As July 2012 closes its books, it is crucial to realize that yesterday’s triple-dose of revelatory energy – Venus moving 72-degrees to Pallas, Pallas motionless in Aries, and the Sun trine to Uranus – has not disappeared completely. It is operating under the psychic radar screen, so to speak, still offering you waves of higher guidance. In the meantime, some conservative and cautious energy starts to appear early on as Venus trines Saturn in air signs (12:40AM PDT) while the Sun makes an off-kilter, 150-degree tie with Chiron (5:11AM PDT). The Venus-Saturn trine can be tweaked into being a money-making and money-saving alignment, but it can still signify a possible chilliness going on in affairs of the heart. The Sun-Chiron connection gives healing forces a moderate boost, but this alignment suggests you may need to conduct additional research before knowing what kinds of holistic treatments might improve your well-being. The best energizing aspect of the day clocks in at 3:43PM PDT when Mercury makes an inspirational, 72-degree rapport with Mars. This combination can be a boost for both communications and athletics. However, by 4:32PM PDT, the Moon in Capricorn squares Saturn in Libra – starting a void lunar cycle that lasts until 2:57AM PDT tomorrow (when the Moon enters the universal air sign of Aquarius). Be aware of and prepare for the radiant and heart-activating Leo-Aquarius Full Moon that arrives with a cosmic bang at 8:29PM PDT Wednesday night.
Calendar of the Sun for July 31
Calendar of the Sun
31 Haymonath
Oiche Lughnasadh: Lammas Eve
Colors: Golden and purple
Element: Earth
Altar: The golden and purple cloth is laid for the Lammas altar, and a single purple candle is lit in the center, but nothing else is in place. This is a time of waiting.
Offering: Promise to work for the harvest.
Daily Meal: Fasting, till nightfall. The great feast will come on the next day.
Lammas Eve Invocation
Imagine…..
That you fly through the air on the back of a crow
Fly back in time
See all our ancestors
Reaping the harvest
Reaping the grain
That will be their daily bread
Reaping the life
From the breast of the Earth
Who feeds us forever.
Imagine
That you fly high in the air
Watching the fields stripped
Like a man combs his hair
Like the scythe reaps the row
Like the wings of the crow
Like golden Lugh shining bright
Like the wind bears your flight
Like the Sun that blinds your sight….
Imagine.
(Each approaches the altar and lays down an empty basket, which will be filled tomorrow.)
Summer is the season for cultivation and caring.
Flowers come forth, later to give way to fruit.
Now is the time for us to review all things –
That which is to remain, and that which must
Be pruned away, for the sake of growth.
Growth in all things; in the seeds of the Earth
And in ourselves.
Chant: We look forth to the grain,
We look back to the grave.
Current Moon Phase for July 31st – Waxing Gibbous Moon
Gibbous Moon
(waxing/135-180 degrees)
Distractions from the outside begin pressing into your world. Analysis is favored, reevaluating all the various factors you are dealing with. It’s a time to process information and effectively integrate your aims with the people in your immediate environment. This is a good time for organizing things. This Moon phase is suited for synthesis: coming up with a practical plan for getting from point A to point B. Adjustment is required.
The Legend of John Barleycorn
The Legend of John Barleycorn
By Patti Wigington
John Barleycorn is a character who symbolizes not only the harvest, but the products made from it as well.
In English folklore, John Barleycorn is a character who represents the crop of barley harvested each autumn. Equally as important, he symbolizes the wonderful drinks which can be made from barley — beer and whiskey — and their effects. In the traditional folksong, John Barleycorn, the character of John Barleycorn endures all kinds of indignities, most of which correspond to the cyclic nature of planting, growing, harvesting, and then death.
Although written versions of the song date back to the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, there is evidence that it was sung for years before that. There are a number of different versions, but the most well-known one is the Robert Burns version, in which John Barleycorn is portrayed as an almost Christ-like figure, suffering greatly before finally dying so that others may live.
In The Golden Bough, Sir James Frazer cites John Barleycorn as proof that there was once a Pagan cult in England that worshipped a god of vegetation, who was sacrificed in order to bring fertility to the fields. This ties into the related story of the Wicker Man, who is burned in effigy. Ultimately, the character of John Barleycorn is a metaphor for the spirit of grain, grown healthy and hale during the summer, chopped down and slaughtered in his prime, and then processed into beer and whiskey so he can live once more.
The lyrics to the Robert Burns version of the song are as follows:
There was three kings into the east,
three kings both great and high,
and they hae sworn a solemn oath
John Barleycorn must die.
They took a plough and plough’d him down,
put clods upon his head,
and they hae sworn a solemn oath
John Barleycorn was dead.
But the cheerful Spring came kindly on’
and show’rs began to fall.
John Barleycorn got up again,
and sore surprised them all.
The sultry suns of Summer came,
and he grew thick and strong;
his head well arm’d wi’ pointed spears,
that no one should him wrong.
The sober Autumn enter’d mild,
when he grew wan and pale;
his bendin’ joints and drooping head
show’d he began to fail.
His colour sicken’d more and more,
and he faded into age;
and then his enemies began
to show their deadly rage.
They took a weapon, long and sharp,
and cut him by the knee;
they ty’d him fast upon a cart,
like a rogue for forgerie.
They laid him down upon his back,
and cudgell’d him full sore.
they hung him up before the storm,
and turn’d him o’er and o’er.
They filled up a darksome pit
with water to the brim,
they heav’d in John Barleycorn.
There, let him sink or swim!
They laid him upon the floor,
to work him farther woe;
and still, as signs of life appear’d,
they toss’d him to and fro.
They wasted o’er a scorching flame
the marrow of his bones;
but a miller us’d him worst of all,
for he crush’d him between two stones.
And they hae taen his very hero blood
and drank it round and round;
and still the more and more they drank,
their joy did more abound.
John Barleycorn was a hero bold,
of noble enterprise;
for if you do but taste his blood,
’twill make your courage rise.
‘Twill make a man forget his woe;
’twill heighten all his joy;
’twill make the widow’s heart to sing,
tho the tear were in her eye.
Then let us toast John Barleycorn,
each man a glass in hand;
and may his great posterity
ne’er fail in old Scotland!
Prayer to Lugh
Prayer to Lugh
Great Lugh!
Master of artisans, leader of craftsmen,
patron of smiths,
I call upon you and honor you this day.
You of the many skills and talents,
I ask you to shine upon me and
bless me with your gifts.
Give me strength in skill,
make my hands and mind deft,
shine light upon my talents.
O mighty Lugh,
I thank you for your blessings.
Good Morning My Dearest Of Friends!
Good morning, dearies! Well it is still morning to me, lol! I have been on the blog off and on since 8:00 a.m., this morning. I have been drumming up some other Pagan blogs to link with and also be put in their search engines. See there is never a dull moment. I have decided one thing though, I hate like heck using my Microsoft Word Processor. I can get everything looking perfect then I bring it over here to the blog, it looks like crap! I think I spent an hour fixing the new “Astral Projection” section I put up. I finally got it right, finally! A tip for anyone using WordPress blogs, you have to use only the type you are allowed. I have found Arial works best, now that was the “tip of the day,” lol!
I do have good news though. We are starting to receive donations toward our server bill. For those of you, you don’t know how much it means to me. You are very caring, loving and supportive friends. I can never think you enough. When this drive is over, I plan to thank each one of you publicly. I feel you deserve to be recognized as special friends of the WOTC.
Even though that is fantastic news, we still need donations. You don’t know how much I hate to keep bringing this up, I really do. But you don’t know how much I want the WOTC to stay on the internet. The WOTC does the Goddess’ work. I have always believed the Goddess has had a hand in everything the WOTC does. I believe She has always instructed me on how to spread the truth about our Religion, Witchcraft. To some this might seem crazy, but you have to know the Goddess. She is a wonderful divine being, full of love and compassion. I have prayed to Her and asked Her to help the WOTC remain on the internet. All my means are exhausted and She knows it. I know the Goddess is answering my prayers by the donations we have already received. I have faith She will move even more hearts to make a donation. No matter how great or small, it all adds up believe me.
You know what I am about. You know what the WOTC is about. You know there is not that many Pagan blogs, websites or groups left anymore. This is a very sad thing, once the Pagan community thrived. Now it seems they have all disappeared. I have fought tooth and nail for years for the WOTC. I still have fight in me but I need your help, my friend. Just a little help to keep us on the net, were the WOTC won’t fall beside the wayside. The WOTC has an important mission in the Pagan community. You can help us achieve it. Just by giving us a helping hand.
I have been artistic this morning. I made up a small banner that says, “I (heart) the WOTC.” I am going to post them throughout the daily posts. Not too many now I promise you. Just in case, you can’t find the button to donate the banner will be linked directly to the page.
Perhaps you think I am harping on this and I might be. But this is not only important to you but also your children and their children. This is our Religion, our Traditions, our Beliefs, to be passed on and on. But if there is no one there to share our Religion with others, where does that leave our Religion?
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