St. Gobnet or St. Domnu Day, originally Sheela-na-Gig, Irish Earth Mother, Patroness of Birth and Women. She is Eileathyia, Carmen, Cardea, Astarte, Artemis, Diana, Yemaya, Mylitta, Chalchiuhtlique, Changing Woman, Copper Woman, Spider Woman, Iatiku, Demeter, Rhea, Kali, Calleach, Old Woman. Also, Old Maid’s Day, Free Women’s Festival in the United States (Pennsylvania).
Source
The Goddess Book of Days
Diane Stein
In ancient Egypt, Ra, the Sun God, received special attention in the form of sacrifices from his Earth-bound worshipers on the fourth day of each month. At temples dedicated to Ra, thrice-daily rituals were performed by the high priest, who had purified himself in the waters of the sacred lake before approaching the inner sanctum containing the statue that, it was believed, housed the God’s essence. At dawn, this divine image would be “awakened” by the smell of burning incense before being washed, anointed, dressed, and presented with food and other offerings.
On this Independence Day, thank your lucky stars (if you are an American citizen) that you are free to worship as you wish. The First Amendment of the U. S. Constitution reads; “Congress shall make no laws respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
Wednesday is the day of the Teutonic deity known as Wodin or Odin, an aspect of the Allfather, god of knowledge, wisdom, enlightenment and combat, the parallel of Hermes, the planet Mercury.
Deity: Woden
Zodiac Sign: Gemini & Virgo
Planet: Mercury
Tree: Ash
Herb: Cinquefoil
Stone: Emerald & Sardonyx
Animal: Raven & Cat
Element: Air
Color: Red & Blue
Number: 6
Rune: Odal(O)
The Celtic Tree Month of Duir (Oak) (June 10 – July 7)
Runic Half Month of Ur (July 14 – July 28)
Goddess of the Month of Rosea (June 13 – July 10)
Source
The Pagan Book of Days
Nigel Pennick
By Maria Vultaggio
Happy birthday, America! Picnics, barbeques, cold drinks and fireworks: These are just some of the staples of the Fourth of July. But without America’s Founding Fathers — George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and James Monroe — there wouldn’t be an Independence Day to celebrate.
While most Americans know that the U.S.’s birthday is celebrated on July 4, it’s a misconception that all the signers of the Declaration of Independence signed it on the Fourth of July. For more fun facts about America’s Independence Day, keep reading:
1. How many people signed the Declaration of Independence on July Fourth?
Two.
2. What day did most signers of the Declaration of Independence actually sign the document?
Aug. 2, 1776.
3. Did you know which president was born on July 4?
It was Calvin Coolidge, the 30th president, in 1872.
4. Which three presidents died on the Fourth of July:
They were three of the first five presidents: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe. The second president, Adams, and the third, Jefferson, both died in 1826, the 50th anniversary.
5. Most of the Founding Fathers agreed that July Fourth is the correct day to celebrate America’s independence from Great Britain — except one. Who is it and why?
Adams thought July 2, the day the Second Continental Congress voted in Philadelphia to declare independence from Britain, would be the day patriots celebrated. “The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America,” Adams wrote on July 3. “It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.
6. When did the Fourth of July become a legal federal holiday?
1870. Then, in 1938, Congress reaffirmed the holiday to make sure all workers received full pay.
7. Is there something written on the back of the Declaration of Independence?
Yes! It’s said the following is written upside down and backwards: “Original Declaration of Independence dated 4th July 1776.” It’s not known who wrote it, or when. In Revolutionary War years, parchment was rolled up, so this probably served as a message.
8. The Nathan’s Fourth of July Hot Dog Contest has become an annual tradition. How did it start?
It’s a pretty cute story: Legend has it that four immigrants got into an argument over who was most patriotic. To prove themselves, they ate as many hot dogs as they could handle — because nothing says America like excess.
9. America isn’t the only nation that celebrates the Fourth of July. Which other countries do, and why?
It might sound odd, but if you celebrate the Fourth of July outside the U.S., you still might see fireworks in Denmark, England, Norway, Portugal and Sweden. This is because thousands of people emigrated to the U.S. in the early 1900s. Some European celebrations on the Fourth take place near tourist destinations — to attract U.S. travelers — or near American military bases.
10. When were fireworks first used to celebrate July Fourth?
1777. Congress chose fireworks as a way to celebrate the first anniversary. They were ignited over Philadelphia. The celebration also included bonfires and bells.
11. How many people lived in the U.S. when the Declaration was signed?
2.5 million.
12. What baseball player threw a 4-0 no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox on July 4, 1983?
New York Yankees pitcher Dave Righetti. It was the first no-hitter in 27 years.
13. Which newspaper first printed the Declaration of Independence?
The Pennsylvania Evening Post
14. Which president first held a Fourth of July celebration at the White House?
Thomas Jefferson
15. Which country gained independence from the United States on July Fourth?
The Philippines did in 1946.
Published on International Business Times
Today is July 4th, the birthday of the United States of America. Here’s a look at the history of the 4th of July:
On July 4, 1776, the thirteen colonies declared their independence from England, an event which eventually led to the formation of what is today the United States. Each year on July 4th, Americans celebrate this historic event.
Did you know that conflict between the colonies and England was already a year old when the colonies convened the Continental Congress in Philadelphia in the summer of 1776? In a June 7th session in the Pennsylvania State House (later known as Independence Hall), Richard Henry Lee of Virginia presented a resolution with these famous words:
“Resolved: That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.”
Lee’s words eventually led to the drafting of a formal Declaration of Independence. On July 1, 1776, the Continental Congress reconvened, and on the following day, the Lee Resolution for independence was adopted by 12 of the 13 colonies (New York did not vote). The process of revision continued through July 3rd and into the late afternoon of July 4th, when the Declaration was officially adopted.
Of the 13 colonies, nine voted in favor of the Declaration, two (Pennsylvania and South Carolina), voted “No.” Delaware was undecided and New York abstained.
John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress, signed the Declaration of Independence. It’s said the Hancock signed the declaration “with a great flourish so England’s “King George can read without spectacles!”
Today, the original copy of the Declaration of Independence is housed in the National Archives in Washington, D.C., and July 4th has been designated a national holiday to commemorate the day the United States laid its claim to be a free and independent nation.
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.
2018 July 3
An Airplane in Front of the Moon
Image Credit & Copyright: Ji-Hoon Kim
Explanation: If you look closely at the Moon, you will see a large airplane in front of it. Well, not always. OK, hardly ever. Actually, to capture an image like this takes precise timing, an exposure fast enough to freeze the airplane and not overexpose the Moon — but slow enough to see both, a steady camera, and luck — because not every plane that approaches the Moon crosses in front. Helpful equipment includes a camera with fast continuous video mode and a mount that automatically tracks the Moon. The featured fleeting superposition was captured from Seoul, South Korea two weeks ago during a daytime waxing gibbous moonrise. Within 1/10th of a second, the airplane crossingwas over.
Tonight, use the Big Dipper in the constellation Ursa Major the Great Bear to find the sky’s northern pole star, Polaris. This is the star around which the whole northern celestial sphere appears to turn throughout the night. That’s because this star is located nearly above Earth’s northern axis. In times past, wanderers on the northern face of Earth used Polaris to stay on course.
Once you find it, you can also look for Thuban, a famous former pole star in the constellation Draco the Dragon.
So how can you find Polaris? Look at the chart at the top of this post. You’ll simply draw a line through the Big Dipper’s pointer stars – Dubhe and Merak. That line will point to Polaris, the North Star. You can use this trick to find Polaris any evening – no matter how the Dipper is oriented with respect to your northern horizon.
Once you’ve got Polaris, if your sky is dark enough, you might be able to see the Little Dipper asterism. It’s harder to spot than the Big Dipper and needs a dark sky to be seen.
The chart below shows the Big Dipper, Little Dipper and the star Polaris as you’ll see them in the north on July evenings. Polaris marks the end of the handle on the Little Dipper asterism, which is in the constellation Ursa Minor.
In other words, the Little Dipper is not the whole constellation, but just a noticeable pattern within the constellation Ursa Minor the Smaller Bear.
Polaris isn’t the brightest star in the sky, as is commonly supposed. It’s only 50th brightest or so.
Still, Polaris is bright enough to be seen with relative ease on a dark, clear night.
How to find the star Thuban, and its constellation Draco the Dragon. As night deepens, and the fainter stars of the Little Dipper spring into view, those of you with dark-enough skies can expect to see a winding stream of stars between the Big and Little Dippers. These meandering stars make up the constellation Draco.
The star Thuban is one of the stars here, part of the Tail of the legendary constellation Draco the Dragon, a fixture of the northern skies. I always find Thuban by remembering it’s between the Big and Little Dippers.
Thuban is famous for having served as a pole star around 3000 B.C. This date coincides with the beginning of the building of the pyramids in Egypt. It’s said that the descending passage of the Great Pyramid of Khufu at Gizeh was built to point directly at Thuban. So our ancestors knew and celebrated this star.
Bottom line: Draw a line through the Big Dipper pointer stars to find Polaris the North Star. If your sky is dark, look for Thuban in the Tail of Draco the Dragon.
“Thor-is-as” – Literally: “Thurses” or “Giants” – Esoteric: Strong one, Resistance
Key Concepts: Unconscious forces, sociological forces, Thor, Loki as giant, chaos, destruction by natural forces, complexities of aggression, conflicts, disputes, psychological problems, lightning, breakthrough, aggressive male sexuality, battering down barriers, thorn of awakening, trouble, enthusiasm
Psi: enthusiasm, struggle against unconsciousness, male sexual prowess
Energy: enthusiasm, self-empowerment, chaos, active defensive force, breaker of resistance, destructive storms
Mundane: storms, tools, weapons, conflict
Divinations: Reactive force, directed force, vital eroticism, regenerative catalyst, constructive conflict; or danger, defenselessness, compulsion, betrayal, dullness, disease, explosive violence, annoyance, strife
Governs:
Destruction of enemies, curses binds and fetters
Awakening of the will to action
Breaking resistance of blockages in body, mind and spirit
Increased potency and prowess in romantic relationships
Understanding of the division and separation of all things
Aiming the use of psychic force
The combination of right/left brain processes for generating powerful realization
A romantic entanglement is changing the very nature of how every one sees you and who you truly are. Could you see any of this coming during that first flirtation?
Witches Of The Craft® 
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