They ought to know, they can’t get rid of me….

I’m here to have some fun, lots of fun!

Wild and crazy fun!

Tons of fun!

Lots of fun, oops, already said that!

That’s why they call me….

THE WILD & CRAZY WITCH!

Astronomers unveil history-making 1st black hole photo

Today (April 10, 2019), in coordinated press conferences around the world, researchers unveiled the first direct visual evidence – a photo, albeit in the “light” of radio waves – of a supermassive black hole’s event horizon. The image (above) is the result of a multi-year, international collaboration. The astronomers said it presents “paradigm-shifting” observations of the gargantuan black hole in the center of the galaxy M87, 55 million light-years from Earth. The image doesn’t show the black hole itself; black holes are black because no light can escape them, and thus the holes themselves are invisible. Instead, the image shows what astronomers are calling the black hole’s “shadow,” a bright ring formed as light bends in the intense gravity around the hole. This black hole, by the way, at M87’s heart, is thought to be some 6.5 billion times more massive than our sun.

To obtain the image, astronomers used the Event Horizon Telescope (@ehtelescope on Twitter) – a planet-scale array of eight ground-based radio telescopes – designed specifically to capture the first-ever black hole photo.

This breakthrough was announced today in a series of six papers published in a special issue of The Astrophysical Journal Letters. To say it is a big deal for astronomers is an understatement. Although black holes have been studied for decades, they’ve been largely theoretical objects. All the images you’ve ever seen of them have been computer simulations, or artist’s conceptions, until now.

Event Horizon Telescope project director Sheperd S. Doeleman of the Harvard-Smithsionian Center for Astrophysics said in a statement:

We have taken the first picture of a black hole. This is an extraordinary scientific feat accomplished by a team of more than 200 researchers.

And here’s more from a statement from the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT):

Published on EarthSky

Enthusiastic Jupiter, the happy-go-lucky planet of expansion and growth, is slowing down and turning backward in the sign of Sagittarius from April 10-August 11, 2019.

During this time, we may not feel as optimistic about things, and our plans to tackle big new ideas or endeavors will slow and perhaps stall. Jupiter is a philosophical planet and Sagittarius is a philosophical sign, so this retrograde period will encourage us to open our minds and see beyond our limitations.

Do you like your job? Are you happy in your relationship? Have you been fooling yourself about something? Jupiter Retrograde asks those kinds of questions, and gives you four months to think about the answers.

Even while retrograde, bountiful Jupiter wants to help you figure out how to grow and change and become the best version of yourself. Use this time wisely — it’s a gift!

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Your Domino for the Month of April

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.

Your MahJong Tile For The Month of April

Wan 8
Symbol: Knot

The Knot tile represents both bonding and severing. If the Sword tile (2 Wan) is in your reading then the time to sever ties with someone or something is at hand. Conversely if the Duck tile (2 Bamboo) is in your reading then there is bond that will strengthen. If both or neither appear in your reading, then you have a relationship of some kind that is of undecided value.

Got’cha! You thought it was going to be a Bee, lol!

Sorry, I can’t find anything lovely about Bees, I am allergic to them. Besides this little guy is adorable, makes me miss my bobcat, Razputin.

Your Daily Ogham Reading for April 10th

Nuin-Ash

The “World Tree” in Norse mythology was an ash tree; many cultures have looked to the ash tree as a source of power and order. Ash is a hardwood known for its use for weapons, sports, and musical instruments. This hardiness of ash denotes its symbolism for order, harmony, balance, and the status quo. Drawing the Nuin symbol can take on a variety of meanings, however it is most often associated with a life of peace and symmetry.

Fortune -When you find this Ogham, a great fate is at work. Take action now and let destiny carry you to the finish line!

FERTILITY, FLOWERS, AND FREE LOVE: THESE ARE MAY DAY’S PAGAN ORIGINS

• ELLEN RICKS

If you dig deep enough into history, you’ll find that most modern holidays steam from pagan traditions. With the rise of Christianity, many religious leaders repurposed pre-existing pagan holidays to fit a Christian mold to gain access to more of the population and ease the transition from one religion to the next. May Day is no exception. Recognized on the first day of May, May Day is a time to celebrate spring and all the comes with it (think: a beribboned Maypole). But May Day is actually the daughter of three deeply pagan traditions that welcomed the height of spring and offered transmutable material for many of the Christian traditions still embraced today (spoiler: hares, eggs, and beans, the hallmarks of Easter, are all synonymous with fertility). Here are three springtime bacchanals that predate May Day.

FLORALIA

Often cited as the earliest May Day celebration, Floralia was celebrated in ancient Rome from April 28–May 3 to honor Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers, spring, and fertility. Floralia was an expectedly wild party for the ancient Romans, and saw them trading white togas for more colorful clothing—or no clothing at all. The festival included a set of public games know as the Ludi Florales, which featured a gladiator contest, theatrical performances, and circus events. Hares and goats, considered fertility animals, were released during the celebration. Ancient Romans were also encouraged to scatter beans—another symbol of fertility—on the steps of Flora’s temple during the festivities. Floralia was known to be a party for prostitutes, who, in ancient Roman society, were slaves and outcasts. During Floralia, sex workers were not only allowed to observe social events but actively partake in them by dancing naked and fighting in faux gladiator combat.

BELTANE

Beltane is Wiccan Sabbat, and was originally observed throughout Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. Held on the evening of April 30–May 1 (halfway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice) the holiday was a nod to the Celtic god Bel (meaning “bright one”), as well as the general life force of light, and was a time to welcome new life and fertility. Beltane can be translated as “bright fire,” and, expectedly, fire played a major part in the revelries. The event kicked off on the night of April 30 with a huge bonfire around which people danced, played music, and made love all night in the woods—a practice called going a-Maying. Participants decorated their homes with flowers and plants such as primrose, rowan, hawthorn, hazel, and marsh marigolds to increase fertility and good fortune. Beltane was also a time in which the aos si (the Irish name for elementals like fairies and spirits) were most active in the mortal realm. People would leave milk on their doorsteps or at the base of trees as an offering to the fairies.

WALPURGISNACHT

Walpurgisnacht—also known as Walpurgis Night, Hexennacht, or Witches’ Night, depending on who you ask—was a German holiday, celebrated on the eve of April 30–May 1. With its heavy focus on costumes and witchcraft, Walpurgisnacht was almost like an old world incarnation of what we now call Halloween. According to German folklore, on Witches Night’ it was believed that witches would meet on the highest peak in the Harz Mountain of central Germany. The witches were said to fly around the mountain as the humans harkened the beginning of spring, dancing around bonfires to increase the chances of fertility.

This pagan tradition shifted somewhat with the arrival of Christianity: Hexennacht became Walpurgisnacht, and Walpurgisnacht became a holiday to honor the English Saint Walpurga, who is credited for driving witches out of Germany. Rather than associating the bonfire with spring and fertility, the bonfire was suddenly said to drive out witches. People began to dance around the bonfire in costume, banging pots and pans to scare away spirits. Some hung foliage from their homes meant to protect themselves. The history of Walpurgisnacht is the ultimate example of a pagan holiday turned on its head to uphold Christianity.

So this May Day, welcome spring with both hope for the future and a backward glance. And good luck keeping your clothes on!

Published on Astrology.com

The Springtime of Your Soul

a message from Brenda Hoffman

Dear Ones,

It is the springtime of your soul and you do not wish to “have to” do anything other than watch flowers and trees bloom.

So it is you find yourself irritated with those who attempt to have you conform to their idea of what is right for you.

Those of you reading this message in the southern hemisphere are even more confused with your need to play, to be, despite many activities requiring your services.

Playing in the dirt planting flowers is likely labeled fun now. While working in a stuffy office feels uncalled for or unpleasant. You feel as you did as a child when you were ill watching your friends play in the sunshine as you lay on your bed pining for your release.

Playtime is now your focus Even when you vacation, you will discover you have different interests than was true just months ago. You will likely not have a need for deep conversations or indoor activities. Instead, you will pine for the outdoors, for the freedom to run in the green grass and sunshine.

Of course, you laugh at our comments for you are a dedicated, self-motivated earth adult who always attends to your responsibilities despite any longings to run or play.

Such was who you were, but you will soon discover, if you have not already, that responsibilities do not seem fun or achieve the attention they once did.

Those of you responsible for young children or surrounded by adults not yet enamored of the freedom to play that you are now feeling will question your actions and words.

And do not be surprised if you find yourself pouting if your outside or fun activities are curtailed.

You no longer feel like the mature adult you forced yourself to be despite your misgivings along the way. Who wishes to earn a certain livelihood so others and you can be cared for, housed, and fed? Why is it your responsibility to care for others? When and why did those tight parameters of shoulds and have tos become you?

So it is you question your daily routines. Not because they are terrible, but because they are no longer you. You have become more childlike, more ready to laugh and play. And less interested in required tasks that are no longer fun.

What will happen to you and your family? What will happen to your society if you and others drop out? What indeed, for doing so will require you, and others like you, to create new worlds, directions, and playtimes.

Perhaps such a thought is horrifying for you were trained throughout your life to persevere, to be responsible.

Some of you attempted a playtime life in the 60s and 70s only to redirect your energies to what and who others thought you should be. Others of you never allowed yourself to play, even as a child. For you dedicated your efforts to who you were supposed to be, instead of who you are.

So it is your child-centered life has returned with the added elements of understanding your world differently and likely, better.

As a child, most of you assumed you would be fed and cared for in a timely fashion. As you matured, you realized that your mantle, your role was to feed and care for those younger than you. So it went earth generation after generation.

Those few adults who allowed themselves to play, dream, and imagine instead of working as they were expected to, were labeled an oddity. Of course, there were actors and other beings who allowed themselves to play roles in a child-like fashion, but even they adhered to the need to be better or wealthier than others. Establishing competitions within fields of study and work, neighborhoods, families, and relationships. Unlike children too young to do anything but play until they no longer wish to play.

Granted, competition may be the result of who has the sand pail, but all in all, most young children do not care about much more than having fun until something is no longer fun.

So it is for you now.

Competition is valid when you believe there is a limitation of anything. But if you can create whatever you wish, and you can, there is no need for competition, just the need to play with your skills to learn new ways to interact with new playmates.

Many of those you once interacted with, are not yet be able to play without competition or needs. So it is you are beginning to define new you in new ways.

The obvious question is whether those you elect to play with will honor new you or will you seem so “odd” that most will refuse to interact with you? A question that cannot be answered until you allow yourself to be. For this thought of fully becoming you in play and fun, is so radical that those of you reading this message are likely frightened.

Do you not understand how far you have shifted from your original intent prior to entering the earth in this lifetime and other lifetimes? For accepting the earth assignment you are excited about, means you might be ostracized by those you love. Not because you are cruel or acting abnormal, but because you dare to claim your being in the sunshine and play.

Actions many of you started but were afraid to follow-through decades ago. So you turned to drugs to understand your feelings and then to the dictates of previous generations. Fun was no longer about laughing in the sunshine, but instead making the most money or having the right kind of friends or the best job, etc. All outer-directed activities that have little to do with your inner sunshine.

Which returns us to the question of how do you live in fun and laughter when most are competitively focussed?

Allow yourself to be and you will discover how – for your laughter and joy will create what you need when you need it. Not because you have to eat, but because you have to live. And the only way you can now live is in joy. So be it. Amen.

Copyright 2009-2019, Brenda Hoffman. All rights reserved. Please feel free to share this content with others, post on your blog, add to your newsletter, etc., but maintain this article’s integrity by including the author/channel:  Brenda Hoffman & source website link: http://www.LifeTapestryCreations.com