Today’s Words are:
Akasha
Akashic Records
From moonlitpriestess.com
Spirit; the fifth element; omnipresent spiritual power permeating the universe; the energy out of which the elements are formed. Generally associated with the life force.
Category: Articles
June 6 Today in History
Today’s Important Historical Events
1523 Gustav Vasa is elected King of Sweden, marking the end of the Kalmar Union
1716 French transport the 1st African slaves to Louisiana
1916 The death of Yuan Shikai, ruler of much of China since 1912, causes the central government to virtually collapse in the face of warlords, including Sun Yat-sen
1944 Operation Overlord: D-Day begins as the 156,000-strong Allied Expeditionary Force lands in Normandy, France, during World War II
1982 30,000 Israeli troops invade Lebanon to drive out the PLO
Today’s Historical Events
640 Arab Muslim army sent by Caliph Omar begins siege of Heliopolis, city succumbs mid to late July, paving way for Muslim conquest of Byzantine Egypt
1002 German King Henry II the Saint crowned
1242 24 wagonloads of Talmudic books burned in Paris
1328 Franciscan theologian William of Ockham [Occam] excommunicated by Pope John XXII
1391 Inhabitants of Seville, Spain, massacre 5,000 Jews
1513 Battle of Novara, the War of the League of Cambrai: the Swiss Confederacy defeat the French
1520 France and England sign treaty of Scotland
1523 Gustav Vasa is elected King of Sweden, marking the end of the Kalmar Union
Today’s Historical Events in Film and TV
1931 George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin‘s musical “Girl Crazy” starring Ginger Rogers and featuring debut of Ethel Merman, closes at the Alvin Theater, NYC, after 272 performances, and making stars of Rogers and Merman
1949 “It Pays To Be Ignorant” game show debut on CBS-TV
1949 WKY (now KTVY) TV channel 4 in Oklahoma City, OK (NBC) 1st broadcast
1951 1st Berlin International Film Festival opens
1960 “Steve Allen Show” last airs on NBC-TV
1968 WKHA TV channel 35 in Hazard, KY (PBS) begins broadcasting
1971 WHAE (now WGNX) TV channel 46 in Atlanta, Georgia (CBN) begins broadcasting
1971 Final broadcast of “The Ed Sullivan Show” (a repeat from 7 February) on CBS-TV
Today’s Historical Events in Music
1931 “There Ought To Be A Moonlight Saving Time” by Guy Lombardo hits #1
1962 The Beatles meet their producer George Martin for the first time and record “Besame Mucho” with Pete Best on drums
1964 The Beatles arrive in Netherlands
1965 Rolling Stones release single “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”
1971 John Lennon and Yoko Ono unannounced appearance at Fillmore East in NYC
1972 David Bowie releases his breakthrough album “The Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars”
1977 Doobie Brothers sponsor a Golf Classic & Concert at Calabasas Park Country Club & Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles to benefit the United Way
1983 17th Music City News Country Awards: Marty Robbins & Roy Acuff win
Today’s Historical Events in Sports
1848 New York Yacht Club holds its first annual regatta; won by the schooner Carnelia
1885 19th Belmont: Paul Duffy aboard Tyrant wins in 2:43
1896 21st Preakness: Henry Griffin aboard Margrave wins in 1:51
1901 British Open Men’s Golf, Muirfield: Scotsman James Braid wins first of 5 Open titles by 3 strokes from Harry Vardon of Jersey
1923 Edgar Wallace becomes the first British radio sports reporter reporting on The Derby for the British Broadcasting Company
1924 US Open Men’s Golf, Oakland Hills CC: Unknown Englishman Cyril Walker wins his only major title, 3 strokes ahead of runner-up and defending champion Bobby Jones
1925 French Championships Men’s Tennis: René Lacoste wins 1st of 3 French titles, beating fellow Frenchman Jean Borotra 7-5, 6-1, 6-4
1925 French Women’s Tennis Championships: Suzanne Lenglen beats Kitty McKane 6-1, 6-2
Pagan and Magickal Terms and Definitions
Today’s Word is
Book of Shadows (BoS)
From moonlitpriestess.com
The spellbook, journal, diary, grimoire, and/or ritual guide used by an individual witch or coven. “Shadows” is used to mean past as in past experience and knowledge, like a permanent reminder of where you’ve been and can always return to. Generally includes spells, rituals, correspondences, etc. and may also include poems and other useful information.
From Spells8.com
Personal notebook kept by a practitioner of magick to record their work. This would include spellwork, rituals, personal wisdom, dreams, and observations. Start your own Book of Shadows with these printable dividers for a Book of Shadows binder.
June 5 Today in History
Today’s Important Historical Events
1873 Sultan Bargash bin Said under British pressure closes the infamous slave market of Zanzibar in modern day Tanzania
1947 US Secretary of State George Marshall outlines the “Marshall Plan” to rebuild Western Europe
1963 State of siege proclaimed in Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini arrested
1967 Six-Day War begins between Israel and the neighboring Arab states of Egypt, Jordan and Syria
1968 Palestinian Sirhan Sirhan shoots Robert F. Kennedy three times, who dies the next day. and wounds 5 others at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California
1981 AIDS Epidemic officially begins when US Centers for Disease Control reports on pneumonia affecting five homosexual men in Los Angeles
1981 World’s first today in history program with editable data “TODAY”, invented by Michael Butler runs for the first time on a mainframe computer
1984 Indira Gandhi orders an attack on Sikh’s holiest site, the Golden Temple in Amritsar
Today’s Historical Events
70 Titus and his Roman legions breach the middle wall of Jerusalem
754 Friezen robbers murder Bishop Boniface (later Saint) and over 50 companions near Dokkum
1257 Kraków, Poland, receives city rights.
1284 Charles of Salerno is captured by Roger of Lauria during a naval battle in the Gulf of Naples, part of the Sicilian Vespers uprising
1288 Battle of Worringen: Jan I, Duke of Brabant defeats army of Archbishop Siegfried II of Cologne, one of the largest and fiercest battles of the Middle Ages
1305 Archbishop Bertrand the Got of Bordeaux elected Pope Clement V
1507 England and Netherlands sign trade agreement
1625 Spanish troops under Spinola conquer Breda
Today’s Historical Events in Film and TV
1927 Johnny Weissmuller sets 100-yard & 200-yard free-style swim record
1952 1st sporting event televised nationally – Jersey Joe Walcott beats Ezzard Charles in 15 for heavyweight boxing title
1954 “Your Show Of Shows” last airs on NBC-TV
1956 “Milton Berle Show” last airs on NBC-TV
1960 “George Gobel Show” last airs on CBS-TV
1967 WSBE TV channel 36 in Providence, RI (PBS) begins broadcasting
1970 KPAX TV channel 8 in Missoula, Montana (CBS) begins broadcasting
1987 “Nightline” presents its 1st “Town Meeting” the subject is AIDS and the show runs until 3:47 AM
Today’s Historical Events in Music
1945 Benjamin Britten‘s opera “Peter Grimes” premieres in London
1948 “(Ghost) Riders in the Sky: A Cowboy Legend” single released by Stan Jones
1964 Rolling Stones 1st US concert tour (with Bobby Goldsboro & Bobby Vee) debuts in San Bernadino, California
1964 Davie Jones & King Bees release debut single “I Can’t Help Thinking About Me”; group disbands but Davie Jones goes on to success as David Bowie
1965 “Wooly Bully” by Sam the Sham & Pharaohs hits #2
1976 “Bigfoot” by Bro Smith hits #57
1981 George Harrison releases “Somewhere in England”, his ninth studio album, includes John Lennon tribute “All Those Years Ago” (Featuring Paul and Ringo)
1982 “Murphy’s Law” by Cheri hits #39
Today’s Historical Events in Sports
1806 1st trotter to break 3 minute mile (Yankee)
1869 3rd Belmont: C Miller aboard Fenian wins in 3:04.25
1879 13th Belmont: George Evans riding Spendthrift wins in 2:42.75
1886 20th Belmont: Jim McLaughlin aboard Inspector B wins in 2:41
1902 British Open Men’s Golf, Royal Liverpool GC: Scotsman Sandy Herd wins by 1 stroke from James Braid and Harry Vardon
1911 Red Sox Joe Wood strikes out 3 pinch hitters in 9th for 5-4 win
1915 47th Belmont: George Byrne aboard The Finn wins in 2:18.6
1920 Philadelphia Athletics’s VP Thomas Shibe denies charges that baseballs are livelier
Pagan and Magickal Terms and Definitions
Today’s Word is
Astral Plane
From moonlitpriestess.com
Realm believed to be beyond space and time; considered by some as an alternative dimension running alongside the physical realm we currently inhabit where beings (including ourselves) can travel and interact in spirit or astrally; sometimes visited to perform magick that can affect change on the physical plane.
From Spells8.com
The multi dimensional plane within the astral realm where one can travel using their astral body.
June 4 Today in History
Today’s Important Historical Events
1760 Great Upheaval: New England planters arrive to claim land in Nova Scotia, Canada taken from the Acadians
1940 British complete the “Miracle of Dunkirk” by evacuating 338,226 allied troops from France via a flotilla of over 800 vessels including Royal Navy destroyers, merchant marine boats, fishing boats, pleasure craft and even lifeboats
1945 US, Soviet Union, Britain and France agree to divide up occupied Germany
1989 Eastern Europe’s 1st partial free elections in 40 years held in Poland, Solidarity Party comes to power
1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre: Chinese troops clear the square of student protesters, unofficial figures place death toll near 1,000
Today’s Historical Events
781 BC Oldest Chinese recording of a solar eclipse
1039 Henry III becomes Holy Roman Emperor
1070 Roquefort cheese created in a cave near Roquefort, France
1133 Rome-Innocentius II crowns Lotharius III Roman-German emperor
1357 The “Peace of Ath”, signed by Count Louis II of Flanders and Duke Wenceslaus of Luxembourg ends the attempt of the succession of Brabant
1391 Mob led by Ferrand Martinez surrounds and sets fire to the Jewish quarter of Seville in Spain, the surviving Jews are sold into slavery
1487 Lord Lovell and John de la Pole’s army land at Furness, Lancashire
1615 Siege of Osaka: Forces under the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu take Osaka Castle in Japan
Today’s Historical Events in Film and TV
1942 “Mrs Miniver” based on the novel by Jan Struther, directed by William Wyler and starring Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon is released in the US (Best Picture 1943)
1955 “Mickey Rooney Show” TV comedy last airs on NBC
1966 Single “Batman & His Grandmother” by Dickie Goodman hits #70
1967 19th Emmy Awards: “Mission Impossible”, “The Monkees”, Don Knotts & Lucille Ball win
1967 KTVN TV channel 2 in Reno, NV (CBS) begins broadcasting
1970 WSMW TV channel 27 in Worcester, MA (IND) begins broadcasting
1982 “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,” released in USA
1995 “Jackie Mason: Politically Incorrect” closes at Golden Theater, NYC, after 347 performances
Today’s Historical Events in Music
1947 Monte Carlo and Alma Sanders’ musical “Louisiana Lady” closes at Century Theater, NYC, after 4 performances
1963 1st broadcast of “Pop Go the Beatles” on BBC radio
1964 Beatles 1st (and only) “World Tour” begins with two ten-song shows at 4,400 seat KB Halle in Copenhagen, Denmark; Jimmy Nicol replaces Ringo (recovering from tonsillitis) for the first five dates
1967 American guitarist Jimi Hendrix covers new Beatles song “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” at Saville Theatre (London), just days after its release, with George Harrison and Paul McCartney in the audience
1969 Beatles release “The Ballad Of John & Yoko” and “Old Brown Shoe” in the US
1978 “Working” closes at 46th St Theater NYC after 25 performances
1984 18th Music City News Country Awards: Statler Brothers win
1984 Columbia Records releases Bruce Springsteen‘s 7th studio album “Born in the USA”, his biggest commercial success topped the charts in 11 countries and sold over 30 million copies, worldwide
Today’s Historical Events in Sports
1838 First baseball-type game in Canada played at Beachville, Upper Canada
1870 4th Belmont: W Dick aboard Kingfisher wins in 2:59.5
1884 18th Belmont: Jim McLaughlin aboard Panique wins in 2:42
1899 MLB Boston Beaneaters pitcher John Clarkson 1st to throw an “immaculate inning” (strikes out three batters on nine pitches) against Philadelphia Quakers
1927 1st Ryder Cup Golf, Worcester CC: US beats Great Britain, 9½-2½; Walter Hagen first American captain; Ted Ray first GB skipper
1928 French Championships Men’s Tennis: Henri Cochet wins his 2nd of 4 home titles; beats countryman René Lacoste 5-7, 6-3, 6-1, 6-3
1928 French Championship Women’s Tennis: Helen Wills beats England’s Eileen Bennett 6-1, 6-2 for her first of 4 French singles titles
1932 64th Belmont: Tom Malley aboard Faireno wins in 2:32.8
7500 years old ancient goddess relic discovered in Israel
During an excavation in Eilat, Israel, archaeologists found an extremely ancient idol. It is believed to represent an important Semitic goddess.
In Eilat, situated in the south of Israel, archaeologists have discovered an idol dating back several thousand years. Carved from a tree trunk, this artefact is believed to be an object designed in honour of Asherah, the goddess who was the wife of the creator god Yahweh, as reported by Arkeonews.
Asherah, a symbol of fertility
According to Geo, before turning to monotheism, the Hebrew people were polytheistic, meaning that they worshipped a multitude of gods. In ancient times, they idolised Asherah, a goddess who is said to have been the mother of 70 other divine entities. She was given various names and functions. Asherah is also known as Ashratum or Baalat and is sometimes associated with the supreme god El or Baal. Her name is also mentioned in the Bible. A symbol of fertility, it is represented as a female figure, a tree or a pole. In Eilat, archaeologists have (re)discovered a 30 cm relic carved from a trunk.
An ancient archaeological site
The Red Sea is definitely rich in artefacts. Just after the Blemmyes Tomb found in Egypt, this relic is another great archaeological find. The site where the relic was found has been excavated by scientists since 1978. According to Arkeonews, it contained 11 simple tombs and 20 burial mounds. The site adds that:
The presence of the juniper trunk clearly shows that the site was reserved for the worship of goddesses, and it is probably the oldest Asherah idol found in the region (it has been carbon-dated to 4540 BC).
This article is translated from Gentside FR.
Why Is Self-Reflection So Essential Now?
Why Is Self-Reflection One of the Most Important Things You Can Do Now?
Collectively and individually, we’re living through a MAJOR transformation.
Perhaps you’ve noticed?
We are living in the transition between ages, and waves and waves of light and cosmic energy are flooding onto the planet right now.
This time has long been foretold in a variety of spiritual lineages, teachings, and cultures.
We are transitioning out of the Kali Yuga (Age of Darkness) into the Satya Yuga (Age of Truth).
These are Sanskrit words… But know that this time has not only been prophesied about by the Vedics, but also the Toltecs, Mayans, Essenes, and so many more wise lineages and traditions.
We’re in transition and preparation times, for a HUGE Shift.. The awakening of Gaia Mother Earth (and humanity) to a whole new level.
For Millions of years, Gaia’s consciousness has been in a sort of slumber, a sleep state.
This gave humanity the opportunity to play out distorted “games” of separation, war, destruction, suffering and lack – all consciously and unconsciously chosen through free will.
But this is now beginning to shift. Gaia is waking up, and …
Click here to read the rest of this article
June 3 Today in History
Today’s Important Historical Events
1621 Dutch West India Company (WIC) receives charter for The West Indies (The Americas, Caribbean and West Africa)
1929 Chile and Peru sign the Treaty of Lima, finally resolving their border dispute from the War of the Pacific (1879–83). Chile keeps Arica and Peru regains Tacna.
1943 A mob of 60 from the Los Angeles Naval Reserve Armory beat up everyone perceived to be Hispanic, starting the week-long Zoot Suit Riots
1979 Ixtoc I rig in the Gulf of Mexico blows, spilling 3 million barrels of oil in one of the worst oil spills in history
1989 Beginning of the Tiananmen Square Massacre as Chinese troops open fire on pro-democracy supporters in Beijing
Today’s Historical Events
350 Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, proclaims himself Roman Emperor, entering Rome at the head of a group of gladiators.
1083 Henry IV of Germany storms Rome, capturing St Peter’s Cathedral
1098 After 5-month siege during the First Crusade, the Crusaders seize Antioch
1140 French scholar Peter Abelard is found guilty of heresy
1326 Treaty of Novgorod delineates borders between Russia and Norway in Finnmark
1357 Peace of Ath signed (in modern Belgium), settles Brabant succession
1539 Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto claims Florida for Spain
1540 Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto crosses the Appalachian Mountains, 1st European to do so
Today’s Historical Events in Film and TV
1953 KVOS TV channel 12 in Bellingham/Vancouver, WA (CBS) begins
1955 KLFY TV channel 10 in Lafayette, LA (CBS) begins broadcasting
1956 KGUN TV channel 9 in Tucson, AZ (ABC) begins broadcasting
1962 WBKO TV channel 13 in Bowling Green, KY (ABC) begins broadcasting
1969 Last episode of Star Trek airs on NBC (Turnabout Intruder)
1970 Ray Davies of The Kinks travels round trip NY-London to change 1 word in “Lola,” (Coca-Cola to Cherry Cola) because of BBC commercial reference ban
1980 ESPN begins televising college world series games
1985 “Larry King Live” debuts on CNN, airing each weeknight through December, 2010
Today’s Historical Events in Music
1911 “Come Josephine in My Flying Machine” record by Fred Fisher and Alfred Bryan, sung by Ada Jones and Billy Murray hits #1
1939 “Beer Barrel Polka” by Will Glahe hits #1 on the pop singles chart
1948 Musical “Sleepy Hollow”, based on Washington Irving‘s novel, opens at St James Theater, NYC; runs for 12 performances
1961 “Wildcat” closes at Alvin Theater NYC after 172 performances
1964 Ringo Starr collapses from tonsillitis and pharyngitis
1967 Aretha Franklin‘s cover of the Otis Redding song “Respect” reaches #1
1972 “Hot Rod Lincoln” by Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen hits #9
1973 “Smith” closes at Eden Theater, NYC, after 17 performances
Today’s Historical Events in Sports
1851 1st baseball uniforms worn when the NY Knickerbockers wear a uniform of straw hats, white shirts and blue long trousers
1888 Baseball poem “Casey at the Bat” 1st published by the San Francisco Examiner
1899 W. G. Grace‘s last day of Test cricket aged 50 yrs 320 days
1918 Boston Red Sox pitcher Dutch Leonard throws his 2nd no-hitter; beats Detroit Tigers, 5-0 at Navin Field
1925 Baseball player Eddie Collins becomes the 6th to get 3,000 hits
1929 French Championships Men’s Tennis: René Lacoste wins his 3rd French title, beating fellow Frenchman Jean Borotra 6-3, 2-6, 6-0, 2-6, 8-6
1929 French Championship Women’s Tennis: Defending champion Helen Wills Moody beats Simonne Mathieu 6-3, 6-4
1930 Grover Cleveland Alexander is released by the Phillies
Pagan and Magickal Terms and Definitions
Today’s Word is
Summerland
From moonlitpriestess.com
Term originating from the Theosophical Society; the place where the soul goes between incarnations; believed by some to refer to Sumeria where many beliefs and traditions may have originated. Some descriptions are similar to Christian beliefs of Heaven, where we meet with our loved ones who died before us, only the Summerland is more of a stop along the way in a much longer journey rather than a permanent place.
From Spells8.com
A place beyond the material plane, similar to an afterlife, where souls go between incarnations.
What Happens When we Die?
People have tried to understand what happens after death since the dawn of time. Discover the concept of Summerland, and what Wiccans and other neopagans believe we go when we die.
June 2 Today in History
Today’s Important Historical Events
455 King Gaiseric and the Vandals sack Rome – Rome looted for 14 days
1862 Robert E. Lee takes command of Confederate armies of North Virginia during the American Civil War
1896 Italian engineer and inventor Guglielmo Marconi applies for the first ever patent for a system of wireless telegraphy in the United Kingdom
1953 Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Abbey, London, England
1989 10,000 Chinese soldiers are blocked by 100,000 citizens in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, protecting students demonstrating for democracy
Today’s Historical Events
455 King Gaiseric and the Vandals sack Rome – Rome looted for 14 days
575 Benedict I begins his reign as Catholic Pope
657 St Eugene I ends his reign as Catholic Pope
1615 First Récollet missionaries arrive at Quebec City, from Rouen, France
1619 England and the Netherlands sign treaty about trading in the Indies
1625 Prince Frederick Henry sworn in as viceroy of Holland/Zealand
1627 English king Charles I establishes Guyana Company
1633 Prince Frederick Henry conquers fort Rhine at Cologne
Today’s Historical Events in Film and TV
1958 Alan Freed joins WABC (NYC) radio
1960 Broadway theaters close (labor dispute between owners & Actors Equity)
1968 WBLG (now WTVQ) TV channel 62 in Lexington, KY (ABC) 1st broadcast
1981 Barbara Walters famously asks Katharine Hepburn “If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?”
1983 1980 movie “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes” released in Germany
1984 “Welcome To Fun Zone” hosted by Dr Demento airs on NBC-TV
1984 Actress Jill Ireland has a radical mastectomy
1989 “Dead Poets Society” film starring Robin Williams premieres
Today’s Historical Events in Music
1771 “Armida”, an operatic ‘dramma per musica’ by Antonio Salieri debuts at the Vienna Burgtheater
1947 Monte Carlo and Alma Sanders’ musical “Louisiana Lady” opens at Century Theater, NYC; runs for 4 performances
1962 Ray Charles‘ cover of Don Gibson’s “I Can’t Stop Loving You”, from his influential crossover album “Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music” hits #1 on Billboard
1964 “Folies Bergère” opens at Broadway Theater NYC for 191 performances
1967 Capitol Records releases The Beatles’ album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” in the US; it is their first album with identical track listings in US and UK, and goes to number one for 15 weeks in US, 22 weeks in UK
1973 “Nash at Nine” closes at Helen Hayes Theater NYC after 21 performances
1978 Columbia Records releases Bruce Springsteen fourth studio album “Darkness on the Edge of Town”
1980 “Your Arm’s Too Short To Box With God” opens at Ambassador NYC for 149 performances
Today’s Historical Events in Sports
1869 Cleveland’s Forest City play their 1st game (vs Cincinnati Red Stockings)
1883 1st night baseball under lights, Fort Wayne Indiana
1896 30th Belmont: Henry Griffin aboard Hastings wins in 2:24.5
1901 Benjamin Adams arrested for playing golf on Sunday (NY)
1908 33rd Preakness: Eddie Dugan riding Royal Tourist wins in 1:46.4
1909 43rd Belmont: Eddie Dugan riding Joe Madden wins in 2:21.6
1933 FDR authorizes 1st swimming pool built inside the White House
1934 French Championships Men’s Tennis: Gottfried von Cramm of Germany wins 1st of 2 French titles; beats Australian Jack Crawford 6-4, 7-9, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3
Pagan and Magickal Terms and Definitions
Today’s Word is
Athame
From moonlitpriestess.com
Some terms listed on this page may seem like common-sense words; however, they’re defined here as most often used in Wicca, Witchcraft, and general Paganism. Some terms have a different meaning in general society, other religions, and other sub-cultures.
Please keep this in mind when learning the terms as they’re listed here.
Did you come across a term on this site or another Wiccan/Pagan source that you’re unfamiliar with or uncertain of and can’t find it on this page? Please send us a message so we can add it to this page for you!
If you already know what term you’re looking for, you can use Ctrl-F (Windows) or Cmd-F (Mac) to search. Likewise, if you’re using a tablet or smartphone, you may use your browser’s “Find” setting to search this page.
Athame
(a-tha-may or ath-a-mey): Wiccan ritual knife; a double-edged knife (usually dull) used for directing energy. A tool representing the God and rarely used for cutting in Wicca.
From Spells8.com
Athame
A double-edged knife with a black handle, usually used in ceremonial magick and traditional Wiccan practices. It is associated with masculine energy as well as the elements of fire and air.
Athame: Do’s and Don’ts
The athame is the Witch’s ceremonial blade. Its traditional physical form among many British Traditional Witchcraft lines is that of a cross-shaped, double-edged, black-handled dagger.
In this blog post, we explore 5 do’s and 3 don’ts of the athame in regular Wiccan/Neopagan practice
June 1 Today in History
Today’s Important Historical Events
4000 BC Approximate domestication of the horse in the Eurasian steppes near Dereivka, central Ukraine (hypothesis only)
1215 Peking [Beijing], then a city of over one million, under control of Jurchen ruler Emperor Xuanzong of Jin, is captured and looted for a month by the Mongols under Genghis Khan
1676 Battle of Öland: allied Danish-Dutch forces defeat the Swedish navy in the Baltic Sea, during the Scanian War (1675–79)
1964 Kenya becomes a republic with Jomo Kenyatta as its 1st President
1998 European Central Bank is founded in Brussels to define and execute the European Union’s monetary policy
Today’s Historical Events
4000 BC Approximate domestication of the horse in the Eurasian steppes near Dereivka, central Ukraine (hypothesis only)
193 Roman Emperor Didius Julianus is assassinated.
794 Charles the Great (aka Charlemagne) opens general synod in Frankfurt
1204 King Philip Augustus of France conquers Rouen
1215 Peking [Beijing], then a city of over one million, under control of Jurchen ruler Emperor Xuanzong of Jin, is captured and looted for a month by the Mongols under Genghis Khan
1283 Albrecht I van Habsburg becomes ruler of Austrian/Bull market
1283 Treaty of Rheinfelden: Duke Rudolph II of Austria waives his right to the Duchies of Austria and Styria
1459 Pope Pius II opens congress of Mantua
Today’s Historical Events in Film and TV
1936 “Lux Radio Theater” moved from NYC to Hollywood
1939 First major boxing match on US television is the heavyweight bout from NY’s Yankee Stadium between former world champion Max Baer and Lou Nova; Nova wins by TKO in 11th round
1949 KSL TV channel 5 in Salt Lake City, UT (CBS) begins broadcasting
1950 WKZO (now WWMT) TV channel 3 in Kalamazoo, MI (CBS) 1st broadcast
1953 KMJ (now KSEE) TV channel 24 in Fresno, CA (NBC) begins broadcasting
1953 WDAY TV channel 6 in Fargo, ND (ABC/NBC) begins broadcasting
1960 WDTV TV channel 5 in Clarksburg-Weston, WV (CBS) begins broadcasting
1969 Tobacco advertising is banned on Canadian radio & TV
Today’s Historical Events in Music
1893 Opera “Falstaff” is produced (Berlin)
1960 “Finian’s Rainbow” closes at 46th St Theater NYC after 12 performances
1963 “El Watusi” by Ray Barreto hits #17
1964 Rolling Stones arrive in New York’s Kennedy International Airport for 1st US tour, greeted by about 500 fans
1966 George Harrison is impressed by sitarist Ravi Shankar‘s concert in London
1967 EMI releases The Beatles’ album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” nation-wide in the UK; it goes to number one for 22 weeks in the UK
1968 Simon & Garfunkel’s single “Mrs Robinson” from “The Graduate” hits #1 (first rock song to win Grammy for Record of the Year)
1970 “Everything Is Beautiful” by Ray Stevens hits #1
Today’s Historical Events in Sports
1872 6th Belmont: James Roe aboard Joe Daniels wins in 2:58.25
1881 Ridden by outstanding English jockey Fred Archer, Iroquois wins the Epsom Derby to become first American-owned and bred horse to take out a European classic race
1899 English cricket icon W. G. Grace starts 22nd and final Test against Australia at Nottingham; Test debut of Wilfred Rhodes and Victor Trumper
1910 Sportclub Enschede soccer club forms in Enschede, Netherlands; merge with Enschedese Boys to form FC Twente in 1965
1912 Dutch soccer club Stormvogels forms in Ijmuiden; merges with VSV to form Telstar in 1963
1917 Boston Braves first baseman Hank Gowdy is first active MLB player to enlist for service in World War I; only player to fight in both World War I & II
1918 Chicago White Sox losing 5-4 against NY Yankees, load the bases in 9th with no outs; Chick Gandil lines to Frank Baker who turns a rare game winning triple play
1920 Dutch soccer club RKSV forms in Volendam; merges with FC Volendam in 1977
Pagan and Magickal Terms and Definitions
Today’s Word is
Familiar
From moonlitpriestess.com
Some terms listed on this page may seem like common-sense words; however, they’re defined here as most often used in Wicca, Witchcraft, and general Paganism. Some terms have a different meaning in general society, other religions, and other sub-cultures.
Please keep this in mind when learning the terms as they’re listed here.
Did you come across a term on this site or another Wiccan/Pagan source that you’re unfamiliar with or uncertain of and can’t find it on this page? Please send us a message so we can add it to this page for you!
If you already know what term you’re looking for, you can use Ctrl-F (Windows) or Cmd-F (Mac) to search. Likewise, if you’re using a tablet or smartphone, you may use your browser’s “Find” setting to search this page.
Familiar
A witch’s pet that has the ability to communicate–usually telepathically–with its owner. More specifically, the familiar is an assistant or partner in magickal and spiritual workings. Traditionally, familiars were spirits who took animal form; however, many Witches today will refer to any of their flesh-and-blood animal loved ones as their familiars regardless of the traditional meaning of the term.
From Spells8.com
Familiar
An entity that has a spiritual bond with a Witch on a higher plane, sometimes said to shape-shift into a physical being such as a companion animal.
Familiars and a Pet
Familiars and a Pet…NOT the same thing. Nor should you want your beloved pet to be your Familiar. For a modern witch to lay claim to a Familiar spirit, the animal must have made a pact with the witch.
May 31 Today in History
Today’s Important Historical Events
1279 BC Ramesses II, also known as Ramesses the Great becomes Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt (19th Dynasty)
1578 Martin Frobisher sails from Harwich, England, to Frobisher Bay, Canada. Eventually mines fools gold, famously used to pave the streets of London.
1902 Boer War Ends; Treaty of Unity signed, Britain annexes Transvaal
1910 Union of South Africa declares its independence from the United Kingdom
1916 Battle of Jutland: Largest naval battle of World War I between the British Grand Fleet and the German High Seas Fleet which killed 8,645 in an inconclusive battle but strategic British victory. German fleet never puts to sea again in WWI.
1935 7.7 magnitude earthquake destroys Quetta in Balochistan, British India (now Pakistan) killing an estimated 40,000 people
1947 Communists seize power in Hungary
1970 7.75 Ancash earthquake off coast of Peru kills 66-70,000 and sets off world’s deadliest avalanche
Today’s Historical Events
1279 BC Ramesses II, also known as Ramesses the Great becomes Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt (19th Dynasty)
70 Rome captures 1st wall of the city of Jerusalem
1223 Battle of the Kalka River: Mongol force led by Jebei and Subedei defeat a Russian alliance, after feigning their retreat, leading to the death of 20,000 Russians
1417 Jacoba of Bavaria becomes countess of Holland/Zealand/Henegouwen
1495 Emperor Maximilian, Pope Alexander VI, Milan, King Ferdinand, Isabella & Venice sign anti-French Saint League
1531 “Women’s Revolt” in Amsterdam: wool house in churchyard aborted
1578 Martin Frobisher sails from Harwich, England, to Frobisher Bay, Canada. Eventually mines fools gold, famously used to pave the streets of London.
1621 Sir Francis Bacon imprisoned in the Tower of London for 1 night
Today’s Historical Events
1953 WSUN TV channel 38 in St Petersburg-Tampa, FL (IND) 1st broadcast
1962 “Tell It To Groucho” last airs on CBS-TV
1965 12th National Film Awards (India): “Charulata” wins the Golden Lotus
1968 Movie star James Stewart retires from the US Air Force after 27 years of service
1970 KDUB TV channel 40 in Dubuque, IA (ABC) begins broadcasting
1971 WDXR (now WKPD) TV channel 29 in Paducah, KY (PBS) begins broadcasting
1992 “The 1992 Boat Show” – the 193rd and final episode of US comedy series “Night Court” – airs on NBC-TV, completing a 9 season run
2004 “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”, the 3rd film based on the books by J. K. Rowling is released in UK cinemas
Today’s Historical Events in Music
1958 Dick Dale invents “surf music” with “Let’s Go Trippin”
1961 Chuck Berry‘s amusement park, Berryland in St Louis, Missouri opens
1969 “Dear World” closes at Mark Hellinger Theater NYC after 132 performances
1969 “Gitarzan” by Ray Stevens peaks at #8
1969 John Lennon and Yoko Ono record “Give Peace a Chance” in a Montreal hotel, during their second ‘bed-in’ for peace
1969 Stevie Wonder releases the single “My Cherie Amour” which goes on to become a soul classic
1975 “Goodtime Charley” closes at Palace Theater NYC after 104 performances
1975 “Fight the Power” single released by The Isley Brothers (Billboard Song of the Year, 1975)
Today’s Historical Events in Sports
1859 Philadelphia A’s organize to play “town ball” became baseball 20 years later
1868 Dr James Moore (UK) wins 1st recorded bicycle race, (2k) velocipede race at Parc fde St Cloud, Paris
1880 League of American Wheelmen (1st US bicycle association), forms in Newport, Rhode Island
1900 Tom Hayward scores 1,000th cricket run of season (sets record 1074)
1902 Australia Cricket all out 36 v England, Edgbaston, their lowest ever
1914 Chicago White Sox Joe Benz no-hits Cleveland Indians, 6-1
1915 Indianapolis 500: Italian-born American driver Ralph DePalma accompanied by riding mechanic Louis Fontaine wins from Englishman Dario Resta
1919 Indianapolis 500: Howdy Wilcox accompanied by riding mechanic Leo Banks win; driver Arthur Thurman dies in a crash on lap 45; lap 96, Louis LeCocq and riding mechanic Robert Bandini wrecked in turn 2, both burned to death
Pagan & Magickal Terms and Definitions
Today’s Word Is:
Sacred Space
From moonlitpriestess.com
Some terms listed on this page may seem like common-sense words; however, they’re defined here as most often used in Wicca, Witchcraft, and general Paganism. Some terms have a different meaning in general society, other religions, and other sub-cultures.
Please keep this in mind when learning the terms as they’re listed here.
Did you come across a term on this site or another Wiccan/Pagan source that you’re unfamiliar with or uncertain of and can’t find it on this page? Please send us a message so we can add it to this page for you!
If you already know what term you’re looking for, you can use Ctrl-F (Windows) or Cmd-F (Mac) to search. Likewise, if you’re using a tablet or smartphone, you may use your browser’s “Find” setting to search this page.
Sacred Space:
as the name suggests, any space which is considered sacred or religiously/spiritually special; typically set aside for specific religious, spiritual, or magickal workings. Can be used to refer to permanent structures, such as churches, or temporary such as a clearing in the woods used for a ritual. The rite of casting a magickal circle is often used to turn a space into sacred space.
May 30 Today in History
Today’s Important Historical Events
1431 Hundred Years’ War: 19 year old Joan of Arc is burned at the stake by an English-dominated tribunal in Rouen, France
1539 Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto‘s expedition of 10 ships and 700 men lands in Florida
1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo between US and Mexico comes into force, giving New Mexico, California and parts of Nevada, Utah, Arizona and Colorado to the US in return for $15 million
1868 “Decoration Day”, later called Memorial Day is first observed in Northern US states
1896 Khodynka Tragedy: Stampeding crowd on Khodynka Field, Moscow, during the festivities for coronation of Russian Tsar Nicholas II, results in the deaths of about 1,300 people
1913 Treaty of London signed by the Great Powers, the Ottoman Empire and the victorious Balkan League (Serbia, Greece, Kingdom of Bulgaria, and Montenegro) bringing an end to the First Balkan War
Today’s Historical Events
1035 Boudouin V van Rijsel becomes earl of Flanders
1087 German emperor Henry IV crowns his son Conrad
1100 Burchard becomes bishop of Utrecht
1381 English peasant uprising begins in Essex
1416 Jerome of Prague burned at the stake for heresy by church Council of Constance
1431 Hundred Years’ War: 19 year old Joan of Arc is burned at the stake by an English-dominated tribunal in Rouen, France
1434 The Battle of Lipany (also called the Battle of Česky Brod), ending Taborites influence
1445 Coronation as Margaret of Anjou as Queen Consort of England at Westminster Abbey
Today’s Historical Events in Film and TV
1949 WRTV TV channel 6 in Indianapolis, IN (ABC) begins broadcasting
1955 KMVT TV channel 11 in Twin Falls, ID (CBS/NBC/ABC) begins broadcasting
1978 31st Cannes Film Festival: “The Tree of Wooden Clogs” directed by Ermanno Olmi wins the Palme d’Or
1981 “Nightline” extends from 4 nights to 5 nights a week (Friday)
1987 North American Philips Company unveils compact disc video
1989 Margaret Ray pleads guilty to breaking into David Letterman‘s house
1996 John Tesh’s final day as host of “Entertainment Tonight”
2000 35th Academy of Country Music Awards: Shania Twain, Faith Hill & Tim McGraw win
Today’s Historical Events in Music
1866 Opera “Die Verkaufte Braut” premieres (Prague)
1917 Jazz standard “Dark Town Strutters Ball” by Shelton Brooks recorded by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band
1923 Howard Hanson‘s 1st Symphony “Nordic” premieres
1938 Walter Piston‘s dance work, The Incredible Flutist, written for the Boston Pops Orchestra, which premieres it, Arthur Fiedler conducting
1952 Darius Milhaud‘s “West Point Suite” premieres
1959 “First Impressions” closes at Alvin Theater NYC after 84 performances
1959 “Nervous Set” closes at Henry Miller‘s Theater NYC after 23 performances
1962 Benjamin Britten‘s “War Requiem” incorporating the poems of Wilfred Owen premieres, marking the consecration of the new Coventry Cathedral
Today’s Historical Events in Sports
1890 First baseman Dave Foutz hits Brooklyn Bridegrooms’ (later Dodgers) first ever home run during doubleheader defeats to Chicago Colts at Washington Park, Brooklyn
1894 Boston Beaneaters baseball second baseman Bobby Lowe first to hit 4 home runs in MLB game in 20-11 win against Cincinnati Reds
1895 English cricket icon W. G. Grace scores 169 for Gloucestershire against Middlesex at Lord’s for his 1,000th first-class run of the season in just 22 days
1896 First car accident occurs; Henry Wells hits a cyclist in NYC
1899 24th Preakness: R Clawson aboard Half Time wins in 1:47
1903 28th Preakness: W Gannon aboard Flocarline wins in 1:44.8
1906 40th Belmont: Lucien Lyne aboard Burgomaster wins in 2:20
1907 41st Belmont Stakes: George Mountain aboard 3 year old stallion Peter Pan wins
Pagan & Magickal Terms and Definitions
Today’s Word is
Altar
From moonlitpriestess.com
Some terms listed on this page may seem like common-sense words; however, they’re defined here as most often used in Wicca, Witchcraft, and general Paganism. Some terms have a different meaning in general society, other religions, and other sub-cultures.
Please keep this in mind when learning the terms as they’re listed here.
Did you come across a term on this site or another Wiccan/Pagan source that you’re unfamiliar with or uncertain of and can’t find it on this page? Please send us a message so we can add it to this page for you!
If you already know what term you’re looking for, you can use Ctrl-F (Windows) or Cmd-F (Mac) to search. Likewise, if you’re using a tablet or smartphone, you may use your browser’s “Find” setting to search this page.
Altar:
a surface, usually flat, that is set aside for magickal workings and/or communing with spirits; sometimes used as a focus for power. Some traditions use multiple altars devoted to specific purposes.
From Spells8.com
Altar –
A sacred space of devotional or ritual work. This space is usually a table, shelf, or corner where offerings are presented to spirits and where one may perform rituals or spell work.
May 29 Today in History
Today’s Important Historical Events
1453 Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire falls to the Turks under Mehmed II; ends the Byzantine Empire
1592 Battle of Sacheon: Korean navy led by Admiral Yi Sun Shin repels a Japanese fleet – first use of Korean Turtle ship
1660 On his 30th birthday Charles II returns to London from exile in the Netherlands to claim the English throne after the Puritan Commonwealth comes to an end
1851 Sojourner Truth addresses 1st Black Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio
1953 Edmund Hillary (NZ) and Tenzing Norgay (Nepal) are first to reach the summit of Mount Everest as part of a British Expedition
Today’s Historical Events
363 Roman Emperor Julian defeats the Sassanid army in the Battle of Ctesiphon, under the walls of the Sassanid capital, but is unable to take the city
757 St Paul I begins his reign as Catholic Pope
1138 Anti-Pope Victor IV (Gregorio) submits himself to Pope Innocentius II
1167 Battle of Monte Porzio: Holy Roman army supporting Pope Alexander III is defeated by Christian of Buch and Rainald of Dassel
1176 Battle at Legnano: Lombard League beats Frederick Barbarossa and the Holy Roman Empire
1233 Chinese city of Kaifeng, capital of the Jurchen Jin dynasty, surrenders to the Mongols under General Subedei after a siege of more than a year
1328 French King Philip VI of Valois crowned at the Cathedral in Reims, France
1415 Pope John XXIII [Baldassare Cossa] formally deposed as Pope at the Conference of Constance, Germany, after he had fled the town in disguise
Today’s Historical Events in Film and TV
1942 Bing Crosby records Irving Berlin’s song “White Christmas”, world’s best-selling single (estimated 100 million copies sold)
1942 “Yankee Doodle Dandy”, based on life of George M. Cohan, directed by Michael Curtiz, starring James Cagney and Joan Lesley, premieres in NYC (Academy Awards Best Actor 1943)
1949 Candid Camera, TV comedy show, moves to NBC
1949 1st British Film and Television Awards (BAFTAs): “The Best Years of Our Lives” Best Film
1949 2nd British Film and Television Awards (BAFTAs): “Hamlet” Best Film
1950 3rd British Film and Television Awards (BAFTAs): “Bicycle Thieves” Best Film
1956 WESH TV channel 2 in Daytona Beach-Orlando, FL (NBC) 1st broadcast
1961 “A Raisin in the Sun”, film adaptation of Lorraine Hansberry’s stage play, starring the Broadway cast including Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee, John Fiedler, and Ivan Dixon premieres
Today’s Historical Events in Music
1753 Joseph Haydn’s first opera “Krumme Teufel” (The Limping Devil) premieres in Vienna
1901 Ignacy Jan Paderewski‘s opera “Manru” has its world premiere in Dresden, Germany
1913 Igor Stravinsky‘s avant-garde ballet score “Le Sacre du Printemps” (The Rite of Spring) for the Ballets Russes premieres at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris, provoking a riot
1950 The Carter family debut on the Grand Ole Opry with Chet Atkins
1956 Arnold Schoenberg‘s “Modern Psalm” premieres
1960 Everly Brothers single “Cathy’s Clown” hits #1
1962 4th Grammy Awards: Moon River, Peter Nero win
1971 “Court Room” by Clarence Carter hits #61
Today’s Historical Events in Sports
1897 31st Belmont: Joe Scherrer aboard Scottish Chieftain wins in 2:23.25
1900 25th Preakness: H Spencer aboard Hindus wins in 1:48.4
1916 NY Giants win 17th consecutive road game
1922 US Supreme Court rules organized baseball is a sport and not a business and thus not subject to antitrust laws
1940 Adolf Kiefer swims world record 100 yards backstroke (58.8 sec)
1948 French Championships Men’s Tennis: Frank Parker wins 1st of 2 straight French titles; beats Jaroslav Drobný 6-4, 7-5, 5-7, 8-6
1948 French Championships Women’s Tennis: Belgium-born but representing France, Nelly Landry beats American Shirley Fry 6-2, 0-6, 6-0 for her lone major title
1954 French Championships Men’s Tennis: Tony Trabert beats Art Larsen 6-4, 7-5, 6-1 for first of 2 straight French singles titles
May 28 Today in History
Today’s Important Historical Events
585 BC Solar eclipse, as predicted by Greek philosopher Thales, while Lydians at war with the Medes leads to a truce. One of the cardinal dates from which other dates calculated.
1431 Joan of Arc is accused of relapsing into heresy by donning male clothing again, providing justification for her execution
1588 Spanish Armada under the Duke of Medina-Sidonia departs Lisbon to invade England
1830 US President Andrew Jackson signs the Indian Removal Act, a key law leading to the forced removal of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole tribes out of Georgia and surrounding states, setting the stage for the Cherokee Trail of Tears
1936 Alan Turing submits “On Computable Numbers” for publication, in which he set out the theoretical basis for modern computers.
1972 White House “plumbers” first break in at the Democratic National Headquarters and install listening devices at Watergate Complex in Washington, D.C.
Today’s Historical Events
585 BC Solar eclipse, as predicted by Greek philosopher Thales, while Lydians at war with the Medes leads to a truce. One of the cardinal dates from which other dates calculated.
640 Severinus begins his reign as Catholic Pope (elected in 638)
1037 Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II removes “Constitutio the Feudis”
1156 Battle at Brindisi: Norman-Sicillian King William beats Byzantine fleet under John Doukas and Alexios Bryennios
1349 60 Jews murdered in Breslau, Silesia
1358 Daint-Leu at Oise begins French boer uprising
1431 Joan of Arc is accused of relapsing into heresy by donning male clothing again, providing justification for her execution
1521 Pope Leo X signs treaty with Holy Roman Emperor Charles V
Today’s Historical Events in Film and TV
1858 Dion Boucicault‘s play “Foul Play” premieres in London
1951 The Jerry Colonna Show debuts on ABC-TV
1951 Radio programme “Crazy People” (later titled The Goon Show) premieres on the BBC, created by Spike Milligan
1953 Premier of 1st animated 3-D cartoon in Technicolor-“Melody”
1957 WPSD TV channel 6 in Paducah, KY (NBC) begins broadcasting
1960 Frank Loesser’s musical “Greenwillow”, starring Anthony Perkins, closes at Alvin Theater, NYC, after 95 performances
1962 Wide World of Sports with Chris Schenkel premieres on CBS radio
1974 26th Emmy Awards: M*A*S*H, Alan Alda & Mary Tyler Moore win, 1st Daytime Award presentation and “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman” wins 5 awards, including Cicely Tyson for Dramatic Performance
Today’s Historical Events in Music
1906 Shields and Cobbs’ musical “His Honor, The Mayor” premieres in NYC
1938 Paul Hindemith‘s opera “Mathis der Maler” premieres in Zurich
1940 Irving Berlin‘s musical “Louisiana Purchase”, satirizing Huey Long’s political power, opens at The Imperial Theatre, NYC; runs for 444 performances
1959 Johnson & Bart’s musical “Lock Up Your Daughters” premieres in London
1964 Dmitri Shostakovich completes his 9th String quartet
1966 “Ballad Of Irving”, parody song by Frank Gallop peaks at #34 in US
1966 Dmitri Shostakovich‘s 11th String quartet premieres in Leningrad
1967 Dmitri Shostakovich completes his 2nd Violin concert
Today’s Historical Events in Sports
1742 1st indoor swimming pool opens (Goodman’s Fields, London)
1875 3rd Preakness: L Hughes aboard Tom Ochiltree wins in 2:43.5
1880 8th Preakness: L Hughes aboard Grenada wins in 2:40.5
1901 26th Preakness: Fred Landry aboard The Parader wins in 1:47.2
1904 29th Preakness: Eugene Hildebrand aboard Bryn Mawr wins in 1:44.2
1912 Jackie Matthews takes 2 cricket hat-tricks same day Australia v South Africa
1927 Hammond scores his 1,000th cricket run of the season after 22 days
1934 Jack Hobbs scores his 197th (or 199th) and last 1st class cricket century at 51 years and 163 days of age [1]
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