Month: May 2011

Pagan Studies : Honoring the Green Man Ritual

Pagan Studies : Honoring the Green Man Ritual

 
The spirit of the forest green is celebrated today in Cornwall, England. He is known by many names—Lord of the Greenwood, Robin Hood, and today as the Green Man. Whatever his name, his spirit embodies the push of new vegetation, the rising sap and coming lushness. He is the life force returning; honor him today by taking time to walk in the woods or city park. Revel in the new growth, and bring along a picnic supper for two. A fresh salad of spring greens, garlicky olives, soft goat cheese, sliced cooked eggs with a loaf of crusty bread, and a bottle of fruity aromatic wine is perfect. Eat with your fingers!
 
By: Karri Allrich
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GrannyMoon’s Coventry of Healing Arts and Pagan Studies 

 

Today’s Goddess: Securita Lemuria (Rome)

Today’s Goddess:  Securita

Lemuria (Rome)

 

 Themes:  Protection; Ghosts; Grounding

 

Symbols:  Amulets and Protective Sigils

 

 

 

About Securita:  As the name implies, Securita is a protective Goddess who watches over not only individuals in need but also entire empires.  In the true spirit of security, she also actively promotes stability and firm foundations in our lives.

 

 

 

To Do Today:  In ancient Rome, lemures were considered to be the ghosts of family members who like to pester the living, if given the chance.  So, in all due prudence, the Romans took time once a year to put ghosts back where they belong and invoke Securita’s protection by tossing beans behind them 9 times.  We can use this symbolism today in banishing any ghosts that linger in our figurative closets.  Just name a handful of beans after your “ghost”, toss them behind you in an open area, and walk away.  This appeases the spirits and leaves the troubles behind you in the past, where they belong.

 

 

 

Today is an excellent day to make Securita amulets for protection against mischievous spirits.  Take any one or all of the following and bind them in a white cloth with red wool: sandalwood, sage, violet, or peach pit.  As you tie the wool, say,

 

 

 

“Securita’s power lies inside.

 

Where this amulet sits, no ghosts may abide.”

 

 

 

Put the token wherever you need it.  Eating leek soup keeps away spirits, too.

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By Patricia Telesco

Light A Candle Today!

Light A Candle Today!
In many different traditions lighting a candle is a sacred action. It expresses more than words can express. It has to do with gratefulness. From time immemorial, people have lit candles in sacred places. You may want to begin or end your day by the sacred ritual of lighting a candle on this gratefulness. Or you may want to light a birthday candle for a friend. One single guideline is all you need: Slow down and do it with full attention. 
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Seasons of the Witch! Ancient Holidays (and some not so ancient!)

 

Seasons of the Witch!   Ancient Holidays (and some not so ancient!)        
 
Live each Season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each. ~Henry David Thoreau (1817 – 1862)  
 
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Astronomy Day

 

Celebration of War Veterans Day – Azerbaijan

 

Child Care Provider Day

 

Day of Memory and Honour – Uzbekistan

 

Earls Court Day – Kansas, Virginia, Iowa, Wyoming, Minnesota

 

Feast of Artemis – Greek

 

Grand Bairam Holiday begins – Egypt

 

Green Man Festival

 

Joan of Arc Processions – France

 

Lemuria (Old Roman; Honors Ghosts of Dead without Family)

 

Lost Sock Memorial Day 

 

Memorial Day of Victims of World War II – Latvia

 

Military Spouses Appreciation Day

 

Mother’s Day – Belarus

 

National Bike To Work Day

 

National Butterscotch Brownie Day

 

National Heroes Day – Moldova

 

National Holiday – Czechoslovakia

 

National Night Shift Workers Day

 

National Teacher Day

 

National Third Shift Workers Day

 

School Family Day

 

St. Pachomius’ Day

 

VE Day – Bosnia-Herzegovina

 

Victory & Peace Day – Armenia

 

Victory Day – Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Montenegro, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine

 

 

 

Lemuria – The Romans set aside a week for appeasing the lemures (the ghosts of one’s ancestors). At midnight, the head of the household performed a ritual to summon hem, by washing his hands in spring water, casting away as many black beans as there were residents in the household, washing his hands again and clashing bronze cymbals to summon the ghosts. This ritual was repeated on the 11th and the 13th. Blackburn, Bonnie and Leofranc Holford-Strevens, Oxford Companion to the Year, Oxford University Press 1999 – Rufus, Anneli, The World Holiday Book, Harper San Francisco 1994
 
St Christopher – This saint, portrayed in the Eastern church as a man with the head of a dog, was supposedly descended from a legendary race of giants with human bodies and canine heads. When he converted to Christianity, he was given the name Christ-bearer to show he carried the divinity within. This became the source of the story of how he carried the Christ Child across a raging river in a storm, thus he is the patron of travellers, who often wear St Christopher medals for protection.

 

 

 

A French scholar, Saintyves, whose work is cited by McNeill, thought Christopher was a successor of Anubis, Hermes and Hercules. He notes that he has two festivals on May 9th (in the Eastern church) and July 25th (in the Western church) and that these dates correspond to the setting and rising of Sirius, the Dog Star.

 

 

 

At Guadalajara in Mexico, porters solicit the help of St Christopher with this prayer:

 

 

 

Dichoso Cristobalazo – Fortunate Great Christopher,
Santazo de cuerpo entero – mighty saint with sturdy body
Y no como otros santitos – and not like other saints
Que ni se ven en el cielo – Who aren’t even noticed in heaven.

 

 

 

Herucleo Cristobalazo – Herculean Great Christopher
Forzudo como un Sanson – brawny as a Samson
Con tu enorme cabezon – with your huge great head
Y tu nervoso pescuezo – and your sinewy neck

 

 

 

Hazme grueso y vigoroso – make me stout and strong
Hombrazo de cuerpo entero – a real man with sturdy body,
Y no come estos tipitos – and not like those feeble fellows
Que casi besan el suelo – who all but kiss the ground

 

 

Blackburn, Bonnie & Leofranc Holford-Strevens, The Oxford Companion to the Year, Oxford University Press 1999
MacNeill, Maire, The Festival of Lughnasa, Oxford University Press 1962

 

 

 

NOTE: Because of the large number of ancient calendars, many in simultaneous use, as well as different ways of computing holy days (marked by the annual inundation, the solar year, the lunar month, the rising of key stars, and other celestial and terrestrial events), you may find these holy days celebrated a few days earlier or later at your local temple .  

 

 
 

The Four Seasons

The year is divided into four seasons;

The first season is of a frigid complexion, and this is Winter;

The second is of the complexion of Air, and this is Spring;

Then follows the third, which is Summer,

and is of the complexion of Fire;

Lastly, there is the fourth,

wherein fruits are matured, which is Autumn.

– The Turba Philosophorum, ca. 12 century.

 

 The chill is on from near and far
In all the months that have an “R”.

 
 
 The NEW MOON always rises at sunrise
And the FIRST QUARTER at noon.
The FULL MOON always rises at sunset
And the LAST QUARTER at midnight. 

~The New Orleans Mistic 

Lunar Lore

    Lunar Lore  

 

New moon on its back indicates wind ; standing on its point
indicates rain in summer and snow in winter.
 – Dr. John Menual.
…
A dim or pale moon indicates rain, a red moon indicates wind.
  – Collected in R. Inwards, “Weather Lore”.
 

Today Is: Moon Day

Today Is: Moon Day 

 
Energy: Female Ruler: The Moon – Rules emotions, protection, healing, and women’s mysteries – Use for magick involving the subconscious, healing, emotions, love, spirituality, healing wounds, children, small animals, women’s mysteries, the female side of men, mothers, sisters, female partners, wives, instincts
Today’s Magickal Influences: Agriculture, Domestic, Long Life, Medicine, Travels, Visions, Theft
Today’s Goddesses: Luna, Selene, Diana, Re, Gaelach, Ida, Artemis [Whom The Greeks Associated With Bast], The Witches, Yemaya, Erzulie, Bast
Incense: Myrtle
Perfumes: White Poppy, White Rose, Wallflower
Color of The Day:   Silver, Grey, White
Colors for Tomorrow: Red
Lucky Sign:  Monday Is The Lucky Day For The Sign of Cancer
Candle: White 

Cooking on Monday will improve magics for creativity, insight, maternal nature, and goddess-related efforts. ~Quote from Magickal Martha

Moon Moon, Mother Moon Monthly Moon Phases

Moon Moon, Mother Moon  Monthly Moon Phases     
WAXING MOON – or 1st quarter moon 
The period between the New Moon and the Full Moon. This is a good time for attraction magick.The moon appears to grow bigger durning the next phase of orbit and moves to the 9 o’clock position ,
we call it  a waxing moon, it is used for attraction spells, inner love spells, protection for lovers and healing for couples.  
 
Waxing Moon Magick:
The waxing moon is  for constructive magick, such as love, wealth, success, courage,
friendship, luck or healthy, protection, divination. Any working that needs
extra power, such as help finding a new job or healings for serious conditions,
can be done now. Also, love, knowledge, legal undertakings, money and dreams.

Lunabar Moon Almanack for Monday, May 09, 2011

Lunabar Moon Almanack for Monday, May 09, 2011

Waxing, Crescent Moon          Age: 6 ½ days.
Ascending Node is at 25° Sagittarius.
Moon in 8th degree of the Sign Leo, the Lion;
also in 11th deg. of the Constellation Moonchild, the Crab.

Moonset: 12:58 morn.  Moonrise: 11:19 morn.  Midheaven: 6:31 eve. 

 

Daily Motivator for May 9th – You get to be you

You get to be you

Today you get to be you. Today you get to be immersed in the abundant richness that is your life.

Today you get to grow stronger by dealing with new and unique challenges. Today you have the immense good fortune of being able to create joy where none existed before.

On this day that’s one of a kind, you get to experience the wonders of the universe from your own unique perspective. Today you can envision a dream and then immediately start working to bring that dream to life.

What’s truly wonderful is that even in the midst of the most frustrating frustrations, you can make a difference. In your world, in your life and in the lives of others, you can make a positive difference.

Today, in a new and fulfilling way, you get to be you. And even the setbacks, shortcomings and obstacles make your life richer and more meaningful.

So here it is, and here you are. Stand up, step forward and live the grand adventure that now stretches out in front of you.

— Ralph Marston

Daily OM for Monday, May 9 – Ascension

Ascension
Spiritualizing the Planet

As we ascend, we gain consciousness of the more subtle aspects of our being and begin to connect with all that is. 

We are one with the cosmos whether we realize it or not. Realizing it, though, quickens our spiritual energy and allows us access to higher realms. In those higher realms lies the awareness that we are more than just finite physical beings living one life in one place at one point in time. Connecting with this awareness is to awaken to the truth and take a step forward, and upward, on our soul’s journey. This upward movement is known as ascension because the more we remember who we are and embody that truth, the higher our energy vibrates; we ascend up the scale from the gross physical plane to the subtle spiritual plane. As we ascend, we gain consciousness of the more subtle aspects of our being, with the ultimate outcome being a complete identification with the light body, an experience of unification with the cosmos.

As you look around you, you will see that many people are not even interested in these ideas. Others are open and paying attention. Still others have devoted their lives to deepening their understanding of the truth. All these people are on the path of ascension, but they will ascend at different rates. Each soul chooses its own path. The more devoted a person is to remembering and being guided by spirit, the more quickly the soul will ascend. These people are at the forefront of an important process of raising the energetic vibration of the whole planet. The earth, made of the same energy we are, is undergoing this shift along with us. This evolutionary process, while seemingly chaotic at times, is as natural as the process that unfolds a flower from a seed and we are all part of it.

It shouldn’t be forgotten that the earth too is on her own ascension path as she is sentient. The best way to support this process in yourself and in the world is simply to relax and be open to its unfolding. Listen to your inner guidance, and let it guide you to the path that brings your heart the most joy.

Let’s Walk Together

Let’s Walk Together

Let’s walk on the path together
Hand in hand, some memories to gather
Let’s walk through the rest together

Some hilly curves to climb, some downhill to go
Sometimes roads will have arid leaves, at times covered with snow
But the basket of love will embrace it all, no matter
Let’s walk through the rest together

Some clouds of doubt may hover; a rain of obstacle may fall in
The draught of relief may come, when tough period calls in
But the rock of our trust will flout all these weathers
Let’s walk through the rest together

Our love is so strong; it can stand any pain
It’s caress so soothing; want to have it all over again
It’s passion, it’s charisma, it’s craving,… feels like ether
Let’s walk through the rest together
Let’s walk through the rest together

— Copyright © 2008 Nisha Grace

Today’s I Ching Hexagram for May 9th is 13: Fellowship

Today’s I Ching Hexagram for Everyone:

13: Fellowship

Monday, May 9th, 2011

Hexagram 13
 
General Meaning: Fellowship. When communal bonds unite people, great success is possible. But such bonds can develop only when personal interests are subordinated to goals that serve the greater good of all. The broader the basis for action, the greater the benefits that can be achieved. And conversely, the greater the potential good, the more powerful the support behind it. A spirit of cooperation steadies the boat, but it helps to have a beautiful island to row towards.

Learn to respect the strength in diversity, for a community’s true power lies not in its numbers, but in the diverse skills and resources of its members. Just as the stoutest walls are reinforced with many different materials, so the strongest groups allow differences to co-exist inside the whole.

With a unified group solidly behind you, even difficult enterprises can be attempted without great risk.