Celebrating Other Spirituality 365 Days a Year – Concordia

July 22

Concordia

The oldest and main temple of Concordia was built or restored to commemorate the end of the struggle between the patricians and the plebeians. Concordia was the personification of concord and was sometimes identified with Homonoia, the Greek embodiment of harmony. Her temple stood on the northwestern side of the Forum Romanum in Rome, at the foot of Capitoline Hill, and was the site of the annual festival held in her honor on July 22. As with most Roman festivals, there would have been games and a sacrifice. This is a good time to rekindle an old friendship or begin new ones.

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!

Today Is …

Nessie ~ On this date in the year 1930, the first sighting of the famous monster of Loch Ness was officially recorded in Scotland. Old Nessie (as the monster has been affectionately nicknamed) has since been witnessed by thousands of people and continues to attract countless numbers of tourists with cameras to Loch Ness each year.

Day Dedicated to Arinna – She is an Anatolia Sun Goddess. Spend as much of the day as you can in the sun or try starting a fire using a concave lens and the sun. Place a sunflower on your altar.

Horse God – On the 23rd day of the 6th lunar montyh, the Chinese honor the Horse-god (Mawang).

Blackburn, Bonnie & Leofranc Holford-Strevens, The Oxford Companion to the Year, Oxford University Press 1999

St Mary Magdalene – Today is the Feast day for St. Mary Magdalene Mary Magdalene is the fallen woman who washed Christ’s feet with her tears and dried them with her hair; thus she is the patron saint of prostitutes. Because of her long hair she is the patron of hairdressers, and because her emblem is the ointment jar, she is the patron of apothecaries. She was also invoked for help with fasting. The red rose is her plant. For a new treatment of her story, see Clytie Kinstler’s The Moon Under Her Feet.

She may have been a devotee of Astarte. There is some connection between the seven demons which afflicted her, and the seven initiations Inanna undergoes in her descent to the Underworld and the seven veils which Salome wears in her famous dance. The village of Migdala (from whence her name) is the Village of Doves, which connects her with Anahit, the Persian goddess honored with a sacrifice of doves and roses at her midsummer festival (see Vartavar, July 28).

She has long been associated with dance and music. In Normandy, in the thirteenth century, nuns danced on her feast-day.

If it rains today, the English say that Mary Magdalen is washing her handkerchief to go to her cousin St James’s Fair in three days time. But heavy rain now can be disastrous for the harvest and the Cumbrians say:

A Magdalen flood

Never did good.

Tristram and Iseult ~ One of the greatest legends of Cornwall is the tragic tale of Tristram and Iseult – sometimes known as Tristan and Isolde. The story is that Tristram, the nephew of King Mark of Cornwall, was mortally wounded in a fight where he killed the brother of the Queen of Ireland. As he was expected to die, he was sent out to sea in a boat without sails. By chance, the boat reached the shores of Ireland, where he was nursed back to health by the beautiful Iseult, daughter of the King of Ireland.

To cut a long story short, Tristram could not stay in Ireland as he was responsible for the death of the Queen’s brother, so he returned to Cornwall. A little later, King Mark sent him back to Ireland to bring back Iseult who was to be his queen. On the way back, the couple accidentally drank a love potion intended for Mark and Iseult on their wedding night.

The young couple fell deeply in love and carried on an illicit affair even after she married. King Mark became suspicious and although Iseult managed to allay these suspicions, Tristram left the country. He married a Breton girl, who was also called Iseult, but he never stopped loving the Queen of Cornwall. When he was wounded in battle, he sent for her to heal his wounds and asked that a white sail be flown from the ship if she was on board when it returned.

Tristram’s jealous wife told him that the returning ship flew only a black sail and he died of grief. When Iseult heard of his death, she died of a broken heart. A cross at Castle Dor is said to mark the grave of Tristram.

Remember The Ancient Ways and Keep Them Holy!

• • • •.

Courtesy of GrannyMoonsMorningFeast

The Witches Correspondences for Wednesday, July 22

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

Charm: 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, July 22nd

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

St. Mary Magdalene’s Day

Waxing Moon

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

Moon phase: First Quarter

Moon Sign: Libra

Libra: Favors cooperation, social activities, beautification of surroundings, balance, and partnership.

Sun enters Leo 11: 30 pm

Leo: Draws emphasis to the self, central ideas, or institutions, away from connections with others and other emotional needs. People tend to be melodramatic.

Incense: Lilac

Color: White

Wednesday Witchery

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

Ruler: Wodin, Mercury

Colors: Orange, light blue, and gray

Power Hours: Sunrise and the 8th, 16th, and 24th hours following

Keywords: Success, creativity, communication

The word Wednesday is reminiscent of the Norse wind god Wodin, which is referenced in the popular rhyme verse “Wednesday’s child is full of woe.” This does not mean that those born on this day are full of sorrow or trouble. To be full of Wo (Wodin) means to be full of wind, to be spirited. Woden was such a powerful pagan god that the German church fathers changed the name of his day to Mittwoch, meaning midweek, in an attempt to exorcise his influence.

In the Spanish word for Wednesday, miercoles, we clearly see its connection to Mercury. Under the guidance of Mercury; Wednesday is a day of swift activity, communication, correspondence, and phone calls. This is a good day for journalists, writers, poets, bargaining, hiring employees, and visiting friends.

On Wednesdays, the hour of sunrise and every eight hours after that are also ruled by Mercury, making these times of the day doubly blessed. These are the strongest four hours for ritual work. Check your local newspaper, astrological calendar, or almanac to determine when sunrise occurs.

Source:

Gypsy Magic

Tasha’s Day by Day Planner for July 2015

Wed. 7/22 Artistic Libra Moon suggests rearranging for harmony. Sun into Leo expands our hearts.

Thu. 7/23 Arbitrating Libra Moon brings out fair mindedness. Mercury enters Leo enhancing romantic communication. Sun/Mercury speeds our words.

Fri. 7/24 Passionate Scorpio Moon heightens feelings today.

Sat. 7/25 Intense Scorpio Moon suggests a tight rein on feelings especially with Venus turning retrograde and a strong Mars/Uranus aspect. Watch out!

Sun. 7/26 Adventuresome Sagittarius Moon is enhanced by Uranus turning retrograde. Almost anything could happen.

Mon. 7/27 Philosophical Sagittarius Moon helps us cope.

Contact tashahal@gmail.com

Courtesy of GrannyMoonsMorningFeast

Lunabar Moon Almanack for Wednesday, 22 July, 2015

Waxing, Crescent Moon Age: days.

Moon in Via Combusta.

Moon in 18th degree of the Sign Libra, the Balance;

also in 25th deg. of the Constellation Virgo, the Virgin.

Moonrise: 12:06 eve. Souths: 6:04 eve.

• • • •

Sun enters Leo (tropical)

Wednesday, 22 July 2015

Waxing Crescent Moon

Time: From New Moon To Full (Approx. 14 Days)

Goddess Aspect: Maiden

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

Magickal Attributes: Invoking Beginnings, New Projects, Ideas, Inspiriation, Energy, Vitality, Freedom. Workings On This Day Are For “Constructive” Magick (Love, Wealth,

Success, Courage, Friendship, Luck Or Health.)

Perform magic on waxing moons to attract a new quality or behavior, to increase the light within, to attain personal and spiritual growth and greater awareness. The quarter moon suggests a period of overcoming obstacles and continuing on the path to growth.

Spells and rituals involving the Air Element should be performed when the Moon is in the Air sign: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius.

Aspects of Libra ~ Yang, Masculine, Solar, Positive, Diurnal, Airy, Cardinal, Semi-fruitful, Horary Western, Autumnal, Austral, Obeying, Equinoctial, Moist, Vocal, Sweet, Hot.

• • • •

Moon Moon, Mother Moon

Lunar Lore

The full-orb’d moon, with her nocturnal ray

Shed o’er the scene a lovely flood of day.

~Wheelwright’s Pindar, Olymp. Ode X.

)0(

Lunistice: the point at which the moon has the

greatest northing or southing during her monthly course.

~ Brewer’s “Dictionary of Phrase and Fable.”

• • • •

Courtesy of GrannyMoonsMorningFeast

Lunabar Sun Almanack for Wednesday, 22 July, 2015

Sunrise: 6:00 morn. Sunset: 8:28 eve.

Length of Day: 14h. 28m.

Dawn: 5:29 morn. Dusk: 8:59 eve.

Length of Twilight: 0h. 30m.

Sun in 29th degree of the Sign Crabba, the Crab fish;

also in 2nd degree of the Constellation Crabba, the Crab;

)0(

The sun pale and (as we call it) watery at its rising

denotes rain; if it set pale, wind.

~Francis Bacon, “Historia Ventorum”.

• • • •

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

• • • •

Courtesy of GrannyMoonsMorningFeast

It’s Wednesday, my dear, precious family! May You Have A Very Blessed Day!

Goddess, give us strength

To cope with the conditions that surround us

To be brave in the face of adversity

To do our best under trying circumstances.

Goddess, give us courage

To go forth into a difficult world

To face the ignorance of other

To continue to strive for our own improvement.

Goddess, give us patience

With our shortcomings and those of others

With pain, frustration and setbacks

With the limitations we must deal with daily.

Goddess, give us hope

The we may maintain a positive attitude

That we may greet each & every day with renewed spirit

And that we might remain open to the possibility of miracles.

So Mote It Be.

Have a very beautiful Tuesday afternoon. Till tomorrow, my loves…

And Last But Not Least, A Few Goodies To Pamper Yourself With….

Even the busiest of witches deserves a little pampering now and again. Take a moment out of your busy schedule to try a few of these goodies out. Enjoy!

~Harmonious Milk Bath~

2 cups dry milk powder

1/8 teaspoon fragrance oil of your choice

Mix together all ingredients…well.

Add ½ cup of mixture to hot bath water.

~Make Your Skin Soft Bath~

Add ¼ cup of Apple Cider Vinegar to a bath. Use this in place of store bought bubble bath, harsh oils and other chemicals that can cause urinary tract problems and yeast infections.

~Honey Bath~

*Author’s Note: I am not fond of honey in the bath and have never used this recipe, but would be remiss if I didn’t add it, for those who do like honey and wish to try their hand at using it

Add ¼ cup or so of honey to your bath. Remember that honey is sticky! If you feel the need to wash off afterward, don’t feel badly. Simply use your bag of soap scraps for bathing!

~A Relaxing Bath~

½ cup fresh or ¼ cup dried herbs of your choice

½ cup fresh or ¼ cup dried chamomile tea (simply add the tea bag to the bigger bag!)

Add the fresh or dried herbs to the bag and close snugly. Add to bathwater and allow it to steep for at least 15 minutes. Take this time to relax and enjoy the scents that will surround you. If you’d like, use the bag of herbs as a scented washcloth!

Flower Bath/Herb Bath

No need for a muslin bag or other bag, just make sure that you are prepared to clean up if you use these oh-so relaxing ways, to refresh your body and spirit. Throw a hand full of your favorite flowers or herbs, in your bathtub and soak until your heart is content.

Remember to make certain they are pure, and not chemically treated! The following are always good: chamomile, lavender, rose, daisy, and dandelion, just to name a few. Don’t want to waste the flowers or herbs, after you have used them? Easy! Just strain the bath water with a piece of fabric as it drains and then dry them and use the herbs/flowers in potpourri!

Source:

THE PRIMITIVE WITCH’S HANDBOOK THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE FOR THE PRIMITIVE/COUNTRY WITCH IN A MODERN WORLD…

Van Scoyoc, Andrea Dean

Incense of the Day for July 21 is Spirits Depart Incense

Incense of the Day

SPIRITS DEPART INCENSE

2 Parts Fennel seed
2 Parts Dill seed
1/2 Part Rue

Burn out of doors to drive away all evil spirits and vain imaginings.

Gemstone of the Day for July 21 is Palladium

Gemstone of the Day

Palladium

Palladium was discovered in 1803 by William Hyde Wollaston, who named it after the asteroid Pallas, which was discovered at about the same time. Pallas was the Greek Goddess of Wisdom.

Hardness: 4.75

Specific Gravity: 106.4

Chemistry: PD

Class: Isometric – Hexoctahedral

Crystallography: Cubic

Cleavage: none

Fracture: elastic

Streak: Grey

Luster: metallic

Healing: Palladium is an excellent stone to use in healing. It is used in the treatment of lung disorders, circulatory problems and cerebral cortex issues.

Workings: Palladium is used in astral projection and for connecting with ancient wisdom on the ethereal level. Palladium is associated with the astrological signs of Sagittarius and Ares. It vibrates to the number 8.

Chakra Applications: Palladium is used to cleanse and energize the Solar Plexus chakra.

Foot Notes: Palladium chloride was at one time prescribed as a tuberculosis treatment but was discontinued due to its many side effects. Palladium is one of the three most popular metals (along with nickel and silver) used to make white gold alloys. Palladium itself has been used as a precious metal in jewelry since 1939, as an alternative to platinum or white gold.

Source:
Author: Crick

Website: The Whispering Woods

Herb of the Day for July 21 is Bittersweet

Herb of the Day

Bittersweet

Medicinal Uses: The bark of the root is used. The root-bark tea induces sweating and is diuretic and emetic. Externally the bark is used in an ointment for burns, scrapes, skin eruptions.

Bittersweet is a narcotic herb containing solanine and in large doses can paralyze the central nervous system. Bittersweet is used to treat skin diseases, bronchial conditions and asthma.

Magickal uses: This is a masculine herb. It is ruled by the planet Mercury and its element is Air. Shepherds hung it as a charm around the necks of their animals as protection from evil.

Properties: narcotic, exportant, diuretic

Growth: This is a climbing, twining shrub. It grows up to 50 feet in height. The leaves are ovate to oblong, sharp pointed and fine-toothed. The flowers are greenish and in clusters, May to June. The fruit capsule is scarlet to orange, splitting, to reveal scarlet seeds. The stems are green and slightly hairy at first but become woody with age. It grows in hedges, wasteways and swamps. Bittersweet is found in North America and Europe.

All parts of this plant including the berries are potentially toxic.

Source:
Author: Crick

Website: The Whispering Woods

Deity of the Day for July 21 is Ceres, Goddess of the Grain Fields

Deity of the Day

Ceres

Goddess of the Grain Fields

During the classical age of the Roman Empire, the main industry was farming. A reliable and huge food supply was necessary as the population of the ever-expanding Roman Empire grew. Roman society was divided into several groups – there were the patricians, who were typically the landowners, and involved in policy and decision-making. There were also plebeians, who were average people who worked in shops and as craftsmen or laborers.

Finally, there were slaves, and the slaves were the backbone of the Roman farming industry.

Vast numbers of slaves were required to maintain the millions of acres of crops that were grown to feed the Roman people – remember, the Roman Empire at one point boasted almost seventy million people. That was about a fifth of the world’s population at the time. Because grain was a high-yield crop, well-organized agriculture could keep the populace from starving.

Ceres was the goddess of grain, specifically maize, and of the harvest season. According to Roman legend, she was the one who taught mankind how to farm. She is associated with agricultural fertility and a bountiful harvest.

Offerings and sacrifices were made to Ceres by landowners, and she was called upon during the summer months to watch over the crops and protect them from drought, insects, and flooding.

Ceres’ story parallels that of the Greek goddess Demeter. In the Roman telling of the tale, Ceres had a daughter named Proserpine, who was taken away by Pluto to the underground.

Ceres searched everywhere but was unable to find her beautiful daughter, and as she grieved for her missing child, she was so upset that all of the crops stopped growing. As a great famine struck, Ceres discovered that Proserpine was in fact with Pluto. He agreed that Proserpine could spend six months of the year with her mother, and six with him in the underworld. Each year when Proserpine returns to Pluto’s realm, the land grows cold and the crops wither and die. In the spring, she returns, and Ceres brings life to the land once more.

Today, we still use Ceres’ name as part of our regular vocabulary – crunched up gain is called cereal in her honor.

Source:
Author: Patti Wigington, Paganism/Wicca Expert

Website: Article found on & owned by About.com

Just A Little Thought…..

Astronomy Picture of the Day – Comet Tails and Star Trails

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 July 21

Comet Tails and Star Trails
Image Credit & Copyright: Kevin Parker

Explanation: After grazing the western horizon on northern summer evenings Comet PanSTARRS (also known as C/2014 Q1) climbed higher in southern winter skies. A visitor to the inner Solar System discovered in August 2014 by the prolific panSTARRS survey, the comet was captured here on July 17. Comet and colorful tails were imaged from Home Observatory in Mackay, Queensland, Australia. The field of view spans just over 1 degree. Sweeping quickly across a the sky this comet PanSTARRS was closest to planet Earth about 2 days later. Still, the faint stars of the constellation Cancer left short trails in the telescopic image aligned to track the comet’s rapid motion. PanSTARRS’ bluish ion tails stream away from the Sun, buffetted by the solar wind. Driven by the pressure of sunlight, its more diffuse yellowish dust tail is pushed outward and lags behind the comet’s orbit. A good target for binoculars from southern latitudes, in the next few days the comet will sweep through skies near Venus, Jupiter, and bright star Regulus.

Your cosmic guide to life with the Sun in Leo

The Sun in Leo

Your cosmic guide to life with the Sun in Leo

Get ready for a roaring good time! The Sun is moving into larger-than-life Leo from July 22 to Aug. 22, and the world is about to become more fun, creative and romantic while the loving Lion rules.

As we emerge from the sweet, sentimental days of Sun in Cancer, we’ll feel a burst of new energy and more desire to go out on the town and socialize. While Cancer loves to snuggle up at home where it’s safe, bold Leo wants to get out there and grab lots of attention.

Those born from July 19-25 were born on the Cancer-Leo cusp, and those born from about August 19-25 were born on the Leo-Virgo cusp. Being born on the cusp simply means that you were born during the transition time between two zodiac signs, so you retain some qualities from each sign.

This is great mid-summer news for those of us who want to play in the sun and make lots of love! Leo is one sexy beast, so let’s celebrate by making the most of life during Sun in Leo.

Celebrate by making the most of life during Sun in Leo!

What to do: Reach for the stars! Confident Leo doesn’t hold back, so now’s the time to go after what you want — whether it’s a relationship, a job or a new project or adventure. Leo is strong (some would say aggressive), outgoing and ambitious, so you’re sure to succeed when there’s such determined energy in the air.

What to say: Everything! Bold Leo is an expressive sign that doesn’t hold anything back. Whatever you want to declare — be it love or war — now ‘s the time for all manner of creative, loving and fearless expression.

Where to go: The theater, but don’t just watch the show — get up on that stage and the center, because Leo loves the limelight. You’ll also have a great time at the park or just the neighborhood pub, as Leo loves to play games and flirt.

What to wear: Something glamorous and sexy, of course. Leo dresses to get noticed, so put on your finest. We’re talking lots of bright colors like red and hot pink, and be as daring as you like — nothing is too short or too low-cut for Leo.

What to watch out for: Leo is sexy and self-assured, which can sometimes come across as vanity or arrogance. Be careful of being too pushy or aggressive during this time. Also, it’s good to speak fearlessly from the heart, but be careful of others’ feelings. Leo loves to purr, but this cat can also bite.

What to look forward to: Expect lots of love and affection and attention from the cuddly Lion. This adds up to a great time when you’re out and about, and if you’re lucky enough to have someone you love at home you’ll be playfully pawing each other non-stop.

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