Cat’s Morning Bits for December 11, 2018

Posted on December 11, 2018 by Cat

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Cat’s Morning Bits for December 11, 2018

Good Morning Beautiful Souls, grab a cup of your favorite morning brew and start things off with “Today’s Inspirations”. I hope you find something here that will make you feel good or help you on your path today.

Blessings, Cat

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Heap on more wood! the wind is chill;
But let it whistle as it will,
We’ll keep our Christmas merry still.
―Sir Walter Scott (1771–1832)

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Pioneer Thinking: Using Cinnamon for Winter Decorating

Cinnamon comes from a small evergreen tree, native to Sri Lanka and Southern India. It comes from the bark, and is widely used as a spice. The flavor of cinnamon is due to an aromatic oil, which actually makes up less than one per cent of its composition.

https://pioneerthinking.com/using-cinnamon-for-winter-holiday-decorating

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Spiritual Unite: Higher Realms Of Existence – A New Energy Coming

In total, there are twelve realms of existence or dimensions of consciousness.
Most of the time, we are only really concerned with our physical world – but there are higher realms of existence that we encounter during our journeys.

https://www.spiritualunite.com/articles/higher-realms-of-existence/

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Daily Good: Hats Warm Heads and Hearts of Kids with Cancer

What started as an entrepreneurship project of two college students, Zachary Quinn and Brian Keller, grew into something much greater. Love Your Melon, founded in 2012, has taken the nation by storm and is supporting thousands of children with cancer each year. For every hat sold, one hat is donated to a child with cancer, helping to alleviate the shame and embarrassment that often accompanies the hair loss resulting from chemotherapy. The two founders view the hats as an icebreaker, providing physical and emotional warmth to the children they hope to get to know better during hospital visits. “We want to inspire communities to make this their own,” says Quinn. “And be able to continue it forever.”

http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=6141

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Did You Know?

Pollen never deteriorates. It is one of the few natural substances that lasts indefinitely.

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MNN: What is wassailing?
This tradition once got Christmas banned

You may be familiar with the first verse and the chorus of the Christmas carol “Here We Come A Wassailing.”
Here we come a-wassailing
Among the leaves so green;
Here we come a-wand’ring
So fair to be seen.

https://www.mnn.com/food/beverages/blogs/what-wassailing

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Patheos-Pagan: 8 Things to do for Winter Solstice as a Solitary Pagan

Many Pagans are solitary practitioners, either by choice or by necessity. But a lot of Pagan activities for the Solstice are designed for large groups. In 2014 and 2015 I wrote a series of rituals for those working alone on the Wheel of the Year. Every year they’re near the top of the list of most popular posts – here’s the Winter Solstice ritual.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbeckett/2018/12/8-things-for-winter-solstice-solitary-pagan.html

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Inner Journey:

YOU ARE BIGGER THAN YOU THINK

“He who would be serene and pure needs but one thing, detachment.”
— Meister Eckhart

We are the ocean — vast, deep, powerful and rich. Nourishing and nurturing. Dive down into the dark stillness of being. Sense the rising and falling of surface thoughts and emotions, sometimes gentle, sometimes violent. Always shifting. Always in motion. Draw back and watch the waves of your life at play. Know you are the unfathomable depths — surface agitations can’t disturb you. Know that you are bigger than the little things that aggravate you.

“The bird of paradise alights only on the hand that does not grasp.”
— John Berry

“It’s best not to get too excited or too depressed by the ups and downs of life.”
— Dalai Lama

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

After all these years, can you believe most people still think time is real, space is cold, and matter is solid?

If there’s anything you want to change in your experience, imagine it changed.

Real this,

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Jalapeño Cheese Sauce

I put this recipe together for one of my best friends who adores spicy cheese sauce, mostly for steamed veggies and French fries. We used to order spicy cheese fries on indulgence-days, but soon realized they always cost way too much for what they were. Give this super creamy cheese sauce a try!

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Jalapeo-Cheese-Sauce.html

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Magical Correspondences for Tuesday

Intentions: Courage, Destination, Physical Strength, Revenge, Military Honors, Surgery and the Breaking of Negative Spells, Matrimony, War, Enemies, Prison, Vitality and Assertiveness

Incense: Dragon’s Blood, Patchouli, Lignum Aloes, Plantain

Perfumes: Hellebore, Carnation, Patchouli
Planet: Mars
Sign: Aries and Scorpio
Angel: Samuel
Colors: Red and Orange
Herbs/Plants:Red Rose, Cock’s Comb, Pine, Daisy, Thyme and Pepper
Stones: Carnelian, Bloodstone, Ruby, Garnet and Pink Tourmaline
Oil: (Mars) Basil, Coriander, Ginger

Goddesses: Aset [Isis], Soorejnaree, Pingalla, Anna, Aine, Danu, Yngona, Bellona, Aida Wedo, Sun Woman

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Daily Wisdom
December 11, 2018

Service

“Serve self you serve society
Serve society serve yourself.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

Besides helping other people, service has the added benefit of helping the person doing the serving! How could this be? Because service makes us feel good, it helps us to grow spiritually, it helps us to gain compassion. Service helps to make our society a better place, and it’s a place we all share! Because we are all one, what we do for others, we do for ourselves.

Lissa Coffey

Coffeytalk.com

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Beliefnet: Looking on the Bright Side – Quotes to Stay Positive
Here are ten inspirational quotes to help you stay positive and carry you on to your good day.

Cat’s Morning Bits for December 10, 2018

Posted on December 10, 2018 by Cat

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Cat’s Morning Bits for December 10, 2018

Blessings, Cat

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Welcome, friend! St. Nicholas, welcome!
Welcome to this merry band!
Happy children greet thee, welcome!
Thou art gladdening all the land.

-Mary Mapes Dodge (1831-1905)

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Spiritual Unite: Meaning Of Butterflies Crossing Your Path – Is It A Message?

Nature is often complicit in guiding you through life, and when butterflies cross your path, it is often a metaphysical message or symbol.
There are even some instances when these butterflies may be old souls or the souls of passed loved ones.

https://www.spiritualunite.com/articles/meaning-of-butterflies-crossing/

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MBG: Weekly Horoscope: How Will You Finish Off 2018?

On Wednesday, Mercury enters Sagittarius, and things could get intense.
After an extended spell of gaslighting, muddled messaging and “Wait…whaaaat?” moments, the truth will become more than self-evident this week. On Wednesday, December 12, Mercury, the cosmic communicator, joins a planetary posse in take-no-prisoners Sagittarius. With the illuminating Sun and candid Jupiter already firing arrows in the Archer’s domain, we won’t just let the cat out of the bag—we’ll be fiercer than a tiger mom when it comes to defending principles and ideals.

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/weekly-horoscope-december-10-16-2018

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Herbal Muse: How to Make Elderberry Syrup

Medicinally, elder has been used for bruises, purging, to deter insects, as an eye wash and to treat colds and flu for centuries. Of these applications, the last holds particularly veritable promise. In fact, elderberry is one of the most important remedies to be found in your medicine chest when it comes to beating the sniffles.

https://www.herbalmusings.com/elderberry-profile

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Elephant Journal: I’m a Witch—& you Probably are, Too.

I haven’t always identified as a witch.
It took a breakup and a skilled healer named Paul to connect me to my witch roots.
I’ll keep the story short, because I want to get to the part where you, dear female reader, say, “I think I am also a witch!” or, “I am a witch, too—get me out of this broom closet!”

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2018/12/i-am-a-witch-you-probably-are-too/

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MNN: Is there any true wilderness left?

On one hand, there’s no place on Earth human beings haven’t made an impact. The burning fossil fuels has led to heavy metal contamination in fish, birds and other animals on entirely separate continents from the power plants. Climate change melts ice sheets around the world. A plastic cup used once ends up in a whale’s stomach in the middle of the ocean, killing him. Sea salt harvested from an unpopulated coast contains microplastics.

https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/blogs/there-any-truly-wild-land-book

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EarthSky News: See a celestial Chariot in December

Tonight, or any one of these long December nights, you can find the constellation Auriga the Charioteer. The Heavenly Chariot – with its brilliant yellow star Capella – starts the journey in the northeast at early evening, flies overhead around midnight and finishes up in the northwest at dawn

https://earthsky.org/tonight/celestial-chariot-high-overhead-around-midnight

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Patheos-Pagan: Pagan Groups: Greater Ability Means More Responsibility

I believe in you. I believe in every reader. My faith that my words do wonders for people I will never touch carries me to continue.
I believe in my grove. I believe in every member. My faith that my works do wonders for them carries me to continue.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/fromacommonwell/2018/08/pagan-groups-greater-ability-means-more-responsibility/

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Inner Journey:

SEEK YOUR LIMITS AND BEYOND

“If you’re proactive, you don’t have to wait for circumstances or other people to create perspective expanding experiences. You can consciously create your own.”
— Stephen Covey

Connect with the edge, the unknown, of your experience. Allow this pull towards unexplored territory to take you to new dimensions of yourself. Allow life to touch you in new ways. For this is how we truly live life. Become more alive as you grow through your consciousness barriers. Ask questions that seek answers beyond yourself. The depth of life is revealed as you go further into it.

“Nothing is lost upon a man who is bent upon growth; nothing wasted on one who is always preparing for – life by keeping eyes, mind and heart open to nature, men, books, experience – and what he gathers serves him at unexpected moments in unforeseen ways.”
— Hamilton Wright Mabie

“Nurture great thoughts, for you will never go higher than your thoughts.”
–Benjamin Disraeli

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

So much to be thankful for, huh?

Yet so little time.

Let me start with you –

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Cranberry Orange Relish

I love cranberries at the table for all my holiday meals, and this is a vibrant version to serve alongside your meats and veggies. It only uses a handful of fresh ingredients with zero fuss of cooking anything down. This was a hit at my Thanksgiving party, and will be making an appearance for Christmas!

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Cranberry-Orange-Relish-1.html

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Magical Correspondences for Monday

Intentions: Psychic Sensitivity, Women’s Mysteries, Tides, Waters, Emotional Issues, Agriculture, Animals, Female Fertility, Messages, Theft, Reconcilliations, Voyages, Dreams, Medicine, Visions and Merchandise

Incense: African Violet, Honeysuckle, Myrtle, Willow, Wormwood
Planet: Moon
Sign: Cancer
Angel: Gabriel
Colors: Silver, White and Gray
Herbs/Plants: Night Flowers, Willow Root, Orris Root, Birch, Motherwort, Vervain, White Rose and White Iris
Stones: Carnelian, Moonstone, Aquamarine, Pearl, Clear Quartz, Flourite, Geodes
Oil: (Moon) Jasmine, Lemon, Sandalwood

Goddesses: Luna, Selene, Diana, Re, Gaeleach, Ida, Artemis [Whom The Greeks Associated With Bast], The Witches, Yemaya, Erzulie, Bast

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Daily Wisdom
December 10, 2018

Service

“There is no greater satisfaction for a just and well-meaning person than the knowledge that he has devoted his best energies to the service of the good cause.”

-Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
All of us who have devoted our time and energy to worthwhile causes know the satisfaction that Einstein wrote about. It’s heart-warming. It’s validating. And in many ways, it’s addictive! There are so many good causes that it would be impossible to contribute to every one. When you find one or two that really speak to you, that you can really get behind, then go for it! Get involved, and be of service.

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Beliefnet: The 5 Types of Guardian Spirits Watching Over You

When it comes to learning about the spiritual world, things can quickly get confusing. From all the different types of guides that are out there, it can be hard to understand what each spirit does and who is watching over you. How do you communicate with your spirits if you don’t even know who they are

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About Cat’s Morning Bits: These daily post are reblogged from various email newsletters that I receive each day.

I invite you to check out my websites!

The Desert Path: The dusty ramblings of a desert pagan. https://thedesertpath.com/

Cat’s Treasure Trove …. an eclectic collection of jewelry & gifts! https://thedesertpath.com
Sacred Spirals (the place where all paths meet)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SacredSpirals/

Cat’s Morning Bits for December 7, 2018

Posted on December 7, 2018 by Cat

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Cat’s Morning Bits for December 7, 2018

Blessings, Cat

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The icicles now fringe the trees
That swayed in summer’s gentle breeze,
When summer days were fair.

-Dora Read Goodale (1866-1915)

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Spiritual Unite: What Are Positive Energy Symbols?

Symbolism is important, and the rich, historical traditions of the eastern hemisphere have produced some of the most in-depth and intricate symbols known to any culture.
These symbols are invoked to release positive energy, manifesting some energetic power within the invoker.

https://www.spiritualunite.com/articles/what-are-positive-energy-symbols/

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MBG: How To Harness The Transformative Energy Of The Last New Moon Of The Year

After a frustrating few weeks, the Sagittarius new moon arrives just one day after trickster Mercury, the messenger planet that governs communication, technology, and travel, stationed direct (forward) in secretive Scorpio—and not a moment too soon! Outspoken, tell-it-like-it-is Sagittarius gives us the cosmic permission slip to start speaking our minds once again.

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/new-moon-in-sagittarius-december-2018

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Elephant Journal: Your 2019 Horoscope—what Major Change will occur in your Life?

What changes are most likely to happen in our lives in 2019?
Will we finally find that elusive love relationship?
Will we begin a new career or job that gives us a chance to really make a difference?

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2018/12/your-2019-horoscope-what-major-change-will-occur-in-your-life/

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MNN: 9 thoughtful gifts for nature lovers

Sure, you might have friends who live to camp under the stars or hike for miles in the wilderness. But what about the ones who simply appreciate nature? Maybe that means walking in the woods or just watching birds from the window. Whatever their way of celebrating friluftsliv — the Nordic concept of “open air life” — we’ve got some gift ideas to celebrate their outdoors-y spirit.

https://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/stories/thoughtful-gifts-nature-lovers

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EarthSky News: N. Hemisphere? Watch for earliest sunsets

The year’s earliest sunset for 40 degrees N. latitude happens around December 7; and in the Southern Hemisphere, the year’s earliest sunrise at 40 degrees S. latitude happens around December 7, as well. The exact date of the Northern Hemisphere’s earliest sunset and the Southern Hemisphere’s earliest sunrise varies by latitude. But, at temperate latitudes, both of these annual hallmarks in our sky come a few to several weeks before the December solstice, not on the solstice as you might expect

https://earthsky.org/tonight/earliest-sunset-today-but-not-shortest-day

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Patheos-Pagan: Everyday Sacredness

Tendrils of smoke swirl around in the evening air, as the familiar scents of sage and cedar envelop me with their calm, cleansing energy. I return the smudge stick to its bowl and gaze at the glowing embers, already feeling my mind and body release the cares of the day. A drum beats softly in the distance, and I hear forest creatures rustling in the underbrush. The full moon beams her soft rays down to the sleeping earth, and I soak them in, feeling grateful for this moment.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/quillofthegoddess/2017/08/everyday-sacredness/

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Daily Recipe: Christmas Punch Recipes

A festive beverage can be a refreshing addition to your holiday get together.

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Christmas-Punch-Recipes.html

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Inner Journey:

OPEN YOUR HANDS

“More than any other part of the body, our hands reveal our inner state.”
— Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov

Today, be aware of how you hold your hands when you’re not actively doing something with them.

With the stress of our daily lives, many of us find our hands typically clenched in fists. This is proof of the tension we hold in our bodies. And ponder this: how can we receive the abundance of life if our hands are not open to receive it?

When you become aware that your hands are closed tight, stretch your fingers and spread them wide in the shape of a starfish. Deep breathing will also help you relax into the moment.

“What is always speaking silently is the body.”
— Norman Brown

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

Two of the most important questions for all aspiring rock stars, are:

1.How big do you want to be?
2.What are you now doing about it?
“Rock stars” being metaphoric for “have financial security for myself and family.” I just didn’t want to immediately flip you out.
See you at the stadium,

The Universe

tut.com

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Magical Correspondences for Friday

Intentions: Love, Pleasure, Affairs of the Heart, Romance, Marriage, Sexual Matters, Physical Beauty, Friendship and Partnerships, Strangers, Peace, Healing, Beauty, gentleness and Women’s Issues.

Incense: Strawberry, Sandalwood, Rose, Saffron, Verbena and Vanilla
Planet: Venus
Sign: Libra and Taurus
Angel: Ariel
Colors: Green, Pink, Aqua
Herbs/Plants: Pink Rose, Ivy, Birch, Heather, Clematis, Sage, Violet and Water Lilly

Stones: Rose Quartz, Moonstone, Pink Tourmaline, Peridot, Emerald and Jade
Oil: (Venus) Cardamom, Palmrosa, Rose, Yarrow, Apple Blossom, Musk, Ambergris

Goddesses: Astarte, Aphrodite, Erzulie, Aida Wedo, Eve, Venus, Freya, Diana, Aset [Isis], The Witch Of Gaeta, Chalchiuhtlique

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Daily Wisdom
December 7, 2018

Change

“A person can run for years but sooner or later he has to take a stand in the place which, for better or worse, he calls home, do what he can to change things there.”

-Paule Marshall (1969)

It is our nature, and really our responsibility, to change things for the better. Some causes resonate with us, we are compelled to help, we can’t help it. Some causes come to us – through an illness, or a friend or relative whom we love. There is always some way we can invoke change, some way we can make a difference. When something moves you, go with it as an opportunity to learn and grow, and change the world.

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Beliefnet: 6 Ways to Reclaim Your Sanity

OMG! If it is not an email, a text or an ostensibly unending work week, it’s traffic or other forms of hostility that drive us to the breaking point of aberration. With all the psychological warfare bombarding us on a daily basis, no wonder why we need antidepressants and sleeping aids to survive

Cat’s Morning Bits for December 6, 2018

Posted on December 6, 2018 by Cat

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Cat’s Morning Bits for December 6, 2018

Blessings, Cat

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Heart-warm against the stormy white,
The Rose of Joy burns warmer yet.

-Thomas Gold Appleton (1812-84)

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CoffeyTalk: Numerology of Number 7

Today we continue with our series on numerology with the number 7.

For those born on day 7, 16, or 25, your ruling entity is Ketu. Ketu is one of the nodes of the moon, the other being Rahu. Ketu is commonly known as the dragon’s tail. Ketu bestows spiritual tendencies, and also non-attachment to worldly desires. People under the influence of Ketu have an aversion toward material success, and they are uninterested in life’s dramas. They prefer instead to pursue enlightenment and they can be powerful healers and wise teachers. 7 people are talkative, imaginative, spiritual and intuitive. They also have a restless nature, their minds are constantly busy.

7’s are good speakers and often end up in fields where they use those talents. They are popular because they are equally friendly and supportive – they don’t see any difference between rich and poor or any status in life. They love change, and mystery and travel. They tend to do well in foreign countries because this is where they can learn new things, and also make money in business. 7’s tend to be unconventional; they have their own way of thinking. They give good advice, and they bring good luck to those close to them.

7’s work best independently. They should be careful not to get carried away with their fantasies, or to overextend themselves.

January and February are weak periods for 7’s – and June and July are favorable months. Sunday, Monday and Wednesday are good days, especially when they fall on 7 days, or 1 days. Best colors are light green, light blue and white. Black should be avoided. The cat’s eye gem is a good stone for 7’s, especially the white and green varieties.

Number 7 has been known to be a lucky number, and it’s also a spiritual number. When you see multiple 7’s it is a reminder to look at the spiritual part of yourself. Many times when you see 7’s it’s a signal that an opportunity is in front of you. Take a look around and see what this opportunity might be, and see if you are bold enough to embrace it!

Katy Perry was born on a 7 day, and so was I!

coffeytalk.com

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MBG: Well Read: 5 Books You Won’t Want To Put Down This December

Reading is undeniably a key wellness practice—and one that many of us have ignored for far too long. It’s proven to build empathy, reduce stress, and even lessen sugar cravings (yes, really!). With that in mind, we’re excited to share Well Read, a column that curates the absolute best fiction and narrative nonfiction picks of the month.

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/the-best-books-to-buy-in-december-2018-dave-asprey-ann-hood-jen-sincero

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Daily Good: Farewell Badger

We cross many thresholds of partings in life; sometimes as the one leaving and sometimes as the one staying behind. Often, the farewell that must be expressed is to some emotion or aspect of ourselves we need to release in order to move forward. Pause for a moment and consider a farewell you are facing. Then open your heart and experience this soulful many-layered story of how to approach partings with grace and gratitude.

http://www.dailygood.org/story/2114/farewell-badger-tesa-silvestre/

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Elephant Journal: The Hidden Side of the High Vibe Tribe & 3 Ways to Avoid It

The high vibe tribes are on the rise right now.
In spiritual circles and social media groups, there’s talk of “raising your vibe,” short for vibration, which is the invisible energy that comes from a person, place, or thing.
In these circles, keeping your vibe high is considered a sure ticket to a better life. It’ll supposedly have you moving toward an ascended way of being, where you rise above the struggle and the pain of the world, headed to the land of good karma.

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2018/12/the-hidden-side-of-the-high-vibe-tribe-3-ways-to-avoid-it/

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MNN: Why do we want to squeeze cute things?
Whether it’s adorable kittens or chubby baby cheeks, we just can’t help ourselves.

For some it’s adorable puppies and kittens; for others, it’s chubby baby cheeks. But when faced with something so ridiculously cute, we can’t help ourselves. We have an oddly aggressive urge to squeeze it.

https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/stories/why-do-we-want-squeeze-cute-things

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EarthSky News: Orion the Hunter and the Milky Way

Tonight – or any December evening – find the famous constellations Orion the Hunter, and see the Milky Way running behind it. Orion is bright and can be seen from inside smaller cities. For the Milky Way, you’ll need a dark sky!

https://earthsky.org/tonight/orion-the-hunter-your-ticket-to-the-milky-way

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Patheos-Pagan: Dealing With Doubts as an Experienced Pagan

Whether you like it or not, if you take on leadership roles, people will look at you as a leader. Rightly or wrongly, if you write blogs and books or if you create music or visual arts, people will look at you as an authority. Even if you’re completely solitary, if you practice diligently you will develop certain expectations for your own skills and commitment.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbeckett/2018/12/dealing-with-doubts-as-an-experienced-pagan.html

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Inner Journey:

HOPE AND DISAPPOINTMENT

“It’s precisely the disappointing stories, which have no proper ending and therefore no proper meaning, that sound true to life.”
— Max Frisch

“Don’t get your hopes up!”

Were you warned of this as a child? What does this say? It says that life is bound to disappoint you. It says, don’t aim high because you’re not likely to get what you want. It says that we can’t expect good things to happen to us.

As our thinking creates our reality, this kind of thinking dooms us to a mundane existence. It’s time to change our stories. Why not focus the immense power of our hearts and minds on bringing to fruition the very best life has to offer? Allow yourself tohope and believe in all possibilities.

“Hope is the companion of power, and the mother of success; for who so hopes has within him the gift of miracles.”
— Samuel Smiles

“The very least you can do in your life is to figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope. Not admire it from a distance but live right in it, under its roof.”
— Barbara Kingsolver

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

Ever wonder when looking back at your life, why it’s easier to remember the good than the bad, the pleasant than the unpleasant, the laughs than the cries?

It’s simply because there’s always a lot more of the former.

In every life.

Mega more,

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Double Chocolate Toffee Cookies

Melt in your mouth goodness – perfect for the holidays.

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Double-Chocolate-Toffee-Cookies.html

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Magical Correspondences for Thursday

Intentions: Luck, Happiness, Health/ Healing, Religion, Legal Matters, Male Fertility, Treasure and Wealth, Honor, Riches, Clothing Desires, Leadership, Public Activity, Power and Success, Trade and Employment

Incense: Cinnamon,Henbane Nutmeg and Sage

Planet: Jupiter
Sign: Sagittarius and Pisces
Angel: Sachiel
Colors: Purple, Royal Blue and Indigo
Herbs/Plants: Cinnamon, Beech, Buttercup, Coltsfoot, Oak
Stones: Sugilite, Amethyst, Turquoise, Lapis Lazuli and Sapphire
Oil: (Jupiter) Clove, Lemon Balm, Oakmoss, Star Anise

Goddesses: Juno, Hera, Kwan Yin, Mary, Cybele, Tara, Mawu, Mlaba Mwana Waresa, Ishtar, Nuit

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Daily Wisdom
December 6, 2018

Change

“Things do not change; we change.” -Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

When we change our perspective, things look differently to us. We may think that they have changed, but it is really our point of view that has changed. We tend to put our own labels and definitions on things, yet those change when we see things a different way. The value that we put on things changes, too. And isn’t it all just this subjective, arbitrary notion? Different people will have different opinions, that’s just the way it is… and yet, the “thing,” whatever it is, is what it is. Opening up our minds to other people’s perspectives allows us to change and grow and become more accepting and understanding.

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Beliefnet: 6 Nice Things to Say to Mean Rude People
Don’t let the mean ones get you down.
Mean people can sometimes sabotage your entire day. It has happened to all of us. You are minding your own business ready to conquer the world and suddenly a toxic, angry person crosses your path
Read more at https://www.beliefnet.com/wellness/6-nice-things-to-say-to-mean-rude-people.aspx#l9784F8iObQB0wKH.99

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About Cat’s Morning Bits: These daily post are reblogged from various email newsletters that I receive each day.

I invite you to check out my websites!

The Desert Path: The dusty ramblings of a desert pagan. https://thedesertpath.com/

Cat’s Treasure Trove …. an eclectic collection of jewelry & gifts! https://thedesertpath.com
Sacred Spirals (the place where all paths meet)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SacredSpirals/

Cat’s Morning Bits for December 5, 2018

Posted on December 5, 2018 by Cat

CMB canva sm

Cat’s Morning Bits for December 5, 2018

Blessings, Cat

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But Winter has yet brighter scenes—he boasts
Splendors beyond what gorgeous Summer knows;
Or Autumn with his many fruits, and woods
All flushed with many hues.
–William Cullen Bryant (1794–1878)

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Pioneer Thinking: Sustainable Stocking Stuffers

Racking your brain to come up with gift ideas for loved ones during the holidays can be tricky. Why not give back to the earth and introduce family members and friends to more sustainable practices? This is especially important during a time of over-consumption. Here are three ways to make stockings a little greener this season.

https://pioneerthinking.com/sustainable-stocking-stuffers-for-the-whole-family

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MBG: 5 Amazing Self-Care Audiobooks To Curl Up With Over The Holidays

The holiday season is now in full force, and the moments of slowing down to reflect on the year and the mayhem of finishing up work, traveling, and jamming into close quarters with family are, though at odds, pretty much a package deal.

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/5-self-care-audiobooks-to-listen-to-during-holidays

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KarmaTube: Garbage Collector’s Gift to a Child With Autism

Sometimes bonds are created in unexpected ways and can lead to extraordinary acts of giving. This video from the nonprofit “Autism Speaks” documents just such a moment between Daniel Newberger, a young boy with autism and Manuel Sanchez, the trash collector who decided to cross the divide from friendly stranger to friend

http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=4819

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Tetraktys: Playing the Victim Will Cause You Suffering. Here’s Why.

This article, I believe, goes along quite well with the zeitgeist of our time. There seem to be a willingness in many circles to try to picture oneself as the victim of circumstances in just every possible situation. It seems to be perfectly fine to feel bad about yourself, raise your arms to the sky and cry “Why me? Why do I have to suffer so much?” when you’ve been called an idiot on some internet forum by a random troll living thousands of miles away from you.

https://www.thetetraktys.com/2018/playing-the-victim-will-cause-you-suffering-heres-why/

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MNN: Ecologists share their passion for nature in these winning images

There are plenty of nature photography competitions throughout the year, but few honor those who both work in the field and are talented photographers. The British Ecological Society annual photo competition stands out from the rest because every image was taken by an ecologist or a student studying ecology. Most of the photographs represent the particular person’s area of expertise/study.

https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/blogs/ecologists-winning-photographs-british-ecological-society

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EarthSky News: Cassiopeia, Queen of the north

On these December evenings, turn toward the northern sky and see its famous constellation Cassiopeia the Queen. In early December, Cassiopeia swings directly over Polaris, the North Star, at roughly 8 p.m. local clock time. Cassiopeia – sometimes called The Lady of the Chair – is famous for having the shape of a telltale W or M. You will find this configuration of stars as a starlit M whenever she reigns highest in the sky, hovering over Polaris.

https://earthsky.org/tonight/cassiopeia-high-in-the-north-on-winter-evenings

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Patheos-Pagan: Review: Fortune Telling with Playing Cards

Fortune Telling with Playing Cards by Jonathan Dee is a useful book for finding what the future holds with a simple deck of cards. Published originally in 2007, this book has been re-released by Red Wheel/Weiser Books. It provides a wonderful introduction to the art of reading playing cards.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/voodoouniverse/2018/12/review-fortune-telling-with-playing-cards/

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Inner Journey:

ORDINARY CAN BE AWESOME

“Everything in life can be nourishing. Everything can bless us, but we’ve got to be there for the blessing to occur. Being present with quality is a decision we are invited to make each day.”
— MacRina Wiederkehr

Spirit is not only found in holy places, prayer and meditation, yoga and retreats. It is everywhere — in your relationships, your work, your daily chores, in nature … if you are willing to connect deeply with your environment.

Open to connect with something and you open to its essence, its purpose and meaning. There are other dimensions of reality below what we normally see and hear. Open to the mystery.

“We live in a world of theophanies. Holiness comes wrapped in the ordinary. There are burning bushes all around you. Every tree is full of angels. Hidden beauty is waiting in every crumb. Life wants to lead you from crumbs to angels, but this can happen only if you are willing to unwrap the ordinary by staying with it long enough to harvest its treasure.”
— Macrina Wiederkehr

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

Think of the one area of life that brings you the most discomfort and know that’s where you’re ripe for growth.

Never fails,

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Chorizo Potato Egg Skillet

This skillet uses up leftover mashed potatoes to make a creamy, dreamy breakfast treat with a perfectly cooked egg in the middle. You don’t need to use your oven to get a nice all-over baked touch, you can make this right on the stove. Chorizo has so many awesome flavours in it, you don’t need salt or spices. This dish is really easy to make!

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Chorizo-Potato-Egg-Skillet.html

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Magical Correspondences for Wednesday

Intentions:Rules healings, the mind, Communication, Divination, Writing, Knowledge, Business Transactions, Debt, Fear,Loss, Travel and Money Matters, Addictions, Young People, Messages, Perception, Self Expression.

Incense: Jasmine, Lavender, Sweet Pea, Cinnamon, Cinquefoil
Planet: Mercury and Chiron (though this is a moon of Pluto)
Sign: Virgo
Angel: Raphael
Colors: Orange, Light Blue, Grey, Yellow and, Opalescent colors and Violet
Herbs/Plants: Fern, Lavendar, Hazel, Cherry, Periwinkle
Stones: Aventurine, Bloodstone, Hematite, Moss Agate and Sodalite
Oil: (Mercury) Benzoin, Clary Sage, Eucalytus, Lavender

Goddesses: Aset [Isis], Demeter, Ceres, Spider Woman, Bona Dea, Oya,
Devi-Kali, Hella, Rhiannon, Coatlique, Maman Brigette, Sekhmet, Het Heret
[Hathor]

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Daily Wisdom
December 5, 2018

Change

“Let us suppose that there are two sorts of existences – one seen, the other unseen… The seen is the changing, and the unseen is the unchanging.”

-Socrates (470?-399 B.C.)

We see change everyday. We see it in the seasons, the weather, in our rapidly growing children! The nature of life is to grow, and in that growth is change. And then there is the constant in our lives, the one thing that is always there, unseen, yet unchanging, and that is Spirit. As we go about our busy lives, adjusting to the changes that occur all around us, we can find comfort and peace in the stillness knowing that this is where all of life, all of creation, is connected.

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Beliefnet: How to Release Your Anger in Tangible Ways
Allowing anger to control you is destructive.

Think of your emotions as a pressure cooker. What happens? Simply, everything in the pot bursts and overflows until you have one big mess.
Read more at https://www.beliefnet.com/wellness/how-to-release-your-anger-in-tangible-ways.aspx#blFgrgaw0JkWCvKV.99

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About Cat’s Morning Bits: These daily post are reblogged from various email newsletters that I receive each day.

I invite you to check out my websites!

The Desert Path: The dusty ramblings of a desert pagan. https://thedesertpath.com/

Cat’s Treasure Trove …. an eclectic collection of jewelry & gifts! https://thedesertpath.com
Sacred Spirals (the place where all paths meet)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SacredSpirals/

Cat’s Morning Bits for December 4, 2018

Posted on December 4, 2018 by Cat

CMB canva sm

Cat’s Morning Bits for December 4, 2018

Blessings, Cat

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a wind has blown the rain away and blown
the sky away and all the leaves away,
and the trees stand. I think i too have known autumn too long.
–E. E. Cummings (1894–1962)

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Did You Know?

Millions of monarch butterflies fly to Mexico for the winter. They are the only insect that migrates to a warmer climate that is 2,500 miles away each year. Additionally, they like to hibernate in the same trees every year.

https://www.factretriever.com/winter-facts

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Daily Good: An Unlikely Friendship Reignites Two Artists

Brian Peterson didn’t know what he had in common with Matt Faris when he went out of his way to meet his Santa Ana, Calif., neighbor. Every day, Peterson would pass by Faris, who has been homeless for more than a decade. But it took some guts, Peterson admits, to finally walk up to him. It was during that first conversation that they discovered they shared the pursuit of art. And Peterson, a car designer who hadn’t picked up a paintbrush in eight years, found inspiration in Faris. Read on to see how these two former strangers ignited the inner artist in each other.

http://www.dailygood.org/more.php?n=7533

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Elephant Journal: 3 Ways to Find Courage when we’re Suicidal.

There is no way around it—we have to take responsibility for our own happiness.
I have been plagued with thoughts of death and suicide my entire life. I attempted suicide once, 25 years ago. And more recently, my first thoughts in the mornings have been how to kill myself.

These thoughts are not new; what’s new is my aspiration to address them—authentically and publicly.

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2018/11/3-ways-to-find-courage-when-were-suicidal/

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MNN: Why do we hide a pickle ornament in the Christmas tree?

My family’s Christmas Eve tradition is to visit our friends’ house before we go to a late service at church. For years, our hosts have hidden a pickle ornament in their Christmas tree, and all the kids at the party search for it. The one who finds it gets a really big candy bar.

https://www.mnn.com/family/family-activities/blogs/tradition-hiding-pickle-ornament-Christmas-tree

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EarthSky News: Can you see stars’ different colors?

Tonight … notice that the stars are like wildflowers, in that each star radiates with a different color of the rainbow. Have you ever noticed their various hues? Let’s explore some of the stars that you’ll see in the meadow of night tonight.

https://earthsky.org/tonight/can-you-see-the-different-colors-of-the-stars

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Patheos-Pagan: Winter Trepidation

I used to tolerate winter. I grew up with huge snowstorms in New York City (we walked for MILES in the snow to the subway station), and most of my family lived like polar bears in upstate New York, where it seemed to snow about seven months out of twelve. Enjoying the snow, skiing, traveling to wintry places on purpose (just WHY?), people rhapsodizing poetically about snow and snow activities.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/witchindeed/2018/12/winter-trepidation/

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Inner Journey

HOW CAN I SERVE TODAY?

“God has no other hands than ours.”
— Dorothee Solle

“One act of beneficence, one act of real usefulness, is worth all the abstract sentiment in the world.”
— Ann Radcliffe

“Past the seeker as he prayed came the crippled and the beggar and the beaten. And seeing them… he cried, ‘Great God, how is it that a loving creator can see such things and yet do nothing about them?’… God said,’I did do something. I made you.'”
— Sufi Teaching

“To learn to get along without, to realize that what the world is going to demand of us may be a good deal more important than what we are entitled to demand of it — this is a hard lesson.”
— Bruce Catton

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

When was the last time you pleasantly surprised or even shocked someone and remained anonymous?

Well, it just may be the most fun one can have in time and space.

Let’s play,

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Lemon Everything Cake

I call this the Lemon Everything cake because it encompasses all types of lemon desserts all in one dish. The bottom is like the center of a lemon meringue; custardy and dense. The middle is lighter but still dense, like a standard lemon cake. The top is airy and super light, like lemon angel food cake. The icing on top is thin and crisp. This is a lemon lover’s dream dessert!

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Lemon-Everything-Cake.html

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Magical Correspondences for Tuesday

Intentions: Courage, Destination, Physical Strength, Revenge, Military Honors, Surgery and the Breaking of Negative Spells, Matrimony, War, Enemies, Prison, Vitality and Assertiveness

Incense: Dragon’s Blood, Patchouli, Lignum Aloes, Plantain

Goddesses: Aset [Isis], Soorejnaree, Pingalla, Anna, Aine, Danu, Yngona, Bellona, Aida Wedo, Sun Woman

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Beliefnet: 7 Rules For a Prosperous Life

Finding a life that is fulfilling, meaningful, and prosperous might seem like an unachievable goal, but that’s absolutely not true. With a little bit of effort and a willingness to grow your life can be transformed. Here is a list of things that you can start doing now, so that your future will be exactly what you’ve dreamed of it to be.
Read more at https://www.beliefnet.com/inspiration/7-rules-for-a-prosperous-life.aspx#b2662COjGCvERbTz.99

___________________________
About Cat’s Morning Bits: These daily post are reblogged from various email newsletters that I receive each day.

I invite you to check out my websites!

The Desert Path: The dusty ramblings of a desert pagan. https://thedesertpath.com/

Cat’s Treasure Trove …. an eclectic collection of jewelry & gifts! https://thedesertpath.com
Sacred Spirals (the place where all paths meet)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SacredSpirals/

Cat’s Morning Bits for December 3, 2018

Posted on December 3, 2018 by Cat

CMB canva sm

Cat’s Morning Bits for December 3, 2018

Blessings, Cat

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The winds are out with loud increasing shout,
Where late before them walked the biting frost;
Whirling the leaves in their wild sport about,
And strewing twig and limb are path acrost.
-Jones Very (1813-80)

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Tetraktys: Ritual Bath Spell for Love and Good Fortune

Ritual baths have a very long history in magick and spirituality. All religions and spiritual traditions around the globe have their own type of ritual bath. From a magickal point of view, baths spells are a type of natural magick. They use the properties of the water element combined with herbs and oils to achieve varied purposes.

https://www.thetetraktys.com/2018/ritual-bath-spell-love-good-fortune/

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MBG: Weekly Horoscope: The Last New Moon Of 2018 Is Coming & It’s An Important One

On Wednesday, the Sun will square Neptune, and it could cloud our judgment.
Caution: Low visibility ahead. As the week begins, you may feel like you’re driving through fog. For one thing, on Wednesday, December 5, the Sun will be shining its bright beams into Neptune’s haze as the two form their biannual square (90-degree angle). The smoke machine effect of this combo can cloud your best judgment, making it hard to see situations for what they really are.

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/weekly-horoscope-december-3-to-9-2018

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Herbal Muse: Sweet Orange Essential Oil May Help to Reduce Pain

The next time you’re in pain, reach for sweet orange essential oil – not for your sore spot, but for your nose.

Sweet orange oil is obtained from the fruit of an evergreen tree native to China and cultivated in warm climates throughout the world. Like the fruit’s juice and pulpy flesh, the essential oil extracted from the rind has a bright, sweet aroma that most people find very pleasing. The heady fragrance of orange oil is due to the presence of monoterpenes, most notably limonene, also referred to as d-limonene.

https://www.herbalmusings.com/single-post/2018/11/30/Sweet-Orange-Essential-Oil-May-Help-to-Reduce-Pain

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Daily Good: Sailing the Winds of Grace

A book fell out of a bookcase, fell all the way down the stairs — not just any book, but a book that held a letter Mother Teresa had written to Rosalie Giffoniello six years earlier. Rosalie had a question: “Can I volunteer at one of your orphanages? Are there special needs children I could help?” Mother Teresa had written back, but Rosalie wasn’t quite ready. She stuck the letter in a book. Six years later she was in bed wondering, “What should I do this summer?” That’s when she heard a book fall down the stairs. It was the one that held Mother Teresa’s letter: “Come to India.” Giffoniello’s life changed at that moment.

http://www.conversations.org/story.php?sid=583

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Elephant Journal: Protecting your Personal Boundaries the Buddhist Way.

Recently, a reader sent a thoughtful question:
“What is the difference between wisely stepping out of one’s comfort zone into more openness to life and consciousness vs. a lack of healthy and loving personal boundaries.”
Given the current state of the world, this is a timely question.

Yes, it can be hard to see that edge. Often it’s more difficult to maintain healthy, peaceful, and strong personal boundaries than it is to be vulnerable enough to connect with others.
There’s an old yogi story that will help us dive deeper into this topic.

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2018/11/protecting-your-personal-boundaries-the-buddhist-way/

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MNN: Why does snow make the world so quiet?

Hush. It’s snowing outside.
At least, doesn’t it feel like that when snowflakes make their grand entrance, pirouetting from the sky like tiny, twirling ballerinas?

And we’re pressed up against windows, eyes wide open. Or outside, all giddy smiles with tongues eagerly outstretched.
Snowflakes look good. They even taste good. But they sound like … nothing.
So what gives? Does a good snowfall really take the whole world’s breath away?

https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/climate-weather/stories/why-snow-makes-world-quiet

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EarthSky News: Moon and Venus December 2 to 4

In the coming mornings – December 2, 3 and 4, 2018 – look eastward before sunrise for the moon and Venus. If your sky is clear, you can’t miss them! They’re always the brightest and second-brightest celestial bodies, respectively, to light up the night sky. Plus – around now – Venus is at its maximum brightness for this morning apparition, with its greatest illuminated extent falling around December 2.

https://earthsky.org/tonight/moon-venus-at-dawn-december-2-to-4

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Patheos-Pagan: On Developing Skill in Magic

Every skill is used to transform the world. From carpentry to medicine to law, skill is the way we take knowledge and apply it into the world to create change. In this respect, the skills of magic are no different.

People who do not study magic tend to either place it on a pedestal or cast it in a ditch. They hold that either magic can accomplish anything or nothing.
Even when we first start to learn magic, we tend to fall into one of these camps. Magic either needs to prove nothing to us, or everything.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/theothersideofthehedge/2018/12/on-developing-skill-in-magic/

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Inner Journey:

FOLLOW YOUR OWN PATH

“Life is complex. Each one of us must make his own path through life. There are no self-help manuals, no formulas, no easy answers. The right road for one is the wrong road for another … The journey of life is not paved in blacktop; it is not brightly lit, and it has no road signs. It is a rocky path through the wilderness.”
— M. Scott Peck

We each have our own pathways to develop both personally and spiritually. They are based on our character and past experiences. No one else can identify our paths for us. Tune in to your inner guidance system and follow its direction.

“What every man needs, regardless of his job or the kind of work he is doing, is a vision of what his place is and may be. He needs an objective and a purpose. He needs a feeling and a belief that he has some worthwhile thing to do. What this is no one can tell him. It must be his own creation.”
— Joseph M. Dodge

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

To what extremes would you go to bring about your heart’s fondest wishes, to manifest your greatest desires, and to live your boldest dreams?

OMG – Did you just say visualize daily and take baby steps?!

Speechless,

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Herbed Chicken Rolls in Cherry Sauce

Here comes a winner-winner chicken dinner from my personal cookbook. This chicken breast is rolled up with herbed garlic butter, then cooked in a tart cherry sauce. It’s a beautiful meal for these colder evenings… and I think quite pleasant visually! Enjoy!

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Herbed-Chicken-Rolls-in-Cherry-Sauce.html

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Magical Correspondences for Monday

Intentions: Psychic Sensitivity, Women’s Mysteries, Tides, Waters, Emotional Issues, Agriculture, Animals, Female Fertility, Messages, Theft, Reconciliations, Voyages, Dreams, Medicine, Visions and Merchandise

Goddesses: Luna, Selene, Diana, Re, Gaeleach, Ida, Artemis [Whom The Greeks Associated With Bast], The Witches, Yemaya, Erzulie, Bast

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Beliefnet: 10 Steps to Eliminating Resentment in Your Day

Most of us have experienced some level of resentment at one point or another in our lives. Many of us may feel resentment often, maybe even constantly. Resentment can spiral out of control, fester in our lives and begin to take over our thoughts, actions and even our wellbeing. Resentment can overwhelm our innate sense of joy and ease.
Read more at https://www.beliefnet.com/wellness/galleries/10-steps-to-eliminating-resentment-in-your-day.aspx#G7bxZjAofUM2ZCdw.99

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About Cat’s Morning Bits: These daily post are reblogged from various email newsletters that I receive each day.

I invite you to check out my websites!

The Desert Path: The dusty ramblings of a desert pagan. https://thedesertpath.com/

Cat’s Treasure Trove …. an eclectic collection of jewelry & gifts! https://thedesertpath.com
Sacred Spirals (the place where all paths meet)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SacredSpirals/

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