Before leaving on a trip, create a protective sachet for your car. Add the following to an orange pouch or cloth – one Tiger’s Eye, a pinch of Sage, a Silver Coin and three pieces of Galangal Root. Empower your pouch with protective energy, and tie it with a red ribbon. You can also anoint it with Protection Oil.
Place in your car for protection against thieves, accidents and danger.
An easy way to stop malicious gossip is as follows:
Write the name of the person who is gossiping on a piece of white paper. Now think positive thoughts and send loving energy to them (I know it sounds crazy, but…). Place the paper in a glass of water and put it in the freezer. This will freeze the problem.
If you also wish for people to not be so nosy or involved in your business, you can add black ink to the water. This will cloak you from their prying eyes.
Remember to add positive thought. You are not trying to control the person, you are protecting yourself from harmful thoughts, and sending positive energy to deflect negative intent. Harm none!
Take a fresh banana, red ribbon and a piece of parchment, and reflect upon that which you seek the truth about.
Light a white candle, and clear your mind. Then, on the parchment, write that which you want to know. Fold the paper towards you three times. Then, slice the banana open near the middle, and push the paper into it. Tie the ribbon around the banana to seal it up, and make sure to have a longer strand attached, so you can hang the banana. Say out loud:
“The truth will be shown to me, as I will – So mote it be!”
Hang the banana outside, on a tree – or on a nail outside your front door. When the banana has spoiled, you will know the truth in any matter.
To ward off evil spirits or energy:
In a small jar, place sage, sandalwood, galangal and brimstone herbs. Mix well and sprinkle sea salt on top. Cute a three inch piece of red string, and tie one knot into it, and place it in the jar. Next, place three pins or nails in the jar and close it shut. Light a black candle and say:
“Pins that price, herbs and string, to protect me now, my angels do sing!”
Hide the jar in a dark place to ward off evil.
Another easy, energy efficient way to make tea:
1 qt. Water
3 T. Herb tea
Fill a jar with water. Add herbal tea. Let it sit in a sunny spot outside for at least 4 hours. Strain into a clean pitcher.
For leaves, flowers, and crushed seeds:
1 cup water
2 tsp. Herb tea
Boil water in a glass, enamel coated or stainless steel pan and take off the burner. Add the herb tea to the water. Cover, and let it steep for 10 minutes. Strain into a cup. Can be sweetened with honey..
Ingredients:
2 ½ cups sugar
1 cup Tang orange drink
1 cup instant tea
1 ½ tsp. cinnamon
¾ tsp. ground cloves
Add all ingredients to a large bowl to mix. Stir until blended. Store in a tightly covered container. Add 2 ½ to 3 tsps., of tea mixture to hot water. This also makes a wonderful gift
Wiccan Tea Rite
The purpose of the rite is to thank the Gods, and for the Gods to bless the person for the following day.
For the Wicca tea ritual, practitioners would generally use an anointed red candle and pure spring water, as well as the herbs for the tea. Pure spring water is preferred because it is said to contain more energy than normal tap water. Spring water has been retrieved directly from its source and has not been treated with as many chemicals as tap water.
The initial preparation begins with cleansing the teapot and cup. If required, the herbs should also be blended. The spring water is then boiled.
When the water is boiled, the candle is lit while the following is intoned:
“Gracious Goddess, You are who the Queen of the Gods, The Lamp of Night, The Creator of all that is wild and free; Mother of woman and man; Lover of the Horned God, and Protectress of all the Craft; Descend, I Pray, With Your Lunar ray of power, Upon my rite here! Blazing God, You who are the King of the Gods, Lord of the Sun, Master of all that is wild and free; Father of woman and man; Lover of the Crescent Goddess, and protector of all the Craft; Descent, I pray, With Your Solar ray of power, Upon my rite here!The water is blessed with the following:
O Lady of the Mountain Streams, O Lord of The Green Glade Creek, I call on You to bless and purify this water With Solar rays and Lunar beams. So mote it be!The herbs are blessed with the following:
Thou has grown by favor of the Sun, the Moon, and of the dew. I make this intercession, ye herb: I beseech thee to be of benefit to me and my rite, For thy virtues are unfailing. Thou art the Dew of all the Gods. The Eye of the Sun, The Light of the Moon, The Beauty and Glory of the Sky, The Mystery of Terra. I purify thee so that whatever is wrought by me with thee may, In all its powers. Have a good and speedy effect with good success. Be purified by my prayer and be powerful! So mote it be!The herbs are then placed in the teapot, and water is added. As the tea is steeping, a prayer is said to the Gods, asking for their blessing. After the tea is finished, the following is intoned to finish the ritual.
O Mistress of the Holy Moon, O Master of the Sacred Sun, I give thy thanks for Your presence here, And blessings given. I now bid Thee farewell. Blessed Be! Hail fair Moon, Ruler of the Night; Guard me and mine Until the Light. Hail fair Sun, Ruler of the Day; Rise on the morn To Light my Way! So mote it be!How To Make Red Clover Tea
Red clover blossoms can easily be used fresh or dried to make herbal tea. Red clover tea has traditionally been drunk to treat the following ailments: breathing problems, problems of the female reproductive system such as menopause and heavy bleeding, cancer of the female reproductive organs, and to purify the blood. Red clover tea is also used externally to treat itchy skin conditions.
Things you will need:
Red clover blossoms
Water
First Recipe:
Fresh Red Clover Tea
To prepare herbal tea from fresh red clover blossoms, steep 3 fresh blossoms in 1 cup of hot water for 15 minutes.
Second Recipe:
Dried Red Clover Tea
To prepare herbal tea from dried red clover blossoms, steep 2-3 teaspoons of the dried herb in hot water for 15 minutes.
Third Recipe:
Red Clover Tea Without Heat
If you prefer to make red clover tea without heat, you can simply add a cup of red clover blossoms to a pitcher of water and allow it to stand in the refrigerator for 24 hours before drinking.
Fourth Recipe:
To Use Red Clover Tea Externally
Prepare the herbal tea as instructed above and allow the tea to cool to room temperature. Apply the red clover tea wherever needed to sooth itchy skin. Red clover tea can also be added to bath water to sooth itching skin.
Warning:
Peppermint leaves or honey can be added to red clover tea to enhance flavor.
Brandi, selected from Diets in Review
What’s red and white and blue all over? We hope it’s your diet this weekend!
Let the patriotic theme of summer commence as we unofficially kick-off the season this weekend. Memorial Day means the kids are out of school, the pool is full, and the grills are firing up. And when the grills fire up, the mayonnaise-laden salads make their debut, too.
Stop.
You don’t have to overdo it to enjoy your holiday weekend. You don’t even have to under do it to avoid any post-weekend regret. Just enjoy a little bit of everything, serve healthier sides and dishes, and get up and move when the pool, volleyball or bocce starts.
If you’ll fill your table with red, white, and blue foods, you’ll be on the right track. Plus, it will match your T-shirt. Or your aunt’s flip flops.
Start with the red foods. These are one of the brightest colors in the food rainbow and provide a laundry list of vitamins, minerals and even fiber. Bell peppers roasted for sandwiches, juicy tomatoes sliced for sandwiches and watermelon diced for easy snacking are just a few of the red foods we insist you eat this weekend!
We also think strawberries and raspberries are pretty darn good for you (and tasty) and you’ll love them in our Red, White, and Blue Sangria. Berries, white wine, and a little fruit juice concentrate is all you need for this refreshing, healthier cocktail.
Next, focus on the white foods. These are not breads, crackers and pasta. Instead find the white foods that actually boast a lot of nutritional value. Like the other white meat, and the other, and the other. Grill white fish, lean cuts of pork, ground turkey or even chicken breasts for a high-protein, low-calorie cookout that can still include burgers and sandwiches.
As well, we’ll argue for the whiteness in a big portobello mushroom cap. Grill these and dress them like any other burger for a meatless cookout meal that’s a winner. Or, try this Raw Portobello Mushroom Stuffed with Basil Pesto.
Finally, fill up on the blue foods. These foods are a rich source of antioxidants as well as vitamins and minerals.
The obvious choice is blueberries, one of the sweetest tastes of summer. We used them to a make a blueberry balsamic reduction and then topped our Red, White, and Blueberry Turkey Burger Sliders made with roasted , bell peppers and feta cheese.
Blue corn tortilla chips are slightly healthier than the regular varieties. They are usually baked and made with little-to-no added sodium, and even seem a little sturdier when scooping homemade guacamole.
by Judi Gerber
For many people, Memorial Day is just another day off, and is seen as little more than the unofficial start of summer and a great day to barbecue. But, the real purpose of the day is to remember those who have died in service to the United States.
If you are looking for a way to truly observe Memorial Day, you can visit a cemetery and place some of your homegrown flowers on the graves of fallen soldiers. Or, if you aren’t a gardener, but are equally concerned about the negative environmental impacts of conventional flowers, buy organic flowers.
A more lasting remembrance is to plant a tree, or even a garden, in memory of a lost loved one or other service members. As I have written about before, giving somebody the gift of a garden is one of the most memorable things that you can do. This is all the more true if you create a “memorial” garden either in remembrance or in honor of someone.
Aside from remembering those we have lost, there are some things we can do to help the thousands of men and women now serving. For example, are you a gardener? Do you want to make a difference? Then why not put your green thumb to use. For service members that are deployed, consider “adopting” their garden while they are gone. You can even involve his or her family in the care of the garden. Not only will they benefit from beautiful flowers and delicious food, but working in the garden is therapeutic and can help them deal with the stress that comes with the deployment of their loved one.
Not only can you take care of their garden for them, but, if you incorporate edibles, when it comes time to harvest, you can donate that produce to a local veteran’s agency or hospital, or to other military families whose loved one is also deployed.
You can also create a cut flower garden and give the flowers to the same veteran’s organizations. Or, you can go and regularly place them on military grave sites and deliver bouquets to other military families as well.
With the hot days of summer just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about breaking out the sunscreen. And even though this is ‘Sunscreen Day,’ you should probably be using it all year round. So, no matter the season or the SPF, here are some fast and fun ways to know if you need to use protection. When outside, if your shadow is shorter than your actual height, you can get sunburned. If it’s overcast or cloudy, you still need sunscreen. And, of course, if you’re going to be in the sun between ten in the morning and two in the afternoon, you’ll need protection. But if you still manage to get sunburned, then just do this: Fill a one-quart jar with equal parts milk and ice and two tablespoons of salt. Soak a washcloth in this mix and place it on any burned body parts. Leave it on for at least twenty minutes and then reapply as needed. The milk will serve to absorb the heat from the burn while the ice and salt bring the balm. This secret sunburn therapy really is the last line of daily sun defense. But you wouldn’t need it at all if you just applied an appropriate amount of sunscreen to begin with!
By Ellen Whitehurst for Astrology.com
A financial opportunity may surface today. It’s a great day to fearlessly exercise your negotiation skills. On the personal front, a relationship may become more serious as commitment issues are placed on the table.
About the Number 6
Theme: Family and Social Responsibility, Service, Healing
Astro Association: Gemini
Tarot Association: Lovers
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
 |
Spirit Runes are most commonly used for questions about mysticism, spirituality, and religion. Man represents Mankind. This rune evokes the image that although we must make much of our way in the world on our own, there is nevertheless an entire populous that shares similar experiences. Thus, this rune represents the relationship of the self with the whole – working together we can produce great results. Additionally, Man speaks to intellect and culture that separate us from the animals. |
This Tarot Deck: Art Nouveau
Huge wheels and frisky steeds speed the rate at which the driver’s willpower can be realized. This kind of charge makes more of the world accessible to anyone ambitious enough to seize the Chariot’s reins. But there is danger in this feeling of freedom, because of the increased rate of change and its power to magnify mistakes in judgment. As a seasoned warrior, the Charioteer is called upon to be extra attentive to the way ahead.
The Sun and Mercury align in your communication sector today, the smartest, most intellectually savvy and articulate area of your chart. This creates an opportunity to take your communications to a whole new level, at a time when Venus is also working to give your heart a voice. With some romantic and playful vibes in the air today, this gives you a chance to take time out to connect and also to have some fun with it.
Just a day after the Sun’s alignment with forces on the income front and opposition with forces on the financial front came to a head, Mercury reaches the same point today. While this will keep any financial tension high it also gives you the insight and the smart head for money to gain a real sense of where things stand on both fronts. With Jupiter just over 2 weeks away from your income sector it’s time to get serious, for with a lot on offer a lot more is expected from you.
Just as you may be experiencing some personal and/or relationship tension, creating the kind of wake up calls you would normally get from a Full Moon, but without the emotional intensity, the Sun and Mercury align in your sign. This allows you to see right through any pressure with your eyes open, your mind sharp and the communication lines open. You’re now able to turn this into an opportunity to gain a whole new level of authenticity, on both the personal and relationship fronts.
As the Sun and Mercury align in an intuitive part of your chart, where most of the action is now taking place, this creates a powerful cosmic shift, with Mercury and his intellectual savvy taking the lead. Mercury is due to return to your sign early next month, so this will not only see your mind become sharper today as you gain more mental clarity, but the focus shift more to the future. Spend some time at the drawing board today, with some good ideas being forged.
Having the Moon in your sign as the Sun and Mercury align in a social and serendipitous part of your chart is a real advantage, giving you a better read on the hunches that have the power to put you in the right place at the right time. There is a real sense of synchronicity in the air today that you’re able to tap into and if life has been too professionally focused of late, then this gives you a chance to make up for lost time.
Normally when the Sun makes his annual visit to your career sector, for the month that he’s here and the few weeks either side that Mercury and Venus may also be here, it’s hard to take your professional hat off over the weekend. That is normally okay, but considering that you now have continuous planetary activity through to mid 2013 that’s too long to go without taking time out. Actively work to create the right work/life balance.
This has been a big week, with lots of planetary shifts and changes and a lot of powerful dynamics in play. With a new sense of adventure in the air but also a reminder of a new professional surge ahead, taking time out over the weekend to embrace a sense of adventure or to catch up with friends is a must. There is something special in the air today, with adventurous as well as social and serendipitous vibes in play.
By this time next month there will be planetary activity in your career sector, for the first time this year and as the Moon makes one of his last visits before then, this gives you a chance to sharpen your professional instincts and look ahead. It may be the weekend but chances are you not only have your professional hat on but your money hat as well, looking for your next challenge on the career and income fronts.
Having the Moon in an adventurous part of your chart over the weekend gives you a chance to blow off some steam, after what is likely to have been an intense week. You’re moving into some defining professional weeks where you need to be on your toes and that can’t happen if you’re always on the clock, 24/7. If you want to ensure you move into your new working week on top of your game, take time out to embrace a sense of adventure while you can.
It may be the weekend, but with the Moon making one of his last visits to your financial sector before the first planetary activity for the year and the Sun and Mercury aligned in your work sector, chances are you’ll have both your work and your money hats on today. On the money front it’s all about listening to your financial instincts and imagination, while on the work front it’s about having your eyes open and your thinking cap on.
Having the Moon in your relationship sector as the Sun and Mercury not only spend their first weekend in your romantic sector but align, puts the focus on your personal life today. It was just 6 days ago that a solar eclipse opened the door to new beginnings, when it came to matters of the heart and just 11 days since Venus, planet of love opened the door to second chances. It’s your relationships that get to benefit from this today.
You have a bit of a conundrum on your hands today, for while your imagination and your intuition is likely to be drawn to matters on the work front, with a sense that you’re nearing a new turning point on the professional front, it’s home and family matters that are likely to dominate. It may be the weekend but chances are you will have your work hat on, even if it’s just to listen to your intuition. Don’t let this be at the expense of home and family matters, which also need your attention and focus.
As the Moon makes one of his last visits to your romantic sector before things start to move for the year, you have a chance to listen to your heart and pick up on any important clues and hunches. By this time next month the most romantically charged months of 2012 will be underway, with some clues today for what might lie ahead.
The Moon’s return to your romantic sector tomorrow will kick off an important few days on the romantic front and a chance to really fire up your romantic passions. Until then keep an open heart, realising that it’s not your job to tell your heart how it should feel, rather its job to tell you how it feels.
As the Moon makes his last visit to your communication sector before a lunar eclipse in your relationship sector in just 8 days time, this gives you a chance to clear the air. The key to turning what is often a wild card on the relationship front into an opportunity to turn things around, is having the communication lines open.
As the Sun and Mercury align in an intuitive part of your chart, this gives you a chance to give old feelings being stirred a voice and the past in general, giving you a chance to clear the air. With communication becoming far more important in the future, especially on the relationship front, work today to give the past and unsaid words a voice.
The closer you get to a lunar eclipse in your romantic sector in just 8 days time, the more you’re likely to sense that something is building and with a tendency to want to jump the gun and take control. Yet this is one time when you need to take your hands off the wheel and let fate take over instead, no matter how scary that might be.
On both the romantic and relationship fronts there is a surprising lack of urgency and also a chance to focus more on the big picture. On both fronts it’s now become more about the journey, which will always have ups and downs. So long as you focus on the big picture, any ups and downs along the way will only make your relationships and love life richer.
There is a sense of synchronicity and of romantic adventure in the air this week, with a chance to challenge your excuses. At the same time that intuitive lunar vibes stimulate the hunches that have the power to put you in the right place at the right time, it’s your heart’s willingness to take a risk that will encourage you to seize the moment.
Throughout what has been a defining few months on the relationship front your relationships have had to compete with a busy focus, but that is life and you can’t put your relationships in a bubble. Work now to prepare your relationships for the real world, where they can’t get 24/7 attention, yet are strong enough that they don’t need it.
This time last week Venus, planet of love was on her own in your relationship sector and in her first week in retrograde motion was focused exclusively on the past. Now a week on the Sun and Mercury are not only here but they’re aligned, with your eyes and the communication lines now open. All of a sudden you’re able to see where you’ve been and where you’re going.
As Jupiter spends his penultimate weekend in your romantic sector there is a real need to make love a priority. This time last week the Sun, Mercury and Moon were all here to help lucky Jupiter to get things up to speed, but over the last 6 days they all left and it’s time to bring things home. Dare to believe in love the way that it believes in you.
The Moon’s monthly visit to your relationship sector is usually more about wake up calls and drawing your attention to the things you’ve been sweeping under the carpet. But with Venus in retrograde motion in your romantic sector and the Sun and Mercury aligned here, the romantic focus is overwhelming. This is going to make it hard for all but the most obvious relationship wake up calls to get through.
With Mars, planet of passion coming into his own in your relationship sector and some of the best relationship weeks of the year stretching out in front of you and new doors about to open on the romantic front, your future is all of a sudden looking up. Maybe the challenges of recent weeks and months was worth it after all, leaving you ready for what’s coming up.
Friends and companions suddenly “get” what you have been trying to do the past little while. It is best if you are low-key about your own role, let them take credit for coming to the conclusion that you were right rather than saying “I told you so.”
There are wonderful social opportunities for you today. You can make new and exciting friends, meet new people and enjoy the company of those who challenge you intellectually and emotionally. Someone in your family may introduce you to someone new as well.
You are getting more support and understanding from loved ones today. You may also be planning a vacation, and while everyone is feeling good you may have a better shot at getting them all to agree on an itinerary. Single folks may find trips lucky in more ways than one.
You will be spending some time reflecting on life’s deeper meaning today. Something will put your mental energies in the direction of religion, birth, death, renewal, taxes and the general meaning of life. You are re-evaluating who you are in terms of what you believe.
If you are still single, you might not be for very much longer. You have an opportunity to meet someone new and interesting today, perhaps in the workplace or through a business contact. Keep an open mind, they are likely to come across as a little spacey at first.
You have a healing moment today. It may come at the workplace, at home, or even on the road at some point in between. You will realize that you are a better person than you thought, that there is forgiveness in the world, that there are good people you can count on.
Something you enjoy as entertainment might make a good financial investment. You may get a good bargain in the stock market, or at the local mega-electronics store. Either way, look for bargains that help you better organize or order your lifestyle.
You may find money around your home, be given money by a loved one or relative, or find out that your home is worth more than you thought. You have a good idea for a renovation or home improvement that could brighten up your home and increase its value.
You may be called on or asked by a coworker or employer to come into the office to do some more paperwork. The answer should be along the lines of “Gee, I am driving way out in the countryside with my family and that would be just about impossible.” That is provided your cell-phone is even charged …
Some recent financial troubles could turn out to have a silver lining. That electronic device or toy you or your partner wanted has suddenly gone on sale, or a friend has a used one they are looking to unload, or perhaps someone is willing to trade.
Ooh la la! You are hot stuff today and you can’t resist showing off. If you are single, get out and spend some money today. Book stores, libraries and coffee houses offer wonderful opportunities to meet other people and make new connections.
You may have a profound spiritual or psychic experience today, one that leads you to new friendships, to a new social circle whose influence or knowledge could be a significant benefit to you, both spiritually and in more down to earth ways.
Witches Of The Craft® 
You must be logged in to post a comment.