Category: Articles

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

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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

Cover picture for the article

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]

May 27 Today in History

Today’s Important Historical Events

1679 Habeas Corpus Act passes in England, strengthening a person’s right to challenge unlawful arrest and imprisonment

1703 Saint Petersburg (Leningrad) founded by Russian Tsar Peter the Great

1873 Heinrich Schliemann discovers “Priam’s Treasure” a cache of gold and other objects in Hisarlik (Troy) in Anatolia

1905 Japanese fleet destroys the Russian East Sea fleet in the Battle of Tsushima, the only decisive clash between modern steel battleships in history

1940 British and Allied forces begin the evacuation of Dunkirk (Operation Dynamo) during WWII

1963 Jomo Kenyatta elected 1st Prime Minister of Kenya

1999 The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia indicts Slobodan Milošević and four others for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Kosovo

2006 Earthquake strikes Java, Indonesia at 5:53:58 AM local time (22:53:58 UTC May 26) devastating Bantul and the city of Yogyakarta, killing over 6,600 people

Today’s Historical Events

927 Battle of the Bosnian Highlands: Simeon I of Bulgaria is defeated by King Tomislav of Croatia

1120 Richard III of Capua is anointed as prince two weeks before his untimely death

1199 John crowned King of England after the death of his brother Richard I

1281 Flemish Earl Gwijde Dampierre takes financial responsibility of Brugge

1529 30 Jews of Posing, Hungary, charged with blood ritual, burned at stake

1644 Battle of Shanhai Pass: Li Zicheng’s army defeated by combined Ming and Manchu force

1660 Denmark & Sweden sign The Treaty Of Copenhagen, ends Second Northern War

1679 Habeas Corpus Act passes in England, strengthening a person’s right to challenge unlawful arrest and imprisonment

Today’s Historical Events in Film and TV

1933 Walt Disney’s short film “3 Little Pigs” released (Academy Award Best Animated film 1934)

1949 Martin Canine, cartoon character, spoofs Martin Kane

1955 “The Red Buttons Show”, last airs on NBC-TV

1969 Jerry Lewis Show second run, last airs on NBC-TV

1969 Walt Disney World construction begins at Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista, Florida

1971 24th Cannes Film Festival: “The Go-Between” directed by Joseph Losey wins the Grand Prix du Festival International du Film

1977 30th Cannes Film Festival: “Padre Padrone” directed by Paolo and Vittorio Taviani wins the Palme d’Or

1977 The Sex Pistols release “God Save the Queen”, sparking major controversy and leading to a ban on the song by the BBC

Today’s Historical Events in Music

1796 James S McLean patents his piano

1906 1st outlining of Gustav Mahler’s 6th symphony, in Essen

1950 “Arms & the Girl” closes at 46th St Theater NYC after 134 performances

1957 Toronto’s CHUM-AM, (1050 kHz) becomes Canada’s first radio station to broadcast only top 40 Rock n’ Roll music format

1967 “Sherry!” closes at Alvin Theater NYC after 65 performances

1971 John Lennon records the song “Imagine” at his Ascot Sound home studio at Tittenhurst Park, England

1972 “Applause” closes at Palace Theater NYC after 900 performances

1972 Jimmy Castor Bunch’s “Troglodyte (Cave Man)” hits #6

Today’s Historical Events in Sports

1878 Australian cricket fast bowler Fred Spofforth takes 10-20 (6-4 and 4-16) in quick-fire 9 wicket tour match win over the MCC in London

1881 9th Preakness: T Costello aboard Saunterer wins in 2:40.5

1882 10th Preakness: T Costello aboard Vanguard wins in 2:44.5

1902 27th Preakness: L Jackson aboard Old England wins in 1:45.8

1903 37th Belmont: John Bullman aboard Africander wins in 2:21.75

1904 NY Giants first baseman Dan McGann collects MLB record 5 stolen bases in 3-1 win over the Brooklyn Superbas at the Polo Grounds in NYC; record broken in 1991 by Otis Nixon

1905 30th Preakness: W Davis aboard Cairngore wins in 1:45.8

May 25 Today in History and a Pagan Word for Today

Today’s Important Historical Events

1720 The Ship “Le Grand St Antoine” reaches Marseille, bringing Europe’s last major plague outbreak. Kills around 100,000.

1810 In the May Revolution, citizens of Buenos Aires expel the Spanish Viceroy Cisneros during Semana de Mayo

1914 British House of Commons passes the Irish Home Rule Bill

1961 JFK announces US goal of putting a man on the Moon before the end of decade

2020 Video of African American George Floyd‘s arrest and murder while restrained in Minneapolis police custody shows he was pinned to the ground by police officer Derek Chauvin’s knee for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, ignites widespread condemnation and nationwide protests

2021 US CDC says half of all US adults are now fully vaccinated, with 61% having had their first shot

Today’s Historical Events

1085 Alfonso VI of León and Castile captures the Muslim taifa of Toledo

1241 1st attack on Jewish community of Frankfurt am Main, Germany

1420 Henry the Navigator is appointed governor of the Order of Christ

1521 Edict of Worms outlaws Martin Luther and his followers

1522 Holy Roman Emperor Charles V returns to Spain

1571 Pope Pius V forms The Holy League to fight the Ottomans with other Catholic maritime states including Spain, Venice, Naples and Sicily

1632 Albrecht von Wallenstein recaptures Prague on Saksen

1659 Richard Cromwell resigns as Lord Protector of England, earning the nickname “Tumbledown Dick” as a result of his abrupt fall from power

Today’s Historical Events in Film and TV

1932 Goofy, aka Dippy Dawg, 1st appears in ‘Mickey’s Revue’ by Walt Disney

1943 Agnes Moorehead appears in “Sorry, Wrong Number” on the radio program “Suspense”, her most successful appearance

1953 1st non-commercial educational television station – Houston, Texas

1964 16th Emmy Awards: “The Dick Van Dyke Show”, Dick Van Dyke & Mary Tyler Moore win

1964 Frank Gilroy’s dramatic play “The Subject Was Roses”, starring Jack Albertson and Martin Sheen, opens at Royale Theatre, NYC; runs for 832 performances; wins Pulitzer Prize, and 2 Tony Awards

1966 “Au Hasard Balthazar”, French film directed by Robert Bresson, starring Anne Wiazemsky and François Lafarge, is released

1969 “Midnight Cowboy” directed by John Schlesinger and starring Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman is released (Academy Awards Best Picture 1970)

1973 26th Cannes Film Festival: “The Hireling” directed by Alan Bridges and “Scarecrow” directed by Jerry Schatzberg jointly awarded the Grand Prix du Festival International du Film

Today’s Historical Events in Music

1878 W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan’s comic opera “H.M.S. Pinafore” premieres in London, their first international success

1887 Gas lamp at Paris Opera catches fire; 200 die

1934 Béla Bartók’s “Cantata Profana – The Nine Enchanted Stags” premieres in London, England, with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Wireless Chorus conducted by Aylmer Buesst

1957 “Shinbone Alley” closes at Broadway Theater NYC after 49 performances

1962 Isley Brothers release “Twist & Shout”

1963 “Hot Spot” closes at Majestic Theater NYC after 43 performances

1965 Dave Davies of The Kinks knocked unconscious in an on stage scuffle with drummer Mick Avory at Cardiff’s Capital Theatre

1967 John Lennon takes delivery of his psychedelically painted Rolls Royce

Today’s Historical Events in Sports

1868 Australian Aboriginal Cricket tour of England begins v Surrey Gentlemen

1876 4th Preakness: G. Barbee aboard Shirley wins in 2:44.75

1895 20th Preakness: Fred Taral aboard Belmar wins in 1:50.5

1899 33rd Belmont: R. Clawson aboard Jean Beraud wins in 2:23

1900 Retired London fire master Eyre Massey Shaw aged 70 reputedly becomes oldest gold medalist in Olympics for sailing (disputed)

1904 38th Belmont: George Odom aboard Delhi wins in 2:06.6

1906 After 20 straight wins, Boston Pilgrims lose to Chicago White Sox 3-0

1919 Casey Stengel releases a sparrow from under his baseball cap

Pagan & Magickal Terms and Definitions

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.

Today’s Word is

Alchemy

An art-science hybrid that ultimately led to chemistry; concerned with the transmutation of matter, often involved attempts to convert base metals into gold or create a universal elixir.

May 24 Today in History and a Pagan Word for Today

Today’s Important Historical Events

1595 Nomenclator of Leiden University Library appears, the first printed catalog of an institutional library

1738 John Wesley is converted, launching the Methodist movement; celebrated annually by Methodists as Aldersgate Day

1844 Samuel Morse taps out “What hath God wrought” in the world’s first telegraph message

1941 German battleship Bismarck sinks the British battle cruiser HMS Hood; 1,416 die, 3 survive

1988 Section 28 passed as law by Parliament in the United Kingdom prohibiting the promotion of homosexuality. Repealed 2001/2004

Today’s Historical Events

1086 Abbott Dauferio/Desiderius becomes Pope Victor III

1153 Malcolm IV becomes King of Scots

1218 The Fifth Crusade leaves Acre for Egypt

1276 Magnus Ladulås is crowned King of Sweden in Uppsala Cathedral

1300 King Philip IV occupies Flanders, Earl Gwijde captured

1370 Hanzesteden signs peace treaty with Danish king Waldemar IV

1487 Imposter Lambert Simnel ceremony crowned as King Edward VI in Dublin

1595 Nomenclator of Leiden University Library appears, the first printed catalog of an institutional library

Today’s Historical Events in Film and TV

1895 Henry Irving becomes the first actor to receive a knighthood

1963 Barbra Streisand performs “Happy Days Are Here Again” at White House Press Correspondents Dinner, and meets US President John F. Kennedy

1964 The Beatles’ 4th appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show”, features an interview and pre-recorded performance of “You Can’t Do That”

1966 Jerry Herman’s musical “Mame”, starring Angela Lansbury and Bea Arthur, opens at Winter Garden Theater, NYC; runs for 1508 performances, wins 3 Tony Awards

1974 “The Dean Martin Show” last airs on NBC-TV

1974 27th Cannes Film Festival: “The Conversation” directed by Francis Ford Coppola wins the Grand Prix du Festival International du Film

1979 32nd Cannes Film Festival: “Apocalypse Now” directed by Francis Ford Coppola and “Die Biechtrommel” directed by Volker Schlondorff jointly awarded the Palme d’Or

1988 Porntip Nakhirunkanok, 19, of Thailand, crowned 37th Miss Universe

Today’s Historical Events in Music

1873 Leo Delibes’ opera “Le Roi l’a Dit” (“The King Has Spoken”) premieres at the Opéra-Comique in Paris

1873 Alexandra Palace opens on Queen Victoria‘s 54th birthday with a grand celebration including concerts, recitals and fireworks

1933 Dmitri Shostakovich‘s Preludes premieres in Moscow

1948 Benjamin Britten‘s “Beggar’s Opera” premieres at Arts Theatre, Cambridge, England

1956 1st Eurovision Song Contest: Lys Assia for Switzerland wins singing “Refrain” in Lugano

1958 “New Girl in Town” closes at 46th St Theater NYC after 432 performances

1968 Mick Jagger & Marianne Faithfull arrested for drug possession in England

1969 Beatles’ “Get Back” single goes #1 and stays #1 for 5 weeks

Today’s Historical Events in Sports

1877 5th Preakness: C Holloway aboard Cloverbrook wins in 2:45.5

1879 7th Preakness: L Hughes aboard Harold wins in 2:40.5

1900 34th Belmont: Nash Turner aboard Ildrim wins in 2:21¼

1905 39th Belmont: Eugene Hildebrand aboard Tanya wins in 2:08

1918 Cleveland Indians Stan Coveleski sets club record for most innings pitched (19) as the Indians beat the Yankees 3-2

1926 Paavo Nurmi runs world record 3000 m (8:25.4)

1928 Record 12 future Hall of Famers take the field, as Yanks beat A’s 9-7

1929 Detroit Tigers beats Chicago White Sox, 6-5, in 21 innings

Pagan & Magickal Terms and Definitions

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.

Today’s Word is

Aisling

a dream vision