The fascinating history of cemeteries – Keith Eggener
This is an interesting take on regular burials and cemeteries. The History of Cemeteries
Tag: Death
Life As The Witch – Recognizing Our Goddess, HEKATE (Hecate)
Hekate: A Modern Implications
These days, Hekate is often still seen as the Goddess of Witchcraft and Dark Magick, a Dark Crone, because of her connection to the line between life and death. Her chthonic roots are attributed to her aspects as a Death Goddess, but in truth she is not solely death aspected. Her nature is one of transformation, and though change can be terrifying and damaging, it can also be beatific. To think of Her only as a chthonic, Underworld Goddess is to ignore part of her nature.
These days we too often see things in terms of diametric, opposites (light/dark, masculine, feminine, God/Goddess, as if the vast universe is written in binary, nothing more than ones and zeros. While these dichotomies play a role in the nature of the universe, they are also simplified depictions. Deity cannot be contained in the use of dichotomy, because deity transcends those terms.
Hekate is neither light nor dark; she is the very scale of graduation, present at the exact point at which one type of gray becomes another, between every gradient and at either end of the spectrum. Each change is her territory, and there are billions of transformations every day.
Hekate’s connection to magic is another aspect of her nature. Through magic we take what is only potential and pull it into reality, imprinting the mundane world with what could be. And this is one of the biggest changes of all, the transformation for which Hekate has always been particularly revered. Magick is transformation, and it’s from this that Hekate’s association with it is.
In invoking Heckate we can learn to accept changes in our lives, both positive and negative, and we can also create change in our own worlds. She aids the completion and manifestation of spells and when called for divinatory purposes she can help to reveal the truth more readily. She can part the Veil, to allow clearer vision or communion with the dead. Hekate is a protector of children, especially when they walk hard paths, but also in the journey into adulthood.
Hekate guards the crossroads, both those that line our physical reality and those that mark our passage through life, through our spirituality, and through the journey that is existence.
Reference:
Excerpt from:”The Transformative Nature of Hekate”
by Marion Sipe
Llewellyn’s 2012 Magical Living Companion
This Lifetime has Ended for Our Beloved Lady Abyss
The reason I have not heard for Lady Abyss is because she crossed into the Summerlands on June 13, 2019. I do not know what happened to her as she sounded fine when I talk to her on the 12th. How I found out her body died was by coming across her obituary while trying to find a current phone number for her.
I have just chatted with WordPress on how I can keep this domain name. I just have to try to get a copy of a document about Lady A and have one noterized about myself. I will be working on both this week.
Instead of a regular open chat this coming Saturday I’m going to have a Memorial for Lady Abyss
I will approve people entering the chat room before Saturday/Sunday and check for new people through out the day except for when we are doing the remembrance ceremony.
Everyone is welcome to attend to share stories and/or memories of our wonderful, loving sister and mentor Lady Abyss. I will be in and out of the chat room. For the Northern Hemisphere the Chat room will be open starting on Saturday, November 9th at approximately 4:00 PM CST until everyone is done. For the Southern Hemisphere it will start on Sunday, November 10th at 9:00 AM AEDT. There will be a remembrance ceremony celebrating Lady Abyss’ life, death, and her rebirth in the future at 6:00 PM CT/11:00 AM AEDT. Please have a 4 inch candle with Lady Abyss inscribed into it. If you want to use a larger candle that is fine too. Have a safe place to leave the candle burn when you are awake. Keep relightening until it burns all the way down. If you want to write a note of any kind to her please do that beforehand. After the candle is lit start to burn the piece of paper place it into a fire proof container to finish burning it safely. Take the candle stub any leftover wax from it and put them in the container with the ashes. When everything is completely cooled down, wrap it all in either gauze or a paper towel and bring to a crossroads. If you can bury in the center of where the roads cross great, if you can not bury it leave the little bundle in the middle of the crossroads.
I will not be doing regular posts or answering mails today/tomorrow or tomorrow/Thursday I need sometime to start coming to terms with my mentor, best friend and sister no longer being in this plane. I only found out yesterday by stumbling over her obituary while looking for something else.On
Calendar of the Moon for December 11th
Calendar of the Moon
11 Ruis/Poseideion
Day of the Underworld II
Color: Grey
Element: Earth
Altar: The altar should be the same as the night before, with the vinegar water replenished if necessary. Something made of rotting flesh should be placed on the altar, for scent.
Offerings: Whatever the Gods tell you.
Daily Meal: Fasting tonight, until the next morning.
Underworld Invocation II
We are the stricken, dying with death,
Shrouded with weeds, wrapped in our loss,
Silent we wait, clouded by tears,
Torn by the wind, ragged with mist.
Where we are wounded
There is no healing.
Where we decay
Nothing is sound.
Ravaged by night, abandoned by day,
Silent we wait, shadows of grey.
Old in our broken houses of flesh,
Old among ruined pillars of Sun,
Old as the halls to which we descend,
Old as this dark that does not end.
Call: Tonight we go under the ground.
Response: Tonight we are as corpses in the Earth.
Call: On this night, and the next, and the next, we are dead.
Response: On this night, we feel our bodies as they rot.
Call: On this night, we praise the worms and the beetles.
Response: On this night, we learn about the grave.
Call: On this night, we learn that Earth is silence.
Response: On this night, we learn that Earth welcomes us home.
Call: Receive us, Guardians of the Gate!
Response: Receive us, Lords of Death!
(All kneel before the altar for a long time, meditating on rot and decay. The chalice is passed, and all take a sip. Then all rise and leave in silence. That night, each should place under their pillow some dried weeds, or a handful of earth from a graveyard, for a reminder.)
Celebrating Spirituality 365 Days A Year – Lunantshees
November 11 and 12
Lunantshees
This day has been set aside to honor the Fairy, an important element in most Irish folklore and mythology. For the Irish, the Fairy is believed to be the decedent of the small, dark, Neolithic people who invaded early Europe. Being small and dark and living close to the land allowed them to quickly hide from their enemies. This ability along with their elusive mannerisms, led people to believe they were capable of magick, shape-shifting and invisibility.
Magickal Activities
Fairy Dust
Grind the following herbs into a fine powder:
1 Tbs. Woodruff
1 Tbs. Rose petal
1 Tbs. Meadowsweet
1 Tbs. Clover
1 Tbs. Jasmine
Place the powder in a dark blue jar. Inscribe the following symbol on the jar:
Hold the jar tightly against your heart as you chant nine times:
Nature spirits and Fairy friends, Bless this dust to serve my ends. I place my trust and faith in thee, To bring me love, wealth and prosperity.Lightly dust the bed with the powder to increase passion and love. Place some of the powder near the threshold of a business to attract new customers, and sprinkle some around the perimeter or your home to create an atmosphere of happiness and good will.
Today’s Tarot Card for November 10 is Temperance
Temperance
Sunday, Nov 10th, 2013
What is traditionally known as the Temperance card is a reference to the Soul. Classically female, she is mixing up a blend of subtle energies for the evolution of the personality. One key to interpreting this card can be found in its title, a play on the process of tempering metals in a forge.
Metals must undergo extremes of temperature, folding and pounding, but the end product is infinitely superior to impure ore mined from the earth. In this image, the soul volunteers the ego for a cleansing and healing experience which may turn the personality inside-out, but which brings out the gold hidden within the heart. (This card is entitled “Art” in the Crowley deck.)
Let Me Be At Peace
Banshee
Banshee
The Banshee from the Irish bean sí (“woman of the side” or “woman of the faerie mounds”) is a female spirit in Irish mythology, usually seen as an omen of death and a messenger from the Otherworld. Her Scottish counterpart is the bean shith (also spelled bean-shidh) The asos sí (“people of the mounds”, “people of peace”) are variously believed to be the survivals of pre-Christian Gaelic deities, spirits of nature, or the ancestors. Some Theosophists and Celtic Christians have also referred to the aos sí as “fallen angels”. They are commonly referred to in English as “faeries”, and the banshee can also be described as a “fairy woman”.
In Irish legend, a banshee wails around a house if someone in the house is about to die. There are particular families who are believed to have Banshees attached to them, and whose cries herald the death of a member of that family. Traditionally, when a citizen of an Irish village died, a woman would sing a lament (in Irish: caoineadh, [ˈkiːnʲə] or [ˈkiːnʲuː], “caoin” meaning “to weep, to wail”) at their funeral. These women singers are sometimes referred to as “keeners” and the best keeners would be in much in demand. Legend has it that, for five great Gaelic families: the O’Gradys, the O’Neills, the O’Briens, the O’Connors, and the Kavanaghs, the lament would be sung by a fairy woman; having foresight, she would sing the lament when a family member died, even if the person had died far away and news of their death had not yet come, so that the wailing of the banshee was the first warning the household had of the death. In later versions the banshee might appear before the death and warn the family by wailing. When several banshees appeared at once, it indicated the death of someone great or holy. The tales sometimes recounted that the woman, though called a fairy, was a ghost, often of a specific murdered woman, or a woman who died in childbirth.
Banshees are frequently described as dressed in white or grey, and often having long, fair hair which they brush with a silver comb, a detail scholar Patricia Lysaght attributes to confusion with local mermaid myths. This comb detail is also related to the centuries-old traditional romantic Irish story that, if you ever see a comb lying on the ground in Ireland, you must never pick it up, or the banshees (or mermaids – stories vary), having placed it there to lure unsuspecting humans, will spirit such gullible humans away. Other stories portray banshees as dressed in green, red or black with a grey cloak.
Today’s Tarot Card for Nov. 9th is The Hanged Man
The Hanged Man
Saturday, Nov 9th, 2013
Traditionally, the card known as the Hanged Man usually indicates a lack of ability to help oneself through independent action. This energy is arrested and awaiting judgment. With this card, there is no avenue for the will to regain control until the situation has passed.
This represents a good time to be philosophical, to study and meditate upon the position you find yourself in, and form resolutions for the moment you become free again. Only those who possess wisdom, patience and optimism will be able to see through limitations, including possible humiliation, to grasp the inspiring lesson one can gain from such an experience.
Daily OM for November 1st – The Death and Rebirth of Self
The Death and Rebirth of Self
Life Transitions
Sometimes a part of us must die before another part can come to life.
Sometimes a part of us must die before another part can come to life. Even though this is a natural and necessary part of our growth, it is often painful or, if we don’t realize what’s happening, confusing and disorienting. In fact, confusion and disorientation are often the messengers that tell us a shift is taking place within us. These shifts happen throughout the lives of all humans, as we move from infancy to childhood to adolescence and beyond. With each transition from one phase to another, we find ourselves saying good-bye to an old friend, the identity that we formed in order to move through that particular time.
Sometimes we form these identities in relationships or jobs, and when we shift those areas of our life become unsettled. Usually, if we take the time to look into the changing surface of things, we will find that a shift is taking place within us. For example, we may go through one whole chapter of our lives creating a protective shell around ourselves because we need it in order to heal from some early trauma. One day, though, we may find ourselves feeling confined and restless, wanting to move outside the shelter we needed for so long; the new part of ourselves cannot be born within the confines of the shell our old self needed to survive.
We may feel a strange mixture of exhilaration and sadness as we say good-bye to a part of ourselves that is dying and make way for a whole new identity to emerge in its place. We may find inspiration in working with the image of an animal who molts or sheds in order to make way for new skin, fur, or feathers to emerge. For example, keeping a duck feather, or some other symbol of transformation, can remind us that death and rebirth are simply nature’s way of evolving. We can surrender to this process, letting go of our past self with great love and gratitude, and welcoming the new with an open mind and heart, ready for our next phase of life.
Your Deck of Ancient Symbols Card for Oct. 28th is Solitude
Your Ancient Symbol Card for Today
Solitude
Solitude is represented by a single person standing at the end of a boardwalk staring out at a vast, empty panorama. They are truly alone, but may not feel loneliness. They are at a place in their life where the need to withdraw from the our secular world is strong, because their focus should be on their inner self, their morality, and their dreams. The view before them is empty, but it is a canvas on which they may paint their future–a future restricted only by the size of their imagination and courage. For them Solitude is a choice. They chose to take the walkway that distances them from the rest of us. It is also a choice that can be undone. Just as they chose to take a path that leads them away from us, they may choose to turn around and come back at anytime.
As a daily card, Solitude suggest a period in which you need to distance yourself from those around you and explore your inner-self, what is driving your day to day life and decide if you are really on the life path that is best for you. This is a time to revitalize your spirit, and draw your dreams for the future
Preparing for Summerland During Samhain
Preparing for Summerland During Samhain
Author: Crystal T.
During the Sabbat of Samhain, many of us think it is the time when we need to remember our ancestors. Many of us set out photos of our relatives, friends and other loved ones that have passed. Some of us may set the table one night this month for a “Dumb Supper”. The veil is considered to be at its thinnest, and yet during this time one topic is rarely ever discussed:
Death. Yes, you read it correctly, death. More importantly, this is about your death!
Remembering the past is indeed a beautiful thing, but what about a topic that not a lot of people think about during this time… how would YOU want to be remembered when your time comes?
No matter if you want to be buried, cremated, or otherwise, one thing will most likely happen: An obituary will be written in your name. In some cases, someone who has never met you writes it. Your local newspaper editor is simply putting together words about you from a standardized form that was supplied to them by the funeral home that handled the processing of your physical body. I don’t mean to seem cold; it is something I don’t want to happen to me. I want to be remembered for what I accomplished in my lifetime, the things I loved, as well as the people I loved. Granted, the paper may not always honor final your wishes, but there are some things you can do to insure that your directives are followed.
Back in 2008, my father passed away. This motivated me to start researching on what I wanted when my time came. I began to research various things from “Pagan funeral” to “Green Burial”. I met a wonderful woman and Death Midwife, Nora Cedarwind Young as a result of my research. Throughout the past few years, she has become a mentor and friend. I have also learned from Nora to be pro-active in planning what I want to happen when my time comes to return to Gaia. Nora has taught me that there are six essential documents a person should have prepared and ready for when their time comes. They are:
1. A Will: A will is a legal document that states what you want to happen after you die. It includes naming a person or persons in charge of handling your estate, distribution of any property, and naming care for any minor children such as guardianship.
2. A Living Will: A Living Will is the document that will distinguish your wishes regarding medical treatments in prolonging your life when you are unable to do so for yourself. This may also be called a Health Care Directive or Advance Directive. A Living Will is also only good when your medical prognosis is deemed unrecoverable such in cases of a terminal illness.
3. Power of Attorney – Health: This paper names a person who would be in charge of your health and make decisions for you in the case you are not able to make them for yourself. This is also known as a Health Care Proxy.
4. Power of Attorney – Finance: This is the document where you would name someone to take charge of your finances when you are unable to do so yourself. Normally it will be your spouse, parent, adult child, or person you deem worthy of the responsibility.
5.Disposition of Body: This is the paper where you state your desire for burial, cremation, organ donation, etc. Please note that in some states, your spouse or next of kin has more rights to determine what is done with your body after you die more so than you do. This is where communication of your desires and wishes are discussed with your family.
6.HIPAA: This form is not to be confused with a HIPPA, which is something else. For a HIPAA you will need to complete and sign a HIPAA Privacy Authorization Form if you want a person beside yourself to have access to your medical records while you are competent.
If you are financially able, prepare these forms as soon as you can. I personally update my records every Samhain just in case something has changed. If you are not able to prepare these forms with a lawyer, there are some computer software applications available for a small amount available at your local office supply store, Best Buy, or available on the internet. Dependent on which state you live in, you might need to determine if the computer software “do it yourself” versions are legal.
Recently this past year, I was diagnosed with kidney disease. This began a journey for me into the many cases of “what if”. I am in no way ready to use any of these six essential documents, but I do however want my husband to be prepared on what I want to happen should something happen to me. I have everything written down in a notebook. We are in the process of drafting paperwork with a lawyer after saving up to prepare it for the welfare of our children should something happen to the both of us for guardianship of our minor children. I want him to know what I want as regarding funeral rites right down to the articles of clothing I want to wear. I have certain items that I wish passed on to (or returned to original person that gifted them to me) others that I have purchased or received over the years.
All these items are very important. One last thing you might want to consider writing during this time of year is your own obituary. Now your version may not make it to the newspapers, but it could be a valuable gift to those you love. This document would be the story of your life.
What do you want to be remembered for? What accomplishments did you achieve over your lifetime? What were your favorite foods, songs, television show, movies, etc? Give them the details that you want them to have. Throw in a fact or two they may not even know. Make them laugh; make them cry.
They will be glad that you gave them this last gift. In essence, this would be writing your own biography. Give them a piece of your history with this document. By simply writing the story of your life and then updating it each and every Samhain as our lives change and grow, it will make it easier on your family in the long run… knowing what your final wishes are and how you want to be remembered.
If you need more information about any of these things, I urge you pay a visit to Nora Cedarwind Young’s website. It is called Thresholds of Life (www.thresholdsoflife.org) and contains much valuable information.
I wish each and every one of you a “Spellbound Samhain”!
Sincerely,
Crystal LunaRouge
_____________________________________
Footnotes:
http://www.thresholdsoflife.org
Samhain Cemetery Visit
In many cultures, the late fall is a time in which the dead are honored with great ceremony. A wonderful example of this is in Mexico, where Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) celebrations are a joyful and festive part of the season. Rather than being sad and mournful, families go to cemeteries where they honor their loved ones with picnics, colorful altars, and even parades.
You don’t have to be part of the Hispanic community to celebrate the season in this manner, though. Many non-Hispanic Pagans see Samhain as a time to honor their dead with happy remembrance. There are a number of ways you can do this, and incorporate a visit at your family’s cemetery into your Samhain festivities.
Headstone Cleanup
Start by cleaning up headstones. Pluck or trim any overgrown grass or weeds from around the gravesite or sites. To clean a headstone, you should be sure to check with the cemetery operators (if you can find them) about any cleaning policies. In general, a good guideline is that if a headstone is made of marble, limestone or or sandstone, you can use water (bring a couple of gallon jugs along) and a SOFT nylon bristle brush.
For older headstones, which may crumble from age when you clean them, water alone may be your best bet. A headstone that is cracked or damaged shouldn’t be cleaned at all, at the risk of causing more damage. Do the best you can with what you’ve got – but for more detail on how conservationists suggest you clean an old stone, read here: Association for Gravestone Studies..
If you’d like to make a grave rubbing of a headstone, read here: How to Make a Grave Rubbing. Keep in mind that you should always follow the rules of the cemetery. Remember that while doing a rubbing usually doesn’t cause damage to headstones, particularly newer ones, there are certain precautions that should be taken. If a stone is worn or crumbling, pass on it. Rubbing an already-damaged stone can cause it to flake and chip to the point where it’s irreparable. Instead, choose stones which are in good condition – the best results come from either polished granite stones or solid slate markers. If there’s any doubt about the condition of the stone, don’t use it for a rubbing.
Ancestor Altar
Many people like to have an ancestor altar in their homes during the Samhain season, but you can set one up at the cemetery as well. It can be as simple as a few candles, a photo, and some flowers, or more complex. If the grave is an older cemetery, you may want to bring a small flat object to use as an altar – bed trays work well for this – so as not to damage the headstone. Be sure to check with the cemetery for guidelines, if you choose to leave your altar in place after you’ve left. If you do take it with you when you go, be careful to pick up any stray bits and pieces that may have scattered around. Don’t leave a mess behind.
Flowers and colorful ribbons are also a popular addition to headstones during this season – if you have wreaths, feel free to add those as well. In Mexico, another offering is travel items – razors, a bowl of water, and soap are a great addition, because your deceased loved ones can use these items to clean up after their journey.
For more about how different cultures venerate their ancestors, read here: Ancestor Worship. The concept of ancestor worship is not a new one for many Pagans today. Ancient cultures often venerated those who came before them, and even now, in our contemporary society, it’s not uncommon at all to find celebrations that honor the ancestors in a variety of different ways.
Sugar Skulls and Candy Coffins
You can make a batch of Sugar Skulls, which are confectionaries traditionally made at Day of the Dead celebrations. If you’re not sure about how to make them – or don’t feel confident in your own candy-making skills – check at your local Hispanic marketa – they almost always have them in stock in the fall. Another popular item is the candy or chocolate coffin – again, if you aren’t able to make them, an alternative is to use small boxes made of cardstock or lightweight cardboard to create coffins, and fill them with candy, trinkets, and tiny skeletons.
Cemetery Supper
For many people who celebrate Day of the Dead, a huge part of the day involves a meal. You can pack up a picnic supper, and visit your family at the cemetery while you eat. Some ideas you might try:
- Bring loaves of sweet, dessert breads, which are traditional in many cultures, as a Samhain offering.
- If you know a particular family member really loved a favorite dish, include that as part of your picnic supper.
- Be sure to bring an extra plate for each of your beloved dead – they are with you in spirit, and should be offered a seat at the table (or picnic blanket).
- You can either make your picnic formal and serious, like the Dumb Supper, or joyous and fun – it’s up to you.
- Consider singing songs – if you have drums or a guitar, bring them along, and after you’ve eaten, sing your family’s favorite tunes to serenade your ancestors. If you know the traditional folk songs of your family’s culture, this is a great time to share them – and if you don’t know them, now is a good time to learn and pass on the traditions.
Saying Farewell… For Now
Finally, before you leave, be sure to say a last farewell to your ancestors, thanking them for joining you, and letting them know you will honor them all year long. If your celebrations have spilled over onto other gravesites, you may want to leave a small offering of thanks for those residents as well – broken pieces of bread are a good symbolic offering. Spend a day visiting with those who came before you, remember them well, and let them know that someday, you will see them again.
How To Celebrate the Cycle of Life and Death At Samhain
How To Celebrate the Cycle of Life and Death
Samhain is a time like no other, in that we can watch as the earth literally dies for the season. Leaves fall from the trees, the crops have gone brown, and the land once more becomes a desolate place. However, at Samhain, when we take the time to remember the dead, we can take time to contemplate this endless cycle of life, death, and eventual rebirth.
Here’s How:
- For this ritual, you’ll want to decorate your altar with symbols of life and death. You’ll want to have on hand a white candle and a black one, as well as black, red, and white ribbon in equal lengths (one set for each participant). Finally, you’ll need a few sprigs of rosemary.
Perform this rite outside if at all possible. If you normally cast a circle, do so now.
- Say:
Samhain is here, and it is a time of transitions. The winter approaches, and the summer dies. This is the time of the Dark Mother, a time of death and of dying. This is the night of our ancestors and of the Ancient Ones.
Place the rosemary on the altar. If you are doing this as a group ceremony, pass it around the circle before placing on the altar. Say:
Rosemary is for remembrance, and tonight we remember those who have lived and died before us, those who have crossed through the veil, those who are no longer with us. We will remember.
- Turn to the north, and say:
The north is a place of cold, and the earth is silent and dark. Spirits of the earth, we welcome you, knowing you will envelope us in death.
Turn to face the east, and say:
The east is a land of new beginnings, the place where breath begins. Spirits of air, we call upon you, knowing you will be with us as we depart life.
- Face south, saying:
The south is a land of sunlight and fire, and your flames guide us through the cycles of life. Spirits of fire, we welcome you, knowing you will transform us in death.
Finally, turn to face the west, and say:
The west is a place of underground rivers, and the sea is a never-ending, rolling tide. Spirits of water, we welcome you, knowing you will carry us through the ebbs and flows of our life.
- Light the black candle, saying:
The Wheel of the Year turns once more, and we cycle into darkness.
Next, light the white candle, and say:
At the end of that darkness comes light. And when it arrives, we will celebrate once more.
- Each person takes a set of ribbons — one white, one black, and one red. Say:
White for life, black for death, red for rebirth. We bind these strands together remembering those we have lost.
Each person should then braid or knot their three ribbons together. As you do so, focus on the memories of those you have lost in your life.
- While everyone is braiding or knotting, say:
Please join me in chanting as you work your energy and love into your cords:
As the corn will come from grain,
All that dies will rise again.
As the seeds grow from the earth,
We celebrate life, death and rebirth.
When everyone has finished braiding and chanting, take a moment to meditate on the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Is there someone you know who reminds you of a person you’ve lost? Have you ever looked into a baby’s eyes and seen your late grandfather looking back?
Finally, ask everyone to take their knotted ribbons home with them and place them on their personal altar if they have one. That way, they can be reminded of their loved ones each time they pass by.
- Finally, ask everyone to take their knotted ribbons home with them and place them on their personal altar if they have one. That way, they can be reminded of their loved ones each time they pass by.
Tips:
- Rosemary is used in this rite because although it seems to go dormant over the winter, if you keep it in a pot you’ll get new growth in the spring. If there’s another plant you’d rather use, feel free.
What You Need
- Ribbon in black, red and white
- A white candle and a black one
- Rosemary
Today’s Tarot Card for October 20th is The Hanged Man
The Hanged Man
Sunday, Oct 20th, 2013
Traditionally, the card known as the Hanged Man usually indicates a lack of ability to help oneself through independent action. This energy is arrested and awaiting judgment. With this card, there is no avenue for the will to regain control until the situation has passed.
This represents a good time to be philosophical, to study and meditate upon the position you find yourself in, and form resolutions for the moment you become free again. Only those who possess wisdom, patience and optimism will be able to see through limitations, including possible humiliation, to grasp the inspiring lesson one can gain from such an experience.
Your Animal Spirit for October 11 is The Ant
Your Animal Spirit for Today
October 11, 2013
Ant
Ant is dutiful, patient, industrious and focused. If you ever put an obstacle in the middle of an ant trail, you’ll notice that ant will go over it, around it, or even under it—but ant will NOT let the obstacle drive him backwards. Above all, ant is a team player, and knows that if each member of the team does his assigned task, the team will succeed. Do you have goals that are best met by team effort? If so, get the other players off the bench and let them into your game.
Today's Tarot for Sept. 30th is The Hanged Man
The Hanged Man
Monday, Sep 30th, 2013
Traditionally, the card known as the Hanged Man usually indicates a lack of ability to help oneself through independent action. This energy is arrested and awaiting judgment. With this card, there is no avenue for the will to regain control until the situation has passed.
This represents a good time to be philosophical, to study and meditate upon the position you find yourself in, and form resolutions for the moment you become free again. Only those who possess wisdom, patience and optimism will be able to see through limitations, including possible humiliation, to grasp the inspiring lesson one can gain from such an experience.
Good Saturday Afternoon! It's been a bit, hasn't it?
I must apologize for being off the net so long. It is totally my fault and I apologize. Forgive me? The last day we were even on the internet I can’t remember (which is terrible). I know that day we left very abruptly. Again I apologize.
It started out a very peaceful morning. I had my favorite two familiars with me, Kiki and Razzy. I know most people have one but what the heck! One (Kiki) senses the spirits that aren’t suppose to be here. Razzy will climb up on my shoulders and wrap herself around my neck (it is like having a thirty pound weigh hanging around your neck) when the spirit is a harmful one. I had watched poor Kiki till I was about ready to put her out of my misery. But Razzy made no attempt to protect me. So I decided everything had to stop immediately. So we went off the net, at the drop of my pointy hat, lol!
Since I already knew there was a spirit here. The next logically thing to do was to find out who it was. Was it a lost soul looking for help crossing over or a family member that had come back to pester me? I gathered up all my stuff and went to a very quiet and isolated part of the building. Along with me came Kiki and Razzy. Both of them took their places, which really amazed me about Razzy. She had never been around when I used the Ouija Board. But she knew exactly where she belonged. With one on one side and the other on the other side, I started my ritual for using the Board. I always make sure I am very well protected. I have the incense, the candles and most of all I call upon the Goddess for Her Divine protection.
When I first started the session, nothing would come forward. In a more firmer tone, I called to the spirit to come forth. This time it did. I ask the spirit if I knew it, the answer was yes. I had caught a faint smell of perfume. So I asked the spirit, if it was my sister. The answer again, yes. I will explain this part later. I asked the spirit if at the time of her death was she angry with me, the answer was yes. This hurt me very deeply. I asked the spirit if it would tell me why it was angry with me. The answer was no. I told the spirit she was no longer welcomed in my home. Never, ever return to my presence again. Then I closed the gateway.
When I emerged from the room, everyone must have known I was upset. I wouldn’t talk to any of them. I told them there was one last thing I had to do, cleanse the house. Which I did, every nook and cranny I could find, I cleansed. While I was cleansing, I was also thinking about the spirit being angry with me. I never did anything to my sister while she was alive. You have to keep in mind my sister was 22 years older than myself. So we weren’t that close.
I promised I would explain something to you and now I will. No one knows this except close, very close family. My family, the one I created. I don’t remember what day of the week it was but I do remember it was in the afternoon. I got a phone call from my sister’s mother-in-law. She called to tell me that if I wanted to see my sister alive then I might want to get over there. Hospice had been called in. I got in my car and rushed to my sister’s side. At the time, I didn’t know it but she had been sick for six months. No phone call or nothing telling me she was dying. At the end the cancer went to her brain and she didn’t even recognize me. I remember the night she passed very well. I was in here on the computer. The windows were open. A sudden gust of wind came from out of no where. It blew all my papers off the desk. Then it engulfed me. I can still remember being lifted out of my chair and my hair lifting up. I knew my sister had passed. I guess from the time I found out she was dying. I spent almost every moment of those two weeks I could with her. But the real kick in the gut and what I have walked around feeling so numb about came at the funeral. Her ex-husband wanted to know if my sister and I were in an argument or something. I said no and asked him why. He told me, my sister had known for the past six months she was dying. He tried every way in the world to get her to call me but she wouldn’t. He wanted to know why. I told him I honestly didn’t know.
I have walked around with that guilt of not knowing since her death which has been almost six years now. I will be honest. I had always hoped for a very joyous and cheerful reunion with my sister. I had always wanted to contact her on the Board. But my heart was broken all over again. Then apparently my mother must have entered the pictured or someone did. All of a sudden all the good things I had done for my sister. She had no right to be mad at me. I hadn’t been the perfect sister but nor was I the evil one. I believe she deliberately did what she did. By not calling, by not letting me know she was dying on purpose. My father always told me she hated me. I use to think what a horrible thing to say. You see I wasn’t suppose to have happened but I did. My mother was pregnant with me the same time my sister was pregnant with her first child. My father told me, at the time they were both pregnant, my sister hated my mother and hated me even more. He told me comments she would make about the unborn child in her mother’s stomach. I couldn’t believe a blood relative could be that cruel but I see know I was wrong.
I found out a lot about myself the other day in just a few hours. I learned I have been carrying around guilt (which was my sister’s intent to start with) for years. I learned that was her final knife she put in my back. If I had not did what I did, I would have walked around with that guilty and not knowing till the day I died. I know she had been here before but what made that day so special. What moved me to finally take action? I believe my Divine Mother got tired of me carrying around needless guilt and I was ready for the truth. I could handle the truth finally.
You see it is like I was telling you the other day. The Goddess reveals to us all things in time. But only She knows the time we can handle them. Thank you, dear Mother, thank you!
Wishing Each And Everyone A Very Blessed Sunday!
A very blessed Sunday to all. I learned some very sad news today. One of our family members have lost someone very special to them. I read the email and my heart couldn’t help but break. I know if you have been with us for any length of time you know the man I speak of. He uses the ID, Chiron the Businessman But his name is Graham. He has been with us since our site first formed here. He wrote me an note today to tell me that Khairon, his wife had passed away. It was a blow that nearly knocked me out of my chair. I am going to light a candle for her and keep him in my prayers. I would humbly ask that you do the say. Graham is a good man. After his family and friends leave to go back home, he will need a support system. I told him we were his support system. We are his family. If he needed anything at all, just to ask. Please keep him in your prayers.
Graham, we are not able to be there with you physically. But I want you to know we are there with you spirituality. I would like to leave you with one of my favorite and oh, so meaningful poems at a time like this. Goddess bless you and yours, dear brother. We are here for you…..
Do not stand at my grave and weep
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.
Mary Elizabeth Frye
Today's I Ching Hexagram for August 17 is 7: Discipline
7: Discipline
Saturday, Aug 17th, 2013
The most successful general is not the one that triumphs in battle, but the one who is able, through strength of a resolute discipline and the personal power that results from that, to achieve victory without spilling blood. This is why for the effective leadership of any organization the key virtues are clarity, decisiveness and conscientiousness. The most effective team or partnership marches with a single purpose — a dedication to a common goal that is held dear by all. Otherwise, even with an excess of external discipline, unpopular wars are seldom winnable.
Let power be held in check by the acceptance of a common discipline, and submission to a higher authority. Look to the common good. When life is in balance, evil impulses are checked by human decency; parents die before their children; leaders lead and followers follow. If you hold or aspire to a position of leadership, remember that the true leader speaks to and captures the hearts of the people and articulates a clear, simple vision that unites them as a team.
In the realm of government, the relationship between the army and state is critical. Only when the state is economically prosperous can the army be strong. Only when the army is disciplined can the state be protected from disruptive outside forces. For this balance to be preserved, government must be steady, and mild toward its own people. When balancing strong complementary forces, modesty and generosity at the center can be a magnetic force that keeps relationships intact. Coordination of all elements is essential for success at this time.
Witches Of The Craft® 
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