h e ye ar. Oaks in Many Forms

There i s no t hi n g quite a s m a j es t i c as an o a k , whi ch i s lik ely why a n ci ent d ru ids met i n groves of them to p er fo r m their ceremo n i es. M any o f t he o a ks, espec i a lly t h e you nger o n es, keep t h ei r leaves all wi nter, d r y a n d crack li ng, a n d o n ly d rop t hem b efo re they b ud o ut a g a i n in the s p r i n g. Thei r behav i o r i n t h e f a ll and wi nter mo nt h s i s cer tai n ly a tes t a m ent to the i r energ y and s t reng t h. All acro s s t h e la nd, the o a ks’ p ower f ul pres en ce h ere at this ti me o f n o t i m e,

13 Sisters of Delphi

I n N o r t h Am e r i c a al o n e, ove r 5 6 sp e c i e s o f O ak s m ak e t h e i r h o m e. I n o t h e r p ar t s o f t h e U S an d Can ad a, d i f fe re nt o ak s m ay b e p re se nt o r d o m i n ant. Th e g o o d n e ws i s p re t t y m u c h w h e re ve r yo u g o t h at i s n o t a d e se r t h e re, yo u c an f i n d o ak s! An d t h i s i s gre at n e ws fo r d r u i d s, as t h e o ak h as b e e n a p r i m ar y sy m b o l o f d r u i d r y si n ce t h e t i m e o f t h e an c i e nt s. O n e d o m i n ant, m aj e st i c o ak i n t h e e aste r n se ab o ard i s t h e Wh i te O ak ( q u e rc u s al b a) ; w h i te o ak i s t h e m o st d o m i n ant sp e c i e s i n N o r t h Am e r i c a. Wh i te o ak s c an grow u p to 1 0 0 fe e t h i g h , w i t h a 5 fo o t d i am e te r t r u n k . O n e o f t h e fe w p l ace s yo u se e su c h l arg e o ak s are i n o l d grow t h fo re st s, su c h as Co o k s Fo re st i n We ste r n PA.

B l ac k o ak s (q uerc us ve l u nt i n a) are m u c h sm a l l er trees, g e t t i n g u p to 8 0 feet h i g h w i t h a sm a l l er 3 f t t r u n k . Al l oa k s h ave a ve r y strong, h ard wo o d w ith a c l o se grai n . Oa k in p ast t i m e s wa s used fo r any si tuation w h e re st re ngth a nd d u rab i l i t y were re qu i re d : ol d ba r ns, o ak b ar re l s, ra il roa d t i e s, p o st s, ships, h ard wo o d fl oor s, a nd f u r n i t u re, to na m e a fe w. Li k e m o st other h ard wo o d nut trees ( h i c k o r y, wa l nut, b u t te r n u t ), oa k s are re l at i vel y sl owgrow i n g and l ongl i ve d. S o me w hite o ak s c an l ive 6 0 0 ye ar s o r more. O ak s are considered a “c l i m ax ” spec ies, m e an i n g that once m at u re o ak s a re p re se nt, t h e forest i s co n si d e red m at u re and no ad d i t i o n al ecol ogic a l su cce ssi o n w il l ta k e

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Power Items Tree- Oak place. O a ks a re a keys to ne s p eci es in many fo res t s o n the Ea s t co a s t a nd in the Ap p a la chi a n mou nt a i n s : t h e o a ks provid e und ers to r y, food, a nd h a b i t at fo r many o t h er s p eci es and d r i ve t he overa ll s hape o f t he fo res t. A t ypi ca l mi xed oak fores t m ay a ls o includ e h i cko r y, white a s h, t uli p poplar, b eech , s ug ar ma p le, o r black ch er r y wi t h an und ers to r y of s er v i ceb er r y, s piceb us h, o r wi tch hazel. Thi s i s i n contra s t to t he o t h er t ypical fo res t t y p e, which wo uld b e the bi rch/ b eech / hemlo ck fo res t wi t h an und ers to r y o f witch h a zel. Honey m us hro o m s can b e fo un d o n the roo t s o f o a ks infec ted wi t h t h em . The in fec t i o n t h at prod uces t he h o ney mus h ro o m s i s ar mir i lli a ro o t ro t ;

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i t c an b e c h arac te r i ze d by, as h e w r i te s i n Fi e l d an d Fo re st, “ b l ac k i sh , f i b ro u s, ro o t i sh st ran d s ex te n d i n g u p t h e t re e b e n e at h t h e b ar k .” U n fo r t u n ate l y, h o n e y m u sh ro o m s, w h i l e d e l i c i o u s, k i l l o ak t re e s. Th e c yc l e o f l i fe c an b e a f i e rce o n e ; I’ve se e n h o n e y m u sh ro o m s t ak e o u t an c i e nt o ak s, t u r n i n g t h e m i nto so i l o n ce ag ai n , an d h ave watc h e d yo u n g aco r n s sp ro u t i n t h e re m ai n s o f t h e i r an ce sto r s. Acorns and Acorn Eating Cultures

“TheWorldlooksdifferent when you eat acorns.” Samuel Thayer, Nature’s Garden

M o st o ak s, l i k e o t h e r h ard wo o d s, h ave to b e b e t we e n 3 0 - 4 0 to p ro d u ce aco r n s an d u p to 6 0 ye ar s to p ro d u ce a f u l l c ro p o f n u t s. O ak s f l owe r i n t h e sp r i n g ; d e p e n d i n g o n t h e f ro st s t h at ye ar, t h e f ro st m ay i m p ac t t h e i r n u t h ar ve st. Acco rd i n g to S am u e l Th aye r i n N at u re’s G ard e n , o ak s

p ro d u ce a strong aco r n c ro p ever y 2 - 3 ye ar s. Th i s i s an ecol ogic a l ad ap t at i o n to prevent t h e p o p u l ations of sq u i r re l s and other ro d e nt s t h at eat aco r n s to eat the e nt i re c ro p ea c h ye ar. S m al l er c rops fo r t wo yea r s k eep p o p u l at i o ns sm a l l, an d a l arge c rop in a 3 rd ye ar wil l ensure t h e su r v i va l a nd co nt i n u an ce of the o ak . Fu r t her, sm a l l er c ro p s t rai n a nim a l s to “ h o ard ” the n u t s, stowing them i n t h e gro und a nd fo rg e t t i n g them , so t h at m o re oa k s are b o r n . Al l aco r n s a re edibl e, b u t i n o rd er to eat t h e m , t h e y have to b e p ro p e r l y prepa red. D i f fe re nt oa k s have sm al l e r o r l a rger n u t s. Aco r ns, l ik e a l l o t h e r p ar ts of the o ak , co nt a in ta nnic ac i d, w h i c h m a k es t h e aco r n bitter w i t h o u t p repa ration.

13 Sisters of Delphi


Power Items Leech i ng t h e t a nni c acid o ut o f t h e acor n s (t h ro ug h water ex t ra c t i o n or boi li n g ) tu r ns a co r ns i nto incred i b ly d eli ci o us nu ts and f lo ur. For ex tens i ve ins truc t i o n s o n h ow to har ves t, leech , and p rep a re a co r n s, I s ug g es t S a muel Thaye r ’s N at ure’s G ard en. Ano t her g ood res o urce i s the bo o k Aco r n a nd EatEm by S uellen O cean. Euell G ibbons ha s s evera l great reci p es fo r Acor n s i n St a lk i n g the Wi ld As p a ra g us, includ i n g ca n d i ed acor n s, a co r n gr i t s, acor n mea l, a n d acor n b rea d and ca kes. The Nat i ve Amer i ca n s us ed a co r ns a s a key food s o urce, m a k i ng acor n mea l a nd creati n g a f lat b rea d that wa s eaten by many t r i b es (a co r n was so i m p o r t a nt to so m a ny t r i b es, they were ca lled “acor n eat i n g”

13 Sisters of Delphi

Tree- Oak t r i b e s) . N at i ve Am e r i c an s al so u se d t h e i n n e r b ar k ( co nt ai n i n g t an n i n s u p to 1 1 % ) w h i c h co u l d b e u se d as an ast r i n g e nt fo r m any i nte r n al p u r p o se s. Th aye r su g g e st s t h at b e c au se o f t h e h i sto r y o f ex p l o i t at i o n an d co n q u e r i n g i n N o r t h Am e r i c a, p ar t o f t h e re aso n t h at aco r n s are w i d e l y t h o u g ht to b e p o i so n o u s was d u e to Eu ro p e an -Am e r i c an’s d i sd ai n fo r N at i ve Am e r i c an p e o p l e s. R e t u r n i n g, t h e n , to t h e aco r n as a fo o d so u rce c an h e l p u s n o t o n l y co n n e c t w i t h t h e o ak , b u t al so d e e p l y h o n o r t h e an ce sto r s o f t h e l an d. As d r u i d s k n ow, t h e te r m “d r u i d ” i s co m m o n l y t ran sl ate d “o ak k n ow l e d g e”, “o ak- k n owe r ” o r “o ak- se e r ” re fe r r i n g to t h e f ac t t h at d r u i d s h ad k n ow l e d g e o f t h e o ak s ( an d as o ak s are a p i n n ac l e sp e c i e s, t h e re fo re, d r u i d s h ad k n ow l e d g e

o f t h e b ro a der l an d sc ap e) or p e r h ap s, under stood o ak s o n t h e inner a nd o u te r p l anes. I n the d r u i d t radition, oa k i s t i e d to that sa m e an c i e nt sym bol of t h e d r u i d possessing st re n g t h , k now l edge, an d w i sd om . B y t ak i n g o n the ter m d r u i d, we br ing the p owe r an d strength o f t h e o ak int our l i ve s an d tra dition. We d o n’t h ave a l o t o f su r v iving i n fo r m at i on a bout t h e An c i e nt Dr uids an d t h e i r r itua l s, b u t o n e o f the m ost f am o u s was desc r ibed by Pl i ny t h e E l der d e sc r i b e s the dr uids as “m agi c i a ns” w h o “ h o l d nothing m o re sac re d tha n t h e m i st l e toe a nd a t re e o n w hic h i t i s grow i ng, p rov i d e d it is a h ard - t i m b ered o ak … . m i stl etoe i s rare an d w h e n fo u n d it i s g at h e re d w ith gre at ce re m ony,

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Power Items and p a r t i cula r ly on th e s i x t h d ay of the m o o n.” The r i t ua l i s t h at t wo whi te b ulls a re broug ht, a wh i te clad pr i es t cli mb s the o a k t ree a nd cut s the m i s t leto e wi t h a golden s i ck le, a n d then t h ey s a cr i f i ce the bulls a nd p ray. This m i s t leto e, growi n g o n t h e oak , wa s s a i d to b e the m o s t p ower f ul med ici ne, cur i ng a ll pois o ns a n d a llowi n g an infer t i le a ni ma l to repro d uce. Pli ny notes t hat d rui d s per fo r med a ll o f their r i tes i n s a cred oak groves ; wh en the d rui d s were d estroyed, t he R oman s cut a ll o f their s a cred o a k grove s d own . You c a n i m a gi n e wh at those a n ci ent groves mus t h ave b een li ke when yo u en co unter even a s i n g le a nci ent oak tree – ma j es t y and p res ence. I n the En c yclo p ed i a o f Natu ra l M a gi c, Jo hn M ichael G reer no tes

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Tree- Oak t h at o ak i s a t re e o f p owe r yo u c an u se i t to d i re c t an d c h an n e l h i g h l e ve l s o f e n e rg y. , p ar t i c u l ar l y e ar t h m agi c o r we at h e r m agi c. H e su g g e st s t h at t h e o ak i s t h e “m o st p owe r f u l o f t re e s i n N o r t h e r n Eu ro p e an t re e m agi c.” I n t h e Am e r i c an H o o d o o t rad i t i o n , Cat Yro nwo d e d e sc r i b e s i n H o o d o o H e r b an d R o o t M agi c t h at O ak c an b e b re we d i nto a te a an d t h e n ad d e d to a b at h to re m ove j i n xe s; u su al l y, a ro o t wo r k e r w i l l al so r u b t h e c l i e nt v i g o ro u sl y d ow nward an d p ray as p ar t o f t h i s re m oval. S h e al so n o te s t h at o ak an d m i st l e to e are b u r n e d to g e t h e r to sm o k e j i n xe d p e o p l e o r to re m ove u n se t t l e d sp i r i t s o r g h o st s f ro m a h o u se / p l ace o f b u si n e ss. S h e al so n o te s t h at o ak g al l s i n c re ase t h e p owe r o f any h e r b al b l e n d fo r any m agi c al p u r p o se ; t h e y c an b e c ar r i e d o r b re we d i nto

a te a fo r bathing to i n c re ase t he potenc y o f o t h e r wor k ings. Cu l p e p p e r ’s Her ba l n o te s t h at the oa k is g ove r n e d by J upiter an d t h at t he oa k i s k n ow n to hel p re si st t h e poison of b o t h “ ve n om ous c re at u re s” a nd t h o se o f h er bs an d p l ant s. Fi n al l y, i n a l c hem ic a l c i rc l e s, an a r tic l e by J e an D u b uis titl ed Th e Pre p a ration o f a Powe r ful S p ag y r i c E l ixir w i t h o u t a L a borator y al so o f fe r s som e ad d i t i o n al insight o n t h e o ak . D ubuis e sse nt i al l y m a de a v i t al i zi n g spa gyr ic t i n c t u re o f a cor n ( fo r t h o se not f am i l i ar w ith sp ag y r i c s, sp ag y r i c s are p l ant al c h emy an d al l ow you to m ak e p ower ful, e n e rg e t i c pl a nt m e d i c i n e ma de i n l i n e w i th t h e al i gn m ent o f t h e p l an ets

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Power Items us ing s p eci f i c techn i q ues. ) This oa k eli xi r i s vitalizi ng, ca r r y i ng the en ergi es o f li fe. Oak as Herbal Medicine

Pr ima r i ly, o a k i s us ed as an a s t r i ng ent to help to n e a nd f i r m up lax or lea k y t i s s ue. O f the a s t r i n g ent s availab le i n N o r t h Amer i ca , i t i s o n e o f the m o s t p o tent. M atthew Wo o d i n his Ear t hwi s e H er b a l (O ld Wo r ld Pla nt s ) lik ew i s e s h a res t h at oak s’ a s t r i n g enc y i s pres ent i n a ny o a k tree. H e ment i o ns s pecif i ca lly t he us efu ln es s o f o a k fo r g um di s ea s e/ lo o s e g ums, va r i co s e vei n s, and o t h er s uch la x/ g oopy co n d i t i o ns i n the bo d y. H e a ls o notes t hat o a k ca n be us ed ment a lly j us t lik e it i s p hys i ca lly. He wr i tes t hat O a k , when us ed a s a flower es s ence, “i s the great rem ed y when t h e i ntegr i t y of min d o r b o d y has been b ro ken

13 Sisters of Delphi

Tree- Oak d ow n by l o n g, ard u o u s su f fe r i n g o r u sag e… . p e r so n s w h o st r u g g l e ag ai n st ad ve r si t y ; n e ve r gi ve u p b u t n e ve r su cce e d ; [ o ak ] h e l p s a p e r so n c h o o se t h e b at t l e s t h e y c an w i n”.

to h i s e n e m ies. I n an ar t i cl e w ith a m o d e r n N ative Am e r i c an el der of b o t h O ’o dha m a nd Ch i c an o h er ita ge, D e n n i s M ar tinez he sh are d a num ber of fe at u re s of oa k s in t h e U S we st coa st.

Oak in the Mythology of Native American Peoples

H e n o te d that both re d o ak an d w hite o ak we re considered so i m p o r t a nt to t h e n at i ve peopl es o f Cal i fo r n ia that t h e y co n sidered the o ak t h e “ t ree of l i fe” b e c ause of its b e n e f i t s both a s food an d m e d i c ine.

I n “Am e r i c an I n d i an Fai r y Tal e s” M arg are t Co m p to n te l l s a sto r y w h e re t h e p r i n ce o f t h e h are s, a t r i c k ste r, h as h i s fe e t b u r n e d by t h e su n an d t h e n d e c i d e s to g o o n a j o u r n e y. Fi n al l y, h e co m e s to t h e e d g e o f t h e wo r l d w h e re a c l i f f o f t re e s st an d s t al l. H e ask s t h e t re e s w h at t h e y are g o o d fo r, an d ash , b i rc h , an d o ak re sp o n d. O ak te l l s h i m , “ I sh e l te r t h e gre at war r i o r s. I m ar k t h e sp o t fo r t h e i r co u n c i l s. Fro m my b o u g h s are m ad e t h e sw i f t ar row t h at b r i n g fo o d to t h e fe e t o f t h e h u nte r an d c ar r y t h e d e at h

Th e re we re m a ny aco r n - e at i ng c ul tures i n Cal i fo r nia up e ve n u nt i l the 1 9 th ce nt u r y i n the U S. I n o n e o f my favor ite S e n ac a l e gends, the m i g ht y o ak sta nds al o n g w i t h the tr ibe o f t h e co nifer s ( w h i te p i n e, h e m l o c k , and the o t h e r s) to hol d his l e ave s an d to wea r d ow n t h e w inter a nd b r i n g sp r i ng in a ga in.

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Power Items Not o n ly d o es t h i s s how t h e s t reng t h of the o a k d ur i n g the wi nter mo nt h s (when ma ny o t her d ecid uo us t rees are sleep i n g ) b ut it also s h ows t h e conne c t i o n o f t he o a k to lon g ev i t y and p ower. A Siou x leg end, The M an and t h e O a k , tells a s to r y o f a you ng wo ma n wh o i s tak en i n by a ch i ef ’s family. S h e f a lls i n love wi t h t h e chi ef ’s s on, b ut s i n ce s he is now a m em b er o f the fa mi ly, i t i s n o t per mi s s i b le. The you ng wo ma n s nea ks into t h e s o n’s tent fo r s evera l n i g ht s, a nd in attem p t i n g to s ee her fa ce by s to k i n g a fire, a cci d ent a lly bur ns h er. H e i s s o d istra ug ht t hat h e g oes und er a n o a k tree an d s t ays t here all d ay a nd i nto the ni g ht. A s ma ll oak tree grows up throug h h i m a n d p i ns him an d h e canno t move.

Tree- Oak Th e yo u n g wo m an d i sap p e are d, an d t h e o ak t re e i s fo u n d to b e a c u r se. A t h u n d e r g o d ap p e ar s an d f re e s t h e m an o f h i s c u r se, c r u m b l i n g t h e o ak t re e. The Magic and Mystery of the Oak in North America

An i n c re d i b l y co n si ste nt i m ag e o f t h e o ak se e m s p re se nt f ro m t h e d i f fe re nt k i n d s o f l i te rat u re, my t h o l o g y, h e r b al, an d m agi c al t rad i t i o n s i n b o t h N o r t h Am e r i c a an d Eu ro p e. H e re are t h re e co re m e an i n g s fo r t h e o ak : St re n g t h : Th e o ak i s o bv i o u sl y a si gn o f st re n g t h , b o t h t h e st re n g t h o f i t s b ran c h e s an d wo o d, an d i t s st re n g t h e n i n g q u al i t i e s as a m e d i c i n e an d m agi c al t re e. Al l c u l t u re s h ave re ve re d t h e o ak an d so u g ht su c h st re n g t h e n i n g q u al i t i e s, an d t h at st re n g t h c an b e se e n t h ro u g h o u t t h e l o re. Wi sd o m / K n ow l e d g e : Ti e d to t h e an c i e nt te r m

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fo r “d r u i d ” a s “oa k k n ow l e d g e” oa k h as l o n g been asso c i ate d w ith k n ow l e d g e a nd w i sd o m . We c a n se e t h i s al so in the N at i ve Am er ic a n l o re, w h e re oa k “m ak e s spa ce fo r co u n c i l s”. Vi t al i t y / Li fe: The m o st an c i ent dr uid r i t u al we have, a s we l l as n e w wor k by D u b u i s an d other s, su g g e st s oa k ’s v i t al i zi n g q ua l it y. O ak c an h ea l poison, st re n g t h e n the sic k , an d ce r t ainl y, br ing v i t al i t y an d energy t h ro u g h t h e bl essing o f t h e acor n, a s a “ t re e o f l i fe.” Th u n d e r / Weather : As we c an se e from both t h e I n d o Europea n t rad i t i o n s, oa k is al so t i e d to we at h e r / t h under a nd t h u n d e r d eities. https://thedruidsgarden. com/2018/11/11/sacred-tree profile - oaks-medicine -magic mythology-and-meanings/

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Power Items Symbol-

Eye of Providence

p o p u l ar sy m b o l si n ce an c i e nt t i m e s, as t h e y sy m b o l i ze watc h f u l n e ss, p ro te c t i o n an d o m n i p o te n ce, am o n g o t h e r t h i n g s.

Also ca lled t h e AllS eein g Eye, t he Eye of Prov i d ence features a n eye s ur round ed by rays of li g ht, o f ten enclo s ed i n a tr iangle. I t h a s b een us ed fo r cent ur i es in num ero us cultu res, t ra d i t i o n s, and reli gi o us contex t s, wi t h many va r i at i o ns. Featured o n t h e o n e d ollar b i ll a n d t h e revers e s i d e o f t h e G reat S ea l o f t h e Unite d St ates, t h e Eye of Prov i d ence i s of ten at t he h ea r t o f cons p i ra c y t h eo r i es. History of the Eye of Providence

Eyes h ave b een a

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H owe ve r, t h e re’s so m e t h i n g so m e w h at e e r i e ab o u t an e ye w i t h n o f ace, as i t c an l o o k m al e vo l e nt, as i t ’s watc h f u l w i t h o u t ex p re ssi o n . Th i s m ay b e w hy e ye sy m b o l s are o f te n m i st ak e n fo r b e i n g u n l u c k y o r e v i l. I nte re st i n g l y, m o st e ye sy m b o l s h ave b e n e vo l e nt asso c i at i o n s. Wi t h i n t h e co ntex t o f t h e Eye o f Prov i d e n ce, t h e wo rd ‘p rov i d e n ce’ re fe r s to a d i v i n e g u i d an ce gi ve n by a d e i t y o r g o d. Fo r t h at re aso n , t h e Eye o f Prov i d e n ce h as b e co m e o n e o f m any sy m b o l s w i t h re l i gi o u s an d my t h o l o gi c al asso c i at i o n s. I t m ad e i t s way i nto o f f i c i al se al s o f var i o u s c i t i e s, as we l l as o n t h e i n si gn i as an d co at o f ar m s o f d i f fe re nt co u nt r i e s.

In Religious Contexts

M any h i stor ia ns sp e c u l ate that the Eye o f Providence d i d n’t e m erged f ro m o r t h odox Ch r i st i an i t y or J u d ai sm , as “eyes” h ave h ad a strong sy m b o l i c mea ning i n m any c ul tures si n ce an c i ent tim es. S i m i l ar i t i es c a n b e t race d ba c k to Eg y p t i an mythol ogy an d sy m b ol ism , suc h as t h e Eye of Hor us an d t h e Eye of R a . I n B u d d h i s t tex ts, t h e B u d d h a is re fe r re d to a s “ the e ye o f t h e wor l d,” w h i l e i n H induism , t h e d e i t y Shiva is d e p i c te d w ith a third e ye o n h i s forehea d. I n f ac t, t h e fir st k n ow n ap pea ra nce o f t h e sy mbol d e p i c te d w ithin a t r i an g l e d ates to the R e n ai ssan ce, in a 1 5 2 5 p ai nting c a l l ed t h e “ S u p p er at E m m au s” by I t al i an p ainter J aco p o Pontor m o.

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Power Items Symbol-

Eye of Providence

The p a i nt i ng wa s mad e fo r t h e Car th us i a ns, a religi o us o rd er o f the R o m a n Cat ho li c Chu rc h. I n i t, t he Eye of Prov i d en ce i s s een d ep i c ted above C hr i s t.

U n i te d St ate s. O n t h e b ac k si d e o f a d o l l ar b i l l, t h e sy m b o l ap p e ar s ab ove an u n f i n i sh e d py ram i d. Ac ro ss t h e to p are Lat i n wo rd s An n u i t Co e p t i s, t ran sl ate d as H e h as f avo re d o u r u n d e r t ak i n g s.

I n Ch r i s t i a n i t y, t he tr iangle s y m b o li zes the d o c t r i ne o f Tr init y, a n d t h e eye repre s ent s t h e uni t y of the t hree a s p ec t s of G od.

I t h as b e co m e a su b j e c t o f co nt rove r sy t h at t h e U. S . d o l l ar b i l l co nt ai n s re l i gi o u s, M aso n i c, o r e ve n I l l u m i n at i sy m b o l s. B u t acco rd i n g to Th e Ox fo rd H an d b o o k o f Ch u rc h an d St ate i n t h e U n i te d St ate s, t h e d e sc r i p t i ve l an g u ag e u se d by t h e Co n gre ss i n c l u d e s o n l y t h e te r m “ Eye” an d d o e sn’t at t r i b u te any re l i gi o u s si gn i f i c an ce to i t. Th e ove ral l i m p l i c at i o n i s j u st t h at Am e r i c a i s b e i n g watc h e d ove r by G o d.

Also, t h e clo ud s and li g ht rep res ent holin es s o f G o d hims elf. Event ua lly, it beca m e a p o p ula r them e i n a r t a nd archi tec t ure i n t h e L ate R en a i s s a n ce, par tic ula r ly i n s taine d - g la s s wind ows o f churches, religi o us p a i nt i ng s, and emb lem b o o ks. On the “Great Seal of the United States”

I n 17 82, t h e “ Eye of Prov i d en ce” was ad o p ted o n t h e revers e s i d e o f t h e G reat S ea l o f t h e

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On the Document – 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen

I n 1 7 8 9 , t h e Fre n c h N at i o n al Asse m b l y i ssu e d a “ D e c l arat i o n o f t h e R i g ht s o f M an an d t h e Ci t i ze n ,” d e f i n i n g t h e r i g ht s o f i n d i v i d u al s at t h e

t i m e o f Frenc h R e vo l u t i o n . The Eye o f Prov i d ence wa s fe at u re d at the top o f t h e d o c um ent, as we l l as on the p ai nt i n g of the sam e n am e by J ea nJ acqu e s- Fra nçois Le B ar b i e r, w hic h i m p l i e d t h e divine g u i d an ce on the p ro c l am ation. In Freemasonry Iconography

Th e Eye o f Prov i d e n ce is asso c i ate d w ith the se c re t so ciet y of Fre e m aso nr y—a n o rg an i zat ion that e m e rg e d bet ween t h e 1 6 t h a nd 1 7 th ce nt u r i e s in Europe. Th e M aso n s com e f ro m var i ed rel igious b e l i e fs an d diver se p o l i t i c al i deol ogies, ye t al l b e l ieve in t h e ex i ste nce of a S u p re m e B eing or o n e G o d ( who is re fe r re d to a s the Gre at Arc h itec t o f t h e U n i ver se, re p re se nt i ng the d e i t y n e u tra l l y).

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Power Items SymbolI n 179 7, t h e s y m b o l was ad o p ted i n t h ei r organ i z at i o n , where the eye s y m b o li zes watch f ulnes s a nd t h e Eye of Prov i d ence s ymbo li zes t he g uid an ce o f a hi g h er force. H owever, it is n o t d ep i c ted ins id e a t r i a ng le, b ut s ur round ed by clo ud s and a s em i - ci rcula r “g lor y.” I n s o m e ins tan ces, t he s y m b o l is d ep i c ted wi t h i n t h e s quare a n d co mp a s s, repres ent i ng t h e morali t y a nd v i r t ue of its memb ers. Meaning and Symbolism of the Eye of Providence

The Eye o f Providence h a s b een an en d ur i n g s y m b o l for cent ur i es a cro s s region s, reli gi o ns, and cult ures. Here’s s o me o f i t s mean i ng s : G od I s Watch i n g – As the co ntex t i m p li es, the s y mb o l rep res ent s the G o d a s t h e o n e who sees a n d k n ows all thi n g s, i n clud i n g

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Eye of Providence

p e o p l e’s ac t i o n s an d t h o u g ht s. Wh i l e i t h as b e e n u se d i n re l i gi o u s co ntex t s to re p re se nt var i o u s d o c t r i n e s, i d e as, an d b e l i e fs, i t c an b e u se d by anyo n e w h o b e l i e ve s i n t h e ex i ste n ce o f a G o d o r S u p re m e B e i n g. Pro te c t i o n an d Lu c k – M u c h l i k e t h e n azar b o n c u g u o r t h e h am sa h an d ( w h i c h o f te n fe at u re s an e ye i n t h e ce nte r ) , t h e Eye o f Prov i d e n ce c an al so re p re se nt g o o d l u c k an d t h e ward i n g o f f o f e v i l. I n t h i s l i g ht, t h e sy m b o l c an b e se e n as h o l d i n g a u n i ve r sal m e an i n g.

i s t h e c re ator of h e ave n and ea r th, al l t h at o cc ur s in the u n i ve r se t a k es pl a ce u n d e r h i s guida nce an d p ro te c tion. Tr i n i t y – I n C hr istia n t h e o l o g y, m a ny b e l i e ve i n the t h re e fo l d nature of G o d : t h e Father, the S o n , an d the Hol y S p i r i t. Th erefore, t h e sy m b ol is al ways d e pic ted in a t r i an g l e, bec a use e ac h si d e conveys an asp e c t of the H o l y Tr i n i t y. https://symbolsage.com/eye of-provi dence -meaning/

S p i r i t u al Gu i d an ce – Th e sy m b o l c an al so b e a re m i n d e r o f sp i r i t u al i n si g ht, m o ral co d e, co n sc i e n ce, an d h i g h e r k n ow l e d g e o n e sh o u l d ac t u p o n o n , si n ce G o d i s watc h i n g ove r p e o p l e. D i v i n e Pro te c t i o n an d B l e ssi n g s – I n Lu t h e ran t h e o l o g y, t h e sy m b o l i sm c an re fe r to G o d ’s p re se r vat i o n o f h i s c re at i o n . As G o d

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Power Items Color- Yellow D e co rate w i t h ye l l ow to b r i n g t h e su n shine i nto any d ar k , d re ar y ro o m an d to i n spire a fe e l i n g o f cozi n e ss an d c re ate an e nv i ronm ent co n d u c i ve to t h e am i ab l e exc h an g e o f i d e as. Correspondences for the Color Yellow

The co lo r yellow evoke s la z y s ummer d ays, s i p p i ng lemon a d e un d er t h e war m s un, o r wa lk i ng on th e b ea ch i n b a re feet w i t h a wa r m breeze li f t i n g you r h a i r. Yellow i s a wa r m color a nd t h at repres ent s t h e a i r element i n Wi cca n trad iti o n . I t i s t he color o f t he i ntellec t ; of tho ug ht s, comm uni cat i o n , creati v i t y, lo gi c and p ro gres s. Wear yellow to b e uplif ted a n d to ca r r y the wa r mt h o f t he s un wherever yo u g o. A yellow ra i n co at will b r i g hten up a rainy d ay.

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• • • • • • • •

E l e m e nt : ai r Pl an e t : S u n o r M e rc u r y D i re c t i o n : E ast Number: 3 Ch ak ra: so l ar p l ex u s Day : S u n d ay o r We d n e sd ay To o l s: Wan d, Swo rd, At h am e Fe n g S h u i : U p l i f t i n g, b r i g ht, c h e e r f u l, coz y.

The Color Yellow in Magick

Th e co l o r ye l l ow c an b e b ro u g ht i nto your m agi c al wo r k i n g s by u si n g ye l l ow co l ored c an d l e s, a ye l l ow al t ar c l o t h , ye l l ow c r ysta l s an d o t h e r m i n e ral s su c h as su c h as amber, arag o n i te, b owe n i te, to p az, c al c i te, c i tr ine, ye l l ow f l o u r i te, ye l l ow j asp e r, o r g o l d or ye l l ow f l owe r s su c h as c al e n d u l a, ye l l ow roses, ye l l ow t u l i p s o r su n f l owe r s, o r p e r h ap s a yel l ow f r u i t, su c h as a lemon. Th e e n e rg y o f t h e co l o r ye l l ow su p p o r ts m a gic re l ate d to co m m u n i c at i o n , t rave l, ast ra l p ro j e c t i o n , g ai n i n g k n ow l e d g e, i n c re asing u n d e r st an d i n g, h ar m o ny, sp i r i t co m m unic ation, p ro te c t i o n , te l e p at hy, f ai t h , co n st an c y, m enta l c l ar i t y, o p t i m i sm . https://witchipedia.com/book- of-shadows/the - color-yellow/

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Magical Poetry High Priestess, R avensThorn

speech from Aradia, daughter of Diana unk nown author

When I shall have departed from this world, Whenever ye have need of anything, Once in the month, and when the moon is full, Ye shall assemble in some desert place, Or in a forest all together join To adore the potent spirit of your queen, My mother, great Diana.She who fain Would learn all sorcery yet has not won Its deepest secrets, them my mother will Teach her, in truth all things as yet unknown. And ye shall all be freed from slavery, And so ye shall be free in everything; And as the sign that ye are truly free, Ye shall be naked in your rites, both men And women also: this shall last until The last of your oppressors shall be dead; And ye shall make the game of Benevento, Extinguishing the lights, and after that Shall hold your supper thus… 13 Sisters of Delphi

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Magical Poetry High Priestess, Gloriana Danu

The Spiral Dance by Doreen Valiente

Listen to the words of the Great Mother, Who of old was called Artemis, Astarte, Dione, Melusine,Aphrodite,Cerridwen,Diana,Arionrhod, Brigid, and by many other names: Wheneveryouhaveneedofanything,onceamonth,and better it be when the moon is full, youshallassembleinsomesecretplaceandadorethe spirit of Me Who is Queen of all the Wise. You shall be free from slavery, andasasignthatyoubefreeyoushallbenakedin your rites. Sing, feast, dance, make music and love, all in My Presence, forMineistheecstasyofthespiritandMinealsois joy on earth. 44

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Magical Poetry Brittanica

The Captive Dove by Anne Brontë Poor restless dove, I pity thee; And when I hear thy plaintive moan, I mourn for thy captivity, And in thy woes forget mine own. To see thee stand prepared to fly, And flap those useless wings of thine, And gaze into the distant sky, Would melt a harder heart than mine. In vain—in vain! Thou canst not rise Thy prison roof confines thee there; Its slender wires delude thine eyes, And quench thy longings with despair. Oh, thou wert made to wander free In sunny mead and shady grove, And far beyond the rolling sea, In distant climes, at will to rove! Yet, hadst thou but one gentle mate Thy little drooping heart to cheer, And share with thee thy captive state, Thou couldst be happy even there. Yes, even there, if, listening by, One faithful dear companion stood, While gazing on her full bright eye, Thou might’st forget thy native wood. But thou, poor solitary dove, Must make, unheard, thy joyless moan; The heart that Nature formed to love Must pine, neglected, and alone.

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Magical Poetry High Priestess, R avensThorn

A Blessing by James Wright

Just off the highway to Rochester, Minnesota, Twilight bounds softly forth on the grass. And the eyes of those two Indian ponies Darken with kindness. They have come gladly out of the willows To welcome my friend and me. We step over the barbed wire into the pasture Where they have been grazing all day, alone. They ripple tensely, they can hardly contain their happiness That we have come. They bow shyly as wet swans. They love each other. There is no loneliness like theirs. At home once more, They begin munching the young tufts of spring in the darkness. I would like to hold the slenderer one in my arms, For she has walked over to me And nuzzled my left hand. She is black and white, Her mane falls wild on her forehead, And the light breeze moves me to caress her long ear That is delicate as the skin over a girl’s wrist. Suddenly I realize That if I stepped out of my body I would break Into blossom. 46

13 Sisters of Delphi


Magical Poetry High Priestess, Gloriana danu

Alexandrite Fires by Diana Thoresen

I’m lost in a glass menagerie of Rainforest spirals Sunlight strikes the chiaroscuro Canvas of figs And everything explodes with Alexandrite Fires of green profusion Djed pillars of enormous Trees rise inside my spine Blue butterflies Pollenate my eyes till They rot on the damp ground A green tree frog gives me Her tomato eyes Now I shine like a jaguar 13 Sisters of Delphi

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Magical Poetry Shared by : Brittanica

A Red, Red Rose by Rober t Burns

O my Luve’s like a red, red rose That’s newly sprung in June; O my Luve’s like the melodie That’s sweetly play’d in tune. As fair art thou, my bonnie lass, So deep in luve am I: And I will luve thee still, my dear, Till a’ the seas gang dry: Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear, And the rocks melt wi’ the sun: I will luve thee still, my dear, While the sands o’ life shall run. And fare thee well, my only Luve And fare thee well, a while! And I will come again, my Luve, Tho’ it were ten thousand mile.

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13 Sisters of Delphi


Magical Poetry Shared by : High Priestess, Gloriana danu

Red Wand by Sandra Simonds

Sometimes I try to make poetry but mostly I try to earn a living. There’s something still living in every urn, I am sure of it. The ash moves around inside the vase like the magnetic filings that make the moustache of Wooly Willy. Maybe a new face counts as reincarnation. The wand says, “I’ll be your ostrich, if you’ll be my swan.” In this life, what did I do wrong? I think my heart is a magnet too. It attracts anything that attracts joy like the summer grasses the swans track through. OMG, how in love I am with joy and with yours —how I know that adding to it would only take it further off course, off its precarious center, so for once, I won’t touch it. I will stand wand-length away— let it glide stupidly on its weightless line, without me. 13 Sisters of Delphi

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Magical Poetry Shared By : High Priestess, R avensThorn

All-Seeing Eye by Rober t Morris

There is an eye through blackest night A vigil ever keeps; A vision of unerring light, O’er lowly vale, o’er giddy height, The Eye that never sleeps. Midst poverty and sickness lain, The outcast lowly weeps; What marks the face convulsed with pain? What marks the softened look again? The Eye that never sleeps. Above the far meridian sun — Below profoundest deeps, Where dewy day his course begun, Where scarlet marks his labor done — The Eye that never sleeps. No limit bounds th’ Eternal Sight; No misty cloud o’ersweeps; The depths of hell give up their light — Eternity itself is bright — The Eye that never sleeps. Then rest we calm, though round our head The life-storm fiercely sweeps; What fear is in the blast? what dread In mightier Death? A N Eye ‘s o’erhead, The Eye that never sleeps.

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13 Sisters of Delphi


Magical Poetry Shared By : High Priestess, Gloriana Danu

Homer’s Hymn to Castor and Pollux by Perc y Bysshe Shelley

Ye wild-eyed Muses, sing the Twins of Jove, Whom the fair-ankled Leda, mixed in love With mighty Saturn’s Heaven-obscuring Child, On Taygetus, that lofty mountain wild, Brought forth in joy: mild Pollux, void of blame, And steed-subduing Castor, heirs of fame. These are the Powers who earth-born mortals save And ships, whose flight is swift along the wave. When wintry tempests o’er the savage sea Are raging, and the sailors tremblingly Call on the Twins of Jove with prayer and vow, Gathered in fear upon the lofty prow, And sacrifice with snow-white lambs,—the wind And the huge billow bursting close behind, Even then beneath the weltering waters bear The staggering ship—they suddenly appear, On yellow wings rushing athwart the sky, And lull the blasts in mute tranquillity, And strew the waves on the white Ocean’s bed, Fair omen of the voyage; from toil and dread The sailors rest, rejoicing in the sight, And plough the quiet sea in safe delight. 13 Sisters of Delphi

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Magical Poetry Shared By : High Priestess, R avensThorn

A Morris Dance by Mar y Jo Salter

Across the Common, on a lovely Mayday in New England, I see and hearthe Middle Ages drawing near, bells tinkling, pennants bright and gay— a parade of Morris dancers. One plucks a lute. One twirls a cape. Up close, a lifted pinafore exposes cellulite, and more. O why aren’t they in better shape, the middle-aged Morris dancers? Already it’s not hard to guess their treasurer—her; their president—him; the Wednesday night meetings at the gym. They ought to practice more, or less, the middle-aged Morris dancers. Short-winded troubadours and pages, milkmaids with osteoporosis— what really makes me so morose is how they can’t admit their ages, the middle-aged Morris dancers. Watching them gamboling and tripping on Maypole ribbons like leashed dogs, then landing, thunderously, on clogs, I have to say I feel like skipping the middle-aged Morris dancers. Yet bunions and receding gums have humbled me; I know my station as a member of their generation. Maybe they’d let me play the drums, the middle-aged Morris dancers.

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Magical Poetry Shared By : High Priestess, Gloriana danu

June

by Lottie Brown Allen

Oh what is more sweet than the month of June When our senses thrill and our hearts keep tune To the song of the birds and the rose in bloom? Oh what is more joy than the early gray Of the dewy morn and the sun’s first ray That herald the dawn of a perfect day? Oh what is more fair as the sun climbs high Than the azure hue of the summer sky And the snow-white clouds drifting idly by? Oh what is more pure than the summer air That wafts from the woodlands and gardens fair A fragrance and perfume so rich and rare? Oh what is more dear than the twilight hour When the daylight fades and each nodding flower Is kissed by the moonbeams’ mystic power? O, Summer Queen! you are gone too soon With your sunny days and your shining moon, With your golden grain and your wealth of bloom. And if we could hold in some magic way To your trailing robes for a single day, Dear month of June, we would bid you stay.

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Magical Poetry The Bunyip

Shared by Brittanica

by James Mar tin Devaney

Oh, came you up by the place of dread (west red, and the moon low down) where no winds blow and the birds have fled and the gum stands dead and its arms gleam white, and the tribe sneak by with a stealthy tread in the ghostly light,in the ghostly light. Brave Worraland went one grey nightfall (A woi! woi!) where the grim rocks frown; he came no more to the camps at all (Skies dark, and the moon low down). As we came up by the gully side (Deep dusk, and the moon low down) A Dingo whined and a Curlew cried and the reeds replied as in hushed affright where tall brae Worraland screamed and died in the ghostly light, in the ghostly light. For the Thing lurks there in the haunted place (A woi! woi!) where the pool is brown, where lost ones vanish and leave no trace (Day dead, and the moon low down). Of, go not by near the bunyip’s lair (Stars dim, and the moon low down) or tip-toe past and beware, beware the dark pool snare and be set for flight, for things of terror have happened there in the ghostly light, in the ghostly light and in the gunyas we crouch and hark (A woi! woi!) where the dead men drown The monster’s bellow across the dark (Stars gone, and the moon low down).

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Magical Poetry Shared By : High Priestess, R avensThorn

Aswang

by Andrew Eufre Belga

They tried to kill this shape-shifter for years But it seemed they can’t figure this creature It gave this peaceful town unending fears Unknown to all this could be my teacher Who woulda thought this entity’s human Dressed in white this dusky lady in church He puts smiles to heart of every woman These creatures must be burn alive with torch! Aswang’s what we named here in Philippines A mythical creature who was most feared Who love to eat cuddly babies and teens They have lived among us blended and scared Sometimes may see flying in sky dripping And sometimes in someone’s rooftop drooling

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Magical Poetry Shared By : High Priestess, Gloriana danu

Ifrit by Nassy Fesharak i

Uglier than her I -could never find or see - “Far better…” -heard some say:- “…is monkey.” Her hair is pitch black -greasy and oily, bitumen -long and soft and hanging -though behind, to her knee When she walks -comes to mind Halloween -around us ghosts running, floating! In a way, an expert, a very great thief -she removes light of day and steals -the day sun off sky, replaces -with darkness, elixir Her hair and her skin cause fear -her whispers sweet-soft, do stir-every cell of blood abruptly -to kill nerves, and normal breathing! Statue one becomes, frozen; observing! Uglier than her, sure could not be -but in her, lie love and beauty. Her whispers hypnotise -miracle she is as -good artist! 56

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Magical Poetry Shared By : Brittanica

Cicada Songs by David Granville

They say your songs portend the end of summer just as chirping robins usher in the spring air. Listen to the sound whirring, buzzing through leaves of trees that shelter the thrumming brood. Insect monks chant hymns of nature for us and for their silent females: “mate her.” More musical than electric currents that hum along power lines, your symphony hovers, guarding the sultry night like armored palatines. Constant and pervasive, we humans sometimes hear sometimes ban your frequencies, lulled to sleep by drums so dear. Air conditioners and headphones drown out your beautiful noise but others sing with you till Fall’s frost steals these little joys.

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Recipes mint chocolate chip cookies ingredients • 1 cup (8 ounces) unsalted butter, sof tened • ¾ cup sugar • ¾ cup brown sugar • 2 eggs • 2 teaspoons vanilla ex trac t • 2-¼ cups all pur pose flour • 1 teaspoon bak ing soda • ½ teaspoon salt • 2 cups chocolate chips • 1 cup mint flavored chocolate instructions 1. Preheat oven to 375 F (190 C ) and line a cook ie sheet with p archment paper or a silicone bak ing mat. 2. I n a large bowl, beat butter, sugar, and brown sugar together with an elec tr ic mixer for about three minutes. I t should be light and fluffy. 3. Continue mixing and add the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla until ever ything is completely blended. 4. I n a small mixing bowl, combine flour, bak ing soda and salt. Put your mixer on low, and slowly add in the dr y ingredients. M ix until just combined. 5. Add the chocolate, and mix on low for a few seconds until incor porated. 6. S coop your cook ies onto your waiting cook ie sheet, about t wo inches apar t. Bak ing for about ten minutes or until just lightly brown on the edges. Allow cook ies to cool on the bak ing sheet for three minutes before transfer r ing to a wire rack to cool. 7. Pack them up and share them with fr iends.

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Recipes grasshopper pie ingredients for the crust

• • • • • • • • •

28 ch o co late s a nd wi c h co o k i e s su c h as O re o s 4 t a b les p o o n s (2 o un ce s) b u t te r, m e l te d fo r t h e f i lli n g 3 cup s mi ni -ma rs h m al l ows ½ cup wh o le mi lk ¼ cup crem e d e m enth e ¼ cup crem e d e ca ca o b l an c 1- ½ cup s h eav y crea m o r d o u b l e c re am Green fo o d co lo r i n g, o p t i o n al

instructions for the crust

Sm a s h up yo ur co o k i e s i nto c r u m b s i n a fo o d p ro ce sso r o r i n a ba g w i t h a ro lli ng p i n. M i x c r u m b s w i t h m e l te d b u t te r. Pre ss yo u r c r um b m i xer i nto t h e b o t to m an d u p t h e si d e s o f a 1 0 - i n c h t ar t p an . Put your crus t i n t h e f r i d g e w h i l e yo u g e t o n w i t h yo u r f i l l i n g.

for the filling

1. I n a s m a ll s a ucep a n ove r l ow h e at, st i r to g e t h e r m ar sh m al l ows a nd w h o le mi lk unt i l t h e m ar sh m al l ows are m e l te d an d t h e m i x ture st a r t s to fo a m . R em ove t h e p an f ro m t h e h e at. 2. Whi s k i n crem e d e m e nt h e an d c re m e d e c ac ao b l an c. I f yo u wa nt to a d d fo o d co lo r i ng, ad d i t to yo u r m ar sh m al l ow m i x t u re n ow so you d o n’t over m i x you r c re am l ate r. S e t asi d e to co o l fo r at l ea st 1 0 m i nutes. 3. I n a la rg e b owl, us e a n e l e c t r i c m i xe r to b e at yo u r c re am u ntil it ju s t b a rely s t a r t s to h o l d a p e ak . I f yo u ove r- b e at i t, i t w i l l be tr ic k y to m i x later. 4. Ad d yo ur ma rs h m a llow m i x t u re to yo u r c re am an d fo l d an d gentl y st i r t h e t wo to g et h er u nt i l sm o o t h . Th i s sh o u l d b e a l i g ht, f luffy m i x t ure. 5. Fetch yo ur crus t f ro m t h e f r i d g e. Yo u m i g ht want to p l ace i t on a pl ate i n ca s e a ny o f yo u r f i l l i n g l e ak s o u t. Po u r t h e f i l l i n g i nto the cr us t. I f yo u have a n ex t ra co o k i e l y i n g aro u n d, yo u c an c r u sh it on to p fo r g a r ni s h. 6. Put yo ur p i e i n t h e f r i d g e to c h i l l fo r at l e ast 8 h o u r s o r ove r night.

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Recipes dill potato salad ingredients • • • • • • • •

1- ½ p o und s Yuko n g ol d p o t ato e s S a lt ½ cup mayo n na i s e ¼ cup b ut ter mi lk 1 t a b les p o o n s D i j o n m u st ard 1 t a b les p o o n f res h d i l l Bl a ck p ep p er 1 green o n i o n

instructions 1. Put your potatoes in a large pot of salted water and br ing to the boil. Lower the heat to a simmer and cook until you can pierce the largest potato with a shar p k nife. M ine took about 30 minutes, but it will var y depending the size of your potatoes. 2. Drain the potatoes then put the colander back over the hot pot. Place a cl ean k itchen towel over the colander and allow your potatoes to continue to steam for another 15 minutes. 3. I n the meantime, whisk together the mayo, butter milk , mustard, dill, and salt and pepper. The mix ture will be quite thick . 4. When the potatoes are cool enough to not bur n your fingers off, cut them into bite -sized pieces. The sk in of Yukon golds is quite tender, so if the sk in sticks you can leave it on. I f it falls off, I discard it. D on’t stress yourself out. 5. S eason with salt and pepper and toss with dressing. 6. Using scissors, cut your green onions direc tly into t he bowl and give it a final stir. 7. Allow your salad to hang out in the fr idge for a cou ple of hours before ser ving.

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Recipes chicken & goat cheese pasta ingredients • • • • • • •

1 p o und r i g ato ni 1 q ua r t crea m 2 t a b les p o o n s ch o p p e d f re sh ro se m ar y 1 clove g a r li c, crus h e d an d p e e l e d 8 o unces g o at chees e, c h o p p e d i nto c u b e s 2 cup s s hred d ed o r c h o p p e d co o k e d c h i c k e n sa lt a nd p ep p er to t aste

instructions

1 . Put a la rg e pot of water o n to b o il. O n ce it ’s b o il i n g, add plent y o f sa lt, a n d d ro p yo u r p a st a in , st ir r ing occa siona lly to ma ke su re it d o esn’t st ic k to get h e r. B o i l fo r 10 minutes, th en d ra in a n d ret u r n to t h e p o t. 2 . While your pa st a is d o in g it s t h in g, a d d t h e c rea m to a sa ucepa n over med iu m low h eat. Ad d in t h e ro se ma r y and g a r lic clove, a n d b r in g t h e c rea m to a sim m e r. B e ca re ful not to let it b o il. Let it sim m er fo r a fe w minutes to reduce a n d t h ic ken . Ad d in t h e go at c h e e s e and st ir until it melt s. 3 . Once your sa uce a n d p a st a a re b o t h rea d y, a d d th e sa uce a nd t he ch ic ken to t h e p a st a , a n d to ss it al l tog e t he r to co mbin e. Ad d sa lt a n d p ep p er to t a s te. S er ve ho t a nd hap py.

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13 Sisters of Delphi


Recipes maple glazed carrots ingredients • • • • •

6 car rots, peeled and sliced ¼ inch thick ½ cup water 3 to 4 tablespoons maple syrup ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon cinnamon

instructions

1 . Ad d a l l i ngre d i e nts to a s k i l l e t a n d br i n g water to a b oi l. R e d uce h e at a n d s i m m e r fo r a b o ut 203 0 m i nute s or u nti l yo u r ca r ro ts re a ch d e s i red te nd e r ne ss. The ti m e w i l l va r y d e p e n d i n g o n yo ur ca r rot s, t he si ze o f yo u r pa n , e tc. Yo u m ay n eed to a d d a l i t t l e m o re wate r i f i t a l l e va p o rates b e fore your c a r ro ts a re co o k e d a s s o f t a s you l i ke. 2 . Tur n he at to hi g h a n d b o i l ra pi d l y, s ti r r i n g ca r rot s f re q ue ntl y u nti l a l l th e wate r h a s eva p orate d a nd yo u’re l e f t w i th a s ti ck y g l aze that ’s t ur ne d sl i g htl y brow n . 3 . S e r ve i m m e d i ate l y.

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Spells & Potions Commune with the Fae An a n c i e nt E n gl ish r it u al says t hat if yo u stay up a l l n i g ht s i t t i n g in t he middl e o f a sto ne circle, yo u c a n com m u n icate w it h t he fae —w hich are, a ccord i n g to a pag an myt h, o ut in l arg er number s t ha n u s u a l at m i dsu mmer. This is b ecause th ey a re p rote c t i n g t h e ear t h fro m t he b at t l e ragin g in t he s k y b e t we e n t he Oak K ing, w ho was in power t hrou g h t h e wi nter, and t he H o l l y K ing, w ho h as a r i s e n f rom s l u mb er to t ake his p l ace in th e c l ou d s. Al th ou gh t h e y a re mo st l y k indhear ted p ro tec tor s, t rad i t i on s ays t hat so met imes t he fae can play t r i c k s on h u m a n s. I f yo u are co ndu c t ing a r itual i nvolvi n g t h e f a e, t here are a few p recaut ion s yo u c a n t a k e, i n cl u ding keep ing ru e in yo ur p o ck e t a n d t u r n ing yo ur jacket inside o u t. I f you d o h a p p e n to m eet a mal icio us sp ir it, t radition says t h at you c a n fo l l ow a l ey l ine to safet y.

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Spells & Potions How to Awaken Your Inner Witch M any o f us s t rug g le to s pe ak o u t o r to h ave o u r vo i ce s h e ard, s o we mus t ca ll o ur p ower b a ck . . . B ac k f ro m al l t h e p l ace s an d p e o pl e we’ve given i t away to, b a ck f rom w h e re i t ’s b e e n t ak e n f ro m u s, b ac k from all the t i m es we’ve b een sh u sh e d o r si l e n ce d, b ac k f ro m w h e n we’ve been ma ns p la i n ed to, b ac k f ro m al l t h e t i m e s we’ve fe l t l e ss t h a n, a nd all the t i m es we’ve b een wo r r i e d t h at we’re to o m u c h . M ak e a t r i a n g le wi t h yo u r h an d s by p l ac i n g t h e t i p s o f yo u r t h um bs tog eth er a nd t h e t i p s o f yo u r f i r st f i n g e r s to g e t h e r. Th i s i s c al l e d a Yoni M ud ra ; yo n i m ea n s sac re d te m p l e i n S an sk r i t. We p l ace t h at mud ra o n o ur wo mb s p a ce, o r l owe r ab d o m e n . We st an d w i t h our feet s light ly a p a r t, b ent at t h e k n e e s, an d t h e n we c l o se o u r e ye s, pl a ce our attent i o n at o ur t hi rd eye an d say o u t l o u d t h re e t i m e s:

“I call back my power now.” B et we en ea ch ca ll, v i s ual i ze a b r i g ht w h i te l i g ht co m i n g u p t h rough the s oles o f yo ur feet, t hro ugh yo u r k n e e s an d i nto yo u r wo m b sp a ce. Let it res t t h ere b efo re ca lli ng i n t h e n ex t o n e. When yo u’ve d o ne t h i s t h re e t i m e s, h o l d yo u r p owe r t h e re. Then rep eat t hree t i m es :

“It is safe for me to be powerful.” The m ud ra s ea ls i n t h e powe r. We br i ng o ur h a n d s to o u r h e ar t s an d say :

“So mote it be.”

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Spells & Potions Jasper Protection Amulet Spell Jasper h a s ma ny m a gi ck a l p ro p e r t i e s b u t p ro te c t i o n i s o n e o f i ts s trong es t energi es. S i m p l y se l e c t t h e co l o u r o f j asp e r t h at co r responds with yo ur m a gi ck a l i ntent i o n : • • • • •

Brown j a s p er fo r curs e / h ex p ro te c t i o n G re en j a s p er fo r p s ych i c p ro te c t i o n O cea n j a s p er fo r em o t i o n al p ro te c t i o n Pink j a s p er fo r love p ro te c t i o n R ed j a s p er fo r g en era l p ro te c t i o n , i n c l u d i n g h o m e

Tools & Ingredients: • • • •

a sma ll j a s p er s to ne or c ar v i n g 1+ tea s p o o n o f who le c l ove s 1+ tea s p o o n o f Wi tch’s B l ac k S al t a sma ll b owl

The Spell: 1. I f yo u r sto ne is p hysic a l l y dir t y, c l ea n it fo l l ow in g th e ap pro pr iate inst r u c tio n s fo un d o n Cl ea n s e a n d Cl ea n Cr ystals & Sto nes. 2 . Use eq u a l a m o u nt s o f w h o l e c l oves a n d Witc h’s Bl a c k S a lt and mix them to g ether in a s m a l l bow l. 3 . Pla ce the j a sper in t he bow l a n d cover it w ith th e c l oves and Wi tc h’s B l a c k S a l t m ix ture. 4 . Le ave the sto ne in th e bow l fo r 24 h o ur s if th e m o o n is full. O t her w ise, it w il l need th ree days to c h a rge ful l y. 5 . K eep the a m u l et w ith yo u at a l l tim es s in ce it c a n’t pro te c t you i f i t isn’t w ith yo u. I n th e c a s e o f h o m e pro tec tin g, pl a ce the am u l et c l o se to the ma in entra n ce do o r. 6 . I f yo u need p ro tec tio n l o n ger th a n o n e m o nth , repeat the spell d ur ing the fo l l ow ing ful l m o o n .

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Mythology The Story of Hera Shared by : High Priestess Gloriana danu Hera’s Role B ase d o n t h e n u m b e r o f c u l t s, H e ra was a ve r y an c i e nt g o d d e ss, p o ssi b l y p re d at i n g e ve n Ze u s. I n f ac t, i t ’s assu m e d t h at we d o n’t e ve n k n ow h e r o r i gi n al n am e. “ H e ra” i s ac t u al l y a t i t l e, w h i c h i s u su al l y t ran sl ate d as “ Lad y ” o r “M i st re ss.”

Hera i s t he wi fe o f Zeu s, t he Q ueen o f O lymp us, a n d t h e O lymp i a n g o d d es s o f mar r i a g e. As s uch , s he is a ls o t h e d ei t y most a s s o ci ated with f a mi ly a nd t h e welfare o f wo m en and chi ld ren . Her m a r r i a g e, however, wa s a n unhap py o n e, s i nce Zeu s ha d numero us affairs. J ea lo us a n d veng ef ul, H era ma d e s ure to gi ve ea ch o f his con s o r t s s o m e hard ti m e.

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H e ra’s R o m an co u nte r p ar t was J u n o, t h e g o d d e ss w h o g ave h e r n am e to t h e m o nt h o f J u n e, e ve n to d ay, t h e m o st p o p u l ar t i m e fo r we d d i n g s. Hera’s Portrayal and Symbolism

H e ra was u su al l y p o r t raye d al o n g si d e Ze u s, as a f u l l y c l o t h e d m at ro n l y wo m an o f so l e m n b e au t y, we ar i n g a c y l i n d r i c al c row n c al l e d p o l o s o r a w re at h an d a ve i l. S o m e t i m e s sh e c ar r i e s a sce p te r c ap p e d w i t h a p o m e gran ate an d a c u c k o o – t h e fo r m e r a sy m b o l o f fe r t i l i t y, t h e

l at te r a tok en of the way sh e wa s wooed by Ze u s. She is a l so o f te n accom pa nied by a p e aco c k , one of her sac re d an i m a l s. Hera’s Epithets H o m e r o f ten refer s to H e ra as “cow- eyed ” an d “ w h i te - a r m ed ” – w h i c h are her m ost f am o u s e pithets. She i s al so so m etim es c al l e d “a virgin,” si n ce i t wa s bel ieved t h at e ve r y yea r she b at h e d i n a spr ing to re n e w h e r virginit y. Hera’s Family B e i n g b o r n a f ter H e st i a an d D em eter, H e ra i s t h e youngest o f Cro n u s’ a nd R hea’s t h re e d au ghter s a nd t h e i r t h i rd c hil d ove ral l ; H ades, Po se i d o n , a nd Zeus – i n t h at order – a re h e r yo u n ger brother s. H owe ve r, s ince just l i k e e ac h of her si b l i n g s b ut Zeus, sh e was swa l l owed by h e r f at h er at bir th

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Mythology The Story of Hera Continued and later d i s g o rg ed to be b o r n a g a i n, s he is s o met i m es refer red to a s Cro n us’ and R h ea’s o ld es t d aug hter. R ea s o n a b ly, s ince t he Ti t a n h a d to em p t y hi s s to ma ch of his ch i ld ren i n t h e ord er o p p o s i te o f t h e one in whi ch h e ate th em .

o rd e re d H e r m e s to b i n d h i m to a p e r p e t u al l y t u r n i n g w h e e l o f f i re.

The Archetypal Married Couple: Hera and Zeus

Hera, a Vengeful Wife

As the g ua rd i a n o f mar r i a g e a nd t h e s pou s e o f t he K i ng o f G od s a nd M en, H era d id n’t h ave much choice b ut to b e a faithful wi fe. Even t ho ug h s he wa s beau t i f ul, no t ma ny men – a nd n o t o n e g od – d a red to lay hand s o n h er. End ym i o n t r i ed o nce, but Zeus co nd em ned him to eter n a l s leep. I xion f a red even wors e: Zeus fo o led him into ma k i n g love wi t h a clo ud fas hio ned i n H era’s image, a n d t h en

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B y m o st acco u nt s, H e ra g ave Ze u s fo u r c h i l d re n : Are s, t h e g o d o f war, E i l e i t hy i a, t h e g o d d e ss o f c h i l d b i r t h , H e b e, t h e g o d d e ss o f e te r n al yo u t h , an d H e p h ae st u s, t h e g o d o f f i re. The Wooing of Hera

Ze u s t r i c k e d H e ra i nto m ar r i ag e. K n ow i n g f u l l we l l t h at t h e g o d d e ss l ove d an i m al s, h e t ran sfo r m e d h i m se l f i nto a d i st re sse d c u c k o o an d re ve r te d to h i s o r i gi n al fo r m o n l y w h e n H e ra to o k t h e p o o r c re at u re to h e r b re ast to war m i t. Ash am e d fo r b e i n g t ak e n ad vant ag e o f, H e ra agre e d to a m ar r i ag e. Hera Challenges Zeus

H owe ve r, i t d i d n’t t u r n o u t to b e a h ap py o n e. Ze u s was b r u t i sh an d c r u e l to e ve r y b o d y. I n c ap ab l e o f b e ar i n g t h i s, H e ra p l o t te d a re ve n g e p l an w i t h Po se i d o n , At h e n a an d p o ssi b l y fe w o t h e r g o d s.

S h e d r u g ged Zeus, an d t h e y bound him o n h i s b e d, w h i l e ste a l ing h i s t h u n d er bol t. Th e t i s, h owever, su m m o n e d Br ia reus an d h e m ana ged to q u i c k l y untie Ze u s, w h o wa s, su b se qu e ntl y, m e rc i l e ss to the m a in sc h e m e r : he hung H e ra f ro m the sk y w i t h g o l d e n c ha ins. To grant h er sel f a re l e ase, H era swore to n e ve r re bel a ga in ag ai n st h er husba nd. S o, sh e d i rec ted her an g e r towa rd Zeus’s l ove r s an d their o f fsp r i n g, becom ing a j e al o u s and v i n d i c t i ve w ife. Hera and Semele

Fo r ex am pl e, she t r i c k e d S e m el e into fo rc i n g h er l over – w h i c h sh e k new was Ze u s – to revea l h i m se l f b e fore her in al l h i s g l o r y. S i n ce h u ma ns c a n’t l o o k u p o n at gods

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Mythology The Story of Hera Continued without i nci nerat i n g, S emele p er i s h ed i nto thin ai r. Hera and Callisto

L ater, s h e t ur n ed Callis to i nto a b ea r, af ter t he lat ter g ave b i r t h to Zeus’ child Arca s. Af ter s ome t i m e, j us t a s Arcas wa s a b o ut to unwitt i n g ly k i ll h i s mother, Zeus p la ced Callis to a nd h er s on in t h e s k y a s the co ns tellat i o n s Urs a M a j o r a n d U rs a M inor, t he B i g a nd the L i t t le B ea r. Hera and the Delaying of Births

m o st. Fi r st Ze u s t ran sfo r m e d h e r i nto a cow so t h at h e c an h i d e h e r f ro m H e ra. Th e n , Hera sent Arg u s Pan o p te s to watc h ove r h e r, an d Zeus – H e r m e s to k i l l h i m . Af te r t h at, H e ra t ra nsfor m ed Arg u s’ g h o st i nto a g ad f l y w h i c h b o t h ered I o in h e r b ov i n e fo r m al l t h e way to Eg y p t. Fina l l y, Ze u s i m p re gn ate d h e r t h e re w i t h E p aphus. Hera, the Vain Goddess

J u st l i k e m o st o f t h e o t h e r Gre e k g o d desses, w h e n i t c am e to h e r b e au t y, H e ra was e asi l y o f fe n d e d. Hera and Orion

O n ce, O r i o n’s w i fe S i d e ( “p o m e gran ate” ) b o aste d t h at sh e was as b e au t i f u l as Hera , so the g o d d e ss se nt h e r to t h e U n d e r wo r l d. Wh e n Lao m e d o n’s d au g hte r Ant i g o n e did the sam e, H e ra t u r n e d h e r i nto a sto r k . Fi n a l l y, a f ter Par i s c h o se Ap h ro d i te i n ste ad o f h e r, she bec a m e a swo r n e n e my o f Troy.

https://w w w.greek mythology.com/Olympians/Hera/hera.html

Hera kep t her d aug hter E i lei t hy i a from at ten d i n g t h e bir th o f Ap o llo, postpo ni n g i t by ni n e d ays and n i g ht s. M ore f a m o us ly, s he di d t h e s a me with H era cles ; i n this c a s e, t he d elay caus ed H era cles t he thron e o f Arg o li d. Hera and Io

Argua b ly, I o wa s t h e one who en d ured t he

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Mythology The Story of Aestas Shared By : High Priestess R avensThorn o f t i m e an d se aso n s. Th i s g o d d e ss, i n p ar t i c u l ar, re m i n d s u s to l i ve m i n d f u l l y i n t h e p re se nt m o m e nt. S h e i s asso c i ate d w i t h t h e S u m m e r S o l st i ce an d a ce l e b rat i o n o f al l t h e b e au t y su m m e r h as to o f fe r. INVITING AESTAS INTO THE MODERN

Aestas, who s e na me means t h e f i er y h eat of the s um m er s un i n L atin, i s t h e R o ma n pers o n i f i cat i o n o f s ummer. S h e i s d escr i b ed a s s t a nd i n g by the emera ld thron e o f Pho eb us, the Sun - g o d, a nd i s nak ed excep t fo r a g ar lan d o f f lowers and gra i n o r wheats heaves i n h er h a i r. She remi nd s us to b e gratef ul a nd en j oy all of t h e b ea ut y and ab un d a n ce o f the s um m er s ea s o n. Aestas i s o ne o f the R o m a n’s ma ny pers o n i f i cat i o ns

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GODDESS’ WORLD ACTION STEPS:

S p e n d m o re t i m e i n n at u re. N at u re i s a b e au t i f u l ro l e m o d e l fo r l i fe. Th e re i s a t i m e an d a se aso n fo r e ve r y t h i n g, i t c an n o t b e r u sh e d, p u sh e d o r m ove d fo r ward j u st b e c au se o f a d e si re fo r i t to b e. Ap p re c i ate n at u re’s b e au t y, an d ac k n ow l e d g e h ow e asi l y an d e f fo r t l e ssl y i t i s so. Th e grass d o e s n o t st rai n o r st r u g g l e to grow, i t si m p l y al l ows t h e su n an d rai n to b at h e an d n o u r i sh i t at t h e ve r y co re an d t h e p ro ce ss u n fo l d s n at u ral l y, grac i o u sl y

an d b e au tiful l y, al l i n d i v i ne tim e. R e f l e c t o n w hether yo u are al l ow ing an d re ce i ving in yo u r l i fe or if you are t r y i n g to force t h i n g s to ha ppen. N at u re re minds us to p rac t i ce t h e a r t o f su r re n der. Pl ant, p i c k a nd d e co rate w ith f l owe r s. Ador n your l i v i n g sp ace w ith f re sh c u t fl ower s f ro m yo u r ga rden o r t h e f ar m er ’s m ar k e t, i f you p re fe r to bor row f ro m an o ther ’s gre e n t h u m b. G e t t i n g o ut into the yard an d pl aying in t h e d i r t i s a great way to co nnec t w ith M o t h e r N ature… you m ay e ve n c hoose to re l i ve yo u r c hil dhood d ays m ak i ng m ud p i e s, j u st don’t tr y to g e t t h e n eighbor k id to e at i t.

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Mythology The Story of Aestas I f you d o n o t h ave a yard o r g a rd en o f you r own, co ns i d er wor k i ng o n a comm uni t y p lo t and lea r n a b o ut t he vegetat i o n p ro ces s or plant s ma ll pots of her b s fo r a wind ows i ll g a rd en.

o f n e r ve e n d i n g s i n yo u r fe e t as yo u fe e l t h e grass o r san d o f t h e b e ac h o r d e se r t b e n e at h yo u r to e s. B re at h e i n t h e sce nt s o f t h e f re sh c u t grass, t h e f l owe r s i n b l o o m o r t h e d i st i n c t, c l e an si n g sm e l l o f a rai n sh owe r.

Br ing mo re cons ci o us nes s to you r d ay. Th e la z y d ays of s um m er are a p er fec t t i m e for a wa lk i ng med it at i o n , b ei n g i n no par t i cula r h ur r y to be a ny wh ere, j us t allowi n g yo urs elf to exp er i en ce a ll the s i g ht s, s o un d s, s cents a nd feeli n g s o f s ummer ’s g lo r y.

G e t n ak e d. Tak e ad vant ag e o f t h e war mt h o f t h e se aso n an d sl e e p i n t h e n u d e. G e t u se d to sp e n d i n g a l i t t l e ex t ra t i m e i n yo u r b i r t h d ay su i t t h an yo u n o r m al l y wo u l d, gi ve t h an k s an d grow to ap p re c i ate t h e wo n d e r s an d m agn i f i ce n ce o f yo u r b o d y an d al l i t d o e s fo r yo u.

Pay at tent i o n to all of yo ur s ens es, breath i n g i n t h e s ummer ’s wa r mt h, listen i n g to t h e s o ng of the b i rd s a nd t h e wind wh i s t li n g i n t h e trees, feeli ng t h e s o f t breeze a g a i n s t yo ur s k in. G o b a refo o t a n d enjoy t h e s ens at i o n from t he t h o us a n d s

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any d i ssatisfa c tion yo u m ay have w ith yo u r b o d y. AFFIRMATION: I se i ze t h e day a nd savo r t h e bea ut y of e ve r y m o m ent. https://w w w. thegrate fulgoddess.com/ goddess-of-the -month-aestas/

I f yo u are l i k e m any o f u s, yo u m ay h ave l e ar n e d to b e e m b ar rasse d o r ash am e d o f yo u r b o d y an d are q u i c k to h i d e u n d e r c l o t h i n g as so o n as p o ssi b l e. S p e n d i n g a fe w m o re m i n u te s a d ay ap p re c i at i n g yo u r b o d y af te r yo u r sh owe r an d w h e n g o i n g to b e d at n i g ht, m ay h e l p h e al

13 Sisters of Delphi


Mythology The Story of Neith Who Was Neith? N e i t h , k n ow n as t h e ‘ Fi r st O n e’, was a p r i m o rd i al g o d d e ss w h o si m p l y c am e i nto ex i ste n ce. Acco rd i n g to so m e so u rce s, sh e was e nt i re l y se l f - g e n e rate d.

Neith wa s o n e o f t he old es t d ei t i es o f t he Eg ypt i a n p a nt h eo n, k nown a s t he g o d d es s of creat i o n. S he’s als o t h e g o d d es s o f d ome s t i c a r t s a n d war, b ut t h es e a re jus t s o m e o f her many ro les. Neith wa s mo s t ly k nown fo r b ei ng the creato r o f the un i vers e wi t h ever y t h i n g i n i t a nd for po s s es s i ng t h e power to co nt ro l t he way it f un c t i o n s. Here’s t he s to r y of one o f t h e mo s t power f ul a nd complex d ei t i es i n Eg ypt i a n my t ho lo g y.

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H e r n am e i s sp e l l e d i n var i o u s ways i n c l u d i n g N e t, N i t an d N e i t an d al l t h e se n am e s c ar r y t h e m e an i n g ‘ t h e te r r i f y i n g o n e’ b e c au se o f h e r i m m e n se st re n g t h an d p owe r. S h e was al so gi ve n se ve ral t i t l e s su c h as ‘M o t h e r O f Th e G o d s’, ‘ Th e Gre at G o d d e ss’ o r ‘Gran d m o t h e r O f Th e G o d s’. Acco rd i n g to t h e an c i e nt so u rce s N e i t h h ad m any c h i l d re n i n c l u d i n g t h e fo l l ow i n g : •

Ra – the god who c re ate d e ve r y t h i n g e l se. Th e sto r y g o e s t h at h e to o k ove r f ro m w h e re h i s m o t h e r h ad sto p p e d an d co m p l e te d c re at i o n . Isi s – t h e g o d d e ss o f

• •

• •

t h e m o on, l ife a nd m agi c H o r u s – the f al co n - hea ded god O si r i s – the god o f t h e dea d, re su r re c tion a nd l i fe S o b e k – the c ro co d i l e god Ap e p – som e myths su g g e st that N eith m i g ht have c reated Ap e p, t he ser pent, by sp i t ting into t h e water s of N un. Ap e p l ater bec a m e R a’s e n e my.

Th e se we re onl y a fe w o f N eith’s c h i l d re n but l egend h as i t t h at she ha d m any o t h e r s. Al t h o u g h she bore or c re ate d c hil dren, she was t h o u ght to be a v i rgi n fo r eter nit y w h o h ad the power to p ro c re ate w ithout any m al e assista nce. H owe ve r, som e l ate my t h s h ave her a s the w i fe o f S obek instea d o f h i s m o ther, w hil e i n o t h e r s s he wa s the

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Mythology The Story of Neith wife o f K hnum, t h e Upper Eg y p t i a n g o d of fer t i li t y. Depictions and Symbols of Neith

Althoug h N ei t h was sa i d to b e a female g o d d es s, s h e mostl y a p p ea rs a s a n and ro g y no us d ei t y. Since s h e p layed many ro les, s h e wa s d epic ted i n ma ny d ifferent ways. Howe ver, s he wa s t ypically rep res ented as a wo m a n h o ld i n g the wa s s cep ter (whic h s i gni f i ed power), t h e Ank h (a s ym b o l o f life) or t wo a r rows (ass oc i at i n g h er with h unt i ng a nd war). S h e wa s a ls o of ten s een wea r i ng the crown o f Lower and U p p er Eg y p t, s ymbo li z i ng t h e uni t y of Eg y p t a nd p ower over all o f the re gi o n. I n Upp er Eg y p t, Neith wa s p o r t rayed as a wo m a n wi t h a liones s’ h ea d, wh i ch

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was sy m b o l i c o f h e r p owe r an d st re n g t h . Wh e n ap p e ar i n g as a wo m an , h e r h an d s an d f ace we re u su al l y gre e n . At t i m e s, sh e was d e p i c te d i n t h i s way w i t h a b aby c ro co d i l e ( o r t wo) su c k l i n g at h e r b re ast, w h i c h g ai n e d h e r t h e t i t l e ‘ N u r se o f Cro co d i l e s’. N e i t h i s al so asso c i ate d w i t h cows, an d w h e n d e p i c te d i n t h e fo r m o f a cow, sh e’s i d e nt i f i e d w i t h H at h o r an d N u t. S h e’s so m e t i m e s c al l e d t h e Cow o f H e ave n , w h i c h re i n fo rce s h e r sy m b o l i sm as a c re ato r an d n u r t u re r. Th e f i r st k n ow n e m b l e m o f N e i t h co n si st s o f t wo c ro sse d ar rows m o u nte d o n a p o l e. I n l ate r Eg y p t i an ar t, t h i s sy m b o l c an b e se e n p l ace d o n to p o f h e r h e ad. An o t h e r l e ss we l l - k n ow n sy m b o l was t h e b ow c ase, an d so m e t i m e s sh e wo u l d we ar t wo

b ows o n h er hea d i n p l ace o f a c row n. S h e was strongl y asso c i ate d w ith these sy m b o l s dur ing the p re d y n ast ic per iod w h e n sh e pl ayed a n i m p o r t ant rol e a s the g o d d e ss of wa r an d h u nt i n g. Neith’s Role in Egyptian Mythology

I n Eg y p t i an my t h o l o g y, N eith p l aye d n u m erous ro l e s, b u t her m a in ro l e was t h e c reator o f t h e u n i ver se. She was al so the goddess o f we av i n g, m other s, t h e co sm os, w isdom , wate r, r i ver s, h u nt i n g, wa r, fate an d c h i l d bir th, to n am e a fe w. S h e p re si ded ove r c raf t s suc h as warc raf t a nd w i tc h c raf t a nd se e m e d to favor we ave r s, sol dier s, ar t i san s and hunter s. Th e Eg y p tia ns of ten i nvo k e d h e r a id a nd h e r b l e ssi n gs on their we ap o n s when going to b at t l e or hunting.

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Mythology The Story of Neith Neith a ls o o f ten par tic i p ated i n wa rs d ue to whi ch s he wa s called ‘M i s t res s o f the B ow, R uler of Ar rows’.

w rap p i n g s. Th e p e o p l e b e l i e ve d t h at t h e se m u m my w rap p i n g s we re h e r gi f t s an d t h e y c al l e d t h e m ‘ t h e gi f t s o f N e i t h’.

I n ad di t i o n to a ll her other ro les, N ei t h was als o a f unera r y g od d e s s. Jus t li ke s he gave li fe to hu ma n i t y, s h e wa s als o p res ent at t h e d eath o f a p ers o n to help th em a d j us t to the af ter li fe.

N e i t h was a w i se an d f ai r j u d g e o f t h e d e ad an d p l aye d an i m p o r t ant p ar t i n t h e af te r l i fe. S h e was al so o n e o f t h e fo u r g o d d e sse s, al o n g w i t h N e p ht hys, Isi s an d S e rqe t, w h o we re re sp o n si b l e fo r g u ard i n g t h e d e ce ase d, t h e fo u r so n s o f H o r u s, as we l l as t h e c an o p i c j ar s.

She wo uld d res s t h e d ead i n woven clo t h and p ro tec t t hem by s hooti n g a r rows at their enem i es. D ur i ng the ear ly d y na s t i c times, wea p o n s were placed i n to mb s to protec t t he d ea d f ro m evil sp i r i t s a nd i t wa s Neith wh o b les s ed those wea p o ns. Neith a ls o g ua rd ed the ph a ra o h’s funera r y b i er tog ether wi t h t h e g od d e s s I s i s a n d was re s p o n s i b le fo r weavi ng t h e mum my

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Li k e m any o f t h e Eg y p t i an d e i t i e s, N e i t h’s ro l e s grad u al l y e vo l ve d t h ro u g h h i sto r y. D u r i n g the New Kingdom, h e r ro l e as a f u n e rar y g o d d e ss e sp e c i al l y asso c i ate d w i t h h u nt i n g an d war b e c am e ve r y e v i d e nt. Acco rd i n g to t h e Co nte n d i n g s o f H o r u s an d S e t h , i t was N e i t h w h o c am e u p w i t h a so l u t i o n as to w h o sh o u l d b e co m e t h e k i n g o f Eg y p t af te r O si r i s.

H e r su g g estion wa s t h at H o r u s, the son o f O si r i s a nd I sis, sh o u l d su cceed his f at h e r si n ce he wa s t h e r i g ht f ul heir to t h e t h ro n e. Wh i l e t h e m a jor it y agre e d w i th her, S e t h , t h e god of d e se r t s, wa sn’t h ap py ab out t h e ar ran gem ent. H owe ve r, Neith co m p e n sated him by al l ow i n g him to h ave t wo S em itic g o d d e sse s for h i m se l f, to w hic h he f i n al l y agreed an d so t h e m atter was so l ve d. N e i t h was of ten the o n e t h at e ver yone, h u m an s o r gods, c am e to whenever t h e y n e e ded to sol ve any co n f l i c ts. As t h e g o ddess of d o m e st i c a r ts a nd we av i n g, Neith wa s al so a p ro tec tor of m ar r i ag e a nd wom en. Th e p e o p l e bel ieved

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Mythology The Story of Neith that e ver y d ay, s h e wou ld reweave t he entire wo r ld o n h er loom, a r ra n gi ng i t to her li k i n g a nd f i xi ng whate ver s he t h o ug ht was w ro ng wi t h i t.

Th e p e o p l e w h o v i si te d N e i t h’s te m p l e in S ai s we re n’t al l owe d to e nte r i t. Th e y were o n l y al l owe d i n t h e o u te r co u r t yard s where a h u g e, ar t i f i c i al l ak e was b u i l t, an d h e re they wo r sh i p p e d h e r d ai l y w i t h l ante r n p ara des a nd sac r i f i ce s, ask i n g fo r h e r ai d o r t h an k i n g her fo r h av i n g gi ve n i t.

Cult and Worship of Neith

Eve r y ye ar, t h e p e o p l e ce l e b rate d a fe stiva l k n ow n as t h e ‘ Fe ast o f t h e Lam p s’ i n h onor o f t h e g o d d e ss N e i t h . Pe o p l e c am e f rom a l l co r n e r s o f Eg y p t to p ay h e r t h e i r re sp e c ts, pray an d p re se nt t h e i r o f fe r i n g s to h e r.

Neith wa s wors hi p p ed throug ho ut Eg y p t, but her ma i n cult center wa s i n t h e S ais, t he ca p i t a l cit y d ur i n g t h e L ate D ynas t i c Per i o d, where a la rg e temple wa s b ui lt a n d d ed icated to h er i n the 26t h D y na s t y. Her s y mb o l, t h e s hield wi t h t h e cros s ed a r rows becam e t h e emb lem of S ai s. Neith’s clerg y were fem a les and a cco rd i n g to Herod o t us, her temple wa s o n e o f the la rg es t a n d mo s t impres s i ve temp les ever b ui lt i n Eg y p t.

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Th o se w h o d i d n’t at te n d l i t l am p s i n other te m p l e s, i n t h e p al ace s, o r i n t h e i r h o mes, k e e p i n g t h e m l i t al l n i g ht l o n g w i t h o ut a l l ow ing t h e m to d i e o u t. I t was a b e au t i f u l si g ht si n ce al l o f Eg ypt wa s l i t u p w i t h co l o r f u l l i g ht s i n ce l e b rat i on. This was re g ard e d as o n e o f t h e m o st i m p or ta nt fe st i val s i n an c i e nt Eg y p t t h at was ce l e brated in t h e h o n o r o f a d e i t y. N e i t h was so p ro m i n e nt i n Pre d y n ast i c a nd E ar l y D y n ast i c t i m e s, t h at at l e ast t wo q ueens to o k h e r n am e : M e r n e i t h an d N e i t h h o tep. The l at te r m ay h ave b e e n t h e w i fe o f N ar m er, the f i r st Ph arao h , al t h o u g h i t i s m o re p ro ba bl e that sh e was a qu e e n to k i n g Ah a. https://symbolsage.com/neith- egyptian- goddess/

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Mythology The Story of Helios o n t h e e ar t h , p e o p l e assu m e d h e saw an d h e ard e ve r y t h i n g t h at we nt o n i n t h at d o m ai n ; t h u s, b o t h g o d s an d h u m an s c al l e d o n h i m as a w i t n e ss to var i o u s e ve nt s o r o at h s swo r n .

Helios i s t h e G reek Sun g o d, who m t h e R omans ca lled S o l. M os t o f ten , p eo p le viewe d o r p o r t rayed Helios a s a mi g ht y char io teer, d r i v i ng his flami ng cha r i o t (or g lea mi ng horses ) f ro m ea s t to west a cro s s t he s k y each d ay. At nig ht, a cco rd i ng to the leg end, H eli o s cros s ed b a ck to t he east by f lo at i ng i n a golden cup o n t h e s tream o f O cea n , the my t hi ca l r i ver thou g ht to enci rcle the flat ea r t h . B ecaus e H eli o s was in t h e s k y a ll d ay lo o k i ng d own

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H e l i o s was u su al l y d e p i c te d as a b e ard l e ss an d ve r y h an d so m e m an i n p u r p l i sh ro b e s, c row n e d w i t h a g o l d e n au re o l e, w h i c h acce nte d h i s ro l e as t h e S u n G o d. Th e c h arac te r i st i c c h ar i o t was d raw n by fo u r w i n g e d h o r se s. Family Tree Of Helios

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Fat h e r : H y p e r i o n M o t h e r : Th e i a S i ste r s: Eo s ( D aw n ) an d S e l e n e ( M o o n )

Who Was The God Of The Sun? Helios Or Apollo

Th e re i s a co n f u si o n i n Gre e k M y t h o l o g y re g ard i n g t h e i d e nt i t y of the god of the Sun. Th e re are h i sto r i an s an d fo l l owe r s o f t h e Gre e k my t h o l o g y t h at d e n o te t h e ro l e o f g o d Ap o l l o, as G o d o f t h e S u n , al t h o u g h i t i s e v i d e nt

t h at Gre e ks bel ieved i n a se p arate S u n G o d. H e l i o s i s m entioned i n n u m e rous p h i l o so p h ic tex ts a nd p o e t i c o r fic tiona l tex t s; fo r insta nce, H o m e r i s the one w h o re fe r s to Hel ios as t h e S u n G od, c l ai m i n g that he wa s t h e G o d who coul d h e ar an d under sta nd e ve r y t h i n g that wa s h ap p e n i n g on E a r th. Greek Myths About Helios

Th e re are m a ny Gre e k my ths a bout H e l i o s, t h e Sun G od. Fo r ex am pl e, the g o d d e ss D em eter co n su l te d him af te r h e r da ughter, Pe r se p h o ne, d i sap p e ared; H e l i o s to l d her that H ad e s, r u ler of the U n d e r wo r l d, ha d ab d u c te d the gir l. Th e m o st fa m ous my t h i n w hic h Hel ios t ak e s p ar t is that o f h i s m o r ta l son, Ph ae t h o n . The boy

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Mythology The Story of Helios d eman d ed t h at h i s father H eli o s a llow him to d r i ve hi s g leam i n g cha r i o t acros s t h e s k y fo r a d ay. H owever, Phaeth o n wa s unabl e to co nt ro l hi s father ’s ho rs es, a nd the cha r i o t ra n wi ld throug h t h e h eavens until Zeus i nter vened and s t ruck t he yo ung man d ea d. Helios And Rhodes

I n ano t h er s to r y, one d ay Zeus m a d e each o f t h e g o d s t h e patron d ei t y o f o n e or ano t her ea r t hly land o r ci t y— a ll excep t fo r H eli o s, that is, who at t he time wa s f ulf i lli ng his d ai ly d ut y o f d r ivin g h i s cha r i o t acros s t h e s k y. To com p en s ate fo r the overs i g ht, Zeus g ave H eli o s d o mi ni o n over th e n ewly create d i s la n d o f R hod es. R ho d es i s a G reek i s la n d lo cated off th e s o ut hwes ter n coast o f As i a M i no r,

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i n t h e co m p l ex o f t h e D o d e c an e se i sl an d s. Th e re, t h e su n g o d ’s t h re e gran d so n s — Cam i r u s, Li n d u s, an d Ial yssu s— r u l e d an d g ave t h e i r n am e s to t h e t h re e l arg e st c i t i e s. Th i s my t h was t h e b asi s o f t h e R h o d i an s’ wo r sh i p o f H e l i o s as t h e i r n at i o n al g o d. St i l l, R h o d e s i s c al l e d t h e Isl an d o f S u n .

Heliopolis, The City Of God Helios

H e l i o s was wor shiped i n m any c ities, st ate s an d countr ies. I n An c i e nt Egypt, t h e re was a c it y, H e l i o p o l i s, buil t in h o n o r o f the Sun G o d. H e l i opol is wa s t h e se at of wor ship of G o d H e l i os, therefore i t s n am e mea ns the S u n Ci t y i n Greek . https://w w w.greek mythsgreek mythology.com/heliossun- god/

Th e y h o n o re d h i m as t h e su b j e c t o f t h e h u g e b ro n ze st at u e t h e y e re c te d c i rc a 2 8 0 B. C. at t h e e nt ran ce to t h e i r m ai n h ar b o r. Cal l e d t h e Co l o ssu s o f R h o d e s, i t l ate r m ad e t h e p re st i gi o u s l i st o f t h e se ve n wo n d e r s o f t h e an c i e nt wo r l d. I t i s sai d t h at t h e h u g e st at u e Co l o ssu s b ro k e an d co l l ap se d af te r a m assi ve e ar t h q u ak e t h at h i t t h e i sl an d o f R h o d e s i n t h e an c i e nt ye ar s.

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Mythology The Story of Castor & Pollux to S p ar t a. Th e re h e l ay w i t h t h e S p ar t an qu e e n , an d m an ag e d to m ak e Le d a p re gn ant.

Castor a nd Po llux, or K asto r a n d Polydeukes i n Ancie nt G reek , were t win so ns o f Q ueen Led a o f S p a r t a ; Led a being t h e wi fe o f K ing Ty n d a reus. The s tor y o f t h e b ro t h ers bir th t h o ug h i s no t a s impl e o ne. Q u een Led a wa s one o f t h e mo s t beau t i f ul mo r t a ls o f the d ay, a n d s uch beau t y wo uld no t g o unnoti ced by Zeus s itting up o n h i s thron e o n M ount O ly m p us. D es ir i ng Led a , Zeus transfo r m ed h i ms elf into a b ea ut i f ul s wan, a n d d es cend ed

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Th e sam e e ve n i n g, Le d a al so sl e p t w i t h Ty n d are u s, an d t h e co m b i n e d ac t i o n s o f Ze u s an d Ty n d are u s wo u l d b r i n g fo r t h fo u r o f fsp r i n g. Th e fo u r c h i l d re n b o r n to Le d a we re t h e t wo b ro t h e r s Casto r an d Po l l u x , an d t wo si ste r s, H e l e n an d Cl y te m n e st ra; Casto r an d Cl y te m n e st ra we re co n si d e re d to b e t h e c h i l d re n o f K i n g Ty n d are u s, w h i l st Po l l u x an d H e l e n we re t h e o f fsp r i n g o f Ze u s. As t h e p ai r o f t w i n b ro t h e r s we re i n se p arab l e t h e y we re gi ve n a j o i nt n am e, an d i n Gre e k my t h o l o g y t h e y we re re fe r re d to as t h e D i o sc u r i ( D i o sk o u ro i ) , an d i n R o m e t h e y we re G e m i n i . H e l e n wo u l d al te r b e co m e f am o u s w h e n

sh e was abduc ted by Par i s, an d given the t i t l e o f H el en of Troy, w h i l st Cl y tem nestra wo u l d m ar r y K i n g Ag am em non. Th e b ro t h er s though wo u l d h ave their ow n sto r i e s w r itten a bout t h e m ; al t hough the t i m e l i n e of t h e se sto r ies is so m e w h at el a stic. THE HEROISM OF THE DIOSCURI

As Casto r a nd Po l l u x gre w up they d e ve l o p e d a l l of the at t r i b u te s a ssoc iated w i t h Gre e k heroes, an d i n p ar tic ul a r Casto r b e ca m e k n ow n fo r his sk il l w i t h h o r ses, w hil st Po l l u x b e c a m e highl y re g ard e d for his f i g ht i n g, a nd i n p ar t i c u la r b ox i n g, sk il l s. The Abduction of Helen – Th e h e ro i c attr ibutes we re so o n put to the te st w h e n their sister H e l e n was a bduc ted.

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Mythology The Story of Castor & Pollux This tho ug h wa s not th e a b d uc t i o n und er t a ken by Par is o f Troy, but a n ea r li er one co m m i t ted by Thes eus.

i t i s o f te n sai d t h at H e l e n was o n l y ag e d b e t we e n se ve n an d te n at t h e t i m e o f t h i s f i r st ab d u c t i o n , so Casto r an d Po l l u x wo u l d b e t h e sam e ag e.

Theseus, a nd h i s compa n i o n Pi r i t h o us, had d eci d ed t hat they were b o t h wor thy o f m a r r y i ng d aug hters o f Zeus, and s o H elen wa s tak en f ro m S p a r t a by Theseus, a nd t a ken back to At h ens. Castor a nd Po llux wou ld lea d t h e Spar ta n a r my to Att i ca .

O t h e r co n u n d r u m s al so ex i st as i n l ate r ad ve nt u re s Casto r an d Po l l u x are co m rad e s to m e n w h o se so n s wo u l d f i g ht at Troy, m ak i n g H e l e n f ar o l d e r t h an any o f t h e m e n o n t h e Ac h ae an si d e.

The D i o s cur i wo uld easily t a ke At h ens as Thes eus wa s abs ent at t h e t i m e, and up o n res cui n g Helen , Ca s to r a n d Pollu x wo uld a ls o tak e Th es eus’ mo t h er Aethra i n ret r i b ut i o n. As prev i o us ly menti o n ed t h ere is som e f lui d i t y i n the ti m e li ne o f the D i o s cur i ; a nd

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The Golden Fleece –

Casto r an d Po l l u x are u n i ve r sal l y n am e d am o n g st t h e Arg o n au t s, t h e c re w o f t h e Arg o w h o sai l e d fo r Co l c h i s w i t h J aso n . D u r i n g t h e q u e st fo r t h e G o l d e n Fl e e ce, Po l l u x i s n o te d fo r h av i n g b e ste d t h e K i n g o f B e b r yce s d u r i n g a b ox i n g m atc h . Al so t h e p ai r we re n o te d fo r t h e se am an sh i p, h e l p i n g to ave r t d i saste r o n a n u m b e r o f o cc asi o n s.

Fo r g u i d i ng the Arg o t h ro u gh a p ar t i c u l ar l y ba d sto r m Castor a nd Po l l u x we re a nointed w i t h st ar s on their h e ad ; an d a f ter wa rds t h e y wo u l d becom e g u ard i an a ngel s fo r o t h e r s a il or s, w i t h t h e presence o f St E l m o’s fire b e i n g a si gn of their p re se n ce a nd hel p. Casto r an d Pol l ux wo u l d al so a ide J aso n u p on the re t u r n o f the Argo to Io l c u s, h e lping the h e ro to d e a l w ith the t re ac h e r y of Pel ia s. The Calydonian Hunt

Th e D i o sc u r i a re a l so n am e d amongst the h e ro e s w h o gathered to h u nt t h e m o n strous b o ar t h at wa s ravagi n g Ca l ydon. Th e k i l l i n g of the Cal yd o n i a n B oa r i s d ow n to the wo r k o f M el ea ger, w i t h t h e assista nce o f At al anta , but

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Mythology The Story of Castor & Pollux never t h eles s t h e t wins were a mo n g s t the hunters. THE DEMISE OF CASTOR AND POLLUX

The D i o s cur i were well k nown fo r t h ei r prote c t i ven es s o f Helen , a n d wh en it cam e t i m e fo r Helen to ma r r y t h ey played a n a c t i ve role i n keep i ng t h e Suito rs o f H elen i n line, b ut when i t came to res cui ng her fro m Troy t he pair were n o t a b le for th ei r a b s en ce. This ab s ence i s p ut d own to t h e f a c t t h at they were n o lo n g er amon g s t t he li v i n g. The s to r y o f Ca s to r and Po llux ha d evolved s o t hat Pollu x, a s wa s befitti ng t h e s o n o f Zeu s, wa s co ns i d ered to be i m m o r t a l, whils t Ca s to r, a s t he s on of Ty nd a reus wa s thou g ht o f a s m o r t a l; and s o i t wa s t h e latter who d i ed.

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Th e d e at h o f Casto r c am e ab o u t b e c au se o f a se r i e s o f arg u m e nt s w i t h Id as an d Ly n ce u s, t wo co u si n s o f t h e D i o sc u r i . Th e fo u r co u si n s we re ac t i ve i n ad ve nt u re s to g e t h e r, b u t o n e d ay Casto r an d Po l l u x d e c i d e d t h at t h e y wo u l d t ak e as t h e i r ow n H i l ar i a an d Ph o e b e, t wo wo m e n b e t ro t h e d to Id as an d Ly n ce u s. H i l ar i a wo u l d su b se qu e nt l y b e sai d to b e ar Casto r a c h i l d, An o g o n (An ax i s) , an d Ph o e b e wo u l d gi ve b i r t h to M n asi n o u s ( M n e si l e o s) fo r Po l l u x . Fu r t h e r d i sco rd was c re ate d w h e n Casto r an d Po l l u x b e l i e ve d t h e m se l ve s c h e ate d o u t o f a sh are o f sto l e n c at t l e t ak e n by t h e fo u r co u si n s. To g e t t h e i r sh are, t h e D i o sc u r i d e c i d e d to t ak e t h e h e rd o f Id as an d Lu n ce u s. Casto r an d Po l l u x t h o u g h we re

c au g ht i n the a c t a nd a f i g ht b rok e out. Id as k i l l e d Ca stor d u r i n g t h e fight, an d Po l l u x k il l ed Ly n ce u s; Zeus then i nte r ve n e d, str ik ing d e ad Id as. ​ e ar t b ro ken at the H d e at h o f h is brother, Po l l u x i m pl ored Ze u s to m a k e Casto r i m m or ta l, an d e ve nt ua l l y Ze u s agre ed to the re qu e st, and so Casto r an d Pol l ux we re t ran s for m ed i nto t h e G em ini co n ste l l ation. To b al an ce the co sm o s t h ough the D i o sc u r i woul d onl y b e i n t h e heavens h al f o f t h e yea r, a nd t h e o t h e r six m onths wo u l d b e spent in t h e U n d e r wor l d. https://w w w. greek legend sandmyths.com/ castor-and-pollux.html

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Classifieds

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History of June Shared By :High Priestess, Gloriana danu

Ju no i s t he a nci ent R oman g o d d es s of ma r r i a g e a nd child b i r t h. An d t h e month o f J un e i s s t i ll a pop ula r mo nt h fo r wed di ng s to d ay ! As a nat ura l ex tens i o n o f mar r i a g e, J un o wa s als o t h e g o d d es s o f child b i r t h. An o t her inter p ret at i o n o f t he or igin s o f “Jun e” s ays that t h e n a me came f ro m t h e L at i n juven i s, “ yo un g people,” wh o were celeb rated at this ti me. Ju no, i n R o ma n religio n, wa s t he chief g o d d es s a nd female co unter p a r t of Ju p i ter, s i mi la r to the relat i o ns h i p

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b e t we e n t h e Gre e k H e ra an d Ze u s. Pe r h ap s n o t su r p r i si n g l y gi ve n h e r ro l e o f p ro te c to r o f wo m e n an d c h i l d re n , t h i s p owe r f u l qu e e n o f t h e g o d s was al so co n si d e re d t h e f i e rce p ro te c to r an d sp e c i al co u n se l o r o f t h e st ate an d a g u ard i an an g e l war n i n g t h o se i n t i m e s o f d an g e r.

June Calendar J u n e 5 i s Wo r l d E nv i ro n m e nt D ay— a d ay m e ant to rai se e nv i ro n m e nt al aware n e ss ac ro ss t h e g l o b e. • J u n e 1 4 i s Fl ag D ay ( U. S . ) . B e su re to rai se t h e f l ag ! • J u n e 1 9 i s J u n e te e nt h ( al so k n ow n as Fre e d o m D ay o r E m an c i p at i o n D ay ) . O n t h i s d ay i n 1 8 6 5 , U n i o n G e n e ral G o rd o n Gran g e r re ad t h e E m an c i p at i o n Pro c l am at i o n al o u d i n G al ve sto n , Tex as, e f fe c t i ve l y l i b e rat i n g e n sl ave d p e o p l e i n t h e st ate, w h i c h h ad t h u s f ar b e e n b e yo n d

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co nt ro l of the U n i o n Ar my. J u n e 1 9 is a l so Fat h e r ’s Day t h i s ye a r. J u n e 2 1 is the su m m e r sol stice, w h i c h hera l ds the st ar t o f sum m er i n t h e Nor ther n H e m i sphere. I t ’s t h e d ay w ith the m o st h our s of d ay l i g ht, so enjoy! I n t h e S outher n H e m i sphere, w i nte r begins at t h i s t i me. J u n e 2 1 is N at i o n al I n d i g e nous Peopl es D ay (Cana da ). Th i s h o l iday is m e ant to rem ind Can ad i a ns of the co nt r i b utions of t h e m any Fir st N at i o n s, M étis, an d I n uit peopl es. J u n e 2 4 br ings M i d su m m er Day, t rad i t i ona l l y the m i d p o i nt of the grow i n g sea son, h al f way bet ween p l ant i n g a nd h ar ve sting. I t is ce l e b rated in m a ny

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History of June Continued cult ures o n t h e nig ht o f Jun e 23, as M i d s ummer Eve.

Cutyourthistlesbefore St. John [June 24], Youwillhavetwoinstead of one. “Just for Fun” Days

Here a re mo re f un thing s to celeb rate this Jun e: • Ju ne 1: S ay S om et hi n g N i ce Day • Ju ne 3: Chi mb o ra zo D ay • Ju ne 6: N at i o n a l Yo -Yo Day • Ju ne 8: U p s y D a i s y Day • Ju ne 21: G o Sk ateb o a rd i ng D ay • Ju ne 30: As tero i d Day June Astronomy The Strawberry Moon: The Year’s First Supermoon

Ju ne’s f ull M o o n , the full St rawb er r y M oon , o ccurs o n Tu esd ay, J un e 14. I t reach es p ea k illu mi nat i o n at

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7 : 5 2 A. M . ( E DT ) t h at m o r n i n g. Th i s f u l l M o o n i s al so t h e f i r st su p e r m o o n o f 2 0 2 2 . June’s Moon Phases • Fi r st Q u ar te r : J u n e 7 , 1 0 : 4 9 A . M . E DT • Fu l l M o o n : J u n e 1 4 , 7 : 5 2 A. M . E DT • Last Q u ar te r : J u n e 2 0 , 1 1 : 1 1 P. M . E DT • New Moon: June 28, 1 0 : 5 3 P. M . E DT

Themonthofleavesandroses, Whenpleasantsightssalute the eyes, Andpleasantscentsthenoses. N. P. Willis

If June be sunny, harvest comes early. Junedampandwarmdoesthe farmer no harm. J u n e’s b i r t h f l owe r s are t h e ro se an d t h e h o n e ysu c k l e. A ro se i n g e n e ral i n d i c ate s l ove o r d e si re. S p e c i f i c ro se s m ay re l ate o t h e r m e ssag e s.

Fo r ex am pl e, a w h i te ro se m ay m e an “si l ence” or “n e w b e gi nnings,” w h i l e a ye l l ow rose si gn i f i e s “ jea l ousy.” Th e h o n e ysuc k l e d e n o te s t he bonds of l ove, o r g e nerous a nd d e vo te d a ffec tion. J u n e’s b i r thstone is g e n e ral l y considered to b e t h e Pea r l, a s we l l as Al exa ndr ite an d M o o n stone. Pe ar l s are a ssoc iated w i t h p u r i t y, honest y, an d c al m ness. I f you d re am o f a pea r l r i n g, ex p ec t rom a nce.

Ah,happyday,refusetogo! Hang in the heavens forever so! Foreverinmidafternoon, Ah, happy day of happy June! Harriet Elizabeth Prescott Spofford

https://w w w.almanac.com/ content/month-june -holidaysfun-fac ts-folk lore

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History of Morris Dancing Shared By :High Priestess, R avensThorn

M o r r i s d an ce r s by t h e G o l d sm i t h s’ Co m p any i n Lo n d o n .

M or r i s d a nce i s a for m o f E ng li s h folk d a n ce us ua lly accom p a ni ed by mus ic. I t is ba s ed o n r hythm i c s tep p i ng and th e execut i o n of choreo gra p h ed figure s by a gro up of d an cers, us ua lly wear ing b ell p a d s on thei r s h i n s. I mple ment s s uch a s s ticks, s wo rd s a n d hand kerch i efs m ay als o b e wi eld ed by the d a ncers. The ea r li es t k nown and s ur v i v i ng E ng li s h wr itte n ment i o n of M o r r i s d a n ce i s d ated to 1448, a nd record s t h e p ay m ent of s even s hi lli ng s to

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Fu r t h e r m e nt i o n s o f M o r r i s d an c i n g o cc u r i n t h e l ate 1 5 t h ce nt u r y, an d t h e re are al so e ar l y re co rd s su c h as v i si t i n g b i sh o p s‘ “ Vi si t at i o n Ar t i c l e s” m e nt i o n swo rd d an c i n g, g u i si n g an d o t h e r d an c i n g ac t i v i t i e s, as we l l as m u m m i n g p l ays. Wh i l e t h e e ar l i e st re co rd s i nvar i ab l y m e nt i o n “M o r ys” i n a co u r t se t t i n g, an d a l i t t l e l ate r i n t h e Lo rd M ayo r s’ Pro ce ssi o n s i n Lo n d o n , i t h ad ad o p te d t h e n at u re o f a fo l k d an ce p e r fo r m e d i n t h e p ar i sh e s by t h e m i d 1 7 t h ce nt u r y.

m o o r i sk e da nse Co m p arabl e ter m s in o t h e r l an gua ges a re G e r m an M or isk enta nz Fre n c h m or isq ues, Cro at i an m orešk a , an d m o re s co, m o re sc a or m or isc a i n I t al y and Spa in. Th e m o d e r n spel l ing M o r r i s- d an ce fir st ap p e ar s i n the 1 7 t h ce nt u r y.

I t i s u n c l e a r w hy t h e d an ce wa s so n am e d, “u nl ess i n re fe re n ce to f ant ast i c da nc ing o r co st u m es”, i . e. t h e d e l iberatel y “exo t i c ” f l avour of t h e p e r fo r m a nce.

Name and origins Th e n am e i s f i r st re co rd e d i n t h e m i d 1 5 t h ce nt u r y as M o r i sk d an ce, m o re ys d au n ce, m o r i sse d au n ce, i . e. “M o o r i sh d an ce”.

Th e E n g l i sh da nce t h u s ap p arentl y aro se as pa r t of a w i d e r 1 5 t h- centur y Eu ro p e an fa shion fo r su p p o sedl y “M o o r i sh” sp e c t ac l e, w hic h al so l e f t t ra ces in S p an i sh an d I ta l ia n fo l k d an ce.

Th e te r m e nte re d E n g l i sh v i a Fl e m i sh

Th e m e an s a nd c h ro n o l o gy of

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History of Morris Dancing Continued the tra ns mi s s i o n of thi s f a s h i o n i s now d i f f i cult to trace; t h e G reat Lond on C hro ni cle record s “s p a n g led Spani s h d a ncers” per fo r m i n g a n energet i c d a n ce before H en r y V I I at Chr is t ma s o f 1494, but H ero n’s a cco unt s als o m ent i o n “pleyi n g o f t he mou r i ce d a n ce” four d ays ea r li er, a n d the attes t at i o n o f t he English ter m f ro m the mi d -15t h cent ur y establi s h es t hat t h ere was a “M o o r i s h d ance” p er fo r m ed in Eng la nd d eca d es pr ior to 1494. I t is sug g es ted t hat the tra d i t i o n o f rura l English d a ncers blackeni n g t h ei r f a ces may b e a referen ce to the M o o rs, mi ners, or a d i s g ui s e wo r n by d ancin g b eg g a rs. History in England

While t he ea r li es t refere nces p la ce the M o r r i s d a nce i n a cour t ly s et t i n g,

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i t ap p e ar s t h at t h e d an ce b e c am e p ar t o f p e r fo r m an ce s fo r t h e l owe r c l asse s by t h e l ate r 1 6 t h ce nt u r y ; i n 1 6 0 0 , t h e S h ak e sp e are an ac to r Wi l l i am K e m p e, M o r r i s d an ce d f ro m Lo n d o n to N o r w i c h , an e ve nt c h ro n i c l e d i n h i s N i n e D ai e s Wo n d e r.

an d E n g l and, a nd it h as b e e n suggested t h at m u c h of w hat i s n ow co nsidered t rad i t i o n al E ngl ish fo l k d an ce, a nd e sp e c i al l y E ngl ish co u nt r y d ance, is d e sce n d e d from I t al i an d ances i m p o r te d in the 1 6 t h ce nt ur y.

Al m o st n o t h i n g i s k n ow n ab o u t t h e fo l k d an ce s o f E n g l an d p r i o r to t h e m i d - 1 7 t h ce nt u r y.

B y t h e m i d 1 7 th ce nt u r y, t he wor k ing p e asant r y took p ar t i n M or r is d an ce s, e s pec ia l l y at Wh i t su n .

Wh i l e i t i s p o ssi b l e to sp e c u l ate o n t h e t ran si t i o n o f “M o r r i s d an c i n g” f ro m t h e co u r t l y to a r u ral se t t i n g, i t m ay h ave acq u i re d e l e m e nt s o f p re - E l i zab e t h an ( m e d i e val ) fo l k d an ce, su c h p ro p o sal s w i l l al ways b e b ase d o n an arg u m e nt f ro m si l e n ce as t h e re i s n o d i re c t re co rd o f w h at su c h e l e m e nt s wo u l d h ave l o o k e d l i k e. I n t h e E l i zab e t h an p e r i o d, t h e re was si gn i f i c ant c u l t u ral co nt ac t b e t we e n I t al y

Th e Pu r i t an g ove r n m e nt of Ol iver Cro mwe l l, however, su p p re sse d Whitsun Al e s an d other su c h fe st i vities. Wh e n t h e c row n was re sto red by Ch ar l e s II, the sp r i n g t i m e festiva l s we re re stored. I n p ar t i c u la r, Wh i t su n Al es c a m e to b e ce l e brated o n Wh i t sunday ( Pe nte co st), as t h e d ate coinc ided

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History of Morris Dancing Continued with t h e b i r t hd ay o f Char le s I I . M or r i s d a nci ng contin ued i n popu la r i t y unt i l t h e ind us t r i a l revo lut i o n and its a cco mp a ny i ng s ocial ch a n g es. Four tea m s cla i m a contin uo us li nea g e of trad i t i o n wi t hi n their v i lla g e o r town : Abingd o n (t h ei r M or r i s tea m wa s kept g o i ng by t he Hemm i n g s f a mi ly ), Bamp to n , H ea d i ng to n Q u ar r y, a n d Chipp i n g Ca mp d en . O ther v i lla g es have revived t h ei r own trad iti o ns, a n d hu nd red s o f o t her teams a cro s s t h e g lobe h ave a d o p ted (and ad a p ted ) these t ra d i t i o n s, o r have created t h ei r own s t y les f ro m t h e bas ic b ui ld i n g b lo cks of M o r r i s s tep p i ng and fi g ures. Howe ver by t he late 19th cent ur y, a nd i n the Wes t Co unt r y at

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l e ast, M o r r i s d an c i n g was f ast b e co m i n g m o re a l o c al m e m o r y t h an an ac t i v i t y. D ’Arc y Fe r r i s ( o r d e Fe r rar s) , a Ch e l te n h am b ase d si n g e r, m u si c te ac h e r an d o rg an i se r o f p ag e ant s, b e c am e i nt r i g u e d by t h e t rad i t i o n an d so u g ht to re v i ve i t. H e f i r st l y e n co u nte re d M o r r i s i n B i d fo rd an d o rg an i se d i t s re v i val. O ve r t h e fo l l ow i n g ye ar s h e to o k t h e si d e to se ve ral p l ace s i n t h e We st Co u nt r y, f ro m M al ve r n to B i ce ste r an d f ro m R e d d i tc h to M o re to n i n M ar sh . B y 1 9 1 0 , h e an d Ce c i l S h ar p we re i n co r re sp o n d e n ce o n t h e su b j e c t. S e ve ral E n g l i sh fo l k l o r i st s we re re sp o n si b l e fo r re co rd i n g an d re v i v i n g t h e t rad i t i o n i n t h e e ar l y 2 0 t h ce nt u r y, o f te n f ro m a b are h an d f u l o f su r v i v i n g members of mid-19thce nt u r y v i l l ag e si d e s. Am o n g t h e se, t h e

m o st n o t a bl e a re Ce c i l S h ar p, M a ud K ar p e l e s, a nd M ar y N e al. B ox i n g D ay 1 8 9 9 is w i d e l y re ga rded a s t h e st ar t i ng point for t h e M o r r i s reviva l. Ce c i l S h ar p wa s v i si t i n g at a fr iend ’s h o u se i n Hea dington, n e ar Ox fo rd, w hen t h e H e ad i n gton Q u ar r y M or r is side ar r i ve d to per for m . S h ar p was intr igued by t h e m usic a nd co l l e c te d severa l t u n e s f ro m the side’s m u si c i an , Wil l ia m K i m b e r ; n ot until ab o u t a d e c a de l ater, h owe ve r, did he b e gi n co l l ec ting the d an ce s, spur red a nd at f i r st ass isted by M ar y N e al, a founder o f t h e E spéra nce C l ub ( a d re ssm a k ing co - o p e rat i ve a nd c l u b fo r young wo r k i n g wom en i n Lo n d o n ), a nd H e r b e r t M a c I l wa ine, m u si c al d irec tor of t h e E sp é ra nce C l ub.

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History of Morris Dancing Continued Neal wa s lo o k i ng fo r d a n ce s fo r h e r gi r l s to p e r fo r m , an d so t h e fir st reviva l p er fo r m a n ce wa s by yo u n g wo m e n in Lon d o n . I n the f i rs t few d eca d es o f t h e 2 0 t h ce nt u r y, se ve ral m e n’s si d e s were for med, a nd i n 1934 t he M o r r i s R i n g was fo u n d e d by si x re v i val sides. I n the 1950s a nd es p eci al l y t h e 1 9 6 0 s, t h e re was an ex p l o si o n of new d ance tea ms, s o m e o f t he m wo m e n’s o r m i xe d si d e s. At the t i me, t h ere wa s o f te n h e ate d d e b ate ove r t h e p ro p r i e t y and even legitim a c y o f wo men d a n c i n g t h e M o r r i s, e ve n t h o u g h t h e re i s e vidence as far b a ck a s t h e 16t h ce nt u r y t h at t h e re we re fe m al e M o r r i s d ancer s. There a re now ma le, fema l e an d m i xe d si d e s to b e fo u n d. Par tly b eca us e wo men’s a n d m i xe d si d e s we re n o t e l i gi b l e fo r full m em b ers h i p o f t h e M o r r i s R i n g, t wo o t h e r n at i o n al ( an d inter n at i o n a l) b o d i es were fo r m e d, t h e M o r r i s Fe d e rat i o n an d O pen M o r r i s. All three b o d i es p rov i d e co m m u n i c at i o n , ad v i ce, i n su ran ce, ins truc t i o na ls (tea chi n g s e ssi o n s) an d so c i al an d d an c i n g oppor t uni t i es to t hei r m e m b e r s. Th e t h re e b o d i e s co - o p e rate o n som e iss ues, wh i le m a i nt a i n i n g t h e i r d i st i n c t i d e nt i t i e s. https://open-mor r is.org/mor r is- dancing/

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Tarot of the Month Justice

Keywords UPRIG H T: Jus t i ce, fair ne s s, t rut h , ca us e and ef fec t, law RE VER S E D : Unfai r n es s, la ck of acco unt a b i li t y, d ishon es t y DESCRIPTION The fi g ure o f Jus t i ce s its in f ro nt o f a loos ely h un g p ur p le veil, s i gn i f y i ng compa s s i o n , a n d bet ween t wo p i lla rs, s imila r to t ho s e framing The H i g h Pr iestes s a n d The H iero p h a nt, wh i ch s ymbo li ze b a la nce, law and s t ruc t ure. She h o ld s a s wo rd in her r i g ht ha n d, s howi ng t h e lo gi ca l, well- ord ered m i n d s et necess a r y to d i s p en s e

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f ai r j u st i ce. Th e swo rd p o i nt s u pward s – ex p re ssi n g a f i r m an d f i n al d e c i si o n – an d t h e d o u b l e - e d g e d b l ad e si gn i f i e s t h at o u r ac t i o n s al ways c ar r y co n se qu e n ce s.

t h e gre ate r good o f o t h e r s, you have n o t h i n g to wor r y ab o u t. H owever, if yo u h ave n’t, you w il l b e c al l e d out a nd m ad e to ow n up to yo u r ac t i ons.

Th e sc al e s i n h e r l e f t ( i nt u i t i ve ) h an d, sh ow i nt u i t i o n m u st b al an ce t h at l o gi c an d are a sy m b o l o f h e r i m p ar t i al i t y. J u st i ce we ar s a c row n w i t h a sm al l squ are o n i t re p re se nt i n g we l l o rd e re d t h o u g ht s, an d a re d ro b e w i t h a gre e n m ant l e. A l i t t l e w h i te sh o e p o p s o u t f ro m b e n e at h h e r c l o t h i n g as a re m i n d e r o f t h e sp i r i t u al co n se q u e n ce s o f yo u r ac t i o n s.

I f t h i s h as you sh ak i n g i n your b o o t s, k n ow that the J u st i ce c ard isn’t a s b l ac k an d w hite a s yo u m ay t h ink . A l e ve l o f com pa ssion an d u n d e rsta nding acco m p any J ustice, an d al t h o ugh you m ay h ave done so m e t h i n g you re gre t, t h i s c a rd su g g e st s that you w il l b e t re ate d fa ir l y a nd w i t h o u t b i a s.

Upright Th e J u st i ce c ard re p re se nt s j u st i ce, f ai r n e ss, t r u t h an d t h e l aw. Yo u are b e i n g c al l e d to acco u nt fo r yo u r ac t i o n s an d w i l l b e j u d g e d acco rd i n g l y. I f yo u h ave ac te d i n al i gn m e nt w i t h yo u r H i g h e r S e l f an d fo r

B e re ad y to ta k e re sp o n si b i l it y for yo u r ac t i ons a nd st an d accounta bl e fo r t h e e n suing co n se q u e n ces. I f yo u se e k justice, t h e n t h e J ustice c a rd i s a p o si t i ve sign t h at i t w i l l indeed be se r ve d. You m ay be p ar t o f a l ega l c a se o r awai t i n g fina l

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Tarot of the Month Justice jud g em ent f ro m t h e cou r t s o r a g over ni n g bod y o r i n s t i t ut i o n. A ru ling wi ll b e p a s s ed d own s ho r t ly. O nce the d eci s i o n i s m a d e, you m us t a ccep t i t and move o n; t here are no ret r i a ls o r s econd cha n ces with t he up r i g ht Ju s tice ca rd. The Ju s t i ce ca rd of ten a p p ea rs wh en you n eed to m a ke an im p o r t a nt ch o i ce with t he p o tent i a l for lo n g -ter m repercus s i o ns. B e aware o f t he i m p a c t you r d eci s i o n s wi ll have o n yo ur wellbeing a nd t h e wellbeing o f o t hers. Choose co n s ci o us ly by co nnec t i n g with yo ur i n ner g uid an ce s ys tem (your i nt ui t i o n) and a s k i ng fo r t h e answer t hat i s m o s t in align m ent wi t h the hi g h es t g o o d o f all. B e rea d y to s t a nd by yo ur d eci s i o ns as you wi ll b e held to acco unt fo r t he

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c h o i ce s yo u m ak e. Yo u n e e d to ask yo u r se l f,

“DoIstandbymydecisions andaccepttheconsequencesof my actions?” I f yo u c an n o t, t h e n d i g d e e p e r, p l u n gi n g i nto t h e sh ad ows o f w h at i s r i g ht an d w ro n g, u nt i l yo u f i n d t h e p l ace w h e re yo u c an st an d i n i nte gr i t y an d st re n g t h . At i t s co re, J u st i ce i s ab o u t t h e se arc h fo r t r u t h . As yo u ex p l o re yo u r t r u t h , yo u w i l l d i scove r t h at t h i n g s are n o t as c l e ar- c u t as yo u h ad t h o u g ht. B e p re p are d to d i p i nto t h e m u r k y wate r s an d ex p l o re w h at t r u t h m e an s to yo u. B e co n sc i o u sl y aware o f w h at yo u b e l i e ve to b e t r u e an d w h at yo u b e l i e ve to b e f ai r an d e t h i c al. I t m ay n o t b e as c l e ar- c u t as yo u t h i n k , so p re p are to c h al l e n g e yo u r se l f an d to ex p l o re n e w te r r i to r i e s o f yo u r b e l i e f syste m . Reversed J u st i ce R e ve r se d

c an su g g e st that i nte r n al l y, you k n ow yo u’ve done so m e t h i n g that isn’t m o ral l y r i ght. O t h e r s m ay not see i t ye t, so you have a c h o i ce : you c a n h i d e i t an d hope n o - o n e f i n ds out, o r yo u c an ow n up to yo u r m ista k es an d t ak e foc used ac t i o n to resol ve the si t u at i o n . Whic hever yo u c h o o se, you w il l n e e d to l i ve w ith the co n se q u e n ces on your co n sc i e n ce, so go w i t h w h at feel s r ight fo r yo u. S i m i l ar l y, J ustice R e ve r se d s uggests t h at yo u a re not w i l l i n g to ta k e ful l acco u nt abil it y for yo u r ac t i ons a nd m ay t r y to ‘dodge t h e b u l l e t ’ a nd b l am e o t h er s for yo u r m i st ak es. Yo u are b e ing d i sh o n e st w ith yo u r se l f a nd o t h e r s – and your u nw i l l i n gness to l ook

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Tarot of the Month Justice beyon d yo ur own fears a n d eg o b li n d s you to t he b ro a d er less on . As s es s yo ur s ituati o n o n ce m o re, this ti me i ntend i n g to d is cover where you c a n a ccep t res po n s i b i li t y. O nce yo u ack nowled g e wh ere you m a d e a mi s t a ke, d o wh atever yo u can to m a ke i t r i g ht ag ain . I n d o i ng s o, you w i ll f ree yo urs elf from a ny g ui lt o r s ham e a nd emp ower you rself to m a ke better d eci s i o n s.

we al l m ak e m i st ak e s. Th an k yo u r i n n e r c r itic fo r b r i n gi n g t h i s p r i vate j u d g e m e nt to your co n sc i o u s aware n e ss, an d t r u st yo u c an now c l e ar i t away. I f yo u are m ak i n g an i m p o r t ant d e c i si on that w i l l i m p ac t o t h e r s, b e aware i f yo u are hol ding o n to any p re j u d i ce o r b i as t h at co u l d sway your d e c i si o n u n f ai r l y. Yo u m ay n e e d to so u rce m ore i n fo r m at i o n to m ak e a b al an ce d d e c i si on or shine t h e l i g ht o n yo u r ow n p e r so n al j u d g e m ents. I f yo u are e n g ag e d i n a l e g al m at te r, you m ay fe ar an u n f ai r o u tco m e, o r d i sp u te t h e fina l j u d g e m e nt, c al l i n g i nto qu e st i o n t h e lega l p ro ce ss. Th e re m ay b e l e g al co m p l i c ations or so m e t h i n g t h at i m p e d e s j u st i ce b e i n g ser ved. https://w w w.biddytarot.com/tarot- card-meanings/major-arcana/ justice/

When Jus t i ce i s revers ed, i t ca n ind icate yo ur i nner cr itic i s i n f ull effec t. Yo u m ay b e evaluat i n g yo ur ever y m ove a nd comin g d own h a rd on yours elf when you m i s s tep. I f t hi s res on ates, s t a r t f ro m a place o f fo rgi venes s and s elf -a ccep t a nce. Show yo urs elf a bit of k i n d nes s a nd compa s s i o n, k nowi n g

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Oracle of the Month Spirit of Nature Oracle N ative S pir it Wisdom:

Almost ever y indigenous culture recounts stor ies of fair ies, of ten called little people, and nature spir its. Although some of the fair ies ac t in protec tion of their wildlands and should be treated with care and respec t, most of ten they br ing blessings and light to all in the room. I f this Nature Spir it card chooses you, then welcome to a wellspr ing of joy and magic. B eneath the sur face, mystical inter ventions are occur r ing in your life. R elax. All is well.

The Jour ney :

M e aning :

Joy, the light, peaks of carefree abandon. Living wildly, magically, and free. B e open to the wonders of the universe flooding into your life. I nnocence and delight are abounding. Happiness is on its way!

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Even tak ing a few moments of stillness in the natural wor ld can help you attune to the wor ld of the little people and nature spir its. I f you see a small flash of light or a movement of a leaf on a windless day, these are of ten signs that the wee folk are near.

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Witchy DIY Foraged Fairy Ladder/Trellis I t ’s the s ea s o n o f f a i r i es, an d n o t h i n g d e l i g ht s t h e i n n e r c h i l d m ore tha n playin g wi t h t h e wo o d la n d sp i r i t s. This on e i s s o ea s y, i t ’s a l m o st se l f - ex p l an ato r y. Literally: G lue s o m e s t i cks to g et h e r. Yu p. Th at ’s i t. I f you wa nt to g et f a n c y, ad d l i t t l e b i t s o f sh e e t m o ss to g e t t h at a gedin-the - g a rd en feel. You c a n even t ra i n ro s es o r h e r b s to grow o n i t.

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Witchy DIY Fairy Door Things you will need. • • • • • • • •

Popsicle st ick s Craf t in g paint. H ot glue gun an d st icks. Unf in ish ed n at ural wo o d s l ices. L- bracket s Foraged st icks. Sheet mo ss. O d ds an d en ds fo r deco rat ing (beads, pineco nes, do l l ho u s e w reath, wh atever).

Step 1 •

Lay 5 po p sicle st icks len gt hw is e to g ether. M ak e s u re there are no g aps. Pl a ce 2 s ti ck s cro sswise as p ic t ure bel ow and g l u e the c ro s s w is e s tic k s in pl ace.

Step 2 •

Af ter t h e h o t glue co o ls com pl etel y, paint the do o r. I u s ed s everal l ayer s o f di fferent co lo rs to ach ieve a m o re dim ens io nal, tex tu red l o o k . I t ’s o k ay to b e s loppy! I ac t ually lik e it to be a l ittl e haphazard. Lo o k s a l ittl e m o re r u s t i c that way.

Step 3 •

G lue t h e fo raged st ick s o nto the par t o f the c ro s s w is e po ps ic l e s tic k s th at s t i c k ou t. K eep addin g st ick s until the pro tr u ding po ps ic l e s tic k s are co m pl ete l y cove re d.

Step 4 •

M ake t h e st airs. Ho t glue 2 pieces o f natu ral wo o d s l ices o n to p o f eac h o t h e r, s li ght ly o f f center. I like to u s e a s l ig htl y s m al l er o ne fo r the to p s tep.

H ot glue t h e st airs to t h e do o r w ith an l -brac k et. Yo u c an dr il l the l -bra c k e t i nto the st air, b ut I fo un d it wa s n’t neces s ar y and it was way eas ier to j u s t u se g l ue

Step 5 •

Add b it s o f sh eet mo ss in the c rev ices o f the s tic k s to hide any rem ainin g p o p s i c l e s ti ck t h at sh ows t h ro ugh . Yo u c an al s o add pineco nes, g l itter, beads, w h ate ve r you want.

Step 6

Thi s i s t h e f un par t ! Use yo ur im aginatio n to deco rate the do o r.

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Witchy DIY Beehive Garden Decoration Supplies for the Bee Skep ( Hive ) : • A f lower p o t. M ea s ure s 6 . 2 5 ” D i am e te r x 5 . 6 2 5 “ t al l. • 4 p a ck a g es o f J ute R op e. A t h i c k e r si ze i s re qu i re d. E ac h p ac k a ge m ea s ures 9. 5 f t. • Ho t G lue St i cks. G lui n g o nto a p l ast i c f l owe r p o t to h e l p k e e p its fo r m m a d e m e t h i n k I m ay n e e d ex t ra h o l d. • Bl a ck Acr y li c Cra f t Pai nt. Use d to m ak e t h e f au x “ h o l e” i n t he bee hi ve. • Brus h to a d d t h e p a i nt. D o n’t c h o o se to o l arg e a b r u sh fo r this s ma ller a rea a s yo u do n’t want t h e p ai nt o n t h e o u t si d e r i n g jute. • S ci s s o rs. To cut t h e j u te. • H o t G lue G un. You wa nt to g lue “s lowly ” an d c are f u l l y n o t to b u r n yo u r f i n g e rs... but i t d o es s o m et i mes h ap p e n as yo u ad d t h e j u te. Tak e yo u r tim e. You d o n’t wa nt to g lue to o t h i c k l y a b e ad t h at i t sh ows u p o n the jute front. Ca ref ully a d d t he j u te g o i n g aro u n d t h e p o t. You r n ex t rows wi ll b e gl u e d c l o se l y to t h e p re v i o u s row. As you m a k e you r way a ro und t h e p ot t ak e yo u r t i m e to p re ss t h e g l u e b e ad on the top of t h e p rev i o us row an d t h e f l owe r p o t. Yo u w i l l g e t a fe e l for it d oi n g s m a ll a rea s at a t i m e. H o t g l u e c an so m e t i m e s se t u p a nd hard en q ui ck ly s o keep t h e are a t h at yo u are g l u i n g as a sm al l sec tion. As you ca n s ee t h ere i s n o “ top” o f t h e p o t so I w i l l b e m ak i n g it by ad d i n g t h e j ute at a b i t o f an an g l e o nto t h e p re v i o u s row as I wor k my way up. Yes, i t ca n be sc ar y n o t k n ow i n g w h e re to p u t t h at da b of g lue a nd j us t how to a n g l e i t. . . b u t t r u st m e. . . yo u w i l l se e an d get the feel o f i t a s yo u b egi n . Tak e yo u r t i m e an d ad d t h e g l u e c are f ul l y. Cut a 12” p i ece o f j ute o f f, m ad e a l o o p an d g l u e d i t d ow n to t he center o f t h e f lower p o t to p. Pu t a d ab o f g l u e i n t h e ce nte r and m a k e a “fo o t ” wi t h t h e b o t to m o f t h e l o o p st ay i n g i n t h e ce nte r.

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Witchy DIY Blessing Besom To ma ke a b les s i n g b ro o m , o r b e so m , yo u’ l l n e e d t h e fo l l ow i n g : • • • • •

A bro o m — ei t her ma ke yo u r ow n , o r p u rc h ase o n e at a c raf t s tore I v y o r v i nes Flowers a n d h er b s f rom yo u r g ard e n R ib b o ns Sma ll b ells

Wrap t he r i b b o n s a n d i v y aro u n d t h e h an d l e o f t h e b ro o m . D o n’t w ra p them to o t i g ht, t h o ug h , b e c au se yo u’ l l want to b e ab l e to t u c k spr igs of her b s a nd f lowers i nto t h e r i b b o n s. O n ce yo u’ve ad d e d al l o f these thing s, t i e a few s ma ll b e l l s o nto t h e b ro o m , so t h at i t w i l l j i n g le a s you sweep. I n ma ny cult u re s, b e l l s are u se d as n o i se m ak e r s to fr ighten away ev i l s p i r i t s a nd n eg at i ve e n e rgi e s. I f you li ke, yo u ca n co n s e c rate yo u r b l e ssi n g b e so m as yo u wo u l d a ny other m a gi ca l to o l. Us e i t to swe e p aro u n d yo u r h o m e, st ar t i n g nea r a wind ow o r a d o o r, a nd wo r k i n g i n a d e o si l, o r c l o c k w i se, d i re c t i on. As you do s o, yo u m ay wi s h to c h ant so m e t h i n g l i k e t h i s:

Sweeping, sweeping, ‘round the room, Blessings from this cleansing broom. From floor to ceiling, and all between, May this space be fresh and clean. Sweeping good energy here to me, As I will, so it shall be.

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Witchy DIY Stone Circle Sundial Stonehenge is one of the wor ld ’s best k nown stone circles, and many researchers have noted that the struc ture fu nc tions as a giant astronomical calendar and sundial. M ost people can’t build a Stonehenge replica in their back yard, but what you can do is create a sundial of your own using stones you’ve found. I f you have children, this is a great scien ce projec t to do, but even if you don’t have k ids, it ’s fasci nating to create your own sundial. I f you can do this around Litha, at M idsummer, you’ll have the per fec t oppor tunit y to recognize the power ful energy of the sun! You’ll need the following items: • A pole or straight stick • S everal large stones • A clock or watch to calibrate your sundial Find a place in your yard that gets sun for most of the day. Although it ’s ideal to do this in the grass of even a patch of dir t, if all you have is a sidewalk or dr iveway, then that ’s fine too. M ount the pole by stick ing it into the dir t. I f you’re mak ing your sundial on a hard sur face like concrete, then use a block of clay or a bucket of soil to secure the pole. Keep an eye on your clock . At each hour, take note of where the pole’s shadow falls, and mar k the spot with a stone. I f you star t this projec t in the mor ning, you’ll be able to mar k most of the daytime spots—if you star t later in the day, you may have to come back the nex t mor ning to figure out where your mor ning hours are. To tell the time with your sundial, look for the pole’s shadow. Whe re it falls bet ween the stones will give you the time.

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Celebrations Litha

Shared By : High Priestess, Gloriana Danu Lu g h n asad h o n Au g u st 1 st ( t h e f i r st h ar ve st ) . Fro m Li t h a, t h e d ays b e co m e grad u al l y sh o r te r u nt i l Yu l e w h e n t h e d ays b e gi n to grow ste ad i l y l o n g e r ag ai n . What is Litha? L itha, a ls o k nown as M i d s um m er o r Summ er S o ls t i ce (bet ween Jun e 20th a n d Jun e 23rd ea ch yea r) mar ks t he lo n g es t d ay o f t h e yea r i n t h e nor th er n h em i s p here (for tho s e i n the s o ut her n hemisp h ere, it ’s your Wi nter S olsti ce), i t a ls o mar ks a n i m p o r t a nt transi t i o n p o i nt i n Ear th’s s ea s o na l c ycle. I t ’s a t i m e when fer t i le energ y is at i t s p ea k , a nd a ll aroun d us, new li fe is rap i d ly growi n g. O n th e Wheel o f t he Year, t hi s ma r ks t h e time when t h e s eed s have b een s own and b egi n to grow in abund a n ce unt i l

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Li t h a i s t y p i c al l y a b r i g ht an d exc i t i n g ce l e b rat i o n . I t ce l e b rate s t h e grow i n g c ro p s, t h e S u n , ab u n d an ce, an d t h e f i r st d ay o f S u m m e r ! Where does Litha come from?

Th e re i s so m e d e b ate re g ard i n g t h e o r i gi n s o f Li t h a. Th e re i s h owe ve r e v i d e n ce to su p p o r t t h e p rac t i ce o f a M i d su m m e r r i t u al i n m any c u l t u re s. Th e Ce l t i c s h e l d b o n f i re s o n h i g h h i l l to p s to ce l e b rate t h e d i st an ce b e t we e n t h e e ar t h an d t h e S u n ( si n ce i t i s at i t s h i g h e st p o i nt ) . Th e y wo u l d g at h e r aro u n d t h e se f i re s an d si n g an d d an ce. Th e

Ce l t s al so used this t i m e to re cognize t h e G o d d e ss Aine, t h e g o d d ess of l ove, su m m e r, s overeignt y, an d fe r t i l i t y. Th e R o m ans used t h i s t i m e to cel ebrate J u n o – t h e w ife of J u p i te r. S he wa s re co gn i ze d a s the g o d d e ss of wom en, c h i l d b i r t h , a nd fe r t i l i t y. Vesta wa s al so wo r sh iped p o p u l ar l y at this t i m e, b e i ng a s she was t h e g oddess of h e ar t h , h om e, a nd f am i l y. B e ca use of co u r se, w h at coul d b e m o re a bunda nt an d b r i g ht tha n l a rge f am i l i e s b a c k then? Th e E ar l y Europea ns to o k a m o re sym bol ic ap p ro ac h to their m i d su m m e r r itua l s. Th e y se t a l ight l a rge w h e e l s an d rol l ed t h e m d ow nhil l. At t h e b o t to m of the h i l l, t h e wheel woul d ro l l i nto a body o f wate r. There is m u c h sp e cul ation

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Celebrations Litha Continued

as to t h e p ur p o s es behin d t h i s t ra d i t i o n, but th e wi n ni n g theor y o f co urs e i s that th e wh eel i s repres ent at i ve o f t he Sun. Th e wh eel t ur n s d own t h e h i ll a n d i s ex tingui s h ed at t he end, j us t a s L i t ha is mar k i n g t h e n ow d ar k ha lf o f t h e yea r. The Eg y p t i a ns, to ou r s p eculat i o ns a n d that of t heo lo gi s t s, positi o n ed t h e pyram i d s s o t h at o n the S o ls t i ce t h e s un cou ld s et exa c t ly bet ween t h em . We s ee a s i m i la r occu r ren ce wi t h anoth er mys ter i o us s truc t ure, Stoneheng e. At Stoneheng e, t he li g ht falls di rec t ly o nto the center s to ne o n the so ls t i ce. Th e M ayan s a ls o ha d s imila r s t ruc t ures und ergro und t h at only h a d li g ht filtere d t hro ug h i n a cer tai n way o n the s o ls t i ce.

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What is the folklore behind Litha?

I n m o d e r n t i m e s, M i d su m m e r i s o f te n l o o k e d at t h ro u g h t h e l e n s o f Wi cc a o r o t h e r N e o - p ag an p at h s. I n t h e p ast, fo l k l o re was o f te n re l ate d to ve r y sp e c i f i c G o d s an d G o d d e sse s an d my t h s t h at m ay h ave b e e n l o st to t i m e. To d ay t h e fo l k l o re re vo l ve s aro u n d t h e O ak K i n g an d t h e H o l l y K i n g. I n so m e N e o - p ag an p at h s, t h e O ak K i n g an d t h e H o l l y K i n g are t h e r u l e r s o f t h e E ar t h e ac h i n t h e i r ow n h al f o f t h e ye ar. Fro m Yu l e to Li t h a, i t i s sai d t h at t h e O ak K i n g r u l e s. O n Li t h a, t h e t wo b at t l e d fo r t h e c row n an d i t i s t h e n t h at t h e H o l l y K i n g t r i u m p h s. Th e H o l l y K i n g w i l l r u l e t h ro u g h f al l u nt i l Yu l e, an d t h e c yc l e w i l l b e gi n ag ai n . I n t h e Wi cc an p rac t i ce, i t ’s a b i t d e e p e r. Th e O ak K i n g ( Th e G o d ) an d Th e G o d d e ss are at t h e h e i g ht o f t h e i r p owe r, an d t h e G o d d e ss

i s h e av i l y pregna nt. S h e i s f i l l e d w ith the l i fe o f h e r com ing so n j u st as the ea r th i s sow n w ith seeds t h at w i l l soon com e to h ar ve st. O n Li t h a, the au t h o r i t y of the Oa k K i n g i s c h a l l enged as t h e S u n begins to wan e. Th i s is w hen t h e H o l l y K ing w il l b e gi n h i s r ul e. Asi d e f ro m the G od an d G o d d ess at this t i m e, t h o s e w ho wor k w i t h t h e f ae have fo l k l o re too. I t i s sai d that on Li t h a n i g ht the fa e co m e o u t to pl ay t r i c k s o n h um a ns. Li t h a to t h em m ea ns a b at t l e o f da r k a nd l i g ht an d som e of t h e m se e m to feel a b i t m o re misc hievous as a re su l t. Fo l k l o re says that t h e y ’ve e ven dra gged a h u m an or t wo into t h e i r wo r l d on L itha n i g ht. S o if you wor k w i t h t h e f ae, be sure

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Celebrations Litha Continued

to wor k s a fely a nd protec t yo urs elf. Who practices Litha?

G iven t h at L i t h a is the f i rs t d ay o f s umm er a nd ma r ks an im p o r t a nt p a r t o f the ear t h’s c ycle, i t can be p ra c t i ced by anyon e rea lly. The fe s t i va l o f L itha i s a way o f honor i n g t h e fer t i le energy o f n at ure and celeb rat i n g t h e beau t y a nd ma gi c o f ou r nat ura l wo r ld. L itha i s a ls o ca lled Sun M o o n S um m er S olsti ce, wh i ch means t hat t h e d ay of the f ull mo o n i s at its lo n g es t leng t h while t he d ays grow s hor ter. I t is n o t n eces s a r y that th e p ers o n believes i n t h e folk lore b ehi n d L itha o r i n G o d s a n d G od des s es at a ll. The im p o r t a nt thing wi t h L i t h a i s being gratef ul fo r the ab un d a n ce i n you r li fe. As lo ng

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as w h o e ve r w i sh e s to ce l e b rate i s ab l e to b e grate f u l an d ap p re c i ate t h e su n an d m o o n , grow i n g p l ant s, o r t h e i r p l e nt i f u l gro u p o f f r i e n d s an d f am i l y, we l co m e t h e m !

e n e rg y, f i re, l ust, p assi o n , sexua l l ove, st re n g t h , w il l power

What are some correspondences of Litha? Colors:

Ye l l ow – co m m u n i cation, c re at i v i t y, drea m wo r k , h appiness, i nte l l i g e n ce, l e ar n i n g, protec tion, p syc h i c abil it y, the su n , w i l l p ower

Th e co l o r s co m m o n l y asso c i ate d w i t h Li t h a are : g o l d, gre e n , o ran g e, re d, w h i te an d ye l l ow. Th e se are al l co l o r s asso c i ate d w i t h t h e su n , an d t h e E ar t h at t h i s t i m e. G o l d – e n e rg y, p owe r, p ro sp e r i t y, so l ar d e i t i e s, st re n g t h , su cce ss, t h e g o d, t h e su n , w i sd o m Gre e n – ab u n d an ce, c al m i n g, fe r t i l i t y, grow t h , n e w b e gi n n i n g s, p ro sp e r i t y O ran g e – ad ap t ab i l i t y, co m m u n i c at i o n , co u rag e, c re at i v i t y, e n e rg y, o p t i m i sm , su cce ss R e d – an g e r, co u rag e, c re at i v i t y, d e si re,

Wh i te – c l ea nsing, d i v i n at i o n , hea l ing, i n n o ce n ce, pea ce, p ro te c t i o n , tr uth

Element:

Fi re.

Symbols:

B o n f i re, su nw heel s, f l owe r s Deities:

Th e d e i t i es you m i g ht f i n d wor shiped at Li t h a i n c l ude: Fre ya, Fl o ra , Ai n e, H ab ondia , Lu g h , Gre e n M a n, B ast, B r i git, Pa n. E sse nt i al l y, deities asso c i ate d w ith t h e E ar t h , the Sun, fe r t i l i t y, h ea r th, the wo o d l an ds, a nim a l s, an d t h e f ae a re a l l re al l y gre at deities

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Celebrations Litha Continued to reco gn i ze a nd wors h i p at t h i s t i m e. Herbs and Plants:

For H er b s, t h ere are m a ny t hat co uld be us ed at L i t h a s uch a s M ug wo r t, ver vai n, ch a mo mi le, lily, oa k , laven d er, fer n, thy me, d a i s y, and ho neys uck le. St. Jo h ns wo r t i s als o q ui te p o p ula r at L itha d ue to i t b ei n g at the h ei g ht o f i t s flower i n g (a nd t h e s un-li ke f lowers !). Also at L i t ha , f i nd ou t wh at p la nt s a nd her bs a re s a fe a n d availab le, growi ng natu ra lly i n yo ur area. L i t ha i s a n excellent t i me fo r foragi ng, s o d o yo ur res earch a nd s ee what i s o n h a n d. Animals:

Bird s a re a rea lly popu la r a ni ma l at L itha, a s a re s na kes, and p o lli n ato r anima ls. Thi n k b ees and b ut ter f li es ! J us t lik e wi t h t h e h er b s, look aro und. Yo u may fi nd t h at cer t a i n

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an i m al s an d i n se c t s are re al l y ac t i ve at t h i s t i m e, i d e nt i f y t h e m , an d p ay re sp e c t to t h e m as we l l. Crystals:

Th i s i s a gre at t i m e fo r any sto n e s t h at h ave su n e n e rg y. Al so l o o k fo r c r yst al s t h at are o ran g e, g o l d, b row n , re d, gre e n , an d ye l l ow. J u st l i k e t h e co l o r co r re sp o n d e n ce s, t h e se are gre at c r yst al s to u se. Yo u m i g ht t r y e m e ral d, ave nt u r i n e, j ad e, c i t r i n e, to p az, am b e r, o r t i g e r ’s e ye. Th e re are p l e nt y m o re, an d yo u p ro b ab l y al re ad y h ave so m e gre at o n e s o n h an d. Trees:

Tre e s l i k e b i rc h , o ak , e l d e r, l au re l, an d l i n d e n co r re sp o n d w i t h Li t h a. R e m e m b e r al so t h at t re e s are m o re t h an j u st t h e i r t r u n k , t h e y are t h e i r b ar k , l e ave s, t w i g s, an d an i m al i n h ab i t ant s to o. Spellwork:

Li t h a i s a gre at t i m e fo r e m p owe r i n g sp e l l wo r k . S p e l l s fo r h e al i n g, se l f -

grow t h , sel f- l ove, an d p ro te c tion a re a l l gre at c h o ices. I f you b e l i e ve i n l ove spel l s, t h i s i s a g ood tim e fo r t h o se a s wel l. Any f i re ma gic k is gre at at t his tim e to o. B e t h at c a ndl e m agi c k , p ur ifying yo u r to o l s in fl a m es, o r f i re m anifestation sp e l l s, gi ve them a t r y at Li t h a . Personal Correspondences:

Aro u n d t h is tim e, co n si d e r what is i m p o r t ant to you at t h i s t i m e of yea r, or w h at i t i s that you ap p re c i ate.

Is it theWisteria growing on the trees? Thescentofhoneysuckleon the breeze? Long naps in a backyard hammock? What is it about this time of theyearthatbringsyoujoyand makes you feel grateful? https://w w w. outdoorapothecar y.com / litha/

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Celebrations Vestalia

either Romulus or the l e g e n d ar y K i n g N u m a i nt ro d u ce d h e r to arc h ai c R o m e.

Vesta wa s a n a nci ent R oman g o d d es s o f the d o m es t i c a n d civic h ea r t h wh o s e annua l fes t i va l — the Ves t a li a — wa s celeb rated b et ween the 7t h a nd 15t h of Ju ne. The Ves t a li a m a r ked a pau s e i n ever yd ay life as t h e R o m a n s honoured Ves t a a nd pur ifi ed h er s hr i ne. I t was a t i me to comm emo rate t h e benefi t s t h e g o d d es s had b ro ug ht to t he cit y — a nd to ens ure the co nt i nued s afet y a nd wellbeing o f R o m e a nd her p eo p le. Vesta wa s a n I t a li c d eit y who s e cult wa s popu la r i n Po mp ei i and L at i um b efo re

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Acco rd i n g to R o m an my t h o l o g y, Ve st a was t h e t h i rd d au g hte r o f t h e g o d S at u r n u s. U n l i k e h e r si ste r s J u n o an d Ce re s, sh e d i d n o t m ar r y b u t re m ai n e d a v i rgi n . S h e si gn i f i e d t h e l i fe fo rce o f t h e e ar t h ; i t s ‘ v i t al fo rce’ f ro m w h i c h sh e to o k h e r n am e an d w h i c h h e r sac re d f l am e re p re se nte d. Al o n g w i t h t h e Pe n ate s, Ve st a was o n e o f t h e g u ard i an s o f t h e h o m e. S u c h was Ve st a’s d o m e st i c i m p o r t an ce t h at, acco rd i n g to t h e p o e t O v i d sh e l e ant h e r n am e to t h e ve st i b u l e o r e nt ran ce o f t h e R o m an h o u se. B y O v i d ’s t i m e, t h e ve st i b u l e was a h i nte r l an d b e t we e n t h e d o m u s’s f ro nt d o o r an d t h e at r i u m . B u t o r i gi n al l y, t h e ve st i b u l e

was m u c h m ore i m p o r t ant. I t was “at the front o f t h e h o u se” — an d t h e l oc ation o f t h e d o m estic h e ar t h f i re. Th i s h e ar th fire wa s t h e ce nt re of a l l d o m e st i c a c tivit y, b e i n g t h e pr im a r y so u rce o f heat an d l i g ht for the h o u se h o l d — a nd t h e R o m an’s bel ieved Ve st a was its g u ard i an . Eventua l l y, t h e h u b o f dom estic ac t i v i t y — a nd the h e at h f i re — shif ted to t h e at r i um . Ag ai n , by O vid ’s t i m e, t h e atr ium functioned as a p u b l i c re ception ro o m fo r v isitor s. H owe ve r, i nitia l l y, i t was t h e pl a ce w h e re t h e fa m il y co o k e d, wor k ed an d so c i al ised. Eve n w h e n these f u n c t i o n s m oved e l se w h e re in the R o m an h ouse, it re m ai n e d tra ditiona l

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Celebrations Vestalia to leave a n o f fer i ng to Vest a o n a s p eci a l plate o n a low a lt a r in the at r i um . Vesta later b eca m e as s oc i ated wi t h the G reek g o d d es s Hes tia . H es t i a wa s als o a g o d d es s o f t he hear th. B ut Ves t a was m o re t ha n j us t a d ome s t i c g o d d es s. She wa s o ne o f t he t welve D i Co n s entes — the s t ate g o d s whos e s t at ues s to o d in the fo rum. Vesta wa s a ls o t h e g uardi a n o f t he ‘ vital fo rce‘ o f R ome, i t s und y i n g flame. Thi s m a d e Vesta t he p ro tec to r o f the R o ma n s t ate. The Public Cult of Vesta

This sa cred f la m e had — f ro m t he ear lies t t i mes — bur nt i n t h e h ea r t o f the ci t y o f R o m e, i n the s hr i ne o f Ves t a which o ccup i ed t h e s ou th ea s t co r ner o f the Fo rum R o m a n um.

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Th e sh r i n e was n o t a te m p l e as i t was u n co n se c rate d b u t i n ste ad an Ae d e s S ac ra o r sac re d b u i l d i n g. O r i gi n al l y a t h atc h e d h u t w i t h ‘ wal l s wove n f ro m p l i ant w i c k e r,’ Ve st a’s sh r i n e was re b u i l t se ve ral t i m e s, u nt i l i t s l ast i n c ar n at i o n i n t h e l ate re p u b l i c by w h i c h t i m e t h e R o m an s re p l ace d t h e st raw w i t h ‘ro o fs o f b ro n ze.’ Th e sh r i n e was t h e n re l o c ate d to t h e Pal at i n e H i l l by t h e e m p e ro r Au g u st u s. B u t o n e co n st ant was t h e sh ap e. Th e sh r i n e o f Ve st a was al ways a c i rc u l ar b u i l d i n g — acco rd i n g to O v i d, to e m u l ate t h e e ar t h . Th e re was n o st at u e o f Ve st a i n h e r san c t u ar y, b u t i n i t s i n n e r san c t u m , al o n g w i t h t h e sac re d f l am e we re p ar t i c u l ar arc h ai c sac re d o b j e c t s.

O n e was the p al l ad i u m , the ‘p l e d g e o f R om e’s f ate’w h i c h , acco rd i n g to l egend, Ae n e as h ad resc ued f ro m Troy. Th e se co nd wa s the f asc i n u m , a n erec t p h al l u s t hat aver ted e v i l. R o m e’s onl y fe m al e p r i esthood — t h e Ve s ta l Virgins — g u ard e d a nd p ro te c te d the sa c red f l am e an d sa c red o b j e c t s u ntil the ab an d o n ment of the sh r i n e i n 39 4 AD w h e n Ve sta’s r ites — al o n g w i t h other pre Ch r i st i an rel igions — we re b anned by Th e o d o si us I . The Time of the Vestalia

R o m an s o bser ved the Ve st al i a b e t ween the 7 t h an d 1 5th day of J u n e. D u r ing this p e r i o d, t h e R om a ns h o n o u re d Vesta a s t h e g u ard ia n of R om e w i t h ce re m onies a nd p ro ce ssi o n s before p u r i f y i n g her shr ine o n t h e l as t day of t h e fe st i val.

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Celebrations Vestalia Followers co ns i d ered the p er i o d o f t he Vestali a a s nef a s t us or ‘u nluck y.’ They co nd uc ted no pu b li c b us i n es s and celeb rated n o mar r i a g es unt i l t h e fes tiva l wa s over and ‘fi er y Ves t a g leam s wi t h a clean f lo o r,’ a s O vid d es cr i b es t he ac t of p ur i f i cat i o n . From t he 7t h Jun e onwa rd s, wo m en were a llowed to enter t h e i nner s anc t um o f Ves t a to make o f fer i ng s to her. I t was cus to m a r y to appro a ch t h e s hr i ne barefo o t — no t a s a s ign o f h umi li t y b ut in rem em b ra n ce o f the ti m e wh en t h e foru m a rea wa s a marsh t h at ‘n o ne wou ld a p p ro a ch in shoes.‘ Offerings and Processions on 9th June

9th June wa s a d ay o f h o li d ay a n d celeb rat i o n . Fo r o n e

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o f o n l y t h re e t i m e s i n t h e ye ar, t h e ve st al v i rgi n s wo u l d p re p are m o l a sal sa, a sac re d b re ad u se d as an o f fe r i n g to t h e i r g o d d e ss. Th e y m ad e m o l a f ro m sp e l t, g at h e re d o n sp e c i f i c d ays i n M ay, an d m i xe d w i t h sal t an d wate r f ro m t h e sac re d sp r i n g o f J u t u r n a n e ar to Ve st a’s sh r i n e. Th e ve sse l s co nt ai n i n g t h i s wate r we re n o t al l owe d to to u c h t h e gro u n d, to p re se r ve t h e san c t i t y o f t h e l i qu i d. Th i s b re ad was t h e n t ak e n to Ve st a’s i n n e r m o st sh r i n e an d o f fe re d to t h e g o d d e ss al o n g w i t h o i l an d w i n e. Th e y fo r m e d an o f fe r i n g o f t h an k sgi v i n g, co m m e m o rat i n g t h e t i m e o f R o m e’s si e g e by t h e G au l s i n 3 9 0 B C w h e n Ve st a save d t h e c i t y by m ak i n g t h e c i t y ’s ‘d w i n d l i n g co r n ap p e ar p l e nt i f u l.’ I n t h e c i t y i t se l f, t h e d ay was a h o l i d ay

— at l e ast for R o m e’s m i l l er s a nd b ak e r s. D onk eys g ar l an d e d w ith v i o l e t s an d l oaves o f b re ad h ea ded t h e p ro ce s sions i n h o n o u r of the g o d d e ss, w hil e ‘c h ai n s o f fl ower s’ ad o r n e d t heir ab an d o n e d m i l l w h e e ls. Acco rd i n g to O vid, b ak e r s h ad the day o f f b e c au s e, in the e ar l y d ays of R om e, b re ad was ba k ed — n o t i n ove ns — but t h e sac re d a shes of t h e h e ar t h — Vesta’s d o m ai n , ‘ hence t h e b ak e r respec ts t h e h e ar t h a nd t h e h e ar t h’s m i st re ss.’ Th e d o n k ey wa s a f avo u r i te a nim a l of Ve st a’s. According to l e g e n d, a donk ey ’s b ray i n g saved her f ro m rav i shm ent by t h e g o d Pr ia pus. For t h i s re aso n, R om a ns h o n o u re d the bea st at h e r fe stiva l.

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Celebrations Vestalia The Purification of Vesta’s Shrine – and Rome

O n th e f i na l d ay o f t he Ve st al i a, t h e sh r i n e o f t h e g o d d e ss was r itua l l y s wept o ut a nd clea n s ed. The res ult i ng ‘s co ur i n g s ‘ we re c are f u l l y co l l e c te d an d d e p o si te d in the R iver Ti b er s o t hey wo uld b e c ar r i e d away f ro m t h e c i t y an d o u t to sea . This c lea n s i ng at o ne t i m e n o d o u b t se r ve d a p rac t i c al p u r p o se, but it was als o s y mb o li c; a s p i r i t u al c l e an si n g o f t h e c i t y, w i t h t h e re s ul ting impu r i t i es, rem oved a nd n e u t ral i se d by a f ast f l ow i n g b o d y of water. Vesta, a s R o me’s g ua rd i a n , h ad b e e n h o n o u re d an d t h e p u r i t y of the cit y ’s s a cred f la me ens ure d. N o r m al l i fe i n R o m e co u l d n ow re sum e. https://histor yandarchaeologyonline.com/the -vestalia- celebrating-vesta-and-pur ifying-rome/

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Mythological Creature Bunyip Shared By : High Priestess Gloriana danu

The fi rs t rep o r ted s ighti ng o f t hi s creature wa s i n 1818 i n N ew S o ut h Wales — a nd, a s with mo s t s to r i es abou t cr y p t i d s, t h e tale h a s grown t a ller with ea ch telli n g. S o much s o, i n f a c t, that e ven t h e wo rd “ bu nyi p,” i t s elf, ha s been a d o p ted i nto Aus tra li a n s la n g . But th e m o s t intere s t i ng p a r t o f the buny i p’s ent i re legen d i s wh at i t may have b een b a s ed o n in the f i rs t p la ce: a har ml es s b a by s ea l. The Origins Of The Bunyip

The wo rd b uny i p, its elf, co m es f ro m the Ab o r i gi n a l

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Au st ral i an wo rd w h o se c l o se st E n g l i sh an al o g i s “d e m o n ,” “ D e v i l,” o r “e v i l sp i r i t.” B u t acco rd i n g to t h o se f am i l i ar w i t h We m b aWe m b a, t h e Au st ral i an Ab o r i gi n al l an g u ag e f ro m w h i c h t h e wo rd i s d e r i ve d, e ve n t h o se p o ssi b l e t ran sl at i o n s are i n acc u rate. Th e re m ay b e so m e co n n e c t i o n b e t we e n wo rd b u ny i p an d wo rd B u n j i l w h i c h i s “a my t h i c ‘Gre at M an’ w h o m ad e t h e m o u nt ai n s an d r i ve r s an d m an an d al l t h e an i m al s,” w r i te s o n e su c h ex p e r t. “By the middle of 1 9 t h ce nt u r y, t h e wo rd b u ny i p h as m e an i n g s l i k e a p re te n d e r, i m p o sto r, an d h u m b u g.” An d i n f ac t, t h e wo rd, to d ay, i s u se d i n Au st ral i an sl an g to i n d i c ate so m e o n e w h o i s a p ar t i c u l ar l y st u p i d p e r so n , al m o st to t h e p o i nt o f b e i n g to o

o f fe n si ve to exist.But fo r al l t h e sna r k the wo rd c ar r i es today, i t s m e re n a m e str uc k fe ar an d te r ror in the h e ar t s o f ma ny fo r ce nt u r ies. The Bunyip: Fear, Terror, And Death

Th e g e n e ra l l y acce p te d view of t h e b u ny i p is that i t ’s a m i se ra bl e, sm e l l y c re ature that l u r k s i n d e ep, m ur k y wate r s, waiting for i t s u n su spec ting prey to p ass. D esc r ibed a s h av i n g a l ong nec k , a ro u n d h ea d, a nd a b o d y l i k e a m a natee, t h e c re at u re wa s sa id to m ak e “roa r ing n o i se s” b efore it d e vo u re d its prey. Th e p re y, of cour se, was i nvar i a bl y h u m an , an d the b u ny i p was r um ored to p re fe r the ta ste of wo m e n and c hil dren. An E n g l i sh convic t w h o e sc aped a pena l co l o ny n e a r presentd ay M e l b our ne

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Mythological Creature Bunyip Continued claim ed to have s een the buny i p b a ck i n the ear ly 1800s whi le living a mo n g t h e Abor i gi na l p eo p le. Accord i ng to Wi lli a m Buck l ey ’s a cco unt, the buny i p wa s a n “ex trao rd i n a r y amph i b i o us anima l ” wi t h grey feathe rs cover i n g i t s back — a n d i t i nd eed k illed a n d d evo ured a woma n f ro m hi s ad opti ve co m m un i t y. But, li ke mo s t cr ypti d s, p eo p le who h ave cla i med to s pot the mys ter i o us creature a re i n la rg e s upply — b ut t ho s e who ac t ua lly s aw the buny i p, a n d provid ed ev i d en ce o f its exi s tence to t h e s ame, a re few a n d f a r bet ween. As s uch, t he ac tua l d es cr i p t i o n s o f the buny i p va r y f ro m pers o n to p ers o n, and it g o es wi t ho ut s aying t h at t h e t a le of ten grows wi t h the te lli n g.

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“ I n so m e t al e s, it is a dog-like or se al - l i k e c re at u re,” re p o r t s t h e Au st ral i an Wo r l d B o o k . “ B u ny i p s h ave b e e n d e sc r i b e d as b e i n g b i g as a h o r se an d as sm al l as a d o g. Th e y m ay h ave f l i p p e r s, f an g s, t u sk s, o n e o r t wo e ye s, sh ag g y f u r, sc al e s, o r h o r n s. D e sc r i p t i o n s o f t h e an i m al ’s b e h av i o r al so var y w i d e l y, f ro m a m an - e at i n g m o n ste r to a t i m i d p l ant- e at i n g c re at u re t h at sh i e s away f ro m h u m an s.” B e c au se o f t h e w i l d l y var i e d acco u nt s o f t h e b u ny i p, to d ay ’s sc i e nt i st s h ave al l b u t d e f i n i t i ve l y co n c l u d e d t h at i t d o e s n o t ex i st. An d t h at ’s a b i t d i sap p o i nt i n g, to b e su re ( t h o u g h , ce r t ai n l y, t h e re’s n o sh o r t ag e o f f r i g hte n i n g ac t u al c re at u re s i n t h e Au st ral i an O u t b ac k ) .

So what were these Aboriginal Australians really seeing? Is The Bunyip Really Just A Seal?

S i n ce t h e 1 8 0 0 s, sc i e nt i st s have been t r y i n g to expl a in w h at t h e tr ue or igins o f t h e b u nyip coul d p o ssi b l y be. S o m e sc i e ntists b e l i e ve d that the c re at u re wa s l ittl e m o re t h an a n Ab o r i gi n al c ul tura l m e m o r y of nowex t i n c t an im a l s l i k e D i p ro todon ( a wo m b at), Zyg o m at ur us, N o to t h e r i um , or Pal o rc h e stes. https://allthatsinteresting. com/bunyip

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Mythological Creature Aswang

Shared By : High Priestess Gloriana Danu

r u ral co m m u n i t i e s i n t h e Ph i l i p p i n e s st i l l b e l i e ve i n t h e se su p e r n at u ral c re at u re s.

Afterall,whatelsecouldexplain those bumps in the night?

D eep i n t h e d a r kes t hear t o f t he Philip p i nes s i t s a ter r ifyi ng creat ure. As night f a lls i t begin s t he h unt for hu m a n b lo o d, s talk in g i t s p rey i n the s ha d ows o f yo ur town, n ei g h b o ur ho o d and even yo ur own h o m e.

What is an aswang? Acco rd i n g to Ph i l i p p i n e fo l k l o re, an aswan g i s an e v i l, sh ap e sh i f t i n g c re at u re t h at sh are s t h e gro te sq u e c h arac te r i st i c s o f we re wo l ve s, vam p i re s an d g h o u l s.

I ts ton g ue d r i p s i n hu nger, emi t t i n g a tick-t i ck-t i ck i ng noise f ro m t h e va s t d ar k n es s. Th i s i s t he as wan g, t he mo s t feared creat ure i n Philip p i ne fo lk lo re.

I t h as n o co n si ste nt i m ag e o r d e sc r i p t i o n b e c au se i t s ap p e aran ce var i e s p e r re gi o n . Pe o p l e h ave o f te n c h arac te r i se d t h e m b ase d o n h e ar say, w h i c h i s w hy t h e te r m aswan g h as co m m o n l y b e e n u se d as a c atc h al l d e sc r i p t i o n fo r m o st e v i l c re at u re s t h at l u r k i n t h e n i g ht.

Thou g h to d ay mo s t people o n ly rea lly s tar t t hi n k i n g a b o ut as wan g s whi le walk in g t hro ug h quiet s t reet s a lo n e af ter d a r k , s o me

Wh at c an b e agre e d o n i s h ow t h e y k i l l. D u r i n g d ay l i g ht h o u r s aswan g s g o i n co gn i to, t ak i n g o n a h u m an fo r m to b l e n d i n w i t h re g u l ar tow n sp e o p l e – al l t h e

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w h i l e co n s c iousl y o b se r v i n g w ho to t arg e t n ex t. M ost h ave b e e n a ssoc iated w i t h wo m e n, p ar t i c u l ar l y bec a use o f t h e i r l ong, da r k h ai r w h i c h they u se to cover b l o o d sh o t eyes.

Wh e n n i g ht c reeps in, t h e y sh i f t into their p re d ato r y for m s (not to b e co n fused w i t h t h e i r tr ue, g h o u l i sh for m s) – as a l arg e dog, m a nsi ze d b i rd, or a bl a c k S i am e se c at, wa iting fo r t h e i r h um a n prey to b e al o n e before fe ast i n g on their f l e sh an d bl ood. Lo o k d i re c tl y into a p e r so n’s eyes a nd i f yo u r re fl ec tion is u p si d e d ow n, then yo u’ve j u s t m et a n aswan g, according to p aran o r m a l exper ts. An o t h e r quic k way to d e te c t o n e is through a sp e c i al oil c urated by an al b u l a r yo ( Fi l i p i n o w itc h

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Mythological Creature Aswang Continued d oc tor), whi ch b o i ls when a n a s wa n g i s lur k in g nea r by. Who’s afraid of the big bad aswang?

B ecaus e a s wa n g s d isg ui s e t h em s elves as hum a n s a n d anima ls, n o o n e i s really p rep a red fo r them. B ut to avo i d becom i n g p rey, t here are te llt a le s i gn s t hat reveal wh en t h es e beast s a re o n the hu nt. When yo u h ea r a ‘ tick-t i ck-t i ck i n g’ noise f ro m t h e d ar k n es s, t h at mea ns an as wa ng h a s t a ken its ‘ TikTi k ’ fo r m – signalli n g i t i s rea d y to eat. Th e s o f ter t h e nois e, t h e clo s er t he aswan g i s to yo u. Aswan g s us ua lly la nd on a v i c t i m’s ro o f, waitin g to s t retch their lo ng, d r i p p i n g tong ues to g et a tas te o f huma n p rey. I n mo s t ca s es, t hey pay a v i s i t to ever y pregn a nt wo m a n i n town, ho p i n g to feed on un b o r n chi ld ren .

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Pre gn ant wo m e n e m i t a d i st i n c t sm e l l t h at at t rac t s aswan g s, w h i c h h as h i sto r i c al l y b e e n u se d to ex p l ai n m i sc ar r i ag e s o r st i l l b i r t h s i n r u ral p ar t s o f t h e Ph i l i p p i n e s. Af te r fe e d i n g, aswan g s o f te n re p l ace their victims with d o p p e l g an g e r s m ad e f ro m t re e t r u n k s o r o t h e r p l ant m ate r i al s. Pe o p l e are t h e n b l i ssf u l l y u n aware t h at t h e se b e ast s are o n a k i l l i n g sp re e. An o t h e r re aso n w hy Fi l i p i n o s fe ar aswan g s are b e c au se o f t h e i r ab i l i t y to p ass o n t h e i r ‘m agi c al p owe r s’ to so m e o n e e l se. I t ’s a co m m o n b e l i e f t h at i f an aswan g h o l d s i t s m o u t h c l o se to a p e r so n’s m o u t h , t h e y to o, w i l l e ve nt u al l y b e co m e o n e o f t h e m . To p ro te c t t h e m se l ve s f ro m aswan g s, so m e Fi l i p i n o s k e e p a b u nto t p agi ( st i n gray ’s t ai l ) to d i sp e l t h e i r p re se n ce.

S al t, g ar l i c, a nd gi n g e r are sa id to b e e f fe c t i ve w hen i t co m e s to wa rding o f f t h e se ter r ifying c re at u re s. R e l i gi o u s a r tefa c ts ( su c h as h ol y wate r an d c r u c i f i xe s) a re a l so p l ace d n e a r w indows i n t h e b e l ief that d i sp l ay i n g them e n su re s n o evil b e i n g s e nter the h o u se. Th ere a re a l so agi m at s ( Phil ippine am u l e t s) whic h h ave t h e power to re p e l aswangs. The real history behind the aswang

Th e te r m ‘a swa ng‘ o r i gi n ate d from the Fi l i p i n o word ‘a so wan g ‘, m e a ning dog – b e c au se the bea sts u su al l y t ak e the for m o f d o g s. Wh i l e t h e se mythic a l c re at u re s m a k e for a te r r i f y i n g bedtim e sto r y, h i stor ia n an d Pro fe s sor Ant h o ny L im p rov i d e s s oc iol ogic a l

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Mythological Creature Aswang Continued and s ci ent i f i c explan at i o n s b ehi n d as wan g s. Acco rd i n g to L im, M a lay people m i grated to the Ph i li p p i n es i n the 13t h cent ur y, br ingi ng wi t h them a s et o f s uper nat ura l b eli efs.

I n p re - co l o n i al Ph i l i p p i n e s, t h e fe m al e l ea der of a co m m u n i t y was c al l e d a b ab ay l an .

I n M alays i a n folk lore, t hey h ave the ‘p en a n g g a l ’ – a bea ut i f ul wo m a n (youn g o r o ld ) who attain ed p hys i ca l beau t y t hro ug h black m a gi c.

Fo r i n st an ce, t h e y at t ac h e d e v i l i n t h e doings of a b ab ay l an , w h i c h ex p l ai n s w hy fe m al e s a re o f te n asso c i ate d w i t h aswan g s.

The ‘pen a n g g a l ’ was a fema le mi d wi fe who m a d e a p a c t with a d em o n to g a i n super nat ura l p owers, and in t ur n mus t refrai n f ro m eat i n g meat fo r 40 d ays. However, t he pac t wa s b ro ken and a curs e wa s bes towed up o n the ‘pena n g g a l ’ to beco me a blood s uck i n g d emo n .

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R ox as M u se u m c u rato r B r yan Arg o s says these l e ad e r s p l aye d an i m p o r t ant ro l e i n h ea l ing the si c k an d co m m u n i c at i n g w i t h t h e sp i r i ts. S o, w h e n t h e S p an i ard s ar r i ve d, t h e y s prea d p ro p ag an d a ab o u t t h e an i m i st b e l i e fs of the n at i ve s to co nve r t t h e m i nto Cat h o l i c s.

As wo m e n l e d a se r i e s o f p o l i t i c al u p heava l s in Cap i z to co u nte r t h e S p an i sh g ove r n m ent, Argos n o te d t h at t h e S p an i sh au t h o r i t i e s accused them o f b e i n g aswan g s. H e n ce, t h e tow n o f Ca piz in t h e Vi sayas R e gi o n h as o f te n b e e n d u bbed the h o m e o f aswan g s. As to w hy Fi l i p i n o s st i l l b e l i e ve i n sh ap e - sh i f t i n g c re at u re s, st ro n g o ral tra dition re m ai n s a p r i m ar y f ac to r. Th e se d ays, Aswan g s are st i l l u se d to s c a re c h i l d re n an d t h e y ’re st i l l b e i n g at t ac h ed to l e wd, u n ex p l ai n e d ac t s i n so m e r u ra l co m m u n i t i e s. https://theculturetr ip.com/asia/philippines/ar ticles/aswang-the ter r ifying-vampire - ghouls- of- the -philippines/

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Folk Lore The Cicada Shared By : High Priestess, Gloriana Danu

For at lea s t fo r t y millio n yea rs, the ci ca d a ha s epito m i zed reinca r nat i o n . Nes tin g b en eat h t h e ear th— s o m e fo r a s long as s eventeen years — t hey s ud d en ly s tir as i f by s o m e inexpli ca b le, ins ec t ua l i ns t i nc t. The b ug s b ur row to the s ur f a ce, wh ere they s h ed t h ei r exos keleto ns, s i ng (if male), mate, lay egg s (i f fem a le), and t hen d i e — a ll within a mo nt h o f their a b ove - gro und appeara n ce. Th ei r offs pr i n g h atch f ro m the egg s, f a ll f ro m the trees, a nd b ur row und ergro und, f ro m

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w h i c h t h e y w i l l e m e rg e t h e fo l l ow i n g ye ar ( i f an n u al c i c ad as) o r af te r an o t h e r t h i r te e n ye ar s o r se ve nte e n ye ar s ( i f p e r i o d i c al c i c ad as) .

Th e e ar l i e st d o c u m e nted ex am p l e s of c ic a da fo l k l o re com e from Ch i n a, w h ere stone c ar v i n g s of the bug d ate to 1 50 0 BC E.

Th i s su m m e r, b i l l i o n s o f t h e se b u g s w i l l re e n ac t t h i s c yc l e i n f i f te e n st ate s e ast o f t h e M i ssi ssi p p i R i ve r— f ro m M i c h i g an an d N e w Yo r k to Te n n e sse e an d G e o rgi a— p l u s o u r ow n Wash i n g to n , D. C. Th e Wash i n g to n Po st re p o r t s t h at “so m e p l ace s w i l l h ave m o re t h an a m i l l i o n c i c ad as p e r ac re, w h i c h co u l d e q u ate to m o re t h an 2 5 o r 3 0 p e r sq u are fo o t.” Th i s ye ar ’s c i c ad as b e l o n g to B ro o d X— as i n R o m an n u m e ral te n , n o t so m e te am o f m u t ant su p e r h e ro e s. We k n ow t h at t h e an ce sto r s o f to d ay ’s c i c ad as e nt h ral l e d o u r ow n h u m an an ce sto r s, t h an k s to t h e f asc i n at i n g fo l k l o re we c an f i n d.

S e e i n g h ow the c i c ad a woul d shed its ny m p h al exuvia e — u su al l y l e aving the e m p t y sh el l on a t re e — an d then begin i t s ad u l t l i fe in a n e w w i n g e d body, t h e Ch i n e s e rega rded c i c ad as as sym bol s o f re b i r t h . Acco rd i n gl y, they c ar ve d c i ca da s out o f j ad e, p l a ced t h e m o n a cor pse’s to n g u e b e fore b u r i al, an d then i m agi n e d that those d e ce ase d individua l s wo u l d si mil a r l y e m e rg e o ut of their d e c ay i n g bodies an d ac h i e ve som e so r t o f p e r m a nent i m m o r t al i t y, m uc h l i k e t h e p i ece of j ad e i t se l f.

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Folk Lore The Cicada Continued O ther element s o f Chine s e fo lk lo re por tray t he ci ca d a as pu re a n d lo f t y, accord i n g to Ja n Stuar t, curato r of Chi n es e a r t at the Sm i t h s o n i a n’s Natio n a l M us eum of As i a n Ar t : “p ure becau s e t h ey s ubs i s t o n d ew and lo f t y b eca us e of thei r p erch i n hig h t reeto p s.” H ig h reg a rd fo r cicada s i s a ls o fo un d amon g t h e H o p i people o f n o r t her n Ar izon a , wh o may have co me o r i gi n a lly from As i a , t ho ug h Hopi my t ho lo g y ind icates t hat t h ey emerg ed i n t h e G ra n d Canyon by way o f a “fou r th wo r ld,” at a time when water covered t h e ea r t h. Accord i n g to s o m e s ou rces, t wo ci ca d a s (k now n i n t h e Hopi la ng ua g e a s maah u) s ucces s f ully led th e H o p i p eo p le into t h e fo ur t h wor ld. Th o s e t wo

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m aah u p l aye d f l u te s— ak i n to t h e b u zzi n g o f c i c ad as—w h i c h m i rac u l o u sl y h e al e d their bodies when p i e rce d by ar rows sh o t by t h e e ag l e s t h at g u ard e d t h e e nt ran ce to t h e fo u r t h wo r l d. Co nte m p o rar y H o p i ar t i st s, su c h as G e r r y Q u o t sk u y va, c ar ve t rad i t i o n al k at si n as ( o r k ac h i n as, sp i r i t b e i n g s) o f t h e m aah u to re i n fo rce t h e i r ro l e s as sp i r i t u al m e sse n g e r s fo r t h e H o p i p e o p l e. As w i t h t h e H o p i m aah u, t h e b u zzi n g so u n d m ay b e t h e c i c ad a’s m o st d i st i n g u i sh i n g c h arac te r i st i c, e sp e c i al l y w h e n t h e y i nte n d to m ate. B u t w h e t h e r we h e ar t h e i r b u zzi n g as a f l u te - l i k e h e al i n g, o r m o re ak i n to t h e n i n e t y d e c i b e l s e m i t te d by “a l aw n m owe r, d i r t b i k e, o r t rac to r ” — as n o te d by t h e N at i o n al I n st i t u te s o f H e al t h’s N o i sy Pl an e t Cam p ai gn — m ay b e a

m at te r o f opinion or o f fo l k l o re. To b e t te r under sta nd t h o se so u n ds, the d i ve r se col l ec tions o f S m i t h sonia n Fo l k ways R ecordings an d t h e S m ithsonia n Fo l k l i fe Festiva l are t re m e ndous re so u rce s—w ith m ore t h an a d ozen c ic a da t rac k s, i n cl uding se ve n al b u m s. S o m e are recordings o f ac t u al insec ts, w h i l e o t h er s a re m u si c al mim ic r ies o f c i c ad a s ounds. O n e o f t h e l atter, re co rd e d at the 2 0 1 3 Fo l k l i fe Festiva l, co m e s f ro m the D i m e n D o ng Fol k Ch o r u s f rom C hina’s Gu i zh o u Province. An o t h e r exa m pl e i s “ U to m k ul eng h e l e f ” (Cal l of the c i c ad a) , fe atur ing Le n d u n g an Sim fa l an d I h an Siba nay p l ay i n g b a m boo zi t h e r i n a vil l a ge n e ar Lak e S ebu i n so u t hwester n M i n d an ao,

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Folk Lore The Cicada Continued Philip p i n es, i n 1995. These t wo wo men — both memb ers o f the T ’ b o li p eo p le — play uto m , whi ch the alb um’s li ner notes d es cr i b e a s “interco n nec ted s ou nds, i d ea s, exper i ences, a n d s entim ent s” t h at s ug g es t “s o un d s and im a g es eman at i ng f ro m the nat ura l wor ld [t hat ] a re inter p reted a s s igns f ro m t he natu re s p i r i t s.” O n a li tera l level, this pa r t i cula r uto m “allud es to t h e unrel ent i ng a nd s hr ill ca lli n g o f the ci ca d a at s unset.” H owever, the s o n g’s a lleg o r i ca l mean i ng a ls o evo kes a speci f i c my t h s hared a m o ng the T ’ b o li : The ci ca d a , wh o s e father i s t h e s un a nd whos e mo t h er i s t he moon, i s i nd o lent and d ep en d ent up o n others. As t h e s un

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se t s, i t c r i e s fo r fe ar o f l o si n g i t s f at h e r w h o d i sap p e ar s ove r t h e c r i m so n h o r i zo n . Le f t b e h i n d w i t h fe e l i n g s o f ab an d o n m e nt, t h e c i c ad a i s an x i o u s ab o u t h i s su r v i val an d at te m p t s to e n d h i s l i fe w i t h an e n d l e ss, l o n gi n g c r y. Fo l k l o r i st s l ove to f i n d si m i l ar i t i e s am o n g wo r l d my t h s, l e g e n d s, an d fo l k t al e s. We d e b ate ab o u t w h e t h e r i t ’s b e c au se t h o se n ar rat i ve s b e g an i n o n e p ar t i c u l ar p l ace an d t h e n sp re ad to o t h e r c u l t u ral gro u p s ( a p ro ce ss we c al l m o n o g e n e si s an d d i f f u si o n ) o r b e c au se t h e n ar rat i ve s aro se i n d e p e n d e nt l y i n se ve ral p l ace s ( a p ro ce ss k n ow n as p o l yg e n e si s, w h i c h Car l J u n g’s t h e o r y o f co l l e c t i ve u n co n sc i o u s m ay su p p o r t ) . Wh ate ve r t h e ex p l an at i o n , t h e T ’ b o l i my t h sh are s e l e m e nt s

o f t h e an c ient Greek my t h o f Eos, the g o d d e ss of the daw n, k n ow n to the R om a ns as Au ro ra. B e c au se h er l over, Ti t h o n u s of Troy, wa s m e re l y h um a n, Eos ask e d Ze us to gra nt h i m i m m o r ta l it y. B u t e ve n goddesses so m e t i m e s don’t re ad t h e f ine pr int, b e c au se Eos forgot to ask fo r his eter na l yo u t h as wel l. As a re su l t, she d o o m e d Tithonus to re m ai n al i ve, but to grow so o l d that he san k i nto “ toothl ess d e c re p i t u de a nd p raye d t h e n that h e m i g ht die,” as d e sc r i b e d by J.G. M ye r s i n I n sec t S i n g e r s: A N at u ral H istor y of t h e Ci c ad as. Eo s u n d e r stood that g o d s n e ver resc ind t h e i r gi f t s, but not k n ow i n g what el se to d o w i t h Ti thonus, she l o c k e d h i m in a room

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Folk Lore The Cicada Continued and “ch a n g ed h i m i nto a n ever- co m p la i ni n g Ci ca d a .” I t rem a i ns to b e s een wh e t h e r t h e B ro o d X c i c ad as o f 2 0 2 1 w i l l becom e compla i ners li ke Ti t h o nu s, o r si m p l y g o ab o u t t h e i r b u si n e ss as they have mi lli o n s o f t i m es b e fo re. But any o f us i n t h ei r v i c i n i t y m ay w i sh to t ak e so m e t i m e to o bser ve their en d les s ly f a s ci n at i n g r i t u al s. Th e se b u g s d o n’t b i te, an d i f we’re i n t h e mo o d we may want to t ak e a b i te o u t o f t h e m — f r i ed, roas ted, to a s ted, o r even d i p p e d i n c h o co l ate. We wo n’t h ave t h e sa m e oppor t un i t y a g a i n unt i l 2 0 3 8 . https://folk life.si.edu/magazine/cicada-folk lore

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Ancient Legends Doppelganger G e r m an wo rd m any “d o u b l e g o e r ” an d re fe r s to a w rai t h o r ap p ar i t i o n t h at c ast s n o sh ad ows an d i s a re p l i c a o r d o u b l e o f a l i v i n g p e r so n .

The my t h o lo g y o f s pir it d o ub les ca n be tra ced b a ck thou s a nd s o f yea rs and wa s p res ent i n many cult ures o f the pa s t, ho ld i n g a prom i n ent p la ce in anci ent leg end s, s tor ie s, a r t wo r ks, and in b o o ks by var iou s a ut ho rs. Per ha p s t he mo s t well-k nown referen ce to spi r i t d o ub les or ‘alter eg o s’ i s the do p p elg ä ng er, a word s t i ll us ed to d ay to refer to a p ers o n that i s p hys i ca lly o r behav i o ra lly s i mi la r to anot her p ers o n. What is a Doppelgänger?

D opp elg ä ng er i s a

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Th e y we re g e n e ral l y co n si d e re d o m e n s o f b ad l u c k o r e ve n si gn s o f i m p e n d i n g d e at h – a d o p p e l g än g e r se e n by a p e r so n’s re l at i ve o r f r i e n d was sai d to si gn i f y t h at i l l n e ss o r d an g e r wo u l d b e f al l t h at p e r so n , w h i l e se e i n g o n e’s ow n d o p p e l g än g e r was sai d to b e an o m e n o f d e at h . S o m e acco u nt s o f d o p p e l g än g e r s, so m e t i m e s c al l e d t h e ‘e v i l t w i n’ su g g e st s t h at t h e y m i g ht at te m p t to p rov i d e ad v i ce to t h e p e r so n t h e y sh ad ow, b u t t h at t h i s ad v i ce c an b e m i sl e ad i n g o r m al i c i o u s. Th e y m ay al so at te m p t to p l ant si n i ste r i d e as i n t h e i r v i c t i m’s m i n d o r c au se t h e m co n f u si o n . Fo r t h i s re aso n , p e o p l e we re ad v i se d to avo i d co m m u n i c at i n g

w i t h t h e i r ow n d o p p e l g än ger at al l co st s. How They Met Themselves

O n e o f t h e m ost f am o u s d e pic tions of d o p p e l g än ger s com es f ro m t h e 18 5 1 sk etc h an d 1 8 6 4 watercol or c al l e d ‘ H ow Th e y M e t Th e m se l ve s’ by D ante G a br iel R o sse t t i . According to i nte r p retation, t wo m e d i eva l l over s are wal k i ng through t h e wo o d s at t w il ight w h e n t h e y encounter t h e i r d o u bl es w ho g l ow su p er natura l l y. Th e m an draws h i s swo rd in asto n i sh m ent, w hil e h i s l ove r a ppea r s to co l l ap se i n a deathl y swo o n . D oppel ga nger i m ag e r y occ ur red i n p o e m s R ossetti ad m i re d suc h a s E l i zab e t h Ba r rett B row n i n g’s ‘ The R o m au nt of M arg are t ’ a nd Poe’s ‘ S i l e n ce.’

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Ancient Legends Doppelganger Continued Real Life Doppelgänger Cases

While D o p p elg ä ng er cas es a re s a i d to be wor ks o f f i c t i o n, there a re a n umb er of rea l-li fe ca s es i n which i nd i v i d ua ls claim to h ave met their s i n i s ter d o ub le. Amon g t h e mo s t notewo r t hy i s Abrah a m L i nco ln’s exper i ence, a s chron i cled by N o a h Brook s i n h i s b o o k ‘ Wash i n g to n i n L incoln’s Ti me’. Accord i n g to h i s accou nt, s o o n a f ter L incoln wa s elec ted in 18 60, h e a r r i ved home o ne d ay a n d looke d i nto t h e burea u m i r ro r wh ere he saw hi ms elf reflec ted i n d o ub le. L incoln s a i d, “. . . near ly at f ull leng t h; b ut my face h a d t wo s eparate a n d d istinc t i m a g es.” L incoln n o t i ced that alt h o ug h t h e images were n ea r ly id ent i ca l, o ne wa s “a

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l i t t l e p al e r— say f i ve sh ad e s— t h an t h e o t h e r ”. H i s w i fe was sai d to b e ve r y wo r r i e d an d to l d Li n co l n sh e b e l i e ve d t h at t h e p al e n e ss o f h al f t h e d u al i m ag e was a b ad o m e n , w h i c h m e ant t h at Li n co l n wo u l d se r ve h i s f i r st f u l l te r m , b u t wo u l d n o t l i ve to f i n i sh h i s se co n d. Finding Spirit Doubles in Literature and Myth

Th e su b j e c t o f t h e d o u b l e h as a l o n g h i sto r y, p ar t i c u l ar l y i n l i te rat u re. I n Gre e k my t h o l o g y N arc i ssu s f al l s i n l ove w i t h h i s re f l e c t i o n , an d i n G o t h i c t al e s su c h as Ed g ar Al l an Po e’s ‘ Wi l l i am Wi l so n’, J am e s H o g g’s ‘ Pr i vate M e m o i r s an d Co n fe ssi o n s o f a J u st i f i e d S i n n e r ’, E l i zab e t h G ask e l l ’s ‘ Th e Po o r Cl are’ an d e ve n H an s Ch r i st i an An d e r se n’s l e sse rre ad f ai r y- t al e ‘ Th e S h ad ow,’ c h arac te r s are h au nte d an d fo l l owe d by t h e i r o f te n m al e vo l e nt l i k e n e sse s.

H owe ve r, the my t h o l o g y of spir it d o u b l e s h ave fa r m o re an c i ent or igins. O n e o f t h e ea r l iest re fe re n ce s m ay be in t h e Zu r van ite bra nc h o f Zo ro astr ia nism . Th i s se c t distil l ed t h e g e n e ra l ab st rac t dua l it y o f Zo ro astr ia nism i nto a co ncept of m an i fe st t w ins “ b o r n” o f a m onist “ Ti m e.” I n this co sm o l o gi c a l m odel, t h e t w i n s Ahura M azd a (O r m uzd) an d An gra M a inyu (Ah r i m an ) we re co - e ter na l re p re se nt atives of g o o d an d evil. I n an c i e nt Egyptia n my t h o l o g y, a ‘ k a’ was a t an gibl e “sp i r i t d o ubl e,” h av i n g t h e sa m e m e m o r i e s a nd fe e l i n g s as the p e r so n to w hom the co u nte r p a r t bel ongs. I n o n e Eg yptia n my t h e nt i tl ed ‘ The Gre e k Pr i ncess,’

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Ancient Legends Doppelganger Continued an Egy p t i a n v i ew o f the Tro j a n Wa r, a k a of Helen wa s us ed to mislea d Pa r i s o f Troy, h elp i n g to s to p the wa r. Norse fo lk lo re d escr i b es ent i t i es k nown a s va rd ø g er, g hos t ly b ei ng s t hat preced ed t h ei r living co unter p a r t s, tak ing t hei r p la ces at var i o us a c t i v i t i es and p er fo r mi ng t h ei r ac tion s i n a d va nce. The s p i r i t wi t h t h e s ubjec t ’s fo o t s tep s, voice, s cent, o r appeara nce a nd overa ll d em ea n o r preced es t hem i n a locati o n o r a c t i v i t y, res ult i n g i n wi t nes s es believ i ng t h ey ’ve s een o r h ea rd t he ac tua l p ers o n before t he p ers o n phys i ca lly a r r i ves. This bea rs a s ub t le d ifference f ro m a d op p elg ä n g er, with a les s s i n i s ter connot at i o n.

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Pe o p l e f ro m t h e O r k n e y Isl an d s i n S co t l an d fe are d sm al l, f ai r yl i k e c re at u re s c al l e d “ t rows”. Acco rd i n g to l e g e n d, t rows wo u l d gi ve b i r t h to c h i l d re n w h o we re ap t to b e si c k l y. Pre gn ant wo m e n we re c are f u l l y g u ard e d f ro m t h e t rows w h o wo u l d o f te n ste al h e al t hy h u m an b ab i e s an d re p l ace t h e m w i t h t h e i r ow n c h i l d re n , k n ow n as ‘c h an g e l i n g s,’ w h o wo u l d t ran sfo r m i nto ex ac t re p l i c as o f t h e sto l e n c h i l d re n . M any N at i ve Am e r i c an c re at i o n my t h s l i k e w i se p rov i d e fo r t h e ro l e o f d u al i st i c t w i n s. H o p i l e g e n d s re fe r to t h e t w i n s w h o we re c al l e d t h e Ch i l d o f t h e S u n an d t h e Ch i l d o f t h e Wate r. Th e H o p i al so b e l i e ve i n d u al i t y b e t we e n t h e U p p e r Wo r l d an d t h e U n d e r wo r l d : t h at w h ate ve r i s h ap p e n i n g h e re i n t h e U p p e r Wo r l d, t h e o p p o si te i s h ap p e n i n g i n t h e U n d e r wo r l d.

Is There Any Truth Behind Doppelgänger Myths?

Sowheredidbeliefinspirit doublescomefromandis thereanyrealtruthtothem? Wh i l e m any today st i l l b e l i e ve in t h e ex i ste nce of a d o u b l e se l f, som e sc i e nt i st s bel ieve the p h e n o m e n on occ ur s b ase d o n injur ies o r st i m u l ation to ce r t ai n p a r ts of the b rai n w h i ch c a use e r ro r s i n s patia l re aso n i n g. O t h e r s b e l ieve it i s t h e re sul t of a v i si o n , h al l uc ination, o r t h at we l ive in a p aral l e l univer se i n w h i c h e ver ything i n t h i s wo r l d in re p l i c ate d in a nother d i m e n si o n. Whatever t h e re al t ruth behind d o p p e l g an ger s, bel ief i n t h e sp i r it doubl e h as i n st i l l e d both fe ar an d wonder in p e o p l e fo r thousa nds o f ye ar s.

https://w w w.ancientor igins.net/myths-legends/ doppelgangers-and-mythologyspir it- doubles-001825

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Mythological Demons Astaroth Shared By Morningstar

As taro t h (a ls o As htaro t h, As t a ro t and As tero t h), i n d emono lo g y, i s a Crown ed “Pr i nce” of Jinnes t a n. H e i s k nown a s t he chaos g o d o f t i me and s p a ce. As taro t h wa s or igin a lly a n a nci ent d emoni c g o d d es s. The re -i m a gi n at i o n g end er-b en d o ccur red d ur ing t h e med i eva l era an d s he wa s n ow d escr i b ed a s lo o k i ng lik e an ug ly ma n r id ing up o n a d ra g o n while ho ld i n g a s na ke in his lef t ha n d. He is s a i d to b e a gran d d uke and th e t rea s urer of Jinnes t a n, comm a n d i n g fo r t y

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l e gi o n s an d t h e h e ad o f t h e h i e rarc hy c al l e d G am c h i co t h . As a d e m o n , h e i s a fo r m e r p r i n ce o f t h e O rd e r o f Th ro n e s. Ast aro t h i s su m m o n e d fo r h i s ab i l i t y to grant f r i e n d sh i p s to gre at l o rd s; a n o c t u r n al d e m o n , h e i s m o st p owe r f u l o n Fr i d ays b e t we e n t h e te nt h an d t h e e l e ve nt h h o u r o f t h e n i g ht. O n ce t h i s d e m o n ap p e ar s h i s su m m o n e r sh o u l d n o t st an d to o c l o se, as Ast aro t h gi ve s o f f a d e ad l y ste n c h . H e w i l l i n g l y an swe r s al l q u e st i o n s re g ard i n g t h e p ast, p re se nt, an d f u t u re an d w i l l gi ve u p e asi l y any se c re t s t h at h e k n ows. Ast aro t h e n j oys t al k i n g at l e n g t h ab o u t t h e c re at i o n o f t h e wo r l d, t h e Fal l, an d t h e f au l t s o f t h e j i n n , t ak i n g gre at c are to p o i nt o u t h ow h e i s b e i n g p u n i sh e d u n j u st l y.

Th e n am e Asta roth was u l t i m atel y d e r i ve d f rom that o f 2 n d m i ll ennium B C Ph o e n i c ia n g o d d e ss Asta r te, a n e q u i val e nt of the B aby l o n i a n I shta r, an d t h e e ar l ier S u m e r i an I na nna . S h e i s m e ntioned in t h e H e b re w Bibl e in t h e fo r m s Ashtoreth ( si n g u l ar ) a nd Asht aro t h (pl ura l, i n re fe re n ce to m u l t i p l e statues o f h e r ) . This l atter fo r m was direc tl y t ran sl i te rated in t h e e ar l y Greek a nd Lat i n ve r si ons of the B i b l e, w h ere it wa s l e ss ap p arent that i t h ad b e e n a pl ura l fe m i n i n e in Hebrew. Th e p se u depigra pha l wo r k Te st am ent of S o l o m o n , attr ibuted to K i n g S ol om on o f Israe l, but t h o u g ht to date to t h e e ar l y centur ies AD, m e nt i ons “Aste rao t h” as a sp i r i t, w ho is

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Mythological Demons Astaroth Continued oppos ed to t he d emon o f p ower. Th e name “As t a ro t h” as a ma le d emo n i s firs t k n own f ro m The B ook o f Ab ra m eli n , wr itte n i n Hebrew ca . 1458, and recur red i n most o ccult gr imoi res o f t he followi n g cent ur i es. As taro t h a ls o features a s a n a rch d emon a s s o ci ated with t he q li p h o t h (ad ve rs e fo rces ) accord i n g to later K abba li s t i c tex t s. He is refer red to in The Les s er K ey of S olo m o n a s a ver y p ower f ul d emon . I n a r t, i n the D i c t i o n na i re I nfer na l, As t a ro t h i s d epic ted a s a n ud e man wi t h feat hered wing s, wea r i n g a crown , h o ld i n g a s er pe nt i n o n e h a n d, and r i d i ng a b ea s t with d ra g o n -li ke wing s a n d a s er p entlik e t a i l. Acco rd i ng to S eb a s t i en M ichaeli s, he i s

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a d e m o n o f t h e Fi r st H i e rarc hy, w h o se d u ce s by m e an s o f l azi n e ss, van i t y, an d rat i o n al i ze d p h i l o so p h i e s. H i s ad ve r sar y i s St. B ar t h o l o m e w, w h o c an p ro te c t ag ai n st h i m fo r h e h as re si ste d Ast aro t h’s te m p t at i o n s. To o t h e r s, h e te ac h e s m at h e m at i c al sc i e n ce s an d h an d i c raf t s, c an m ak e m e n i nv i si b l e an d l e ad t h e m to h i d d e n t re asu re s, an d an swe r s e ve r y qu e st i o n fo r m u l ate d to h i m . H e was al so sai d to gi ve to m o r t al b e i n g s t h e p owe r ove r se r p e nt s. Acco rd i n g to Fran c i s B ar re t t, Ast aro t h i s t h e p r i n ce o f acc u se r s an d i n qu i si to r s. Acco rd i n g to so m e d e m o n o l o gi st s o f t h e 1 6 t h ce nt u r y, Au g u st i s t h e m o nt h d u r i n g w h i c h t h i s d e m o n’s at t ac k s ag ai n st m an are st ro n g e r Acco rd i n g to Ar s G o e t i a, “ Th e Twe nt y- n i nt h S p i r i t i s Ast aro t h . H e i s a M i g ht y, St ro n g D u k e, an d ap p e are t h i n t h e

Fo r m o f an hur tful m an r i d i n g on a n I n fe r n al B e a st l i k e a D ragon, an d c ar r y i ng in h i s r i g ht ha nd a Vi p e r. Th o u m ust i n n o w i se l et him ap p ro ac h too nea r u nto t h e e, l est he d o t h e e d am a ge by h i s N o i som e B re at h . Wh erefore t h e M agi c ia n m ust h o l d t h e M a gic a l R i n g n e ar his f ace, an d that w i l l d e fe n d him . H e gi ve t h tr ue an swe r s o f things Past, Pre sent, an d to Co me, a nd c an d i scover a l l S e c re t s. H e w il l d e c l are w ittingl y h ow t h e Spir its fe l l, i f d e s ired, an d t h e rea son o f h i s ow n fa l l. H e c an m ak e m e n wo n der ful l y k n ow i n g i n a l l Li b e ral S c i ences. He ruleth 40 Le gi o n s o f S p i r i t s.”. https://genies.fandom.com/ wik i/Astaroth

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Historical Witch Trials Torsaker, Sweden Witch Trials Shared By : High Priestess, Gloriana danu

The To rs å ker Wi tch Tr ials, t h e la rg es t s ing le wi tch -t r i a l i n Swed en , to o k p la ce in Tor s å ker, a v i lla g e in cent ra l Swed en, in 167 5, towa rd s the en d o f t h e great Swed i s h wi tch h unt of 1668 - 1676. I n tot a l, 71 p eo p le (6 men a nd 65 wome n , ro ug h ly a fif th of a ll wo m en in the regi o n) were behead ed a n d b ur n ed in a s i ng le d ay, o n e of the la rg es t s i ng le mas s k i lli n g s o f accus ed wi tch es i n record ed h i s to r y. Witch t r i a ls ha d begun to f lo ur i s h a ll over Swed en a f ter

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t h e f i r st t r i al ag ai n st M äre t J o n sd o t te r i n D al ar n a i n 1 6 6 8 . Lau re nt i u s ( Lar s) Ch r i sto p h o r i H o r n æ u s, t h e m i n i ste r o f Yt te r l än n äs p ar i sh , was d i re c te d by J o h an n e s Wat t ran gi u s o f To r såk e r p ar i sh , to i nve st i g ate w i tc h c raf t i n h i s p ar i sh , by o rd e r o f t h e sp e c i al co m m i ssi o n w h i c h h ad b e e n c re ate d i n 1 6 7 4 to d e al w i t h t h e su d d e n e r u p t i o n o f w i tc h hyste r i a. H o r n æ u s h ad t wo b oys st an d at t h e d o o r o f t h e c h u rc h to i d e nt i f y t h e w i tc h e s as t h e y we nt i n by t h e i nv i si b l e m ar k o n t h e i r fo re h e ad. At o n e p o i nt, o n e o f t h e b oys p o i nte d at B r i t t a Ru f i n a, t h e w i fe o f t h e p r i e st h i m se l f an d, af te r a so u n d sl ap, h e qu i c k l y ap o l o gi ze d, c l ai m i n g to h ave b e e n b l i n d e d by t h e su n . Th e m ai n acc u sat i o n ag ai n st t h e w i tc h e s was t h at t h e y h ad ab d u c te d c h i l d re n an d t ak e n t h e m to S at an’s

S ab b at at Bl oc k ul a ( o r B l åk u l l a ), the l e g e n d ar y m ea dow o f Swe d i sh fol k l ore w h e re t h e D evil h e l d h i s E a r thl y co u r t d u r i ng a w i tc h e s’ S a bbat. M o st o f t h e w i t n e sse s were t h e re fo re c hil dren, an d H o r n æus ( w h o al re a dy h ad so m e thing o f a te r r i f ying re p u t at i o n ) ex t rac te d the re qu i re d testim ony f ro m t h e m by w h i p p i n g s, by b at h i n g t he c hil dren i n t h e i ce - col d water o f a f roze n l a k e, a nd by p u t t i n g them in a n ove n an d threatening to l i g ht t he fire a nd b ak e t h e m . Some of the w i t n e sse s suffered i l l h e al t h af ter wa rds an d wo u l d not go any w h e re nea r the p r i e st ’s h ouse w hen grow n u p. S om e were l ate r fo u n d w ith their t h ro at s c ut.

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Historical Witch Trials Torsaker, Sweden Witch Trials About a h un d red people o f b o t h s exes were a ccus ed by the ch i ld ren , a n d the tr i a l o p ened i n O c tober 1674. The d o cum ent a r y evid ence i s s ketchy, s impl y s t at i ng t h at the tr i a l wa s ver y lik e o t h er wi tch tr ials, a n d wa s ver y t ypical i n ever y way excep t fo r t he la rg e nu mb er o f v i c t i ms. The b es t s o urce for th e t r i a l i s a d escr i p t i o n wr i t ten s ome s i x t y yea rs af ter wa rd s by t h e grand s o n o f t he pr ies t, Jö ns H o r n æus, from a d i c t at i o n by his gra n d m o t her, t h e pr ies t ’s wi fe, B r i t t a Ru fina , wh o wa s an eyewi t nes s to the pro ceed i n g s. Howe ver, i t rem a i ns uncle a r how ma ny were a cq ui t ted a nd how m a ny co nv i c ted but no t executed, and t h e reco rd s ug g es t s t hat ma ny of tho s e co nv i c ted

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e sc ap e d, an d t h at so m e o f t h e wo m e n we re n o t exe c u te d b e c au se o f p re gn an c y. Th e p r i so n e r s we re ap p are nt l y k e p t i n se ve ral d i f fe re nt p l ace s i n t h e v i l l ag e an d we re n o t g u ard e d. Th e y we re gi ve n al m o st n o fo o d, b u t we re al l owe d to re ce i ve fo o d f ro m t h e i r re l at i ve s. I n 1 6 7 5 , af te r a se r m o n i n To r såk e r c h u rc h , t h e 7 1 acc u se d w i tc h e s, 6 5 wo m e n an d 6 m e n , we re l e d to t h e p l ace o f exe c u t i o n , k n ow n as “ Th e M o u nt ai n o f t h e St ak e”, so m e so we ak t h e y h ad to b e c ar r i e d by re l at i ve s. Th e re t h e y we re d e c ap i t ate d, st r i p p e d an d t h e n b u r nt at t h e st ak e. Th e exe c u t i o n s h ad, e ve n at t h e t i m e, d u b i o u s l e gi t i m ac y, as t h e co m m i ssi o n an d l o c al co u r t s we re f i r st su p p o se d to re p o r t t h e i r se nte n ce s to a h i g h e r co u r t ( w h i c h n o r m al l y o n l y co n f i r m e d a

m i n o r i t y of the d e at h se ntences) fo r co n f i r mation b e fo re c ar r ying them o u t, an d t h erefore h ad n o l e ga l r i g ht s to conduc t any exe c utions t h e m se l ve s. Th e re we re to be n o m o re exec utions i n To r såk er, but t h e Swe d i sh w itc hh u nt co nt inued for a ye ar m o re, until t h e exe c u tion of M al i n M atsdotter i n Sto c k h ol m in 1 6 7 6 , af te r w hic h t h e au t h o r ities r u l e d ag ai nst the u se o f u n rel ia bl e c h i l d w i t n esses a nd d e f i n i t i ve l y a sser ted t h at al l w i tc hes h ad n ow been ex p e l l e d from the co u nt r y forever. http://w w w.lukemastin.com/ witchcraft/trials_torsaker.html

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Thank you wonderful ladies for your help in working on this magazine!!!

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