Day: August 23, 2016

In Memory of and to Honor My Parents

Enchanted Circle of Witches®

7 19 2016 127

My Father

3/25/1934 – 03/31/1970

Schultz J Marker Proof 6 8 2016

My Mother and BFF (Best Friend Forever)

12/12/1934 – 8/24/2015

I will be taking the day to do a ritual honoring them and to spend time walking down memory lane. My dad crossed one month before my twelfth birthday. My mom crossed not long after my fifty-seventh birthday. I consider every moment I had with them both in good times and bad to now be precious minutes of my life if only I could have seen it this way when they were still in their just past lifetimes I would have spent more time with them.

I hope through different periods of mediation and/or naps to be able to speak with them again and maybe even find myself a sightseer at another family gathering. I did this on my dad’s birthday in a dream.

What I mean by “sightseer” is seeing my family laughing, playing and enjoying…

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Magickal Goody of the Day for August 23rd – Make Your Own Ritual Robe

Magickal Goody of the Day

Make Your Own Ritual Robe

Many Wiccans and Pagans prefer to perform ceremonies and rituals in special robes. If you’re part of a coven or group, your robe might have to be a certain color or style. In some traditions, the color of the robe indicates the level of training a practitioner has. For many people, donning the ritual robe is a way of separating themselves from the mundane business of everyday life — it’s a way of stepping into the ritual mindset, of walking from the mundane world into the magical world.

Most people prefer to wear nothing at all under their ritual robe, but do what is comfortable for you.

It’s not uncommon to have robes for the different seasons, symbolizing the turning Wheel of the Year. You can make one in blue for spring, green for summer, brown for fall, and white for winter — or any other colors that symbolize the seasons for you. Do take the time to put some thought into your color selection — it used to be that most Wiccans wore white robes, but many people prefer to use earth tones, because it’s a way of establishing one’s connection with nature. Some people choose to avoid black, because it sometimes has negative connotations, but use the color that feels right for you.

Anyone can make a robe of their own, and it’s not hard to do. If you can sew a straight line, you can make a robe. First of all, for experienced sewers, there are a number of excellent commercially available patterns out there. You can check catalogs at your local fabric store under “Costumes”, which is where most of the good robes are hiding out, especially in the “historical” and “Renaissance” categories.

Here are some that look nice and can be made without too much sewing experience:

  • Simplicity 4795: Believe it or not, this is a set of patterns for a passion play. There’s an angel design in here that’s fantastic for a ritual robe. You may want to reduce the drop in the sleeves a bit, though, just to keep from setting yourself on fire while lighting candles.
  • Simplicity 3623: This pattern is for a Scottish-themed costume, complete with tam. However, it also includes a pattern for a muslin underdress to be worn beneath the bodice and skirt — this makes a great ritual robe, and can be assembled in just a couple of hours.
  • Simplicity 3616: Sure, the wizard costume seems campy, but if you eliminate the trim and the long white beard, it makes a version of the ritual robe that is far more masculine than some of the other patterns.
  • McCalls 4490: For more advanced sewers, this lovely Renaissance-style dress can easily be adapted for a ritual robe.

To make a basic robe without buying a pattern, you can follow these simple steps.

You’ll need the following:

  • A piece of material in the color of your choice — make sure you select something that will be easy to sew and comfortable to wear. On the average, you’ll need about three yards, but if you’re heavyset or extra-tall, add in some more. A flat bedsheet is actually the perfect size for this.
  • Scissors, thread, tailor’s chalk, and a measuring tape.
  • A sewing machine.
  • A length of cord or light rope, approximately 6 feet long.

You’ll need some help for this first step, because you need to measure yourself from wrist to wrist with your arms outstretched. Unless you have a third arm, get a friend to do this for you. This measurement will be Measurement A. Next, figure the distance from the nape of your neck to a point even with your ankle — this will be Measurement B. Fold the fabric in half (if the material has a print on it, fold it with the pattern side in). Using your A and B measurements, cut out sleeves and the body, making a sort-of T-shape. Don’t cut out along the top fold — that’s the part that will go along the top of the arms and shoulders.

Next, cut a hole for your head at the center of Measurement A. Don’t make it too big, or your robe will slide off your shoulders! On each side, sew along the underside of the sleeve, leaving an opening at the ends of the T for the arms. Then sew from the armpit down to the bottom of the robe. Turn your robe right-side out, try it on, and adjust it for length if needed.

Finally, add a cord around the waist. In some traditions the cord may be knotted to indicate degrees of training or education. In others, it acts simply as a belt to keep the robe from flapping around during ritual. You can also add trim, beadwork, or magical symbols to your robe. Personalize it, and make it yours. You may also wish to consecrate your robe before wearing it for the first time.

Author

Paganism/Wicca Expert
Article published on & owned by About.com
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Gemstone of the Day for August 23rd – Beryl

Gemstone of the Day

Beryl

The name beryl is derived from the Greek “beryllos” which referred to “precious blue-green color-of-sea-water stone.


Hardness: 7.5 – 8              
Specific Gravity: 2.76                    
Chemistry: Be3Al2Si6O18 Beryllium Aluminum Silicate
Class: Silicates               
Crystallography: Hexagonal             
Cleavage: imperfect        
Fracture: conchoidal                     
Streak: white                    
Luster: vitreous


Healing: Beryl has many healing abilities according to the color of beryl used:

Goshenite – is used to treat disorders and injuries with regard to the legs, specifically the leg muscles.  It is also quite helpful in assisting to remedy dust allergies.

Aquamarine – is used to help reduce one’s dependence on drugs, and to help eliminate fluid retention by strengthening the kidneys, liver, spleen and thyroid, thus purifying the general body.

Emerald – is used to treat conditions of the eyes. It is also used to treat backaches.

Heliodor – is used to remove physical toxins from ones liver and skin. 

Morganite – is used for healing a wide range of ailments related to the heart and throat; such as emphysema, tuberculosis, heart disease, lungs, oxygenation and throat issues. It is beneficial in treating all respiratory ailments and to increase the supply of oxygen to the cells.

Red Beryl – is used to treat bladder ailments and kidney stones by dipping beryl into water and then giving the water to the patient to drink.
 

Workings: Beryl originates from Mesopatamia and was worshiped as a magic stone by the ancient Hebrews, as it was believed to strengthen ones belief in God.
Beryl has various metaphysical and astrological associations which are assigned according to its color:

Goshenite – Goshenite is used to promote practical wisdom, intellectual curiosity as well as thoughtful, and carefully thought out decisions. It will help you see a situation from all sides, breaking down stubbornness and rigidity. It is a stone of truthfulness that encourages truth in all actions. Goshenite is associated with the astrological sign of Libra and vibrates to the number 3.
Aquamarine – Aquamarine is used to open up one’s psychic abilities. It also enables one to be sensitive to the thoughts and vibrations of other people. Aquamarine is associated with the astrological signs of Gemini, Pisces and Aries. It vibrates to the number 1.
Emerald is a stone of love and romance. It brings and enhances joy, cleansing, clairvoyance, memory, and faith. It also benefits intuition and communication, and promotes truthfulness. It is associated with the astrological signs of Taurus, Gemini and Aries and vibrates to the number 4.
Red Beryl is used by intuitives and mystics to bring harmony to relationships and enhance compatibility. It is also used to strengthen creativity energy. Red Beryl is associated with the astrological signs of Taurus and Aries and vibrates to the number 8.
Morganite is known both as an Angel stone and a Heart stone. It can bring love to one’s live or rekindle old love.  As an angel stone, it is known to help with communicating with angels.  It can also balance emotions and ease the pain of separation. Morganite is associated with the astrological sign of Libra and vibrates to the number 3.
 
Chakra Applications: Emerald is associated with the heart chakra. Heliodor is beneficial for the Solar Plexus and Brow chakras. Morganite is associated with the Heart chakra. Red beryl (Bixbite) is associated with the Sacral and Heart chakras. Aquamarine is associated with the Solar Plexus and Throat chakras. Heliodor is associated with the Sacral and Heart chakras.

Foot Notes: The mineral beryl is a beryllium aluminium cyclosilicate. It is a single mineral with many varieties that are distinguished by their color. Beryl is colorless in pure form; it is the many different impurities that give beryl its varied coloration.
Emerald is the green variety of beryl.
Aquamarine is the blue variety of beryl.
Heliodor is the greenish-yellow variety.
Morganite is the pink variety.
Goshenite is the colorless variety.
The name beryl is used for the red and golden varieties.
During the time of Nero, white or clear beryl was found on the Island of Elba and it was often cut to create eyeglasses.
Source:
Author: Crick

 

 

 

Herb of the Day for August 23rd – Thyme

Herb of the Day

Thyme

Around 3000 BCE the Sumerians were using it as a medicinal ingredient, and the Egyptians included it among the herbs and spices used in mummification.

Medicinal Uses: Thyme is a powerful antiseptic. It is used in cases of anemia, bronchial ailments, and intestinal disturbances. It is used as an antiseptic against tooth decay, and destroys fungal infections as in athlete’s foot and skin parasites such as crabs and lice. It is good for colic, flatulence, and colds.
It is used for sinusitis and asthma. Eliminates gas and reduces fever, mucus, and headaches. Good for chronic respiratory problems, colds, flu, bronchitis, whooping cough, and sore throat. Lowers cholesterol levels. Good to relieve coughs, and whooping cough. Externally, helps sprains and strains.
A poultice can be made from the leaves of thyme that will combat all forms of inflammation and infection. Effective against hookworms. Rub the extract between the toes daily for athlete’s foot. Used externally, the extract can be used daily for crabs, lice, and scabies.
Taken internally by standard infusion, thyme is a first-rate digestive, febrifuge and liver tonic. Anti-spasmodic and nervine, it is held to cure a wide range of psychological disorders, even insanity. Hysteria, halitosis and assorted female ailments, especially mastitis, loss of appetite.  
Thyme baths are said to be helpful for neurastenia, rheumatic problems,, paralysis, bruises, swellings, and sprains. The salve made from thyme can be used for shingles.
Thyme is an excellent lung cleanser. Use it to dry up and clear out moist phlegm and to treat whooping cough. It makes a good tea for the mother after childbirth, as it helps expel the placenta. Steep one-half teaspoon fresh herb or one teaspoon dried herb in one-half cup of hot water for five minutes. Take up to one and a half cups a day in quarter-cup doses. A natural antiseptic, thyme is often used in salves for wounds, swellings, sciatica, and failing eyes. The tea relives gas and colic (as does the oil, taken in one- to five-drop doses). The tincture can be used in ten- to twenty-drop doses, taken three times a day. Use thyme for headaches and hangovers.

Thyme oil should be reserved for topical use, as internally it may lead to dizziness, vomiting, and breathing difficulties

Magickal uses: The Greeks burned thyme in their temples to purify them as we do today to purify an area. Add it to the magickal, cleansing bath of springtime, along with marjoram, to remove all sorrows and ills of winter. It is worn or added to the ritual cup to aid in communicating with the deceased. (It also helps one see Otherworldly entities.) To ensure a restful night’s sleep free from nightmares, sleep with it beneath your pillow. When worn it will help psychic powers develop, and if worn be a woman in her hair, it will make her irresistible. The aroma will revitalize your strength and courage. A place where wild thyme grows will be a particularly powerful energy center on the Earth.

Properties: Anthelmitic, antispasmodic, carminative, diaphoretic, expectorant, sedative. Contains borneol, cavacrol, fluorine, gum, trace minerals, bitter principle, saponins, flavonoids, essential oils, tannins, triterpenic acids, and vitamins B-complex, C, and D.

Growth: Thyme is a perennial that loves warm, sunny fields, and is found throughout North America. Thyme has numerous woody stems 6-10 inches high, covered in fine hair, and flattish round leaves, growing in pairs. The flowers, small bluish-purple, two-lipped, are borne in whorled in dense, head-like clusters, blooming fro May to September, like the rest of the plant, are heavily scented. Thyme requires full sun and fairly dry, light, well-drained soil.  Trim it back after flowering to prevent it from becoming woody.

Infusion: steep 1/2 tsp. fresh herb or 1 tsp. dried herb in 1/2 cup water for 3 to 5 minutes. Take 1 to 1 1/2 cups per day, a mouthful at a time.

Oil: take 10-20 drops, 3 times per day.

Bath additive: make a strong decoction and add to the bath water.

Source

Author: Crick
Website: The Whispering Woods

Deity of the Day for August 23rd – Eos The Dawn Goddess

Deity of the Day

Eos

The Dawn Goddess

Areas of Influence: Eos, Goddess of the dawn in ancient Greece was one of the Titans.

Every morning she awoke and used her rosy fingers to open the gates of heaven. This enabled her brother Helios (the sun God) to ride his chariot across the sky. She also brought forth the hope of a new day.

The dew was said to be her tears.

This female deity is most noted for her insatiable appetite for young men. Her desire is said to have been the result of a curse, placed upon her by Aphrodite, when she discovered her affair with Ares. She also kidnapped four lovers: Cephalus, Clitus, Ganymede and Tithonus. The later was a Trojan prince whom she begged Zeus to grant immortality. What she forgot to ask for was eternal youth. Eventually he shrivelled up with old age and she turned him into a grasshopper.

Her love for Orion was unrequited.

Origins and Genealogy: She was daughter of the Titans Theia and Hyperion. She had two close siblings Helios (the sun) and Selene (the moon).

With Aeolus the keeper of the winds, she bore four sons these became the winds of the cardinal directions.

Strengths: Passion.

Weaknesses: Insatiable desire.

Roman Equivalent: Aurora.

 

Source

Goddess-Guide.com

A Little Humor for Your Day – Signs that You May Be a Redneck Pagan

Signs that You May Be a Redneck Pagan

If chewing tobacco is considered a sacred herb
If part of your rite includes throwing shotgun shells into the fire
If the bell on your altar was ever worn by an animal in a pasture
If the cakes and wine are done with a bowie-knife, a can of Foster’s and Little Debbie’s
If they chose their High Priestess at a wet t-shirt night
If when your priestess says “Blessed Be” in circle, you respond with “YEEE-HAW!”
If you bought your chalice at the Piggly Wiggly
If you buy your incense and candles at Wal-Mart (ouch!)
If you call the God & Goddess by hollerin’ “Hey, Y’all! Watch me
If you carry your ritual sword in your pickup’s gun rack
If you found out your familiar is an oppossum and still ate it
If you have cast a love spell on livestock
If you have ever refilled your chalice from a keg.
If you have ever written a spell on the back of a Denny’s menu
If you invoke the sprits so that your beer lasts longer
If you shoot guns into the air when the priestess says, “The circle is open but unbroken”
If you think the Wiccan Rede is good for making twig furniture.
If you’ve ever done a candle spell for your local high-school football team ..
If you’ve ever harvested ritual herbs with a weed wacker ..
If you’ve ever meditated to “Dueling Banjos”
If your Wand of Power is a cattle prod
If your altar cloth is vinyl
If your annointing oil smells like “Old Spice”
If your broom has four-wheel drive and SC plates
If your circle dance includes the words “dosey-do” ..
If your craft name starts with Bubba
If your familiar can point quail
If your ritual music includes Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire

Well, you might just be a Redneck Pagan!

Blast from the Past: Our Favorite Familiar of the Day

Name: Kazuya
 Age: Six years old
Gender: Male
 Kind: Maine Coon Cross
Home: Devon, Britain, United Kingdom
Kazuya has always been a buddy and never a baby, not much of a cuddler but always wanting to be by my side, and was at my side when we left his mummy … we never looked back!

Owning my own gym he followed me to work everyday as our new home was but a few meters away, each day he would follow me more and more, most days waiting in the car park to the rear of the gym for me to finish work and go home, as the busy road out front was too busy for him, until one day he discovered where the back door was, and upon starting my shift, he would have to be let in where he would spend his day again at my side behind the reception desk.

When trouble started between me and my ex, he was moved to his Gran’s in Devon, at this time his gran was unwell and medication left her napping to wake up confused and disorientated. As Kazuya was always a side kick, he would be found hanging around his gran, which helped her very much while she got better. He also cleared the barn of rats that helped the farmer where they live. The barn is where this picture was taken.

This will always be my favourite picture of Kazuya, when this picture was taken his mane had gone a fiery red, which was strangely only for one winter, and has never grown back this colour again since.

Kazuya’s gran is all better, but he has stayed there, helping her and the farmer to keep his barn clear of rats. He does still chirp when he first sees me, and is always by my side when I visit, I think he would want me to move back home with him, his gran and grandad.

 

Source

 

Cat of the Day

Astronomy Picture of the Day – Gigantic Jet Lightning over China

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 August 23

Gigantic Jet Lightning over China
Image Credit & Copyright: Phebe Pan

 

Explanation: That’s no meteor. While watching and photographing this year’s Perseid Meteor Shower, something unexpected happened: a gigantic jet erupted from a nearby cloud. The whole thing was over in a flash — it lasted less than a second — but was fortunately captured by an already-recording digital camera. Gigantic jets are a rare form of lightning recognized formally only a few years ago. The featured high resolution color image, taken near the peak of Shikengkong mountain in China, may be the best image yet of this unusual phenomenon. The same event appears to have been captured by simultaneously another photographer, further away. The gigantic jet appears to start somewhere in a near by thundercloud and extend upwards towards Earth’s ionosphere. The nature of gigantic jets and their possible association with other types of Transient Luminous Events (TLEs) such as blue jets and red sprites remains an active topic of research.

Earth Sky News for August 23rd: 2016’s great Mars and Saturn conjunction

2016’s great Mars and Saturn conjunction

By

Tonight and tomorrow night – Tuesday and Wednesday, August 23 and 24, 2016 – the red planet Mars is passing in between the planet Saturn and the bright star Antares. That’s after seeing them for months in a triangle pattern on our sky’s dome, then watching the triangle get narrower and narrower as Mars has shifted eastward. Over the next couple of nights, the threesome forms a straight line (or very nearly so) on the sky’s dome as darkness falls.

A conjunction is an alignment of objects on the sky’s dome. Mars and Saturn are said to be in conjunction wherever these two worlds lie due north and south of one another in our sky. This happens on August 24.

Conjunctions of Mars and Saturn aren’t particularly rare. Mars’ orbit around the sun takes about two years, so conjunctions happen about that often. The last conjunction of Mars and Saturn happened on August 27, 2014, and the next one will take place on April 2, 2018.

But this 2016 conjunction of Mars and Saturn is a very nice one! The planets are well placed for viewing in our sky, and they’ve formed this wonderful triangle across many months with Antares.

Now the triangle is more like a line in space.

The name Antares means “like Mars,” probably because of the similarity of color between the red planet Mars and the ruddy star Antares. But you’ll have no tMars is the brightest of these three bright starlike lights, with Saturn ranking second and Antares third.

Sky watchers claim that planets tend to shine with a steadier light than the twinkling stars. Check out the planet Mars and the star Antares in these next few nights to see if this rule of thumb holds true.

At mid-northern latitudes, Mars, Saturn and Antares appear in the south to southwest sky at nightfall. From the Southern Hemisphere, the threesome is found high overhead as darkness falls. But from either the Northern Hemisphere or the Southern Hemisphere, all three colorful celestial objects – Mars, Saturn and Antares – will move westward across the sky throughout the night. Depending on where you live, they’ll finally set beneath your southwest horizon by late evening or after midnight.

At present, both Mars and Saturn are moving eastward relative to Antares, a key star of the zodiac. However, Mars in its smaller and faster orbit travels much faster through the constellations of the zodiac than does the distant and slow-plodding Saturn.

After only a week’s time, Mars will be noticeably to the east of Saturn and Antares in the evening sky. Don’t miss them!

By the way, if you happen to be a night owl or an early riser, check out the chart below:

Bottom line: On the nights of August 23 and 24, 2016, watch for Mars to sweep in between the planet Saturn and the star Antares.

 

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

Color Feng Shui

 

 

 

 

 

Color Feng Shui
Alter the energy of your environment through color

By Stephanie Dempsey

Health, Feng Shui, Color

Color is one of the most powerful Feng Shui techniques. It’s also one of the easiest to employ. Painting a room a different color can have a profound effect on the way you think and behave.

And if you want to draw on the transformative power of color, check out the following description of colors, then choose the ones that best suit your dreams, hopes and desires.

Red

Associated with the fire element, red is the color of passion, excitement and anger. It is the most visible color, prompting viewers to stop and pay attention. Use red wherever you want an energy boost. If you seek a more passionate love life, don’t paint your entire bedroom red. Otherwise, you’ll never get any sleep. Instead, paint the room an earthier color like chocolate brown and add burgundy accents. Avoid red in places that get lots of sunlight or where arguments are prone to break out.

Orange

A combination of optimistic yellow and passionate red, orange draws people together in the spirit of harmony. This color allows people to express their feelings without fear of reprisal. Incorporate orange wherever you have diverse groups gathering together. This is an ideal color to use in common areas like the kitchen or living room when you’re in a blended family, or when you are seeking to integrate a newly adopted child into the household. Stay away from orange if you need to develop your self-confidence or want to express your creativity.

Yellow

Bright yellow boosts morale and lends cheer. Associated with the sun, yellow is life-giving and energizing. Use this color wherever you want to lift your spirits or find clarity. This is a great color for the kitchen or study. Stay away from yellow if you are concerned with getting old before your time, since yellow is symbolic of aging. Use a muted tone of yellow like honey wheat, or goldenrod in the bedroom if you suffer from depression or health setbacks. Earthy shades of yellow are associated with improved physical strength.

Green

Associated with the wood element, green is the color of growth. Use green wherever you want to experience inspiration, adventure and change. This is an ideal color for an exercise room or library. You should also incorporate green wherever you feel stuck or stagnant. Avoid green if you have trouble focusing. You should also stay away from this color if you’re struggling with cancer. (Green stimulates growth, and cancer patients strive to inhibit the growth of malignant tumors.)

Blue

Linked with the sky and ocean, blue is the color of reflection and relaxation. This color helps ease anxiety, and is ideal for any space where you want to relax and be yourself. Blue is a perfect color for the bathroom, as this area is associated with release and renewal. Stay away from blue if you have a hard time connecting with people or are prone to depression.

Purple

Symbolic of royalty, purple is the color of abundance, wealth and power. Use purple wherever you feel deficient or insecure. Purple is also associated with spirituality, and is a wonderful color to integrate into a meditation room, yoga studio or spa. Stay away from purple if you are prone to fantasy or escapism.

Pink

A combination of intimate white and passionate red, pink is the color of romance. Use pink wherever you want to feel loved, nurtured and cherished. Pink is an ideal color for bedrooms. If this color is too feminine for your taste, you can use it as an accent color. Avoid pink if others take advantage of your generosity.

Brown

Associated with the earth element, brown is the color of stability. It affords a sense of safety, protection and security. Use brown wherever you want to foster healthy relationships. This is an ideal color for the living room, kitchen or bedroom. Stay away from brown if you have difficulty starting projects or feel like you’re stuck in a rut.

Gray

A blend of intense white and absorbing black, gray is the color of transition. It is an ideal color for waiting rooms and hallways. Stay away from gray if you want to settle on a course of action.

Black

Absorbing black invites exploration and promotes mystery. Associated with the water element, black is ideal for promoting self-confidence and independence. It is an ideal accent color for any space where you want to assert your power, like an office. Avoid black if you tend to isolate yourself from others.

White

Associated with the metal element, white is the color of focus, intensity and purity. It promotes creativity, as white acts like a blank canvas. White is a wonderful color for kitchens, particularly if you like inventing recipes or crafting gourmet meals. White is also a good color for an art studio. If you’re suffering from cancer, white is a good color to focus upon, as it inhibits the growth of cells. Stay away from white if you are overly critical or have trouble expressing affection.

 

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