Healing Arts and Pagan Studies – Summer Solstice Celebrations

All week long, pagans will be celebrating the annual cyclical climax where the Sun achieves it’s glorious domination over Night. The veil between life death is at its least permeable at the Solstice; daylight hours of warmth, abundance, safety begin inevitably waning from this time on until Night Moon assume rule after the Equinox , so we celebrate now, at the height of Day’s power, giving thanks for summer’s blessings. praying for protection as the Sun’s vitality diminishes in the months ahead.
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Celebrating Other Spirituality 365 Days A Year – Lily Festival

June 17 and 18

Lily Festival

The ancient Shinto festival of the Cleansing Lily originated from the need to dispel early summer downpours that would invariably lead to flooding. The lily stalks were gathered at dawn by seven maidens wearing white robes. The stalks were taken to local shrines for blessing. The flowers stayed in these temples overnight, during which time they were prayed over by the priests. Early the next morning, ing, a procession led by the maidens walked through the town’s streets, waving the lilies to attract moisture-free weather.

Wednesday Is Ruled By Mercury

Wednesdays are wild and wacky days. They are for communication, change, cunning, and the arts. This is a Mercury day, and just its patron god this day is full of contradictions, change, and excitement. Some suggestions for Wednesday enchantments would include:

Pulling a little Wednesday color magic into your life by wearing purples or orange

Carrying a multipurpose agate with you and tapping into its various charms

Working with magical plants such as the fern for protection. This plant will also boost the power of any other magical plants with which it is arranged.

Incorporating lavender into charms and spells for transformation

Using the charming scent of lily of the valley to improve your memory, or working with the aspen tree for communication

Calling on Athena, patron of arts and crafts, for inspiration for a new project

Fanning out a Tarot spell to increase you creativity

Calling on Hermes on a Wednesday night to bring movement and good luck into your life

Seasons of the Witch – Legends and Lore, Ancient Holidays And Some Not So Ancient!

Seasons of the Witch – Legends and Lore, Ancient Holidays
And Some Not So Ancient!

Today Is …

Ancient Rome: Lundi Piscateri, the Festival of Fishermen, is celebrated in the Roman traditions with a ritual and blessing of the boats of fishermen.

Greece: Festival of Eurydice, a tree nymph who was transformed into an underworld goddess after dying from a serpent bite was honored annually in ancient Greece.
Ask Her for a dream or vision!

Ancient Egyptian: Day of the procession of Sopdu, the Warrior.

1873 – US: Susan B. Anthony arrested for voting

The Cleansing Lily ~ Annual purification ritual to drive away the evil spirits of the rainy season takes place on this date in Nara, Japan. Lily stalks are blessed by seven white-robed priestesses, and a traditional dance is performed.

Remember The Ancient Ways and Keep Them Holy!

• • • •.
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The Witches Correspondences for Wednesday, June 17

WEDNESDAY CORRESPONDENCES

Mercury/Neptune/Air/North/West/Southwest/Female/Male/Gemini/Virgo

Magickal Intentions: Communication, Divination, Writing, Knowledge, Business Transactions, Debt, Fear, Loss, Travel, Money Matters

Color: black, light blue, brown, gray, green, magenta, orange, peach, purple, red, silver, turquoise, violet, white, yellow; orange is the primary color

Number: 3, 5

Metal: mercury

Charms: distaff, rod, runes, staff, iridescent garments

Stone: moss agate, amethyst, bloodstone, emerald, hematite, lapis lazuli, lodestone, pearl, ruby, sapphire, sodalite, all blue stones

Animal: bear, dog, fox, magpie, swan, weasel

Plant: almond, bayberry, chamomile, cherry, cinnamon, cinquefoil, clove, coltsfoot, ginger, hazel, hazelnut, jasmine, lavender, millet, oak, peppermint, periwinkle, rosemary, sage, St. John’s wort, sweet pea, tamarind, lemon verbena, violet

Incense: cassia, cedar, cinnamon, clove, frankincense, jasmine, lavender, mastic, mint, rosemary, sage, sandalwood, storax, dried and powdered citrus peel, and all incense made from aromatic bark, wood, and seeds

Goddess: Carmenta, Hecate (Queen of Crossroads), Hel, Ishtar, Ma’at, the Morrigan, Nike

God: Anubis, Bragi, Elath-Iahu. Enki, Garuda, Hermes, Maximon (Black Magician), Mercury, Nebo (Wise God of Wednesday), Odin, Shango, Ullr, Vishnu, Wayland, Woden

Evocation: Agrat Bat Mahalat, Michael, Miel, Raphael, Seraphiel, Tiriel

Courtesy of Moonlight Musings

The Witches Almanac for Wednesday, June 17

Wednesday (Mercury): The conscious mind, study, travel, divination and wisdom.

Bunker Hill Day

Waxing Moon
The Waxing Moon is the ideal time for magick to draw things toward you.

Moon phase: First Quarter

Moon Sign: Cancer
Cancer: Stimulates emotional rapport between people. Pinpoints need, supports growth and nurturance. Tends to domestic concerns.

Incense: Honeysuckle

Color: Topaz

Must Dos for Wednesdays

Be bold and daring today! Expand your knowledge of the Craft by working with the planetary energies of Mercury on this multifaceted day of the week. Consider the Greco-Roman gods Mercury and Hermes and all of the many lessons they have for you. Embrace change and movement, and work on your communication techniques. Conjure up a little good luck for yourself with that Mercury dime spell. Call on Athena to inspire you to try magickal arts and crafts and to be more creative in your own spellwork and witchery.

Meditate on Odin and see what you can discover about him. I wonder what sort of fabulous and fascinating magickal wisdom you will uncover? Odin is a shaman, after all; he may appear in many guises and faces. I guarantee that he will make you laugh at yourself before he is through with you, but you will learn. It’s up to you what you do with that knowledge. Will you let it shapeshift into wisdom?

Wednesday is the wild and wily day of the week, so try to go with the flow; don’t fight the quirky energies of the day. Most importantly, follow your heart, and always keep a good sense of humor, because of Wednesdays you will really need it.

Book of Witchery: Spells, Charms & Correspondences for Every Day of the Week
Ellen Dugan

Wednesday

Wednesday: Is associated with Mercury and the colors of Purple, Magenta and Silver.

Wednesday is the best time to deal with such matters as: Accounting, Advertising, Astrology, Clerks, Communication, Computers, Correspondence, Critics, Editing, Editors, Education, Healing, Hiring Employees, Intelligence, Journalists, Kin, Learning Languages, Legal Appointments, Memory, Merchants, Messages, Music, Neighbors, Phone Calls, Placing Ads , Siblings, Signing Contracts, Students, Visiting Friends, Visual Arts, Wisdom, and Writing

Practical Magick for the Penny Pinching Witch
Carol Moyer

Tasha’s Day by Day Astro Planner

Mon 15th Bouncy Gemini Moon keeps us on the go. Finish old business to prepare for New Moon tomorrow.

Tue 16th Brotherly New Moon in Gemini helps us see others in a different light, emphasizing our kinship. Begin projects involving communication today

Wed 17th Kindly Cancer Moon suggests loving care of others.

Thur 18th History loving Cancer Moon inclines us toward research, family archives

Fri 19th Playful Leo Moon says take time to have fun

Sat 20th Romantic Leo Moon generates hopes for a happy love match

Sun 21st Summer Solstice (1st Day of Summer) Begins June 21st 2015 (Fact Interesting Facts about Summer / Interesting Facts about Solstices) and Fathers Day (Fact The History of Fathers Day) – Luxury loving Leo Moon begins the day, changing to Practical Virgo Moon at 1 PM. Summer Solstice as Sun enters Cancer at 12:38 EDT. Enjoy the year’s longest day doing something new and different

Mon 22nd Efficient Virgo Moon gets the day off to a good start. Jupiter trining Uranus suggests unusual opportunities may emerge.

Tue 23rd Picky Virgo Moon could help generate undue criticism. Mercury square Neptune could mean misunderstandings. Think twice before commenting

Wed 24th Indecisive Libra Moon says wait and see before acting. Mars into Cancer could make for an emphasis on real estate, home repairs

Thur 25th Beauty Loving Libra Moon suggests we visit an art museum or concert

Fri 26th Justice seeking Libra Moon gives way to passionate Scorpio Moon at 2 PM EDT; have fun with a significant other tonight

Sat 27th Organizing Scorpio Moon means good energy for rearranging and reorganizing home and/or life

Sun 28th Paul Bunyan Day (Fact The History of Paul Bunyan) and Ramadan (begins at sundown in the Middle East/Europe but starts a day later in North America, see below for details) – Possessive Scorpio Moon wants to hold on. Venus Trining Uranus may bring unusual surprises.

Mon 29th Wisdom seeking Sagittarius Moon discovers new ways to perceive as the Venus Uranus energy continues

Tue 30th Fun Loving Sagittarius Moon craves adventures, try somewhere new for lunch.

Contact tashahal@gmail.com
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Lunabar Moon Almanack for Wednesday, 17 June, 2015

Waxing, Crescent Moon Age: 1 ¼ day.
Ascending Node is at 6° Libra.
Moon in 14th degree of the Sign Crabba, the Crab fish (Cancer);
also in 15th deg. of the Constellation Gemini, the Twins.
Moonrise: 6:49 morn. Souths: 2:06 eve. Moonset: 9:27 eve.

• • • •

Aspects of Crabba: Yin, Feminine, Lunar, Negative, Nocturnal, Watery, Cardinal, Fruitful, Horary Northern, Summery, Boreal, Commanding, Solstitial, Tropical, Moist, Dumb, Mute, Cold, Psychic, Sensitive.

• • • •

The Current Moon Phase Is: Waxing Crescent, New Moon; The beginning of a new cycle.

Goddess Aspect: Maiden

Associated Goddesses: Artemis, Branwen, Eriu, Nymph, Epona

Magickal Attributes: Invoking. Workings On This Day Are For Starting New Ventures, New Beginnings, Love, Romance, Health Or Job Hunting.

Keywords for the New phase are: beginning, birth, emergence, projection, clarity. It is the time in a cycle that you are stimulated to take a new action. During this phase the new cycle is being seeded by your vision, inner and outer. Engage in physical activity. Spend time alone. VISUALIZE your goals for the 29.6-day cycle ahead. New Moon workings can be done from the day of the new moon to three-and-a-half days after. The new moon is for starting new ventures, new beginnings. Also love and romance, health or job hunting

New Moon is used for personal growth, healing, the blessing of a new project or venture.

Waxing Crescent – occurs when the visible Moon is partly but less than one-half illuminated by direct sunlight while the
illuminated part is increasing.

Spells and rituals involving the water element should be performed when the Moon is in a water sign: Crabba/Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces.

• • • •

Moon Moon, Mother Moon
Lunar Lore

Silver was, by the ancient alchemists,
called “Diana” or the Moon.
~Brewer, “Dictionary of Phrase & Fable”

###

The Moon in conjunction with Venus,
shews a good day, chiefly in Love matters.
~Bethem’s “Centiloquium”.

• • • •
Courtesy of GrannyMoonsMorningFeast

Lunabar Sun Almanack for Wednesday, 17 June, 2015

Sunrise: 5:42 morn. Sunset: 8:35 eve.
Length of Day: 14h. 52m.
Dawn: 5:10 morn. Dusk: 9:07 eve.
Length of Twilight: 0h. 32m.
Sun in 25th degree of the Sign Gemini, the Twins;
also in 33rd degree of the Constellation Taurus, the Bull;

Solar Lore

If the body of the sun appear blood-red at setting,
it forebodes high winds for many days.
~ Francis Bacon, “Historia Ventorum”.

• • • •

Courtesy of GrannyMoonsMorningFeast

Good Wednesday Morning To All Of The WOTC!

I am a Witch!

When I stand up for myself and my beliefs, they call me a witch.
When I stand up for those I love, they call me a witch.
When I speak my mind, think my own thoughts, or do things my own way, they call me a witch.

Being a witch entails raising my children to be strong people
Who have a solid sense of personal and social responsibility,
Who are not afraid to stand up for what they believe in
And, who love and respect themselves for the beautiful beings they are.

Being a witch means that I am free to be the wonderful creature I am,
With all my own intricacies, contradictions, quirks and beauty.
Being a witch means I won’t compromise what’s in my heart.
It means I live my life MY way. It means I won’t allow anyone to step on me.

When I refuse to tolerate injustice and speak up against it, I am defined as a witch.

The same thing happens when I take time for myself instead of being everyone else’s maid or when I act a little selfish.

I am proud to be a witch! It means I have the courage and strength to allow myself to be who I truly am and won’t become anyone else’s idea of what they think I “should” be.

I am outspoken, opinionated and determined.
By Goddess, I want what I want and there is nothing wrong with that!

So, try to stomp on me, try to douse my inner flame, try to squash every ounce of beauty I hold within me. You won’t succeed.

And if that makes me a witch, so be it. I embrace the title and am proud to bear it. I love this, I can call myself a witch now and not feel bad about it!

Author: Sandi Thomas
Website: The Pagan Library

We hate to leave good company, but life calls as it occasionally does…

As we scatter to the four winds today, I would like to leave you with a very beautiful poem by Abby Willowroot. Abby has several more poems on The Spiral Goddess if you would like to read more of her work. I hope you enjoy the poem.

Until tomorrow, my friends……

Thank You for This Day

By Abby Willowroot

Thank you for this day on Earth
Ancient Mother who gave me birth
Healing Mother who keeps me strong
Crone Mother who brings each new dawn

Thank you for the gift of being
For blessing me with the wonders of seeing
For the sounds and feeling of laughter
and the wisdom, learned through pain.

Spirit Mother bless me, tomorrow with a day again.

Astronomy Picture of the Day – Auroras and Star Trails over Iceland

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.

2015 June 16

Auroras and Star Trails over Iceland
Image Credit & Copyright: Vincent Brady

Explanation: It was one of the quietest nights of aurora in weeks. Even so, in northern- Iceland during last November, faint auroras lit up the sky every clear night. The featured 360-degree panorama is the digital fusion of four wide-angle cameras each simultaneously taking 101 shots over 42 minutes. In the foreground is serene Lake Myvatn dotted with picturesque rock formations left over from ancient lava flows. Low green auroras sweep across the sky above showing impressive complexity near the horizon. Stars far in the distance appear to show unusual trails — as the Earth turned — because early exposures were artificially faded.

Planet Tracker: Saturn in Scorpio, Now Until Sep 17, 2015

Saturn is the last planet visible to the naked eye. For millennia, it represented the limits of the solar system and came to symbolize time, structure and order. Saturn takes about 29 years to orbit the Sun, spending about two and a half years in each sign of the zodiac.

Saturn is the planet that says “no” but means “yes.” The no comes from Saturn showing us what isn’t working, sometimes in the form of frustrating blockages or delays. But these help us see where we need to put in effort to make concrete changes. Saturn says “yes” as the planet of crystallization that brings energy into matter. Saturn’s presence in a sign of the zodiac shows us where we are likely to meet limits and how to construct something useful.

Serious Saturn in survivalist Scorpio forces us to face the bottom line. Life and death, sex, power and our economic well being can be pushed to the limits during this two-year transit. Concentrating our efforts where they are most needed may require eliminating ideas, activities, objects or individuals that distract us from these essential tasks.

Take account of your desires, even the inappropriate ones. Knowing what you want helps you become a better negotiator in relationships. Being nice is, well, nice but doesn’t touch the depth of emotion associated with Scorpio. Partnerships grow when they are rooted in honesty, especially with ourselves. We can compromise in pursuit of our desires but if we don’t even know what they are, all we’re left with are manipulation and chance.

Getting the most out of our resources is another expression of Saturn in Scorpio. Scarcity could be a collective problem but, ideally, will lead to more efficient systems of production and distribution. Cleaning up toxins in the environment and within our bodies and minds are other healthy expressions of this transit.

How money is handled, especially involving insurance and debt, grows in importance with Saturn in Scorpio. There may be even more abuses in the financial world but that could be what it takes to make some significant reforms. Borrowing for well-defined purposes and with a realistic repayment schedule is an appropriate way to use this cycle.

Sexual repression is a dark side of Saturn in Scorpio. The AIDS epidemic was at a very high level in the early 80s, the last time this transit occurred. Responsiblity for erotic inclinations doesn’t mean that they should be suppressed but rather that we deepen our understanding of them. Tantra, a form of sacred sexuality, teaches us about intimacy that is not possible when we deny this essential part of ourselves.

@Tarot.com is a Daily Insight Group Site

The Wisdom of Buddha

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.

Crack the Cookie

Your Daily Influences for June 16

Your Daily Influences
June 16, 2015

Ace of Pentacles
Prosperity, pleasure and beauty can be realized.

Berkano
Berkano is the Rune of birth and rebirth. This may symbolize a time when you are capable of great personal growth. Love may be in the air as well.

Scorpio the Scorpion
This aspect of your life will be strongly influenced by a person who is determined, forceful, emotional, intuitive, powerful, passionate, exciting and magnetic. This person is probably an acquaintance you made at work.

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 16th is Aquarius the Water Bearer

Your Charm for Today

Today’s Meaning:
This aspect of your life will be strongly influenced by a person who is friendly, humanitarian, honest, loyal, original, inventive, independent and intellectual. If you can identify this person get close to them–they can be quite helpful.

General Description:
Eleventh sign of the Zodiac, Jan 20th to Feb 19th. Ruling planet Uranus; correct metal lead. Those born under the influence of the Aquarius were supposed to be intelligent, of strong will power, restless, inventive, deep thinkers, artistic and cautious in money matters. The Aquarius gems are Garnet and Hyacinth. The Garnet, throughout India and Persia, was a favorite amulet against plague and poison, also worn to attract cheerfulness and good health. In the middle ages used as a charm to protect against all inflammatory disease and to ensure happiness. It was also supposed to warn its wearer of approaching peril and danger.

Your Past, Present & Future Reading for June 16 Using Dominos

Today’s Past, Present & Future Reading Using Dominos

That Which is Behind You

Blank/Three

The opportunity to strengthen your spiritual self is before you. These moments are very rare in one’s life, so it would behoove you to take advantage of this one.

Your Current Place

Two/Three

Your livelihood or work appears to lack orderliness. This makes it difficult for you to move ahead or find purpose in your work. Now is a good time for you to organize your work place and develop new strategies for managing the tasks before you.

That Which is before You

Blank/One

A new life’s path is unfolding before you. Opportunities abound. You will do well if you have the courage to move down this new path, and do not stray from acting morally.

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