Month: June 2016

Magickal Goody of the Day for June 21 is Litha Blessing Broom

Magickal Goody of the Day

Make Your Own Litha Blessing Broom

Litha is the time of the summer solstice, and it’s a season of great solar energy. A great project to put together is a blessing besom. Sweeping is, after all, one of the best ways of making a space sacred and clean. Make a blessing besom, and you can use it to physically cleanse your home, and then hang it up to keep positive energy flowing around you.

To make a blessing broom, or besom, you’ll need the following:

  • A broom — either make your own, or purchase one at a craft store
  • Ivy or vines
  • Flowers and herbs from your garden
  • Ribbons
  • Small bells

Wrap the ribbons and ivy around the handle of the broom. Don’t wrap them too tight, though, because you’ll want to be able to tuck sprigs of herbs and flowers into the ribbons. Once you’ve added all of these things, tie a few small bells onto the broom, so that it will jingle as you sweep. In many cultures, bells are used as noisemakers to frighten away evil spirits and negative energies.

If you like, you can consecrate your blessing besom as you would any other magical tool. Use it to sweep around your home, starting near a window or a door, and working in a deosil (clockwise) direction. As you do so, you may wish to chant something like this:

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.

 

Reference

Author: Patti Wigington, Paganism/Wicca Expert
Article published on & owned by About.com

Gemstone Of The Day for June 21st is Iolite

Gemstone Of The Day

Iolite


from the Greek ios, which means violet


(Color: shades of yellowish gray to blue to a blue violet )

Hardness:  7 – 7.5                             
Specific Gravity: 2.58-2.66                         
Chemistry: Mg2Al3O
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate        
Class: Metamorphic              
Crystallography: Orthorhombic                     
Cleavage: poor in one direction                     
Fracture: Uneven, conchoidal, brittle               
Streak: white                                
Luster: greasy – vitreous

Healing: Iolite is used to help heal sore throats, fevers and malaria. It is also used in detoxification of both drugs and alcohol. It assists in healing varicose veins.

Workings: Use Iolite when meditating or pursuing a Dream Vision or other forms of psychic connection. Iolite is often called the “Shaman Stone.” It is used by shamans as a healing and vision stone. Use for astral projection.

Chakra Applications: Use Iolite to open the 3rd. Eye and Crown Chakras. Iolite is thought to open a channel from the Throat Chakra to the Crown Chakra, thus setting up spiritual communication with the Higher Self.

Foot Notes: Iolite is the gem variety of the mineral cordierite. Iolite is called water sapphire because it looks very much like a blue sapphire. When the vikings went sailing out on the ocean, they used thin pieces of iolite as the world’s first polarizing filter. Looking through an iolite lens, they could determine the exact position of the sun, which allowed them to navigate safely.
The major sources of gem grade iolite come from Sri Lanka, India, Madagascar and Burma.

Reference

Author: Crick

Herb of the Day for June 21 is Calendula

Herb of the Day

Calendula


                                                              (Calendula officinalis) flowers, leaves


Medicinal Uses: An infusion of the petals used as lotion for skin cleansing and softening.
It is usually combined with chamomile and comfrey for a soothing ointment in cases of skin
problems, burns, cuts, insect bites, stings and bruises. Calendula is said to strengthen and
comfort the heart and aid in digestion. The flowers are used in infusion form as a wash for
red eye. The flowers are also used for hair rinse, and in a herbal bath for stimulation to aid
circulation and sooth skin.  
                                                                                                              
The petals or leaves can be used in a tea to induce sweating, promote menstruation, increase urination, relieve stomach cramps, indigestion and stomachaches, and for relief from flu and fevers.  
For bee stings, rub the fresh flowers directly on the sting to relieve the pain.

Do not use Calendula while pregnant.

Magickal uses: A masculine herb that is ruled by the Sun. The associated element is Fire. Wear a fresh marigold to court to help win a case. Place in your mattress for prophetic dreams. Add to bath water to increase confidence. Sprinkle around the bed to protect a person from evil and to bring greater understanding of dreams.

Properties: Antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, healing, anti-fungal and soothing.

Growth: Calendulas have been grown as garden plants for many years throughout North America and Europe. Calendula is a annual that requires warm temperatures and full sun. It has hairy leaves and golden-orange flowers, and has a long flowering period.

Infusion: Combine 1 to 2 tsp fresh or dried flowers with 1/2 C. water just off the boil; steep 5 to 10 minutes; strain. Used as a compress will soothe tired eyes.

Tincture: Soak a handful of flowers in 1 pint of whiskey for 5 to 6 weeks; dose is 5 to 20 drops.

Oil: Put 1 C. sweet almond oil and 1 oz. calendula petals in a jar; place in a sunny spot for 4 weeks then heat oil till petals are crisp; strain and bottle.

Salve/Ointment:  Boil 1 oz. dried flowers or leaves (or 1 tsp fresh plant juice) with 1 oz of Lard; OR; slowly heat 4 oz. white petroleum jelly in top of double boiler till melted; add 1 oz. crushed herb and simmer 20 minutes; strain into little pots; cover when cold.

Reference

Author: Crick

Deity of the Day for June 21 is the Goddess Arachne

Deity of the Day

Arachne

The Greek Goddess Who Became The First Spider.

Arachne was a young woman from Lydia, sometimes said to be a princess, who offended Athena, and suffered the consequences. Her story helped serve as a warning to all to take care to not offend the gods.

Arachne was gifted in the art of weaving. Not only were her finished products beautiful to look at, but the very act of her weaving was a sight to behold. Nymphs were said to abandon their frolicking to come observe Arachne practice her magic. So remarkable were her works that observers often commented that she must have been trained by the very patron goddess of weaving, Athena herself. Arachne scoffed at this. She was disgusted at being placed in an inferior place to the goddess and proclaimed that Athena herself could not do better than her.

Athena was quite perturbed at Arachne’s bold claim, but she decided to give the young woman a chance to redeem herself. She came to Arachne disguised as an old woman and warned her to be careful not to offend the gods, lest she incur their wrath. But Arachne told the old woman to save her breath. She welcomed a contest with Athena, and, if she lost, would suffer whatever punishment the goddess deemed necessary.

The goddess accepted the challenge and revealed her true form. The nymphs who had come to watch Arachne’s weaving shrunk back in fear, but Arachne stood her shaky ground. She had made a claim, and she was sticking to it. So the contest began, the mortal at her loom, the goddess at hers. Athena began to weave the scene of her contest with Poseidon for the city of Athens. A beautiful scene developed from the threads, showing Poseidon and the salt water spring, and Athena with an olive tree, gifts to the people who would name Athena as their patron, and their city after her. The bystanders marveled at the goddess’ work.

Arachne, for her part, created a tapestry showcasing scenes of Zeus’ various infidelities: Leda with the Swan, Europa with the bull, Dana and the golden rain shower. So exquisite was the mortal’s work that the bull seemed lifelike, swimming across the tapestry with a real girl on his shoulders. Even Athena herself was forced to admit that Arachne’s work was flawless. (Whether or not Arachne was actually better than Athena is still a mystery.)

Angered at Arachne’s challenge, as well as the presumptuousness of her choice of subjects, Athena tore the tapestry to pieces and destroyed the loom. Then she touched Arachne’s forehead, making sure that she felt full guilt for her actions. Arachne was ashamed, but the guilt was far too deep for her poor, mortal mind. Depressed, she hanged herself.

Athena took pity on Arachne. She most likely did not expect that Arachne would commit suicide. She brought her back to life, but not as a human. By sprinkling her with the juices of aconite, Athena transformed the woman into a spider, her and her descendants to forever hang from threads and to be great weavers.

 

Source

Author: Melissa Lee

Website: Encyclopedia Mythica™

Astronomy Picture of the Day – Grand Design Spiral Galaxy

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.

2016 June 21

NGC 6814: Grand Design Spiral Galaxy from Hubble
Image Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA; Acknowledgement: Judy Schmidt (Geckzilla)

 

Explanation: In the center of this serene stellar swirl is likely a harrowing black-hole beast. The surrounding swirl sweeps around billions of stars which are highlighted by the brightest and bluest. The breadth and beauty of the display give the swirl the designation of a grand design spiral galaxy. The central beast shows evidence that it is a supermassive black hole about 10 million times the mass of our Sun. This ferocious creature devours stars and gas and is surrounded by a spinning moat of hot plasma that emits blasts of X-rays. The central violent activity gives it the designation of a Seyfert galaxy. Together, this beauty and beast are cataloged as NGC 6814 and have been appearing together toward the constellation of the Eagle (Aquila) for roughly the past billion years.

Earth Sky News for June 21: Slowest sunsets around solstices

Slowest sunsets around solstices

Here’s a natural phenomenon you might never have imagined. That is, the sun actually sets more slowly around the time of a solstice. The slowest sunsets (and sunrises) occur at or near the solstices. The fastest sunsets (and sunrises) occur at or near the equinoxes. This is true whether you live in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere.

And, by the way, when we say sunset here, we’re talking about the actual number of minutes it takes for the body of the sun to sink below the western horizon.

Why does the sun set so slowly around the solstice? At the June (or December) solstice, the sun rises and sets farthest north (or south) of due east and due west. The farther the sun sets from due west along the horizon, the shallower the angle of the setting sun. That means a longer duration for sunset at the solstices.

Meanwhile, at an equinox, the sun rises due east and sets due west. That means – on the day of an equinox – the setting sun hits the horizon at its steepest possible angle. In other words, the sun is dropping almost straight down from above.

The sunset duration varies by latitude, but let’s just consider one latitude, 40o North, the latitude Denver or Philadelphia in the United States, or Beijing in China. At that latitude, on the day of equinox, the sun sets in about 2 and 3/4 minutes.

On the other hand, at 40o latitude, the solstice sun sets in roughly 3 and 1/4 minutes.

When was the solstice? In 2016, the Northern Hemisphere’s summer solstice (Southern Hemisphere’s winter solstice) fell on June 20 at 22:34 Universal Time. In the United States, that translates to 6:34 p.m Eastern Time, 5:34 p.m. Central Time, 4:34 p.m. Mountain Time and 3:34 p.m. Pacific Time.

Bottom line: The slowest sunsets of the year are happening now, around the time of the June solstice.

 

Author

BRUCE MCCLURE

Bruce McClure has served as lead writer for EarthSky’s popular Tonight pages since 2004. He’s a sundial aficionado, whose love for the heavens has taken him to Lake Titicaca in Bolivia and sailing in the North Atlantic, where he earned his celestial navigation certificate through the School of Ocean Sailing and Navigation. He also writes and hosts public astronomy programs and planetarium programs in and around his home in upstate New York.

Article originally published on EarthSky

Moon in Capricorn

Moon in Capricorn

 

 

Moon is traveling through Capricorn today. Make a list of goals. Work overtime. Climb higher. Don’t sulk.

We become aware of the need for structure and planning ahead with a Capricorn Moon. We are instinctively aware of the limitations of time and motivated by a desire for success. Achievement and manifestation are more important to us now. We are resourceful and don’t want to waste time, energy, or resources. This can be a somewhat sober influence, but it can also be a productive time when we look reality in the eye.

The Moon in Capricorn generally favors the following activities: Long-term activities that yield slow but steady results, practical undertakings, career issues, making a business plan, practical investments

 

Courtesy of Cafe Astrology

Your Daily Influences for June 21

Your Daily Influences
June 21, 2016 

 

Seven of Pentacles
A lull in the growth of ventures. Speculation may not be wise at this time. Success may not be known.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ansuz
Ansuz represents mankind’s spiritual connection to God and the universe. It is often referred to as the “God Rune.” This Rune embodies reason, truth and justice. It denotes the coming of knowledge and true counsel from a higher authority.

 

 

 

Gemini the Twins
This aspect of your life will be strongly influenced by a person who is nervous, tense, superficial, inconsistent, cunning and inquisitive. Although their traits leave a bit to be desired, you enjoy being with this person. They can help you get what you want, but their will be a price to pay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your Daily Influences represent events and challenges the current day will present for you. They may represent opportunities you should be ready to seize. Or they may forewarn you of problems you may be able to avoid or lessen. Generally it is best to use them as tips to help you manage your day and nothing more.

Your Charm for June 21 is The Buckle of Isis

Your Charm for Today

Today’s Meaning:
Someone who will, or has told a lie about you regarding this aspect will be discovered and the truth will come out. They will suffer for their injustice and you shall prevail.

General Description:
The blood of Isis, the virtue of Isis, the magic power of Isis, the magic power of the Eye, are protecting this the Great one; they prevent any wrong being done to him. Thus reads a portion of the 156th chapter of the Egyptian Book of the Dead, which was engraved, often with other invocations, on the Buckle of Isis amulets. Great faith was placed in the magic power of this buckle, or tie. It was believed that the wearer would be protected and guarded from every kind of evil for ever and ever.