This masked bandit can make you laugh with his antics, or make you angry when you realize he’s made off with your food! Raccoon is incredibly curious—to the point that he’ll walk into a potentially dangerous situation just to see what’s up. Like Raccoon, are there situations you’re barging into before you have all the information? Might want to re-think this one.
Wherever the Black Swan appears in your reading you can expect unexpected and unpredictable events to majorly impact your life in that aspect. Beyond noting that the influences Black Swan indicates will be extraordinarily large in scope, it may be difficult to tell if the fortune it foretells will be good or bad. Black Swan affected events may begin so subtly that they are very difficult to identify. When trying to discover what the Black Swan portends for you, look for events that do not occur in your life regularly or at all.
Birds can be powerful allies for becoming our truest selves or for simply helping us to get through our busy and challenging days. Do you need the sharp-eyed eagle, merry finch, or something else? Take the quiz and find out, here:
Answer the following questions TRUE or FALSE.
1. I need the ability to wait patiently until the right time comes to act.
2. I need to get a clear overview of my life right now; I’m too bogged down in details to have perspective.
3. I feel like I’m operating in the dark and could really use some help finding my way.
4. I need to feel more cheerful and optimistic.
5. I want my brain to feel sharp and flexible, making the best possible use of what I know.
6. I want to feel more loving, gentle, and affectionate.
7. I need to feel that my territory is protected and safe.
8. I need help getting rid of outworn things in my life.
If you answered TRUE to:
1, then Crane will be helpful to you.
2, then Eagle is your guide.
3, then Owl is your ally.
4, then Finch will aid you.
5, then Crow is your helper.
6, then Dove will be your companion.
7, then Jay is your friend.
8, then Vulture is your guide.
You may want to put photos or other images of your bird where you can see it and be reminded of its basic nature, which offers itself to you for help and guidance. Be sure to put an offering of birdseed outside, if you can, as a thank-you.
14 Nion/Anthesterion
Day of the Gorse Plant
Color: Tan or .
Element: Earth.
Altar: Upon a cloth of tan or dun set a bundle of dried gorse twigs and leaves, a single tan candle, a pot of soil, seeds, a bowl of water, and a bell.
Offerings: . Make an effort to subdue a troublesome habit.
Daily Meal: Vegan.
Invocation to the Green Man of the Gorse Plant
Hail, Green Man of the Spring!
Gorse plant with its prickles,
Furze who waves its indignant head
At our trampling ankles,
Belligerent as the strongest spring gale,
You remind us that nature
Is not always helpless,
And has a right to its territory.
You remind us that there are places
We have no right to walk
Unaware and thoughtless
Treading all that comes into our path
With no thought for smaller lives.
We bless your prickles, guardian
Of small pathways and hedges,
Protector of tiny beasts
And the untrodden ways,
Shrieking cormorant who drives off
All who are disrespectful of her nest.
We hail you, sacred gorse plant,
Green Man of the Spring,
On this your eve of awakening.
Chant:
I guard the paths of sunlight,
I guard the little mysteries,
I guard those joys of daily life
That come not into histories.
(Each comes forward and plants a seed in the pot of soil, saying, “Hail Green Man of the Earth!” Water is poured onto the pot, and then the rest is poured out as a libation. Ring bell and dismiss.)
Has Snake slithered into your world today? If so, you are being asked to undergo a major transformation. Are you willing to shed your old skin? Are you willing to let go of people, places, and things that no longer have a place in your life? Snake will help you make the grand transformation, then slide into a new life that’s brimming with possibility
Before dawn, take a branch from any tree. Thank the tree for its gift and leave a coin or semi-precious stone at its base in payment.
Next, obtain several brightly colored flowers on long stalks. Tie these flowers to the branch to fashion a sort of broom, then sweep the floor in every room of the house, visualizing the flowers of the broom absorbing negativity and “evil” as you work.
Then, still before sunrise, leave the broom at the crossroads.
Traditionally this ritual is repeated at the first of each month.
Many cultures associate Owl with death, while others see Owl as the “night eagle”—the bird that embodies shamanism. Owl has exceptional hearing, and his medicine is one of clairaudience—the ability to hear spirit. If Owl has silently glided into your life today, he is asking you to face your own fears, and listen to the messages spirit is sending you.
September 8 – Daily Feast
Autumn shadows grow long across the land and a sunset washes the sky with colors of a ripe peach. The color deepens and spreads in cherry-colored streaks until even the grasses in the meadow are tinted pink. A single cry from the deep woods could be the wail of a coyote or the shriek of an owl. Such primitive voices speak of sameness even while they change the human world. Daytime activity ceases when evening draws its shadows through the woods. Deer feed quietly. Hounds pursue the raccoon and hundreds of tracks along the feed road tell us that humans may walk here but other species own the night.
~ We never did the white man any harm; we don’t intend to. ~
TALL BULL – CHEYENNE
‘A Cherokee Feast of Days, Volume II’ by Joyce Sequichie Hifler
Taking yourself too seriously? If you are, Coyote will throw a banana peel in your tracks just to see you take a silly spill. Coyote medicine is Trickster medicine—the practical joker, the chaos maker. If Coyote appeared in your reading today, be ready for a curveball thrown in your direction. Remember, though, Coyote uses the bizarre to help us learn lessons we just can’t seem to get any other way.
Wherever the Black Swan appears in your reading you can expect unexpected and unpredictable events to majorly impact your life in that aspect. Beyond noting that the influences Black Swan indicates will be extraordinarily large in scope, it may be difficult to tell if the fortune it foretells will be good or bad. Black Swan affected events may begin so subtly that they are very difficult to identify. When trying to discover what the Black Swan portends for you, look for events that do not occur in your life regularly or at all.
The botanical name of mint is Mentha, for a Greek myth tells that the river
nymph Mentha (or Mintha) was transformed into this herb following a doomed affair with Hades. The Greeks and Romans dedicated the plant to Mercury, this Virgoan day’s planetary ruler, however, on account of its ability to clear the head and encourage rational thinking. Still the world’s most popular breath-freshener and an invaluable herb to have to hand in the kitchen, it is furthermore a refreshing, cooling agent whose power to relax muscles makes mint tea an excellent digestive.
If you need to remain calm and objective before making an important decision today, infuse yourself with these Mercurial characteristics by incorporating a splash of orange – Mercury’s color – into your outfit, maybe in the form of a scarf or handkerchief.
Crow is always on the alert for trouble—and their loud caws! warn each other of impending danger, Very little escapes Crow’s keen vision—which is why many cultures associate Crow with the keeper of knowledge. Crow has flapped his way into your life today to bring a message of watchfulness—have you built your nest high enough to really understand what’s going on around you?
When harvesting bark or leaves from the Alder, remember to ask the tree if it will allow you to take the parts and be sure to leave the tree an offering of thanks when you are done. To prepare Alder wood for use, beat the bark away with a willow stick while projecting your wishes into it.
April 8 – Daily Feast
It seems only yesterday when the first cold wind blew in and laid flat the wild rose and turned the canes gray. Leaves turned and dropped. Snows fell and drifted. Winter threatened to last forever. But it didn’t. Spring runs in and out like a child opening and slamming a door just to irritate us. The birds are flirting and meadows abound with baby calves in their first days. It is a time of change – not only in nature but in us. We enjoy that breaking point between late winter and early spring. In our mind’s eye we know where the wild phlox will spread its fragrance and the oxeye daisies will crowd the narrow path. It is with the same eye that we see ourselves blooming with health and prospering beyond our dreams. Only those who walk under a cloud miss the joy of this time, the open meadows and greening hills.
~ Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam, where the deer and the antelope play….Where seldom is heard a discouraging word and the skies are not cloudy all day. ~
ANONYMOUS
‘A Cherokee Feast of Days’, by Joyce Sequichie Hifler
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March 28 – Daily Feast
Few sounds in nature are harsh. Even the rolling thunder that rumbles across the sky has solemn beauty. The wind makes whistles in the treetops and wild birds warble like rivulets of water that make harps among the shallows. The frenzied crash and blare come from man. The woods comfort with their sounds. A tiny yellow warbler with black wings sits in the redbud tree and makes the sound of an astral flute, a clear call for peace and harmony. If the bird wants a tranquil place – how much more we need it. A wet-weather spring feeds the ground from beneath, giving ferns moisture and life. In the rainy season the water flows and the delicate fronds mingle with the water creating a swishing sound. Surely we can absorb the serenity to heal and soothe our souls.
~ Creator of the world, Maker of all men; Lord of lords, my eyes fail me…..for the sole desire to know thee. ~
INCA HYMN
‘A Cherokee Feast of Days’, by Joyce Sequichie Hifler
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Dragonfly eggs are laid within their territory near the water. Once hatched, these nymphs will live nearly two years on the bottom of streams and ponds. As they reach adulthood an amazing thing occurs, they transform into dragonflies and ascend to the air. In the air, they travel with wings that sparkle with spectacular colors by reflecting and refracting light and other colors. No insect or bird can maneuver as well as a dragonfly. Flying up to 30 mph, they will twist, turn, move up and down, fly backwards, even change directions instantaneously and still will spot movement 40 feet away.
The power of Dragonfly lies in its ability to see around things by looking from different angles. Using its ability to transform colors and lights by reflecting and refracting them, Dragonfly shows us that life, like light, can bend, shift, and adapt in various ways, making life’s appearance never be what it appears to be. Dragonfly’s magic shows us to see through life’s illusions and find our true vision. It calls us to transform within our lives and reminds us to feel deeply so we will have the compassion necessary to help ourselves and others.
Coyotes, also known as the Desert Wolf, are recognizable by their thick bushy tail, pointy nose, and ears. In the winter their coat grows thick to protect them from the harsh weather. They can run up to 30 mph, and their call will be heard up to 3 miles. Coyotes can live in urban areas as long as food and shelter is available. They form loose family groups which form for short periods of time then break apart, depending on the food supply. This large group formation will work together to catch deer. Normally coyotes hunt alone or in pairs. In this situation, one may intentionally chase small prey into the jaws of another coyote so they both can share a meal. A good way to tell a coyote apart from a wolf is its tail, which they carry low while the others carry their tails high.
Coyote teaches us to laugh at our mistakes so we won’t get mired in the pain of life’s lessons. Coyote comes into our lives when we need to understand the balance of wisdom and foolishness.
Joanne E. Brannan
Learn how to understand and work with a hummingbird power animal. Shamanic practitioners fortunate enough to enjoy a hummingbird spirit guide have a good natured and hardworking companion who will help them to achieve goals with agility and speed. Always regarded as a magical animal, the hummingbird makes a wonderful power animal with a wide range of powers. Do not be fooled by the light build and gentle nature of the hummingbird, he is a truly transformational creature! He brings bright colors and incredible skill to every aspect of his, and your, life.
Universal Hummingbird Shaman Symbolism
The hummingbird power animal has many positive characteristics:
When Hummingbird Shamans should call on their Spirit Guide
A hummingbird power animal is of particular service to you, his Shamanic companion, when:
Hummingbird Animal Familiar Unlocks Deep Mysteries and Powers
With the company of your hummingbird power animal you will be both quick to react and remarkably powerful, though always gentle. Relax and ride with the uplifting energy of the good natured and hardworking hummingbird. Seek out the good things in life with the intense precision of the hummingbird, treat passing events with the lightness of touch of his wingbeats and persist with people and situations that are important to you with his persistence and strength!
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| Name: | Rous |
Age: | Six months old |
| Gender: | Male |
Kind: | Opossum |
| Home: | Eugene, Oregon, USA |
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This Rous, and he is an opossum, which is North America’s only marsupial species. His mother was hit by a car, and he developed neurological issues because of this. He was the only one who survived. Rous cried and cried for his mother for two days straight. After I become his new mom, anytime I left he would cry for me. Cry = high pitched bark. My boyfriend is in love with him. If anything happened to him he would be very upset. Rous is very much a loved member of our family. He is getting neutered next week and I plan on using him for educational purposes.
He was about two months oop (out of pouch) in the baby photos, and here he is now. He’s all grown up. It’s amazing to think he used to be so darned tiny. He adores the kids, anyone really. Especially the cats. His favorite thing to do is climb onto the counter when I’m cleaning cages. He is probably the easiest pet to care for. Also, he will do anything for a grape or marshmallow. He absolutely loves them. Opossums are the most bizarre sleepers! Rous loves to hang onto something even when asleep. When they get tired they will close their eyes and then just fall over sideways and be totally knocked out. It’s the strangest thing. He is a bit spoiled. He is litter trained, non destructive and mild mannered. His vet even pondered the thought of adopting an opossum for a pet. We all love Rous.  |
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Witches Of The Craft® 
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