Eight Gifts That Do Not Cost A Cent

1. THE GIFT OF LISTENING…

But you must REALLY listen. No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your response. Just listening.

2. THE GIFT OF AFFECTION…

Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back and handholds. Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for family and friends.

3. THE GIFT OF LAUGHTER…

Clip cartoons. Share articles and funny stories. Your gift will say, “I love to laugh with you.”

4. THE GIFT OF A WRITTEN NOTE…

It can be a simple “Thanks for the help” note or a full sonnet. A brief, handwritten note may be remembered for a lifetime, and may even change a life.

5. THE GIFT OF A COMPLIMENT…

A simple and sincere, “You look great in red,” “You did a super job” or “That was a wonderful meal” can make someone’s day.

6. THE GIFT OF A FAVOR…

Every day, go out of your way to do something kind.

7. THE GIFT OF SOLITUDE…

There are times when we want nothing better than to be left alone. Be sensitive to those times and give the gift of solitude to others.

8. THE GIFT OF A CHEERFUL DISPOSITION…

The easiest way to feel good is to extend a kind word to someone, really it’s not that hard to say, Hello or Thank You. Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us. Show your friends how much you care.

More Flowers Comments

Elder’s Meditation of the Day – November 7

“Abuse and repression have no place in a traditional family.”

–Haida Gwaii, Traditional Circle of Elders

Traditional families guided by their culture were taught how to live. The were taught about relationships, respect and spirituality. Only since alcohol was introduced to Indians have we seen physical abuse, sexual abuse and verbal abuse. These behaviors have no room in traditional families. The cycle of abuse must be broken during this generation. We do this by asking for help to quit drinking and abusing and return to our traditional culture and spirituality.

Creator, plant inside of me the knowledge of the traditional family.

A Little Humor – Hay

Hay

A clergyman, walking down a country lane, sees a young farmer struggling to load hay back onto a cart after it had fallen off.”You look hot, my son,” said the cleric. “Why don’t you rest a moment, and I’ll give you a hand.”

“No thanks,” said the young man. “My father wouldn’t like it.”

“Don’t be silly,” the minister said. “Everyone is entitled to a break. Come and have a drink of water.”

Again the young man protested that his father would be upset.

Losing his patience, the clergyman said, “Your father must be a real slave driver. Tell me where I can find him and I’ll give him a piece of my mind!”

“Well,” replied the young farmer, “he’s under the load of hay.”

Turok’s Cabana

Quiz of the Day – How Cluttered is Your Home?

How Cluttered is Your Home?

by Mel, selected from Natural Solutions magazine

1. When it comes to spending time in your home, you …

a) Use all of the rooms. Aside from the occasional mess, your house is comfortable, and you enjoy being there.
b) Use most of the rooms with the exception of a few you either can’t get to because the entrance is blocked or you don’t like hanging out in because of how much stuff is there.
c) Use only a few rooms. Overall, you don’t really like spending time at home, and in many rooms, there’s too much stuff to move around safely.

2. On a scale of one to 10, how would you rate the cleanliness of your home?

a) 8 to 10. It’s pretty clean most of the time; a friend could come over unexpectedly and wouldn’t be shocked at the mess. b) 5 to 7. It’s in a constant state of needing a good cleaning, with garbage cans often overflowing, some mildew in the bathroom or kitchen, and tolerable–but not pleasant–odors.
c) 0 to 4. There’s excessive dust, consistently dirty kitchen and bathroom counters, laundry throughout the house, and a constant unpleasant odor.

3. A “good cleaning” means…

a) Going through boxes, bags, and piles of stuff that are in my way, tossing what I don’t need, and putting what I want to hold on to in its designated space.
b) Rounding up boxes, bags, and piles of stuff that are in my way, and shoving everything into a designated “junk” room, which I always promise to tackle soon.
c) My house needs much more than a good cleaning, so I just do the bare minimum, like changing my sheets every so often and wiping down the kitchen counters.

4. On a scale of one to 10, how would you rate your ability to get rid of stuff you don’t use anymore?

a) 8 to 10. It feels good to ditch or donate items that I don’t need.
b) 5 to 7. I have a hard time letting go of most things. My attitude: “You never know when you’ll need it again.”
c) 0 to 4. I won’t get rid of my stuff. I’d rather hold on to something for years than let it go, even if it’s just going to collect dust in the basement.

5. The stuff in my home…

a) Serves a purpose (for the most part, anyway). Each room in my house has a function, and I use most of the things I own.
b) Needs major organization. I often can’t find things when I need them because I have too much stuff, much of which I don’t use.
c) Creates a constant source of stress and anxiety for me. I’ve got so much stuff that I can’t use or find most of it when I need it, and it’s affecting my health and the way I interact with people.

If you answered mostly “a”

Your household is considered standard when it comes to clutter. Sure, your home gets messy every now and then, but it never gets so out of control that you need help getting a handle on it.

If you answered mostly “b”

Your household likely requires the help of professional organizers. You might be able to tackle your clutter issues on your own, but professional help could give you the jump-start you need. Your clutter is keeping you from being your happiest, healthiest self–but simple steps can help you get on a better track.

If you answered mostly “c”
Your household may require more than a professional organizer. Seeking help, including a professional organizer as well as a psychologist, is probably necessary. Psychological, medical, or financial issues are likely involved in your clutteredness, and tackling larger issues that clue you in to why you have so much stuff will give you the skills and knowledge you need to do something about it.

Adapted from the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization. For more information, visit nsgcd.org.

Decluttering 101: 5 steps to get started from “organizing doc” Ronit Zweig, PsyD

1. Toss the trash. Do a walk-through of your entire home, and throw out all of the garbage, even if you do no other cleaning. You’ll be amazed how much that can help.

2. Tackle what you can see first. Don’t worry about organizing closets and drawers right away; focus on countertops, desks, and chairs.

3. Figure out what you need and use. Do another walk-through, and gather items you haven’t used in six months or more. Toss what’s broken or donate what still works. If you can’t quite bring yourself to do that yet, put the items in a box and store the box somewhere of the way but not completely out of sight. “This way, it’ll remain just annoying enough for a rainy-day activity,” says Zweig.

4. Set up organizing systems. For example, if the area near your front door is a dumping ground, create a “station” with baskets for various items, such as shoes and mail. If your “stuff” is organized by category, it’ll be easier to bring some order to it later.

5. Take baby steps. You might not be able to see a huge change in the way your home looks right away, so remind yourself that every little bit counts. It’ll help you keep a positive attitude.

Your Deck of Ancient Symbols Card for Aug. 27 is The Crow

The Crow

The Crow is the trusted messenger that alerts its allies to both danger and opportunity. Although they may appear playful and too opportunistic to be trusted, Crows are in fact powerful and trustworthy. The Crow sees and hears all. When The Crow reports it is best to listen as their news is always important and presented accurately.

As a daily card, The Crow indicates that you will soon receive news that will either protect you from loss or lead you too opportunities doorstep. To fully realize the advantage the information will soon receive carries with it you will need to react to it quickly and with sureness

Herb of the Day for August 23 – Bayberry

Bayberry

Botanical Names

Family Myricaceae
Myrica cerifera (Bayberry, Southern/American Bayberry, Wax Myrtle, Candleberry, Tallow Shrub, Vegetable Tallow, Waxberry, Myrica)
Myrica gale (Sweet Gale, Bog Myrtle, Dutch Myrtle, Bayberry)

Cautions

The volatile oil is considered toxic, and mixing plant extracts with beer (as practised during the Middle Ages) is said to lead to manic episodes.
Do not use during pregnancy.

Description

Bayberry is an evergreen shrub or small tree growing to about thirty feet, producing narrow, glossy, aromatic leaves, small, yellow flowers in catkins and gray, waxy berries that contain numerous blacks seeds that have a crust of usable greenish-white wax. This wax helps keep the seeds suitable for germination for up to three years. Bayberry is found in the eastern and southern regions of Canada and the US, especially around Lake Erie, and as far west as Texas. The bark is collected in autumn or spring.

Sweet Gale is a deciduous shrub that grows to about ten or fifteen feet. Both the branches and the leaves have tiny, fragrant glands that produce an aroma when crushed. Sweet Gale is indigenous to the higher latitudes of the northern hemisphere.

History

European settlers in North America believed that bayberry plants had many medicinal benefits. A 1737 account stated that it could “expel wind and ease all manner of pains proceeding from cold, therefore are good in colic, palsies, convulsions, epilepsies, and many other disorders.”

The root bark was listed in the US National Formulary from 1916 to 1936.

Its nicknames came as a result of its wax being used to make candles or in place of tallow.

The Mohegans used the tea to treat kidney disorders. Other tribes used bayberry to treat influenza, scurvy, stomach cramps, and gynecological problems.

Key Actions

astringent
antibacterial
diaphoretic
stimulant
vermifuge (bark)

Key Components

volatile oil
tannins
resins
flavonoids
triterpenes (including taraxerol, taraxerone, and myricadiol)
phenols
gums
vitamins and minerals(mainly selenium, calcium, chromium, iron, manganese, sodium, and vitamin C)

Medicinal Parts

Root bark and wax from the berries (Bayberry).
Leaves, branches, and wax extracted from the flower catkins (Sweet Gale).
While myricadiol has a mild effect on the potassium and sodium levels, myricitrin has antibiotic properties.

Remedies

Strong decoctions of the dried bark is used in Sweden to expel intestinal worms.
Infusions are used as a mouthwash to strengthen spongy gums.
Douche, from infusions, is used to treat excessive vaginal discharge.
Gargles are used for sore throats.
A paste of the powdered root bark can be applied to ulcers and skin sores.

Traditional Uses

Bayberry is commonly used to increase circulation, stimulate perspiration, strengthen local resistance to infection, and to keep bacterial infections in check.

Infusions of the dried bark are used to treat colds, flu, coughs, and sore throats, and to dry mucous membranes. Its astringency helps such intestinal disorders as irritable bowel syndrome and mucous colitis.

Because of its antimicrobial properties, a wash made from the root bark is effective in treating skin infections, skin diseases, and ulcers.

Gemstone of the Day for Aug. 17: Hematite

Hematite

Hematite meaning and properties

Hematite is used to improve relationships. If you need your personal relationship to be better, carry a hematite with you always.

The name comes from the Greek word for blood. It has been used as an amulet against bleeding, and so is known as the “blood stone”. When arranged like the petals of a flower, it is referred to as the “iron rose”. Native American folklore states that war paint made from hematite will make one invincible in battle. People in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries wore hematite jewelry during mourning.

Scientists of the Mars Exploration Rover Project believe that deposits of hematite on Mars may help prove whether large amounts of liquid water ever flowed on Mars’ surface. They say that where water was, life may have had a chance to thrive as well.

Hematite is good for increasing intuition. In jewelry it is best in a ring worn on the left hand.

Healing properties of Hematite

Hematite stimulates iron absorption in the small intestine, which in turn improves oxygen supply to the body. It can be in direct contact with the skin, but results in inflammation for some people, so test it carefully on yourself before use.

Sources of Hematite

Brazil is the most important source of hematite. Other sources include: China, Canada, England, and Germany.

What Would You Do With a Year Off?

Chelsea, selected from Intent.com

Close your eyes. Imagine for a moment that you had a year — 365 days, 8,760 hours, 525,600 minutes — to do anything you please, with $100,000 to cover your expenses. Would you travel? Would you continue working and give the money to charity? Would you take the time to simply do nothing, maybe go on retreat?

Last week, Mallika encouraged readers to consider what they would do if they had a year off. I have to say, my first inclination was default to the “make-the-world-a-better-place” answer– give it to charity, of course! I mean, I know this may sound crazy, but I love working. Even if I had a year off, I don’t think I could bring myself to drop my job and do nothing. So if my ideal year would include working anyway, why not give it away, especially when we know that contributing to others’ happiness is a much greater source of joy and fulfillment than anything money could buy?

But as I thought about it more, I remembered the words of a friend I have who keeps trying to convince me of the important of “leisure” and “pleasure” in my life. I know, foreign concepts for the modern workaholic, right? A few months ago, when I went to visit her in Miami, her assignment for me was to get a pedicure once a month — which has been surprisingly difficult for me to actually follow through on. I have a hard time slowing down, relaxing, engaging in an activity simply for the sake of enjoying it.

I have always wanted to travel. I’ve never ventured outside the US (not even to Mexico or Canada), and I’ve long wanted to visit other cultures — learn about how they find happiness, purpose, and meaning in their lives. Taking a year off for travel… now that would be cool. But would it be fulfilling? Would I be mentally, physically, and spiritually satisfied with taking a year off to travel?

What if, I thought, I could combine those three things somehow? Create a year-long project that would combine the work I love (writing), giving back (service/charity), and the leisure (travel)? What would that project look like?

Here’s what I came up with. If I had $100,000 to take a year off, this is what I would do:

Take a writing tour of charity organizations in four different countries around the world, spending three months deeply immersed in each community
Listen and learn about how each organization’s programming is benefiting the community and transforming individuals’ daily lives
Document the experience through a series of articles that synthesize personal stories, scientific research, historical background, etc
Highlight major social issues affecting underserved communities (poverty, violence against women, water shortage, climate change, HIV/AIDS, etc) and what people are doing to help
Record interviews with staff, volunteers, scientific researchers, and other involved professionals at each nonprofit to shed light on best practices
Compile all the articles into a book at the end of the year

So that’s my dream year. Heck, maybe that’s my dream life. I think it’s a good recipe for happiness: find meaningful work, connect with people, give back to your community, and take time to enjoy the ride. I guess, really, you don’t need $100,000 to do that.

What about you? What would your dream year look like? What do you think is a recipe for a happy year and fulfilling life?

Gold Peak Tea is giving away $100,000 to one deserving person to do whatever — whether it be travel the world, write a book, start a nonprofit, or simply kick back and enjoy the comforts of home. To enter, you can fill out the application on their Facebook.

May the Fifth Month of the Year of our Goddess, 2019

“The new earth quickens as you rise.
The May Queen is waiting.
Feel the pulsing ground call you to journey,
To know the depths of your desire.
The May Queen is waiting.
Moving through the night, the bright moon’s flight.
In green and silver on the plain.
She waits for you to return again.
Do not keep Her waiting.
Her temper stings if you refuse to taste Her honey.
Surrender as enchantment brings
The first light of dawning.
Move with Her in sacred dance, through fear to feeling.
Bringing ecstasy to those who dare.
Living earth is breathing.
Loving through the night in the bright moonlight,
As seedlings open with the rain.
She’ll long for you to return again.
Do not keep Her waiting.”

– Ruth Barren, The May Queen is Waiting

MAY – THE FLOWER MOON

May is the fifth month of the year. It’s astrological sign is Taurus, the bull(April 20 – May 21), a fixed earth sign ruled by Venus. The month is name for Ma’a, a Roman goddess and mother of the God Hermes. May is known as the queen of months. Since May begins one of the halves of the year, it is an initiation, similar to a cardinal zodiac sign, it shifts power to the new dynamic. The dynamic of May is one of fertility in plants and animal (including human, birth, growth, and abundance.

For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, the month of May is a month of lushness and beauty. The main holiday is May Day or Beltane. This sabbat celebrate the sacred union of the Goddess and God. It is a celebration of growth and fertility. A traditional part of this holiday is the maypole, usually a fir tree with the side branches removed–a symbol of fertility. Since growth is a theme of May, another central figure of the month is the Green Man, a male form covered with leaves and branches. He is an ancient nature spirit, who brings life to the fields and forests after the long winter.

The Full Moon of May in the Northern Hemisphere is known as the Flower Moon. The Moon is so named for the many flowers and trees that bloom this month associated with magic. Lilacs were originally grown near the home to repel evil. Wild blue violets can be used in love magick. A steaming infusion made with dried dandelions root was use to contact spirits. The Hawthorne three is also associated with May folk magick in the North. To make a wish come true, burn three Hawthorne branches in a Beltane fire.

—Excerpt from Llewellyn’s Witches’ Spell-A-Day Almanac

Festival: Beltane, May Day. Symbols include the May pole, boughs of flowers, and fires.

Moon name: Flower Moon. Flowers come into full bloom and the corn is ready to be planted. Other names include Grass Moon, Milk Moon, Hare Moon, and Corn Planting Moon.

Astrological signs: Taurus, April 21–May 20; Gemini, May 21–June 20.

Birthstones: Emerald and agate.

Nature spirits: Tree fairies and spirits.

Animals: All cats, butterflies, and foxes.

Birds: Swallow, dove, and swift.

Trees: Hawthorn, apple, and elder.

Flowers: All tree blossoms, foxglove, and lilac.

Herbs: St. John’s wort, chamomile, flowering thyme, elderflower, and yarrow.

Scents: Rose, frankincense, honeysuckle, lilac, and jasmine.

Colors: Pink, apricot, and green.

Goddess: Diana.

Powers: Love, fertility, and joy—the expressive energy of life’s forces.

Other: May Day, Labor Day, Oak Apple Day.

—Hedgewitch Book of Days: Spells, Rituals, and Recipes for the Magical Year
Mandy Mitchell

Symbols for the Month of May

May’s Festivals
Beltane, May Day, Labor Day, Oak Apple Day

May’s Sign of the Zodiac
Taurus(April 21–May 20)
Gemini(May 21–June 21)

May’s Celtic Tree Astrology
Saille (Willow) (April 15 – May 12)
Huath (Hawthorne) (May 13 – June 9)

May’s Runic Half Months
Lagu (April 29 – May 13)
Ing (May 14 – May 28)
Odal (May 29 – June 13)

May’s Birthstone
Emerald and Agate

May’s Birth Flower
Foxglove, and Lilac

May’s Goddess
Diana

May’s Folklore

“A swarm of bees in May is worth a load of hay.”

“Mist in May, heat in June, makes harvest come right soon.”

“If you wash a blanket in May, you will wash one of the family away.”

“Those who bathe in May will soon be laid in clay!”

Folklore Courtesy – Hedgewitch Book of Days: Spells, Rituals, and Recipes for the Magical Year
Mandy Mitchell

Pagan Calendar of Events for May

MAY 1: BELTANE SABBAT: Festival of Spring and Fertility. Sidhe Day. Beltaine – Celtic festival marking the arrival of summer in ancient times.

MAY 4: Celtic/British Festival of Cerridwen and Brigit: Corn Goddesses of Fertility

May 4 – Celtic Festival of Cerridwen and Brigit – Corn Goddesses of fertility, healing, and poets.
– St. Monica’s Day (Irish)
– Veneration of the Thorn (Irish)
– Festival of Sheila Na Gig (Irish)

MAY 6: – Shepherd’s Day – Day to meditate on Deity as Lord of Animals: Dumuzi (Old Sumerian), Osiris (Egyptian), Pan (Old Greek), Shiva Pasupati (Hindu).
– Eyvind Kelve (Norse)

MAY 9: – Greek Feast of Artemis

MAY 9-12: Lemuria – Roman festival when the spirits of the dead are thought to revisit their homes.

MAY 13: – Roman Garland Day, Offering garlands to Neptune.
– Month of Hawthorn, Celtic festival of the tree.
– Our Lady of Fatima Day (Portugal)

MAY 14: – Isis Day in ancient Egypt

MAY 14: -16 Feast of Divine Love and Compassion – Source of healing and beneficence, honoring the Goddess as Isis (Old Egyptian), Oshun (Yoruba/Santeria), Lakshmi (Hindu).

MAY 15: – Festival of Vesta (Roman)
– Maia and Mercury’s Day (Roman)

MAY 18: – Celtic Feast of Greek God Pan – Who represents the masculine in Nature and protects men throughout their lives. Men recognized the transitions in their lives and honored male fertility.

MAY 19: Celtic Feast of Brigid – In which sacred healing wells and springs were adorned with flowers in honor of Goddess Brigid, daughter of Mother Goddess Danu and Father God Dagda.

MAY 21: Dark/Bright Mother Goddess Day—honoring Hecate/Demeter; Uma; Kali/Parvati .

MAY 26: – Festival of Diana begins (ends 31st) (ancient Roman holiday)

MAY 28: FEAST OF BENDIDIA—family feast day honoring of the Goddess of the Moon, Dark Moon, Underworld, Secret Wisdom and Witches.

May 30 – Frigg’s Day, Northern Goddess, spouse of Odin (Teutonic “heathen” European pre-Christian holiday)
– Feast of the Queen of the Underworld Begins (Roman)

May rolls in soft and lovely, weaving within the grasses a bevy of wildflowers that bewitch our senses and are a colorful reminder of life’s ever-renewing power. Of the many wildflowers associated with Beltane and the peak of spring’s fertility,, my favorite has to be the dandelion. The happy yellow flowers take me back to my childhood, when I would spend hours chasing butterflies through wild fields and bejeweling myself with dandelions in buttery circlets that would leave me covered with soft yellow pollen–proving yes, I did, indeed like butter.

Little did I know then of the simple dandelion’s many magickal and medicinal uses. Highly nutritious spring greens, dandelions are packed with calcium, potassium, and high amounts of vitamins and they have been used to stimulate the digestive system, restore mineral balance to the kidneys, and detoxify for hundreds of years.

According to folklore, blowing dandelion seed heads was said to divine how much your partner loves you. If you could blow all of the seeds off the dandelion head in one puff, your lover carried a passionate fire for you. If a few seeds remained, he or she might have a few reservations about the relationship. If you blow the seed head and the majority of seeds remain, you are not loved at all.

Magically, dandelion is used in spells for wishes, for divination, to call spirits and for growth and transformation. Make a tea from the ground dried root and add it to mugwort (avoid during pregnancy) and cinnamon for a powerful psychic tea.

Dandelion Renewal Spell

Just as the onset of spring transforms the earth with a lush green haze and a profusion of blooms that hint to the bounty of summer, we too can feel a lightening of spirit, a renewal of body, mind and soul as spring’s promises are fulfilled all around us.

With dandelion’s association with growth and transformation, this dandelion renewal spell can be done alone or with your coven or circle and would be appropriate to do at Beltane or anytime during the Maiden’s reign. The simplicity of this spell makes it a great spell for kids, too.

All you need is one intact dandelion seed head per person. If working with children, talk for a moment about renewal and what it means to them. Have everyone hold up their dandelion seed heads and say together,

The air is alive with the hum of bees
As the wind tousles the tops of trees,
The blooms are bright and fertility abounds,
Our wish, dear Lady, for renewal to be found,
Not only across this greening land,
But within the heart of every woman, child and man.
Blessed Be!

Blow your dandelion seed heads to the four directions. As you do this, imagine the dandelion seeds planting themselves into the hearts of humankind. Imagine an abundance of joy, peace and fulfillment for all that happens as the dandelion takes root. When you’re done, find a nice spot in a field, park or lawn. Make yourself a circlet of dandelions and reflect on sunny thoughts and bright ideas for the future.

–Monica Crosson

Witchy Ways to Celebrate May

Decorate your home and altar with combinations of flowers and colors to celebrate the union between the Goddess and the God.

Work with herbs in your magic by creating spell bags and sachets. Cook with herbs whenever you can.

Create a spell for strength and wellness by lighting a Beltane candle and burning your spell written on some pretty paper.

Create a harmonious magical garden with symbols and signs of the craft. Paint pebbles and draw shapes in the earth.

Get outside and find one useable foraged ingredient for your recipes. This is also good for expanding your plant knowledge.

Connect with the God aspect by connecting with nearby trees. Spend time touching the tree and water the roots as an offering.

Make daisy chains as offerings for the Fae folk.

–Hedgewitch Book of Days: Spells, Rituals, and Recipes for the Magical Year
Mandy Mitchell

We are Witches
We walk the path of the Old Gods
From this moment forth
We will not walk alone
Together, we will worship
Together, we will practice our Craft
Together, we will learn and grow
We vow to work, from this day forward
In perfect love and perfect trust
According to the free will of all
And for the good of all
Creating only beauty
Singing in harmony
Our song upon the Earth
Love is the law and love is the bond
In the name of the Goddess and the God
So do we vow, and so mote it be.

––Circle, Coven, & Grove: A Year of Magickal Practice

Deborah Blake

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Lighten Up – Top Ten Cheesy Pick-Up Lines For Pagans

Top Ten Cheesy Pick-Up Lines For Pagans

10. Hey babe, what’s your sign? What’s it’s ascendant? What is your planet alignment in Venus during Cancer’s revolving around the Fourth House?

9. Read any good Llewellyn Books lately?

8. Would you like to come over to my place and widdershens?

7. Haven’t I seen you someplace before in another life?

6. Yes, I’m handfasted, but that’s not “technically” marriage.

5. So, do you draw down the moon here often?

4. What’s a nymph Goddess like you doing in a place like this?

3. You have the prettiest third eye I’ve ever seen.

2. You’re feet must be tired because you’ve been Spiral Dancing in my mind “all” night long.

And the Number One Cheesy Pick-Up Line for Pagans to Use at Gatherings is:

1. Is that a May Pole in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

In a Dream Country

by Bestia Mortale

Something woke me — I think it was a sound, a throbbing of some sort, or an infant’s cry. Waking was like coming into focus, as if I was an image in a lens. I sat up and looked around, a little alarmed, but it was a dream. I was lying in a field in the mist, among a crowd of sleepers. Others were stirring.

I glanced at the people near me. They were so beautiful. I tried to examine them more closely and became aware that until I considered walking, they had no legs. Until I thought of hair, they were hairless. Until I remembered about men and women, they had no gender. And yet, as it turned out, they had everything but age.

Someone was moving among us, chatting and laughing, a beautiful woman. I realized we all were naked. She came up to me, smiling. I smiled back a little shyly as she offered a hand to help me up. Her breasts were large and small, all different shapes, every sort of nipple. It occurred to me that she had countless arms and legs as well, and heads.

I walked beside her through the mist, leaving the crowd. I became aware in the strange light that it was not so much mist as an intricate pattern of swirls, as if a cloud of colored dust had been frozen in time. The colors were disturbing, hard to identify. At first I thought there was something wrong with my vision, but everything had a clarity I was unused to.

As we left the field, the mist cleared somewhat and we walked through a deserted city of strange windowless fortresses, down the middle of streets like shallow troughs. On either side, instead of sidewalks, there were sunken channels six or eight inches deep in which were planted twisted, leafless bushes, some so large they almost blocked the street.

The whole effect was disturbing and would have been unpleasant but for the sky. The sun — though not the sun — was vast, and not so bright or hot as normal. Yet its warmth was full of comfort, its light rich and deep. The cloud formations — not clouds, either, exactly — towered layer upon layer, an intricate landscape of unaccustomed color, depth, striation and structure. Unlike normal clouds, the closer you looked at them, the more detail you could see. Their beauty in the strange light was so intense as almost to be painful.

Far in the distance, the land rose away from us. For a while, I thought we were in a valley of some sort, but then I realized that there was no horizon — the mountains and sky were one.

It was the colors that were most haunting — bright, saturated hues, like certain stones in water that grow ordinary as they dry — but not reds, greens, blues, or anything I could put a name to.

“Where are we?” I asked her. “What is this place?”

She paused, facing me, her face so many faces. “This is the underside,” she said.

“What?”

“Of your city, your world.” I could not understand. “Come, I will show you.” She led me down a side street to a little park, full of the enormous leafless bushes. In the center was a peculiar silvery translucent mound. When we came to it, my feet sank in it as if it were liquid, yet without a ripple.

“Here,” she said, standing beside me. “Look.” She pointed to my feet.

I saw that the mound had a mirror-like underside in which was perfectly reflected the chthonic sky above my head.

“Look deeper,” she said, taking my hand and squatting down. I squatted beside her and peered carefully through the substance. At first I could see nothing, but gradually I made out tiny pinpoints of light beneath the mirrorlike floor. “There,” she whispered, pointing, “My sister.” I saw, inexplicably far below me, familiar and remote, the moon.

Lighten Up – “Dad, am I a Polar Bear?”

Am I a Polar Bear?

One day, up in the frozen north a polar bear and his son were out for a stroll. Daddy bear sat on a lump of ice to admire the view and sent his son off to play. Two minutes later Junior came back to dad and says, “Can I ask you a question dad?”

“Sure, son what is it?”

“Am I a real polar bear, Dad?” asks Junior.

Dad smiles and says, “Of course you are, son. Now go and play.”

So off Junior goes again throws some snowballs at the seals but soon he’s back.

“Hey Dad, are you sure I am a real polar bear? Is there not a wee bit of brown bear or black bear in me?”

Dad smiles again and says, “Look son you’ve got big hairy black feet, a white coat, and a black shiny nose…of course you’re a polar bear….now go back and play.”

Once again Junior runs off…slides down the ice….chases a couple of seagulls…after ten minutes of fun he returns with a puzzled look on his face…..

“Daaaad….are you absolutely sure I’m a polar bear?”

“Look son…I’m a polar bear, your mums a polar bear, your granny and grandpa were polar bears…why are you asking all these questions?”

Junior looks up and says….”Cause I’m freaking freezing!

Precious Pup of the Day for April 25th

Name:	Rocky	Age:	Eighteen months old
Gender:	Male	Breed:	Boston Terrier
Home:	St-Jerome, Quebec, Canada
Rocky is a Boston Terrier dog that is owned by Daniel. Like a typical Boston Terrier breed, he is friendly, alert, expressive and playful. He generally doesn’t bark except when necessary. He really likes to play with the balls and toys. He really enjoys going at the park to run fast, to expend energy and to play with balls. Every time we come home from work or anywhere, he is really happy to see us and wants to play.We think he is a very cute black and white Boston Terrier. He really likes to stay with his owners to play and he also likes to play with everyone, even with the cats. He is friendly with all other dogs, too. He likes to go for a walk and explore everything. He loves to go for car rides and going to the drive-in for watching movies. We really love Rocky and he is like our baby. He even inspired us to create a website for Boston Terriers!He is our first Boston Terrier and the first dog we have had. We decided to get him because we were interested in having a dog. We had seen some video and pictures of Boston Terriers and we thought that they were really beautiful and fun dog so we started learning more about the breed. We discovered that we found the perfect dog breed for us. The tricks he have learned so far are to sit, lay down and shake each paw. For his favorite games he likes to play, he likes to play baseball with us. He also likes to fetch sticks and he really likes to chew them. He also like to come camping with us and going for a canoe rides. Because there is a cold winter season in Quebec, Canada and the Bostons don’t have long fur, we found it is a good thing to protect him from the cold weather by getting him a leather jacket and some hoodies. He fares well in the cold weather, but when it’s too cold he prefer going back inside where it’s warm. He doesn’t like spending too much time outside when it’s cold, but like us he likes the snow and everything else about winter. See more images of Rocky!

Special Kitty Of The Day for April 24th – Stuart

Name:	Stuart	Age:	Six and a half years old
Gender:	Male	Kind:	Cat
Home:	Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Hello everybody! My name is Stuart (Stuie) and I am a black bowtie boy-cat. Six and a half years ago I was in a cat enclosure in a pet store where my daddy went to get some supplies. When he came in, I knew he was my daddy ao I did my best to let him know that. How I did this was to flash my bowtie and climb the bars of my enclosure. It was love at first sight, so the very next day my Daddy and Mommy (his sister) took me to my furrever home. I couldn’t be happier with my purrents and my sister Phoebe! Sometimes I get joy overload and run around the apartment at top warp speed saying “rabble rabble rabble” until I end up at my scratching post and give it a good going-over. My sister thinks I’m weird, but hey, she’s my sister. I wrap my tail around my purrents when I want to hug them!Hi everyone – Stuart’s dad here and I must say what Stuie is telling you is quite accurate – it was definitely love at first sight for us both. Stuart is a very loving and funny boy. He loves to chase his laser beam and and be petted to his favourite song. He is an indoor cat but loves to chick at the hummingbirds that come to our feeder. He is very cuddly and jumps up for a love session and then settles down on our laps for a snooze, unless something more interesting is happening. He is such a happy boy, and gets such a soft expression on his face when he’s getting some love that it would just melt your heart! We are very lucky he picked us that good day!

Is There Plastic In My Food?

Katie Waldeck

Plastics are everywhere. They’re in our homes, clothes, cars, toys, and, alarmingly, they’re on our dinner plates. Researchers have confirmed that potentially harmful chemicals from plastics are in the nation’s food supply, which make their way into the human body.

A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives named plastic food packaging as a major source for these chemicals. Families were given food that was certifiably plastic-free for three days, and researchers compared the levels of chemicals found in plastic in their bodies.

The results were astounding: participants saw an average 2/3 drop in the levels of bisphenol A (BPA) present in their bodies. The controversial chemical has been linked in higher rates of cancer, heart disease, and a variety of reproductive health issues. Though BPA is banned in Canada, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently rejected a ban on the chemical.

The FDA’s system of measuring the concentration of chemicals is a major cause for concern here — in short, it doesn’t stack up with the decades of scientific research that shows even the lowest amounts of BPA can affect the human body.

Moreover, the FDA relies on manufacturers to self-report their initial data about their products, many components of which aren’t manufactured by the manufacturers themselves. These results aren’t made public.

As Janet Nudelman of the Breast Cancer Fund told the Washington Post, “It doesn’t make sense to regulate the safety of food and then put the food in an unsafe package.”

Special Kitties of the Day for April 17th


Name:	Solange, Simone	Age:	Two years and a half years old
Gender:	Female	Kind:	Siamese
Home:	Québec, Canada
Introducing Simone and Solange, Siamese cats … and real Siamese twin sisters! You cannot think of Solange without Simone or the inverse; they are just glued to one another! Those two little sisters are the most loving and precious cats in the world (from an objective point of view!). We first go them for the children but surprisingly, I got very attached to them. Truly, when I wake up with the two of them, sleeping inside my blankets against my stomach, looking at me with the look that says it all (the * I love you so much and I don’t need to speak to tell it to you* look), I feel so much love for those two cats that I could think possible. it is really hard to take a good picture of them as they are camera shy and always close their beautiful blue eyes! Being an anxious person, it happens that I feel stressed, in my bed at night. Then the cats arrive, they start to purr, they literally cuddle me … and my respiration slows down, my breathing gets better, I start to feel more relaxed … no meditation needed with those two. They have helped me in a way that many people would not understand and for that, they are my cats of the day every day.

Special Kitty of the Day for April 15


Name:	Frodo	Age:	Nine months old
Gender:	Male	Kind:	Cat
Home:	Cochrane, Alberta, Canada
This is an adventure, not unlike Lord of the Rings … because this Frodo passed through death as well, only to live, and so the adventure began. My husband and I decided we were ready to find a new cat, as we lost our beautiful orange boy Puffin in the fall. We traveled to an acreage where we knew there was a litter of kittens with an orange one. We arrived to find the kittens panicked and scared because the previous night their momma and a sibling had met their demise by wild animals. Those remaining kittens had survived by climbing to the highest part of the outdoor cat house they lived in, all the while hearing the terrifying sound of decimation below. Frodo was the only orange kitten in a litter with two black siblings. We were told that because of his bright color he would be easy pickings for the predators that roamed the acreage. So I eagerly wrapped him in my coat and drove home with our little bundle, knowing he was not only a survivor but an adventurer, so he was aptly named Frodo. Frodo quickly adjusted to life indoors, although he loves to sit in the window watching the world go by; he loves to climb to the top of our screen door and chases anything that moves, including his big sister Iggy, much to her chagrin. He is a delight every day, making our home lively with the sound of his thundering paws. But at night, when all is quiet, he loves to crawl right under our covers and sleep the night away, knowing he is safe and sound and loved. See more images of Frodo!

Elder’s Meditation of the Day – April 10

“Together we can end the Holocaust against the environment.”

–Haida Gwaii, Traditional Circle of Elders

We are all familiar with the Holocaust against the people. When this happens we feel bad and we vow never to let it happen again. We need to seriously examine what human beings are doing to the Earth and the environment. Many species are extinct and many more will become extinct during the next 10 years. We are methodically eliminating life that will never return again. Today, we should take time to pray real hard so we wake up before it is too late.

Great Spirit, today, I pray for us to awaken to what we are doing.

Folklore & Practical Uses: ALDER

FOLKLORE & PRACTICAL USES: ALDER

by Muirghein uí Dhún Aonghasa (Linda Kerr)

Alnus glutinosa L. – European Alder, Black Alder. Native of Europe, Asia, North Africa; naturalized in southeastern Canada and northeastern North America.
A. rubra – Oregon Alder, Red Alder. Evergreen and redwood forests from Northern California to Alaska.
A. serrulata – Hazel Alder, Common Alder. From Nova Scotia south to north Florida, west to east Texas and north to Kansas.
A. rugosa– Speckled Alder, Tag Alder. Across Canada and Great Lakes region.

Description & Uses

Alders are small, shrubby trees found in swamps or on the banks of ponds and slow-moving streams, where they help prevent soil erosion with their closely interlaced roots. The alder is easily recognized, even in winter, by its catkins, which look like a tiny fir-cone, and by its broad oval, ridged leaves. It flowers in the spring before the leaves appear, and has ripe berries in the fall.
The wood of the European alder, which grows to 30-40′,¹ is very durable and lasting in water — most of Venice is built on piles of alder, and has lasted for centuries.² The wood is known in the Highlands as Scottish mahogany, and is used for making chairs, as well as water pipes, pumps, troughs, and sluices.³ It was also used heavily in boat construction.⁴
The Hazel alder is too small to be of commercial value as timber, but the Oregon alder grows to a good size — up to 120 ft in the Puget Sound region⁵ — and is one of the principal hardwoods of that area. The American Indians made canoes and dugouts from the trunk of the tree, and also made cooking vessels, troughs, and food containers from the wood.⁶ Its only fault is that it decays so quickly in contact with the weather and the soil.⁷
The alder doesn’t make good firewood (again, the Oregon alder is an exception⁸), but it does make better charcoal than any other wood. Even after its other uses as a timber had declined, alder charcoal was still considered the best type for making gunpowder.⁹
All parts of the alder are an excellent source of natural dyes. The bark makes a reddish color, called Aldine Red, when used alone, or as a foundation for other materials, yields a black dye. The bark and young shoots together give a yellow dye, and with a little copper added to make a yellowish-grey, is used in some of the flesh colors in embroidering tapestries. The fresh shoots dye cinnamon; when dried and powdered they give a tawny shade. The fresh wood makes a pinkish-fawn dye; the catkins make a green dye.¹⁰
The bark and young shoots contain tannic acid, but also have so much natural dye matter that they aren’t very useful for tanning. The leaves have been used for this, however. The leaves are also clammy and slightly sticky, hence the specific name of the alder, glutinosa, and will catch flies on their surface when spread in a room.¹¹

Medicinal

The American and European alders have similar medicinal properties; the parts used are the bark and leaves of the European alder, and the bark and cones of the American alders. The medicinal parts are tonic and astringent, according to Grieve,¹² and astringent, bitter (acts on the mucous membranes of the mouth and stomach to increase appetite and promote digestion), emetic (causes vomiting), and hemostatic (stops bleeding), according to Lust.¹³ On any species, the fresh inner bark and root bark are emetic; dry and age these before use, or let the decoction stand and settle for 2-3 days, until its yellow color has turned black. Hutchens says this will strengthen the stomach and increase the appetite.¹⁴
Use a decoction of the bark externally to bathe swellings and inflammations, and as a gargle for an inflamed or sore throat and laryngitis. The decoction is good as an external application in gangrene, ulcers and other skin problems. Boiling the bark in vinegar produces a liquid with several uses: it’s an approved (according to Hutchens) remedy to kill head lice, relieve the itch and dry up the scabs. This vinegar is also good for other skin problems and scabs, and to tighten the gums (as a mouthwash), clean the teeth and soothe a toothache.¹⁵
The cones, being astringent, are useful in heavy bleeding, both internally and externally. They are also used as a stomach tonic in diarrhea and indigestion, and are good for fevers. Grieve says peasants in the Alps were frequently cured of rheumatism by being covered with bags full of the heated leaves.¹⁶ The berries, combined with apple cider, make a good worm medicine for children. The treatment is supposed to be most effective when given on the full moon, and must be repeated in four weeks to clear out the remaining larvae.¹⁷

Folklore

The Irish consider the alder to be an unlucky tree. They feel its a bad thing to pass by one on a journey, and they also don’t like to fell an alder, as the timber cuts white and then turns a startling, brilliant reddish-orange, rather like blood.¹⁸
Other superstition or emotion attached to the alder seems to be almost nonexistent; “perhaps because it was a tree of swamp and marsh and impenetrable valley floors, which needed the exorcism of natural history. Yet once enjoyed, an alder swamp along a Cornish stream, for example, remains perennially and primevally enchanting — the trees alive and dead, moss-bearded and lichen-bearded, the soil and the water like coal slack and blacksmith’s water, in between the tussocks of sedge.”¹⁹Notes:

¹ Brimble, L.J.F. Trees in Britain. 1946. MacMillan and Co. Ltd., London, pg. 239.
² Green, Charlotte Hilton. Trees of the South. 1939. The University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, NC, pg. 112.
³ Grieve, Mrs. M. A Modern Herbal (2 volumes). 1931. Dover Publications, Inc., New York, NY, pg. 17.
⁴ Green, pg. 112.
⁵ Peattie, Donald Culross. A Natural History of Western Trees. 1950. Bonanza Books, New York, NY, pg. 399.
⁶ Green, pg. 112.
⁷ Peattie, pg. 400.
⁸ Ibid, pg. 400.
⁹ Brimble, pg. 241.
¹⁰ Grieve, pg. 17.
¹¹ Ibid, pg. 17-18.
¹² Ibid, pg. 18.
¹³ Lust, John. The Herb Book. 1973. Bantam Books, New York, NY, pg. 122.
¹⁴ Hutchens, Alma R. Indian Herbology of North America. 1973. Merco, Ontario, Canada. Published in London, England, pg. 4.
¹⁵ Ibid, pg. 4.
¹⁶ Grieve, pg. 18.
¹⁷ Hutchens, pg. 4.
¹⁸ Grigson, Geoffrey. The Englishman’s Flora. 1955. Phoenix House LTD, London, England, pg. 246.
¹⁹ Ibid, pg. 246.

THE HAZEL NUT

A Journal of Celtic Spirituality and Sacred Trees

Doggie of the Day for March 31


Name:	Callie	Age:	Four months old
Gender:	Female	Breed:	Boxer
Home:	Canada
This is Callie, she is my pride and joy. This little boxer baby was born on October 23rd 2011 in Marystown, Newfoundland. Now, let me explain to you where she came from, and why I love her! During my search for my new puppy, I posted an advertisement on the internet explaining that I was looking for a boxer pup. The reason for this, is because I had a boxer before Callie. He meant the world to me, unfortunately I lost him. When I found myself ready to move on and “fill the void” so to speak, I was determined to find the perfect one. One cold night, in the middle of November, my cell phone rang. I didn’t recognize the number, but I answered it anyway. I was greeted by the cheerful voice of a young woman. She went on to explain that she saw my ad, and she is the proud owner of two pure bred boxer’s, Jerzi and Jax. She told me that Jerzi had recently given birth to eight boxer puppies who were only a few days old. She continued telling me about the puppies, what they looked like, how many were male and female, etc. Personally, I was in search of a brindle, male boxer pup, just like my old one. Unfortunately the only brindle puppies available were all females. I’d never owned a female dog before so I was a bit skeptical. After our long and informative phone conversation, the lady sent me some pictures of each pup. I browsed through them a few times but only one caught my eye. There she was, a days old, feeble, wrinkly, brindle, beautiful. I had never been more in love with a photograph in all my life. I called the lady back the next day and told her I had chosen the puppy I wanted. The biggest, the first born, the most beautiful. She was thrilled with my decision and so was I. I soon after paid the $300.00 deposit, and picked out her name. All there was left to do was wait. On December 18th 2011, I drove to meet with the lady’s husband to finally own my perfect puppy. I was overwhelmed with excitement I nearly jumped out of the car while I was still driving to my destination! When I finally arrived to the rendezvous, I paid him the rest of the cash, and held her in my arms for the first time. It was cold, windy and snowy, she was cold so I wrapped her in the blanket I bought especially for her. She snuggled into me the whole way home, on my lap. I’d never been so happy to own something in my life. I brought her into my home to show my sister and family and of course, they fell in love. Callie is the most brilliant puppy I have ever seen. She was easily house trained, she knows quite a few tricks, and gets along famously with my mother’s dog, Max. I know boxers have a ton of energy but Callie is something else! She’ll run laps around the house, prancing and tripping up in her legs at the same time, front flip into her bed and kick and squirm and whine for her own entertainment. well, ours too, its quite the scene. She gets too excited sometimes but can calm down as soon as I say so. Her gorgeous chestnut brown eyes sparkle at me every morning and it just lights up my day! She’s so silly, so cuddly and so beautiful! I would do anything for this little girl, she’s my whole world! The thing I love most about dogs, any dog, is that they will never judge you. They will always love you. You are all they know. They depend on you. It feels good to know you’re the one they look up to. I wouldn’t trade her for the world. ❤

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