Tag: Chants
June 22 Astronomy Picture of the Day
Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
2022 June 22
Supernova Remnant: The Veil Nebula
Image Credit & Copyright: Craig Stocks (Utah Desert Remote Observatories)
Explanation: Ten thousand years ago, before the dawn of recorded human history, a new light would have suddenly have appeared in the night sky and faded after a few weeks. Today we know this light was from a supernova, or exploding star, and record the expanding debris cloud as the Veil Nebula, a supernova remnant. Imaged with color filters featuring light emitted by sulfur (red), hydrogen (green), and oxygen (blue), this deep wide-angle view was processed to remove the stars and so better capture the impressive glowing filaments of the Veil. Also known as the Cygnus Loop, the Veil Nebula is roughly circular in shape and covers nearly 3 degrees on the sky toward the constellation of the Swan (Cygnus). Famous nebular sections include the Bat Nebula, the Witch’s Broom Nebula, and Fleming’s Triangular Wisp. The complete supernova remnant lies about 1,400 light-years away.
Happy Litha Blessings
Litha/Summer Solstice Correspondences
From FlyingTheHedge.com – Litha Correspondences
Symbolism: life, fire, rebirth, transformation, power, purity
Symbols: sun flowers, leaves, sword, spear, sun, God’s eye, sun wheels, bonfire, balefires, fire, sun dials, bird feathers, seashells,
Colors: red, gold, orange, yellow, white, green, blue
Food and Drink: mead, ale, summer fruits and vegetables, strawberries, honey cakes, whipped cream, oranges, lemons, summer squash, honey
Herbs: Saint John’s Wort, lavender, rose, peony, vervain, mugwort, chamomile, chickweed, chicory, sun flower, lily, thyme, hemp, fennel, nettle, wisteria, rue, fern, heather, oak, yarrow, holly
Deities: Ra, Bast, Helios, Oak King, Fotuna, Arinna, and other sun god.
Crystals and Gemstones: Lapis, diamond, tiger’s eye, emerald, jade, and other green stones
Animals: butterflies, wren, horse, stag, robin, cattle, phoenix, dragon, faeries, satyrs
Magic: Litha is the time to celebrate the Sun and all that he provides for us. Protection spells and fire magic are great to perform on this night. Make protective amulets to be empowered in the balefire lit on Midsummer’s eve. Looking to promote a transformation, a new career, or create a new or strengthen an old relationship? Litha is a great night to perform such magic. Collect herbs, especially St. John’s Wort, on the eve of this sabbat to bring luck and enhance the herbs’ power. Renew your wedding vows or just enjoy the time with your friends and family. This is also a great time to communicate with faeries and seek their help if you so wish. Be careful though. Faeries can be tricky.
Please note this is not a complete list but a brief overview of symbols, colors, herbs, deities, and the like. If I have missed something that you feel should make the list, please feel free to contact me via the comments or through email. Willow
Spell for Today – Midsummer’s Day Herb Gathering Spell
Midsummer’s Day is a traditional time for Witches in all parts of the world to gather herbs from their gardens or from the wild to use in potions, dream pillows, and other forms of spellcraft. They may be dried and burned on a charcoal disc during your magick spell or ritual. All herbs collected at Litha are considered to have extra magickal and healing properties.
To be recited on Midsummer’s Day, thrice before and thrice after gathering herbs for magickal workings:
“Herbs of magick, herbs of power,
Root and bark, leaf and flower,
Work for me when charms are spoken,
Potions brewed and curses broken!”
Pagan and Magickal Terms and Definitions
Today’s Word is
Asperge
From moonlitpriestess.com
A bundle of fresh herbs or other object used to sprinkle consecrated water around the circle to purify the space; also, the person using the herb bundle.
From Spells8.com
To cleanse and purify a space. This is usually done by spraying water around a room or using an herbal bundle to cleanse the space.
June 21 Today in History
Today’s Important Historical Events
1788 US Constitution comes into effect when New Hampshire is the 9th state to ratify it
1854 First Victoria Cross won during bombardment of Bomarsund in the Aland Islands (Crimean War)
1948 Lord Mountbatten resigns as Governor General of India (formerly the last Viceroy)
1990 7.7 Manjil-Rudbar Earthquake with hundreds of aftershocks hits Iran; killing about 50,000
1993 English mathematician Andrew Wiles proves last theorem of Fermat
Today’s Historical Events
68 Roman General Vespasian conquers Jericho during the Great Jewish Revolt
524 Godomar, King of the Burgundians, defeats the Franks at the Battle of Vézeronce
1128 Battle of Akspoele: earl Willem of Normandy beats Diederik
1307 Külüg Khan is enthroned as Emperor of China and seventh Great Khan after defeating rival factions and succeeding his uncle Temür Khan
1498 Jews are expelled from Nurenberg Bavaria by Emperor Maximillian
1529 Queen Catherine Of England [Catherine of Aragon] speaks against her marriage’s annulment at the Blackfriars Legatine Court
1529 Battle of Landriano: Imperial-Spanish forces under Don Antonio de Leyva, Duke of Terranova, beat a French army under Francis de Bourbon, Comte de St. Pol
1547 Great fire in Moscow, a third of the largely wooden city destroyed and 2-3,000 killed
Today’s Historical Events in Film and TV
1948 WNAC (now WHDH) TV channel 7 in Boston, MA (CBS) begins broadcasting
1957 7th Berlin International Film Festival: “12 Angry Men” wins Golden Bear
1963 13th Berlin International Film Festival: “The Devil” and “Bushido: The Cruel Code of the Samurai” win the Golden Bear (tie)
1966 “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”, directed by Mike Nichols and based on the 1962 play of the same name, starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, is released (Academy Awards Best Actress 1967)
1968 18th Berlin International Film Festival: “Who Saw Him Die?” wins the Golden Bear
1974 24th Berlin International Film Festival: “The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz” wins the Golden Bear
1990 Little Richard [Penniman] gets a star on Hollywood’s Walk Of Fame
1993 Revival of Lerner and Loewe’ musical “Camelot”, with Robert Goulet as King Arthur, opens at Gershwin Theater, NYC; runs for 56 performances
Today’s Historical Events in Music
1868 Wagner’s opera “Meistersinger von Nuernberg” premieres in Munich
1948 Columbia Records unveil the 33-1/3 rpm LP phonograph record invented by Peter Carl Goldmark, allowing up to 20 minutes per side (available in 10 and 12 inch diameters), at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, NYC; over the next decade the popularity and profitability of the LP pushed the 78 rpm out of production [1]
1951 “17” opens at Broadhurst Theater NYC for 180 performances
1955 Johnny Cash debuts Top 10 country song “Cry! Cry! Cry!”
1969 Dmitri Shostakovich‘s 14th Symphony premieres in Moscow
1969 Zager & Evans release “In the Year 2525”
1971 50,000 attend Celebration of Life, rock concert in McCrea, Louisiana; performers included Chuck Berry; Stephen Stills; WAR; John Sebastian; and Delaney and Bonnie
1975 Elton John, The Eagles and The Beach Boys play to 72,000 fans at Wembley Stadium, London
Today’s Historical Events in Sports
1858 Louisiana chess prodigy Paul Morphy arrives in Europe
1879 Infielder William White plays one game for the Providence Grays with conjecture was the first African-American to play MLB even though he appeared Caucasian
1900 Dodgers score 7 in top of 11th to go ahead of Phillies, 20-13, In bottom of 11th Phillies stalls so umpire forfeits game to Dodgers
1904 Boston Herald tells of Red Sox trade “Dougherty as a Yankee,” 1st known reference to NY club as Yankees (became Yankees in 1913)
1907 US Open Men’s Golf, Philadelphia Cricket Club: Alec Ross of Scotland posts 4 sub-80 rounds to win his only major title, 2 strokes ahead of runner-up Gilbert Nicholls
1907 British Open Men’s Golf, Royal Liverpool GC: Frenchman Arnaud Massy wins by 2 strokes from J.H. Taylor; first non-Briton to win Open Championship
1916 Boston Red Sox pitcher Rube Foster no-hits New York Yankees, 2-0 at Fenway Park
1932 German champion Max Schmeling loses NYSAC, NBA and lineal heavyweight boxing titles in controversial split points decision to American Jack Sharkey in NYC, New York
June 21 Astronomy Picture of the Day
Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
2022 June 21
Analemma over Taipei
Image Credit & Copyright: Meiying Lee
Explanation: Does the Sun return to the same spot on the sky every day? No. A better and more visual answer to that question is an analemma, a composite of images taken at the same time and from the same place over the course of a year. The featured analemma was compiled at 4:30 pm many afternoons from Taiwan during 2021, with the city skyline of Taipei in the foreground, including tall Taipei 101. The Sun‘s location in December — at the December solstice — is shown on the far left, while its location at the June solstice is captured on the far right. Also shown are the positions of the Sun throughout the rest of the day on the solstices and equinoxes. Today is the June solstice of 2022, the day in Earth‘s northern hemisphere when the Sun spends the longest time in the sky. In many countries, today marks the official beginning of a new season, for example winter in Earth’s southern hemisphere.
A Laugh for Today
I hope your Tuesday is not terrible!
Happy Yule Blessings
A Thought for Today
Until we meet again dear sisters, brothers, and honored guests may your life be filled with all things positive!
June 20 Astronomy Picture of the Day
Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
2022 June 20
Rock Fingers on Mars
Image Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, MSSS
Explanation: There, just right of center, what is that? The surface of Mars keeps revealing new surprises with the recent discovery of finger-like rock spires. The small nearly-vertical rock outcrops were imaged last month by the robotic Curiosity rover on Mars. Although similar in size and shape to small snakes, the leading explanation for their origin is as conglomerations of small minerals left by water flowing through rock crevices. After these relatively dense minerals filled the crevices, they were left behind when the surrounding rock eroded away. Famous rock outcrops on Earth with a similar origin are called hoodoos. NASA’s Curiosity Rover continues to search for new signs of ancient water in Gale Crater on Mars, while also providing a geologic background important for future human exploration.
A Laugh for Today
I hope your Monday is not a manic one!
Spell for Today – A Midsummer Night’s Fire Ritual
A Midsummer Night’s Fire Ritual
The Summer Solstice, known to some as Litha, Midsummer, or Alban Heruin, is the longest day of the year. It’s the time when the sun is most powerful, and new life has begun to grow within the earth. After today, the nights will once more begin to grow longer, and the sun will move further away in the sky.
If your tradition requires you to cast a circle, consecrate a space, or call the quarters, now is the time to do so.
This ritual is a great one to perform outside, so if you have the opportunity to do this without scaring the neighbors, take advantage of it.
Begin this ritual by preparing the wood for a fire, without lighting it yet. While the ideal situation would have you setting a huge bonfire alight, realistically not everyone can do that. If you’re limited, use a table top brazier or fire-safe pot, and light your fire there instead.
Say either to yourself or out loud:
Today, to celebrate Midsummer, I honor the Earth itself. I am surrounded by tall trees. There is a clear sky above me and cool dirt beneath me, and I am connected to all three. I light this fire as the Ancients did so long ago.
At this point, start your fire. Say:
The Wheel of the Year has turned once more
The light has grown for six long months
Until today.
Today is Litha, called Alban Heruin by my ancestors.
A time for celebration.
Tomorrow the light will begin to fade
As the Wheel of the Year
Turns on and ever on.
Turn to the East, and say:
From the east comes the wind,
Cool and clear.
It brings new seeds to the garden
Bees to the pollen
And birds to the trees.
Turn to Face South, and say:
The sun rises high in the summer sky
And lights our way even into the night
Today the sun casts three rays
The light of fire upon the land, the sea, and the heavens
Turn to face West, saying:
From the west, the mist rolls in
Bringing rain and fog
The life-giving water without which
We would cease to be.
Finally, turn to the North, and say:
Beneath my feet is the Earth,
Soil dark and fertile
The womb in which life begins
And will later die, then return anew.
Build up the fire even more, so that you have a good strong blaze going.
If you wish to make an offering to the gods, now is the time to do it. For this sample, we’re including the use of a triple goddess in the invocation, but this is where you should substitute the names of the deities of your personal tradition.
Say:
Alban Heruin is a time of rededication
To the gods. The triple goddess watches over me.
She is known by many names.
She is the Morrighan, Brighid, and Cerridwen.
She is the washer at the ford,
She is the guardian of the hearth,
She is the one who stirs the cauldron of inspiration.
I give honor to You, O mighty ones,
By all your names, known and unknown.
Bless me with Your wisdom
And give life and abundance to me
As the sun gives life and abundance to the Earth.
I make this offering to you
To show my allegiance
To show my honor
To show my dedication
To You.
Cast your offering into fire. Conclude the ritual by saying:
Today, at Litha, I celebrate the life
And love of the gods
And of the Earth and Sun.
Take a few moments to reflect upon what you have offered, and what the gifts of the gods mean to you. When you are ready, if you have cast a circle, dismantle it or dismiss the quarters at this time. Allow your fire to go out on its own.
by Patti Wigington
Published on ThoughtCo
Pagan and Magickal Terms and Definitions
Today’s Word is
Sabbat
From moonlitpriestess.com
Term for Wiccan holidays adopted by other Pagan and Witchcraft paths. In Wiccan tradition, Sabbats are solar festivals that usually honor the God and the changing of the seasons or Wheel of the Year. Eight sabbats are celebrated in a Wiccan year.
From Spells8.com
Each of the eight Wiccan holidays celebrated in a calendar year. The first sabbat is Yule and then comes Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lammas, Mabon, and Samhain. These festivals are considered sacred days and it’s tradition to celebrate them in good company.
June 20 Today in History
Today’s Important Historical Events
451 Battle of the Catalaunian Plains: Roman and Visigoths forces defeat Attila the Hun in north east France, alting Hun invasion of Roman Gaul (exact date disputed)
1214 The University of Oxford receives its charter
1789 French Revolution: The Third Estate of the French Estates-General swears the Tennis Court Oath at the Palace of Versailles, swearing not to disband until a new constitution is formed
1840 Samuel Morse patents his telegraph
1895 1st female PhD from an American University, earned by Caroline Willard Baldwin (in Science) at Cornell University
2020 Highest-ever temperature recorded in the Arctic circle, 38C (100F) in Verkhoyansk, Siberia
Today’s Historical Events
451 Battle of the Catalaunian Plains: Roman and Visigoths forces defeat Attila the Hun in north east France, alting Hun invasion of Roman Gaul (exact date disputed)
1212 French and Spanish crusaders unite against the Almohaden at Toledo
1214 The University of Oxford receives its charter
1221 Foundation stone laid for Burgos Cathedral in the presence of Ferdinand III of Castile (made a UNESCO World Heritage Site 1984)
1530 German Parliament joins to Augsburg together
1567 Jews are expelled from Brazil by order of regent Don Henrique
1582 Bishop Domingo de Salazar of Manila suppresses the Philippines
1591 Mauritius and Willem van Nassau occupy Devente
Today’s Historical Events in Film and TV
1948 “Toast of the Town” hosted by Ed Sullivan premieres on CBS-TV
1960 12th Emmy Awards: Playhouse 90, Robert Stack & Jane Wyatt win
1970 “Ray Stevens Show” debuts on NBC-TV
1974 “Chinatown“, directed by Roman Polanski starring Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway, is released
1975 “Jaws”, based on the book by Peter Benchley, directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Roy Scheider is released
1976 Disney’s River Country opens at Bay Lake (closed 2001)
1980 Musical comedy film “The Blues Brothers”, starring Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi, and featuring appearances by Aretha Franklin; Cab Calloway; and Ray Charles opens in 594 theaters
Today’s Historical Events in Music
1955 “Almost Crazy” opens at Longacre Theater NYC for 16 performances
1963 Beatles form “Beatles Ltd” to handle their income
1969 200,000 attend Newport ’69’, then largest-ever pop concert in Northridge, California. Jimi Hendrix gets $120,000 to appear.
1971 Glastonbury Festival in Pilton, England opens: David Bowie headlines; other performs include: Joan Baez, Hawkwind, Melanie, Traffic, Fairport Convention, and Quintessence
1981 Guitarist Gerry Cott quits Boomtown Rats
1986 Glastonbury Festival in Pilton, England opens: The Cure, Psychedelic Furs, and Level 42 headline; other performers include: Simply Red, Madness, Ruby Turner, Amazulu, Lloyd Cole, Black Uhuru, The Wailers Band, Loudon Wainwright III, John Martyn, The Housemartins, The Waterboys, The Pogues, Gil Scott-Heron, Robert Cray Band, and Christy Moore
2007 Glastonbury Festival in Pilton, England opens: Arctic Monkeys, The Killers, and The Who headline; other performers include The Fratellis, Amy Winehouse, Shirley Bassey, Paul Weller, and Bright Eyes
Today’s Historical Events in Sports
1896 US National Championship Women’s Tennis, Philadelphia CC: Elisabeth Moore beats defending champion Juliette Atkinson 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
1910 US Open Men’s Golf, Philadelphia Cricket Club: Alex Smith of Scotland wins an 18-hole playoff over younger brother Macdonald Smith and John McDermott to win his 2nd Open title
1912 NY Giants lead Bost Braves 14-2 into 9th, Giants win 21-12
1913 3 of 1st 4 Yankees hit-by-pitch en route to a record 6 hit batsman
1914 46th Belmont: Merritt Buxton aboard Luke McLuke wins in 2:20
1919 US National Championship Women’s Tennis, Philadelphia CC: Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman beats Marion Zinderstein 6-1, 6-2 for her 4th US singles title
1920 Yanks win protest of 1-0 White Sox win & game is replayed
1930 British Open Men’s Golf, Royal Liverpool GC: Bobby Jones wins his 3rd Open title, 2 strokes ahead of Leo Diegel and Macdonald Smith on his way to the single-season Grand Slam
Celebrating Litha: Traditions, Herbs, Symbols & More
Pagans who base their practices around western European pre-Christian traditions commonly observe a set of holidays. These are often grouped together as the Wheel of the Year, which is a way of visualizing the progression of seasons and sacred days as a cycle.
Litha is a solar festival that takes place on the longest day of the year — Midsummer.
About Litha
Litha is a name given to the summer solstice. In the northern hemisphere, this takes place around June 21st.
Because of the Earth’s axial tilt, this actually corresponds with the winter solstice in the southern hemisphere, so Pagans in the south typically celebrate Litha around December 21st. This is considered to be the time when the sun and solar deities are at the height of their power.
Origins & History
It’s hard to say when summer solstice celebrations really began. As long as humans have relied on plants and grazing animals for food, they’ve tracked the seasons.
The word “solstice” comes from Latin, and roughly translates to “sun stands still.” The solstice, then, is the point when the sun seems to stand still in the sky. In other words, it’s when the daylight hours are at their longest.
Nobody’s really certain where the name “Litha” comes from, either. One source cites a document called The Reckoning of Time (De temporum ratione) written by Saint Bede in 725 CE.
In it, he recorded a lot of Anglo-Saxon Pagan concepts, and the names of the months were among them. This time of year was allegedly named “Līða,” which translated to “gentle” or “easy to navigate.”
It was so named because this time of year marked the best weather for sailing, since the breezes were steady and not too powerful. June was Ǣrra-Līða, or “the first Litha,” while July was “the second Litha.”
Another source, Greer’s New Encyclopedia of the Occult, cites J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy as the actual origin. In it, the Hobbits’ called midsummer Lithe.
It’s possible that we may never find the true name of this holiday. Many of the cultures that inform modern-day European-based Paganism had strong oral traditions, and placed less emphasis on writing. As a result, the only written records left behind stem largely from invaders and other outside observers.
Traditions
Traditionally, Litha was a time to light bonfires, celebrate marriages, feast, sing, and dance. It’s a time when the weather is at its warmest, and all of the crops are at their most fruitful. This is a celebration of plenty, partnership, and community.
In Wicca, it’s customary to use this time to work solar magic, magic for men’s issues, and rituals for community stability, success, environmental healing, and strengthening relationships.
In ancient Rome, people celebrated Vestalia around midsummer. This was to honor Vesta, a virgin goddess of the hearth, home, and family. Under normal circumstances, only her devotees, the Vestal virgins, were allowed into the sacred inner areas of her temples.
During Vestalia, the inner sanctums of her temples would be opened for all women to come make offerings and request her aid and protection.
Folklore
In some forms of Wicca and …
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Belated HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY
Ok ladies please do not get upset that I am posting a thing for Father’s Day but did not for Mother’s Day. The reason I did not for Mother’s Day is it happens on different days worldwide and I did not want to pick one date over another, but you will have a Happy Mother’s Day post today!
June 19 I Ching, Numerology, Angel Number, Animal Spirit Guide or Helper Divination
I Ching
Click here for more detailed information about Hexagram 30
Hexagram Thirty/30
Li / Igniting
Fire sparks more Flames:
The Superior Person holds an inner Fire that ignites passion in every heart it touches, until all the world is enlightened and aflame.
With so searing a flame, success will not be denied you.
Take care to be as peaceful and nurturing as the cow in the meadow; you are strong enough to be gentle.
SITUATION ANALYSIS:
A Promethean flame is delivering light and heat to the situation at hand.
This radiance will cause such an alchemical transformation of circumstances that the changes will seem magical, miraculous.
Yet they are only shifts of perspective and attitude that bring clarity.
The passions kindled by this fire must be harnessed and used judiciously, or they threaten to consume your hopes and dreams.
Numerology
From worldnumerology.com
Thirty
It is communication and creativity. It is a high octave 3. It has a great sense of humor, is jovial and warm, but also a bit superficial. Easily distracted, lacks staying power.
Angel Number
Click for more information about Angel Number 30 from informationseries.com
Thrity
Angel Number 30: Meaning and Interpretation
If you keep watching Angel Number 30, the angels are trying to tell you something important in your life.
You asked for help from the holy world, and the answer is angel number 30.
And your role now is to decipher the meaning of angel number 30 and use that advice in your life.
Angel number 30 says that it’s time for angels and ascended masters to think about your success and achievement.
Be grateful for the benefits and wonderful riches you have in life and embrace the luck and the love and support from the angels you deserve.
The meaning of angel number 30 …
Animal Spirit Guide or Animal Spirit Helper
Click here to read more about the spiritual meaning of the Pig from spiritanimaldreams.com
Pig
In modern times, the symbolism of the pig is quite uncertain. While this animal is respected by some for the nourishment it provides, it is a symbol of gluttony and greed to others.
Many people dislike being associated with the qualities of the pig. However, things have not always been this way.
For example, ancient Mesopotamians looked at the pig as a symbol of wealth, abundance, and plenty. Those who owned pigs knew that they’d be able to take care of all their needs.
In ancient Egypt, the pig was considered a symbol of versatility, resilience, and patience. This animal can eat just about anything.
The ancient Egyptians saw this as a lesson on the importance of being flexible. One must be ready to embrace changes as they happen.
In the West, the pig was seen as a symbol of prosperity. In all likelihood, the concept of the ‘piggy bank’ arose from this.
The meaning and symbolism of the domestic pig is closely related to that of wild boars. Wild boars are known for their tenacity, determination, and …
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