Tag: Wine tasting descriptors

Daily Horoscopes for April 25

 

General Daily Horoscope

 

The Moon’s visit to intellectual Aquarius fuels the fires of the five-planet cluster in independent Aries. The global thinking of Aquarius combines nicely with the personal drive of Aries. The Moon’s harmonious trine to stabilizing Saturn grounds our ideas in practical action. Meanwhile, we receive support from the Sun, which has already escaped the Aries pack and is now in determined Taurus to make sure we follow through on what we have begun.

 

Aries Horoscope
Aries Horoscope (Mar 21 – Apr 19)

Although it’s back to work for many today, it might still seem like a play day to you. Even if you have obligations to fulfill, you can probably figure out how to involve your friends. You may be like Tom Sawyer, making your chores look like so much fun that others will want to join in and help. Everyone may end up having a good time, regardless of what you are doing. Ultimately, it’s the feeling of camaraderie that makes this day a memorable one.

 

 

Taurus Horoscope
Taurus Horoscope (Apr 20 – May 20)

You want to demonstrate your intelligence today so others will see you as a leader. Staying a step ahead of everyone else enables you to command enough authority to be in charge. However, you might not want all the responsibility that comes with this territory, just because you are seen as the top dog. It’s challenging because you’re not sure about the choices you have to make. Worrying won’t make anything better, so just decide the best you can and move on.

 

 

Gemini Horoscope
Gemini Horoscope (May 21 – Jun 20)

Thinking about the future is easy today, but it becomes more complicated if you have to include others in your decisions. At first, you may enjoy the idea of strategizing how to get your friends involved, but executing your plan may be more challenging than it appears. You might grow irritated because your associates are not acting like team players. If the frustration gets to be too much, don’t be afraid to just proceed on your own.

 

 

Cancer Horoscope
Cancer Horoscope (June 21 – Jul 22)

You have been managing a balancing act between your personal needs and your public responsibilities for a while, and now a conflict with a close friend or partner complicates things even more. You don’t care about the superficial aspects of what’s happening; you need to share on a deeper level. However, it’s not easy to open up if you are afraid of being hurt. Revealing your emotions without being overly attached to the outcome can alleviate the pressure, enabling you to overcome your fear.

 

Leo Horoscope
Leo Horoscope (Jul 23 – Aug 22)

You are quite hopeful about a new relationship today, but you still may experience wide mood swings with the Moon activating your 7th House of Partners. Try not to be so attached to your fear of abandonment; don’t over-personalize a situation if someone inadvertently excludes you. You are best off trusting your friends and giving them the same freedom that you want given to you.

 

 

Virgo Horoscope
Virgo Horoscope (Aug 23 – Sep 22)

Although you may still be feeling anxious today, setting priorities and concentrating on the most practical chores should ease the tension. Unfortunately, focusing isn’t a simple task because you can see too many possibilities ahead, which might make you more resistant to the upcoming changes. Bring your thoughts back to the here and now, for the present moment is the only place where you can create an impact. Don’t worry about the inevitable; your future will arrive exactly on schedule.

 

 

Libra Horoscope
Libra Horoscope (Sep 23 – Oct 22)

You can be the life of the party today or the one who’s busy telling jokes at the office water cooler. But your spontaneity adds to your charm, belying your underlying seriousness. Ironically, several planets in your 7th House of Relationships could shift the focus off of you now and bring someone into your life that helps you see yourself more clearly. Your interactions with others give you a mirror with which you can see into your own soul.

 

 

Scorpio Horoscope
Scorpio Horoscope (Oct 23 – Nov 21)

You might mistrust your feelings today as the emotionally detached Aquarius Moon visits your 4th House of Security. It makes you uncomfortable when your rational thoughts are telling your heart what to do, and you’re particularly vulnerable if you lose touch with your feelings. Finding balance is tricky now because ignoring your passions will land you in trouble. Nevertheless, think first before doing something you may regret.

 

 

Sagittarius Horoscope
Sagittarius Horoscope (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

Your friends and associates might find it difficult to accept that you feel so good now. They may believe that something is lurking in the twilight behind your bright smile. Luckily, they are wrong. Although deep issues can rise to the surface over the next few days, you are quite capable of handling them. Don’t worry about what others think; just be true to yourself.

 

 

Capricorn Horoscope
Capricorn Horoscope (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

You have entered a period of financial uncertainty and nothing you do seems to make sense of your fiscal picture. Even a decision about a straightforward purchase could set you on a trajectory that culminates in the sobering realization that you do not have an endless money supply. Although you might understand the steps to manifesting abundance, it may take you longer than you wish to have enough cash to buy what you want.

 

 

Aquarius Horoscope
Aquarius Horoscope (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

It’s difficult to see the effect you have on others today; however, it’s still useful to contemplate the results of your actions before you undertake something that wastes your time and energy. No matter how good your intentions are now, you can still come on too strong. It’s not helpful to annoy someone who normally supports you. However, you could raise suspicions if you are overly cautious. Your smartest strategy is to acknowledge your own power, but wield it only if necessary.

 

 

Pisces Horoscope
Pisces Horoscope (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

You are easily enamored with your own fantasies today as the Moon moves through your 12th House of Imagination. You might even forget when to return to reality. Although drifting off into your dreams is often a rejuvenating activity, you won’t be able to turn your back on your responsibilities now. Planning a temporary escape can work as long as you cover your bases in the real world.

Homemade Dandelion Syrup

Homemade Dandelion Syrup

posted by Melissa Breyer
 

I am wild about dandelions. Their greens deliver a fleeting sweetness at the first nod of spring (before succumbing to a load of bitterness) and inspired me to write about harvesting and eating them a few weeks ago, followed by a recipe for Cream of Dandelion Soup. So next up, I thought, I just have to make dandelion wine. I’ve tackled homemade paper and found making butter to be effortless, how hard can dandelion wine be?

Well. After reading about secondary fermentation vessels and yeast varieties and fermentation traps, I thought, uhmm, actually, I think it was dandelion syrup that I wanted to make.

Dandelion syrup can be used in many ways, on top of pancakes or plain yogurt, anywhere you use a sweetener, really, you name it. I started imagining dandelion cocktails come summer; homemade dandelion ice cream sweetened with dandelion syrup and speckled with dandelion petals; dandelion this and dandelion that. Dandelion everything.

In this country, dandelions abound–yet go unloved by most. I will spare you my conspiracy theories about the defamation of the dandelion; this rant includes evil-genius chemical companies, the accidental discovery of phenoxy type herbicides in the 1940s and the need to find a public enemy (that would be the dandelion) to ensure a long and profitable demand for the new herbicidal product.

Anyhow, the Roundup parade isn’t marching around my neck of the woods in Brooklyn. Here, the dandelions earnestly shimmy up through sidewalk cracks and inhabit even the most desolate patches of soil, which is really so heartening. This would all seem a great harbinger for my dandelion syrup endeavor. However, urban foraging has its own set of considerations, which include dogs and their lifted legs, roadside exhaust and the possibility of rodent poison. Which all kind of suck the charm right out of it. As chance would have it though, there is a large lawn at a nearby high school that is wonderfully unruly and thankfully untreated with chemicals. It is being organically planted with vegetable beds by the students, and the grass was rampant with dandelions. I asked, they said, “uhmm yeah, sure lady, take ‘em.” And take I did, 100 of them.

Once at home, my daughters and I, hands sticky with bright golden pollen, plucked off the petals and had a bowl of the loveliest plant matter: Soft, downy almost, and redolent with the scent of asparagus and carnations. What an oddly endearing base for a syrup.

So, dandelion syrup. I have long been intrigued by it—it’s at once kind of down-home American as well as cool French granny. It is a basic herbal infusion made into a simple syrup. I felt like I didn’t want to boil the bejeezus out of the blossoms, so I just brought them to a simmer and let them soak overnight. The puzzle for me was what sweetener to use. Traditionally white sugar is used, but white sugar lands last on my list of happy sweeteners. So, I played around with some other alternatives as well, all with quite different results.

• White sugar made a syrup with a faint taste of vanilla and very slightly nutty, it was really just mostly sweet and somewhat plain.

• Sucanat, one of my favorite sweeteners, was, as I expected, too heavy in flavor to let the subtle dandelion taste shine through. That said, it was very interesting; like an herbaceous molasses.

• Honey has that smooth edge that became more pronounced after simmering. I used a mild clover honey and the result was like a somewhat spicy and grassy honey.

• Agave syrup worked beautifully because it is such a clean-tasting sweetener—the syrup made with agave was sweet and clean, with bright green undertones.

So pick your dandelions, pick your sweetener and make some syrup. Many recipes call for lemon, which gives it a little kick of citrus. Suit yourself.

Ingredients

100 dandelion flowers, or 1 and 1/2 cups petals
1 cup sweetener (see above)
3 cups water
Juice of 1/2 lemon (optional)

1. Remove the petals from the sepal (the sepal consists of the small tight leaves that extend from the stem and grasp the flower). This takes a while to get the hang of, but gets much quicker as you go along. Be sure to not allow any green into the petals, it will add bitterness to the syrup.

2. Place the petals in a medium pot and cover with 3 cups water and bring to a simmer. Turn off the heat, cover and let sit overnight.

3. Strain dandelion water into a bowl, pressing on the flowers with the back of a spoon to extract all the liquid.

4. Return water to pot and add sweetener, and lemon juice if using, and simmer over low heat until thickened.

5. Allow to cool, and pour into a clean jar or bottle. Store covered in refrigerator.

Makes about 2 cups

Life is Love: The Power of Happiness

Life is Love: The Power of Happiness

Author: Winterfox

I  am faced, every day, with an interesting prospect. Whether or not it’s right or wrong to even have the thought, I awake every morning to the idea that I am not going to die today. And every day, there is a little more certainty to my voice when I say it out loud.

It isn’t a medical condition that forces me to think positively, it’s just the ghosts of things passed. Ages ago, I would have called it “depression.” Now, though, I call it “achievement.” I am still facing my demons, I am still terrified of certain situations, and I am still battling to reach some level of normal human behavior. But through it all I’m still fighting, and I’m still winning. And, right at the heart of it all, there’s a little star with a circle around it.

Years ago when I was still a different person, a lot of things happened that forced me into a near catatonic state. I was completely mute, and so shy that looking at a person’s eyes made me shake. And it was around this time that I was introduced to Paganism. How wonderful it was to retreat into meditation, or watch incense smoke for hours; I wasn’t really ‘into’ it, but the practice of it made me peaceful. I started to enjoy the company of other people, holding circles in small groups and learning to trust what we called our “mini coven.” I was coming out of my shell, slowly.

It wasn’t until later that the full force of what Paganism meant to me practically hit me in the face. I was sitting on a public bus, coming home from school, when some impish need to giggle came over me. And I started to laugh, first into my hand, then into my fist, and then I didn’t bother to smuggle it anymore.

I was laughing, hard, tears streaming down my face. Because here I was, sitting on a bus, and for no particular reason I had just realized that I was absolutely, undeniably, contentedly happy. I had no more reason to worry. Everything I was afraid of was over; I was meeting people, I was doing well, I was still alive. I had conquered something.

So here I was, I thought, sitting on a bus, and I could feel my life force crackling merrily like fire in a chimney. All the energy, all that essence we’d been trying to put into our magick, it existed. And here it was, bubbling out of me, overflowing me, and filling me with something wonderful.

By the next year, I had formally decided to become Wiccan. Although I couldn’t really practice anything with my parents around, I decided I could at least honor the principals. I started to absorb the wisdom of the Lord and Lady, as well as be mindful to everyone and everything around me.

Now, I’m on my own for the first time, living in a tiny dorm room in the middle of an unfamiliar big city. I am, for the most part, your typical university student. I get good grades, do my laundry, and have the occasional childish snowball fight with a group of friends that I cherish more dearly than they can imagine.

My room reflects that, for the most part; there’s doodles taped to my wall, big name tags stuck to my door, fluttering pages of homework littering my desk, and walls of textbooks along every shelf. Yet, in the corner and clearly visible to anyone who comes in, there is a white cloth that proudly supports a silver and gold candle, a bowl of water, a dish of salt, and a small cauldron. Next to the textbooks on the shelves is a binder I use as my Book of Shadows.

My room is my sanctuary, filled with little bits of me; here there is an altar, sitting right next to a Starbucks mocha frappuccino. While other students go to church, I practice my faith right in this room, every night.

These students sometimes ask me why. Why am I a Wiccan? They aren’t offensive in any way, they just want to know. My answer is always the same: because I owe it to myself. I spent so many years as a frightened person, terrified of my own voice.

My involvement with Wicca helped me get my voice back; in the end, the biggest thing I learned from practicing Wicca was that the only thing that could save me from myself was myself. It gave me power; not magickal power, but pure life force, something raw and untamable that felt like a physical fire in me. My soul was set aflame, and as a phoenix is reborn from the ashes, so I came to be an entirely new person.

I am a joker now. I wear my inner child on my sleeve. I am cynical and sarcastic, but also full of joy. And that is the key: Wicca taught me boundless joy, that even the darker side of life must be celebrated, because without shadows then light has no context. I’ve finally realized that life is beautiful. I don’t need to hold elaborate rituals to see that.

Spring to summer, autumn to winter. The changing of seasons is a huge concept; so much mythology and meaning behind it. And all of it is contained in the life and death of a single leaf.

The Lord and Lady. The basic grounds on which Wicca is based. Their entire dance re-enacted every night by the simple rise and set of the sun and moon.

Untamable love, burning passions and innocence lost. It happens every day between two squirrels in the tree outside my window.

Everything is simple. The biggest of ideas can be reflected in the smallest drop of water. And that’s what amazes me, that’s why I’m so in love with Wicca. It can go both ways; perhaps the smallest drop of water teaches some amazing concept, or perhaps the droplet itself is too complex for me to ever understand.

In any case, here I am. This is me. And for the first time, I’m in love with this Earth. So when I have my daily ritual of waking up, splashing myself with water and reminding myself that I’m whole and wonderful and full of life, I’m determined. I want other people to see me, want them to know what it feels like for someone so sad to become someone so happy. It’s been a long journey from point A to point B. I’m still travelling. But if I put a hand to my chest and close my eyes, I can hear how far I’ve come, because I feel the proof that I am still fully alive.

My entire journey thus far repeats itself in song with every beat of my heart.

Daily Horoscopes for 4/17

 

General Daily Horoscope

 

A free-floating tension permeates relationships today as the Full Moon in diplomatic Libra at 10:43 pm EDT reflects the self-centered Aries Sun. We are challenged to balance our personal desires with the needs of those we love. However, we may try to avoid reason with so many planets moving through impulsive Aries. Nevertheless, stern Saturn in Libra weighs down our thoughts and requires us to take others seriously if we want to be happy.

 

Aries Horoscope
Aries Horoscope (Mar 21 – Apr 19)

The logical Libra Full Moon acts like a mirror today, allowing you to perceive yourself more clearly. But it’s hard to describe what you see, for Mercury the Communicator is still retrograde in your sign, muddling the meaning of what you say. Thankfully, your persistence should pay off. Don’t fret if your message isn’t getting through now. Instead, take a deep breath, gather your thoughts, and then try again.

 

 

Taurus Horoscope
Taurus Horoscope (Apr 20 – May 20)

You want all the details of the day to fall in place and flow smoothly, yet something seems a bit off. Even if you understand that it may be wise to keep your discomfort to yourself, you also worry that the opportunity for improvement could fade if you don’t speak up right now. Nevertheless, it’s smarter to smile and save your words for another day when others will be more receptive to your feedback.

 

Gemini Horoscope
Gemini Horoscope (May 21 – Jun 20)

You don’t want to stir up any trouble today, especially if your shenanigans could lessen your opportunities for pleasure. The Full Moon in your 5th House of Play enables you to get away with mischief because your friends will enjoy being around you even more than usual now. But don’t overplay your hand or they will see through your charm and might be annoyed that you are avoiding the real issues. Rather than simply seeking a good time, balance your lighthearted spirit with a more serious approach to life.

 

 

Cancer Horoscope
Cancer Horoscope (June 21 – Jul 22)

Today’s strategic Libra Full Moon in your 4th House of Home and Family triggers familiar issues about lingering insecurities. You might choose to distract your attention from a vulnerable spot by starting a new project around the house. You could even be so effective with this tactic that you alleviate the tension for a while. But you cannot escape completely and the sooner you face your emotions, the sooner everyone will begin to feel better.

 

Leo Horoscope
Leo Horoscope (Jul 23 – Aug 22)

You are motivated by your need to know what’s going on with a friend today. Simultaneously, you may become so preoccupied with an impractical idea that it can turn into an obsession. However, your desire for a bit of adventure may leave you little time to get involved with someone else’s drama. Try to relate what you are now learning about yourself to the goals you are attempting to reach.

 

Virgo Horoscope
Virgo Horoscope (Aug 23 – Sep 22)

Money issues are emphasized now as today’s Libra Full Moon highlights your 2nd House of Finances. You may try to balance your current desires with your available funds and discover you’re not in any position to buy something you don’t really need. You could also realize that your old values are out of sync with what you want to do now. There’s no hurry, so step slowly into your future. If you move at your own pace, you can regain fiscal integrity sooner than you think.

 

 

Libra Horoscope
Libra Horoscope (Sep 23 – Oct 22)

Getting along nicely with others is more difficult than usual today because the pleasure-seeking Libra Full Moon activates several combative Aries planets. It might be more enjoyable if there was someone special with whom you could share your experience. However, you may not have the patience to cultivate open communication. Don’t lose hope; you could be in for a sweet surprise when you least expect it.

 

 

Scorpio Horoscope
Scorpio Horoscope (Oct 23 – Nov 21)

Today’s gentle Libra Full Moon adds an emotional charge to your 12th House of Imagination, yet can also prevent you from reaching satisfaction. You might be very certain about the intimacy you are currently seeking, but the opportunity seems to dissipate upon closer analysis. Don’t force any decisions prematurely. If you take the time to talk about what you want, the right person may be eager to follow your lead.

 

Sagittarius Horoscope
Sagittarius Horoscope (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

You might place such inflated expectations on your friends today that you just assume they will come through for you. Although they might actually meet your high standards, the Full Moon in your 11th House of Groups is opposite the Sun in your 5th House of Creativity, enabling you to have more fun now when you actively pursue your own self-interests. Concentrate on expressing yourself instead of worrying about others.

 

 

Capricorn Horoscope
Capricorn Horoscope (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

You know what you must do today in order to come through for those who depend on you. You can focus your mind on whatever must happen to make your dreams come true. Tread lightly; if you get overly cocky, your current little scheme could backfire and leave you with a messy situation. Your best contribution now is your honest commitment to be as present as possible when interacting with others.

 

Aquarius Horoscope
Aquarius Horoscope (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

You may enjoy imagining how you will live in the future, but your daydreaming might be distracting to others. However, today’s balancing Libra Full Moon in your 9th House of Adventure reminds you to keep a foot in the future while stabilizing the other one in the here and now. Widening your perspective enables you to maintain your unflagging vision for a better tomorrow while avoiding unrealistic idealism in the process.

 

Pisces Horoscope
Pisces Horoscope (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

Your current dilemma is striking a workable balance between simplicity and complexity. You may desire the creature comforts of being in a relationship, but you might not want to pay the emotional price. To avoid complications later on, consider the consequences of your unrestrained ambitions. Be smart and set aside some personal desires in the name of the higher cause of love.

Moon Signs In Everyday Life

Moon Signs In Everyday Life

Learn how to make the most of the Moon’s journey through the zodiac

by Emily Trinkaus

Changing signs every two and a quarter days, the Moon is the fastest-moving astrological “planet.” The Moon represents our emotions, and as it travels through the zodiac, our moods follow. We feel best and operate most effectively when we’re cooperating with the energy of the Moon, as indicated by its sign.

Monthly Power Times

Pay special attention to when the Moon is in the same sign as your Sun sign — these few days of each month are your power times! The tides are flowing in your direction, so you’ll feel more confident and energized, and people are more likely to respond to you positively. So, if you’re planning to invite someone special out on a date, ask for a raise, go on a job interview, or any other task requiring self-assertion and risk-taking, these are the days to go for it.

On the flip side, when the Moon is in the sign opposite to your Sun sign, keep a low profile. (If you’re not sure which sign is opposite, just count six signs away from yours.) Catch up on rest, and do for others rather than expecting things to go your way. Plan accordingly — this is not the time to push it and try to get ahead.

Follow the Signs

Discover below how to make the most of the Moon’s visit to each sign of the zodiac. .

Aries Moon

Get physical! The first sign of the zodiac calls for action and movement. Go for a run or hike, dance, work out at the gym or find some other way to let off steam. Tempers can rise under this fiery Moon, so find healthy outlets for expression — physical and/or creative. This Moon can light a fire under you to start putting your ideas into action, so take a risk in the direction of your desires.

Taurus Moon
Slow down and take time to nurture your body and the planet. This sensual and earthy sign invites you to appreciate the physical world and the realm of the senses. Walk through the woods, work in the garden, get a massage or facial, and play soothing music. This tends to be a mellow, restful and reflective Moon — a time to practice simply being.
Gemini Moon
Call your friends, catch up on emails and chat with the neighbors while the Moon visits the airy sign of the Messenger. Your mind is especially active, even hyper-active, so give it something to chew on. This is an ideal time for taking (or teaching) a class, learning something new and exploring multiple perspectives. Follow your curiosity and keep an open mind.

Cancer Moon
Curl up on the couch with a good book and a cup of tea during this homebody Moon. As a sensitive water sign, the Crab calls for tuning into your inner world. When you give yourself permission to feel and express your emotions, you’re more likely to avoid the down side of this Moon — crabbiness. Cook a nourishing meal, perhaps inviting a close friend or family member for dinner.
 
Leo Moon
This fiery Moon wants to play and celebrate. Let your inner child take the lead and do something spontaneous that serves no purpose beyond having fun. The Lion rules the heart, inspiring romance and passion — an ideal time for getting decked out in your most glamorous attire and hitting the town. Creative energy abounds — express yourself!

Virgo Moon

Attend to the nitty gritty details of daily life when the Moon enters the sign of service. Catching up on household chores, organizing the closet, balancing your checkbook — these mundane tasks might sound like a bore but you feel oh so much better when you stop procrastinating and get the job done. People tend to be more critical and fault-finding than usual, so pay attention to the little things.

Libra Moon
The Moon in the sign of the Scales brings attention to what’s out of balance, inviting you to create more harmony in your relationships, environment and inner world. Libra is ruled by Venus, the goddess of love, beauty and the arts. Enhance your appearance with a new hair style or clothes, and plan to socialize. Cultural events and creative activities are especially recommended.

Scorpio Moon
Invite your inner witch or wizard to come out of hiding during this magical Moon, a prime time for casting spells and performing rituals. You’re more tuned into both the invisible realm and the dark side now — including shadowy emotions that require an outlet. Share your deepest feelings with someone you trust. This is not a time to party hearty with the crowds — plan an intimate date instead.

Sagittarius Moon
When the Moon visits the sign of the Archer, you’re ready for adventure, exploration and expansion. These days are perfect for travel — if you can’t take a trip in the physical world, broaden your intellectual and spiritual horizons by attending a lecture or workshop. Restlessness is common, as your mental arrows shoot out in multiple directions — plan for lots of activity, movement and socializing.

Capricorn Moon
Now is the optimal time to accomplish any ambitious project requiring hard work, perseverance and pragmatism. For best results, mimic the Mountain Goat — move slowly, cautiously and deliberately as you reach for the top. Don’t let the heaviness and somber tone of this Moon get you down — if you stay focused on your plans and goals, you feel energized and productive.
Aquarius Moon
You’re in the mood for networking, connecting with friends and all group activities when the Moon calls on community-minded Aquarius. Your intuition is heightened, inviting flashes of insight that help you to see your life from a higher perspective. If you’re feeling stuck, this revolutionary Moon wants to liberate you from old ways of thinking and inspire you to make changes that enhance your sense of freedom.

Pisces Moon
During this sensitive and squishy Moon, retreat, rest and reflection are recommended. Your dreams are more active than usual, so pay attention — they may have important information for you. The sign of the Fish activates your imagination and fantasies, offering an ideal opportunity for creative expression, especially music, dance, painting and poetry.

Spell of the Day for April 15: Spell To Bind Someone Dangerous

Spell To Bind Someone Dangerous

Timing: Best performed on Saturday (Saturn’s Day, to bind a criminal, one who intends to do harm, to bring someone to justice).

Supplies:

  • a poppet made to represent the person in question
  • a black candle
  • myrrh incense
  • red ribbon

 Cast a circle. Light a black candle and burn myrrh incense. Sprinkle the poppet with salt water, saying:

Blessed be, thou creature made of art.
By art made, by art changed.
Thou art not cloth (or wax, whatever)
But flesh and blood.
I name thee ___________ (person being bound)
Thou art s/he, between the worlds, in all the worlds,
So mote it be.

Hold the poppet and imagine it enmeshed in a silver net, binding the person in question. Tie the poppet up firmly with red ribbon, binding all parts of it that could possibly do harm. Charge it, saying:

By air and earth,
By water and fire,
So be you bound,
As I desire.
By three and nine,
Your power I bind.
By moon and sun,
My will be done.
Sky and sea
Keep harm from me.
Cord go round,
Power be bound,
Light revealed,
Now be sealed.

 Earth the power and open the circle. Bury the poppet at the time of the waning moon, far from your home, under a heavy rock.

Daily Horoscopes for April 15th

 

General Daily Horoscope

 

Today’s earthy Virgo Moon requires us to analyze the facts, then make decisions based on common sense. Although we want to be practical, our logic may be hastily conceived now as Virgo’s key planet Mercury is retrograde. Additionally, mental Mercury forms a squishy semisquare with imaginative Neptune, tempting us to choose fantasy over reality. Paying extra careful attention to our perceptions can minimize the confusion that could lead us astray.

 

Aries Horoscope
Aries Horoscope (Mar 21 – Apr 19)

Your workmates may be extra critical of your actions as the picky Virgo Moon visits your 6th House of Details today. However, you’re not in the mood to change your behavior just to placate someone else. Perhaps you are being judged unfairly, but you would still be wise to consider how to address their concerns before you completely shut them out. This could be a significant opportunity for you to improve your game, rather than complaining about others who don’t appreciate what you do.

 

 

Taurus Horoscope
Taurus Horoscope (Apr 20 – May 20)

You might actually be able to finish your work because you are not as likely to be distracted today. Although you could still be a bit scattered in your thinking, it’s helpful that your friends who often tempt you to leave your responsibilities now have a lot to do themselves. If you are ahead of schedule now, don’t get lazy. You can accomplish more than you expect if you simply keep going at a steady pace.

 

Gemini Horoscope
Gemini Horoscope (May 21 – Jun 20)

You may be revisiting childhood memories with more clarity than usual, and this could be a pleasant distraction from what you should be doing. However, your little excursions into your personal history might reawaken emotions from the past. Analyze your feelings so you know which ones are significant enough to motivate new action. This process will take practice, but, fortunately, you can learn to keep up external appearances now while you also attend to your journey within.

 

 

Cancer Horoscope
Cancer Horoscope (June 21 – Jul 22)

You are the most productive when your new ideas are reinforcing your professional goals. The smart Virgo Moon is thinking her way through your 3rd House of Communication, elevating your confidence and reminding you that you are on the right track. There isn’t any hurry now, because, thankfully, your current plan should solidify in the next week or two.

 

Leo Horoscope
Leo Horoscope (Jul 23 – Aug 22)

Take inventory of what you have recently accomplished so you can raise things to the next level without making yourself much busier than you already are. Stabilizing your financial and social networks enables you to maintain a higher level of creativity now. Remember, you don’t have to expend more energy; gain efficiency and consistency by acting smarter in everything you do.

 

 

Virgo Horoscope
Virgo Horoscope (Aug 23 – Sep 22)

The Moon’s visit to dutiful Virgo is a mixed blessing now. On one hand, you aspire toward quality in your work and in your relationships. Fortunately, sound data allows you to think clearly and make wise decisions. On the other hand, the Moon emphasizes your subjective feelings, which can have you reconsidering a recent decision. Listening to both your head and your heart will lead to the best of both worlds.

 

 

Libra Horoscope
Libra Horoscope (Sep 23 – Oct 22)

You still have a day or two to finish up old business before the Moon returns to your sign and initiates a brand new cycle. This isn’t the smartest time to start a project — you are much better off focusing on finishing an old one. However, it’s not enough now to just meet your obligations with efficiency. There are lots of possibilities before you; take the one that also incorporates elements of grace and beauty.

 

Scorpio Horoscope
Scorpio Horoscope (Oct 23 – Nov 21)

The Moon in your 11th House of Hopes and Dreams can draw your attention into the future as if it were today. But you must not lose sight of your position and what you have on your plate right now. You must find a harmonious balance between your ideal vision and your current everyday reality. Thankfully, you will know that you’re on the right path when you can hold your dreams in awareness, even when you are awake.

 

 

Sagittarius Horoscope
Sagittarius Horoscope (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

Grandiose ideas and extravagant plans may come naturally to you, but today’s detail-oriented Virgo Moon in your 10th House of Career requires you to place limits on yourself. However, no one will be able to do this for you; it must come from within. Rather than looking out at every distant horizon, focus on what is directly in front of you.

 

 

Capricorn Horoscope
Capricorn Horoscope (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

Everyone’s seeking you out today because it appears that you can plan events, solidify projects or simply determine the best way to get a job done. Your mind may be able to cut through the myriad of details, enabling you to make crucial decisions about what is important and what is not. But it’s not constructive to become overly detached from your feelings. Bring compassion into your process, for it can make the difference between just getting by and stunning others with your sincerity.

 

Aquarius Horoscope
Aquarius Horoscope (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

You become uncomfortable today if someone brings up a touchy emotional issue that you cannot easily avoid. Ironically, your current attempts to sidestep a difficult discussion can actually be harder than just breathing deeply and jumping in. Even if you are overwhelmed by complex emotions, listen closely to what others say and then express what you feel. You should come out of this situation with a renewed appreciation for life.

 

 

Pisces Horoscope
Pisces Horoscope (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

The Moon’s activation of your 7th House of Partnerships shifts the focus away from you and puts it on others with whom you work and play. Unfortunately, they may be less inclined to join in your dreams and fantasies now, which can be disheartening for you. But don’t blame anyone else for your discomfort; instead, take a bit of time and gently nurture those parts of yourself that remain unappreciated.

Daily Horoscopes for April 14th

 

General Daily Horoscope

 

Our perceptual filters kick in as the Moon shifts into discerning Virgo at 2:40 am EDT. Ironically, just minutes later the Moon opposes nebulous Neptune in dreamy Pisces, heightening the differences between fact and fancy. Ultimately, we are more apt to respond with emotional clarity today because the Moon forms a harmonious midday trine to perceptive Pluto. Meanwhile, trickster Mercury’s retrograde continues to stir up delays if we’re too pushy.

 

Aries Horoscope
Aries Horoscope (Mar 21 – Apr 19)

It doesn’t matter that you’re eager to take a risk and make something outrageous happen today; you probably won’t get your crazy plans off the ground. Unfulfilled promises could restrain your behavior until you finish your current obligations. But don’t let frustration get the upper hand, because having an emotional meltdown now will not add anything desirable to the quality of your life. Overcome your impatience and wait for a better moment to start something new.

 

 

Taurus Horoscope
Taurus Horoscope (Apr 20 – May 20)

Although you claim that you can work within the current limitations being placed on you, you cannot help but fantasize about your favorite escape. You understand that rebellious behavior won’t necessarily bring the results you want, but you don’t seem to have the control you need to keep things stable. Even if you want to blast your way out of the rut you are in, common sense should win out for now.

 

Gemini Horoscope
Gemini Horoscope (May 21 – Jun 20)

You must attend to personal matters today, even if you are simultaneously being pulled toward more public obligations. At first, it may seem as if your job will offer you some respite from your domestic responsibilities, but you would be smart to realize that you won’t be able to escape from your family duties for too long. Don’t try to outsmart your workmates by pretending to do your job. Be honest about your situation while sustaining your work pace the best you can.

 

 

Cancer Horoscope
Cancer Horoscope (June 21 – Jul 22)

You might become angry if someone at work pushes you too hard today. Your superiors may have inflated expectations, yet you know that there’s only so much that you can handle now. Unfortunately, trouble arises if you don’t establish clear limits. There’s no need to complain about anything that is beyond your control, because that just makes the situation worse. It helps to be specific and let others know exactly what you can and cannot do before things get out of hand.

 

 

Leo Horoscope
Leo Horoscope (Jul 23 – Aug 22)

You could run into an unexpected out-of-pocket expense today that reminds you of the instability of your current financial situation. However, it doesn’t make sense to get discouraged now, even if you don’t see how you’re going to balance your incoming funds with your outgoing cash. Although a longer-term solution may take conscious effort, the immediate problem is temporary and should ease on its own in a couple of days.

 

 

Virgo Horoscope
Virgo Horoscope (Aug 23 – Sep 22)

You may feel as if you’re being emotionally bounced around today, even with the Moon back in your practical Earth sign to help you focus your attention on what is most useful. But your day probably won’t unfold according to your plans. Instead, you need to change your agenda several times to accommodate the shifting tides, which are beyond your control. Let go of your personal expectations so that you can transform a challenging day into one that’s filled with pleasant surprises.

 

 

Libra Horoscope
Libra Horoscope (Sep 23 – Oct 22)

Your friends and associates may not realize that you’re having a tough time today because you’re not telling anyone about your concerns. Ironically, your doubts could be greatly eased by the simple act of sharing them. Your fear of being criticized might be your biggest obstacle to opening up. But remaining silent and losing yourself in endless analysis won’t lead to a logical resolution. You’re better off by just blurting out the truth now. Although you may surprise someone with your radical perspective, an honest discussion should relieve the tension.

 

 

Scorpio Horoscope
Scorpio Horoscope (Oct 23 – Nov 21)

There is so much happening today that you may not have time to make a sensible plan. Figuring things out on the fly will probably get you through the day unless someone questions your integrity, prompting you to defend yourself. Just remember that open conflict isn’t a useful course of action; you would be smarter now to change your tactics and be less impulsive. Ultimately, you should be able to avoid an unnecessary argument by focusing on your goals and not on what anyone else says.

 

 

Sagittarius Horoscope
Sagittarius Horoscope (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

Although you’re still interested in setting your work aside in favor of another enjoyable diversion, playtime is harder to justify today. Your professional responsibilities may be so demanding now that you just cannot get away with your planned escape. You might feel frustrated, but don’t worry; the pressure won’t last. Hunker down and do what’s expected of you so you can feel free enough to relax later on.

 

 

Capricorn Horoscope
Capricorn Horoscope (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

Your hard work might not pay off right away, but don’t let that stop you from being extra conscientious about completing your job. It’s not that others won’t appreciate your contribution; it’s just that they are so busy today that they may not stop to acknowledge you. Don’t lose your focus worrying about being noticed. If you’re patient, your just rewards will arrive soon enough.

 

Aquarius Horoscope
Aquarius Horoscope (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

Extra stress may come from financial institutions, investments or partnerships today, and there might not be an obvious way to avoid it. However, don’t put off any banking business that should be handled; starting sooner than later can make a big difference. Money management may not be a lot of fun, but handling complicated business affairs now can increase your sense of security and will help you feel more at ease.

 

 

Pisces Horoscope
Pisces Horoscope (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

Interactions with someone who can exert control over your life may not go as smoothly as you hoped. You would be a lot more willing to acknowledge another person’s authority if he or she actually deserves your respect. But it’s challenging to acquiesce to anyone who assumes power without earning it. Don’t be afraid to stand up for your convictions. You will only have to face the same issue again if you back down now for the sake of convenience.

My Broom is Bigger than Your Broom

My Broom is Bigger than Your Broom

Author: Lady Abigail

Walking across the freshly harvested field of hay, I watched the sun as it sank, little by little, between the great oaks on the hillside. The trees seemed to be burning in the autumn colors of orange, gold and red. The air quickly became crisp and cool.

Smoke from my Great Grandmother’s chimney lay heavy in the air, like it was dancing in the vanishing twilight. The sweet aroma of the evening placed images within my mind. For me, it was as if the essence from times past were encircling me in a mist of stories not yet told.

I could hear the crunch of each of my footsteps as I walked across the field home. Suddenly, the sounds changed around me. I heard more footsteps, a wagon bouncing across the bridge, and cars turning down the dirt road, chased by the dusty shadows behind them.

I ran as quickly as my short legs would carry me to reach the house so I could hug those that were my family. My heart was pounding like a drum from some distant land. This night was special; this was the night of the ancestors, the night of the calling, calling the dead.

I had been watching all day, for I understood the magick that this night would bring. The energy found within the veils and the mystical visions that would be called to those that stood within the circle to be cast.

They were called the sisters, my aunts. Each one filled my life with stories and knowledge of the old ways. Each was a Witch and Crone in her own right. Each one was different and each was a force of nature, independent and strong. Not one was accountable to the other until they stood beneath the moon as a covenant of power.

My aunts, my family, were not as other families. We didn’t look the same, we didn’t speak the same, and we didn’t even think the same. But that was okay. Now I see what a wonderful and magickal gift that was; diverse energies, histories, and traditions that came together as one all-encompassing power.

My Great Grandmother was Cajun. Her Native American beauty gave her dark skin and silken raven hair marked with silver from time and wisdom. Myself, born of mixed blood, had been given extremely light-colored skin and white blond hair, what those in the old south called a “toe head.”

Even as a child, I learned the judgmental hearts of others. I saw how some treated my Great Grandmother, how some looked at us as odd when they saw us together. Sometimes people could be extremely rude and say hurtful things.

Many would turn their backs as we walked by. Some didn’t understand and didn’t realize that this dark-skinned woman was my Grandmother. But within all the dim-wittedness of those around us, what I remember most was my Great Grandmother’s pride and forgiving heart.

As twilight turned into night, the great feast was placed on the long table in my Grandmother’s house. The sisters respectfully placed the setting on the table for the ancestors. I was now old enough to help and got to light the candles all around the room.

There were countless candles. Most were the bees’ wax candles my Great Grandmother and the sisters had made during the spring and again just at the break of fall. I walked quietly from table to table, lighting each candle with a blessing. The honey-scent fragrance, mixed with the smells from the food and the holiday, gave way to an energy that made my skin tingle with excitement.

Once the feast was ended, it was time to ready for the calling. My Great Grandmother asked me to go to the back porch and bring her in her broom. I stood for a moment outside on that tiny wood porch held in place by the stones under each corner.

I looked at the glow coming through the windows and falling on the sparkling ground, now wet with dew. The sensation of my family gleamed in the warmth that shown from within that small house. I had no doubt that the spirits would be moved to join us that night. My spirit had found flight with the energy of love that surrounded me.

The sisters now walk within the veils with my Great Grandmother, and at this time of year, the time of the calling, I will welcome them all and ask that they join my table for the feast. Now I am the Crone; I seek within my Great Grandmother’s teaching to be a wise woman.

I endeavor to teach all those that walk our path in the old ways, with acceptance, truth, and light. My family has aged, changed, and grown. My circle is filled with those that I love, both brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, in a blending of various traditions. I am truly blessed.

Not long ago, while attending different gatherings, I sadly watched and heard many that walk our path begin to rank themselves among each other. For lack of a better term, I would have to say it was a syndrome of “my broom is bigger than your broom, ” or my tradition is better than your tradition.

It frightens me that we have somehow decided we are better than another because of what name they choose to call themselves or what magickal path they walk.

Do we really need to judge each other?

Many of us proudly call ourselves Witches and Pagans. Some use the traditions of the path they have selected within their title. Some will call themselves by nothing at all, but simply know they have found themselves within their own hearts.

Along this diverse path, I have spoken to many within our communities, and they speak of finding their way home and reclaiming life within our varied and blending traditions, escaping the critical judgments of past beliefs.

The sisters, my aunts, were also very different. They came from all over the Ozarks. Some of them were old, some younger, some dark, some light, some with grey hair and some with red. They were scholars, teachers, mothers, and wise women. Each was as different as the night is to the day, yet each was respectful of the other beyond question.

They did not talk about what the other family members were doing or not doing. They did not discuss in what manner one worked within magick over the other. They respected each other with honor and shared their understandings together.

In truth, we are each individuals; our practices and beliefs are equally individual. We are all following our own spiritual and magickal path. Let us be a gathering of like-minded souls, yet, at the same time, strive to be open- minded and accepting of each other’s personal differences. We are all equal as we walk together, no matter which path we take in the walking.

It is not necessary to pull others down to strengthen ourselves. Strength is found as our circle grows in understanding of each other. As we enter this time of welcoming the ancients and the wise ones, let us stand as a cohesive brotherhood and sisterhood, brought together by the belief, that within understanding, all things are possible.

It is time that we all, each one of us, reflect on how far we have came, and how hard a path we all traveled. Remembering the sacrifices of those that walked this path before us, let us think before we judge or criticize another. Then shall we truly stand together in this magickal circle as it expands within the universe.

Together let us be as one family to celebrate our beliefs within life and magick.
 

Copyright: Copyright © 10102007
Lady Abigail
High Priestess, Ravensgrove Coven
Greenfield, IN

General Daily Horoscopes for 4/13

 

General Daily Horoscope

 

It’s difficult to escape the possible complications that stem from Mercury’s continuing retrograde phase which lasts until April 23. However, message mix-ups and schedule snafus are more likely if we’re overextended. Unfortunately, five planets, including Mercury, are in impulsive Aries, encouraging us to take on too much. Thankfully, an expressive Leo Moon harmoniously trines three of these planets, enabling us to accomplish more than we expect.

 

Aries Horoscope
Aries Horoscope (Mar 21 – Apr 19)

It feels as if you’re on an emotional seesaw because you have been up and down so often recently that it’s difficult to see what’s happening from a wider perspective. But your outlook is sunny and upbeat, even if there’s nothing special happening today. Make use of your positive attitude now by jumping in and tackling problems while they don’t seem so overwhelming.

 

Taurus Horoscope
Taurus Horoscope (Apr 20 – May 20)

You really don’t have to show off by demonstrating how together you are today, for the very act of drawing attention to your security exposes your lack of it. While it’s possible that your self-confidence has been vacillating lately, it’s more important now to do something that makes you feel good, instead of trying to gain approval from others. Concentrate your attention on your rich inner world instead of placing undue significance on outside influences.

 

 

Gemini Horoscope
Gemini Horoscope (May 21 – Jun 20)

You should take extra precautions today because your life may be a whirlwind of activity. Although you typically like thrills and surprises, you could be caught off guard if you lack enough confidence now. Don’t be distracted by every interesting thing that goes flying by. Maintain a soft focus, instead, since this allows you to stay balanced while you’re still in motion.

 

 

Cancer Horoscope
Cancer Horoscope (June 21 – Jul 22)

It’s stressful today trying to balance your time between work demands and domestic matters. But this current dilemma brings up a deeper issue about your fears of not being able to do it all. Although you might slide by now if you demonstrate how serious you are about doing a good job at home and on the job, this won’t be helpful in the long run. The ultimate solution may require you to face your insecurities by talking about them with someone you trust.

 

 

Leo Horoscope
Leo Horoscope (Jul 23 – Aug 22)

The Moon’s current visit to your sign is emotionally intense, as your moods swing wildly like a pendulum out of control. However, you can continue to make steady progress by observing your feelings without necessarily saying anything about them at all. It isn’t always easy to let the wisdom of your body react naturally, without an audience. Keep your feelings to yourself until things settle down in a day or two.

 

 

Virgo Horoscope
Virgo Horoscope (Aug 23 – Sep 22)

It may seem as if others are hiding important information from you, but you don’t know what it is so there isn’t any simple way to investigate without appearing to be paranoid. However, the more you ignore your current uneasiness, the louder it grows. Watch out, for you could end up creating a problem that was never there. Be totally upfront today; admitting that you are worried can help lessen your insecurities right away.

 

 

Libra Horoscope
Libra Horoscope (Sep 23 – Oct 22)

Your interest in creating a relationship with a workmate may be piqued by a surprising conversation today. This probably isn’t just a passing fancy; it’s more likely the seed of an important journey ahead. In the meantime, plan something special for yourself that’s not about work or about taking care of someone else. Think bigger than usual and act boldly. Taking a risk can prove to be more fun than you ever imagined.

 

 

Scorpio Horoscope
Scorpio Horoscope (Oct 23 – Nov 21)

Managing details at work is a wise thing to do now that the Moon is in your 10th House of Career. Working quietly behind the scenes often has its benefits, yet today you actually need to feel appreciated. Unfortunately, trying to win approval from your superiors could end up being a waste of your valuable time. Your safest path to being noticed is simply doing your job to the best of your ability.

 

 

Sagittarius Horoscope
Sagittarius Horoscope (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

You don’t need to withhold your enthusiasm today because your confidence will have a positive effect on your co-workers. At first, they might think that you’re filled with hot air. But you’re not promising more than you can deliver and your peers will become true believers when they see what you can do. Remember, your ultimate talent isn’t in telling others what to do; it’s the gift of joyfully leading by example.

 

 

Capricorn Horoscope
Capricorn Horoscope (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

You may feel very close to someone special today without being physical at all — intimacy comes in many flavors. Now, with the Moon illuminating your 8th House of Deep Sharing, consider how to enhance an interaction with a friend or family member by opening your heart. Simply expressing your fears with someone you trust will create a doorway to a more meaningful relationship.

 

Aquarius Horoscope
Aquarius Horoscope (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

The self-expressive Leo Moon is visiting your 7th House of Partners today, cajoling you to reveal yourself through acts of generosity. But you still need to set clear boundaries by defining your limits or your magnanimous behavior could pull you overboard. Remember, you grow less believable when you overstate your case, so be quiet once you’ve made your point.

 

Pisces Horoscope
Pisces Horoscope (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

It’s helpful to be able to count on something real today. Thankfully, the Moon’s visit to your 6th House of Habits encourages you to lean on your familiar routine as a strong foundation. Regardless of how spaced-out or confused you might be feeling, it’s crucial to go through the motions of whatever you do on a daily basis. However, this is not about playing your part mechanically or detaching yourself from your emotions; it’s about reestablishing the meaning in your everyday life, instead.

Herb of the Day for April 11th is Black Cohosh

Herb of the Day

 
Black Cohosh
Botanical: Cimicifuga racemosa (NUTT.)
Family: N.O. Ranunculaceae

Synonyms—Black Snake Root. Rattle Root. Squaw Root.
Bugbane.
Part Used—Root.


Habitat—A native of North America, where it grows freely in shady woods in Canada and the United States. It is called Black Snake Root to distinguish it from the Common Snake Root (Aristolochia serpentaria).

Description—The seeds are sent annually to Europe, and should be sown as soon as the season will permit. It flowers in June or early in July, but does not perfect seed in England, though it thrives well in moist shady borders and is perfectly hardy. It is a tall, herbaceous plant, with feathery racemes of white blossoms, 1 to 3 feet long, which being slender, droop gracefully. The fruits are dry.

The plant produces a stout, blackish rhizome (creeping underground stem), cylindrical, hard and knotty, bearing the remains of numerous stout ascending branches. It is collected in the autumn after the fruit is formed and the leaves have died down, then cut into pieces and dried. It has only a faint, disagreeable odor, but a bitter and acrid taste.

The straight, stout, dark brown roots which are given off from the under surface of the rhizome are bluntly quadrangular and furrowed. In the dried drug, they are brittle, broken off usually quite close to the rhizome. In transverse section, they show several wedge-shaped bundles of porous, whitish wood. A similar section of the rhizome shows a large dark-colored, horny pith, surrounded by a ring of numerous pale wedges of wood, alternately with dark rays, outside which is a thin, dark, horny bark.

Constituents—The chief constituent of Cimicifuga root is the amorphous resinous substance known as Cimicifugin, or Macrotin, of which it contains about 18 per cent but the bitter taste is due to a crystalline principle named Racemosin. The drug also contains two resins, together with fat, wax starch, gum, sugar and an astringent substance.

Medicinal Action and Uses—Astringent, emmenagogue, diuretic, alternative, expectorant. The root of this plant is much used in America in many disorders, and is supposed to be an antidote against poison and the bite of the rattlesnake. The fresh root, dug in October, is used to make a tincture.

In small doses, it is useful in children’s diarrhea.

In the paroxysms of consumption, it gives relief by allaying the cough, reducing the rapidity of the pulse and inducing perspiration. In whooping-cough, it proves very effective.

The infusion and decoction have been given with success in rheumatism.

In infantile disorders, it is given in the form of syrup. It is said to be a specific in St. Vitus’ Dance of children. Overdoses produce nausea and vomiting Preparations—Fluid extract, U.S.P., 15 to 30 drops. Fluid extract, B.P., 5 to 30 drops. Tincture, U.S.P., 1 drachm. Tincture, B.P., 15 to 60 drops. Cimicifugin, 1 to 6 grains. Powdered extract, U.S.P., 4 grains.

Herb of the Day for 4/1 is Dandelion

Herb of the Day

Dandelion

Dandelion is a hardy perennial salad weed originating from Eurasia. Weed killers were invented for herbs like this. As a culinary herb, the leaves are an excellent blood tonic and diuretic. The roots can be roasted and brewed as coffee. Let the dandelion live near fruit trees and it will help them produce more fruit. Just don’t pull it up–it is a non-allergic lawn cover that blooms, perfect for xeriscaping.

Programing Your Gemstones & Crystals

The Seven Major Chakras

Programing Your Gemstones and Crystals

From Kellie Jo Conn, GG

After you choose and clear your gemstone or crystal, it is a good idea to dedicate it or program it. The purpose of programming a crystal or gemstone is to focus its abilities on something you specifically need, thereby magnifying the stone’s intent through your own. The purpose of dedicating the stone to a high level healing energy or Goddess (God) is to protect it from negative energy. A crystal or stone that is programmed and dedicated in these ways becomes much more powerful and useful as a tool. This is a very simple process.

Programming Your Gemstone

  • Hold the crystal or gemstone in your hand and sense its energy. With the stone being newly cleared, the energy will feel stronger and even more appealing that before. 
  • As you sense this energy and appreciate it, ask quietly to be connected to the deva of the crystal or gemstone. Though not animate, stones are living things and the deva of the piece is the stone’s life-force energy. 
  • Once you feel you have sensed what you can from the energy, think of what you will be using the stone for. Think of these uses, then quietly ask the gemstone if it is willing to act in the way you wish. The crystals energy may increase with a yes or seem to disappear with a no. If the stone accepts your intent, state in your mind that it be so.

Dedicating Your Gemstone

Once a stone is programmed, it will hold its intent until you or someone else reprograms it. To prevent any negative energy from attaching itself to your crystal you may wish to dedicate it.

  • Hold the crystal or gemstone in your hand and state clearly in your mind: “Only the most positive high-level energy may work through this healing tool.” 
  • Focus on your intent for awhile, then end your sensing (meditation) with “SO BE IT.” 
  • The stone is now dedicated.

You may also choose to dedicate your gemstone or crystal to a specific healing energy, for example, to a Goddess of healing. There are many healing goddesses, including Isis, Yemaya, Diana, and White Buffalo Calf Woman. For stones programmed for protection, Hecate or Kali are strong protection Goddesses.

What a glorious Tuesday!

Good morning, well good afternoon! I am sorry I am running so late. I emailed a friend this morning and as usual, I wrote too much. What can I say I am just full of it today, lol! I feel good. I am in a good mood and all is right in the world. If that was only true. Wouldn’t it just be wonderful to wake up one morning and on the news hear nothing but good news. I remember several years ago, a witch had asked that all Pagans come together on one certain day to cast a spell for world peace. Just for one day. I was new to the internet and I am ashamed to say, I didn’t participate. But I do remember I was anxious to watch the evening news. I remember that there really wasn’t that much violence that day. I know the witch that started that must have been very happy. She had accomplished something our world leaders couldn’t even if it was for just one day. I have started one campaign of my own. You might have heard about it or seen it on the net, “I AM A WITCH.” It had a purple ribbon that went with it and it spread like wildfire across the net. I believe witches came out of the woodwork to show their solidarity. I wonder how a campaign for world peace would work now? I wonder if enough people would participate to actually make a difference? Now I got my little brain to working, I am going to have to think about another world peace day. Really there is nothing to lose, if we do set a date. Who knows, we might do some good! Could you live a day without killings, suicide bombers, murders, abuse and Goddess knows what else? Think about it.

Are The ’13 Goals of the Witch’ Being Thrown Out the Window Today?

Are The ’13 Goals of the Witch’ Being Thrown Out the Window Today?

Author: Gullveig

The 13 Goals of the Witch has been attributed to Scott Cunningham and other authors, but is treated by traditionalists and non-traditional Pagans alike to be the cornerstone of what a Witch is. However, many Pagans pay lip service to these rules in public while going against them once they are in their own groups and private lives. Even our group leaders, who are supposed to support and encourage us, fail in passing on these goals and living by example. How can we be great Witches if our leaders are backstabbing and living chaotic lives? Simple. We can’t. So we have to be those leaders.       Each goal is listed with a modern explanation below, most having to do with how I see those goals being violated in our Pagan community and how to stop such behavior.

Know Thyself – This is the most important of the goals. This goal is often taken as if you are a jerk in life and you know it, then you “know yourself”. People do believe this. Know Thyself, however, means to be constantly working on yourself, to know your shortcomings and not give in to them. It means also not to make up excuses for bad behavior. If you do not know yourself or work on yourself to make yourself better and therefore be in a spot to help others become better, you might as well not be a Witch.

Know Your Craft — The Craft is a vague word for getting to know your world; because anything you learn in the world can be applied to Witchcraft. I have known natural Witches in my time that would say they could do magick without reading a single book, but these Witches I found had no sympathy or empathy with the world around them. You need to learn about religions, even Christianity, the good points and the bad, in order to see how paganism fits in the time frame of history and religion. On top of this, you need to practice, meditate and keep notes of your observations. That way you can reflect on them and share them with others.

An open mind is key, but there are a good number of Witches out there that can be as judgmental as those closed-minded. A Witch who isn’t educated in the sense of being a “world student” isn’t a true Witch.

Learn — How many of us learn from our mistakes? How many Witches redo the same hurtful actions to others without thinking, “Maybe I shouldn’t start any ill will in the Pagan community?” The role of learning goes way beyond books and knowing your Craft, but how you apply the knowledge gained. It is to learn how to fix problems, heal hurt and bring people together instead of gossiping, sneering at the nemesis coven down the road or sitting back and doing nothing when you want a problem to be solved. This learning is key to being a moral Witch. We only will repeat ignorant actions if we never learn to stop them.

Have Patience — Patience is essential for the Craft. You have to have the patience of a spider, still in its web in order to deal with others and your life goals. People take advantage of patience, such in covens where one person does all the work and the others come and go when they please, not understanding the violation of trust they are causing. They hurt this person by thinking that the person will always have patience with them. It is up to every single witch to be patient and also not violate the patience of others, even if they have a lot of it. It is the one goal that is used most by others disrespectfully.

“Don’t like the childish way I am acting? Don’t you have patience? A Witch has patience, so you shouldn’t be upset I am here two hours late.” Don’t be one of those people. Don’t turn patience on those in your life.

Apply Knowledge With Wisdom — A Witch can know a lot about the world. But Witches that run off at the mouth about this knowledge can be show offs. A true Witch takes what he or she has learning and tapers it with wisdom, also known as tact. If you are a leader, don’t put down others because they don’t understand what you know.

If you are a student and your coven is being immature, speak out about it; use your knowledge to help to solve the problem. Add action into the mix of knowledge and wisdom, and you can be a Witch who does good for yourself, your group, the Pagan community and for humanity and the world. Use your knowledge for good too, not to put someone else down. Set a good example to others about what a Witch is.

Achieve Balance – Witches try to live lives of balance, not chaos. Yet many Witches try to live lives of drama and anger. Some think being a Witch will add spice or drama to their lives. Some of these Witches do it intentionally; some may have an inner problem they need to work on. They might not mean to cause harm by the chaos in their lives, but give into it.

A Witch’s life should be like the calm sea. Not that storms can’t rage in the sea, but problems are taken care of. Stress is controlled and moderate. A Witch tries to combat anxiety and depression, not let illness take over them. A Witch tackles problems head on and doesn’t let others do it for them. Sometimes in the Pagan community, people try to hurt those who have balance. Maybe it is human nature, but it is a sad display of our Witchcraft community to hurt someone just because your life is chaotic and theirs isn’t.

Keep Your Words In Good Order – This means, no gossip and gossip runs rampant in our community. I’ve known Witches who have gone out of their way to say insulting things to others. If you wonder why the Pagan community isn’t taken seriously, this is why. You can’t be a good Witch if you are smiling and talking to someone at a Pagan event, only to stab him or her in the back once you are done. I’ve had people praise a Pagan ritual only to laugh at it to others once it was done.

If everyone would lock their lips and not try to hurt others with words, more problems would be solved or probably wouldn’t happen in the first place. Your words are your honor and those who use them badly don’t have honor for the Craft. If your words don’t ring true, people can’t take you seriously. They will never know if you mean you will show up for event or can be trusted if your words don’t match your actions. So say what you mean and follow through with your actions. If you say you are going to do something, do it. No excuses.

This goal can be lifted if you are having abuse problems with your coven. By all means if someone is hurting you mentally, psychologically or physically or threatens you in a pagan group or coven, let the Pagan community know. This not only helps you, it also helps those who might end up getting the same teacher or stop them from having a bad experience. Don’t let the seriousness of this goal stop you from using your words to make things right. Sometimes a little speaking of the mind works miracles, even if it is tough love.

Keep Your Thoughts in Good Order – Try to solve problems. Sometimes people don’t care how you feel so you have to take the time to get over that and move on. It is hard not to hold malice if someone hurts you, but holding in means thoughts about a person inside yourself will only hurt you. Try to talk and if that person doesn’t wish to listen, move on. Don’t dwell on bad things in your life. This goal is much like keeping your words in order.

Speak out when a situation is bad; use your thoughts to try to heal it. Think good of people. If you can’t then try not to think about the person or situation at all, if you tried your best to clear it up. But please, use your thoughts and words to try to problem solve instead of doing nothing. Make your thoughts strong and positive. Focus on goals. Live those goals. And be aware getting over problems can take a long time. Give yourself that time.

There are comments in our community that state there will never be any more Scott Cunninghams or Doreen Valientes. But we can be. Why can’t I use that as a goal? Why defeat myself with the thought I can never be grand? These thoughts are what hurt our community. We need thoughts with more ambition. We need to think we can all be leaders and that starts now!

Celebrate Life — Celebrate your own life, the lives of others, the lives of animals and nature. This means not harming nature. This one can be tricky if you own a car. But try to respect nature by being as eco-friendly as you can. Some Pagans I have encountered smoke like chimneys, flicking their butts into the street and littering the road with pieces of paper from their cars. It is like kicking the Goddess in the face. She made you this great world and you litter and make it toxic.

Take care of others, work in the community, donate items to your Pagan community, and ask how you can be of service. It isn’t only about having fun, but when you celebrate life, you should have that too. You are a Pagan, connected to all life. What hurts humanity, should hurt you. You should want to take action, even in small ways, like recycling or spending time helping those less fortunate.

Be happy for what you have. Maybe of us Pagans come from countries where we think luxury items are needed for our survival, but we don’t take time to reflect how lucky we are to live in places where we can get an education and have our wants taken care of. One should pray to the God and Goddess for these gifts.

Observe insects and other animals. Pay attention to the value of life. Take joy in the flight of a month or the jumping of a cricket. Or the smile of a friend.

Attune With The Cycles of the Earth– I am surprised by the number of Witches who don’t celebrate the Sabbats or Esbats. Even if you don’t have a ritual, one can toast Demeter during Lammas, for example or harvest berries during Strawberry Moon. Talk to animals and trees. It may sound overly hippie, but you will find you connect. As I said before, many Pagans I have seen, even leaders, throw trash into the street or don’t keep the Sabbats. How will students learn if their leader doesn’t care if it’s the full moon or not? Again, they won’t.

Not keeping the Sabbats also creates a wishy-washy year for students and missing pages in their Books of Shadows. If a group can’t meet, a ritual should be provided for those to do at home. Solitary rituals should be encouraged. I find writing my own rituals helps me develop as a person, because I put myself and my goals into them. They transform me into a better person.

So attune yourself with Mother Gaia, plant native plants, treat animals with respect, acknowledge and learn the cycles of the moon and names of the seasons. Even their symbols. If you don’t live in a place with four seasons, use the ebbs and tides of your areas or imagine how it must be to live in a place with snow in December.

Being a transplant from the Midwest to Southern California, it is hard to do, but must be done. There are lessons for each season to that reflect into one’s own life. It is hard to be a Witch without knowing the land, the grass, the sun, the moon and the stars.

Keep Yourself Healthy – This means, healthy food, no smoking, no excessive drinking, exercise and no harmful activities affecting the body. Yes, I know pagans who tan in tanners, who smoke, who drink and who have even done drugs. This violates the temple the Goddess has given you.

I am not saying you can’t have a burger if you want it, or a cigar at a party, but constant use of these or addiction to them can hurt your temple and also hurt your mind and your outlook on life. I don’t think one has to be a vegan to be a better witch, but a healthy diet helps. I do eat meat, but sparingly. I would smoke a cigar at a party. Yet I don’t have addictions to these things.

As your body ages, you realize you may want to become healthier and quit even the occasional cigarette or dinner of fast food. That happened to me! I even know people I tried to teach meditation too that coughed when they took long breaths because of smoking. So how can you meditate if you can’t even breathe?

Take care of yourself. Be a healthy weight. Note I didn’t say starve yourself either. A person can be a size 0 and be very unhealthy. Witches look healthy and alive. Even the Goth ones. (I would consider myself Gothy by nature.) Take care of yourself before you have to see the doctor.

Meditate – Meditation is a state of mind. It can be from a book or walking along a shady path in the woods. All Pagans should make time for personal meditation and reflection. They should make time to talk to their deities or to nature. This can be a time to write out one’s problems in a journal or to be creative. To me, this should be at least an hour a day, or more ideally, an hour in the morning and an hour at night.

If you don’t think you have time for meditation, you do. Turn off the TV, get off the computer and find a silent place to be. Let your thoughts go. Sit quietly and hear the world around you. Fall into that noise and be. Get books on meditation if you can’t focus. All Witches should be able to meditate because you need to be able to focus in rituals and to direct magickal energy, for example, in spellwork. It is a very crucial part of our religion, being able to focus our will.

Honor the Goddess and God — I wonder when this one went out of style? I have run into a lot of people who tend to speak very vaguely about Gods. As if I need to hide my Athena worship from someone who is into Freya as not to offend their sensibilities. There are a lot of Gods out there and some pagans who don’t even have Gods, but to me, there is nothing more spiritual than making an altar to a God and praising them. I feel it connects action to ritual. It tells the ritual where to go.

So what if someone does a ritual to Shiva when I only worship Diana? Can’t I get something out of that ritual as well? I also find Pagans calling and dismissing Godforms like they are puppets to do their bidding.

What happened to thanking the Gods? Thanking the Sun and the Moon, being grateful for each day given? Listen to what the Gods say to you. If you have a pantheon, read up on the Gods in it. Sometimes I go to rituals and people, even though they are in a coven with a certain pantheon, the members of that group can’t even recite the names and myths of their Gods. It’s a shame.

Study up on the Gods, read mythology and folklore; learn how stories connect to people in real life. You will learn much. Planting an organic apple in the ground for Venus or pouring spring water in the ground for Elen of the Ways is good practice to showing the Gods you appreciate them.

Looking at these goals, I can see why they have stood the test of time and people use them as public domain, though I know that Scott Cunningham’s Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner has these goals phrased like this but I have seen it in many other forms. Using this goal list as a moral framework, a Witch can succeed in magick and working in the community, both the Pagan one and world of humanity and nature.

As Witches, we need to go back to structure in our practice and not freeform, to turn our passivity and bad character traits into ones that benefit life, from without to within. I urge you to print these goals out and follow them. I challenge you. And in meeting the challenge, we can be better Witches and better people.

Casting Spells Using Dried Herbs

The most prevalent ingredient of magick spells are processed herbs, especially dried plants and oils. Drying plants preserves them for extended use, allowing you to work with  plants out of season and those that cannot be grown in your personal region. Dried herbs from all over the world, representing many magical traditions, may be purchased from herbal suppliers.

Dried herbs are frequently sold already chopped up, cut or powdered. As this frequently needs to be done before spellcasting purchasing herbs in this form can be a real-time and effort saver–with one caveat. Leaves and blossoms, even chopped, other remain easily distinguishable. Peppermint doesn’t smell like vervain or hibiscus, for instance. Roots on the other hand,  other the most magickally potent part of a plant,  once chopped or powdered, are fairly indistinguishable from  each other. It is not uncommon for unethical or ignorant vendors to substitute one  root for another. If you are looking for a distinct root, say High John the Conqueror, for whom this is a common problem, buy the whole root and ground and powder it yourself, even though this can be difficult.  It is the only way to guarantee that you are receiving what you want, the only way to maintain control over what may be a pivotal ingredient. Familiarize yourself with herbs. Know what they should look like and what they should smell like, and you will be less likely to be fooled.

If you grow plants or have access to fresh plants, it’s extremely easy, virtually child’s play, to dry them yourself.

Daily Crystal: Black Phantom Quartz

Quartz, Phantom
Phantom crystals are wonderful awareness tools. They can give a sense of magic that most of us have lost along the course of our lives. Phantom crystals can help us increase awareness of evolution, in ourselves and in the world around us, showing how growth, rest, and rebirth cycle through all existence. Psychically, phantoms are considered excellent for past life work and meditation, and is valuable for the mystic or spiritual seeker. Physically, crystal healing and folk lore say that phantom crystals are excellent for initiating healing, bringing great energy to the healing process, and are especially helpful for hearing disorders and emotional healing.

Black Phantom

“Black Phantom Quartz Crystals are very unusual. They provide the energy of the quartz, coupled with the property of grounding; this grounding is via the perfect alignment of the physical energy centres, which occurs with the use of this mineral. Hence, with a black phantom crystal, one does not require an additional stone for grounding.” 

Black Phantom Quartz

Phantoms teach us about the process of life and growth and how to overcome obstacles to see life as a wondrous journey. Phantoms are to be used for the redemption and cleansing of the earth. The phantom works to bring together the participants of humanity to save the planet. They are excellent sources in initiating healing. They can also be used to access the records of ones progression through past lives. Black Phantoms provide the energy of the quartz, coupled with the property of grounding. This grounding is via the perfect alignment of the physical energy centres, which occurs with the use of this mineral. Hence, with a black phantom crystal, one does not require an additional stone for grounding.