You can make a smudge stick by combining any tall, firm, full-leafed herbs. Some burn better than others. The following list of herbs are traditionally made into Native North American smudge sticks and others used for both commercial and personally prepared smudge sticks. Smudge sticks are made with fresh herbs and the whole bundle is dried together after formation.
Smudge herbs do tend to be single or dual herbs rather than a mix as in incense and are, on the whole, characterized less by sweetness than earthiness.
If you need to use charcoal, drop just one or two drops of lavender or rose essential oil onto the hot charcoal to add fragrance before you begin to burn the herbs. This is effective, especially if you are smudging indoors.
For homemade smudge, try to choose herbs that grow in your region. Look on the internet for dried varieties to burn in a bowl or ready-prepared less common smudge sticks. Also try to choose organically produced herbs.
General Meaning: The general situation is one of easy, natural progress. That which had been weak is now steadily rising up, and by gaining a prominent position, becomes a stronger force. The image is the light of the rising sun, which at first appears dimly through the mists. But this relatively weak light later radiates with powerful clarity once the sun has reached a high position in the sky.
Progress is made when those in subordinate positions create harmony with those above, and in so doing create a natural means for their collective talents and abilities to blossom. It is by recognizing and riding with the natural course of events — by hitching our wagon to the rising sun, as it were — that we advance our position and earn respect.
Goodness in human nature is like the dim but beautiful early morning light. It can easily be obscured — by greed, hatred and other forms of self-absorption — just as the morning light can be swallowed by fog. Be reminded that progress is achieved most effortlessly when right action is taken without concern for immediate reward, and when the path of the weaker elements aligns with the strong.
After cleansing the energy in your home, it’s always nice to invite sweet and helpful spirits into your space. This is a ritual that will help you do just that. Because it has to do with inviting spirits from the other side (spirit guides, helpful deceased loved one, etc.,), this ritual is best done at night. To begin, obtain a sweetgrass braid (a form of smudge stick or dried herb bundle, burned like ince) or a stick of sweetgrass or copal incense. Light a white or off-white candle, and bring your hands together near your heart in prayer pose. Close yoou eyes and take some deep breaths while consciously relaxing and tuning in to the subtle energetic realm and what is known as the otherworld. When you feel ready, light the braid or incense and say:
“Sweet spirits of the other, I call you.
Divine beings of light, I invite you. You are
welcome here. Reside, abide, dwell, and bless us
(me) with your presence in our (my) home.”
Carry the smoking wand from room to room, being very aware of fire safety while continuing to summon sweet spirits, either mentally or aloud. when you’re finished, give thanks to the beings you’ve summoned for answering your call, and extinguish the bundle or incense and candle. You’ll find that after you do this, your home is filled with remarkable feelings of sweetness, light, comfort and joy.
Today is a day of karma in action; this could mean either rewards or loss. While you may be feeling generous, it’s not a good day for gambling. Your feelings of loyalty for friends will be strong; you may even spend some time reminiscing today. Your health will improve vastly with exercise, so get moving!
Fast Facts
About the Number 8
Theme: Power, Responsibility, Good Judgment, Financial Rewards
“No one likes to be criticized, but criticism can be something like the desert wind that, in whipping the tender stalks, forces them to strike their roots down deeper for security.”
–Polingaysi Qoyawayma, HOPI
You move toward and become that which you think about. Creating a vision is what guides our lives. If we get off track with our vision, then we experience conflict. Conflict is nature’s way of telling us we are not in harmony. Criticism can be a way for one human being to help another. Often our Elders will give us criticism. This feedback is intended to be helpful. Criticism from our Elders helps us grow strong.
Great Spirit, today, if I need it, please provide me positive criticism.
There is a certain knack to writing affirmations. Keep your focus on the positive. Negative statements negate the purpose of affirmations. Keep your statements in the present. Futurist statements distract us from being present in the moment.
A statement such as I WILL BE RICH ONE DAY has the word-power to keep a person in poverty because the focus is that richness will come later. Later never comes, as we are always living in NOW. An example of a positive prosperity affirmation would read like this: I AM RICH or TODAY I AM PROSPEROUS.
General Meaning: A fisherman can cast the line, but he can only wait for the fish to bite. Your catch will come in its own time; you cannot make it hurry to you — neither by working, nor by planning, nor by wishing. You may need to provide nourishment or support for others; but only through patience can you become the bridge between the fickle fish and the eventual feast. Strength in a time of trial waits quietly, resolutely. Weakness grows agitated, and abandons the effort before the fish bites. Periods of waiting are most fruitful when used for quiet contemplation.
Proceed cautiously, but resolutely, with whatever you are doing. The time and situation are calling for consistency and patience. Waiting is an essential skill; patience is a powerful force. Good timing is an ally of those with inner strength — the kind of strength that allows you to be uncompromisingly honest with yourself, while sticking to the path you have charted. If you persevere with a positive attitude, time weakens even the hardest obstacles. To rush anything, or impatiently force results, stimulates resistance and causes setbacks. At best, you achieve surface changes — the kind that can just as quickly be reversed. Steadfast waiting — while holding to your integrity leads to slow but permanent improvements. In the end, you accomplish something great. Practice patience.
Affirmations1 are words or phrases which are said over and over to AFFIRM a single thought about yourself or other people. This is the way you have formed negative and positive programming through out your lifetime, saying things to yourself, about yourself, over and over. After thoughts are repeated, they soon become a BELIEF, and then we think this belief is our reality. In this way we form fears of poverty, health, weight and relationships and the emotions connected with these beliefs can even become our comfort zone, no matter how negative they might be.
Since we created these beliefs we can also change them. This is where real freedom comes from. Focused affirmations are a great way to start your new tomorrows. When you feel tension, stress, or any type of anxiety, an affirmation which makes you feel good is where you need to go. My favorite is: I AM POWERFUL. It makes me feel so good! However, for the affirmations to work you must not only say something which makes you feel better you have to FEEL the words. So, say whatever makes you feel good, then see yourself in a happy scenario doing or being your desire. See it, feel it, even taste it! The more emotion you have the faster you will draw it to you. Here are some affirmations you might use, but the best ones are ones you make up yourself:
I AM POWERFUL
MONEY (LOVE, GOOD HEALTH, PERFECT WEIGHT, ETC.) COMES TO ME EASILY AND EFFORTLESSLY
I AM ALWAYS BALANCED AND CENTERED
I AM IN PERFECT HEALTH
I GIVE AND RECEIVE LOVE ALL THE TIME
I AM JOYFUL
I LOOK AND FEEL WONDERFUL If it takes saying them over and over a thousand things a day, then do it. If you say an affirmation when you are feeling really down, and you don’t think it’s doing anything for you, just keep on. Every time you say something positive you will bit by bit feel better. A little bit of feeling better is better than lots of feeling depressed.
Go for it, and live in Love, Peace and Joy
About this Contributor:Gail Bell is a powerful healer who is a graduate of the Silva Mind Control Method and Transcendental Meditation. From her many studies, she quickly realized most methods for inner peace were too complex, and she soon began to discover easy to use methods for everyday life. Throughout her journey, she has guided and enhanced the lives of many individuals as a personal counselor.
You’ve got a fighter’s spirit today, and issues regarding management, organization and business take up most of your brainpower. You’re truly a force to be reckoned with, so use this time of positive energy to further your agenda. Loved ones may complain about a lack of attention while you’re focused on work issues, so be sure to acknowledge those you love with a little extra TLC.
Fast Facts
About the Number 8
Theme: Power, Responsibility, Good Judgment, Financial Rewards
Zephyrus lives at his very own bed and breakfast inn in the mountains of North Carolina, Iris Meadows Bed and Breakfast in Waynesville, which he adopted four and a half years ago. He is in charge of the gardens, mostly, where he plays and dozes and poses for guest photos. He often romps with his sister dog in the meadows. He spends his relaxing moments in the private innkeepers’ quarters as he is not allowed in guest areas because guests may have allergies or prefer not to have pets. That is also where he sleeps. Zephyrus was a very thin and hungry cat when he arrived. We first saw him nibbling on the leftover muffins and waffles that we toss into a far meadow for the birds. Gradually, he decided to stay.He also answers to “Zephy” and to “Mr. Z.” Yes, he has become quite a fixture here. He is very friendly with everyone now and playfully entertains everyone with his antics. He and our dog are great friends. He loves to ride so we advise guests to check for him in their car before departing. He keeps me company when I work in the gardens… he acts as if it is his job to scare off all the spiders and crawly critters for me. There is a particular guest he really likes, and he once brought her a live mouse… he kept placing his paw on its tail and releasing it in front of her so she would notice her “gift.”
This picture of him “Watching for Butterflies” won first place in our local animal rescue organization’s annual photo contest several years ago. His heart shaped tag reads “I have humans at the Inn at Iris Meadows”
The best way to get to know the energy pattern of an Element is to work with it and use meditation to “become” that Element. For this exercise you will need a bowl of dirt or sand and a seed of some kind. Trace one of the earth sigils on the floor with your finger and sit inside. Take three deep breaths. Put your hand in the dirt. Begin by rolling the sand or dirt around with your fingers. Let your mind drift on subjects that pertain to the earth–the planet, earth goddesses, the ideas of stability and abundance. When you are through, ask for wisdom from the earth, brush off your hands, give a gentle thank you to the element, the ground and center. Hold the seed in your hand and think of a wish that you would like to grow. Think of planting that wish in the ground and visualize the result, then physically plant the seed somewhere on your property. If you like, you can bag up the dirt or sand in the bowl and use it in a spell or ritual later on. Note: If you have used the invoking earth pentagram then you will need to finish by tracing the banishing earth pentagram.
Amplifies the healing energy of the one using it. Used to help draw out pain. Able to tap into the energies of the universe. A good stone for meditating on. Works primarily with the Third Eye center, also relates well with the heart center. To be able to tune into the quartz promotes clarity while concentrating on it. Also affects the crown chakra. Very potent and often worn
to protect from negative vibrations. Cleanse regularly. Rudilated-rutile needles help focus attention. Smoky-good for calming the mind. Rose-vibrations of universal love & inner serenity.
Eventually you will reach a point when you stop lying about your age and start bragging about it.
The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.
Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me, I want people to know “why” I look this way. I’ve traveled a long way and some of the roads weren’t paved.
When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to youth, think of Algebra.
You know you are getting old when everything either dries up or leaks.
I don’t know how I got over the hill without getting to the top.
One of the many things no one tells you about aging is that it is such a nice change from being young.
One must wait until evening to see how splendid the day has been.
Yah, being young is beautiful, but being old is comfortable.
Old age is when former classmates are so gray and wrinkled, and bald they don’t recognize you.
If you don’t learn to laugh at trouble, you won’t have anything to laugh at when you are old.
First you forget names, then you forget faces. Then you forget to pull up your zipper, then … oh my goodness you forgot to pull your zipper down!
Before a visit to the hospital for an operation, make yourself a healing
package. Gather together a peridot or green crystal, a small vial of geranium
scented body oil and a small makeup mirror. Wrap everything in tissue and put it all into a pretty gift box. Write these words on a blue piece of paper:
“Here within this magick box
I’ll find enchanted fare –
a crystal to shine and light my day,
a secret oil to smooth my cares
and a looking glass in which I’ll see
my loved ones smiling there.”
Causes the wearer to be more flexible, more understanding and more objective in purpose and reason. Calming. Each person has a different response to this stone. Causes a reaction in the intestinal tract. Black and Crystal-removes negativity and cleanses. Some say it should not be worn as jewelry. Electric and magnetic properties.
Valeriana officinalis MEDICINAL:Valerian is a relaxer, and is very effective for insomnia. It is often used as a tranquilizer, but it leaves no sluggish effects on the user. It is used for nervous tension, pain relieving, strengthening the heart, lowering blood pressure, IBS, diverticulosis, menstrual cramps, and for muscle spasms. It should not be taken over a long period of time, as it can cause mental depression in some people after long-term steady use. It is not habit forming.
RELIGIOUS:Valerian is used to get fighting couples back together, in spells of love, and in purification baths.
GROWING: Valerian is a perennial plant that grows to 3 feet tall. It prefers full sun, and average to rich well-drained soil. Root cuttings are best for propogation, and once the plants are established, they self-sow and spread by root runners. Valerian has a similar effect on cats as catnip, so you may need to protect your patch with chicken wire. Harvest roots for medicinal use in the fall of their second year.
It is good to keep the promises we make to ourselves to enjoy a peaceful hour. How long has it been? How long has it been since we walked on a grassy hillside and watched the shadows hover and move? Walking is good for the legs – but it does wonders for the soul. The autumn season is one of the best times to walk and think. There is a rhythm in the earth that rises into our feet when we walk. In it is the healing and it centers the soul so that the cares of the world cannot get in to destroy peace. And peace has so many side effects. It restores youth and gives perspective to a world-weary mind.
~ The Great Spirit made these mountains and rivers for us, and all this land. ~
BLACKFOOT – CROW, 1850’s
‘A Cherokee Feast of Days, Volume II’ by Joyce Sequichie Hifler
Theme: Power, Responsibility, Good Judgment, Financial Rewards
Astro Association: Leo
Tarot Association: Strength
Witches Of The Craft® 
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