Schizandra was popular with the wealthy Chinese and royalty as a radiant skin tonic. It protects the skin from sun and wind exposure, and is used in many aphrodisiac tonics. It is also known to be mildly sedative.
1/2 cup schizandra berries
1/2 cup jujube red dates
1 piece licorice or ginger root
Soak schizandra berries immersed in water overnight; drain and combine with 4 cups of fresh water, jujube red dates, and licorice or ginger root. Simmer, covered, 15 – 20 minutes. Sip on cup daily.
This tonic will ease tension and anxiety and take the edge off a bad day. Use it as a sleep tonic:
3 cups distilled water
2 small tang kuei roots (or 1 large slice)
2 jujube red dates
4 (2-inch) slices white peony root
1 slice fresh ginger or 1 dried Chinese licorice root
In distilled water, simmer the above ingredients. A ginseng cooker or porcelain pot and lid make the best cooking utensils. Simmer for one hour without lifting the lid. Strain and drink 1/2 – 1 cup to relieve tension.
Family matters require your time and attention today. A younger person may look to you for support and guidance, or you may feel duty bound by someone close to you. It’s also a great day for finances, but hold off on any negotiations until tomorrow.
About the Number 6
Theme: Family and Social Responsibility, Service, Healing
Astro Association: Gemini
Tarot Association: LoversSunday, May 22nd, 2011
When a leader finally comes into power, his or her personal strength usually has peaked. Great strength is required in climbing to the mountaintop, but once at the summit, the support of others is needed to maintain that lofty position. A shift in attitude becomes necessary. Raw strength must be tempered by wisdom; to maintain power, a strong leader must learn to give it away, to share it with others. Only then will his or her position be secure, for she will not only be the possessor of power, but the source of it as well.
If you find yourself in a high or strong position, it is especially important to act responsibly and react with care. Your personal power must not be allowed to degenerate into raw force that rides roughshod over everything in its path. A strong sense of responsibility to the collective good of all is the key to the successful exercise of strength. By following what we intuitively know to be for the greater good, we avoid reckless abuses of power that in the end undermine the source of our strength. Arrogance always contains the seeds of its own undoing.
HEMATITE
FOLK NAME: Volcano Spit
ENERGY: Projective
PLANET: Saturn
ELEMENT: Fire
POWERS: Healing, Grounding, Divination
MAGICAL/RITUAL LORE: Hematite is a strange stone. It is heavy, solid, and silvery black. Its name alone is something of a mystery. To ancients, hematite was what we now know as bloodstone, so virtually all magical information relating to “hematite” in old books refers to bloodstone. This hematite, though, when worked on a lapidary wheel, “bleeds” and produces stains that look much like blood.
Hematite is a fine, showy stone. In Italy and elsewhere, it is fashined into necklaces which are sold as “volcano spit.” Magical information relating to this stone is scarce.
Hematite possesses the curious property of “healing” itself. Make a small scratch on the surface of the stone, then rub your finger over it. The scratch may disappear.
MAGICAL USES: Hematite is said to be powerful in drawing illness from the body. As with all stones, it is held in the hands while visualizing, then placed on the skin directly over the afflicted area. A necklace of smallstones can also be worn for healing.
Hematite is worn for grounding and stabilizing purposes, and to focus the attention on the physcial plane.
A scrying: In a darkened room, light a red candle. Settle before it and hold a large piece of hematite so that the candle’s flame is reflected on it. Gaze at the reflection and visualize a question. The answer will come to you.
Friday, May 20th, 2011
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.
This is a Being/Intending Affirmation in the third week of
the month. Make this a purposeful day!
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My mission is to embrace trust in my world.
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ABOUT TODAY’S AFFIRMATION
This is a worthy mission! As we embrace trust in ways that
feel personal, we make a powerful contribution to the world.
Think of what a different world it would be if each one of
us trusted each other! Wow! In an instant, our world
would be transformed. Our World is where we give our
attention. As I say in the TARGETS FOR LOVE AND PEACE
PROJECT: “World Peace is a Personal Choice.” We are all
one, yet we make individual choices.
ABOUT YOUR PROCESS
You have your own unique, individual, personalized, and
singular process. Running parallel to your unique process
is the universal process. If you look carefully, you are
likely to find that your process and the universal process
are astoundingly similar. This similarity does not diminish
your uniqueness, but supports and honors it. Humanity is
stepping through a VERY dark wall of despair, fear, doubt,
and toxicity. Throughout history, we humans have been
clever about stepping AROUND the wall (denying it), going
OVER it (overcoming it), blasting INTO it (forcing or
struggling with it), and lifting it UP (glorifying it). It
is time now to walk THROUGH it with your light. Oops!
Be careful not to drop the light, believing that the
darkness is omnipresent. You ARE walking with your light.
Embrace your mission.
Good Morning my sweets! I hope everyone is having a good day. I got up at 6:30 a.m., thanks to my husband. He wanted to know if I wanted to make the coffee or him (is that a hint or what?) He is still griping about me sleeping all day yesterday. He can’t understand what is wrong with me no matter how much I tell him or the doctor tells him. But anyway I got up and actually felt good for an hour or two. I cleaned the kitchen, even drug out the Swiffer, feed all the cats, feed the fish, clean the living room and then cleaned me up. I came in here to sit down and take my medicine and drink a cup of coffee. That’s when it hit me. I had one of those things the Doctor has been calling “shingles” just pop out pretty as you please. If you bend your hand, that is about the size of it. And this one is hurting like an SOB. I took my back medicine which includes a lot of pain killers. So I figure if the pain isn’t gone by my 2:00 dose, I am going to the hospital. I think the doctor doesn’t know what is the matter with me and she is going to kill me.
I didn’t know if I had been acting goofy with my postings or anything, if so I apologize and you know what is wrong. I am sick and I can’t seem to kick this. If you have an extra minute or two today, please remember me again in your prayers. I have said it a thousand times and I will say it again, when this group sets their mind to something………..GREAT THINGS HAPPEN! If I should disappear before my posting is done, it is because the pain has got so great, I have had to go to the hospital. I found a gem that eased the pain but I can’t figure out how to get it to the spot it needs to be. I am going to start the postings. Please remember me in your prayers today.
Goddess Bless,
L. A.
Saturday, May 14th, 2011
General Meaning: Affection is the basis of all lasting relationships, but must be channeled properly in order to bring satisfaction, and support the self-esteem of both parties. For example, a married person’s lover would necessarily have conflicted feelings: affection coupled with insecurity. Relationships based mainly on personal attraction, especially those that are outside the mainstream, require special caution and tactful reserve.
If you assert yourself too much, or try to make yourself indispensable, you will only incur misfortune. It is never easier to make disastrous mistakes than when you venture outside the bounds of propriety. If you are in doubt as to whether you should follow your heart or your head, allow for some time to pass, and perhaps the answer will become clear. Initiating any action could bring misfortune. Do not attempt to be too creative or attract favorable attention at this time
NOTE: Because of the large number of ancient calendars, many in simultaneous use, as well as different ways of computing holy days (marked by the annual inundation, the solar year, the lunar month, the rising of key stars, and other celestial and terrestial events), you may find these holy days celebrated a few days earlier or later at your local temple.
Thursday, May 12th, 2011
General Meaning: Limits are necessary to give purpose and direction to life. Swimming in a sea of boundless opportunity would eventually lead to exhaustion and drowning. Winging it alone in a sky of boundless opportunity would lead to being lost. In human affairs, the making of choices, and alliances, implies limitation, for in choosing one path another must be abandoned.
One key to a successful life is to select your limits consciously and carefully — to be discriminating in the setting of personal boundaries and knowing when to join in formation. Thrift, for example, often precedes prosperity; just as the letting go of selfish interests leads to greater personal reward. Only by consciously accepting useful limits can one’s energy be channeled to good purpose, and lead to lasting accomplishments.
Point yourself toward a middle way between discipline and freedom of spirit. Limits will come of their own accord; but to be able to consciously select your own affiliations in life — that’s knowing how to fly! At the same time, don’t go overboard with discipline. Even self-correction must be limited, so that in attempting to bring order and direction into your life you do not choke off vital sources of enthusiasm and spontaneity.
Similarly, in groups and partnerships, agreed upon rules or regulations should strike a balance between being too strict and too soft. If too strict, they build frustration and ultimately become destructive. If too lenient, sloppiness becomes acceptable, and positive energy is dissipated. The best path is one that allows for the fulfillment of individual potential, while supporting self-discipline and focus.
Your Rune For Today
Naudhiz
Naudhiz may foretell needs unmet and friction in relationships. You may be in a time where you should be very careful in whatever endeavor you take on. Also it may be that you are about to learn some of life’s hard lessons and come out the other side of this period a stronger being.
Wednesday, May 11th, 2011
General Meaning: Increase and decrease are part of the natural cycle of life. As spiritual author long ago put it, ‘To every thing there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.’ Like a reservoir that is being used to irrigate the fields, learning to accept a decrease in position or material possessions is part of preparing for increase in the future.
We may live in materialistic times, but there is no disgrace in material decrease, particularly if it represents an investment in future gain — even if that gain be in the form of one’s education or the development of personal character. Likewise, the inner strength that comes from bearing loss can be balanced by a corresponding increase in inner strength and insight — as in the expression ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.’ When letting go of attachment and personal demands leads to a greater simplicity in daily life, good fortune often comes calling.
In nature, the lake evaporates to form the clouds that drop the rain that nurtures the surrounding forest. As the forest grows thick, more rain is captured for the lake. Similarly, an ‘evaporation’ or decrease in one area of your life, may give rise to an eventual increase in another. A loss of responsibility at work can mean more free time; more free time may generate more career options. A period of decrease is not necessarily a bad thing; in fact, it can free the spirit and fill the soul.
Be mindful of the lesson of young lovers: even with a minimum of possessions, feelings of the heart can bring an unsurpassed richness to life. The smallest of actions, if sincere, have value. So remain confident, for a time of decrease may actually bode good fortune, especially if you remain open to that possibility.
Let go of frustration, resistance and regret over whatever may be going down at this time. Accept the cycle, and remember what goes down must come up
Today you may be feeling a sense of doubt about past decisions; don’t. You may feel a great deal of emotional stress today, so combat negative feelings by being active and creative in your everyday life. Find solace in distraction.
About the Number 9
Theme: Encompassing a love for all, Compassion, Patience, Selfless
Astro Association: VirgoTarot Association: HermitThis one is a good one to have on hand for after an argument or for anytime things get too serious, heavy or overwhelming. It’s also a great support in times of grief or trauma. It creates perspective, loose stuck energy, lifts the spirits and enhances harmony and joy.
Ingredients:
Lepidolite essence or an actual lepidolite
Apophyllite essence or an actual apophyllite
Bach Rescue Remedy
Essential oil of Lavender
Essential oil of peppermint
Essential oil of spearmint
Rose water in a mister
Put 3 drops of lepidolite essence or the lepidolite, 3 drops of apophyllite essence or the apophyllite, and 4 drops of Rescue Remedy in the mister. Put 4 drops of lavender, 3 drops of peppermint, and 4 drops of spearmint in the mister. Shake. Hold the bottle in both hands and visualize very bright, sparkly, robin’s egg blue light filling and surrounding the bottle.
character, but stay with both feet on the ground at the same time. It allows you to be analytical without losing sight of reality, which makes it an excellent stone to examine your problems. Andalusite strengthens the memory and awakens inner knowledge. On the physical level Andalusite is used to treat illnesses of the pulmonary tract and chromosome disturbancesLet’s Walk Together
Let’s walk on the path together
Hand in hand, some memories to gather
Let’s walk through the rest together
Some hilly curves to climb, some downhill to go
Sometimes roads will have arid leaves, at times covered with snow
But the basket of love will embrace it all, no matter
Let’s walk through the rest together
Some clouds of doubt may hover; a rain of obstacle may fall in
The draught of relief may come, when tough period calls in
But the rock of our trust will flout all these weathers
Let’s walk through the rest together
Our love is so strong; it can stand any pain
It’s caress so soothing; want to have it all over again
It’s passion, it’s charisma, it’s craving,… feels like ether
Let’s walk through the rest together
Let’s walk through the rest together
— Copyright © 2008 Nisha Grace
Here is a handy-dandy moisturizer that you can make at home:
1 tablespoons herbal infusion (rose, lavender, marigold mint)
1 teaspoon honey
1 tablespoon vegetable glycerine or 2 tablespoons cocoa butter
A few drops essential oil (any kind), optional
To an herbal infusion, add honey and vegetable glycerin or cocoa butter. You can add a few drops of essential oil of your choice. Choose a herb that appeals to your senses and that you find pleasing.
Witches Of The Craft® 
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