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Divination Journal

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All aspects of the Six of Cups from thesecretofthetarot.com

Six/6 of Cups

In traditional tarot, the Six of Cups shows us two children wearing strange clothing and sharing between them a golden cup while five others sit near by.

The scene is bright and full of greenery. Compared to the rest of the Cup suit, the Six of Cups is lighthearted and fun.

The symbolism in this card directly relates to a time where we weren’t yet bogged down by the stress and emotional upheaval adult life tends to offer.

In some instances, it quite literally points to our childhoods. In others, it tells us that we are taking an innocent, playful approach to what life is throwing at us.

Sometimes the Six of Cups shows us that we aren’t taking parts of our lives seriously enough, though this warning is a welcoming change from the emotional turmoil its suit mates have the tendency to carry with them.

The Upright Meaning

While the Six of Cups is related to our childhood attitudes towards life, it almost never represents our childhoods in the past position.

You’re going to want to examine your more recent history to determine when you could have acted more mature towards the things life put in your path.

Your innocence in the past towards a life event is what has lead you to your current position.

If the Six of Cups appears in your current position, it means that you are living in the moment, and are able to enjoy it without consequence.

This happy-go-lucky attitude is working for you, so long as you are remembering to keep the rest of your life in order as well.

In the future position, the Six of Cups is a wonderful conclusion to your current situation. Despite what the other cards in your spread say, there are good days ahead.

This could mean a new relationship is on the horizon, or you’ll be taking your dream vacation. Whatever the case may be, your future is bright and full of joy.

Work

When reading for your career, the Six of Cups is telling you that now is the best time to let your creativity flow.

You have something unique to bring to the table, and are in a good position to approach a work related task from a different perspective.

If you are seeking work, look for a position that will allow you to have some flexibility and creative freedom.

Love

The Six of Cups in a relationship oriented spread means that you and your partner need to refocus on the future.

It’s saying that one or both of you have been stuck in the past, perhaps when the relationship was still new and exciting.

In order to maintain a healthy bond with each other, it’s time to put the past aside and work towards growing together.

If you are single, the Six of Cups is telling you not to dwell on relationships from the past.

If you’ve been considering rekindling the flames of an old relationship, remember that exes are exes for a reason.

Finances

Since the Six of Cups is so closely related to simpler times, it can be odd to see in a spread related to your cash flow.

What it means in this situation is that you are worrying too much about money, and not focusing enough on living your life.

It’s easy to get caught up in our adult responsibilities, but it’s important that we allow ourselves to have a little fun too.

If you have been interested in making an investment, look for something that speaks directly to your inner child.

Health

When it comes to your health, the Six of Cups is a sign that your physical ailments may be stemming from past emotional pains. Look back to your childhood for answers.

It’s a good idea to enlist the help of a therapist so that you can explore how events that happened when you were young could be affecting you today.

For peace of mind, it is also wise to speak with your family about your medical history.

Reversed Position

A reversed Six of Cups is a warning you cannot ignore. This means that you are still being affected by events from your past. It’s important to recognize the signs of lasting trauma, and to remind yourself that you can ask for help, even if you feel alone.

You must encourage yourself to deal with the past, not dwell on it, in order to move forward.

Rune

Hagalaz

Hagalaz is about destructive natural forces: earthquakes, storms, lightening, and all ways that the raw power of nature cannot be controlled. In this sense it is also associated with the unconscious mind, an energy which must be respected and cannot be successfully resisted. You might not be happy about the destructive force of hagalaz but it will bring an end to things and thus create space for something new. This is the cycle of karma.

Rune Associations:

Element: Water

Polarity: Feminine

Plant: Bryony

 

Witches Rune

The Rings

Keywords: Love, relationships.

Meanings: The Rings is the rune of love and when it is the leading stone, it is a positive answer to your question. It is very much a rune of relationship and can indicate engagement, marriage or a new/renewed relationship. It can also indicate the need for a fresh approach to an existing relationship.

Ogham

From symbolsage.com

Straif

The ogham symbol Straif has the phonetic value of St, and corresponds to the blackthorn or sloe tree, which is known for its magical power. Staves made from its wood were carried by wizards, warlocks, and witches.

In Irish sagas, the blackthorn has association with battle, sacrifice, transformation, and death. It’s also said to be sacred to Donn of the Milesians, the Irish god of death, as well as to goddess Morrighan who oversees matters of war and death.

I Ching

Hexagram Four/4

Moutain Above, Water Below

Be on guard for the careless or rebellious attitudes characteristic of inexperience. Just as a youth requires instruction, this is a good time to focus on learning lessons from a patient teacher or from life experience. Is there a circumstance in your life that you have failed to comprehend, perhaps because you didn’t appreciate its inherent complexities? Be respectful of anything or anyone who has something to teach you right now. If you are focusing on a relationship, ask yourself which of you is currently the student and which of you is the sage. If you are a parent ask yourself: Who is being the teacher – my child or me?

In order to be ready for challenging times, let education be an ongoing part of your life. Develop the necessary mind-set and willpower to carry you through confusing times. The wise realize that experience – especially difficult experience- is a most powerful teacher. But we cannot be forced to learn, even from experience. Be the humble student who delights in learning, the one who nourishes an expanding awareness.

Examine your attitude for factors that would limit your openness. Observe how you deal with the mistakes of others. Let people live their own lives and learn their own lessons. You may offer them your wisdom or advice, but do so only if they are receptive. Give up trying to convince others that you are right, as it is both exhausting and counterproductive. Instead, all other to proceed, even into difficult or dangerous circumstances. It may be the only way they can learn; and without learning, no one can achive success. Care without forcing attention; trying to take care of someone who is unwilling can actually be harmful. Live and let learn.

Numerology

Angel Number

Animal Spirit Guide or Helper

A Thought from A Eclectic Witch

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I am Taking A Partial Day Off Today so Some Regular Posts Will be Missing and Information About Life in The Craft Magazine

Morning Wiccan Prayer Pagan Daily Spell for Gratitude

GOOD MORNING, dear Sisters, Brothers, and Honored Guests

I woke up with a glorious feeling the birds singing and a little later Ra out in his full, beautiful glory this morning knowing that the biggest stressors in my life are a thing in the past. First night in I cannot remember when I did not have even a inkling of a nightmare from PSTD. I can now move forward with letting go of the numerous abusive, in one way or another, relationships behind me and work to come to truly believe I did not cause them. To be fair I did choose to stay in those relationships so part of the reason I deal with PSTD does land on my shoulders. Today I awoke at 4:30 AM CDT because I had fell asleep about 7 PM CDT last night because I really crashed, again the first time in a very long time, from adrenaline leaving my body which means my fibromyalgia symptoms are better than they have been in many of years.

So, I decided I deserve a day of celebrating that fact that my new life with Big Dawg, my fiancée, can really and truly begin! It is still going to take me some time to fully appreciate and feel deserving of a man who loves me unconditionally, who is willing to watch out for my physical safety and protect me from things I cannot protect myself from. If this sounds un feministic so, be it but it is how I feel. I can give him my whole heart in love, companionship, and everything that goes with it without worrying that it is just a facade to keep me being his maid, lover, dog walker, ectara. He may not be a witch or pagan but he fully supports my choice of spiritual path as I do his as a Christian. We live in a small 4 room home which doesn’t afford me having a special room set aside to work and practice my magickal and spiritual path but when I am doing something with my students like our monthly chat and Sabbath gatherings or even if it is just a phone call he will go into the bedroom and shut the door. A little insider info he has done private rituals and in our own way we celebrate the Sabbaths.

Anyway, about today’s regular and extra posts. I will be doing horoscopes (BTW April 12th’s birthday horoscope is up now on the 12th), Moon phase, planetary positions, correspondences, spell, and divination. The divination post will be tarot cards, rune, witches rune, and ogham is because I am curious what these are saying to me as well as you today. No early Friday posts will be up. Tomorrow I will be going back to me regular posting schedule. I apologize to my southern hemisphere readers that so much information is being skipped over or coming up to late to maybe of no use to you for yesterday,  today, and tomorrow. YOur Saturday information will be available on your Saturday morning.

The next two issues of Life in The Craft magazine will be posted on WOTC instead of sending them via an email. Why, you may be asking yourself? Well, I want more than a hand full of people to see what the magazine offers. I am also going to go to 4 times a year issues covering the seasons and whatever Sabbaths full in it. The cost per issues will be $4.00 USD if paid monthly. If you choose to pay for a yearly subscription, it will be $14.00 USD. There will be no free issues of the quarterly magazine that is why I am putting the Beltane/Samhain and Litha/Yule issues up on WOTC. Every quarterly issue will cover the Northern and Southern Hemisphere’s Sabbats along with other topics. If you have questions, would like to submit an original article for consideration or ideas for future issues or creative criticism please write to me at ladybeltane@witchesofthecraft.com

Be Back Thursday Morning

I am going through a very difficult time which will hopefully end in my divorce tomorrow from a mentally and emotionally abusive man. Right now I’m not in a place mentally to sit down to work. My PTSD is really raising its ugly head causing a bad fibromyalgia flare.

Prayers of calmness and mental comfort would be very much appreciated.

A Laugh for Your Day

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I told you I wasn’t a very nice witch.

A Thought for Today

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A Thought for Today

Divination Through Tea Leaves c. 2018

Divination Through Tea Leaves

Predicting by using tealeaves was in the 19th century in Europe quite popular, but nowadays it is hardly practiced. Not, because the techniques were that extremely difficult, but much more because almost everyone uses teabags in stead of just unpacked tealeaves. That causes, that no leaves are left in the cup after drinking.

So if you feel invited to this prediction method, the first thing to do is drinking tea at that ‘old-fashioned’ way. You need for each cup one teaspoon with tea and one extra for the teapot. You’ll notice it tastes nice, but if you plan to use it too for prediction, I suggest the use of white cups, because it gives a better background for the dark leaves. Each person in your ‘tea session’ who wants to hear something about their personal future, should leave a little liquid behind in their cup. This is stirred to let the leaves floating in stead lying quiet on the bottom of the cup. Immediately after that is done, the liquid part is carefully poured out. By doing this, the tealeaves stick behind on the inside and the bottom of the cup.

Than comes the moment for you to fix a strong and deep concentration on those tealeaves. Close your eyes halfway and give your powers of imagination ‘free way’. Try to discover in these tealeaves a known picture, i.e. a book, an axe, trees, a hat, etc…etc… The following step is the interpretation of that discovered picture. You can use for that the next explanations:

Anchor:
A journey, at the end of that trip happiness.

Arrow:
Luck in love affair(s).

Axe:
(A pickax or a saw is also possible)
Be warned to deal carefully with your money and your emotions.

Balloon:
(Also a non-army airplane):
An unexpected promotion, going for the better or inheritance.

Bird:
See: flag.

Book:
Ask advice before going further going on in things your are (or are going to be) involved.

Bottle:
Your social activities will increase.

Bow:
There will come a meeting or a date that is important for your further life.

Butterfly:
Your partner/spouse/life mate takes your affair not as serious as is essential/ necessary in your view.

Chain:
In a certain activities in your professions you should give more and better efforts.

Clock or watch:
An important meeting will happen.

Crown:
Promotion.

Cross:
Big tough luck. If you can see a second picture in the leaves, than that can give more details on the area that is involved.

Dice:
Avoid risks.

Doorbell:
You may expect good news.

Envelope:
Good news is coming.

Fish:
You will get unbelievable news from far away.

Flag:
Your level of prosperity will increase.

Foot:
Expected good news will not come.

Gate or door:
An unexpected change in your personal circumstances.

Hammer:
You should make more efforts to give your best.

Harp or harpsichord:
Prosperity and luck will become yours.

Hat:
You have to go through some touch luck.

Heart:
You will get emotional excitement.

Key:
You will get a better understanding about certain things that are unclear to you now.

Knife:
You’ll get a quarrel or even a row.

Ladder (Household):
Improvement.

Moon (Waxing):
A little profit will become yours.

Ring:
A lot of non-material luck/happiness.

Rocks:
In short time you will get some problems. (Not very big).

Roof:
At home with you something will change.

Scales:
You should improve your dealing with weighting advantages and disadvantages. Things have more than one side.

Ship:
A journey will bring luck and happiness.

Street:
(Two tealeaves straight between each other):
Business in which you are involved will go well.
(Two tealeaves not straight between each other):
Business in which you are involved will not turn out well.

Trees:
Everything will bloom.

Such a picture that is close to the edge of the teacup points to a time period from three till six weeks on the things that are predicted. If the picture is on the bottom it means a time period of at least two years before that prediction will happen. In the middle of the inside means about a year.

By training and experience you will become able to interpret more pictures as are described here.

Don’t forget: as with every prediction method, it will only work as it’s fully implemented in yourself. The fewest doubt will make that your efforts to predict will fail. (The ‘client’ need not believe that).

A Little Humor for Your Day c. 2018

Sunday’s Witchery c. 2012

 

Sunday’s Witchery

Those ambitious, successful spells and charms will be heightened by working on the day of the week that has the planetary influence of the sun. So light those sunny candles, wear some luminous colors, and break out the gold jewelry! Bake up some cinnamon rolls or low-fat cinnamon muffins for an enchanting family breakfast. Take an orange with you to eat at lunch today. Try using a little magickal aromatherapy and burn some cinnamon-scented incense to encourage success and wealth today. Make the talisman to keep your solar magick with you. Sprinkle some dried marigold petals around your house-or across the threshold-to pull triumph and protection toward you and your family.

Get outside and tip up your face to the sun. Take a walk outside, and soak up some sunshine! Acknowledge the power of Sunna or Helios as they blaze across the sky and bring courage and motivation into your life. Sit outside at sunrise on a Sunday morning and bask in its warm, rosy-golden glow Acknowledge Brigid as the inner, creative spark of imagination and inspiration. She can help these gifts burn brightly within your own soul. Use your imagination and create your own brand of witchery and magick. Here comes the sun, and it’s your turn to shine!

—–Book of Witchery: Spells, Charms & Correspondences for Every Day of the Week
Ellen Dugan

The Witches Daily Divination Journal c. 2018

The Witches Daily Divination Journal

Tarot Card of the Day

Ace of Wands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This suit, most often called “Wands” and sometimes called “Rods” or “Staves,” represents initiative, ambition, drive and desire. This is the suit of enterprise and risk-taking.

An Ace of this suit in this position symbolizes a pivotal act, or fateful step, that will set loose a chain of events leading toward your desired goal. It refers to a birth or new beginning, the inauguration of an endeavor, and the building of the necessary commitment to see a project or plan through. It personifies an aroused Will that is totally focused, aiming at the bulls-eye.

 

Tarot.com is Part of the Daily Insight Group © 2018

Daily Love Tarot

The Hanged Man

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Hanged Man asks, “What do you see from a new perspective?” If you look, you catch sight of the truer nature of a union. You feel yourself relax. You live in the future now, and not in the past. You learn not to get excited over every little upturn and downturn. This is the message of the card today: focus your eyes on the moment and nothing slips beyond the radar of awareness.

Erotic Tarot

The Magician

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can take the Magician card quite literally today as it’s telling you that your love life needs a bit of sexual magic. The Magician card encourages you to use the intuitive power you have that allows you to approach potentially (or explicitly) passionate situations with erotic determination. Who do you want under your spell this time, and what sensual tricks do you have up your sleeve to seduce him or her? This card is an indication that it would be a shame to let your passionate talents go to waste.

Today’s Psychic Tip

11.7.18

Leap Of Love

This is a day to dream big and seize the moment. Love is headed your way if you move in with a plan for seduction. Are you ready to leap?

Tarot.com is Part of the Daily Insight Group © 2018

Your Daily Rune For November 7

 

Isa

“Iss-ah” – Literally: “Ice” – Esoteric: Stasis, Stillness

Rune of concentration of things in a static or frozen state. Rune of stillness and the Ego-Self.

Psi: mental faculties, focus, ego, self-image/self-identity

Energy: stillness, contraction, stasis

Mundane: cold, self-preservation, harsh reality

Divinations: Concentrated self, ego-consciousness, self-control, unity of being; or egomania, dullness, blindness, dissipation, immobility, self-centeredness, lack of change, psychopathy.

Governs:
Development of concentration, will and focus
Halting of unwanted dynamic forces as an act of self-defense (ard against demonic influences)
Basic ego integration within a balanced multiversal system
Power of control and constraint over other wights (entities), emotional outbursts
Focus of the will into single-minded action

Your Influences for the Week

 

Tarot Influence

The Sun Reversed

The outcome of future plans is nebulous. Trouble with relationships and work is very possible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Astrological Influence

Aquarius Reversed

This card signifies the closing of both heart and mind, which leads to stagnation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Element Influence

Water Reversed

Water reversed denotes secrets to which you are not privy. Approach all ventures with caution.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your Animal Spirit Guide

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Characteristics of the Frog as a Spirit Animal

Advice from a Frog

Crack the Cookie

The Wisdom of Buddha

There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.

 

 

Goddess Of The Day is Blodeuwedd c. 2011

Blodeuwedd

by Karen Davis
Blodeuwedd was created out of flowers by Gwydion to wed Llew Llaw Gyffes. She betrayed Llew, either because she had no soul, being non-human, or because she resented being his chattel, or because the triplet of one woman and two men must play itself out in Welsh myth, and Llew Llaw Gyffes must die. At any rate, she fell in love with Goronwy and, wishing to be rid of Llew, she tricked out of him the clearly supernatural and ritual manner in which only he could be killed: neither by day nor night, indoors nor out of doors, riding nor walking, clothed nor naked, nor by any weapon lawfully made. She asked him to explain this, and he did: he could be killed only if it were twilight, wrapped in a fish net, with one foot on a cauldron and the other on a goat, and if the weapon had been forged during sacred hours when such work was forbidden. Blodeuwedd convinced him to demonstrate how impossible such a position was to achieve by chance, and when he was in it, het lover Goronwy leapt out and struck. Llew was transformed into an eagle and eventually restored to human form, after which he killed Goronwy. Blodeuwedd was transformed into an owl, to haunt the night in loneliness and sorrow, shunned by all other birds.

Gods – Anubis – Egyptian c. 2018

Anubis

 

Anubis is the Greek name of a god associated with mummification and the afterlife in ancient Egyptian religion, usually depicted as a canine or a man with a canine head. Archeologists have identified Anubis’s sacred animal as an Egyptian canid, the African golden wolf.

Like many ancient Egyptian deities, Anubis assumed different roles in various contexts. Depicted as a protector of graves as early as the First Dynasty (c. 3100 – c. 2890 BC), Anubis was also an embalmer. By the Middle Kingdom (c. 2055 – 1650 BC) he was replaced by Osiris in his role as lord of the underworld. One of his prominent roles was as a god who ushered souls into the afterlife. He attended the weighing scale during the “Weighing of the Heart,” in which it was determined whether a soul would be allowed to enter the realm of the dead. Despite being one of the most ancient and “one of the most frequently depicted and mentioned gods” in the Egyptian pantheon, Anubis played almost no role in Egyptian myths.

Anubis was depicted in black, a color that symbolized both rebirth and the discoloration of the corpse after embalming. Anubis is associated with Wepwawet (also called Upuaut), another Egyptian god portrayed with a dog’s head or in canine form, but with grey or white fur. Historians assume that the two figures were eventually combined. Anubis’ female counterpart is Anput. His daughter is the serpent goddess Kebechet.

Name

“Anubis” is a Greek rendering of this god’s Egyptian name. In the Old Kingdom (c. 2686 BC – c. 2181 BC), the standard way of writing his name in hieroglyphs was composed of the sound signs jnpw followed by a jackal over a ḥtp sign:

i n
p		 w C6

A new form with the “jackal” on a tall stand appeared in the late Old Kingdom and became common thereafter:

i n
p		 w E16

Anubis’ name jnpw was possibly pronounced [a.ˈna.pʰa], based on Coptic Anoup and the Akkadian transcription 𒀀𒈾𒉺<a-na-pa> in the name <ri-a-na-pa> “Reanapa” that appears in Amarna letter EA 315. However, this transcription may also be interpreted as rˁ-nfr, a name similar to that of Prince Ranefer of the Fourth Dynasty.

History

In Egypt’s Early Dynastic period (c. 3100 – c. 2686 BC), Anubis was portrayed in full animal form, with a “jackal” head and body.  A “jackal” god, probably Anubis, is depicted in stone inscriptions from the reigns of Hor-Aha, Djer, and other pharaohs of the First Dynasty.  Since Predynastic Egypt, when the dead were buried in shallow graves, “jackals” had been strongly associated with cemeteries because they were scavengers which uncovered human bodies and ate their flesh. In the spirit of “fighting like with like,” a “jackal” was chosen to protect the dead, because “a common problem (and cause of concern) must have been the digging up of bodies, shortly after burial, by jackals and other wild dogs which lived on the margins of the cultivation.”

The oldest known textual mention of Anubis is in the Pyramid Texts of the Old Kingdom (c. 2686 – c. 2181 BC), where he is associated with the burial of the pharaoh.

In the Old Kingdom, Anubis was the most important god of the dead. He was replaced in that role by Osiris during the Middle Kingdom(2000–1700 BC). In the Roman era, which started in 30 BC, tomb paintings depict him holding the hand of deceased persons to guide them to Osiris.

The parentage of Anubis varied between myths, times and sources. In early mythology, he was portrayed as a son of Ra. In the Coffin Texts, which were written in the First Intermediate Period (c. 2181–2055 BC), Anubis is the son of either the cow goddess Hesat or the cat-headed Bastet. Another tradition depicted him as the son of Ra and Nephthys. The Greek Plutarch (c. 40–120 AD) stated that Anubis was the illegitimate son of Nephthys and Osiris, but that he was adopted by Osiris’s wife Isis:

For when Isis found out that Osiris loved her sister and had relations with her in mistaking her sister for herself, and when she saw a proof of it in the form of a garland of clover that he had left to Nephthys – she was looking for a baby, because Nephthys abandoned it at once after it had been born for fear of Seth; and when Isis found the baby helped by the dogs which with great difficulties lead her there, she raised him and he became her guard and ally by the name of Anubis.

George Hart sees this story as an “attempt to incorporate the independent deity Anubis into the Osirian pantheon.” An Egyptian papyrus from the Roman period (30–380 AD) simply called Anubis the “son of Isis.”

In the Ptolemaic period (350–30 BC), when Egypt became a Hellenistic kingdom ruled by Greek pharaohs, Anubis was merged with the Greek god Hermes, becoming Hermanubis. The two gods were considered similar because they both guided souls to the afterlife. The center of this cult was in uten-ha/Sa-ka/ Cynopolis, a place whose Greek name means “city of dogs.” In Book XI of The Golden Ass by Apuleius, there is evidence that the worship of this god was continued in Rome through at least the 2nd century. Indeed, Hermanubis also appears in the alchemical and hermetical literature of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

Although the Greeks and Romans typically scorned Egypt’s animal-headed gods as bizarre and primitive (Anubis was mockingly called “Barker” by the Greeks), Anubis was sometimes associated with Sirius in the heavens and Cerberus and Hades in the underworld. In his dialogues, Plato often has Socrates utter oaths “by the dog” (kai me ton kuna), “by the dog of Egypt”, and “by the dog, the god of the Egyptians”, both for emphasis and to appeal to Anubis as an arbiter of truth in the underworld.

Roles

Protector of tombs

In contrast to real wolves, Anubis was a protector of graves and cemeteries. Several epithets attached to his name in Egyptian texts and inscriptions referred to that role. Khenty-imentiu, which means “foremost of the westerners” and later became the name of a different wolf god, alluded to his protecting function because the dead were usually buried on the west bank of the Nile. He took other names in connection with his funerary role, such as tpy-ḏw.f “He who is upon his mountain” (i.e. keeping guard over tombs from above) and nb-t3-ḏsr “Lord of the sacred land”, which designates him as a god of the desert necropolis.

The Jumilhac papyrus recounts another tale where Anubis protected the body of Osiris from Set. Set attempted to attack the body of Osiris by transforming himself into a leopard. Anubis stopped and subdued Set, however, and he branded Set’s skin with a hot iron rod. Anubis then flayed Set and wore his skin as a warning against evil-doers who would desecrate the tombs of the dead. Priests who attended to the dead wore leopard skin in order to commemorate Anubis’ victory over Set. The legend of Anubis branding the hide of Set in leopard form was used to explain how the leopard got its spots.

Most ancient tombs had prayers to Anubis carved on them.

Embalmer

As jmy-wt “He who is in the place of embalming”, Anubis was associated with mummification. He was also called ḫnty zḥ-nṯr “He who presides over the god’s booth”, in which “booth” could refer either to the place where embalming was carried out or the pharaoh’s burial chamber.

In the Osiris myth, Anubis helped Isis to embalm Osiris. Indeed, when the Osiris myth emerged, it was said that after Osiris had been killed by Set, Osiris’s organs were given to Anubis as a gift. With this connection, Anubis became the patron god of embalmers; during the rites of mummification, illustrations from the Book of the Dead often show a wolf-mask-wearing priest supporting the upright mummy.

Guide of souls

By the late pharaonic era (664–332 BC), Anubis was often depicted as guiding individuals across the threshold from the world of the living to the afterlife. Though a similar role was sometimes performed by the cow-headed Hathor, Anubis was more commonly chosen to fulfill that function. Greek writers from the Roman period of Egyptian history designated that role as that of “psychopomp”, a Greek term meaning “guide of souls” that they used to refer to their own god Hermes, who also played that role in Greek religion. Funerary art from that period represents Anubis guiding either men or women dressed in Greek clothes into the presence of Osiris, who by then had long replaced Anubis as ruler of the underworld.

Weighing of the heart

One of the roles of Anubis was as the “Guardian of the Scales.” The critical scene depicting the weighing of the heart, in the Book of the Dead, shows Anubis performing a measurement that determined whether the person was worthy of entering the realm of the dead (the underworld, known as Duat). By weighing the heart of a deceased person against Ma’at (or “truth”), who was often represented as an ostrich feather, Anubis dictated the fate of souls. Souls heavier than a feather would be devoured by Ammit, and souls lighter than a feather would ascend to a heavenly existence.

 

Source

Wikipedia

 

April 3rd to April 9th Astronomy Pictures of the Day

These are the Astronomy Picture of the Day for the proceeding week starting on the past Monday through this Sunday. Just click on the hyperlink next to the date for the pictures you want to see.

2023 April 09: The Egg Nebula in Polarized Light
2023 April 08: M100: A Grand Design Spiral Galaxy
2023 April 07: Rigel Wide
2023 April 06: Terran 1 Burns Methalox
2023 April 05: Rubin’s Galaxy
2023 April 04: Olympus Mons: Largest Volcano in the Solar System
2023 April 03: The Galactic Center Radio Arc

Archangel – Gaberial

Archangel Gaberial from ask-angels.com

The “Strong One” and Divine Messenger

Archangel Gabriel is a powerful and loving messenger of Divine love, wisdom, and guidance. Gabriel is the Archangel of communication, new beginnings, and strength.

When you connect with Gabriel, they can assist you in learning to tune into and receive direct messages of Divine love for yourself, and in the opening to allow Divine strength, wisdom and blessings to flow throughout your life.

Who is Archangel Gabriel?

Archangel Gabriel is one of the most well known and popular archangels today, largely due to being mentioned in the Bible in both the New and Old Testament. The most common Bible story featuring Gabriel is the Christmas story!

Gabriel is the angel who guides the three wise men to the birth location of Christ, and is also the angel who appears to Mary telling her that she will give birth to a Son. For this reason, Gabriel is sometimes known or referred to as “the Christmas Angel”, but although the history of Gabriel dates all the way back to Biblical times… It does not mean they are any less active, or able to support and guide us today!

One of the common methods used to gain insight into the unique energy of the different Archangels is to look at the meaning of their name. In Hebrew, the name Gabriel means, “God is my strength”, “The Strong One” or “Hero of God” and this alludes to the incredible strength and power Gabriel embodies and her work in helping humanity to come into our own Divine strength and embodied power.

Yes, I referred to Gabriel as her. There is some controversy as to whether Gabriel is male or female, and this is for good reason! Gender definitely exists, but operates differently in the higher dimensions. Gender is more a quality of energy than defining sex as it does in the physical. Really, when it comes to Archangels they can choose to appear with masculine or feminine energy, or neither, rather showing up as pure light and energy.

Archangel Gabriel does notably have a feminine essence of energy, as she is connected to the forces of the Moon and to the Birth forces.

Whether you experience Gabriel’s presence as being male or female, know that gender is used by the archangels to convey energy. This is why Archangel Michael who is the angel of protection usually appears to be more masculine, and Archangel Gabriel the angel of communication feminine.

Archangel Gabriels divinely feminine presence is very connected to the cycles of the moon, the flow of communication, and the flowing element of water. Gabriel works around the clock (really, outside of time and space) to guide assist and support you in connecting with your inner Truth, and embodying the highest level of Divine awareness and Love available to you in your life.

Archangel Gabriel in the Bible

Gabriel is also intricately connected to the dream world. In the Bible, it was in a dream where Archangel Gabriel told Joseph about the coming birth of Jesus.

Today, Gabriel loves to send those who are open to them messages of love and guidance during dream time. When you’re asleep, you are more receptive to higher guidance of Spirit. If you don’t already, start paying attention to your dreams. If you struggle recalling your dreams, keep a journal closeby and write your dreams down first thing when you wake in the morning.

There is incredible insight and learning that stems from deciphering your dreams and paying attention to them and what they mean for your life. Just by committing to write your dreams down, and then beginning to try to remember each morning you will start to remember more!

Then, take note and become aware of when a dream is outside the norm of what your dreams are typically like. When an angel contacts you in a dream, there will be the energetic signature of golden light and incredibly loving energy that lingers afterwards.

Three Signs Gabriel Is With You

Have you asked Gabriel for guidance or assistance? When you ask Archangel Gabriel for support, healing, inspiration, and guidance, they will respond!

The guidance of Gabriel may not appear in the way you expect, and it may not be in the form of receiving a clear verbal message (especially at first as you need to open your subtle psychic senses for this) …

But know that when you ask for help and guidance, Gabriel will answer… But it’s then up to you to stay present, centered and open to allow the subtle guidance, creative inspiration, and wisdom of Gabriel to appear.

As you practice present moment awareness, staying centered and grounded in the moment and continually returning your awareness to observation, gratitude and love…

In addition to being in a receptive state to access direct inspiration and angel messages, you will also be in the right state of mind to notice the signs of Archangel Gabriels presence that do appear!

There are many things that can signify Gabriels presence, but based on my experience, here are the Top 3 most common signs of Archangel Gabriel:

1. Archangel Gabriel’s White Coppery Angelic Energy

One of the biggest signs Archangel Gabriel is with you is that you begin to sense or notice one of their signature traits, which is that they appear with a beautiful white and golden, coppery angelic light.

You may see this brilliant light with your inner sight by simply drawing your attention inwards.

For example, when you are in a quiet meditative state and ask Gabriel to come forward, something magical happens. You may receive a general sense of their heartfelt warmth and presence or you might actually experience Gabriel stepping forward with or as a glowing coppery light.

The other way this sign could unfold is through seeing coppery white orbs in your peripheral vision. When this happens, don’t be surprised if when you try to focus on the light it goes away! Allowing yourself to find a place of relaxed is required for your experience of Gabriel to deepen.

The key word here is allowing. Allow and sense into Archangel Gabriel’s white, golden coppery energy which open up communication with the angelic realm.

2. Feeling Gabriels Glowing Energy

The second sign of Archangel Gabriel’s presence is that you start to feel the warmth and love that is their energetic signature.
From my experience, Gabriel’s energy is like a warm dip in the ocean, purifying and cleansing for the soul. Their energy is like waking up to the sunrise overlooking a clear Mountain lake. Like nature, Gabriel’s energy is a beautiful reflection of the highest Divine Light. It is gentle, warm, and absolutely blissful to bask in.

When you sense this warm beautiful energy, you are likely sensing Gabriel! And then when you allow yourself to bask in Gabriel’s divine light, you balance your energy, and further open to receiving angelic communication.

The next time you meditate, try inviting Gabriel in, and then when you simply relax and allow, you may notice the blissful energies of warmth and clarity that are a sign of Archangel Gabriel’s presence.

3. Angelic Imagery and Symbolism

The third sign you may experience when Gabriel is with you, is that you begin seeing angelic symbolism around you more often.

Perhaps this comes in the form of seeing a painting of an angel somewhere you’ve often been and yet never noticed that painting before. Alternately you may see a statue of an angel somewhere, or hear angels being sung about in a song. You might see more pictures of angels on your Facebook or Pinterest feed, you might notice an angel hanging above a Nativity scene (in July!) or you might drive by a restaurant named something like “Angel Cafe” or “Gabriel’s Bakery”.

These cute and seemingly coincidental sightings of angelic imagery and symbolism have angelic energy all over them! Seeing angels in artwork, media, or signs like this often increase in frequency when Archangel Gabriel is around and working with you. If this is happening for you it’s not only a clear sign of Gabriel’s presence, but a sign that they’re working to get messages through to you! Be sure you take some time to clear your mind and open your heart to receive more of Gabriel’s Divine messages of healing frequency and love.

Call upon Archangel Gabriel for Love, Strength, Inspiration, and Clear Vision

There is really so much that Gabriel can assist with. When called upon, Gabriel will help you to tap into your inner strength and power and to bring you inspiring messages to assist you in your life, and in finding your highest calling.

If your spiritual vision has been blocked, or you feel disconnected from Divine Guidance, Gabriel can help you to open to and restore this Divine flow so you can clearly receive Divine inspiration and clearly see Divine love.

Just know that some action on your part will likely be required. Gabriel will show you what you need to do to reopen to the flow of Divine

Love, Abundance, or even healing, but it’s then up to you to not only listen and trust… But to then act!

Archangel Gabriel for Healing

While Archangel Raphael is the most well known Archangel of Healing, each of the Archangels carry a healing frequency that can further support and guide you on your healing journey.

The way Gabriel typically supports the healing process is to inspire you with clear knowing as to the steps you can take to improve your situation. Gabriel is the Divine Messenger Archangel, and so their healing energy often involves connecting you with the messages of Healing Love.

Perhaps you simply need to be reminded that you are so loved and supported, or that you are enough! Gabriels messages of love can help remind you of your innate worth and sometimes this is “just what the doctor ordered” in terms of shifting your mental and emotional energy to bring yourself into alignment with healing light.

Additionally, physical healing crisis are often caused by energetic and emotional blockages. In many cases, allowing yourself to creatively express your energy, reignites the Divine energy flow of life force through your being.

So if you’ve been asking for healing energy, and you’re getting the guidance to get back out your paints, or work on writing a book, don’t doubt that this flow of creativity is a part of your healing journey and path.

If you are in healing crisis know that healing energy is available to you from the angelic realms, but more often than not rather than direct intervention or miraculous healing, the angels will inspire you to take action steps yourself to heal your body, and realign with wellness and the most vibrant possibilities for your life.

A Thought for Today

The Wisdom of Buddha

 

The tongue like a sharp knife… Kills without drawing blood.

Easter History and Traditions

Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the New Testament of the Bible, the event is said to have occurred three days after Jesus was crucified by the Romans and died in roughly A.D. 30. The holiday concludes the “Passion of Christ,” a series of events and holidays that begins with Lent—a 40-day period of fasting, prayer and sacrifice—and ends with Holy Week, which includes Holy Thursday (the celebration of Jesus’ Last Supper with his 12 Apostles, also known as “Maundy Thursday”), Good Friday (on which Jesus’ crucifixion is observed) and Easter Sunday. Although a holiday of high religious significance in the Christian faith, many traditions associated with Easter date back to pre-Christian, pagan times.

When Is Easter 2023?

Easter 2023 occurs on Sunday, April 9. However, Easter falls on a different date each year.

Easter Sunday and related celebrations, such as Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday, are considered “moveable feasts,” although, in western Christianity, which follows the Gregorian calendar, Easter always falls on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25. Easter typically falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon occurring on or after the spring equinox.

In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, which adheres to the Julian calendar, Orthodox Easter falls on a Sunday between April 4 and May 8 each year.

In some denominations of Protestant Christianity, Easter Sunday marks the beginning of Eastertide, or the Easter Season. Eastertide ends on the 50th day after Easter, which is known as Pentecost Sunday.

In Eastern Orthodox branches of Christianity, Easter Sunday serves as the start of the season of Pascha (Greek for “passover”), which ends 40 days later with the holiday known as the Feast of the Ascension.

Why Is Easter Called ‘Easter’?

St. Bede the Venerable, the 6th-century author of Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum (“Ecclesiastical History of the English People”), maintains that the English word “Easter” comes from Eostre, or Eostrae, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring and fertility. Other historians maintain the “Easter” derives from in albis, a Latin phrase that’s plural for alba, or “dawn,” that became eostarum in Old High German, a precursor to the English language of today.

Despite its significance as a Christian holy day, many of the traditions and symbols that play a key role in Easter observances actually have roots in pagan celebrations—particularly the pagan goddess Eostre—and in the Jewish holiday of Passover.

Religious Tradition of Easter

The resurrection of Jesus, as described in the New Testament of the Bible, is essentially the foundation upon which the Christian religions are built. Hence, Easter is a very significant date on the Christian calendar.

According to the New Testament, Jesus was arrested by the Roman authorities, essentially because he claimed to be the “Son of God,” although historians question this motive, with some saying that the Romans may have viewed him as a threat to the empire.

He was sentenced to death by Pontius Pilate, the Roman prefect in the province of Judea from A.D. 26 to 36 Jesus’ death by crucifixion, marked by the Christian holiday Good Friday (the Friday before Easter), and subsequent resurrection three days later is said, by the authors of the gospels, to prove that he was the living son of God.

In varying ways, all four of the gospels in the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) state that those who believe in Jesus’ death and resurrection are given “the gift of eternal life,” meaning that those of faith will be welcomed into the “Kingdom of Heaven” upon their earthly death.

Passover and Easter

Notably, Easter is also associated with the Jewish holiday of Passover, as well as the exodus of the Jews from Egypt, as described in the Old Testament. These links are clearly seen in the Last Supper, which occurred the night before Jesus’ arrest and the sufferings Jesus endured following his arrest.

The Last Supper was essentially a Passover feast. However, the New Testament describes it as being given new significance by Jesus: He identified the matzah (or bread) he shared with his 12 apostles as his “body” and the cup of wine they drank as his “blood.”

These rituals would come to symbolize the sacrifice he was about to make in death, and became the basis for the Christian ritual of Holy Communion, which remains a fundamental part of Christian religious services.

As Jesus’ arrest and execution were said to have occurred during the Jewish observance of Passover, the Easter holiday is often close to the former celebration on the Judeo-Christian calendar.

Easter Traditions

In western Christianity, including Roman Catholicism and Protestant denominations, the period prior to Easter holds special significance.

This period of fasting and penitence is called Lent. It begins on Ash Wednesday and lasts for 40 days (not including Sundays).

The Sunday immediately prior to Easter is called Palm Sunday, and it commemorates Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, when followers laid palm leaves across the road to greet him.

Many churches begin the Easter observance in the late hours of the day before (Holy Saturday) in a religious service called the Easter Vigil.

In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Easter rituals start with the Great Lent, which begins on Clean Monday (40 days prior to Easter, not including Sundays). The last week of Great Lent is referred to as Palm Week, and it ends with Lazarus Saturday, the day before Palm Sunday.

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, which ends on Easter.

Easter Eggs

Irrespective of denomination, there are many Easter-time traditions with roots that can be traced to non-Christian and even pagan or non-religious celebrations. Many non-Christians choose to observe these traditions while essentially ignoring the religious aspects of the celebration.

Examples of non-religious Easter traditions include Easter eggs, and related games such as egg rolling and egg decorating.

It’s believed that eggs represented fertility and birth in certain pagan traditions that pre-date Christianity. Egg decorating may have become part of the Easter celebration in a nod to the religious significance of Easter, i.e., Jesus’ resurrection or re-birth.

Many people—mostly children—also participate in Easter egg “hunts,” in which decorated eggs are hidden. Perhaps the most famous Easter tradition for children is the annual White House Easter Egg Roll, when children roll Easter eggs down Capitol Hill.

Easter Bunny

In some households, a character known as the Easter Bunny delivers candy and chocolate eggs to children on Easter Sunday morning. These candies often arrive in an Easter basket.

The exact origins of the Easter Bunny tradition are unknown, although some historians believe it arrived in America with German immigrants in the 1700s. Rabbits are, in many cultures, known as enthusiastic procreators, so the arrival of baby bunnies in springtime meadows became associated with birth and renewal.

Notably, several Protestant Christian denominations, including Lutherans and Quakers, have opted to formally abandon many Easter traditions, deeming them too pagan. However, many religious observers of Easter also include them in their celebrations.

Easter foods are steeped in symbolism. An Easter dinner of lamb also has historical roots, since a lamb was often used as a sacrificial animal in Jewish traditions, and lamb is frequently served during Passover. The phrase “lamb of God” is sometimes used to refer to Jesus and the sacrificial nature of his death.

Today, Easter is a commercial event as well as a religious holiday, marked by high sales for greeting cards, candies (such as Peeps, chocolate eggs and chocolate Easter bunnies) and other gifts.

Sources

McDougall, H. (2010). “The pagan roots of Easter.” The Guardian.
Sifferlin, A. (2015). “What’s the origin of the Easter bunny?” Time.com.
Barooah, J. (2012). “Easter eggs: History, Origin, Symbolism and tradition.” Huffington Post.
Chapman, E. and Schreiber, S. (2018). “The history behind your favorite Easter traditions.” Goodhousekeeping.com.

HISTORY.COM EDITORS

HISTORY.com works with a wide range of writers and editors to create accurate and informative content. All articles are regularly reviewed and updated by the HISTORY.com team. Articles with the “HISTORY.com Editors” byline have been written or edited by the HISTORY.com editors, including Amanda Onion, Missy Sullivan and Matt Mullen.