Day: April 15, 2012

Tranquillity Tea

Tranquillity Tea

You Will Need:

2 tablespoons nettle

1 1/2 teaspoons St. John’s Wort

4 1/2 teaspoons oat straw

1 1/2 teaspoons skullcap

4 1/2 teaspoons chamomile flowers

1 1/2 teaspoon passion-flower

Combine the ingredients throughly and place three tablespoons of the mixture in the filter cup of the coffee maker. Add a full pot of water. As the tea brews and drips into the pot, chant:

Herbs, mix your energies

And flow now into harmony

To soothe and calm and bring new peace

With every sip I take of thee.

Drink the tea hot or over ice. Sweeten with honey.

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Anti-Stress Charm

Anti-Stress Charm

Items You Will Need:

Small charm bag or pouch

1 small piece each of sodalite, malachite, amethyst, and orange calcite

1 tablespoon lavender

marker

Using the marker, draw a peace sign on the charm bag or pouch. Place the lavender inside. As you do, say:

Lavender for great protection.

Add the sodalite, saying:

Sodalite for psychic connection.

Add the malachite, saying

Malachite to bud and spout.

Add the amethyst saying:

Amethyst to calm throughout.

Add the orange calcite, saying:

To relieve stress and aggravation,

And calcite, orange, to amplify.

Their powers mix and unify

Racing heart and irritation.

Close the bag and grip it tightly in your dominant hand Say:

Bring me peace and calm relief

As I will, So Mote It Be!

Carry the bag with you.

Stress Relief Bath

Stress Relief Bath

Ingredients Needed:

3 tablespoons chamomile flowers

1 tablespoon oatmeal

1 tablespoon hops

1 tablespoon comfrey leaf

2 tablespoons Calendula

1 tablespoon comfrey root

Place the ingredient in the filter cup of the coffee maker and add a full pot of water. While the mixture brews, draw a warm bath. Pour the infusion into the bath water and chant:

Herbs into the water flow,

Soothe me now from head to toe.

Dissolve all stress and ease all tension,

Wash away woes an all dissension.

Cleanse me well with all your strength,

So I may now relax at length.

Soak in the tub for at least thirty minutes.

Chant for Physical Strength

Chant for Physical Strength

Hercules, Great Son of Zeus,

Half God, half human, please unloose

Your great strength and lend it to

me in this thing that I must do.

Grant me now Your nerves of steel

and Your physical strength for this ordeal.

So I can complete successfully

This task that’s set in front of me.

Astronomy Picture of the Day for April 15 – A Possibly Titanic Mirage

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2012 April 15
See Explanation. Clicking on the picture will download the highest resolution version available.

Fata Morgana: A Possibly Titanic Mirage
Image Credit & Copyright: Mila Zinkova

 

 Explanation: Did this mirage help sink the Titanic? The optical phenomenon called Fata Morgana can make strange shapes or a false wall of water appear above a watery horizon. When conditions are right, light reflecting off of cold water will be bent by an unusual layer of warm air above to arrive at the observer from several different angles. A conceptually comparable mirage can make a setting Sun appear strangely distorted or a distant pavement appear wet. One hundred years ago today, such a Fata Morgana mirage might have obscured real icebergs from the clear view of crew onboard the Titanic. Additional evidence for this distortion hypothesis arises from the nearby vessel SS Californian which reported sightings consistent with Fata Morgana mirages. The above Fata Morgana mirage was taken off the US Pacific coast in 2008.

Special Kitty of the Day for April 15

Frodo, the Cat of the Day
Name: Frodo
 Age: Nine months old
Gender: Male
 Kind: Cat
Home: Cochrane, Alberta, Canada
This is an adventure, not unlike Lord of the Rings … because this Frodo passed through death as well, only to live, and so the adventure began.

My husband and I decided we were ready to find a new cat, as we lost our beautiful orange boy Puffin in the fall. We traveled to an acreage where we knew there was a litter of kittens with an orange one. We arrived to find the kittens panicked and scared because the previous night their momma and a sibling had met their demise by wild animals. Those remaining kittens had survived by climbing to the highest part of the outdoor cat house they lived in, all the while hearing the terrifying sound of decimation below.

Frodo was the only orange kitten in a litter with two black siblings. We were told that because of his bright color he would be easy pickings for the predators that roamed the acreage. So I eagerly wrapped him in my coat and drove home with our little bundle, knowing he was not only a survivor but an adventurer, so he was aptly named Frodo.

Frodo quickly adjusted to life indoors, although he loves to sit in the window watching the world go by; he loves to climb to the top of our screen door and chases anything that moves, including his big sister Iggy, much to her chagrin. He is a delight every day, making our home lively with the sound of his thundering paws. But at night, when all is quiet, he loves to crawl right under our covers and sleep the night away, knowing he is safe and sound and loved.

Frodo, the Cat of the Day
See more images of Frodo!

Precious Pup of the Day for April 15th

Finney, the Dog of the Day
Name: Finney
 Age: Ten years old
Gender: Male Breed: Shih Tzu
Home: Ste Anne, Ontario, Canada
Hi there! My name is Finney and I am a Shih Tzu. That means Lion Dog and let me tell you I am as brave any lion but far more important as my ancestors came from the Emperor’s Palace in China!

The first eight years of my life were very sad as I lived in a horrible place called a puppy mill where I was used to breed and never treated well or kindly and had no family to adore me … but then I was rescued and eventually adopted by my foster family who fell in love with me and couldn’t bear to part with me. I am now so happy and love living here with all the other dogs in the house – there is a Bichon called Ben who is my permanent best doggie friend and always at least four other foster fluffs to play with me when I feel like romping. Of course I am the Doggie King of the Castle but I am very kind and protective of them all (even the cat!).

Every night before I go to sleep on my own soft blanket on the big bed, I get to have a really good time and a play with my two teddies and a belly rub from Dad whom I love more than anyone in the world. I am so happy to be here for the rest of my life!

Yes, Finney is a real Dad’s boy and follows my husband everywhere. Finn is a real character and not a day goes by without him doing something to make us both laugh and love him even more. He is loving, sweet and kind to all the dogs he meets and we are very lucky to have him as our furkid!

Rescue dogs (and cats) are the best!

Finney, the Dog of the Day
See more images of Finney!

A Pledge to Pagan Spirituality

A Pledge to Pagan Spirituality

I am a Pagan and I dedicate Myself to channeling the Spiritual Energy of my Inner Self to help and to heal myself and others.

  • I know that I am a part of the Whole of Nature. May I grow in understanding of the Unity of all Nature. May I always walk in Balance.
  • May I always be mindful of the diversity of Nature as well as its Unity and may I always be tolerant of those whose race, appearance, sex, sexual preference, culture, and other ways differ from my own.
  • May I use the Force (psychic power) wisely and never use it for aggression nor for malevolent purposes. May I never direct it to curtail the free will of another.
  • May I always be mindful that I create my own reality and that I have the power within me to create positivity in my life.
  • May I always act in honorable ways: being honest with myself and others, keeping my word whenever I have given it, fulfilling all responsibilities and commitments I have taken on to the best of my ability.
  • May I always remember that whatever is sent out always returns magnified to the sender. May the Forces of Karma move swiftly to remind me of these spiritual commitments when I have begin to falter from them, and may I use this Karmic feedback to help myself grow and be more attuned to my Inner Pagan Spirit.
  • May I always remain strong and committed to my Spiritual ideals in the face of adversity and negativity. May the Force of my Inner Spirit ground out all malevolence directed my way and transform it into positivity. May my Inner Light shine so strongly that malevolent forces can not even approach my sphere of existence.
  • May I always grow in Inner Wisdom & Understanding. May I see every problem that I face as an opportunity to develop myself spiritually in solving it.
  • May I always act out of Love to all other beings on this Planet — to other humans, to plants, to animals, to minerals, to elementals, to spirits, and to other entities.
  • May I always be mindful that the Goddess and God in all their forms dwell within me and that this divinity is reflected through my own Inner Self, my Pagan Spirit.
  • May I always channel Love and Light from my being. May my Inner Spirit, rather than my ego self, guide all my thoughts, feelings, and actions.

So Mote It Be