tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57109789717548931622024-02-02T01:31:48.538-05:00Dancing in the Moon GardenA journey with the Goddess through the garden of life.Raiwvynn Dusana Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108074182293812882noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710978971754893162.post-24355767833690735082012-01-25T13:14:00.000-05:002012-01-25T13:14:02.137-05:00Imbolc Ritual<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Imbolc Ritual</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Welcoming the Light, the Young Lord, and the Goddess Brighid</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>What you will need for the ritual:</b></span></div><ul><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Besom</span></div></li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">White taper to use to light the other candles</span></div></li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">White or Light Green candles for the God and Goddess</span></div></li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Red, Blue, Yellow, Green candles for the Elements</span></div></li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Ancestor candle - Purple</span></div></li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Animal Spirits candle - Brown</span></div></li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Small orange or red candles to represent the light (one for each participant) and a holder for each.</span></div></li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Athame</span></div></li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Wand</span></div></li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Bowl of salt</span></div></li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Bowl of water</span></div></li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Sprig of rosemary</span></div></li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Any decorations that are suitable to the Sabbat – e.g. a crown of 13 red candles, a spring evergreen, candles wheels, grain dollies, sun wheels, sheep, lambs, burrowing animals</span></div></li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Incense and burner if you are able to use it – see recipe at the end of the ritual for sample</span></div></li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Basket of small twigs</span></div></li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Black ribbon</span></div></li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Pens</span></div></li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Parchment rolled and tied with a white ribbon</span></div></li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Milk</span></div></li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Light coloured cakes or cookies – Recipe suggestion at the end of the ritual</span></div></li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Candle snuffer</span></div></li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Matches</span></div></li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Divination tool of your choice – Tarot cards, pendulums, stones, runes etc.</span></div></li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Spare paper</span></div></li>
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</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Altar/ Set Up</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Place the elemental candles on the floor in the appropriate direction. (Green – North, Yellow – East, Red – South, Blue – West.) Have the Basket of twigs, black ribbon, pens, spare paper and parchment close at hand (I usually place them beside or under the Altar. I also place the Besom on the floor near or under the altar – just make sure it is close at hand. Place the matches, snuffer, and the orange candles and holders in a small box or basket near or under the altar as well. Add any decorations that you might want to the altar. Make it your altar, personalize it the way you want it. </span> </div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div><table border="1" bordercolor="#000000" cellpadding="7" cellspacing="0" style="width: 591px;"><colgroup><col width="182"></col> <col width="183"></col> <col width="183"></col> </colgroup><tbody>
<tr> <td width="182"> <div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Animal Spirits </b></span> </div><div align="LEFT"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Candle</b></span></div></td> <td width="183"> <div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Cakes &</b></span></div><div align="LEFT"> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Ale</b></span></div></td> <td width="183"> <div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Ancestor </b></span> </div><div align="LEFT"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Candle</b></span></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td width="182"> <div align="LEFT"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Bowls of water and salt</b></span></div></td> <td width="183"> <div align="LEFT"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Goddess Candle</b></span></div></td> <td width="183"> <div align="LEFT"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Incense Burner</b></span></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td width="182"> <div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Sprig of Rosemary &</b></span></div><div align="LEFT"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>White Taper</b></span></div></td> <td width="183"> <div align="LEFT"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Athame /Wand</b></span></div></td> <td width="183"> <div align="LEFT"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Divination tools</b></span></div></td> </tr>
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</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Cleanse the Area</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Take your besom and sweep the area speaking the following:</span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>With this besom filled with power,</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Sweep away the old and sour.</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Sweep away the chill of death,</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>As winter draws its last cold breath.</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Round, and round, and round about,</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Sweep the old and useless out!</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>(Adapted from an online resource)</i></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Light the incense and the white taper candle</span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Cast the Circle</b></span></div><ul><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Invite the participants into the circle</span></div></li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Using your Athame take three scoops of salt and stir into the bowl of water, wipe dry. </span> </div></li>
</ul><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>I cast this circle, this sphere...out of time and space...</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1in;"><br />
</div><ul><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Take your Athame and envision a pure red light coming from the end of you Athame - cast the circle</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>cast with mental and magickal imagery...</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1in;"><br />
</div><ul><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Take your Wand and envision a stream of yellow light and smoke coming from the end of your wand –cast the circle a second time</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>cast with passion and power...</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1in;"><br />
</div><ul><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Take the sprig of rosemary and dip it into the salt/water and envision a wall of water or stone being built from each salt/water droplet – cast the circle a third time. </span> </div></li>
</ul><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>cast in strength and stability....</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>a sphere bathed in spirit...</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>set apart for our rites of Imbolc.</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Call the Elements</b></span></div><ul><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Take the taper from the Altar and move to the yellow candle in the east. Light the candle and invoke the element of Air:</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Powers of the East</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Winds of enlightenment, inspiration, and change</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Lend your spirit to our circle tonight.</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>That our minds may be changed, filled with wisdom</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>And our lives a hopeful song of inspiration.</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1in;"><br />
</div><ul><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Take the taper from the Altar and move to the red candle in the south. Light the candle and invoke the element of Fire:</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Powers of the South</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Fires of creativity, passion, and transformation</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Lend your spirit to our circle tonight.</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>That our love may triumph, our creativity spark</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>And our hearts a transforming dance of passion.</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1in;"><br />
</div><ul><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Take the taper from the Altar and move to the blue candle in the west. Light the candle and invoke the element of Water:</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Powers of the West</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Waters of life, intuition, and emotion</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Lend your spirit to bless this rite and guard this circle.</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>That our hearts songs may flow, intuition grow clear</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>And our lives be a river of joy and laughter.</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1in;"><br />
</div><ul><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Take the taper from the Altar and move to the green candle in the North. Light the candle and invoke the element of Earth:</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Powers of the North</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Earth of nurture, stability and growth</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Lend your spirit to our circle tonight.</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>That our foundation may be firm, our nurture loving</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>And our lives a tree that grows strong.</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Call the Ancestors and the Animal Spirits</b></span></div><ul><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Light the Ancestor candle and say:</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>At this Altar, with this candle, in this sacred circle I call on you ancestors. We welcome you to join us here and to welcome as of old , Brighid, Goddess of the hearth and of the sacred well, blacksmith and wordsmith, who taught You and us the ancient arts and gave many gifts. Ancestors be welcome.</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><ul><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Light the Animal Spirits candle and say:</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Spirits of Nature, you who dwell with in the land, that gently awakens to the steps of bright Brighid. Be welcome here dark raven, and cat of the hearth, honey bee and milk cow, serpent and brown bear. You, companions of the highest queen, we honour and welcome you.</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Invocation</b></span></div><ul><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Light the God Candle and say:</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Come young Lord, child of the Mother</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>You again dance the dance of life</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>We beckon the light of spring and the promise of growth</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Let Your light chase away the dark chill of winter</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>With Your spirit, passion and love</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Melt away the shadowy blanket of night</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>And renew the earth with Your warming breath</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Be with us this night to celebrate the awakening and rebirth</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Of the Mother’s Earth</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><ul><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Light the Goddess candle and say:</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Bight Brighid, Goddess of many faces</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Guardian of the hearth fires and the sacred well</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>I beckon You to our hall where the bed is prepared</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Let the light of Your love scatter the shadows</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>And Your fires burn away winter’s lingering night</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>From the fertility of Your womb spring the seed of life</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>And the light and life of the young Lord</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Be with us this night to celebrate the awakening and rebirth</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Of Your Earth</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Sharing the Candles of Light</b></span></div><ul><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Pass out the orange or red candles to each participant (if doing this solitary light one candle on the Altar. Taking the taper lit from the Goddess candle. Pass the light around the circle to each member with this blessing:</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>May you dance with the young Lord, and rest in the arms of the Goddess</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>renewed, refreshed, and empowered by their light and love.</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Letting Go of the Past</b></span></div><ul><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">A small box or basket of tiny twigs will be passes around and each person is to take a hand full. </span> </div></li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Then taking the twigs they will bundle them (3-4 twigs for each bundle) and tie them with a black ribbon. </span> </div></li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">They will name each of those as things that they want to let go of as they look forward to the coming newness and renewal of spring. (These can be named publicly to the group or privately as the participant wishes.)</span></div></li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The bundles will be placed in the cauldron and taken outside to be burnt at the end of the evening.</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>New Beginnings – Planning for the Year Ahead</b></span></div><ul><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Each person will be given a parchment roll tied with a white ribbon and provided a pen.</span></div></li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">On the parchment everyone will be asked to write their goals and projects that they are going to start with the coming spring. These can be personal growth projects, practical projects or projects that they are going to work on magickally. </span> </div></li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Everyone will be encouraged to spend this time talking about these goals and projects and how they see them coming to fruition and what support and involvement they will need from the others. </span> </div></li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Each participant will get to take these home with them. </span> </div></li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Time will be taken at this point for any who want to use their divination tools to have or give a reading.</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Cakes and Ale (or milk and cookies)</b></span></div><ul><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Blessing the Ale</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Goddess of abundance and love<br />
Bless these gifts as you bless us all<br />
Help us to see the Divine in all we share</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><ul><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Blessing the Milk</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>God of light and life<br />
Bless these gifts as you bless us all<br />
Help us to see the Divine in all we share</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Energy Requests</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Close the Circle</b></span></div><ul><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Extinguish the Goddess candle</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Goddess of the brightening day<br />
Thank you for attending us here tonight</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>And ask you to be near us, while we are apart;</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Leave us your warmth to encourage us</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Your love to empower us</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>And your passion to revive and inspire our souls</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><ul><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Extinguish the God candle</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>God of the growing and wild things</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Thank you for attending us here tonight<br />
And ask you to be near us, while we are apart;<br />
Leave us your warmth to encourage us</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Your love to empower us</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>And your passion to revive and inspire our souls</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><ul><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Extinguish the Ancestors and Animal Spirits candle</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>You shining ones, nature spirits and ancestors</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>I thank you for your presence in this celebration and our lives</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>As we return to the ordinary time and daily world</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>We ask your blessings travel with us</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>So to let our blessings and love go with you</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><ul><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Extinguish the green candle and say:</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Spirits of north, earth’s stability and growth,</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Thank you for your firm foundation and continual growth</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Thank you for lending your spirit to our work this night</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>We bid you farewell and thanks.</b></span></div><ul><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Extinguish the blue candle and say:</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Spirits of west, water’s power and flow,</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Thank you for your soothing spring rains that melt the snow and water the seed</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Thank you for lending your spirit to our work this night</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>We bid you farewell and thanks </b></span> </div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><ul><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Extinguish the red candle and say:</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Spirits of the south, fire’s flame and glow,</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Thank you for your warming light that warms our hearts and give life to the seed</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Thank you for lending your spirit to our work this night</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>We bid you farewell and thanks</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><ul><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Extinguish the yellow candle and say</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>:</b></span></div></li>
</ul><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Spirits of east, air’s whisper and roar,</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Thank you for your winds of change that bring spring warmth and joy</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Thank you for lending your spirit to our work this night</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>We bid you farewell and thanks</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Our circle is open but unbroken.</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>May the Lord’s dance of life move your feet</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>May the Lady’s love move your heart</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>And may the light grow daily in your heart and soul</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again</b></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;"></div></div>Raiwvynn Dusana Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108074182293812882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710978971754893162.post-10251069019606454362012-01-02T20:53:00.000-05:002012-01-02T20:53:09.973-05:002012 Goddess Card<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Mother Mary - Expect a Miracle</b><br />
<br />
<div style="color: purple;"><b><i>"Have faith that your prayers have been heard and are being answered."</i></b></div><br />
<b>Message from Mother Mary:</b> "Faith is the light that illuminates your pathway. Without faith, the future looks very frightening. That's why it's essential for your to take whatever steps are necessary to keep your mind and heart filled with faith. Please don't give up hope on yourself or other people. Keep the candle of faith burning within your soul, as the one small inkling of hope can eradicate the darkness of despair. Be the light that eliminates someone else's gloomy helplessness as well. For as you make others stronger, it strengthens not only yourself but the entire world."<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Varous Meanings of this card:</b> Let go of worrisome thoughts - Keep your thoughts positive - Notice and follow any divine guidance your may recieve - Pray - Engage in spiritual healing.<br />
<br />
<b>About Mother Mary: </b>She's the beloved mother of Christ who's known as the "queen of the angels" for her ongoing and miraculous healing work. Mary works closely with anyone who is a child advocate, teacher, or healer. She loves children, and is devoted to making the world a safe and happy place for them. If you'd like to help children, ask Mother Mary for a Divine assignment.<br />
<br />
<b>Personal Thoughs: </b>I had forgotten that Mary was in this particular Goddess deck. Though I as a general rule do not work within the Christian pantheon I think that drawing this card was a timely reminder to keep my faith in the forefront of my life. Not to let the practice of my craft and living of my purpose fall to the wayside. As well, over the last year I decided that my focus was going to be on learning and practicing certain healing arts. This card is a reminder to continue that learning and grow. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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</div>Raiwvynn Dusana Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108074182293812882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710978971754893162.post-70977819894586138082011-11-30T05:36:00.002-05:002011-11-30T05:36:36.022-05:00Autumn's End<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The murky final moment of November<br />
<br />
<br />
Watery light of dreary days<br />
<br />
Ice tipped wind kisses<br />
<br />
Driving bitter tears from heaven<br />
<br />
Mottled browns and grays<br />
<br />
The perceived imperfections <br />
<br />
Of autumn<br />
<br />
Vanquished in the night<br />
<br />
As the Goddess pulls up her blanket<br />
<br />
A heavy white cloak of unmarred purity<br />
<br />
Depth and expanse covered <br />
<br />
As the perfection of snow alights<br />
<br />
Ushering in the epoch of introspection and repose<br />
<br />
The great mother cradling her world<br />
<br />
Even as her inspired womb rests<br />
<br />
A still silence embracing the world<br />
<br />
As the seasons continue to change<br />
<br />
The unending spiral of existence<br />
<br />
Continuing through untold history and future<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
~Raiwvynn Dusana – Nov. 30/11~<br />
<br />
</div>Raiwvynn Dusana Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108074182293812882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710978971754893162.post-88389693313167388722011-10-22T01:10:00.000-04:002011-10-22T01:10:07.423-04:00Never Piss off a Goddess<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">She wanted but a simple thing<br />
to give to the soil connection<br />
to be the Goddess of the land<br />
She didn't ask for insurrection<br />
<br />
There was no request for payment<br />
it was a gift she offered there<br />
the power of her heart and name<br />
was what she longed to share<br />
<br />
She didn't ask for city walls<br />
she didn't cry for altars<br />
she offered up a part of her<br />
with no demand of temple or psalters<br />
<br />
You didn't even consider<br />
the gift she offered up that day<br />
for what better gift from a Goddess<br />
Then Her presence there to stay<br />
<br />
You laughed and scoffed merrily<br />
Turning away from Her greatest gift<br />
and in that moment what came voluntarily<br />
became the swiftest kick<br />
<br />
The God Manannan raised up a storm<br />
The likes of which none wished to see<br />
it crashed and roared and pelted rain<br />
and no more would You be<br />
<br />
So swallowed up by wind and waves<br />
Your just reward you won<br />
I would not be the one who braves<br />
of a Goddess to make fun<br />
<br />
So now in dark Tech Duinn you reign<br />
A punishment for your deed<br />
to care for souls awaiting there<br />
till to the underworld they're freed<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Raiwvynn Dusana Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108074182293812882noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710978971754893162.post-31922246144535842402011-09-27T05:45:00.000-04:002011-09-27T05:45:04.603-04:00Net and Arrow<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The waves crash and spray<br />
Your hand controlling the tide<br />
Great Lord of the waters<br />
Provide for your fishermen<br />
Bring forth your bounty from the deep<br />
Fill nets with flopping fish<br />
So hungry stomachs may be filled<br />
<br />
The arrow flies free and true<br />
your hand steady on the bow<br />
Great Lord of the hunt<br />
Provide game for your huntsmen<br />
Flush out the wild beasts<br />
And lead them to the slaughter<br />
So mouths and hearts may be fed<br />
<br />
By net or arrow<br />
Your provide for Your children<br />
great Father, Lord of Provision<br />
In your honour we fish the depths<br />
In your honour we hunt the dark forests<br />
with grateful hearts<br />
We partake of Your bounty</div>Raiwvynn Dusana Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108074182293812882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710978971754893162.post-50219101475923224672011-09-27T05:41:00.000-04:002011-09-27T05:41:39.182-04:00The Contradictions of Zeus<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Lightening rent the heavens<br />
the voice of thunder<br />
reverberating through the clouds<br />
power and majesty resounding<br />
as your might shout echoes<br />
from Mount Olympus<br />
omnipotent powerful Lord<br />
ruling with a will of iron<br />
<br />
yet<br />
<br />
you fall down<br />
in a soft golden rain<br />
love and tenderness in your touch<br />
sweet words whispering in waiting ears<br />
the caress of seduction in your gentle shower</div>Raiwvynn Dusana Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108074182293812882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710978971754893162.post-35518461543489068972011-09-27T05:36:00.000-04:002011-09-27T05:36:55.699-04:00Life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I stood, face turned to the fiery sun<br />
Your light blazing down upon my skin<br />
Your warmth drawing life from the earth around me<br />
<br />
I stood, buffeted in the untamed wind<br />
Your breath blowing madly through my hair<br />
Your cool winds bringing in the life giving storm<br />
<br />
I stood, pelted in the thrashing downpour<br />
Your tears falling in torrents on my up turned face<br />
Your refreshing rains flooding life into the sodden ground<br />
<br />
The blackened sky was rent asunder<br />
As lightening flashed and the thunder roared<br />
The howling wind releasing Your life giving power<br />
<br />
I felt to my knees surrounded by the raging tempest<br />
Drenched in your overwhelming might<br />
caught in the fury of the storm<br />
<br />
Buffeted and tossed by the ferocious gale<br />
I feel un-hearing to the naked earth<br />
hope and direction drowned in a maze of fear<br />
<br />
I awake, tenderly kissed by a gently breeze<br />
Your warm rays stealing away the icy chill of dark<br />
Your world awakening to a brand new day<br />
<br />
I gaze, through bright eyes washed clean with tears<br />
at Your lush, green, emerging world<br />
Your seeds of death flowering forth the joy of life reborn<br />
<br />
I turned my worn but joy filled heart to Your shining face<br />
and I smiled that your life had come to grow<br />
Through the maelstrom You had hurled. </div>Raiwvynn Dusana Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108074182293812882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710978971754893162.post-41569066078240261482011-09-27T05:23:00.001-04:002011-09-27T05:23:55.984-04:00Hephaestus<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Bright God of the forge<br />
anger and vengeance<br />
trapped the great Hera<br />
for rejections unwarranted<br />
<br />
God of the craftsman<br />
Creator of the great chariot<br />
that carries Helios across the heavens<br />
In a great blaze of glory<br />
<br />
Your fine woven metal net<br />
caught your Aphrodite unfaithful<br />
but the Gods laughed<br />
and punished her not<br />
<br />
the volcano fire burns within you<br />
the embers of anger and justice<br />
smouldering within your heart<br />
the inferno roars untamed<br />
<br />
Lord of the flaming mountain<br />
Heat of creative passion<br />
thunder bolts of Zeus<br />
created by your hand<br />
<br />
Vision and beauty blazes within you<br />
what you reduce to ashes<br />
rises up pure gold in your hands<br />
a treasure taken from the dross</div>Raiwvynn Dusana Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108074182293812882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710978971754893162.post-79042152164020419472011-09-27T05:09:00.000-04:002011-09-27T05:09:51.883-04:00Danu<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Danu, you of the ancient waters<br />
flow into our lives<br />
birthing you blessings of fertility<br />
river of life flow in and around us<br />
you the fertile waters and womb<br />
<br />
Mother of earth we thank you for the earth your body<br />
mother of water we thank you for the sea your spirit<br />
<br />
Danu, you of many names<br />
huntress and healer<br />
creatrix and destroyer<br />
you are one eternal<br />
through life and death<br />
<br />
Your arms surround the weak and the strong<br />
Your wisdom lightens the darkness<br />
Your grace opens our eyes to your beauty<br />
<br />
Your children shall rise<br />
and celebrate your power<br />
Your children shall sing<br />
and celebrate your gifts<br />
Your children shall dance<br />
and celebrate your love<br />
You children she rejoice<br />
<br />
Your wings are the strong wind<br />
Your beauty the glowing moon<br />
Your blood the swelling seas<br />
Your womb the embracing earth<br />
<br />
Danu, sweet strong mother<br />
You that walks amongst us in radiance and grace<br />
Help us to blossom and grow<br />
<br />
Danu, goddess of wisdom, wise teacher<br />
You that holds in her hands the mysteries of the universe<br />
grant us knowledge where ever it might lay<br />
<br />
Danu, great Goddess Mother<br />
we thank you<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Raiwvynn Dusana Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108074182293812882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710978971754893162.post-42714831230885122722011-07-12T13:31:00.000-04:002011-07-12T13:31:50.857-04:00I danceBright Maiden, light embodied<br />
I dance with You<br />
Empowered by Your glowing spirit<br />
Strengthened by Your passion<br />
For life, joy and love<br />
I dance with You<br />
Filled with Your energy<br />
The energy of Your youth<br />
Growing in light and love<br />
Like a flower in the sun<br />
<br />
Sweet Lady, Mother of All<br />
I dance beside You<br />
Rejoicing in Your strength<br />
Celebrating the energy<br />
That flows from the centre of You<br />
I dance beside You<br />
Basking in Your splendor<br />
awed by the beauty and majesty<br />
Of Your creation<br />
<br />
Lady of Night, Dark Crone<br />
I dance before Your altar<br />
Embracing your dark knowledge<br />
The wisdom of ages<br />
Enlightened by your wisdom<br />
I dance before Your altar<br />
Celebrating the circle of life<br />
The transition of death<br />
To new life<br />
<br />
Raiwvynn DusanaRaiwvynn Dusana Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108074182293812882noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710978971754893162.post-37354085906890696162011-07-06T20:21:00.001-04:002011-07-06T20:21:46.357-04:00Wolverine<div style="color: grey; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in;">The Wolverine</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Latin Name:</span> Gulo Gulo, Gulo luscus</div><div style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in;">Appearance and Physical Characteristics</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">Most people when they hear the name wolverine will think of the character from the X-Men series. Unfortunately most people don’t even know what a real live wolverine looks like. Looking at the name one would think that the wolverine is part of the wolf family but it is not. Looking at pictures one would likely be more inclined to think that it is part of the bear family. Nobody would expect that the wolverine is actually a part of the weasel family – the largest member of that family. The Latin genus is <span style="font-style: italic;">“gulo” </span>and there is said to be two sub-species. However in recent years there has been some discussion that there may be four further sub-species one that is found solely in the northern parts of Vancouver Island on Canada’s west coast. As well, there appears to be one subspecies that is found solely on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska.</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">Wolverines resemble a small bear. About the size of a medium to large sized dog they generally grow to a length of 25 -34 inches and with a tail that is about 10 inches long. They weigh between 22 and 55 lbs though records have shown weights up to 90 lbs though this is not common. Unlike a dog a wolverine is very bulky and powerfully built more like a bear. The male wolverine is generally up to 30% larger than the females.</div><div style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">With five toes on their large paws and short stout legs, the wolverine is designed well for dealing with deep snow and winter weather. Their large paws are tipped with fearsome claws that help when tearing apart prey, digging in the snow and frozen ground, for digging a den, climbing trees and of course killing their prey. Wolverines have poor eyesight but have excellent hearing and sense of smell. They have big, round heads and small round ears much like the ears we often have on our teddy bears – however a wolverine is not an animal that you would want to cuddle with. </div><div style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">Wolverines have a heavy fur coat which in the past has made tem very popular for trappers. Fortunately due to the growing decline in the wolverine population there are many regions that now have protection laws in regards to trapping wolverines. Their fur is thick and oily. It has excellent insulating properties and is hydrophobic – which simply means that it was water and frost resistant. These qualities made it the fur of choice in past years for lining parkas and even boots in more northern and arctic regions. The wolverine’s fur ranges in color from tans and browns to black and rarely grey. Some wolverines have a facial mask which is a silver color. It is not distinct in all wolverines but a pale tan or beige stripe runs along the sides of the animal from their shoulders to their tail. As well some wolverines will have a very distinctive patch of white hair on the chest and throat area. </div><div style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">The wolverine is also a mustelid which is an animal that are known for being “midsized carnivorous mammals.” This family has very potent scent glands and the wolverine like the skunk can actually “spray” a very nasty must when threatened or when marking its territory. It has been known to mark its food catches to scare off other creatures. Wolverine’s like other members of the mustelid family have a unique molar that is rotated 90 degrees and is directed upwards in the mouth. This special adaption gives the wolverine the ability to tear of the flesh of animals it has hunted or carrion that is frozen. This exceptional adaptation just adds to their already powerful jaw which can crush the bones of the animals that they hunt and eat so that they can get to the bone marrow. Other animals in the mustelid group include skunks, badgers, ferrets, fishers, martens, mink, weasels and otters.</div><div style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in;">Habitat and Range</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">Wolverines are very solitary creatures and need a lot of territory. This is evident in the fact that in a single day a wolverine might travel 15 or more miles in its search for food. Male wolverines will do this travelling in search of sustenance and a suitable mate almost every day of their life. The home range of the male wolverine can be more than 240 square miles. This range for the male will actually overlap with the range of a number of females which generally have ranges of about 50 to 100 square miles. It seems that male wolverines will not overlap another male’s territory and that females will not overlap another females range.</div><div style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px;">Wolverines tend to be found in the boreal forest, tiaga and tundra biomes of the northern regions of North America, Asia and Europe. The boreal forest is composed predominately of coniferous forests (meaning mostly pine and evergreen trees as opposed to deciduous trees such as maple, oak, elm etc.) The tiaga is basically a continuation of the boreal forests but moving more towards the tree line in the northern parts of the countries mentioned. This is a harsher climate area. The tundra of course is past the tree line and is home to plant who thrive in the very short growing season and considerably lower temperatures. Though there is a fairly large population of wolverines in Alaska and Canada as well as Scandinavia, the Baltic countries, Northern China, Magnolia, Western Russia and Siberia, the habitat of the wolverine has been fragmented by the encroachment of human developments which has reduced the wolverines range.</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">As well the general population of wolverines has declined since the 19th century because of the trapping for the fur trade of their pelts. This is especially true in the North West United States and in the Nordic countries of Europe. In 2008 and 2009 there were confirmed sightings of wolverines since the 1920s in the Sierra Nevada and near Lake Tahoe. While they are few in number, there are also wolverines in the Rocky Mountains and the northern Cascades. They have also been seen as far east as Michigan though this is not a common occurrence. There was a wolverine spotted in Michigan in the early/mid 2000’s but it was found dead in 2010. It was the first one that had been seen in Michigan in over 200 years. </div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">Because of the trapping of the wolverine for its fur during the last century this creature is now in danger of becoming extinct. It is in most parts of the world a protected species which needs to be further researched and protected. </div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in;">Diet and Hunting</div><div style="margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px;">Wolverines are omnivores, which mean that they eat both vegetation and meat. A wolverine’s diet will consist of some plants and berries especially during the summer season, however this is only a small portion of their dietary intake. A wolverine is more inclined to meat than plant life. A ferocious hunter a wolverine will very quickly over take small prey like rodents or rabbits but it is also an opportunistic hunter. It will take on an animal that is many times bigger than itself, such as a caribou if the prey appears to be injured or weakened for some reason. Wolverines are also known for digging into the burrows of hibernating animals and finding them at a disadvantage killing them for food.</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">Wolverines will also take any chance to steal food that has already been caught and killed by another animal. They will feed on carrion left by other animals especially those of larger animals like caribou, moose, deer and elk. This opportunistic behavior is often what sustains them through the leaner winter season. </div><div style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px;">A wolverine will also defend its kills or finds from other predators, even fighting off numerous other animals to protect its food. There has been a story recorded of a 27 lbs wolverine who tried to steal a kill from a 500 lb black bear. Unfortunately the wolverine lost this battle but there are also stories of a wolverine coming out the victor when battling other bears (including polar bears.) Wolverines are tenacious and vicious in a fight and it is no wonder that larger animals can be defeated or will give up in the face of a violent confrontation with a wolverine. They have also been known to fight off a cougar or even a pack of wolves to defend their food.</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">Studies have shown that the wolverines in North American regions are not as active hunters as in other parts of the world. This is believed to be that the density of competing predator populations<a href="file:///E:/Magical%20Circle%20School/1%20Current%20Classes/Totem%20Animals/wolverine.docx#_ftn1">[1]</a> is higher in North America than it is elsewhere. This means that the North American wolverine is more likely to find carrion or another animal’s kill to steal. For Wolverines in Europe and Asia it is actually more practical to do their own hunting that to wait for an opportunity to steal from another animal. </div><div style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in;">Mating and Life Cycle</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">The wolverine has some interesting reproductive quirks. The male will mate with the same 2 or 3 females for his entire life. He will visit her in her territory during mating seasons. As strange as it may sound some male wolverines never have a mate, while others can have 2 or 3. The males will scent mark their territories which will encompass the territories of their females. </div><div style="margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">Summer is the mating season for wolverines however the female wolverine’s body will not actually implant the embryo in the uterus until early in the winter. This means that the development of the fetus is delayed until that point. If for some reason food is not abundant the female may not produce young at all. The female will build a den usually by digging in the snow or under some other cover where she will give birth to and then care for her young. The gestation period is 30 to 50 days and usually results in 2 or 3 are born in the late winter or early spring due to the delay of implantation.</div><div style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">The kits grow and mature quickly. They achieve their adult size within the first year. They will occasionally live with their mother until they reach reproductive maturity which is at about two years of age. The father will visit their offspring until they are old enough to be weaned which is about 10 weeks. Interestingly enough the fathers will often visit again when the young are about 6 months old when some of them might travel out for a while with him. Though known to be extremely solitary creatures, the wolverine will also play with its own family members.</div><div style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">Wolverines have an average life span of 5 to 10 years. Though there have been cases studied where they have lived to 13 and 15 years of age. In the more isolated regions that have not been invaded by humans there is the possibility of significantly older animals. The fact of the matter is that wolverines have no natural predators with the exception of hunters. They do however come into conflict with other larger animals when they are trying to protect their kill, food or territory. The very young however have been known to be taken by large eagles and hawks. They are rarely taken by other large animals because they would first have to get through the mother wolverine and that would entail a fight that might not end up in their favor.</div><div style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in;">Behavior and Other Interesting Facts</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">Wolverine spends most of its time on the ground but it is a little known fact that they are also excellent tree climbers and also very strong swimmers. They spend much of their time traveling about their territory in search of food and they have a very distinctive “lope” which enables them to travel for long periods of time without having to stop for rest. </div><div style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">The wolverines are also very adaptable. They tend to be nocturnal creatures but they will adjust depending on their environment. If they find that they are in an area of extended darkness like the far north they will actually change their sleeping pattern and stay awake for 4 hours and then sleep for 3 hours. This helps it to adjust without compromising its own strength and stamina. </div><div style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">Most of the myths about the wolverine come from Native American stories. The wolverine was seen as a trickster similar to the personality of the raven, coyote or hyena. They are given the characteristics of being bad-mannered, being gluttons and also being sexually promiscuous. In these stories however the wolverine rarely gets the rewarded for his tricky behaviors and actions. One of the stories tells of the wolverine stealing from his wife’s brothers. Apparently he was stealing all of the game and so because they were afraid of starving to death they beat him up breaking his back and then pour hot fat on him in order to get the food back. </div><div style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">Another story that apparently comes from the Algonquin tribes indicates that two girls had climbed a tree and gotten stuck. They enticed the wolverine with “sexual favours” so that he would help them get down. In one version of the myth he brought them down and they in turn urinated on him and left. In the other version they refused to engage in the “sexual favors” and so he chased them back up the tree. </div><div style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in;">Personal Experience</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">I have had the exceptional privilege of coming across a wolverine when I lived in Nipigon (the very top of Lake Superior near Thunder Bay in northern Ontario.) This was the one and only time that I have come across one in the wild though I have seen tracks and indications of them in the wild since then. I also have seen them in various zoos. The wolverine was eating and turned to face me (I was only 5 at the time). He growled and came towards me. Fortunately I ran and though he followed for about 10 feet he very quickly turned back to his food. He was very ferocious and seemed to me at that young age, to be a very angry and dangerous creature.</div><div style="margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in;">Wolverine as Totem</div><div style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;"> Yearly Cycle of Power: Winter</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">Daily Time of Power: Dusk</div><div style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">There are different views about what the wolverine represents as an animal totem some of the most common themes are:</div><div style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">Understanding Aggression<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Persistence<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surprise</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">Endurance<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Passion<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gambling<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">Thriving in Opposition<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Secret Keeping<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Resourcefulness</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">Standing Your Ground<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Solitude<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gluttony </div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">Discretion<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">These days the name wolverine inevitably brings to mind the comic book hero or the X-Men hero of the same name. Both the character and animal are strong and powerful. We can use this energy to embrace our own power and be strong. </div><div style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">The wolverine is probably one of the most wild and ferocious of the mid-sized animals. There are many things that can be learned from the wolverine but perhaps the with the exception of understanding aggression, perseverance, persistence or tenacity would be the most common energy that the wolverine brings. The wolverine teaches to pursue what we want… to go after what we need and want with passion, creativity and determination. A wolverine doesn’t give up on what they are seeking until they have it or are dead. They are not uncertain or passive about anything in their lives and they teach us to work at a thing until we have achieved what we want.</div><div style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">The wolverine is also said to be the herald of awakening passion. The fact that the wolverine kits are born in the spring, as well as the fact that they are located in areas of the world that are more known for the winter seasons and cold weather than the summer seasons all lead towards spring and the awakening of new life and passion for that life. The thing about this passion is that one needs to be careful that passion for life doesn’t lead to gluttony for food or things. Used wisely, that passion for life can be directed to a desire for knowledge, wisdom and other positive things.</div><div style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">The predominate impression that people get from the wolverine is the sense of pure aggression. This is not the case in looking at this animal as a totem. The wolverine only uses its aggression when it is seeking or protecting its food or territory. If you watch a family of wolverines you will see that they can play and be affection with each other. Their aggressiveness is generally only seen in the face of survival. </div><div style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;"><span lang="en-CA">“</span><span lang="en-US">Wolverine is also considered as a messenger between the real world and the spirit world. As a burrowing trickster, the smart and wily wolverine moves between the underworld and upper world with ease. “</span><a href="file:///E:/Magical%20Circle%20School/1%20Current%20Classes/Totem%20Animals/wolverine.docx#_ftn2"><span lang="en-US">[2]</span></a></div><div style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">These are only a very few of the lessons that can be learned and energies used with the wolverine totem. I am looking forward to a long and interesting exploration with this unique, ferocious and tenacious creature.</div><div style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in;">Resources</div><div style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0in;"><a href="http://www.linsdomain.com/totems/pages/wolverine.htm"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt;">http://www.linsdomain.com/totems/pages/wolverine.htm</span></a></div><div style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="http://www.lilytherese.com/POWER1.HTM#WOLVERINE’S"><span lang="en-US">http://www.lilytherese.com/POWER1.HTM#WOLVERINE</span><span lang="en-CA">’</span><span lang="en-US">S</span></a><span lang="en-US"> MESSAGE AND MEDICINE</span></div><div style="font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="http://egulo.wordpress.com/"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria;">http://egulo.wordpress.com/</span></a></div><div style="font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="http://www.spiracanada.com/spiralbound/2007/samhain/Totem.html"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria;">http://www.spiracanada.com/spiralbound/2007/samhain/Totem.html</span></a></div><div style="font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="http://www.superstock.com/stock-photos-images/4102-14817"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria;">http://www.superstock.com/stock-photos-images/4102-14817</span></a></div><div style="font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="http://www.virginiakapic.nl/jeremyjeppeson/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=244:js-totemanimal-wolverine&catid=35:about-us&Itemid=420"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Cambria;">http://www.virginiakapic.nl/jeremyjeppeson/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=244:js-totemanimal-wolverine&catid=35:about-us&Itemid=420</span></a></div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolverine"><span lang="en-US">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolverine</span></a></div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/wolverine/"><span lang="en-US">http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/wolverine/</span></a></div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="http://library.thinkquest.org/3500/Wolverine.html"><span lang="en-US">http://library.thinkquest.org/3500/Wolverine.html</span></a></div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="http://www.theanimalfiles.com/mammals/carnivores/wolverine.html"><span lang="en-US">http://www.theanimalfiles.com/mammals/carnivores/wolverine.html</span></a></div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="http://www.buzzle.com/articles/wolverine-animal-facts.html"><span lang="en-US">http://www.buzzle.com/articles/wolverine-animal-facts.html</span></a><a href="http://animal.discovery.com/mammals/wolverine/"><span lang="en-US">http://animal.discovery.com/mammals/wolverine/</span></a></div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="http://www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?id=108"><span lang="en-US">http://www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?id=108</span></a></div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="http://www.livinglandscapes.bc.ca/cbasin/endangered/wolverin.htm"><span lang="en-US">http://www.livinglandscapes.bc.ca/cbasin/endangered/wolverin.htm</span></a></div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="http://www.tgmag.ca/envbrain/wolverine.html"><span lang="en-US">http://www.tgmag.ca/envbrain/wolverine.html</span></a></div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="http://itech.pjc.edu/sctag/wolverine/wolverine.htm"><span lang="en-US">http://itech.pjc.edu/sctag/wolverine/wolverine.htm</span></a></div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=%20%0dhttp://www.wildlandsleague.org/imgup/wolverine-decline.jpg&imgrefurl=%20http://www.wildlandsleague.org/display.aspx%3Fpid%3D174%26cid%3D177&h=544&w=565&sz=47&tbnid=lkLcWI5MhGlBPM:&tbnh=129&tbnw=134&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dwolverine%2Bhabitat%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=wolverine+habitat&hl=en&usg=__N66MeWMJiTJjL5oh5ZGvFSeLrC8=&sa=X&ei=xgTeTfzMOIS90AHZ4mdCg&ved=0CEAQ9QEwBw"><span lang="en-US">http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl= </span></a></div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=%20%0dhttp://www.wildlandsleague.org/imgup/wolverine-decline.jpg&imgrefurl=%20http://www.wildlandsleague.org/display.aspx%3Fpid%3D174%26cid%3D177&h=544&w=565&sz=47&tbnid=lkLcWI5MhGlBPM:&tbnh=129&tbnw=134&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dwolverine%2Bhabitat%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=wolverine+habitat&hl=en&usg=__N66MeWMJiTJjL5oh5ZGvFSeLrC8=&sa=X&ei=xgTeTfzMOIS90AHZ4mdCg&ved=0CEAQ9QEwBw"><span lang="en-US">http://www.wildlandsleague.org/imgup/wolverine-decline.jpg&imgrefurl= http://www.wildlandsleague.org/display.aspx%3Fpid%3D174%26cid%3D177&h=544&w=565&sz=47&tbnid=lkLcWI5MhGlBPM:&tbnh=129&tbnw=134&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dwolverine%2Bhabitat%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=wolverine+habitat&hl=en&usg=__N66MeWMJiTJjL5oh5ZGvFSeLrC8=&sa=X&ei=xgTeTfzMOIS90AHZ4mdCg&ved=0CEAQ9QEwBw</span></a><span lang="en-US"> </span><a href="http://bss.sfsu.edu/holzman/courses/fall00projects/wolverine.html"><span lang="en-US">http://bss.sfsu.edu/holzman/courses/fall00projects/wolverine.html</span></a></div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mammals</div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;"><span lang="en-US">Additional information was obtained from an employee at the Toronto Zoo in Toronto, Ontario Canada through a personal interview/conversation.</span><span lang="en-CA"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;"><span lang="en-US"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0in;"><a href="file:///E:/Magical%20Circle%20School/1%20Current%20Classes/Totem%20Animals/wolverine.docx#_ftnref1"><span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 10.0pt;">[1]</span></a><span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> A Competing predator population is considered to be other animals that feed on the same type of prey. In Canada for example the competing predator populations would include the mountain lion, bears, martins, wolves, bobcats, lynx etc. These other animals compete for the same type of food and thus depending on the number of them will make it more or less difficult for the wolverine to find food. Fortunately, what might seem to be a negative problem is not in this situation as the wolverine is a known scavenger and the leftovers from these other predators helps feed the wolverine. </span></div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="file:///E:/Magical%20Circle%20School/1%20Current%20Classes/Totem%20Animals/wolverine.docx#_ftnref2"><span lang="en-US">[2]</span></a><span lang="en-US"> </span><a href="http://www.manataka.org/page236.html#WOLVERINE"><span lang="en-US">http://www.manataka.org/page236.html#WOLVERINE</span></a></div>Raiwvynn Dusana Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108074182293812882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710978971754893162.post-32255974436297014522011-06-30T02:09:00.000-04:002011-06-30T02:09:47.769-04:00Vipers Tongue Spell<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div>A spell to temper an angry tongue</div><div><br />
</div><div>You will need:</div><div>1 Yellow candle - communication</div><div>Matches or a lighter</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Spell</b></div><div>Spend some time thinking about the way you wish to speak to people. The words that you want to temper with love and kindness. When you have visualized what it is that you want to be like then recite the following while lighting the candle.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I cast away my vipers tongue </div><div>through the dark of nigh and daylight's sun</div><div>let my tongue be kind and sweet</div><div>to the ones I love and those I meet</div><div><br />
</div><div>Let this new beginning come</div><div>and with this light my will be done</div><div><br />
</div><div>Let the candle burn for five minutes and extinguish visualizing all the angry, mean or disrespectful words leaving your vocabulary. Repeat for three days in the evening and during the day. </div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div></div>Raiwvynn Dusana Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108074182293812882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710978971754893162.post-62690857172564052262011-05-26T00:27:00.000-04:002011-05-26T00:27:58.617-04:00Dealing with Anger<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwjUaijxyHRKcKlCgAn4XTl0BcJHFtpQ2UzpJrJwPNearccXkRvZpl6mgY07NeP6cFux9si7Ftv3yNjr4GchGY2udXVknkmQSQjMOPzX2II4GVXwjnvGUmjVxPPX2cfcenBlDi_P0tfFFP/s1600/anger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwjUaijxyHRKcKlCgAn4XTl0BcJHFtpQ2UzpJrJwPNearccXkRvZpl6mgY07NeP6cFux9si7Ftv3yNjr4GchGY2udXVknkmQSQjMOPzX2II4GVXwjnvGUmjVxPPX2cfcenBlDi_P0tfFFP/s320/anger.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Reposted from my other blog)<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">There are a lot of people that will tell you what you need to do to deal with your anger. There are books about dealing with it, therapists talk about it, religious leaders tell you what to do with it and even our parents tell us how to deal with it. But the truth of the matter is that we each need to find a way to deal with our anger for ourselves.<br />
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We feel angry for many reasons... when someone disappoints us or lies to us, when situations don't go the way we had hoped. When we fail at something that we wanted to achieve, when life isn't fair. But the truth of the mater is that anger is an emotion... though it can feel absolutely horrid... it will not kill us. However the effects of not dealing with our anger can cause a whole host of emotional, spiritual and health problems.<br />
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I discovered over the last two years that I actually am a pretty angry person. Possibly the fact that since the first time my parents said "don't cry or I will give you something to cry about" that I bottled up every feeling of anger I ever had. Actually every feeling I had to be honest. So that has meant years and years of bottled anger. That anger was not all silly petty things either. There are many many moments of legitimate anger and even rage in our life times... especially if you have ever encountered any unpleasant circumstances in your life. So back to my point - I'm angry.<br />
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I never used to speak about it... I would simply eat. SURPRISE!<br />
Lol you probably weren't surprised. Food because the very best way I could find to soothe the terrible angry beast. But at the same time the shame of doing that just increase my anger at myself. So I found myself in a catch 22 where what I was doing to soothe my anger was just feeding my anger. Yikes! What to do?<br />
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Over the last 3 and a bit years I lived with an angry man and literally the shit hit the fan. But the good thing of it was that at the end of it all I learned to speak. During the course of the relationship I didn't handle my anger very well. I was voicing it but of course at times it was at the top of my lungs which is not a good thing. And then I would feel the shame of yelling and I would eat. So I learned that yelling and screaming and throwing the occasional phone or candle holder was not helping either.<br />
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Then I ended the relationship and met a man who has become a very dear friend. He is probably going to shoot me for mentioning him in my blog but he has a very calm, serene way about him. I have seen him in situations where I wouldn't have blamed him if he made snarky comments or was just plain rude... but he is not like that. I am not saying he doesn't get angry. I know that he does but I also have seen him take a step back from the situation, work through it and deal with it appropriately or just simply let it go. Sometimes it seems he has a very serious Zen thing going on because situations that have me about ready to take off someones head he can often laugh at it. But I am learning that too... laughter heals and how can you feel bad when you are laughing really?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
One of the biggest anger triggers for me is at the place where I used to work. I have a big issue with guys that came in and because it is a "technical/computer" industry thought that I couldn't do it because I am a woman. When I have guys looking around me while I am sitting at the desk and talking to the "men" who aren't working and asking for their help it makes me mad. It frustrates my friend too because he has taught me a great deal about what I know about computers. So this is something that makes me feel insignificant, disrespected, and angry. He always points out to the guys that I am the one working and that I can help them just as well as he can. Now that might not be entirely true about somethings but if I can't do it... I sure as hell will find out how to or get some help myself. So when I get rip roaring mad at the disrespect and the "stereotyping" he does a funny thing - he talks to me. Let me say what I needed to say. To speak my truth no matter how retarded it sounded. In the face of his calm and logic (usually - he is man after all!) He reminds me that I know who and what I am and what I can do and that though I shouldn't have to prove myself that is just the way the world is.<br />
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My friend has said to me on many occasions that "sometimes people and situations in life are just not worth the effort. So it is always better to see them for what they are and just let it go." So ultimately I needed to learn that in the long run most of the things that make me angry only truly affect me for a few moments and then they are gone. So why get all worked up about them and ruin your day. Now that isn't to say that there aren't times when anger is a helpful emotion that helps us to be aware of and deal with difficult situations. If I hadn't heeded my anger in regards to my ex and used that anger to realize just how damaging the relationship was - I would still be in that relationship and most likely a ranting and raving, crazy woman who was growing larger by the day.<br />
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So I have finally learned to slow down some and not react as quickly, or as ferociously as I did when I first left my ex and when I first started that job. The amazing thing about being able to talk about it and to be heard was that the desire to eat away the anger seems to have slipped off into the darkness for the most part. I can't say that starting to deal with my anger has caused any weight loss because the truth of the mater is that I still need to master the depression and stress eating and get off my ass and work it out. But the fact is I know that I am no longer gaining because my rage is overwhelming me.<br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">The very act of speaking my words cut down on the number of "anger calories" that went into my mouth and onto my hips but we don't always have the opportunity or a friend who is there for us to speak our truth to. So other options that I have started to utilize again are my journalling... that is simply another way of putting a voice to your thoughts feelings and anger. As well it is a great place to problem solve. Writing it on paper gives the opportunity to put it down and put it away even if for a few hours - and then come back to it with a clearer and hopefully calmer perspective.<br />
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So that is just my two cents worth on anger today....<br />
Raiwvynn</span></div>Raiwvynn Dusana Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108074182293812882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710978971754893162.post-44457707363026234582011-05-22T23:00:00.001-04:002011-05-22T23:09:00.360-04:00Sunshine and Bugs<span xmlns=''><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>Summer is unarguably most people's favourite time of year. The sun is shining, school is out, holidays are taken, and every weekend there is the opportunity for barbeques and picnics. There is baseball and soccer and all sorts of sports activities. Swimming at the beach, camping and day trips. What fun!<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>But summer also has its draw backs –bug bites! In this day and age we need to be cautious about these. In recent years we have been on the watch for diseases carried by mosquitoes such as West Nile. Also there is a need to watch out for ticks that might carry Lyme disease. Here are some practical tips on preventing mosquito and tick bites!<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-size:12pt'><strong>The Dread Pirate of the Sky – the Mosquito<br /></strong></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>Mosquitoes carry viral diseases that many of us are not even aware of. While the occurrences of these diseases are often location specific the fact is that they are carried by these winged critters. Some of the diseases carried by mosquitoes include yellow fever; dengue fever; epidemic polyarthritis; Rift Valley fever; Ross River Fever; St. Louis encephalitis, West Nile virus, Japanese encephalitis, LaCross encephalitis, and many other types of invasive diseases. <br /></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>Mosquitoes are also responsible for malaria which is known to be the world's leading cause of premature death. 5.3 million people die each year from the Anopheles Mosquito – the mosquito that carries Malaria. Children under the age of five are the most likely to die from malaria. Fortunately for us here in North America Malaria is not usually found. Mosquitoes are also capable of carrying the filariasis worm which causes the disease Elephantiasis. Statistics state that there could be as many as 40 million people worldwide that are dealing with some form of Elephantiasis. For us in North America we know that the West Nile virus is spread by infected mosquitoes, and can cause serious even fatal symptoms.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>Children tend to swell up and turn red when they have been bitten by a pesky mosquito but as people get older they tend to build up immunity to mosquito bites and often are not even aware that they have been bitten. This means that adults are more likely to be infected by a mosquito born disease and be unaware of it. The United States Center for Disease Control says "The risk of severe illness and death is highest for people over 50 years old, although people of all ages can become ill."<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-size:12pt'><strong>West Nile Virus<br /></strong></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>Perhaps the most notorious of the mosquito born illnesses in recent years West Nile Virus like malaria can result in death. Some of the symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness, and body aches, occasionally with a skin rash (on the trunk of the body) and swollen lymph glands. While this illness can last as briefly as a few days some reports say it can last for several weeks. The more severe form of the disease include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis. There is an estimation that 1 out of every 150 people that are infected with the West Nile virus will develop the severe form of the illness.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>It important that we remember that these thirsty little blood suckers are out there and can be a threat to our health even our lives. Enjoy the warm weather, but remember that mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus are already flying about looking for a warm lunch. So the question is what to do? First off is protecting yourself. <br /></span></p><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-size:12pt'><strong>Bug Repellants<br /></strong></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>In addition to staying indoors as dawn or early in the evening and wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants when going outdoors bug repellants are a good way to prevent mosquito bites. There are many commercial sprays that work well but often they are laced with harsh chemicals. There are alternatives to chemical sprays and creams but it really can take some time to figure out which one works for you. <strong><em>It is important to find a bug repellant that works for you.</em></strong><br /> <strong><em>Bug repellant doesn't work if you don't us it. </em></strong>If you are looking for something a little more natural here is one that is made of natural ingredients and there is also a soothing bath for those who have had the misfortune to have been bitten. <strong><br /> </strong></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'><strong>Nature Walk Insect Repellent</strong><br /> </span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'><strong><br><a name='0.1_graphic02'/></br>Base</strong><br /> </span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>8 tbsp Aloe Vera gel <br/>8 tbsp very light skin lotion<br /></span></p><p><br /> </p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'><strong>Oils <br/></strong>1 ½ teaspoons Citronella oil <br/>½ teaspoon eucalyptus oil<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>½ teaspoon patchouli oil<br /></span></p><p><br /> </p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>Pour all the ingredients into a bottle and shake well. As you shake bless it saying: <br /></span></p><p><br /> </p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'><strong>Though our insect friends are needed</strong><br /> </span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'><strong>In the air they go unheeded</strong><br /> </span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'><strong>But on our skin they sting and bite</strong><br /> </span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'><strong>And they hinder our delight</strong><br /> </span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'><strong>Of pine wood forest, of hill and dale</strong><br /> </span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'><strong>When we walk the nature trail</strong><br /> </span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'><strong>So when our feet walk on the trail</strong><br /> </span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'><strong>This soothing cream will prevail</strong><br /> </span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'><strong>Against the critters that make us swell</strong><br /> </span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'><strong>So I confirm by this here spell</strong><br /> </span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'><strong>My bug repellent will work quite well</strong><br /> </span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'><br/>Use liberally over the body avoid eyes and mouth areas.<br /></span></p><p><br /> </p><p><br /> </p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'><strong>Soothing Bug Bite Bath<br /></strong></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'><strong>Ingredients:<br /></strong></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>1 cup Epson Salts<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>¼ cup Baking Soda<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>1 tbs lavender<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>1 tbs chamomile<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>5 drops Rosemary Essential Oil<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'><strong>Directions:<br /></strong></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>Add the ingredients to an already running warm bath. To avoid floating herbs in your water make a bag out of cheese cloth or use a clean nylon stocking and place the herb inside. Soak in the water and submerge yourself in the water to sooth and ease the pain of bug bites. <br /></span></p><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-size:12pt'><strong>Avoid Providing Breeding Grounds</strong><br /> </span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>Remember to check around your yard and dump out standing water where mosquitoes can lay their eggs. Mosquitoes can develop in as little as ¼ inch of standing water that lasts for seven to ten days. Here are some helpful tips for getting rid of standing water.<br /></span></p><div><table border='0' style='border-collapse:collapse'><colgroup><col style='width:295px'/><col style='width:295px'/></colgroup><tbody valign='top'><tr><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt'><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>Dispose of discarded tires, cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or other unused similar water-holding containers that have accumulated on your property. Do not overlook containers that have become overgrown by vegetation.</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt'><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers that are left outdoors. Drainage holes drilled in the sides of containers allow sufficient water to collect in which mosquitoes may breed.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt'><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>At least once per week, empty standing water from containers on your property, such as tire swings, or bird baths.</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt'><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>Turn over plastic wading pools when not in use. A wading pool becomes a mosquito producer if it is not used on a regular basis</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt'><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>Clean clogged roof gutters, particularly if the leaves from surrounding trees have a tendency to plug up the drains. Flooded roof gutters are easily overlooked but can produce hundreds of mosquitoes each season.</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt'><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>Fill in low areas on your property to eliminate standing water. Ponds or streams where fish are present or the water is disturbed by current or wave action do not produce many mosquitoes. </span></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt'><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>Fill in tree rot holes and hollow stumps that hold water.</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt'><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>Store boats covered or upside down, or remove rainwater weekly. </span></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt'><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>Turn over wheelbarrows and do not allow water to stagnate in bird baths. Change water in bird baths and wading pools on a weekly basis. </span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt'><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>Keep drains, ditches and culverts free of grass clippings, weeds and trash so water will drain properly. </span></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt'><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with fish. Water gardens are fashionable but become major mosquito producers if they are allowed to stagnate</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt'><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>Report possible mosquito breeding sites to your local mosquito control agency if one exists in your community. </span></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' colspan='2'><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>Clean and chlorinate swimming pools that are not being used. A swimming pool that is left untended by a family that goes on vacation for a month can produce enough mosquitoes to result in neighborhood-wide complaints. Be aware that mosquitoes may breed in the water that collects on swimming pool covers. </span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style='text-align: center'><br /> </p><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-size:12pt'><strong>The Woodland Beasty – The Tick</strong><br /> </span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>When we think of ticks we most often think of them attaching themselves to our pets. But ticks can and do like the blood of humans as well. (I know this from personal experience of waking up one night to find one on my fiancée's shoulder!) From the larval stage to the adult stage ticks will attach themselves to animals and humans for a feast of blood. As well as being annoying and rather disturbing it can also be dangerous. Ticks can transmit diseases such as: Lyme disease, Human Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis (often concurrent with Lyme disease from the same deer tick bite), Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Human Monocytic Ehrlichiosis and Southern Tick-associated Rash illness. <br /></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>Perhaps the most commonly known and scary disease that is carried by ticks is Lyme disease. This disease if not treated can have some seriously debilitating consequences. Carried by the black legged tick (also known as the deer tick) the symptoms of Lyme disease generally start with a bulls eye shaped rash around the bite site along with fever, fatigue, headache, stiff neck, muscle pain and generally feeling uncomfortable. The North Carolina State Universtiy, department of entomology list the following as symptoms: <br /></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'><strong>Stage I</strong> involves a rash and flu-like symptoms. Within 30 days of infection, a characteristic rash (<em>erythema migrans</em>) occurs at the site of the tick bite. Twenty to 50 percent of Lyme disease patients do not exhibit the rash, which often delays diagnosis of the disease. <em>Erythema migrans</em> may occur as an irregular-shaped red blotch or it may consist of a bright red ring around the bite that gradually expands over several days and clears in the center to form a bull's-eye pattern. The rash can vary in size from 1 to 18 inches. Later, secondary blotchlike skin lesions may occur away from the site of the bite when the spirochete spreads. The rash is usually accompanied by fatigue, a headache, a stiff neck, muscle aches and pains, and a general feeling of discomfort. <br /></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'><strong>Stage II</strong>, which occurs during the next several weeks, includes cardiac and neurological symptoms. Neurological complications occur in about 15 percent of the patients and can involve encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), radiculitis (inflammation of the nerve roots), and Bell's palsy (transitory facial paralysis). In most instances, these symptoms completely disappear after lasting several months. Cardiac abnormalities occur in about 8 percent of patients. The symptoms include dizziness, shortness of breath, and heartbeat irregularities that may require installation of a pacemaker. Within several weeks these symptoms usually disappear.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'><strong>Stage III</strong> is distinguished by arthritic problems that may appear as long as two years after the rash. Patients may experience pain, swelling, and elevated temperature in one or more joints. Some patients may also exhibit sleepwalking, loss of memory, mood changes, and inability to concentrate. Lyme disease and its complications can be effectively treated with antibiotics. Physicians use different antibiotics against each stage of the disease. With early treatment, the course of Lyme disease is shortened and the occurrence of late complications, such as arthritis, is reduced. Therefore, it is important to diagnose Lyme disease and administer antibiotic therapy quickly.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'><strong>Protection Yourself from Ticks<br /></strong></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>It is important to protect yourself from ticks and the diseases that they carry here are some tips to help you protect yourself:<br /></span></p><p><br /> </p><div><table border='0' style='border-collapse:collapse'><colgroup><col style='width:295px'/><col style='width:295px'/></colgroup><tbody valign='top'><tr><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt'><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>Find out from your local public health office if there are ticks in your area, especially blacklegged ticks. </span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt'><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>To avoid ticks that maybe on grass and shrubs, stay on wide paths and roads when possible.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt'><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>Wear protective clothing to limit the access of ticks to your skin. This clothing should include enclosed shoes, long-sleeved shirts that fit tightly around the wrist and are tucked into pants, and long-legged pants tucked into socks or boots. Light coloured clothing helps to be able to spot ticks.</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt'><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>Insect repellents containing DEET are safe and can effectively repel ticks. Repellents can be applied to clothing as well as exposed skin but should not be applied to skin underneath clothing (note: DEET may damage some materials). Always read and follow label directions. </span></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt'><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>After removing ticks, wash the site of attachment with soap and water or disinfect it with alcohol or household antiseptic. Note the day of the tick bite and try to save the tick in an empty pill vial or doubled zip-lock bag. </span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt'><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>Carefully remove attached ticks using tweezers. Grasp the tick's head and mouth parts as close to the skin as possible and pull slowly until the tick is removed. Do not twist or rotate the tick and try not to damage the tick (i.e., squash or crush it) during removal.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' colspan='2'><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>Check for ticks on clothing and skin after being in tick-infested areas. A daily total-body inspection and prompt removal of attached ticks (i.e., within 18 to 24 hours) can reduce the risk of infection. Blacklegged ticks are very small, particularly at the nymph stage, be sure to look carefully. Do not forget to check children and pets as well. A tick must be attached at least six hours in order to transmit disease organisms causing Rocky Mountain spotted fever; therefore, the longer a tick is attached, the greater the chances are that germs will be transmitted. The minimum attachment time required for transmission of Lyme disease is not yet known.</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><br /> </p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'><a name='hme'/>All in all we know that prevention is the best medicine. Avoiding the stinging and biting of insects that can bring serious illness it is an important part of summer health and safety. I hope that your summer is a health and safe one.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>Brightest Blessings<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>Raiwvynn Dusana<br /></span></p><p><br /> </p><p><strong>Resources<br /></strong></p><p><a href='http://www.articlealley.com/article_253125_17.html'><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em>http://www.articlealley.com/article_253125_17.html</em></span></a><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em><br /> </em></span></p><p><a href='http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/prevention_info.htm'><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em>http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/prevention_info.htm</em></span></a><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em><br /> </em></span></p><p><a href='http://www.cdc.gov/WestNile/'><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em>www.cdc.gov/WestNile/</em></span></a><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em><br /> </em></span></p><p><a href='http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/westnilevirus.html'><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em>www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/westnilevirus.html</em></span></a><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em><br /> </em></span></p><p><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em>en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Nile_virus<br /></em></span></p><p><a href='http://www.co.frederick.md.us/DocumentView.asp?DID=2579'><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em>http://www.co.frederick.md.us/DocumentView.asp?DID=2579</em></span></a><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em><br /> </em></span></p><p><a href='http://realestate.aol.com/article/improve/_a/surviving-summer-bugs/20070711180509990001'><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em>http://realestate.aol.com/article/improve/_a/surviving-summer-bugs/20070711180509990001</em></span></a><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em><br /> </em></span></p><p><a href='http://encarta.msn.com/related_761560686_3/diseases_carried_by_mosquitoes.html'><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em>http://encarta.msn.com/related_761560686_3/diseases_carried_by_mosquitoes.html</em></span></a><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em><br /> </em></span></p><p><a href='http://ezinearticles.com/?Viral-Diseases-Carried-by-Mosquitoes&id=920039'><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em>http://ezinearticles.com/?Viral-Diseases-Carried-by-Mosquitoes&id=920039</em></span></a><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em><br /> </em></span></p><p><a href='http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/dtopics/tickborne/diseases.html'><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em>http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/dtopics/tickborne/diseases.html</em></span></a><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em><br /> </em></span></p><p><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em>http://pediatrics.about.com/od/childhoodinfections/a/west_nile_virus.htm<br /></em></span></p><p><a href='http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/Urban/ticks.htm'><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em>http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/Urban/ticks.htm</em></span></a><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em><br /> </em></span></p><p><a href='http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/180/12/1221'><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em>http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/180/12/1221</em></span></a><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em><br /> </em></span></p><p><a href='http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/id-mi/lyme-fs-eng.php'><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em>http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/id-mi/lyme-fs-eng.php#7</em></span></a><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em><br /> </em></span></p><p><a href='http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/lyme/index.html'><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em>http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/lyme/index.html</em></span></a><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em><br /> </em></span></p><p><a href='http://www.kcom.edu/faculty/chamberlain/tickdis.htm'><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em>http://www.kcom.edu/faculty/chamberlain/tickdis.htm</em></span></a><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em><br /> </em></span></p><p><a href='http://www.nasdonline.org/docs/d000901-d001000/d000960/d000960.html'><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em>http://www.nasdonline.org/docs/d000901-d001000/d000960/d000960.html</em></span></a><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em><br /> </em></span></p><p><a href='http://www.medicinenet.com/lyme_disease/article.htm'><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em>http://www.medicinenet.com/lyme_disease/article.htm</em></span></a><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em><br /> </em></span></p><p><a href='http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/Lyme/'><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em>http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/Lyme/</em></span></a><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em><br /> </em></span></p><p><a href='http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme_disease'><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme_disease</em></span></a><span style='color:blue; font-size:10pt'><em><br /> </em></span></p><p><br /> </p></span>Raiwvynn Dusana Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108074182293812882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710978971754893162.post-69827255310859302922011-04-30T10:34:00.000-04:002011-04-30T10:34:04.127-04:00A Blessing for Cupboards and Doors<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I forgot to add this one with the other kitchen blessings a few blog posts ago. So I thought I would share this one with you today.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA">Behind you are hidden the tools of my craft<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA">From garden and forest and even from Kraft<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA">Blessings in boxes and jars on your shelves<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA">Things to bring healing and health to ourselves<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA">So blessings upon you my cupboards and drawers<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA">And thanks for protecting what’s hid by your doors.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div></div>Raiwvynn Dusana Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108074182293812882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710978971754893162.post-67018204662871033862011-04-18T23:41:00.003-04:002011-04-18T23:43:04.669-04:00Lavender (Herb Study)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="Section1"><div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><strong><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Lavender<o:p></o:p></span></strong></div><div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><strong><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Botanical Name: </span></strong><em><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lavandula angustifolia, L. Spica, L. officinalis, L. dentate, l. stoechas, L. Viridis,<o:p></o:p></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><em><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-style: normal;">Family:</span></b></em><em><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></b></em><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lamiacea (formerly Labiatae)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lavender is an attractive and aromatic plant. It is a popular plant in many herb gardens and is known for its fragrance more so than for its culinary uses. Lavender has numerous different varieties. The English lavender tends to be a small bushy shrub that grows to about 3 feet high. It has silvery gray-green leaves and slender stalks that have clusters of purple, lavender, or mauve flowers. It is the variety most often used for culinary uses. The French lavender has much less aroma than the English lavender and a thicker leaves. Though the flowers of the French lavender have less scent, the leaves have more fragrance and this makes it a very good variety for decorative use. </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Origins and Folklore<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
Lavenders are native to the <st1:place w:st="on">Mediterranean</st1:place>. There are some varieties that were known to the ancient Romans and Greeks. It was frequently used in bathwater and thus it is safe to say that the origin of the name comes from the Latin “lavare” which means to wash. Not surprising then that it is still a popular scent for bath and beauty products today. The lavender from <st1:country-region w:st="on">England</st1:country-region> was said to be the best in the world until the late 20<sup>th</sup> century when <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Tasmania</st1:state></st1:place> became the primary producer of lavender essential oils. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It is said that lavender was worn by prostitutes to advertise their profession and attract men. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Culinary Uses<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lavender is not a commonly used herb for culinary use. It should be used sparingly or it can become very overpowering and add bitterness to your food. It was used more commonly in the 17<sup>th</sup> century as a culinary herb along with some other flowers to make a conserve that was mixed with sugar and used kind of like an icing for cookies and cakes. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Moroccans used lavender along with rose petals, orris root powder, saffron, numerous spices and some “mind altering substances” and is added to the exotic blend called “ras el hanout.” It is also found in some of the savour herb blends called hebrs de <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Provence</st1:state></st1:place>. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lavender goes well with sweet dishes that contain cream. It is also used to add colour and flavour to shortbread. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div></div><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" /> </span> <br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><strong><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Magickal Uses and Information<o:p></o:p></span></strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><strong><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Gender</span></strong><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">: Masculine<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><strong><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Element</span></strong><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">: Air<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Planet:</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Mercury <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><strong><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Deities</span></strong><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">: Venus, Aphrodite<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The most common uses for lavender include: love, protection, sleep, chastity, longevity, purification, happiness, and peace. Some further uses include: <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Added to love spells and also mixed in food to strengthen love<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Used in love sachets and in drawers to attract love<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Write love letters on paper that you have rubbed lavender <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Used in sleep spells<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Protects against abusive treatment by a spouse if worn<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Scattered around your home it will bring about a peaceful, harmonious atmosphere.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Smell often to bring about long life<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Used in healing mixtures<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Used to see ghosts<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Offers protection from the evil eye<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Used in purification baths <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Used in wish divination<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Medicinal, Homeopathic and Aromatherapy Uses<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Some of the uses for lavender include:<o:p></o:p></span></div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Made as a tea, then cooled, used for a hair rinse to reduce dandruff<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lavender has antiseptic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-convulsive, and anti-depressant qualities<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Treats the following conditions:<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 480;"><tbody>
<tr> <td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="197"><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Stress<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="197"><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Anxiety<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="197"><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Exhaustion<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="197"><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Irritability<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="197"><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Headaches/migraines<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="197"><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Insomnia<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="197"><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Depression<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="197"><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Colds<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="197"><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Digestion/flatulence etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="197"><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Liver and gallbladder problems<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="197"><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Loss of appetite<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="197"><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Breath freshener/mouthwash<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="197"><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Relaxation/sleep aid<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="197"><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Healing cuts, scrapes, wounds<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="197"><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Soothing bee stings and insect bites<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="197"><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Muscle aches<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="197"><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Rheumatism/arthritis<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="197"><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Cold sores & cankers<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="197"><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Blusters<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="197"><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Bruises<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="197"><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Athletes food<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="197"><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Rashes<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="197"><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="197"><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">References<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.gardensablaze.com/HerbLavenderMed.htm">http://www.gardensablaze.com/HerbLavenderMed.htm</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/lavender-000260.htm">http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/lavender-000260.htm</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://healthmad.com/alternative/10-uses-for-lavender/">http://healthmad.com/alternative/10-uses-for-lavender/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lavender">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lavender</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.ageless.co.za/herb-lavender.htm">http://www.ageless.co.za/herb-lavender.htm</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://herbgardens.about.com/od/medicinalherbs/a/Lavender.htm">http://herbgardens.about.com/od/medicinalherbs/a/Lavender.htm</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Your <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Backyard</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Herb</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Garden</st1:placetype></st1:place>: A Gardener's Guide to Growing Over 50 Herbs Plus How to Use Them in Cooking, </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">by Miranda Smith<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The Spice and Herb Bible </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">by Ian Hemphill and Kate Hemphill<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The Book of Herbal Wisdom: Using Plants as Medicines </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">by Matthew Wood<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The Earthwise Herbal: A Complete Guide to <st1:place w:st="on">Old World</st1:place> Medicinal Plants </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">by Matthew Wood<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The Healing Power of Herbs: The Enlightened Person's Guide to the Wonders of Medicinal Plants </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">by Michael T. Murray N.D.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wise Woman Herbal Healing Wise </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">by Susun S. Weed and Durga Bernhard<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><st1:personname w:st="on"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Master</span></st1:personname><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">ing Herbalism by Paul Huson<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Cullpepper’s Colour Herbal edited by David Potterton<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div></div>Raiwvynn Dusana Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108074182293812882noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710978971754893162.post-34232327912999231262011-04-18T23:35:00.000-04:002011-04-18T23:35:38.175-04:00Nerve and Muscle Pain Bath<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><strong>I needed a bath too sooth some sore muscles tonight. This is a bath recipe that I made up a few years ago and use fairly regularly. I find it helpful and thought that I would share it with you all. </strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><strong><br />
</strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><strong>Ingredients<o:p></o:p></strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">1 parts Eucalyptus – aids in relaxing and healing muscle pain </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">1 parts Rosemary - aids in easing muscle pain</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">2 parts skullcap – aids in treating muscle spasms</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">2 parts Chamomile – aids in relaxing muscles and easing nerve pain</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">1 part cramp bark - eases muscle and nerve pain and spasms</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">1 cup Epsom salts</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">1cup baking soda</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Blue food colouring – healing colour</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><br />
</span></div><strong><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Method<o:p></o:p></span></strong><br />
<strong><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">If you are using dried herbs combine the ingredients and place them in a cheese cloth bag or nylon stocking and use as a bath tea bag. Take the Epsom slats and add 2 or 3 drops of the food colouring and mix well. (You can exclude the baking soda if you are using this method.) Then run the water and add them. Place the “bath tea bag” in the water and swish it around gently or place it under the running water to release the healing properties of the herbs. <o:p></o:p></span></strong><br />
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<strong><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">If you are using oils, add them one at a time to the baking soda and Epson salts and mix thoroughly, breaking up any clumps. When mixed add a couple of drops of food colouring to add to the healing power of the bath salts. Run your water and add the salts to the water, swishing to release the colour, scent and healing properties. <o:p></o:p></span></strong><br />
<strong><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Get into the tub and lean back – relax and envision the pain seeping out of you into the water. When you are finished let the water drain away and see your pain going with it. <o:p></o:p></span></strong><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">If you wish to add a stone/crystal to this bath <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Chrysocolla would be a good suggestion. </span>This stone is known to draw out the heat of inflammation and to draw out pain. It is an excellent stone to use in combination with these herbs to reduce sore muscles and speed healing.</div></div>Raiwvynn Dusana Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108074182293812882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710978971754893162.post-2404018591101909442011-03-26T14:42:00.000-04:002011-03-26T14:42:16.778-04:00Magical House Keeping - Kitchen Cleaning<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I had a friend ask me the other day why I chanted while I house clean. It was kind of funny because a couple years ago I would have had the same question if I saw someone chanting while they scrubbed the floor or cupboards. So I thought I would explain - and share some of the chants/blessings that I use when I am cleaning my home. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I think that what it boils down to for me is that I want to make sure that I have the most positive energy possible in my home. When I take the time to cleanse, clean and bless my home I am moving negative energy out of my home and drawing positive energy in. Now people say well can't you just do a general house cleansing and blessings and I say off course you can. This is just a personal choice that helps me to find balance and peace in my home. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I currently have a relative living with me. He is a great guy but the truth is that he is in a stressful situation right now and when he comes home from work you can often feel the negative energy hovering around him. The first thing that he does is make himself something to eat. It only takes him a few minutes to settle down and let go of that negative energy but where do you think it goes? So that energy that he brings in gets immediately dumped into my kitchen. Believe me that is not the kind of energy that I want to have filling up my not so big kitchen. So when I clean I also cleanse the energy of my kitchen. Sometimes it is simply singing which moves the energy. Sometime it is actually chanting something specific. Sometimes it is speaking a blessing. Sometimes you might even catch me dancing around the kitchen. What do all of these things have in common? They raise and move energy.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I also have blessings for my appliances. Why? Well think about it. All of our appliances use energy - they heat our food, cool our food, chop, whirl etc etc. What better way of getting positive energy into our food than blessing those appliances, the energy that they use and that they give off. I can't see that it would be a negative things at all.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> I am not saying I use them every time I wipe down an appliance or clean my counters but when I do a good cleaning I love the energy that flows from a cleansed and blessed kitchen (or bathroom or livingroom or any room for that matter!) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That said I will share some of the chants and blessings that I use when cleaning. Some are serious but most have some element of fun. I hope you enjoy them. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Feel free to use them if you like but please don't post them elsewhere without asking - as they are my original writing.</span><br />
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i><span lang="EN-CA"> a chant to use while cleaning your counters.</span></i></b><span lang="EN-CA"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Meals for my family and meals for my mate<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On your clean surfaces I will create<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Whether cooking or crafting or mixing a brew<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You lend your aid to whatever I do<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So cleaning you now is the task I employ<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>To help fill this kitchen with magick and joy</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA"></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A Blessing for Cupboards and Drawers<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-CA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Behind you are hidden the tools of my craft<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-CA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From garden and forest and even from Kraft<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-CA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Blessings in boxes and jars on your shelves<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-CA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Things to bring healing and health to ourselves<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-CA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So blessings upon you my cupboards and drawers<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-CA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And thanks for protecting what’s hid by your doors.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-CA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-CA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span lang="EN-CA">Fridge Blessing<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></i></div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">On the cold depths of freezer and fridge<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">I place this blessing to help cross the bridge<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">From mundane to magick your aid I request<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">That all who eat from you will be pleasantly blessed<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">So guardian of condiment, veggie, fruit and meat<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">Blessed are you that holds what we eat<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-CA">Stove/Oven Blessing<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">Source of heat to cook our food<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">With the power of fire our meal’s imbued<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">Blessings upon you the source of the heat<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">That cooks all my veggies, my grains and my meat<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">Magick you bring on whatever I brew<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">Blessings upon you for all that you do<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-CA">Microwave Blessing<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">Fast and quick you reheat our food<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">Whether boiled or brewed or even if stewed<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">You light the fire and you bring relief<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">Because you make reheating so incredibly brief<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">Bless us with magick upon the mundane<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">As you are a link in my strong kitchen chain<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-CA">Coffee Maker<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">Maker of the bitter drink<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">I would rather toss down the sink<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">Send your blessings to my guy<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">Cause without his coffee he would cry<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">Bless this house with the morning scent<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">A magick moment joyfully spent <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-CA">Food Processor<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">Whirling, spinning, chopping, ground<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">The uses of the processer sound<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">Saving fingers as food flows<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">You take the burden of chopping woes<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">Continued blessings we ask of you<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">Add your magick through and through<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-CA">Blender Blessing<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">Spinning magick, swirling food<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">With the power of four imbued<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">So beat and whip and mix and blend<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">Bless with magick as your path you wend<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">Blender magick as you whirl<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">Let sweet magic around us swirl<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-CA">Toaster Oven<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">A place for toast or pop tarts sweet<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">You cook all things from bread to meat<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">You warm and brown, you broil and bake<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">Adding warmth to all I make<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">Bless the house with your toasty heat<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">Bless all in this kitchen who would pause to eat<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-CA">Slow Cooker<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">When life is all crazy, just hurry and rush<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">When the running around leaves me all in a flush<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">You pour out the blessings of food cooked on time<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">To simply sit down to a meal is divine<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">No hurry, no rushing a blessing indeed<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">Thank you dear crock pot for from cooking I’m freed<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Footlight MT Light', serif; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA">Raiwvynn Dusana Windsong</span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Footlight MT Light', serif; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA"><br />
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</div>Raiwvynn Dusana Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108074182293812882noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710978971754893162.post-58862562582776076792011-03-26T13:16:00.000-04:002011-03-26T13:16:52.614-04:00Answers to some questions....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I've had a few people ask me some questions about what I post in my blog. They were interested in knowing why I do studies of the different Gods and Goddesses, why I do herb studies and so on. So I thought that I would elaborate on that.<br />
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Some of the things that I post are from assignments that I have done for the classes that I have taken at the Magickal Circle School. They are designed to help me learn more about the particular topics of the class but also to help me connect more with the Lord and Lady and nature. As I work on these assignments and explore the different deities I learn more not only about the nature of the God and Goddess but of myself. The deeper I dive into understanding them, the archetypes, and the historical understanding and impact the closer I draw to her that is the source of all things. This deepens and strengthens not only my tie to the Goddess and her consort but it helps me to know myself, to grow and deepen my spiritual walk.<br />
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So why the herbal stuff and the gemstone stuff?<br />
Well the herbal stuff is research that I have done which I think is helpful for me because not only is it a good exercise in research and practice using herbs but it helps me to retain what I have read, or practiced. For me when I write things down in my own words they become more ingrained in my mind and I am more easily able to remember them. As well all of these are in my Grimoire (which is my herbal book of shadows for all intents and purposes.) As well there really are a lot of lazy people out there who won't do the research for themselves. In sharing here, hopefully some will read and see that there are pros and cons to using herbs - especially if you dont know what is safe and what is not. There are many people who don't understand that there can be issues using certain herbs... even common herbs- if they don't know what they are doing. So my sharing those projects here is out of concern for sharing good information and helping people be aware.<br />
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The stone studies are simple there because I love working with stones.<br />
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As always, I welcome any and all feedback.<br />
I hope you have a blessed day!<br />
Raiwvynn</div>Raiwvynn Dusana Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108074182293812882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710978971754893162.post-85714714639781568572011-03-22T18:30:00.004-04:002011-03-22T18:31:39.848-04:00The Augralids<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">The most common story about the Augralids is that they were originally Earth and Fertility Goddesses. They were worshipped in pre-Hellenic Attica and they ruled the area around <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Athens</st1:place></st1:city> before the Greek Goddess Athena came into rule there. The sisters were Herse, Pandrosos, and Agraulos. There names in Greek connected them to the “fertilizing dew,” which is another reference to their status as Earth or Fertility Goddesses. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">The story goes that Athena thwarted an attempt by Hephaestus to rape her but some of His semen fell on her leg. When she wiped it off it fell onto the earth impregnating Gaia. The resulting child was Erichthonius (meaning earth born.) Athena placed the child into a willow basket/or box and gave it to the Augralids with the warning to never open it. Aglauros and Herse did open the basket which held the infant and a large snake. (Some say that Erichthonius was a terrible snake while other stories say he was a child and there was a snake in the box with him.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">There are two stories about what happened after the two sisters opened the box. One is that they both went mad and killed themselves jumping off the </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">Acropolis. The other story is that Athena let them live providing they gave up their power and position and were simply Goddesses of the Earth. After this, Aglauros was turned to stone by Hermes when she became jealous of His attentions to her sister Herse. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">The story of Hersa and Aglauros and the box is believed to later have been transformed into the story of Pandorda.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">Resources<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><h2 style="margin-left: 1.65pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">The Triple Goddess by Adam McLean </span></h2><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt;">http://www.hranajanto.com/goddessgallery/athena.html<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandrosus<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herse<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt;">http://www.pantheon.org/articles/a/aglauros.html<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aglaulus,_daughter_of_Cecrops<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt;">http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/9247/Aglauros<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>Raiwvynn Dusana Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108074182293812882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710978971754893162.post-50252613379875061772011-03-22T18:30:00.000-04:002011-03-22T18:30:04.861-04:00The Desert Moon Goddesses<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">The Goddesses Al-Uzza, Al-Lat and Menat formed a Goddess triad that was worshiped in Arabia before the advent of Islam. They were worshiped widely throughout Arabia and as far east as <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region></st1:place>. They were very popular Goddesses in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Mecca</st1:city></st1:place> during the time of Mohammed. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Al-Uzza</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"> – meaning “the Mighty One” is the Goddess of the Morning Star <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Al-Lat</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"> – meaning “The Goddess” is the Mother<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Manat</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"> – is the Crone, the Goddess of fate or time<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">The Goddesses are sometimes seen as daughters of the God (Al-Lah) but sometimes Manat and Al-Lat are Considered daughters of Al-UzzaFrom <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Al-Uzza, was the Goddess who was one of the most honoured Arab Deities. She had a temple at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Petra</st1:city></st1:place> as well as being thought as the patron Goddess there as well. She was commonly called to from the rooftops which was thought to be a suitable worship for a Star Goddess. Other names she was known by was Chaamu or Chalmous which means young girl or virgin. She also had a haven at Nakhlah where there were three acacias trees where were sacred to her. She is said to descend there. Al-Uzza was compared to Ishtar and Astarte as the Morning and Evening Star Goddesses. She is depicted standing befor the acacia tree with a Caracal (a desert cat sort of like a lynx.) She is also associated with Aphrodite. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Al-Lat is called the “mother of the Gods” or the “Greatest of All.” She is an Earth Goddess and is connected with fertility and prosperity. She too was identified with Aphrodite and also sometimes with Athena. This seemed to cause some confusion and Al-Lat and Al-Uzza were sometimes mixed up. Al-Lat’s temple was east of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Mecca</st1:city></st1:place> in Ta’if. Her symbol was the crescent moon but was sometimes shown with the sun resting in its cresecent – as the sun was also considered a feminine representation of her aspect. She carries a sheaf of wheat and a small chunk of frankincense as symbols of fertility.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Manat’s name means “fate, destruction, death, doom, part, protion, that which is allotted.” She was believed to be a very ancient Goddess who’s followers and cult may predate both of the other two Goddesses. She was worshipied as a black stone at Quidaid, near <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Mecca</st1:city></st1:place> but her worshippers were extensive. She is a Goods of Death and is the actual personification of death. She was believed to actually bring people to their graves so in essence she was the representation of death and the actual force of death. She was petitioned to guard tombs and to punish any that would desecrate them. Her symbol is the waning moon. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div>Raiwvynn Dusana Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108074182293812882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710978971754893162.post-47425247205286760362011-03-18T13:03:00.003-04:002011-03-18T13:07:08.219-04:00St. Patrick and St. Patrick’s Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">St. Patrick is known as being one of the great symbols of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ireland</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Every March there is a day of celebration in his </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">honour</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> for the great service that he performed in driving the snakes out of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ireland</st1:place></st1:country-region>. This was seen as a miracle.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The common misconception about St. Patrick was that he drove actual, physical snakes from <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ireland</st1:place></st1:country-region>. It is a fact that snakes are hard to find in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Ireland</st1:country-region> but when you look at that fact it really is not all that surprising seeing as <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ireland</st1:place></st1:country-region> is an island and snakes don’t swim across large bodies of water to inhabit foreign lands. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The interesting fact that most people are not aware of is that “Snakes” were derogatory term for the early pagans of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ireland</st1:place></st1:country-region>. As well snakes were significant symbols of the Druids as well where St. Patrick noted in his confession were at some conflict with him. St. Patrick was the man who was touted as bringing Christianity to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ireland</st1:place></st1:country-region> and in doing so almost eradicating paganism from the “Emerald Isle.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Many historians believe that St. Patrick was born around 370 c.e. in either <st1:country-region w:st="on">Scotland</st1:country-region> or <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Wales</st1:country-region></st1:place> (though this date is somewhat disputed by historians.) His birth name was Maewyn and that he was the son of Calpurnius who was a Roman Briton. When he was in his teens Maewyn was sold into slavery to and Irish landowner. It was during this time, as he worked as a shepherd that he was said to have started having visions and dreams. He even had a dream that showed him how to escape from her current enslavement.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
When he finally escaped from slavery in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Ireland</st1:country-region> he studied at a monastery in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">France where he studied under St. Germain, the bishop of Auxerre. About 12 years later when he had </st1:place></st1:country-region>finished his studies and felt his calling was to convert the pagans to Christianity. He returned to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ireland</st1:place></st1:country-region> and changed his name to Patrick which means “father of the people.” (His Romanized name may already have been Patricus.) He was determined to care for the people and strive to bring them to salvation.</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> He said that he baptized thousands of people, ordained priests to lead the new Christians and even was able to convert wealthy women (who became nuns) and even the sons of kings.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> In his confessions St. Patrick refers to some conflict with the Druids and pagans but that was not the sole conflict for St. Patrick. He was also accused of some sort of financial impropriety in which he eventually end up returning all gifts and monies from wealthy women and also did not take money for baptisms and ordinations. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">St. Patrick died on March 17 461 c.e and was said to have been buried at Down Cathedral and Downpatrick, County Down alongside St. Brighid and St. Columbia though this has never been proven conclusively. He was considered an important spiritual leader for the early Christian Church in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ireland</st1:place></st1:country-region>. However it does not appear that he was a good friend to the pagans of the time. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Today, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated with lots of festivities but for obvious reasons it is not a celebration that many pagans celebrate. But there are ways that we can make this day significant for us as well. Many pagans will wear a pin or badge with a snake on it instead of the typical “kiss me I’m Irish” badges. Some other suggestions would be doing spell work for good luck, or helping the pagan community, and making crafts or doing activities that involve snakes. I have included a spell submitted by Mordag and two crafts below that help us to remember the symbol of the snakes and how important it was to the Pagans. Not only as a symbol of the Druids and the pagan people but also as a symbol of the Mother Goddess herself. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Patti Wigington from about.com has this craft to </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">honour</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> the symbolism of the snake on St. Patrick’s Day. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Snake Wreath<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">You'll need the following supplies:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">A grapevine hoop or other wreath form (available at craft stores) <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Spring greenery, such as ivy <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">A bag of rubber snakes <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">A hot glue gun <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Florist's wire <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Some ribbon <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Start by decorating the grapevine wreath with your greenery. Don't use too much, because you'll want to leave room for the snakes. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Next, arrange the snakes around the wreath, and hot glue them so they don't fall off. Depending on the size of your wreath -- and your snakes -- anywhere from six to a dozen should be fine. Just a word of caution here - don't touch the tip of your hot glue gun to the rubber snakes. Trust me, they don't like this.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">As a finishing touch, tie a length of ribbon into a bow and fix it in place with the florist's wire. Use an additional loop of wire at the top to hang the wreath up.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">A Draught Snake (or a Draft Snake)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Get started</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">To make your snake you will need a piece of funky material for the body, a snake tongue (ribbon works well), some old clothes to stuff the snake with (about as much as 5-7 adult t-shirts), 2 buttons for the eyes, a needle and thread, a pen and a pair of scissors.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Carefully cut out the body of your snake making it about 100 cm long and 30cm wide <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Fold the material in half lengthways so that what will become the outside of the snake is on the inside. Stitch together the length of the snake and one end of the body. You need one end to be open so you can stuff the snake. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Turn the snake's body the right way out. It should look like your snake is taking shape! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Cut up your stuffing material into pieces. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Begin to push the snake stuffing into the end of the body of the snake. Make sure it is as firm as possible as this will stop the draughts better. Don't fill the snake right to the end until you've sewn on the eyes and tongue.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">With a pen, mark where you want the eyes to be on the snake's head. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Carefully sew on the buttons for the eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sew the tongue into the middle of the snakes head at the open end of the body <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Fill the snake's body up with some more stuffing and then sew up the open end of the body with short, neat stitches. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Now that you've completed your snake give it a name! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Now you can have fun decorating your snake with ribbon / felt / sparkles / bits of material / unwanted jewellery <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">St. Patrick's Day for Pagans</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Since St. Patrick's Day is a day of luck, I thought it would be a good time to make a luck satchel. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Materials: <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt;">§<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">tumbled tourmaline<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt;">§<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">rosemary <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt;">§<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">thyme<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt;">§<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">spearmint<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt;">§<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">green satchel (purchase or make your own)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">On St. Patrick's Day, cast a Circle.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Concentrate on the good luck feeling of the day. Meditate upon it and see the green hills full of clovers in your mind's eye. Charge the tourmaline by meditating on any experience you may have had that you had described as "lucky". Tourmaline is good for double luck in any circumstance. Then, pour rosemary, thyme, and spearmint into your satchel. They may or may not be ground - whatever you wish. Place the tourmaline in the satchel as well and after which, state the purpose as you're closing the satchel and tying it shut. Charge the satchel in the Circle, and close when you're ready. Now you can carry it on your belt, in your pocket, or wear it as a necklace. Your luck will continue until you untie the satchel and break the charm.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">~ shared with me by Mordag ~<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Resources<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/st-patricks-day/st-patrick-drove-out-the-pagans--not-the-snakes-1318905.html">http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/st-patricks-day/st-patrick-drove-out-the-pagans--not-the-snakes-1318905.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://wilstar.com/holidays/patrick.htm">http://wilstar.com/holidays/patrick.htm</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.history.com/content/stpatricksday/who-was-st.-patrick">http://www.history.com/content/stpatricksday/who-was-st.-patrick</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/ostaracrafts/ss/SnakeWreath.htm" title="http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/ostaracrafts/ss/SnakeWreath.htm">http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/ostaracrafts/ss/SnakeWreath.htm</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.theholidayspot.com/patrick/historyofpatrick.htm">http://www.theholidayspot.com/patrick/historyofpatrick.htm</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick#cite_note-13">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick#cite_note-13</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.igp-web.com/down/stpatrick.htm">www.igp-web.com/down/stpatrick.htm</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div></div>Raiwvynn Dusana Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108074182293812882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710978971754893162.post-1857238479879179782011-02-20T00:03:00.000-05:002011-02-20T00:03:34.514-05:00Clearing Confusion Bag (To help when you are confused about something or have too many options to chose from)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
• Yellow bag (to encourage clarity and creative thinking)<br />
<br />
• Brown ribbon (to encourage stability and growth)<br />
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• Sodalite (To still the mind and calm inner turmoil)<br />
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• Hematite (for grounding, helps keep ones attention focused on the physical plane)<br />
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• High John (to draw courage, confidence, help one to conquer any situation)<br />
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• Sage (to draw wisdom)<br />
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• Blue candle (to draw intuition and comfort)<br />
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I would suggest making this bag on a Saturday as it is a good day for knowledge as well as dealing with boundaries, limitations and other life issues. The purpose of this Mojo bag is to help draw clarity, stability, and wisdom that will clear up confusion about the situation(s) that you are in. Light a blue candle and sew the yellow material into a bag. Fill it with the herbs and stones. Hold the bag up to the candle repeat the following: <br />
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<strong>Blow away confusion ye winds of the east</strong><br />
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</strong><br />
<strong>Send off on your breezes the horrible beast</strong><br />
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<strong>The mocking confusion the grows in my heart</strong><br />
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<strong>With your strong gusts may the darkness depart</strong><br />
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<strong>Transformative flame I ask you to guide</strong><br />
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<strong>Out of the darkness in which I now hide</strong><br />
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</strong><br />
<strong>May clarity come through your passionate ways</strong><br />
<strong><br />
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<strong>With your light and your courage brighten my days</strong><br />
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<strong><br />
</strong><br />
<strong>Foundational earth please help me to find</strong><br />
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</strong><br />
<strong>Strength and security in the depths of my mind</strong><br />
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<strong>May courage grow strong in the depths of my being</strong><br />
<strong><br />
</strong><br />
<strong>With your solidity and strength success I’ll be seeing</strong><br />
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<strong><br />
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<strong>Wash away distress ye waves of the west</strong><br />
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<strong>Show me the path that leads to my best</strong><br />
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<strong>May your wisdom and comfort rest in my life</strong><br />
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<strong>As I now make the choices that remove all strife</strong><br />
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<strong><br />
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<strong>Herbs and stones</strong><br />
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<strong>Wind and flame</strong><br />
<strong><br />
</strong><br />
<strong>Water and earth</strong><br />
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<strong>I remain </strong><br />
<strong><br />
</strong><br />
<strong>By your strength</strong><br />
<strong><br />
</strong><br />
<strong>And by your power</strong><br />
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</strong><br />
<strong>I am changing my life</strong><br />
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</strong><br />
<strong>Hour by hour</strong><br />
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Tie the bag closed and carry with you until your confusion has cleared.</div>Raiwvynn Dusana Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108074182293812882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710978971754893162.post-17715724123806477762011-02-20T00:01:00.000-05:002011-02-20T00:01:02.405-05:00Venus Romance Bag (for anyone who wants more romance in their life – not just physical/sexual love but that sense of gentle love and wonderment)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
• Green material (to stimulate the growth of love, also is a colour that corresponds to the Goddess Venus)<br />
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• Yellow ribbon (to draw the lightness, joy, and freedom of love)<br />
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• Pink Lace (to draw beauty, gentleness, and love)<br />
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• Emerald (a stone associated with the Goddess Venus<br />
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• Cherry Blossoms (to stimulate love, to bring that feeling of love that floats in the air in the spring)<br />
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• Apricot leaves and flowers (to attract love)<br />
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• Green candle (to represent Venus and the growth of love)<br />
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I would suggest making this bag on a Friday as this is a good day for working on love issues. The purpose of this Mojo bag is not to draw a lover specifically. It is to draw that sense of love that we find not only in relationships but in the love of life and the wonderment of knowing love, being loved, and giving love. Light a green candle and sew the green cloth into a bag. Sew the pink lace onto the bag. Fill it with the herbs and stones. Hold the bag up to the candle while repeating the following and empowering the bag with gentle, loving, romantic, wonderment, and love: <br />
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<strong>Sea-born Venus, let it be</strong><br />
<strong><br />
</strong><br />
<strong>the winds of love shall caress me</strong><br />
<strong><br />
</strong><br />
<strong>Your gentle, sweet, and soothing love</strong><br />
<strong><br />
</strong><br />
<strong>Rains down on me from up above</strong><br />
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</strong><br />
<strong>I ask your blessing for romance</strong><br />
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</strong><br />
<strong>And in the light of love I’ll dance</strong><br />
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Tie the bag closed with the yellow ribbon and secure it with joy and freedom. Carry the Mojo bag with you.<br />
<br />
</div>Raiwvynn Dusana Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108074182293812882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710978971754893162.post-77999579485758998262011-02-19T23:59:00.002-05:002011-02-19T23:59:29.779-05:00Peace Bag (for anyone who needs added peace in their life)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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• Blue material (for calming, peace, and healing)<br />
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• Black cord/ribbon (for binding negative energy)<br />
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• Pinch of lavender (for peace and happiness)<br />
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• A few dried chamomile flowers (to draw calming and peace)<br />
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• Blue tourmaline (to draw calming, peace and to help de-stress)<br />
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• Blue candle (for peace and calm)<br />
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I wrote up this charm to draw upon the powers of peace and healing inherent in the herbs and stones. I wanted as well to emphasize the binding power of the black ribbon to keep negative energy out and keep peace and calm inside. The blue material draws peace and calm as well as inviting the soothing flow of water. I would suggest making this bag on a Friday as this is a good day for working towards peace, love, and pleasure which are all things that are calming and peaceful. It could also be very effective being worked on a Sunday if the reason for needing peace is because of to much negative energy or powers. Sunday is also good day to work to combat negativity. Light a blue candle and sew the blue cloth into a bag. Fill with the herbs and stone while repeating the following and charging the bag with calming peaceful energy: <br />
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Herbs of brown and green and stones of blue<br />
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We call the powers of peace from you<br />
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Bind far away darkness and strife<br />
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Bring a calmness to this life<br />
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Help to find sweet, inner peace<br />
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All worries and concerns I release<br />
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Tie the bag closed with the black ribbon binding out all negative energy and carry the Mojo bag with you. <br />
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</div>Raiwvynn Dusana Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108074182293812882noreply@blogger.com0