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Date-	Status	Headline	Summary	URL to outside resource	Content	URL Name
2010-01-02 12:28:57	1	The Fire Festival of Brighid and the Origins of Candlemas	The Fire Festival of Brighid and the Origins of Candlemas		The Fire Festival of Brighid and the Origins of Candlemas Source material based on research by Louise Heyden Imbolc falls at the beginning of February. Some sources state the official day as February 1st, while others prefer the 2nd. “Imbolc is sometimes celebrated from sunset on 31st January to sunset on 2nd February”, while others shy away from calendar constraints altogether and mark the festival when the first snowdrops and crocuses start to blossom, as they signify the first emergence of spring. In the Southern hemisphere, Imbolc falls on July 31st. Imbolc literally means “in the belly of the mother”, while its original Celtic name, Oimelc, translates as “ewe’s milk” or “the feast of ewe’s milk”. Both refer to the turning of winter to spring, as marked by the first milk of ewes as lambs begin to be born. Other names for this Sabbath include Gwyl Fair and the Feast of Pan. Imbolc is the special day of Brighid, the Celtic goddess of fire, and thus is deemed a fire festival. Its transformative powers of the flame signify change and the setting of new goals. As the Crone of winter gives way to the Maiden of spring, this festival of light cleanses to make way for the new. Nature starts to come back to life, and the new agricultural season begins. Imbolc is a pagan festival, celebrated by witches, druids and other pagans as part of the wheel of the year. It is traditionally a time for new witches and druids to be initiated into the Craft, falling in with its association of change and dedication to new goals. There are many Imbolc rituals and celebrations, including the custom of what has come to be known as spring-cleaning. Now is the time to begin thoroughly cleaning the house inside and out, as well as conducting a house blessing to remove any negative energies or spirits left over from winter. From Down the Lane, Volume 11, Issue 10.
2010-01-02 12:11:11	1	Scrying	Scrying: My Thoughts on a useful tool of Divination by SummerGaile		Scrying: My Thoughts on a useful tool of Divination by SummerGaile 　 The word SCRY is derived from the word descry, which means to make out dimly or to reveal, giving us an unique opportunity to encounter more in depth insight as we journey into the world between the worlds Brief History: Historically the act of scrying as a means of divination is deeply seated in antiquity. In those ancient times scrying was used as a way to reveal insights to humankind’s relationship with the Gods, the Universe and to capture a gleaming into the nature of our inner selves. The Moon, in her lunar accent, opens a gateway between the physical world and that of the world where dreams, visions, memories, and the spirit dwell. The Moon and her cycles control the rhythm of the Ocean’s tides, and the powerful life force held within all women, as their body’s normally cycles with her. The Moon represents all those things associated with the flow and ebbing of Water. From this pool, the unconscious mind is able to journey into these mysterious realms. In doing so, these early lunar gazers, the Mystics and the Seers, developed methods and tools needed to look beyond their reaches for insight and understanding. During the early times, humankind was able to develop a relationship with Deity by using various methods of scrying. When these gateways were opened during rituals, communication was needed to communicate between the Gods and Mortals; information such as the ability to see into the future or past. Such revelations came in the form of instructions into the mysteries or secrets that were held to be sacred, were transmitted and carried out by this vital communication process. The individuals who practiced these methods were referred to as Seers or Mystics and then other titles such as Priestess were also associated with scrying as well as oracles, necromancers, and sorcerers. In ancient times the training of Seers was held sacred and limited to the Elders within a religious framework. Some believe that many methods were devised by Wise Women who passed down their teachings to their daughters, and so on down through the generations. This knowledge was instilled in families and traditions, which are still carried forward today. The first recorded history of Scrying dates to around 3000 BC in China, and then around 2500 BC in Egypt. Scrying appears in Ancient Greece and Rome around 2000 BC. It is believed that the Hebrews were responsible for spreading scrying from Babylon, by way of Egypt, into the valley of the Nile and finally into Greece and Rome. It then appeared to have spread into what is now the British Isles and Europe. The early methods typically used were Water, Fire, Oil, Crystals, and reflective surfaces of metals. 　　Uses for Scrying in Magick or Rituals: One can look into the past, present or future to gather important data to help in decision making. In finding lost objects and animals. Sometimes the location of these objects or lost pet will appear in the form of a vision or image. Locating lost persons. Many times Seers are called in to help police locate lost children.. Healing can be accomplished, both physically and spiritually. (This has happened to me a number of times using a crystal ball.) To communicate with deceased ones. (This has also happened to me during a Samhaim ritual a few years ago when doing Fire Scrying.) To contact Spirit Guides to help assist in past lives. To contact Deity during Ritual and communicate with them on a direct level. To accomplish Shamanic Journeys or Spirit Walking and Vision Quests. How Scrying is used: In order to scry you must first find a method you feel comfortable with. From there you can pretty much scry using the same method for almost anything. The ability lies in the effort to focus and concentrate on an object, yet letting your mind relax to receive images. Before Scrying it is helpful to pose a question. Connect with the object you will be using to scry; it may be helpful to handle and study it for a little while first, just to get the feel of it. When all is ready let the mind settle on it and begin to look at its surface. Then look a little deeper into it and look past the surface into the center. THERE, is where objects or shadows will be floating in a mist. Images may begin to emerge from deep within, becoming clearer. At times these shadows may form pictures or even complete scenes. They will play in your minds eye, somewhat like it is when dreaming. In a dream your subconscious minds eye plays images and scenes to you. You are able to converse, see colors, talk and interact with other objects people places and things. In a dream state you are not actually having physical encounters, but you are receiving information and impressions just the same. In scrying, your mind is fully conscious but in a state where information is being processed by your subconscious, transferring it to your conscious mind already translated into pictures that play in your minds eye. You will have the sense of " knowing things" and "seeing things" from this perspective. These images can reveal things of the past, present and future. It is recommended to keep a journal, much like a dream journal, that will record the time and date/ moon phase/ images or shadows witnessed, describing in detail what they looked like and impressions you may have. Then compare the results of those images for patterns that form that may bring on special meanings of their own. As events and time pass it will be interesting to note and see what and how the scrying sessions unfolded. You may also want to make or buy your form of divination (I highly recommend making your own) as well as a bag, cloth, or box to keep your divination system in. In the case of automatic writing, you would choose a special pen and keep it in a special container and use those things only for automatic writing. My Collection of Scrying Tools: I have a few scrying tools that I like to use and feel very comfortable with. In the next few paragraphs I will describe them and give a brief background as how I acquired them and any special information that is associated with them. One of the first memories I have with scrying is with Fire. I was taught how to fire scry by my Grandfather, who had quite an influence on me while I was growing up. He taught me this when I was very little, when my mind was open to see the world through the perceptions of innocence. We would have a huge bon fire every spring. It was a time of celebration and the whole family would turn out. During that time when it got dark he would sit on a log and watch the fire and to find where it ran blue, and how it licked and danced. He showed me how to find pictures in the fire and how they would tell stories. After I got older I was able to use this method to scry other objects. Crystal Balls: Over the years I have purchased a number of crystal balls. Each has their own velvet pillows that they rest on and satin pouches with drawstrings that I place them in when they are resting or when I travel. They have their own travel cases or resting boxes. I hand make all the pillows and pouches for them using deep rich colors. I fill the pillows with sand that I have collected from around the world. It is quite interesting how the beach sand varies in texture and color. For the pouches I cut and sew together pieces of satin and hem the tops and run a drawstring through them to pull it tightly closed. When the balls are not in use or needed, I place them in the special boxes. These boxes are cedar Cuban Cigar boxes that I have also collected in my travels and I have found they have come to be very useful and handy for placing items in them for protection. The rich cedar and cured tobacco smell is very pleasant. The balls themselves are all quartz ranging in size from a 5 inch amethyst ball, to a 2-½ inch quartz crystal. I use them for different purposes, such as healing and transmitting messages. They are very used to me and almost act as familiars. I have scryed with them all, on many occasions. When I first acquire a ball, I smudge it right away. I then take it directly to Mother Ocean and place it in the surf and sand. At the full moon I will take it back to Mother Ocean and place it in her arms once again. This time I will awaken it in the sand. I then place it in a crystal dish filled with Ocean Water and let it spend the night outdoors beneath the Moon and her beguiling beams. As the dawn breaks and the sun arises, the crystal then goes full cycle, the great awaking of a new day, and the brilliance of the Sun’s vibrant rays. Together with the Moon and the Sun, the crystal is now fully energized and possessing the qualities of both the unconscious and conscious. It can go to the realm of the unseen and see clearly those things during the waking hours. Before I use it, I will Consecrate and Bless it for Magickal use.. Cauldrons: I have 4 cauldrons that I use on a regular basis. The first one is a little tiny one on a stand that my grandfather had. He used to burn leaf tobacco from the field in it when working in his workshop. At times he would drop pine needles into it, and on occasions, burn clove in it. When ever he had to take out one of my baby teeth for fear of swallowing it in my sleep, he would burn a mixture of clove. My tooth was then properly extracted by a pair of needle nosed pliers. (Sounds awful…. but not too bad because I was in his loving authority) I knew he healed me many times when I was sick and was a respected Braucher and practiced the folkways of Hexerei and Braucheri as was handed down to him by his mother. My Grandmother, on the other hand, fed the Fae quite often, and would turn my tooth over to them and invited them in to keep my tooth in good keeping to store it with their treasures. As a child it was quite exciting, I would find little gifts scattered all around.….my Grandmother and the Fae is quite another story.) None the less… I salvaged the little cauldron from a trash pile after my grandmother died. My grandmother stayed on the home place up to her end. Many of the other ones in the family of my age did not share the same closeness as my grandfather and I did. I was raised by my Grandparents since I was a few days old, so they did not understand the meaning or the importance of it as I held. It now graces my altar and I use it now to burn incense in it for most of my magickal workings. The second cauldron I have is an all-purpose one that I use to do any kind of kitchen craft. It is heavy duty and is Teflon coated (Blessed Be!) for melting candles wax, etc. The third one I have is a med size one that I use sometime to scry. I have it on my altar and use it to do spell work and also to burn special requests in. On some occasions I will use this one on the altar to scry in place of the larger one when doing work indoors. The large Cauldron was a family cauldron that came from my grandfather’s home. It was used to render salts and fats. It combined salt water and ash and rendered fat to make soap. It passed to my Aunt and when she moved into a condo she gave it to my mother who planted petunias in it. My mother knew the history of it so passed it to me. I now use it for scrying and for ritual use when it’s calls for on special occasions when really BIG work is needed. To cure the cauldrons for use from time to time I boil a mixture of purifying solution in it using rosemary and clove with a pinch of tobacco. I will let it dry in the sun and coat it with a salt and lard mixture. I then place it in the oven (removing the racks if necessary) on low heat for about 12 hours. I then wipe it out and place 7 of the sacred woods in it and burn it slowly. I then take the wood ash out and give it back to Mother Ocean or Mother Earth. The last scrying tool I use is a rubber raft. There is a lagoon very close by where I live that is quite deep. It is the home to many wonderful water spirits. I will take my raft out and lie on it and gaze into the water. The water is very clear, when looking into it I have found that I find myself scrying and receive many interesting visions dancing within its depths. Once in a while a loggerhead turtle will pop it’s head up causing me quite a surprise! These are some of my experiences. It is a wonderful way to help see things that may not be clear, or to clear things that may be unseen… HAPPY SCRYING !!! Ancient texts reveal that soap was created by the Gods. It was a custom to have burnt offerings on the altars; as a result, the elements would present themselves and rail upon the offering. The element of Air would give the fire life. The element of fire would purify the offering, and burn it to ashes. The element of Water would wash and combine and mix this sacred mixture. The element of Earth would form it into a solid mass and transform it into a pure white creamy substance known to us now as SOAP…Truly the gift of the Gods. 　 Sources: Tyson, John. Scrying for Beginners, 1997 Llewllyn Publications. Rapheal, Kathrina. Crystal Enlightenment, Vol. 1, 1985 Aurora Press Walker, Dael, The Crystal Book, 1983 Published by the Crystal Company Melody. Love is in the Earth, A Kaleidoscope of Crystals, 1995 Earth Love Publishing House. 　 SummerGaile is studying under the Leadership of the Rev. Kerritwyn , High Priestess of The Sacred Three Goddess School, and was recently initiated as an Adept . She has been walking the Path of the Goddess for many years and rejoices with Her each and every day. She comes from a background of Braucheri and Hexeri, which is a family tradition handed down to her by oral tradition, and also a certified practitioner of Hoo Doo. She is versed in various religious traditions known in the Caribbean as Santeria. She enjoys living in the lower keys surrounding Key West, and travels frequently to the surrounding Islands. She is Blessed to be a member of this wonderful Sisterhood.
2009-04-21 13:46:57	1	Beltaine : May Day of Sex Drugs & Rock-n-Roll	Beltaine : May Day of Sex Drugs & Rock-n-Roll		Beltaine : May Day of Sex Drugs & Rock-n-Roll By High Priestess Stephanie Donald No doubt most people reading this have celebrated Beltaine. The celebration, although known by many different names throughout the world, has a universal observation in many cultures. Throughout Europe, Great Britain and Scandinavia it is usually observed on or around May 1 and consists of the phallic maypole dance. While the Maypole is still an active part of the celebrations, there are few who understand the symbolism of it anymore. To many it’s just “cute” to dance around a pole with ribbons and interweave those ribbons so they braid down the pole. The significance of the Maypole centers on love and fertility or mating. It’s generally regarded as a celebration of the male penis and its contribution to a woman becoming pregnant. That it happens in late spring is a testament to the power of the resurrection of life to Mother Gaia and her power to inspire people to find and fall in love with each other. Many people don't know about the ancient traditions of the Spartan and Early Greek and Roman cultures. Since these were primarily warrior cultures and men would hardly ever be around long enough to act as a parent to a child because of their certain death in some ridiculous war, many women developed cultural traditions of their own that negated the “father” figure in raising children and in many traditions where Artemis or Diana were the guiding Goddesses of these communities of women, men were little more than a means to impregnate the women so they might have children at all. Socrates told of the ancient traditions of women on the Island of Crete that used the young warrior/guards of their kingdom in a May ritual involving the Priestesses of the community gathering the young women of the realm together and they would drug the men into near unconsciousness and then basically rape the men over and over, moving from one man to the next to ensure impregnation and also so that they would never be sure which man was actually the father of their child so no emotional attachment would be formed. After the children were born they were basically raised by all the women of the village or city and once a certain age had been reached, the male children were given to the adult men for training to become warriors and the female children were given in service to the temple of Artemis as handmaidens where they would eventually participate in the May ritual of drugging and raping the men to continue the cycle. While most of us can't condone rape no matter who is doing the raping there is certain logic to developing a culture where no emotional attachment to men might be desirable. For instance, in today’s world where many men are seeming to reclaim the supposed superiority of being male (scoff!) a recent Master’s & Johnson survey has shown that 7 out of 10 women under the age of 45 claim to be at least bisexual if not forsaking men altogether and being lesbian. Perhaps this is necessary in order to reshuffle society into women changing the attitudes and priorities of men so that a balance toward equality takes place. For most women who have called themselves heterosexual and endured an endless stream of quasi-Christian overtones to society, the forsaking of the male species isn't hard to imagine. I can't think of a single woman I know who is married to a man who hasn't felt at one time or another that they have been treated badly by their mate just because they are female. Perhaps this attitude is also being somehow primordially and subconsciously generated within women in order to curb the out of control growth of the population as well. It’s possible that the men, by acting immaturely and with ultra-machismo, are driving women from them subconsciously in response to the overpopulation of Mother Gaia. Perhaps Mother Gaia has a sense of humor and we have really have no idea what the grand design for the human race really is. Whatever the overall plan of the universe is, it’s about time we as followers of the Wiccan/Pagan faith should examine ourselves and our interrelations and actions with each other before we push forward in some futile stupidity that results in our extinction. Men need to learn unconditional equality of the Goddess and the women need to learn how to teach this to them and show the patience the Goddess gave us in order to help change our society from a brutal patriarchy into a shared society where all are responsible for making decisions and we all take equal responsibility for ourselves and each other if we truly want a world based on love and not hate, distrust and self-loathing. The recent U.S. Presidential elections made the hatred of the feminine apparent when society was faced with two extremes of bigotry; racial and misogyny, and decided that racial bigotry meant less to them overall than their hatred of the feminine. As a society in general even though supposedly women’s liberation has advanced over the past several decades, it’s still apparent that not only does misogyny exist strongly in the male population but sadly it is extremely strong in the female population as well. So during this Beltaine celebration, instead of celebrating the phallus, it might be a better idea of we celebrated both the masculine and feminine equally in keeping step with the changes we need to effect upon ourselves before we can effect the rest of society. From Down The Lane, Volume 11, Issue 1.
2009-03-02 15:39:24	1	Imbolc For Dummies	See Any Groundhogs Here? Imbolc for Dummies		See Any Groundhogs Here? Imbolc for Dummies By Stephanie Donald After an arduous search into the origins of Imbolc or the Festival of Brighid, I must regretfully inform you that groundhogs just don't seem to share the Wiccan/Pagan tradition with us. As near as I can tell, the groundhog legend seems to have come from North America in the 18th century when Benjamin Franklin dedicated some notable passages about the thoughts of whether or not winter goes on according to the adrenaline level of a groundhog seeing it’s own shadow in his ever-popular Poor Richard’s Almanac. It’s an interesting notion but one I'm sure was meant to be more jest than fact. Although in Pennsylvania they seemed to have turned it into a tourist industry with Pauxatawnee Phil, the “Prognosticator of Prognosticators!” I actually think it’s more of an excuse for the large German-American contingent living in or near Pauxatawnee, Pennsylvania to kick back, play polkas and get smashed for one day (not that they need that much excuse because the German people are always up for a good party!). The Festival of Brighid is sort of a multi-representational celebration of dedication to the Craft, a celebration of the return of the stirrings of life to Gaia (for those in colder climates where seasonal growth is an issue) and in the old days of farming it was a time to sort the farm animals for breeding. In general, it’s more of a celebration of life than any other tradition we have. It was so much a celebration of life that early Anglican Priests and Clergy would often join in the celebrations much to the consternation of the Church of Rome. It became so much an argument in fact that several Popes found examples of a “Brigid” or “Bridget” (darn Popes always had to change the names, the dates or something about any Wiccan/Pagan tradition, didn't they?) in different cultures so they could make a sort of legend of a Saintly woman who was (supposedly) generous, kind and above all mischievous. After all, we can't let those darned Pagans not be concerted so let’s make sure we completely destroy the traditional Wiccan/Pagan pantheons of faith. In one Irish example I found, Brighid was the daughter of an Irish king who sought to sell her off to another nearby king (oh, the good old days, eh?) at the ripe old age of 14. She became bored of the talk of coin of the realm and real estate and stole her father’s sword and gave it to a leper outside the castle of the king they were visiting. I guess she thought arming a leper would be fairly harmless as their arm holding the sword might drop off at any moment anyway. Her father was not amused but the other king and talked her father out of switching her to within an inch of her life. He refused to marry her or buy her but he saved her anyway. These stories seem to be one part wishful thinking and two parts Irish blarney but they're amusing nonetheless. My step-grandfather was a second generation Irish-American named Joe Gill. If ever an Irishman kissed the blarney stone it was certainly Grandpa Joe. His stories kept me amused for months when I was a child. He often told stories about St. Brigid and her supposed antics with a wild blue glint in his eye. During this festival it’s Wiccan/Pagan tradition to dedicate yourself for the first time or if you've felt you haven't followed the path closely enough for the past year, to re-dedicate yourself to it for the coming year. In other words; it’s a time for new initiates or for those who have lost their path. We also refer to this holiday as “Candlemas” in deference to the ceremony surrounding that initiation or dedication ceremony. Any true ritual of Wicca/Paganism concerns the gift of fire and candles are always the centerpiece of any proper altar. This is a tradition that the Roman Catholic Church borrowed from us. Whenever you enter an active church you can see candles burning whenever the church is open to the public. Novena candles are directly from us in the way of dedication to the spirit but like so many other Catholic traditions, they took free choice out the equation and made it so someone else lights a candle for you as if you are to be pitied. In our traditions we light candles for ourselves and dedicate them to the proper spirit without having it shoved down our throats. Even if you aren't a member of a Coven and are a solitary practitioner, it’s usually a good idea to rededicate yourself to the Craft every Candlemas and to remember that we need to stay true to our beliefs even when the rest of the world tells us we're wrong. Bright Blessings and a wonderful Festival of Brighid! From Down The Lane, Volume 10, Issue 12.
2008-12-10 11:45:03	1	Yule Tidings: Santa Claus Was Real	A History of Yule & Santa Claus		Yule Tidings: Santa Claus Was Real By High Priestess Stephanie Donald A few years ago Bill O’Reilly of Fox News began spewing the most venomous garbage about how Christmas was under attack and that Christians everywhere should be defending the sanctity of the birth of Christ! I find this situation more than amusing considering that what O’Reilly and the Christians are defending is their rights to claim for their own a holiday that has for thousands of years been a Pagan holiday and was usurped by the Roman Catholic Church in order to entice more Pagans to convert to Christianity. The whole idea that their “Christmas” is under attack is so absurd that if it weren't so absolutely ridiculous that those of us who are Wiccan/Pagan would either have to laugh or cry. The Christians hold dear a number of Pagan traditions during this holiday season that have absolutely nothing to do with Christ, even given that theological scholars have shown that Christ was born in July and not December, which include the lighted evergreen tree, exchanging of gifts, big feasts and celebrations and my favorite; Santa Claus. Although the name of Santa Claus has changed through lore and intent through the centuries his intent was always Pagan and always will be Pagan. No amount of Christianization can pervert his figure from it’s original intent and most likely it was taken from one or more real people who kept the metaphor alive through possibly more than one millennia. Prior to the 7th century A.D. the figure of “Santa Claus” is probably taken from the Germanic figure of the God Odin and the legend of his Solstice hunting party through the sky on his eight-legged horse, Sleipnir (eight-legged horse or eight tiny reindeer, far too similar to even speculate). On the night of the Winter Solstice the children would fill their boots up with carrots and hay so that Sleipnir would be able to have something to eat on the hunt and in gratitude Odin would leave gifts behind in place of the snacks for his horse. From that we get the stockings by the fireplace in modern times. During the years when the press was on from the Roman-Catholic Church to convert Pagans there was no such thing as “Christmas” and in fact many of the modern Christian holidays were considered to be heretical to Christian doctrine. The problem was that there were still many Pagans in the world and the more tightly the Papacy declared festivals and holidays to be heretical the more potential converts they were losing. During the turning point of Rome during the 14th century the internal motto apparently became “if you can't beat them join them and if you can't join them kill them”. It was during that period of time that the betrayal of the Knights of Templar happened, the Malleus Maleficarum was written and imposed on women worldwide and the incorporation of two most important Pagan holidays were taken in by Rome in an effort to stamp out Paganism once and for all: Yule and May Day. May Day was the Pagan festival of spring and the first harvest. Often it was considered a celebration of unions between lovers, the conception of children and the resurrection of life after the death of winter. It isn't hard to imagine the Pope sitting in the Vatican and scratching his beard considered the resurrection of life from winter and the resurrection of Christ in legend to be so close that the two should be married in order to bind Paganism and Christianity in intent in his mind, anyway. Call is Easter (actually another theft from Paganism of the Goddess Oester or Celtic Goddess of fertility). Yule was much more puzzling and troubling for the tyrants in Rome to overcome. All Christian theologians knew and had agreed since the Council of Nicaea that Christ was born in what is on the modern calendar the month of July. Nothing regarding the observation of Christ’s birth involved snow, gifts (other than the gift to man of his supposed “son”), lighted trees or festivals to observe his birth and especially not at the Winter Solstice but this was not a festival that Pagans were willing to easily give up. With a whole lot of slashing and burning, the legend of the three wise men was quickly written into the birth of Christ legend, the tree was meant to symbolize the light of God and it was perfectly okay to observe the birth of the son of God in December and it would be called Christ’s Mass. However, Odin was not invited to the party. It was pretty easy to rewrite Christianity since only about 1% of the population could actually read at this point. This Papal decree still angered many Pagans who decided to keep the old ways alive and through many small villages they still observed the traditional Pagan ways with Odin making his Solstice rounds usually being chased by a legion of the Vatican Army trying to arrest him for heresy. No matter how hard they tried the tradition still endured until in the 15th century a Roman Catholic Bishop of Turkey by the name of Nicholas began handing out gifts to the children every Christ’s Mass going door-to-door. He was a plump fellow with a big flowing beard who wore the red hat and red robes of the Bishop. In the 17th century the Vatican declared him St. Nicholas. He had single-handedly wrestled the problem of Odin over to the church by twisting the legend ever so slightly to their favor. Meanwhile, the keepers of the old faith had to run from the Vatican guard and they began moving north to evade them to ever more cold and desolate lands which probably gave birth to the legend of Santa Claus moving to the North Pole. In either event, the legend continues, albeit changed, with the Pagan overtones intact to this day. From Down The Lane, Volume 10, Issue 10.
2008-11-18 12:17:36	1	Scrying - A Modern Look At An Ancient Art	Sally Taylor, Scrying - a Modern Look at an Ancient Art		Sally Taylor, Scrying - a Modern Look at an Ancient Art ---------------------------------------------------------- Scrying, the art of gaining telepathic information by gazing into crystals, began thousands of years ago. Ancient civilizations revered crystals, believing they had magical powers. The people thought that the gods would deliver mystical wisdom to the meditator through the stones. Battles, travel, healing, diets, and even decisions about the ruling of kingdoms were often planned according to wisdom imparted to scryers from their stones. Today the art of scrying is still widely practiced, but has lost a bit of it's mystery as we have gained knowledge of the reactions between energy and crystals. We now know that crystals vibrate with their own frequencies. They also absorb frequencies they are exposed to and can actually store this input within them. The stone has the capability to amplify these vibrations as well. Scientists actually use crystals to slow the speed of light, and many are used in communication devices. Because of their capacity to store energy information much as your brain does, crystals are also being used in the construction of a new type of computer. It is the capacity of the crystal to play back stored information in the form of energy for your brain to pick up and decipher that gives the crystal its "magical" power. When you pick up a crystal which is on a frequency level that is compatible with your own, you gain access to this stored information. The compatability of frequencies is the reason that you will find some crystals will work for you and others will not. Being that emotions and thoughts have also their own frequencies, "bad" vibrations can be stored just as easily as "good" vibrations. In other words, you can pick up a crystal that will have negative reactions. These negative vibrations can become so amplified that a stone can actually become known to be cursed. This is the case with some very famous gemstones. (See the article about the cursed black diamond in the Station 1 Connector newsletter for an example of cursed gemstones: http://www.rockhoundstation1.com/newsletter.html - December, 2005 issue. Archives are at the bottom of page if you are reading this after December). The main rule here is that if you have bad feelings from a crystal, or bad things happen to you while in contact with a crystal, it is best to avoid the stone completely. Something is not right with the frequency or stored energy in the stone. So how do you find the right one? Choosing the right stone may be a bit easier than you may think it would be. You may have a particular crystal in mind when you begin your search for the right one. While browsing for that crystal, it is likely that another one may catch and hold your attention or your eye. When you continue your search, you will find that you are continually being drawn back to that crystal. You may be so strongly attracted to a crystal that it seems to be actually calling to you. That is the crystal you will want to choose. It attracts you because it's frequencies and information storage are right for you. Before using a crystal for scrying purposes, you will want to clean the stone to erase any interfering frequencies from the surface. This can be done in a few different ways. Most people soak the crystal in a water and sea salt solution for 24 hours before use. Some bury the stone in natural fiber cloth such as silk or linen. After cleansing, the stone may be left in sun or moonlight for a while to "charge" it much as you would recharge a battery. This process is claimed to amplify the stone's energies quite effectively. Once you have the stone prepared for scrying, place it against a background that aid visual contact with the stone. A plain white background can be effective for this for most crystals. Now notice any patterns you may see in the stone. Clear your mind as you watch the stone and patterns within it. Don't bother adapting a frozen stare, just watch it naturally. Soon you will see images or patterns evolving in the stone. You won't be thinking these things – you will physically see them. Once you see the patterns or images, ideas will come to you about them. Pay attention to these ideas, but let them flow freely. What is happening is that the stone is releasing stored energy to you, or converting energy it is receiving from you into ideas. By using the stone's stored and active energy flows you can learn about events from the past or about connections you have to events in the universe that might go unrealized without the amplification of the energies by your crystal. You will be able to see the effects of your energies on the stone as many crystals will start to change visually with continued use, and develop cloudy spots or change of color. These changes in no way should be viewed as spoiling the stone. They are just natures way of showing us that the crystal's power to amplify, store, convert, and distribute energy are quite physical processes and have much less to do with magic than our ancestors realized. --------------------------------------- © 2007 Sally Taylor: You don't have to be Indiana Jones to find gemstones and fossils or prospect for gold and artifacts. Come on over to http://www.rockhoundstation1.com and learn how easy it is to turn those dull weekends into a life of adventure. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/? expert=Sally_Taylor http://EzineArticles.com/?Scrying--- a-Modern-Look-at-an-Ancient-Art&id=118421 From The New Ager E-Zine, Issue #3.
2008-11-18 12:07:07	1	Basic Meditation Techniques	Barbara Chatterton-Luuring, Basic Meditation Techniques		Barbara Chatterton-Luuring, Basic Meditation Techniques ---------------------------------------------------------- The goal of meditation is to foster a sense of renewal brought on by deliberately calming the mind and relaxing the body. Meditation has existed probably as long as humankind has – hunter-gatherers thousands of years ago experienced the same relaxation from staring into the flickering flames of a fire that today's busiest mulit- tasker enjoys. Meditation can sharpen your focus, heighten your abilities, and enable you to transcend barriers. It can lower your blood pressure, increase your life span, and improve your sex life. Used correctly and consistently, there isn't much it cannot do. Well worth setting aside 5 to 20 minutes a day, wouldn't you agree? You will feel more refreshed if you are able to practice these techniques in a dimly- lit, quiet environment, but they can be done anywhere, anytime. Begin by focusing on your breathing. Believe it or not, we can become so stressed that we actually forget to breathe. Each time that happens, we're literally killing ourselves by increments. Sit up straight, but comfortably. Be aware of the way the vertebrae line up as they ascend your back to your neck; rock yourself gently till you discover the alignment that feels both natural and aware. Close your eyes and explore your physical body with your mental awareness. Feel how your feet connect to your legs, how your knees and hips are balancing your weight, how your chest and belly feel, how your shoulders and neck are supporting your head. Relax anything that is tense – lower your shoulders, arrange your shoulder blades so they form a triangle with the base of your spine, gently swivel your head to release any tension in your neck. Breathe in through your nose slowly and direct the breath to your belly and sides. Place your palms on your belly or sides to help the air find its way there. As your lower torso fills with air, begin directing your breath into your lungs and chest. Again, place your palms lightly over your chest and feel the air filling your body. Finally, fill the tops of your lungs, which will cause your shoulders to rise slightly. Put your shoulders back down into a neutral position. You are now full of air, but not overfull. Your blood is receiving a mega dose of oxygen. Your cells are expanding. You are becoming more than you were. And now it is time to release the air – your body has taken from it what it needs. Exhale slowly and gently through your slightly open mouth. If it helps you focus, make a low noise as you release the air. The air from your upper body leaves first, and as you reach the air in your belly and sides, you need to gently push it out using your abdominal and flank muscles. After all the air has been expelled, allow your body to tell you when it is time to begin slowly inhaling again through your nose. The inhalations will follow naturally after the exhalations – you do not need to artificially time them. Breathe in and out like this for a total of ten in- and exhalations. Now place your index finger under your eyebrow, near the bridge of your nose. Press gently but firmly in with your finger for a count of five, and release the pressure. Count to five, and repeat the action for another count of five and release. Repeat this for a total of five times. Now reach your right arm across your body and place the index and middle fingers of your right hand on the muscle just above your left shoulder blade. Gently press in using a circular motion, as if you were drawing circles on a wall in front of you using your right elbow. Continue for 10 seconds. Repeat using your left fingers on your right shoulder. Finally, stand up. Again, be aware of how your feet are planted on the ground (approximately at shoulder width) and how your thigh muscles and butt muscles feel. If you need to relax them, do that. Feel how your vertebrae are stacked up, and gently roll and twist your torso to find the relaxed but aware position that feels most natural to you. Be aware of your shoulders and lower and relax them if they are tense. Gently roll your head on your neck to release the tension hiding there. Breathe in, and as you slowly exhale, lower your head as if you were laying your chin on your chest. Gently bow your shoulders forward and inward, as if you were slowly curling in on yourself. Continue to roll yourself in and down, vertebrae by vertebrae. When you reach your waist, bend forward and let gravity take you over. Your arms are dangling, your head is dangling, and your upper body is totally relaxed. Relax your thighs and butt muscles if they have tensed up. Take a slow, deep breath in through your nose, and as you expel it, slowly right yourself. Begin with your waist, and slowly straighten your spine from the lowest vertebrae up, until your head is once again facing forward as it was when you began. Gently shake your hands and arms out from your shoulders. Gently shake your feet and legs out from your hips. Though this takes only approximately ten minutes, you'll find yourself feeling refreshed and energized, calm and ready for whatever tasks await you. Written by Barbara Chatterton-Luuring Yoga practitioner and student of Chinese healthcare -----------------AUTHOR BIO------------------ Barbara Chatterton is a Jane of All Trades who has travelled much of the US and Western Europe with her eyes and ears open to her One True Path. She's currently focusing her inner light on her large family in the Netherlands and finds artistic release in her handcrafts, some of which can be seen in her Etsy shop at www.mainelystitching.etsy.com. from The New Ager E-Zine, Issue #3.
2008-09-17 09:53:36	1	Quartz	Quartz		Quartz Early scholars theorized that Quartz formed from ice that had frozen so hard, for so long that it would never melt. Fossilized ice. Both the Greeks and Japanese came to this conclusion because so much of the material these two cultures used came from deep caverns and tall mountains where temperatures rarely warmed up. Eventually geological science would show that Quartz formed under much warmer conditions, but our fascination with this clear crystal has yet to cool down. The term Quartz actually refers to a large galaxy of silicate minerals and gemstones that include Amethyst, Citrine, Rose Quartz, Jaspers, Agates and other Chalcedonies (like Carnelian). For this article, we will be discussing clear and milky Quartz, sometimes referred to as Rock Crystal. We'll examine the Smokey Quartz more closely in a future article next month. Quartz is one of the most prevalent minerals on our planet, making up 12% of the Earth's crust. Nearly every gemstone (with the exception of the Diamond) has at least some traces of Silica (Quartz) in its chemical make-up. Pure Quartz (aka Rock Crystal) has a very simple chemical formula, Silicon and Oxygen (Si02). There are three basic processes under which gemstones and crystals will form; from the magma dispersed during a volcanic eruption; through the escape of extremely hot water and pressures referred to as hydrothermal activity and during metamorphic processes such as erosion and the accumulation of sediment. Quartz will form as a result of any of these events, which may account for its ubiquitous presence on our planet. While this crystal is available in abundance, some locations yield specimens with unique traits. Arkansas Quartz is some of the purest and clearest in the world. Before area mines began commercial production, farmers would carry wagon loads of clusters and points to sell in Hot Springs and Little Rock. Today the Coleman mines in Jessieville Arkansas are the largest Quartz producing mines in the world. Brazil has gained a reputation for producing some of the biggest Quartz specimens. The largest single crystal found in Brazil weighed 90,000 pounds. Near the mines in Mina Gerais points up to 60 pounds can be found laying about on the ground. California's Sutters Mill, the site of the mid 1800's Gold rush is famous for sizable deposits of Quartz containing Gold veins. Herkimer county in New York is known for its unique double terminated crystals called Herkimer Diamonds. The diamond reference comes from the tendency of these crystals to be short and stocky, giving them an appearance similar to raw Diamonds. Some Tibetan crystals have the unique ability to "sing" when struck with other crystals. Water clear double terminated points are found "floating" (having no attachment point) in the rich Carpathian sandstone of Northeast Hungary. Sometimes called Marmorosch diamonds in reference to the Marmoros Comitat region of Hungary where they occur. Cornish diamonds are Quartz crystals found in Cornwall England. Along the slopes of the Befoure mountains in Madagascar, huge blocks of clear Quartz, some weighing up to 100 pounds, are collected and brought to markets. Quartz comes from the old word (either German or Saxon) quarz, which means cross vein ore. The Greeks called Quartz, Krystallos, their word for ice. Humans have welcomed this clear crystal friend into their lives from their earliest beginnings. Quartz jewelry has been excavated from grave sites in Mexico and Central America that pre-date Columbus' visit. Nero reputedly kept a huge collection of wine jugs, vases, drinking cups and goblets, all fashioned from pure, clear Krystallos. Early lenses fashioned from this crystalline gemstone helped people to light fires. Similar lenses were also used in the battlefield to cartherize wounds. Artisans in Egypt created a technique for glazing Quartz and substituting it for Turquoise. Numerous spiritual traditions grew around the use Quartz crystals. Various Native American tribes and the Aborigines utilized the crystals in ceremonies to call the Rain and healing rites. Japanese legends claimed that Quartz was created from the breath of a Great White Dragon. The crystal represented absolute perfection and embodied the life long pursuit of achieving it. Chinese Emperor Wu ordered the building of many shrines dedicated to various gods and spirits. He had the doors of these sacred places made from large pieces of Rock Crystal, to allow the space to be flooded in light. Perhaps the most popular and perpetual use for Quartz has been the crystal ball. Long favored as a tool for divination, these spheres also served a practical purpose. Hindu, Roman and Greek societies used small Quartz spheres as reading balls. They would roll the spheres over the text, magnifying it, and making it easier for older scholars to read. When and how humans first began fashioning clear Quartz into rounded balls has slipped away with the memories of unwritten history. Though a highly tedious method developed by the Japanese has been handed down to us in minute detail. A specimen is first chiseled into a rough round shape. Then, slowly and precisely the sphere is rolled in an iron trough. The trough is filled with water and sand, which gently smoothes the rough shape and in a few years you have a perfectly round Quartz sphere. Then the final step, hand polish the sphere with a rouge to even out an remaining rough spots. Flawless spheres of clear Quartz are rarely over 5 inches and their cost can be outrageous. A seven inch sphere from Japan was sent for display to the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, 1876. At that time a four in sphere was valued at $2,500. At Chicago's Colombian Exposition in 1893 a 6.5 inch flawless sphere from American Quartz was appraised at $10,000. The Smithsonian's Museum of Science and History has the largest perfect crystal sphere in American. This 107 pound sphere (almost 13 inches in diameter) was given a value of $250,000 in 1938. Always a very popular magical tool, Quartz also offers a wide range of practical applications for humans. One of the few crystals that exhibits piezoelectric properties (will generate voltage in response to mechanical stress), Quartz plays an active role in electronics, computers, watches, and wide range of personal data devices. Quartz crystals are what powered our earliest radios and continue to power our most sophisticated digital tools. Prior to mastering the manufacturing glass, the rich often adorned their tables with decorative Quartz crystal goblets and serving dishes featuring elaborate carvings. Today the crystal serves us in much more mundane applications such as abrasives like sandpaper, for strengthening cement and concrete, enhancing porcelain glazes and adding luster to paints. The purity of Quartz's make-up and its energetic electric properties make this gemstone the most versatile and powerful of the crystal tools. You'll find this Mother Stone very responsive to your wishes, especially if you take the time to honor and understand each crystals' unique Spirit. It is never wise to ask too many things of one individual crystal, but it is possible to meet many different Quartz spirits to assist with a wide variety of tasks. Quartz gems come in a wide array of shapes and with many different potential powers. Learn to trust your instincts, choose pieces you are drawn to, then take the time to get to know your new crystal companion. Many individuals associate double terminated crystal with protective powers, but your personal meditations may show that your double point is a guide to assist you in choosing directions that are appropriate for your path. Do not worry about what others have written before you, listen to what your own heart hears now, with your crystal in hand. Placing a Quartz point on your Third Eye during meditation will help clarify messages or lessons sent to you during this time. It will also assist you in recalling the information later helping you to incorporate your new teachings in your daily life. Its reputation as a superior tool for divination and seeing past the veil is ancient and well earned. But be careful not to spend too much time peeking ahead of time. The future is a fluid motion that is constantly influenced by our choices. Choosing between a right turn or a left turn can have a profound impact on what happens next. Choice, not prophecy is the true key to the future. Use your Quartz as a wishing stone. Find the right one to whisper your dreams to. Keep it under your pillow every night from the New Moon until the Full Moon. Beneath the light of the Full Moon, whisper your wish one last time to your crystal than bury it back in Mother Earth visualizing it as a seed from which your dream will grow and become real. Quartz crystals make excellent companion stones. It can help keep your instincts sharp, provide protective energies and even give you an added physical boost if you're tired or feeling sad. These gems are also delightful story tellers if you have the patience to listen. It is said that a Quartz point is a recorder and remembers all that it has come in contact with. These crystals were a part of Mother's birthing process, it's a powerful story of chaos and creation if you have a moment to get quiet and hear. The atomic molecules that make up a Quartz crystal focus their energy (and the growth of the crystal) in a spiraling fashion towards the terminating point. This concentrated focus of atomic energy make crystal points the perfect tip for a wand. It allows your intention to be focused and projected with a more perfect will. You can use a Quartz to charge or cleanse other gemstones and crystals. Natural clusters are especially effective for this purpose, though an individual stone can be just as effective when it has been dedicated for that job. Healers will enjoy the diversity that Quartz tools can offer. A very powerful Chakra tool, the right crystal point can clear and open all of the key Chakra points. Allowing for a clear pathway for the Kundulini, when it is ready to be awakened. A crystal may also be tuned to cleanse the Aura and help boost the body's natural immune system. Keep a cluster of Quartz points in your healing space. Use it for shielding out harmful energies, or for absorbing energies released during your healing sessions. Be sure to cleanse any crystal or gemstone used for this purpose on a regular basis. Physicians from the early middle ages utilized Quartz to relieve fevers by placing the crystal under the tongue. This gemstone is also beneficial in teaching the body to heal itself. It may also aid with removing toxins from the body, improving circulation and easing digestive problems. -----------------Author Info------------------ http://www.ozarkrockexchange.com Stephanie Pflumm has been researching and writing about crystals since 1999. She is editor and publisher of the free online ezine, ORE FEATURES, which is issued monthly. Pflumm has also published short stories and poetry in her ezine, other internet publications and at Witches Voice. In addition she owns and manages the website http://www.ozarkrockexchange.com which offers one of the largest online selections of gems and crystals including both polished and raw specimens.
2008-08-11 10:15:39	1	Crystal Healing	Crystal Healing		Crystal Healing In Celebration of Lammas - Using Crystals for Abundance by Spiralotus Abundance is the connection to the source of all that is; manifesting a constant flow to support, nourish and expand life as well as creativity. In Chinese Feng Shui the wealth corner is the corner farthest away and to the far left of the front door or the southeast corner, depending on what system you use. If you like to use this system you can set up crystals to attract various forms of abundance there. Some crystals that are associated with abundance are usually green, yellow, gold or orange. However there are other stones that do not have those colors and work just as well. Yellow Sapphire is associated with Ganesh, Hindu god of prosperity. This stone attracts wealth to the home. An Abundance Crystal is a Quartz crystal with one long part and many tiny crystals at the base to encourage dreams, well-being, and love. Tiger's Eye helps people with material things and assists by showing the best way to do something. It stimulates wealth and helps create stability to maintain wealth. Citrine should be placed in your wealth corner to attract abundance. Carnelian improves motivation and getting out of a rut. Peridot brings wealth quickly and is best for someone who already has things under control. Topaz helps you appreciate life and makes room for abundance. It taps into your own natural resources and because its facets carry both negative as well as positive charges, it helps manifest desires. When you decide on a crystal to use cleanse it first by running it under water, charging it in the sun or moon, putting it in a pyramid, or if you are a Reiki practitioner, simply Reiki your crystal. Some people put their crystals in sea salt. This is a great way to cleanse them, just make sure the crystal that you are working with will not be damaged by the salt. Always throw away your salt when you are done. You can program your crystal to attract a specific form of abundance by holding it in your hands and picturing what you want to manifest in your life. Make sure you keep your area for your crystal clean and charged. Periodically smudging the area will help you with this. In your abundance area you may wish to include something that represents Deity to you and perhaps the type of abundance you want to bring into your life. Being as specific as possible helps to create the energy you wish to attract. As your wealth increases in material, spiritual, and emotional areas be sure to give thanks for what has manifested in your life. Spiralotus is High Priestess with the Order of the White Moon. As a Reiki Master and Herbalist, she trains women in the healing arts. From Season of The Moon Volume 5, Issue 5.
2008-06-17 16:26:16	1	Reiki Symbols – Secret or Sacred?	Reiki Symbols – Secret or Sacred?		Reiki Symbols – Secret or Sacred? By Elmarie Swartz The word Reiki means Universal Life Force Energy. It is defined as being that power which acts and lives in all created matter. The word consists of two parts. The first syllable "REI" pronounced "ray" describes the universal, limitless aspect of this energy, the wisdom and knowledge of "All that Is".The second syllable "KI" pronounced "kee" describes the vital life force energy which flows through all living beings and is in itself very much part of part one, "REI". Throughout the history of mankind diverse healing methods have always existed which were based on the transference of universal, interpenetrating life force energy, the same energy which brings forth all life in the universe and nourishes it. As humans beings we are all born with Reiki ability as it is a God given right. By that I mean that the "Universal Life Force" which comes directly from "Source" is present within all of us. The Ancients knew this as they lived closer to Source and this knowledge was part of their everyday reality. As humans evolved this innate knowledge was forgotten and we started depending more and more on tangible manmade remedies and cures. Power, fear and control became part of daily life and the selected few that still had access to this knowledge surrounded same in a shroud of secrecy and exclusivity resulting in the general perception that this God given gift was the property these select few therefore perpetuating the myth of separateness. Today we know this to be untrue as at this momentous time in the history of Humanity and the Earth, so much knowledge and information that had roots deep in the past is surfacing giving everyone the opportunity of understanding our unique and important role as creators of our own realities and therefore the "All That Is, Is One". The knowledge of Reiki would have remained lost forever had Dr. Mikao Usui not rediscovered the key which led to the recovery of a thousand-year old tradition of healing. As I said previously, Reiki energy is within all of us, all of the time. IT IS AS IT SAYS; Universal Life Force Energy. Because of this, anyone can transfer magnetic energy (Life Force Energy) to another and help speed the healing process. A person who has received the attunements has simply had this natural ability very greatly enhanced. The person's physical and etheric bodies have been tuned to a higher vibratory level and certain energy centres, chakras, have been opened to "channel" higher amounts of Universal Life Force Energy. This focused and concentrated life force energy will flow through his or her hands of its own accord and this ability will be retained for the rest of his or her life. According to the Webster's Online Dictionary: The word SECRET means: 1. Something that should remain hidden from others (especially information that is not to be passed on); "the combination to the safe was a secret"; "he tried to keep his drinking a secret". 2. Information known only to a special group; "the secret of Cajun cooking". The word SACRED means: 1. Concerned with religion or religious purposes; "sacred texts"; "sacred rites"; "sacred music". 2. Worthy of respect or dedication; "saw motherhood as woman's sacred calling" It is my understanding that the power of the sacred (not secret) Reiki symbols lie within the knowledge and understanding of how to activate them and use them after having been attuned to them by a certified Reiki Master Teacher. Therefore by itself, without the attunement, the symbol as such is just a symbol. "The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown." ~ H.P. LOVECRAFT, Supernatural Horror in Literature Therefore by removing the unknown and lifting the veil of secrecy everyone will have the opportunity to rediscover their divinity and re-membering – WE ARE ONE! Author's Bio: This article was lovingly penned by Elmarie Swartz, an accomplished Reiki Master and Crystal Healing practitioner who can be contacted via her website Healing-Journeys-energy.com a place where you will find a lot more information on healing, other articles by Elmarie as well as a unique opportunity for you create your own web page one her site. Article Source: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/reiki_symbols.html
2008-06-17 16:18:14	1	The Origins of Father's Day	Father's Day Origins		Father's Day was originally a pagan holiday, the Great Sky-Father's Day. Part of the week of celebrations leading up to the summer solstice, the day was give over to celebrating the Sky-Father's providing for his human children with his rich gifts of sun and rain. Gifts of sacrificial goats and sheep (recognizable by the festive ribbons bound about their necks) were supplemented with prayers for his continued guidance in the human journey towards spiritual adulthood. The precise transition to the Father's Day we know today is lost in the mists of time, but it seems that several generations of Christian priests gradually attempted to neutralize the pagan rituals by focusing on the literal steps of the ceremonies, rather than their spirutual meanings. The passing of celebratory garlands from sons to fathers was retained, and reemphasized as the central act of the Great Sky-Father's celebration, rather than the sacrifices and prayers. As part of this reinterpretation, the practice of tying ribbons was moved from the animals to the fathers, and appears to be recognizably the origin of the custom of giving ties on Father's Day.
2008-05-05 12:33:18	1	The Sabbats of Wicca	The Sabbats of Wicca		Because witches honor nature, they have eight festivals, or Sabbats, that mark the year as it turns through its seasons. The following is basic information about these Sabbats, and includes both standard Wiccan information as well as my personal Sabbat lore and experiences, in other words, what I perceive the Sabbats to be. Samhain happens near Halloween and is when the Wiccan year begins. My altar cloth is black, because we are in the time of year that is dark. On my altar is the harvest, our "dead Lord" whose life is in the crops and "sacrificed" when the crops are killed to become our food. This is the time of death, of honoring and communing with spirits that have passed to the other side. Now the veil between the worlds is thin. It is a good time to invite our beloved dead to visit with us. This is not a gruesome exchange, but reverent, earthy, natural, further it is joyous and festive. Victor Anderson says "If a ghost of a loved one shows up, ask him to join the party." Yule or winter solstice happens near December 21, which is the longest darkest night of the year. The dark of Winter is safe like my bedcovers at night. Dark whispers of a Mother's love caress me. In the darkness of the Mother's womb, the void I am safe, sustained, at peace. and can move inward, into my own dark self, looking, learning, purifying. I can cleanse myself of all that blocks me from being born new with the rising new solstice sun when the sun king is born, with promises for the Spring ahead. Brigid or Candlemas, on February 2, is the festival of the Goddess Brigid, patron of poetry, healing, and metalsmithing. Brigid's poetry inspires me to shake off winter's sleep now, stretch and start to get ready for Spring. I am still drowsy. Spring Equinox happens about March 21, and I pass from one time into the other, yet am between one time and another. I completely shed winter's sleep. As a time of passing, transition, it is powerful - a time of balance - equal day and equal night - so a time of magic. I am poised between being bound, and the movement of Spring. Bound like sleeping beauty who is released by love's kiss into the violent passion of Spring. Bound as in the cosmic egg, which exploded when the cosmos was hatched. Explosive moment of creation - moving dynamically chaotically. Beltane or May-Day, is a celebration of love. And we're talking Pagan now! Love -- moon rhymes with June, so the universe gets created. LAHV! The Ancient people, from the Priests and Priestesses to the farmers understood the power of love: loving company between two people is an echo of the act that created all things. No, let me rephrase that: it IS the act of creation. Summer Solstice happens about June 21. All things move in spirals, and I watch the year move in a spiral, right now spiraling up to the sun's climax. I celebrate summer and the heat of the Gods. Lammas is August 1. Now the Corn King dies as his body is harvested from the fields so that I may be fed, so that I may live, so that I may go into the winter months of darkness rich with his blood and love in my veins. The Dark King, Shepherd of souls, becomes stronger now. With Winter I will go inward, to the inner depths of my own soul. And HE will embrace me with His love in the coming trials and celebrations of the Wintertime. Some of my crops are harvested and I give thanks. Some of my crops are not yet ready and I must insure their harvest. Fall Equinox happens near or on September 21.Today, the length of night time is equal to the length of daytime. At the Equinox, I become aware that this time is not the balance, or rather the order, one usually sees in nature. Nature is not really balanced. But ordered. A cyprus by the ocean grows windblown by ocean storm and wind, bowing towards the earth. That cyprus is the usual balance or order of nature - stable, poised, in harmony. ALL of nature leans like the ocean-blown cyprus towards the dark earth. But Fall Equinox is a balance of light and dark, night and day and therefore is truly an outlandish moment in time: equality, a equal balancing, an actual moment of balance. I draw on my roots in the darkness, yet revel in the kiss of summer breeze and sun. I face the darkness of the fall and winter ahead and so face mysteries. The Goddess has surprises for me in the wintry months ahead that will surpass my best hopes. Copyright Francesca De Grandis, 1986 through 1996. The wide range of copyright dates are because much of this material is excerpted from lectures, articles, books, and Sabbat rituals I have written over a ten year period. From Down The Lane, Volume 10, Issue 3.
2008-05-05 12:14:08	1	Beltane	Beltane		Beltane by Lila Gather Round the Maypole Friends Twist and Turn and Back Again Dancing, Laughing, Joyful Glee Now pair off lovers, Secretly In Love's embrace The Goddess Grace The May Queen and Consort Lay Entangled Limbs on this Sweet Day Gather Round the Maypole Friends Twist and Turn and Back Again The Lovers Rest in Quiet Heaps In Fall the Bountiful Harvest Reaps The ancient Celts called this holiday Beltane and began celebrating at sunset on April 30th. It marked the beginning of summer, the time to move with the flocks up to the summer pastures. Other names for May Day include: Cetsamhain ('opposite Samhain'), Walpurgisnacht (in Germany), and Roodmas. In Germany, April 30th is Walpurgisnacht, the night when it was believed that witches flew on their brooms to mountaintop gatherings where they danced all night around bonfires. Like Halloween, this is a night when witches, fairies and ghosts wander freely. The veil between the worlds is thin. The Queen of the Fairies rides out on a snow-white horse, looking for mortals to lure away to Fairyland for seven years. Folklore says that if you sit beneath a tree on this night, you will see Her or hear the sound of Her horse's bells as She rides by. If you hide your face, She will pass you by but if you look at Her, She may choose you. Many May Day customs involve flowers and green branches. Flowers are woven into wreaths to exchange as gifts between lovers or to hang on doors as decoration. Hawthorn is particularly auspicious since it begins blooming when the weather is warm enough for planting. Anyone who went out into the woods and found a branch of flowering hawthorn would bring it triumphantly into the village and announcing the start of planting season. However there were warnings about bringing hawthorn into the house, since it would invite the fairies in. The Maypole is a symbol with many meanings. Often celebrated as and considered a phallic symbol, it also resembles the garlanded trees associated with moon goddesses. In the Phrygian rites of Attis, celebrated around the spring equinox, a fir tree was chopped down, wrapped in a shroud and placed in a tomb. Resurrected three days later, it was decorated and danced around. In some places, May Day ceremonies took place beneath a sacred tree, which was not uprooted. These trees represented the world-tree, the axis between heaven and earth. The Maypole dance is a round dance of alternating male and female dancers, weaving in and out, plaiting ribbons as they go. Maypole dances fulfilled social and sacred functions. They helped people flirt and mingle socially and they also raised energy. Bring the May into your life by bringing home green branches, flowers and branches of flowering trees. Transform your house into a bower by making a wreath to hang on the door or to crown your version of the Goddess. This is a time for giving gifts. Gather flowers with special messages for friends and relatives. Make up your own explanation of the meaning of each flower and give it along with the bouquet. For friends at a distance, send pressed flowers or May Day cards or packets of flower seeds. If you can, stay up all night, preferably outdoors. At least go for a walk in the night on April 30th and listen for the bells that herald the approach of the Fairy Queen. And you can run around, under cover of darkness, leaving May baskets of flowers on doorsteps. On the first of May, wear your most colourful clothes or dress all in green (the colour of the fairies). Consider wearing a flower in your hair. Treat yourself like a Goddess. Take a long luxurious bath in scented water. Anoint yourself with oils. Crown yourself with flowers. Indulge yourself. Sip your May wine. Honor your sexual choices. In your journal, recall the times when sex was magical, when you felt alluring or you fell in love. Write about smoldering glances, the times your body caught fire, the sweetness of a first kiss or caress. If you have a partner, celebrate sex as a sacred activity. Make the time you spend together and the space you inhabit special. Light candles or strew the bed with rose petals. Notice how your lover represents the God or Goddess to you. This is the time to celebrate attraction and pleasure. http://www.schooloftheseasons.com/mayday.html Lila is a student of The Sacred Three Goddess school. She lives on a mountain in beautiful British Columbia with her husband, eight cats and ferrets and other varied critters of nature. She spends her time communing with the Faerie folk and long walks by the river. From Spirit of the Moon, Volume 5, Issue 4.
2008-04-28 10:18:17	1	Wicca and Satan Worship	Wicca and Satan Worship		Wicca and Satan Worship Wicca is in no way related to Satan worship. That practice is related to the persecution of Witches by Christians, especially during the medieval and Spanish Inquisitions, though not necessarily by the Inquisitors themselves. The tome entitled "The Mallieus Maleficarum (witches hammer) of 1486, which describes "the three necessary concomitants of witchcraft," namely, "the Devil, a witch, and the permission of Almighty God." The spirit of the witch hunters, however, lives on in the hearts of many devout Christians who continue to persecute Wiccans, among others, as devil worshippers. The modern witch hunters do not demand purgation’s. Rather, they try to abolish Halloween, school mascots, books which mention witches and any sign, symbol or number the Christians associate with Satan. (One local pizza house was even hounded for some markings it had on its delivery boxes. Local witch hunters claimed the markings were satanic signs. The pizza house changed it boxes rather than deal with adverse publicity. On the first day of spring in 1996, a Kansas City newspaper ran an article about a local coven of witches. The story portrayed the all-female group as harmless nature worshippers who dance in circles and ask for blessings from the north, south, east, west, etc. The article prompted a long letter to the editor decrying the naiveté and ignorance of the author of the story on the local coven. Witches are in cahoots with Satan, said the letter writer, who signed off as "a survivor of satanic ritual abuse." The sincerity of the letter writer seemed as genuine as the sincerity of the women of Salem who confessed to being witches. Are the modern day victims of satanic ritual abuse as deluded as the witches hunted down by pious Christians through the centuries who truly believed that they were as evil as their persecutors said they were? Are the Wiccans of today part of a satanic conspiracy? Not likely... If there are Christians who are being systematically abused by Satan worshippers, their abusers are not part of an international conspiracy known as Wicca or associated with the practice of Wicca in any way. ~ Independent contributor. From Down The Lane, Volume 10, Issue 2
2008-03-19 14:17:04	1	Basic Misconceptions of Witchcraft	Basic Misconceptions of Witchcraft		Basic misconceptions of Witchcraft For two thousand years the image of the Witch has been associated with evil, heathenism, and blasphemy. These ideas have their origin in Christian myths created to convert members of the Old Religion to that of the new. By making the Witch into a diabolical character of ill intent and action, the Christian missionaries were able to attach fear to a word that had once meant Healer, Wise One, and Seer. These fears are present to this day. When we think of the archetypal image of the Witch, we remember the evil enchantress of childhood tales. We think of an old, wrinkled hag with a nasty wart on her nose. We think of hexes, and devils, and foul incantations chanted around a bubbling cauldron. While we modern witches have been known to stir up herbal remedies in a cauldron, we are a far cry indeed from the horrifying Wicked Witch of the West! Witches Do Not Worship Satan. To believe in Satan, one must subscribe to the Christian mythos. We do not. Wicca does not have any belief in, nor do we worship a concept of evil incarnate. All life is perceived as a constant flow of positive and negative energies, which intertwine to create the balance of life. [From my own experience, I must say that the only evil I have ever observed in the world has come from Man. There are no ax-murderers, or child-abusers to be found in the animal kingdom, or in nature as a whole. Witches Do Not Cast Evil Spells. Modern Witches have a very strict belief in the Law of Return. Whatever we send out into our world shall return to us, so even the most ill-tempered Witch would not consider doing magick to harm another being. The spells that we do involve things like Healing, Love, Wisdom, Creativity, and Joy. The "potions" that we stir might be a headache remedy, or a cold tonic, or an herbal flea bath for the family dog. [Taken from file text; author unknown] From Down The Lane Volume 10, Issue 1.
2008-02-18 12:28:37	1	The Origins of Valentines Day	The Origins of Valentines Day		Valentine Heart of Our Hearts (c) By Donna Henes, Urban Shaman* The Romans celebrated the sacred sexual frenzy (Febris, in Latin) of the Goddess of amorous love, Juno Februa, on February 14, coinciding with the time when the birds in Italy were thought to mate. These orgiastic rites of the Patroness of Passionate Love, merged with Lupercalia, the festivities in honor of the pagan god, Pan which were observed on the following day, February 15. On Lupercalia, men and women inscribed their names on love notes or billets and then drew lots to determine who their sex partner would be during this festival of erotic games. At last love has come. I would be more ashamed to hide it in cloth than leave it naked. I prayed to the Muse and won. Venus dropped him in my arms, doing for me what she had promised. Let my joy be told, let those who have none tell it in a story. Personally, I would never send off words in sealed tablets for none to read. I delight in sinning and hate to compose a mask for gossip. We met. We are both worthy. --Sulpicia First Century BC Roman Lupercalia, which combined elements of worship of Juno Februa and Her Northern equivalent, the Norse goddess Sjofn, was the original Valentine's Day. Naturally, the fathers of the early Christian Church outlawed its observance as lewd and heathenish. However, they were quite unable to halt the practice. Eventually it was necessary to create a sainted martyr whose feast day would be observed on February 14th. In this way, the Church could sanction a celebration that it simply could not suppress. There are, depending on the source, anywhere from three to eight Saint Valentines. Each has a conflicting biography concocted by a different author. But in every version he emerges as the patron of lovers, bowing to the original intention of the occasion. The first St. Valentine's Day was celebrated in 468 AD In the beginning, the Church attempted to institute the practice of exchanging billets printed with pious sermons and scripture to encourage a holy attitude -- what a dry substitute for a direct experience of divine ecstasy, which the people craved. Needless to say, the experiment failed on a grand scale. By the fourteenth century, the celebration of Valentine's Day had lost all Christian content and had reverted back to the love feasts of old, albeit, tempered by more than a thousand years of church-imposed morality built on the separation and opposition of body and soul. One now strove for perfection of the spirit through the repression of the body. Courtly love, which was chaste and pure, was the ideal in the Middle Ages. The monks of the Middle Ages identified fifteen classes of kisses, only one of which was unchaste: 1. The decorous or modest kiss 2. The diplomatic kiss, or kiss of policy 3. The spying kiss, to ascertain if a woman had drunk wine 4. The slave kiss 5. The kiss infamous (a church penance) 6. The slipper kiss (practiced toward tyrants 7. The judicial kiss 8. The feudal kiss 9. The religious kiss (kissing the cross) 10. The academic kiss (on joining a solemn brotherhood) 11. The hand kiss 12. The Judas kiss 13. The medical kiss (for the purpose of healing some ailment) 14. The kiss of etiquette 15. The kiss of love The symbols of Lupercalia come down to us intact, but thoroughly cleansed, completely abstracted from their original flesh and blood intensity. The cute little chubby Valentine angel so familiar to us, is an insipid and impoverished characterization of Cupid, the Roman equivalent of the Greek god Eros, the Hindu Kama. He was the son of the Roman, Venus and Mercury, The Greek, Aphrodite and Hermes. S/he was thus an Herm-Aphrodite, an embodiment of the duality and opposition of the sexual union. The arrows that Cupid shoots are the phallus, the lingham. These projectiles of passion are often depicted as piercing the heart. The heart, the center of the soul. A bittersweet image which intimates that love hurts. A graphic image of penetration, which is reminiscent of the arrows that Hopi's shoot into rounded bundles of corn as a ceremonial gesture of fertility. But just what is this heart-shaped symbol supposed to signify, anyway? Certainly it bears no resemblance whatsoever to an anatomically correct actual heart. The zoologist, Desmond Morris speculates that the heart symbol represents a bending over buttocks. A form that is reminiscent of the sexual habits of our ancestor kissing cousins, the apes, who do it from behind. PLEASE! Spare me. The horizontal-double-dip-cone-of-a-shape that we call a heart has to be two round breasts riding proudly above the magical fertile triangle of love. A full-figured female torso just like that of the Venus of Willendorf. The tits, hips, and lips of the late Great Mother Earth, Herself. The venerated love of our lives. Let Her never be out of our hearts. My heart, my mother; My heart, my mother! My heart of transformations. --The Egyptian Book of the Dead To read my in-depth articles about the cross-culture myths and rituals of Valentine's Day and other holy days and holidays, order my book:Celestially Auspicious Occasions: Seasons, Cycles and Celebrations. http://www.DonnaHenes.net For inspiration and encouragement to love your Self, order my book, The Queen of My Self http://www.DonnaHenes.net For amulets and charms for love and peace, visit my Cyber Spirit Shop. http://MamaDonnasSpiritShop.com * (c) Permission is granted to copy, reproduce, reprint or promulgate in any manner this copyrighted material so long as correct attribution and contact information is included. Donna Henes is an internationally renowned urban shaman, eco-ceremonialist, award-winning author, popular speaker and workshop leader whose joyful celebrations of celestial events have introduced ancient traditional rituals and contemporary ceremonies to millions of people in more than 100 cities since 1972. She has published four books, a CD, an acclaimed quarterly journal and writes a column for UPI (United Press International) Religion and Spirituality Forum. Mama Donna, as she is affectionately called, maintains a ceremonial center, spirit shop, ritual practice and consultancy in Exotic Brooklyn, NY where she works with individuals, groups, institutions, municipalities and corporations to create meaningful ceremonies for every imaginable occasion.
2007-12-24 10:28:03	1	Frankincense And Myrrh	Frankincense And Myrrh		Frankincense And Myrrh by Karen Stokes, RN The festive Yule season is upon us and we gather with loved ones, sharing in the spirit of giving and good times. I love this season with its intention of love, peace and harmony. Kindness and charity prevail remembering that as far as the universal mind goes, it’s important to always give more than you take. The ancients celebrated the winter solstice this way and the way of peace and harmony was often adhered to during this season. Holiday customs and rituals have certainly changes through the centuries, but the main theme of peace, love and joy can still remain number one to us. There are so many things around to delight our senses this time of year. The scents, tastes, sounds and sights of the holiday can bring us great joy and pleasure. A whiff of the coniferous scents coming from all of the decorative garlands and wreaths make us feel refreshed and balanced. It can also bring about pleasant yuletide memories from the past. The scent-memory connection can be very powerful indeed. Another example of this connection is our response to the mouth-watering aromas of cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger that come from the busy holiday kitchen. No doubt there are many treats in store for us. The sounds of traditional holiday music are a delight as well whether they come from the local church or from the car radio. It’s difficult not to sing along with these uplifting tunes. Music and song can have a profound effect on the brain. Uplifting, joyful melodies can actually make us feel good. The things that we see around us during the Yule season can be pleasant as well. Sparkling decorations, twinkling lights and the smiles on happy peoples’ faces can give us a feeling of bliss. As a devout Christian, in my earlier years, the Christmas season was my favorite. I loved the chants and songs associated with the holidays. I also enjoyed the incense burning rituals and the aromas in the church. The activities to help the poor and feed the hungry felt so good to me. The beloved story about the three wise men coming from the East with precious gifts for the baby Jesus was one of my holiday favorites. Frankincense and myrrh were two of these gifts, gold being the other one. Actually, frankincense and myrrh are two resins that are associated with Jewish, Roman, Middle Eastern and the African cultures and was used long before Christianity. The resins come from scrubby trees that ooze the resin when their barks are cut. The resulting sap is known as “tears”. These tears are dried and then shipped off to become medicine, incense and perfume. Frankincense is ancient indeed. It has been a part of spiritual and healing practices for thousands of years. It was used 5,000 years ago in Egyptian temples as incense to please the sun god Ra. The Egyptians also used the resin in salves for the healing of beautification of the skin. Frankincense was part of the solstice celebrations of many cultures. The Romans burned it for religious and state occasions. In the Jewish faith, it was offered in ceremony. There are many magical uses associated with frankincense. It is used for sun and solstice rituals. It is also associated with the moon and mother goddess. Try burning some at the full moon and feel the good vibrations. Inhalations of frankincense are also soothing to colds, coughs and other winter respiratory problems. For this purpose, the resinoid or liquid oil form is easiest to use. Try it in a room spray, diluted in spring water. The scent helps one to concentrate. It also drives away negativity. The vibrations of frankincense can lift the spirits of those in the vicinity. Try it for your next meditation circle or spiritual gathering. Another tree from the Middle East and North Africa is Myrrh. The indigenous people in these areas extract the “tears” from the myrrh trees and dry them. The resin can be distilled into a liquid form or resinoid, like frankincense. Myrrh is also burned as incense in many spiritual practices around the world. The aroma of myrrh excites the upper chakras. It is used before rituals and ceremonies to increase the vibration of the healing or medicine space as well. Magically speaking, myrrh is linked with the moon and is popular for rituals honoring this heavenly body. For healing the body, myrrh has many uses. It’s found in natural oral care products and cosmetics. It is said to make wrinkles vanish. One drop of the resinoid can be applied to mouth sores to help them heal. Myrrh wood can be used for oral hygiene as a sort of toothpick. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-viral actions. Try adding some frankincense and myrrh to your winter solstice celebration. Their resins can be burned on charcoal and the resinoids can be diffused into the atmosphere using a variety of simple methods. You can also find ready made incenses that contain these symbolic resins if you prefer a more delicate odor. Explore the healing properties of frankincense and myrrh. You may find them very handy for the medicine chest to use in all kinds of home remedies. Try the following aromatherapy blend for candles, wax melters or essential oil diffuser. It contains frankincense and myrrh along with some of my other favorite holiday fragrances. Light bulb rings and potpourri can also be scented with this reminiscent aroma. Note that the essential oils in this recipe are not diluted in a carrier product since it is intended for diffusion. Use caution when handling 100% pure essential oils and avoid eye contact. WINTER SOLSTICE ESSENTIAL OIL BLEND 3 parts lavender essential oil 3 parts sandalwood essential oil 2 parts frankincense resinoid 1 part myrrh resinoid 4 parts black spruce essential oil 3 parts fir needle essential oil 3 parts tangerine essential oil Combine in a glass container. One part can be any measurement you choose. Make a little or make a lot to add to homemade potpourri to give as gifts. Create memories to be cherished for years and years by adding the power of scent to your next gathering. Blessings for the yuletide season and for the new year ahead. Next month: creating your own personal rituals for new beginnings. Karen Stokes, RN Herbalist is a member of the American Botanical Council and the Michigan Holistic Nurses Association. From The New Ager eMag Issue 14
2007-11-19 11:57:47	1	Labyrinths	Labyrinths		Labyrinths A labyrinth is a tool for personal, psychological and spiritual transformation. Labyrinths are thought to enhance right brain activity (the intuitive mind). They are designed to bring balance to the left brain and right brain, as well as the emotional, physical, spiritual and mental bodies. One may also work with the seven-circuit Labyrinth to activate and strengthen the Chakras. The Labyrinth quiets the mind through movement of the body. Walking the Labyrinth discharges energy and begins to focus the mind. I have witnessed children, racing through the labyrinth in a frenzy of activity, only to emerge, to their parents delightful surprise, calm and contemplative. Labyrinths used in an educational setting can bring focus to the minds of students and help calm the hyperactive child. Labyrinths are also known to be beneficial to cancer patients and the elderly living with dementia. The Labyrinth brings calm and centered focus to the individual using it. We are seeing more Labyrinths being created near hospitals, mental health facilities as well as spiritual centres. Finger labyrinths or lap labyrinths are ideal for those with limited mobility and offer the same healing and meditative properties as the larger Labyrinths. There is a misconception that the words labyrinth and maze are interchangeable, they are not. A maze offers a choice of paths, many entrances and exits and dead ends. It is a game, the point is to get lost within it, it engages thinking mind. A labyrinth offers one well-defined path that leads to the centre and out again, the point is to find oneself. The labyrinth invites the intuitive, symbolic mind to emerge. To enter a labyrinth is to choose to walk a spiritual path. The creation of a Labyrinth involves the ancient art of Sacred Geometry. This is similar to the modern Chinese art of Feng Shui. Basically, it involves developing a balanced and serene climate for the human psyche and soul. That is, sacred knowledge that is translated into architectural form. For example, the ancient temples of Malta or Crete that embody the Goddess. Walking the path into the centre is like entering the birth canal and arriving at the womb of the Mother, walking out is like a rebirth. The Labyrinth is an archetype of transformation. According to Jung, the circle embodies wholeness and unity, the Self. As we walk, we see all are connected (Ariadne's thread) to form the web of creation. Labyrinths are found in almost every spiritual Tradition, such the Kabbala Tree of Life, the Hopi Medicine Wheel and Tibetan sand painting mandalas. The Labyrinth is an ancient symbol of the Divine Mother and Goddess within. Hildegard of Bingen defined divinity as "a circle, a wheel, a whole". This is the Sacred Geometry of the Labyrinth. The Classical Seven Circuit Labyrinth Images courtesy of Veriditas The Classical Seven Circuit Labyrinths in this example show that you enter a labyrinth through the mouth and then walk on the paths or circuits. The walls keep you on the path. The goal is in the center of the labyrinth. When you reach it, you have gone half the distance – you now need to turn around and walk back out. Walking the Labyrinth is a 3-fold path of purgation, illumination and union. Purgation signifies release, emptiness, letting go of the mundane world and is the path from the entrance to the centre. Illumination means being fully present in the moment, one's connection to the Divine. It is located in the centre, a place for meditation and prayer. The third part of the path is Union, that is becoming grounded, empowered, integrating the experience. The Labyrinth connects our inner world with the outer one. It is a body prayer. Movement with intention is a gift to Goddess. For example, a spiral dance following the path in and out, larger groups can generate energy vortices or smaller groups can congregate in the centre and dance blessings to the Divine. One can walk, crawl, do yoga, chant, sing, pray. It is sacred space, a non-threatening place. We sense our feet firmly planted on the ground, rooted. One of the most famous medieval Labyrinths in the world, and the subject of Artress' book, was built around 1200 and is laid into the floor. In the past, pilgrims would walk it for repentance or as a quest to bring one closer to God, mimicking the walk to Jerusalem. The centre was often referred to as "New Jerusalem" and the Labyrinth itself was referred to as the "Road to Jerusalem". The 11-circuit design meanders in and out of each of the four quadrants drawing the walker closer to, then further away from the centre. An expectancy is created as to when the centre will be reached. The centre is made up of a six-petaled flower known as the Rosette which is rich in symbolic value. It is a symbol of Mary, the Sacred Mother and also of the grail and is associated with Isis and Aphrodite. This Labyrinth design is derived from the tradition of the Knights Templar and is also associated with Freemasons who were the builders of these great cathedrals of the 13th century. The Labrys occurs frequently within this design at many of the turns in the path, another aspect of the divine feminine, creativity and transformation. Chartres is the site of an ancient Goddess-worshiping peoples and once harbored an altar and statue of the Goddess in her Maiden aspect (the Virgin). The Labyrinth is a metaphor for life. How one walks it often describes how that person walks through life. Some will plow through the paths, skipping over lines, others get to the centre and walk out. Some will walk, hesitantly, afraid to get lost, looking backward at where they've been, uncertain of their steps into the future. The ideal way to walk the Labyrinth is to bring yourself into a place of silence, step in. Ask for what you need, give the Labyrinth your worries, concerns, fears. At the centre, pray, give thanks and gratitude. As you retrace your steps, listen, don't think, This is when you receive, a message, a healing, what you asked for, or more likely, what you need. Every experience with the Labyrinth is a unique one. This article would not be possible without the wonderful people who maintain the websites listed below. Thanks and Gratitude for your ongoing work with Labyrinths around the world. And a special Thanks to The Rev. Lauren Artress of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco for her diligent work at reintroducing this ancient and sacred tool to the modern masses. http://wwll.veriditas.labyrinthsociety.org/ http://www.labyrinth.kics.bc.ca/ Rev. Lauren Artress Walking a Sacred Path About the Author: Lila is a student of the Sacred Three Goddess School. She lives on a mountainside in supernatural British Columbia with her husband and assorted critters. She is a member of the Community Labyrinth Group that built the Labyrinth in Nelson, BC. From Seasons of the Moon Ezine, Volume 5, Issue 1
2007-11-19 11:41:36	1	Onyx	Onyx		Crystal Healing: Onyx Onyx is a form of chalcedony and a part of the quartz group. Onyx can be found in a wide range of colors which are often layered. Onyx is associated with the sign Sagittarius and its energy is projective as well as connected with fire. When carried or worn, onyx is a stone that gives us strength. It is very useful for anyone who is under mental or emotional stress. This stone helps to balance the mind and body as well as strengthen a person which makes it an excellent choice for those who are nervous by nature. Onyx can help you to approach any task with a greater self-confidence. It can help you feel more in tune with your surroundings and cope with fears. It is also a stone of grounding and will help keep you in harmony with nature and the environment. Onyx is a wonderful stone to carry when you feel you need protection or you are exposed to negative energy. If you are doing a healing on yourself or someone else, you can lay a black onyx on the person on the root chakra for grounding. Onyx reduces sexual desires and one should watch how much of this stone is around the bedroom or the home. This stone is helpful for ending bad habits or patterns. It is a beautiful stone that helps you achieve self-mastery, balance between intuition and action, and self-control. It helps you honor your inner wisdom in decisions and helps you absorb positive energies from the environment around you. During this time of year, when the veil is thin, black onyx is a wonderful stone for a form of divination called scrying. The onyx works very well for this when it is shaped in a sphere. You can always cleanse and consecrate your stone using cronewort, otherwise none as mugwort, or Artemisia vulgaris. If you decide to use an onyx sphere for scrying, you could consecrate it during the Samhain season. WORKS CITED Scott Cunningham - Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic By Spiralotus About the Author: Spiralotus is High Priestess with the Order of the White Moon. As a Reiki Master and Herbalist, she trains women in the healing arts. From Seasons of the Moon Ezine, Volume 5, Issue 1
2007-11-19 11:37:26	1	Day of the Dead	Day of the Dead		Dia de Muertos-Day of the Dead (All Souls' Day) Submitted by Lady Moonwolfe In Mexico this is much more than a Christian festivity. It is a celebration that mixes the prehispanic culture with the Catholic religion, in which the Mexican people are able to keep ancient traditions alive. This tradition combines contrasting sentiments, such as the pain felt because of the loss of a loved one and the color and fun of a "fiesta". The festival of Day of the Dead is divided into two parts, the first All Saints' Day on November 1st and All Souls' Day on November 2nd. All Saints' Day (November 1st) On this day is the festival dedicated to those saints who lead exemplary lives and to those who died as children. This feast is less important than All Souls' Day. The traditions for All Souls' Day include putting up altars to the saints inside churches and many families set up altars that honor children who have died. These altars are placed in the home or on the tombs of the children. The altars are decorated with colored paper, a special flower (cempasúchil), and if the altar is for a child there are toys like cars, dolls and even candy. All Souls' Day (November 2nd) This day is the most important festivity related to the dead in Mexico. The celebration is full of tradition and customs. Some people take flowers to the tombs of their dead, and for some this includes rites that begin in the wee morning hours. Families set up altars on the tombs of deceased family members and ancestors, altars which bear great significance, since it is believed that these altars help the dead to walk a good path. Families spend long hours working on the altar, many considered true works of art, reflecting work, dedication and creativity of the people involved. There are many ways to set up the altars, the simplest of which are often set up in homes on a covered table, with the picture of the deceased person, flowers and things that remind the family of the person. Other altars are done up according to tradition, which says that the altar must have 7 level or steps representing the 7 levels that the soul must pass through in order to rest. These altars are generally set up in places where space is not a hindrance. This space must be swept with aromatic herbs toward the four winds before All Souls' Day. First the structure is set up with boxes, wooden or cardboard, or any other material that will allow the firm positioning of 7 levels. The 7th level is on the floor. Each level is covered in black and white fabric. Each one has a meaning and should carry specific objects: • On the first level goes a picture of the saint or the virgin of choice. • The second step is for the souls of purgatory. • The third step must have salt for the children of purgatory. • The fourth step has the "bread of the dead", decorated with sugar that represents blood. If possible it should be baked by relatives of the deceased, sin that makes it consecrated. • On the fifth step goes the food and fruit that were preferred by the deceased. • The sixth step holds the picture of the person the altar is dedicated to. • Last is placed the cross of a rosary made from crabapples and lemons. The offerings that are put on the altar are: • Light 4 principal candles forming a cross that points in the four directions. Next to the altar must be a clay pot on a burner with aromatic herbs: basil, bay leaf, chamomile and others. The altar should have the following elements: • Chains of purple and yellow paper that signify the union between life and death. • Cut out paper that livens the altar. • Flowers that welcome the soul. White flowers for heaven, yellow for Herat and purple for mourning. • Candles whose flames represent the ascension of the spirit. They also represent the light that guides. • A new white cloth symbolizing purity and heaven. • A large pillar candle representing the soul itself. • Copal incense to symbolize the passing from life to death. • Corn representing the harvest. • Fruits that give a connection with nature. Sugar cane, oranges, crabapples, and jícama. • Skulls made from sugar which were and Indian custom. • Water that gives life and guides us on our path. • The dishes that the deceased liked best, to share with the living. • A picture of the person honored. • A crucifix for blessings. • A cross made of lime that symbolizes and points to the four corners. • Salt so that the body will not decompose. • A walkway from the door to the altar formed with cempasúchil flowers (they look like marigolds). • A staff to free the deceased from evil spirits. • Things that belonged to the deceased. People sit up all night at the grave, waiting for the spirit of the deceased to come and enjoy their offering. In different areas of the country the traditions vary. In Oaxaca, enormous carpets of flowers are set up along main streets which are a true work of art of the people. Other ethnic groups have rites that their ancestors used to honor the dead. From Seasons of the Moon Ezine, Volume 5, Issue 1