Tag: Health

Herb of the Day for April 5 – Cat’s Claw Bark Cut

Herb of the Day for April 5 – Cat’s Claw Bark Cut

    Latin Name: Uncaria tomentosa
Common Names: Bird of Paradise

Folklore:
This herbal treatment, known in Latin as Uncaria Tomentosa, is named after the hook-like horns that are found on its surface, and comes from a vine native to the Amazon Rain Forest and other similarly tropical locals within South and Central America. There, it has been found in traditional medicinal folk lore dating back to the age of the Incans, and is frequently described as a potent aid in treating health problems, such as arthritis, stomach ulcers, fever, and general inflammation. Some lore even suggests that the bark can be utilized when one is seeking a method ofbirth control.

Medicinal Properties:
More Modern studies have shown that Cat’s Claw Bark is indeed a stimulant to the immune system, helping it fight off disease and perhaps thereby relieving symptoms such as fever. Some herbalists also claim that it can be of great use in relaxing and soothing muscles, helping to ease away aches and pains. This is of particular use when combined with the fact that the bark has shown some ability to treat and ease assorted forms of arthritis. Some studies have also shown that Cat’s Claw Bark can help lower blood pressure as well, and act as a diuretic. The bark has also been shown to possess antioxidant properties, which remove the body of particles that damage cells and potentially cause cancer. Early studies are looking into this quality, and examining its antitumor and anticancer effects.

Magical Properties:
Purification, Unhexing, Protection

Cautions:
Not recommended for people who are pregnant or are trying to become pregnant. Not recommended for organ transplant recipients, it may stimulate the immune response and cause a rejection of the organ or tissue.

Good Thursday Morning to all my dear friends!

Hello Images, Pics, Comments, Graphics
If you didn’t notice yesterday, I went a little crazy with the pics I used. The reason being, I wanted to get a response out of you. Yes, you! It just seems like it has been too quiet around here recently. I found myself this morning check the blog’s stats, believe it or not. The blog is getting the hits, thousands of visitors but no response, no “I like it” click or nothing. I thought using the graphics might heat things up a little bit. Then I got to wondering if they might run people off. It is one of those situations were you are damned if you do and damned if you don’t. What’s a witch to do?

Then I got to thinking perhaps I don’t tell you enough about myself? Perhaps I don’t tell you all the weird and crazy things that happen to me being a witch. My husband even made the comment the other day, that we definitely have some strange stuff that goes on around here. I just looked at him and said, “I wonder why?” You have a Druid and a Witch living under the same roof what do you expect?  My aura is bright enough that it attracts ever-living “dead” thing within a hundred mile radius. Most of them resemble shadow people. There are a few that I admit are actually scary. That is why like clock work every Full Moon, I do my house blessing. It keeps the biggest part of them out but I have family members and one dear close friend that are permitted to visit. Well, I really don’t permit them. They just cross over when they get good and ready. I normally can’t smell anything (that is a long story on why I can’t smell, I will tell you that some other time). But I can smell my relatives. My mother has a very sweet smell to her. It is very comforting when I feel her presence. My father has a very carnation smell with pine mixed in. I have learned their smells and they don’t bother me. The special friend I was telling you about, he does bother me. He has no smell, he just appears as a mist. You can tell it is in the form of a man but it is still a mist (if that makes any sense). When I was separated from my husband, I dated this man. I know I told you about it. I don’t know if it was love or lust but I know I never felt that way about any man. Even today thinking about him, that feeling comes back. To make a long story short, he found out that my husband and I got back together. That same day, he got killed in a motorcycle wreck. And he is my special friend that now visits me from the afterlife. I wondered for the longest time who that mist was. One night, I was all alone and it appeared. It formed enough, I knew who it was. He could never stand my husband and my husband could never stand him. When he visits the first place he heads for is my husband’s den. Which drives me absolutely crazy! Hell, am I going to have to put up with this the rest of my life.

My dear, sweet (using these terms loosely) husband will yell and curses at the spirits. I just grit my teeth. I keep telling him not to do that but it doesn’t do any good. It only provokes the spirits and that is what he wants. I finally told him what goes on when he goes to bed. I told him about my special friend and my father trying to get in his room. Yes, my father, he and hubby didn’t get along either. And hubby calls him by name and curses him. I told him about me running and getting the first thing I could find and driving them out of his room. About me backing them up into the library and holding them there till I can get my shit together to banish them for the time being. They will never be banished permanently because of me. I have my heart open to them and I love them. I would enjoy their visits if they would behave theirselves. If my husband would behave himself too. He got up one morning and saw all the diced onion on the floor. He asked me what when on last night and I told him. I told him that one of the spirit (which will remain nameless) decided they wanted to visit him. One he has cursed. He wanted to know if I had gotten rid of it and I told him yes. Since then he has calmed down on cursing the spirits. Thank the Goddess! But I do know one thing, spirits hold grudges or else they don’t forget. I know I still catch one every now and then trying to sneak into his room. And here I got making a frantic dive for the kitchen.

Oh, it’s such a wonderful life, lol! Now you know why I occasionally fall asleep at the computer! After a night like that, wouldn’t you too?

7 Ways to Deal With Smelly Pets

7 Ways to Deal With Smelly Pets

  • Nicolas, selected from petMD

By Patricia Khuly, DVM, PetMD

Got a pet who’s conditioned you to believe that his loving presence is worth all his foul odors? If your pet smells nasty then you probably know exactly what I’m talking about (though some of you may be in denial). Everyone else thinks he stinks and stays away. But you? You love him, aroma and all.

Nonetheless, there is something you can do about her chronic malodor, especially if she falls into one of the following categories of stinkiness. Read up on the concern and, for best results internalize their listed solutions!

1. The Skin Sufferers

If the surface of your pet’s skin’s smell is reminiscent of rotting fruit, something freshly dug up from deep underground, or just plain dogginess, you’ll know what I mean.

Solution: Whether this happens year-round or is limited to certain seasons, pets with certain skin conditions such as allergic skin disease and keratinization disorders (characterized by greasy and/or flaky skin), treatment of the underlying disease is generally effective in reducing or eliminating the odors associated with skin infections that accompany it.

Medicated shampoos and antibiotic and/or anti-fungal treatments are often necessary, at least at first and/or periodically, to tamp down the offending bacteria and/or yeast.

2. The Wildlife Devotees

These are the pets that stop, drop and roll at the sights and smells of a rotting carcass or raccoon feces (the foulest smelling scat on the planet). Maybe she’s a chronic stray cat poop consumer (like my Sophie), or a skunk tracking wonder-dog.

Solution: Restriction of a pet’s yard-based or hiking activities is usually not advisable. They need an outlet for their natural drives––and the exercise, of course. Picking up scat in your yard is helpful, as is special fencing to reduce encroachment by certain wildlife species (if you must).

Alternatively and/or additionally, treating the resulting foul odors can be achieved through an excellent, freshly brewed mix of hydrogen peroxide (1 quart), baking soda (1/3 cup) and a dash of a grease-cutting dish soap like Dawn (my favorite).

3. The Gaseous Ones

You know who you are.

Solution: Determining whether your pet has a condition such as intestinal parasitism, IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) or a pancreatic malfunction (as in EPI or “exocrine pancreatic insufficiency”) is crucial. But most pets who suffer excessive flatulence are merely exhibiting a mild intolerance to one or more ingredients in their diets.

Treatment of the primary dysfunction depends on the disease process, of course, but for those who suffer simple digestive intolerance may be helped either with pro-biotic supplements or through a process of trial and error with respect to diet choices. Carefully switching diets with varying ingredients until a minimum of flatulence is achieved is often fruitful in this regard.

 

4. The Bad-Breath Breakfast Club

Oral breath, usually secondary to periodontal disease, can lay low a whole crowd of dinner party guests who might otherwise truly enjoy your pet––and their meal.

Solution: Regular brushing (at least twice a week, but daily for some pets) and routine anesthetic dentistry (as often as every few months for severe sufferers) is the mainstay of bad breath resolution.

But some pets just have bad breath that arises chronically from their mouths and/or stomach gases––not necessarily from their teeth. These latter pets may be helped by adjusting the ingredients in their food and possibly by adding parsley to their diet (available in capsules). “Fresh breath” water supplements are not helpful, in my opinion, but some pet owners beg to differ.

5. The Anal Gland Leakers

The two anal glands, found on either side of the anus in dogs and cats occasionally have the propensity to fill up and spill out when over-full. The characteristic stench is perhaps the nastiest odor pets are capable of emitting.

Solution: Getting this under control is usually achieved by expressing the anal glands manually on a regular basis. Veterinarians and experienced groomers are best suited to this task, though many of my owners are willing to learn and manage quite well on their own.

A hydrogen peroxide wipe to the backside is very helpful once the odor becomes apparent.

 

6. The Otic Stink-Bombs

Ear infections are almost always skin infections. But their specific challenges mean very specific odors distinct from that of the rest of the skin. A fruity-smelling yeast infection that may or may not progress to a stinking bacterial infection is the usual finding.

Solution: Allergic skin disease is the primary cause of external ear infections in both cats and dogs. Infections can be dealt with by treating the underlying condition. Antibiotics and anti-fungals are used to tackle the infection––and the stink––but it will return (I promise), sometimes even after treating the allergy. After all, not every allergy is 100% treatable.

Cleaning the ears regularly with a mild disinfectant solution is always advisable.

 

7. The Wet Dog Crowd

Does your dog spend his life in the pool? Here in Miami that’s not uncommon––especially with Labs. Problem is, that also means wet dog smell that chronically lingers.

Solution: Keep your outdoor dog indoors, fence off the pool or invest in a proper canine blow-drier. Additionally, I recommend that you “Furminate”your dog daily to relieve her of some of the undercoat that traps moisture.

***

Anti-Aging for Cats

Anti-Aging for Cats

  • Celeste Yarnall, Ph.D

As we baby boomers incorporate anti-aging protocols, such as organic foods, exercise, and nutritional supplements into our own health regimes, we can also examine the best of these principles and adapt them in a way that is safe and appropriate for our companion cats. These are not just theories, they are the very principals and protocols that were the backbone of my 11 generation Championship Tonkinese Cat breeding program, which through to its conclusion in 2009, spanned nearly 20 years. I personally conducted this anti-aging holistic natural rearing program (on a small scale, and always finding wonderful homes for all the kittens and cats through the years) and have seen first hand what this regime produces, generation after generation, as I personally witnessed the difference between my cats and those born and raised on commercial pet foods, the overuse of drugs, and abuse of booster vaccines. How do I know the difference you might ask? Because I raised my first litters that way.

I was so concerned by what I experienced, that I began my own research and challenged what I was being told by many veterinarians and mentors. I broke away from those tired methods and launched my own holistic breeding program. I consulted with experts, including my friend, Jean Hofve, DVM, who joined me as my Complete Guide to Holistic Cat Care co-author. Ultimately, I came to the conclusion that the single most important anti-aging modality for cats is feeding a properly balanced, naturally raised, raw meat and raw bone based, species-specific diet. This is the foundation upon which all of our holistic regimes rest. The recipes for these homemade foods are found at CelestialPets.com

The goal of anti-aging is to ensure that one’s later years are enjoyed in optimum health and well being. In human medicine, we talk about ways to lengthen telomeres, we fix and even replace body parts that have degenerated. However, these techniques are not readily available for our cats. Kidney transplantation is available, but impractical and unaffordable for all but a very few cats. Perhaps one day, we will see bio-identical hormone replacement for altered cats, biomedical technologies, such as autologous stem cell therapy (harvested from the cat’s own body), nanotechnology drug delivery, and even development of bio-identical replacement organs. One day, we may even see these techniques as common place in veterinary clinics. But what can we do in the meantime? As our cats mature and become senior citizens, it becomes important to support not only their physical well being (flexibility, eyesight, hearing, energy levels and general body systems) but their emotional equilibrium; nourishing and nurturing their bodies and spirits as they mature and keeping their stress levels as well as our own down to the barest minimum possible.

Modalities in veterinary medicine must often first be firmly entrenched in human medicine before they trickle down to our pets. The use of supplementation has become extremely popular in feline preventative medicine, as have herbal remedies and homeopathic remedies. Since cats are such unique and sensitive beings, we must be very careful with the so-called super supplements and herbal remedies which may work perfectly well for most people and dogs, but can be deadly for cats. For example, Alpha Lipoic acid is great for dogs and people but deadly for cats. Resveratrol is also excellent for people and their anti-aging regimes but is not to be given to either dogs or cats. Make no mistake that the success of all supplements and remedies work hand in hand with the species-specific raw meat and raw bone diet of the cat and are primarily derived from animal sources.

Nature has created a wonderful plan where each gland and organ found in the prey animal nourishes the corresponding system in both our dogs and cats. Our cats natural diet of fresh raw prey which they eat in their wild environment serves as the recycling plant for the cat. In other words, the prey animal processes by eating what the cat, an obligate carnivore needs nutritionally and when the cat consumes the prey, she gets these nutrients second hand. The carnivores therefore naturally, for the most part, eat the vegetarian animals. We look to these animal sources to round out the diet when we make it at home, from scratch in our own kitchens. See my Care2 Celestial Musings blog on this topic for instructions on how to prepare your cat’s food. Simply giving supplements with commercial pet food from bags and cans is no different from eating Big Macs and swallowing vitamins with a Diet Coke! We all know better than that, but if your vet tells you to feed out of this bag or can, most people follow like sheep (even though vets know next to nothing about diet and nutrition other than what pet food companies tell them) rather than do some research, to see how other well informed cat guardians make their cat food themselves – something I have been doing and teaching others to do for over 20 years. I even formulated a line of supplements because there was nothing specifically formulated for homemade food. I call them Celestial Pets Supplements and this I did first of all for my own cats and then to share with others since they did not exist in the marketplace.

 

What causes our cats to age?

In a word, inflammation. Current research points to chronic inflammation as the major cause of many, if not most chronic and degenerative diseases as well as other features of aging, such as liver disease, diabetes, arthritis, and even cancer. However, inflammation is also the body’s primary defensive and healing mechanism. Trauma, toxins, allergens, and infectious organisms all trigger inflammation. On one hand, that’s a good thing. If inflammation didn’t happen, wounds would never heal, and viruses and bacteria would rampage unchecked. Inflammation is a normal part of living. The key is to moderate inflammation—not too little, not too much, and for the appropriate amount of time. The addition of a cold extracted, organic, greenlip mussel oil extract and antioxidant supplement can go along way to relieve the symptoms of inflammation much better than fish, krill, salmon, or cod liver oil and aid greatly in our anti-aging efforts. My choice is Moxxor as it meets this criteria perfectly and is therefore an anti-aging supplement for cats, dogs, horses and children and adults of all ages, too.

Many feline experts have over the years, prior to the advent of the state of the art new Omega-3 supplement, Moxxor, used flax, cod liver, krill or salmon oil for the purpose of including some essential fatty acids and Omega-3s, into their cats’ diets and I did this too, but since I learned how these oils are all made, (they are nearly all molecularly distilled or esterified – heated at high temperatures, laced with alcohol, solvents, salt, and deodorizers to rid them of heavy metals such as mercury), they are far less than desirable to me now because they contain only two Omega-3s (DHA and EPA) whereas Moxxor contains 18 Omega-3s including one called ETA which is not found in anything else to any measurable degree. All oils, with the exception of Moxxor are impossible to keep from going rancid under the best of circumstances, (rancidity is the bane of the oil industry).

Cooked food products (and that includes the heat processing of supplements) do not track with the way felines have hunted and eaten their fresh raw prey for thousands of years. There are no toaster ovens or vats in the wild to cook their meat or distill their oils, so therefore all ingredients for cats and dogs must be raw or as close to raw as possible in order to duplicate the macro-nutrients found in their wild diet and take advantage of some solid evidence-based science now available for the need for clinical nutrition and supplementation. There is even recent information (which you can read about here) clearly demonstrating that raw meat or even lightly cooked meat is more nutritious than kibble and this study was done by a pet food company. The co-author, Dr. Jean Hofve of my book Holistic Cat Care, is interviewed here by Dr. Becker. Dr. Jean, who corroborates this fact, quotes from our book and is interviewed as an expert on the benefits of real food for cats.

NOTE: A great anti-aging tip for cats as well as dogs, is the feeding of cut up, raw, free-range/organic chicken necks for dessert, as this is the way nature intended for cats to clean their teeth. Keeping cats’ teeth clean and gums healthy this way prevents kidney and heart disease as diseased gums (cervical neck lesions), which erode under the gum line, trap bacteria and infections driving the bacteria down to the heart and kidneys. Cats, because of this condition, start to have kidney disease and can be deemed geriatric at age 7 or 8 years old today! Watch how we recommend that cats clean their teeth. No dental appointments at the vet’s office with dangerous anesthesia are necessary when we use the techniques mother nature intended. See CelesteCats Matrix clean his teeth the natural way. Having had two of my beloved cats die as a result of the anesthesia from a routine dental cleaning, you can bet that I will avoid this procedure whenever possible! This is the best cleaning your cats teeth can ever have.

Besides the benefits of living indoors and being loved and treated as a member of a family, you can take steps to help your cat live to her full life expectancy. We can thereby help guard against turning on potentially dangerous genes that might have been passed down the line to our cats, through our species-specific diet, state of the art supplementation, herbs and homeopathy, and even some new age modalities such as veterinary energy medicine and high tech bio-resonance machines, and much more. We can now create an anti-aging lifestyle for ourselves and our companion cats. See Holistic Cat Care for more details on anti-aging modalities for our beloved cat companions and as always I am available for one on one phone consultations.

Have A Wild & Crazy Wednesday, My Friends!

Wednesday Images, Pics, Comments, Graphics
Today’s Affirmation for April 4th

I am committed to finding the most worthwhile routes for my energies – I will work to transform my emotions into the exhilarating energies of the spirit.

 

Today’s Thought for April 4th

If you rest in the stillness like a broken gong, you have already reached heaven for anger has left you.

Dhammapada, Part of he Pali Canon (c.500BCE – 0)

 

Today’s Meditation for April 4th

Relax with Incense

In the brain the processing of smell is closely linked with memory retrieval, so that a smell can act as a powerful trigger for a memory an therefore a mood. This makes it possible to prime calm states of mind using certain scents – helpful when preparing for meditation. Perform this exercise for the first time when you are already feeling calm. Sit comfortably, light some incense and close your eyes. As you breathe focus your awareness on the smell of the incense as it enters your nostrils during each inhalation Visualize the smell as a beautiful light, flooding your body with liquid calm. Continue for at least five minutes. Perform this exercise at the start of your meditation practice if you are feeling agitated. Not only will it be calming in itself, but it will also trigger memories of the calm that you experienced the first time around.

No Matter How You Spend Your Tuesday, Make It A Good One!

Tuesday Images, Pics, Comments, Graphics
Today’s Affirmation for March 3rd

I have everything I need for a full, rich, happy life. My inner resources are abundant. I have plenty of support, to which I offer thanks.

 

Today’s Thought for April 3rd

If family minds love one another, the home will be a beautiful flower garden.

The Buddha (c. 563 – c. 460BCE.)

 

Today’s Meditation for April 3rd

Eat Meditatively

Instead of eating on the run, give yourself time to relax and enjoy your food. Relish the taste of each mouthful. As you do so offer gratitude for the food that you are eating –  it is a gift from the earth. Respect all those involved in bringing the good to the table – from the farmer through to the cook. Give thanks to the presence of those who share the food with you. By engaging fully in the act of eat, the meal becomes a sacred ritual to which we renew ourselves.

Today’s Affirmation, Thought & Meditation for Monday, April 2nd

Wiccan Images, Pics, Comments, Graphics
Today’s Affirmation for April 2nd

Like a tree I stand, reaching for the light, gaining strength from the darkness at my roots. My body is twisted by the storms of life, yet in my uniqueness I am beautiful.

 

Today’s Thought for April 2nd

Do not wish to be anything but what you are, and try to be that perfectly.

St. Francis De Sales (1567 – 1622)

 

Today’s Meditation for April 2nd

Be Your Own Best Friend

We often judge ourselves much more harshly than we judge our friends. Yet when we are loving toward ourselves, we flower into the essentially compassionate beings that we really are. Close your eyes and imagine that you are your own best friend – a warm, caring person who see you and thinks of you in a loving and supportive way. Acknowledge your good qualities to yourself and praise your recent successes, no matter how small. To finish, give yourself a hug. Enjoy the feeling of being truly loved for who you are.

Your Correspondences for Sunday, April 1st

Sunday Images, Pics, Comments, Graphics
Correspondences for Sunday, April 1st

Magickal Intentions: Growth, Advancements, Enlightment, Rational Thought, Exorcism, Healing, Prosperity, Hope, Exorcism, Money
Incense: Lemon, Frankincense
Planet: Sun
Sign: Leo
Angel: Michael
Colors: Gold, Yellow, Orange and White
Herbs/Plants: Marigold, Heliotrope, Sunflower, Buttercup, Cedar, Beech, Oak
Stones: Carnelian, Citrine, Tiger’s Eye, Amber, Clear Quartz and Red Agate
Oil: (Sun) Cedar, Frankincense, Neroli, Rosemary

The first day of the week is ruled by the Sun. It is an excellent time to work efforts involving business partnerships, work promotions, business ventures, and professional success. Spells where friendships, mental or physical health, or bringing joy back into life are an issue work well on this day, too.

SPIDERWEB HEALING SECRETS

SPIDERWEB HEALING SECRETS

 
Apply spider webs to cuts and scrapes for almost instant wound sealing.
This remedy got a trial by fire the first time I used it when I got an extremely deep cut from a
can lid and the bleeding was profuse. I grabbed a few webs from outside the door and applied
them directly to the wound, debris and all. Then I used a butterfly bandage to hold the wound
edges together after the web was applied. This happened on a Friday evening, and by
Monday the cut was sealed tight and no longer needed any bandage.
There was very little soreness and no redness, irritation or swelling.
The finger was completely usable by that Monday.
The web seems to cause clotting immediately and it hardens to form a natural scab protection
that readily peels off when wet. I have, unfortunately, had reason to use this remedy several
times and each time I get the same results. The only side effect I have noticed is that the
wound tends to itch due to the rapid healing.

RULES OF COMBUSTIBLE INCENSE COMPOSITION

RULES OF COMBUSTIBLE INCENSE COMPOSITION

by
Scott Cunningham
—————————————————————————-
Here are some guidelines to follow when compounding combustible incense. These
are for use with the Cone Incense Base #2 recipe above. If they aren’t followed,
the incense won’t properly burn. There’s less room for experimentation here than
with non-combustible incenses.

* First off, never use more than ten percent saltpeter. Ever!

* Also, keep woods (such as sandalwood, wood aloe, cedar, juniper and pine) and
gum resins (frankincense, myrrh, benzoin, copal) in the proper proportions: at
least twice as much powdered wood as resins. If there’s more resinous matter,
the mixture won’t burn.

* Naturally, depending on the type of incense you’re adding to the base, you may
have to juggle some proportions accordingly. Simply ensure that frankincense and
its kin never constitute more than one-third of the final mixture, and all
should be well.

* Though this hasn’t covered all aspects of combustible incense making (that
could be a book in itself), it should provide you with enough guidelines to make
your own. Experiment, but keep these rules in mind.

How to Make and Use Your Own Incense

How to Make and Use Your Own Incense

By Patti Wigington, About.com

Smoke in the Sky:

For thousands of years, people have used fragrant flowers, plants, and herbs as incense. Using smoke to send prayers out to the gods is one of the oldest known forms of ceremony. From the censers of the Catholic church to the Pagan bonfire rituals,

incense is a powerful way to let your intent be known. You can make your own quite easily, using a blend of herbs, flowers, wood bark, resins, and berries. Most of these are items you can grow yourself, find in the woods, or purchase inexpensively.

Why Incense?:

Incense — and other fragrant items, such as oils and perfumes — work on a couple of different levels. The first is the effect on your mood — a certain scent will trigger a particular emotion. Aromatherapists have known for years that smells affect different parts of the senses. Secondly, an aroma may have various associations. You may be walking through a store, catch a whiff of Chantilly, and suddenly be reminded of your grandmother who passed away when you were away at college. The smell of a particular food may evoke memories of the summer you spent at camp.

Finally, we experience scents on a vibrational level. Every living being has energy, and emits its own vibration – plants are no different. When you blend them into incense, these vibrations change in accordance with your intent. This is why, in magic, incense is so popular — in addition to making your ritual space smell nice, you are able to change the vibration in the atmosphere, effecting change in the universe.

Why Make Your Own?:

You can buy commercially produced incense sticks and cones just about anywhere, and they’re not that expensive. However, they’re made with synthetic ingredients, and therefore have little to no magical value. While they’re nice to burn, and certainly smell lovely, they serve little purpose in a ritual setting.

Burning Your Incense:

Loose incense, which is what the recipes on these pages are for, is burned on a charcoal disc or tossed into a fire. The charcoal discs are sold in packages by most Wiccan supply shops, as well as church supply stores (if you have a Hispanic Marketa near you, that’s a good place to look too). Apply a match to the disc, and you’ll know it’s lit when it begins to spark and glow red. After it’s glowing, place a pinch of your loose incense on the top — and make sure you’ve got it on a fireproof surface. If you’re holding your ceremony outside with large fire, simply toss handfuls into the flames.

How to Read the Recipes:

Any good cook knows that the first step is to always gather your goodies together. Collect your ingredients, your mixing and measuring spoons, jars and lids, labels (don’t forget a pen to write with), and your mortar and pestle.

Each incense recipe is presented in “parts.” This means that whatever unit of measurement you’re using — a cup, a tablespoon, a handful — is one part. If a recipe calls for two parts, use two cups. One half part is a half cup, if you’re using a cup to measure, or half a tablespoon if you’re using a tablespoon.

When making your own incense, if you’re using resins or essential oils, combine these first. Use your mortar and pestle to mash these until they get a bit gummy, before you add any bark or berries. Dried herbs, flowers, or powdery items should go in last.

Elder’s Meditation of the Day – March 29

Elder’s Meditation of the Day – March 29

“Tell the people not to cry. Tell them to be happy.”

 

–John Fire Lame Deer, LAKOTA (told to his son, Archie, as he died)

Our Elders know about the two Worlds, the Physical World and the Spiritual World. Many times, before we pass to the Spirit World, our relatives, who have gone there before us, will come for us and they will help us. The Spirit World, the Elders say, is a good, happy and harmonious place. When we die, it means we have only entered another world. We will all see one another again.

Great Spirit, allow me to understand both the Spirit World and the Physical World. Today, let me be happy.

 

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March 29 – Daily Feast

March 29 – Daily Feast

Nothing ever remains quite the same – but a time comes when we have to follow new guidelines and think new thoughts and do new things. It does not take a superhuman, but it does take a believer – a worker with ears to hear and eyes to see – not just the physical but the spiritual. We cannot take for granted that any other human can have accurate perception and spell things out for us. The miracles are not all in other heads, other hands, other methods. There must be a burst of inner fire that sparks a miracle, that opens a door to a greater life, a greater calm. We are never so blind as when we close ourselves off by our critical views, our hardened hearts, our failure to perceive the greatness of gentle things. O friend, look away from lack and need and pain. Alter your vision and it will alter life.

~ O, great blue sky; see me roaming here. I trust in you, protect me! ~

PAWNEE

‘A Cherokee Feast of Days’, by Joyce Sequichie Hifler

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I Wish All My Dear Friends, A Terrific Thursday!

Days Of The Week Comments
Today’s Affirmation for Thursday, March 29th

My intuition is the sensitive radar of the Spirit. With its aid I can fly a true course through any storm.  

 

Today’s Thought for Thursday, March 29th 

Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.

 Confucius (951 – 479 BCE)  

 

Today’s Meditation for Thursday, March 29th 

Emotional Squalls

On your journey through life there will be times when troubled feelings threaten to blow you off course. At such times sit quietly in meditation and be aware of the storm. Watch the waves of negative thoughts and feelings as they wash over you. Accept their presence rather than trying to avoid them. By observing the turbulence, rather than identifying with it, you move into the eye of the storm – the stillness at its center. From this vantage point, watch the storm gradually die down, replaced by the clear blue skies of a relaxed mind. 

Magickal Graphics

TO BANISH ILLNESS

TO BANISH ILLNESS
Burn a black candle anointed with banishing and burn banishing incense.
Concentrate on removing whatever the health problem may be by saying:
As this candle burns, so the illness turns,
melted like this wax, cut like with an axe,
remove and banished, all disabilities vanished,
as my word you see, radiant health blessed be.
Let the candle burn until done, then bury ashes from incense and leftover wax.

Happy & Blessed Wednesday, my dear friends!

Wednesday Images, Pics, Comments, Graphics
Today’s Affirmation for March 28th

When I look into the future, I see a vista of challenge and resolution. I venture forth with strength, hope and faith.

 

Today’s Thought for March 28th

Although no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.

Anonymous

 

Today’s Meditation for March 28th

Looking Both Ways

Janus, the Roman God of thresholds, provides an appropriate focus for reflection when you are embarking upon a new phase in your life. He is often depicted with two faces – one of  child looking forward into the future and one of  bearded old man looking back into the past. Visualize yourself standing in a doorway, on the threshold of your new venture. Standing beside you is Janus. Looking behind you, survey your past and ask the old face of Janus to recount the most important lessons you have gathered from your previous experiences. Then look forward and ask the young face of Janus for some positive energy for the future. Encouraged by the hopefulness, set out on your journey.

Elder’s Meditation of the Day – March 27

Elder’s Meditation of the Day – March 27

“…you have to believe it first. Not wait until you see it first, then touch it, then believe it…You have to say it from the heart.”

–Wallace Black Elk, LAKOTA

We are designed to function from faith. First we pray. Then we use our imagination to create a vision or picture in our mind. We surround this mental picture with our emotions or feelings. These feelings are available when we ask or say it from the heart. The combination of the mental picture and asking from the heart to create the emotions will cause us to believe it. Then we just need to wait. We need to believe as though it is already done.

Great Spirit, remove from me any doubt that comes up today.

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Daily OM for March 27th – Where You Need to Be

Where You Need to Be
Timing Can Be Everything

 

Every person fulfills their purpose when the time is right. 

Since human timetables quite often do not correspond with universal timetables, it’s common for people to feel that life is progressing too slowly or too quickly. We draft carefully composed plans only to find that they fall into place when we least expect. Or, conversely, we are thrust into roles we believe we are not prepared for and wonder how we will survive the demands imposed upon us by unfamiliar circumstances. When delays in our progress kindle pangs of disappointment within us or the pace of life seems overwhelming, peace can be found in the simple fact that we are exactly where we need to be at this moment.

Every person fulfills their purpose when the time is right. If you have fast-tracked to success, you may become deeply frustrated if you discover you can no longer satisfy your desires as quickly as you might like. Yet the delays that disappoint you may be laying the foundation for future accomplishments that you have not yet conceived. Or the universe may have plans for you that differ from the worldly aspirations you have pursued up until this point. What you deem a postponement of progress may actually represent an auspicious opportunity to prepare for what is yet to come. If, however, you feel as though the universe is pushing you forward at too fast a clip, you may be unwittingly resisting your destiny. Your unease regarding the speed of your progress could be a sign that you need to cultivate awareness within yourself and learn to move with the flow of fate rather than against it. The universe puts nothing in your path that you are incapable of handling, so you can rest assured that you are ready to grow into your new situation.

You may feel compelled to judge your personal success using your age, your professional position, your level of education, or the accomplishments of your peers as a yardstick. Yet we all enjoy the major milestones in our lives at the appropriate time—some realize their dreams as youngsters while others flourish only in old age. If you take pride in your many accomplishments and make the most of every circumstance in which you find yourself, your time will come.