Cat’s Morning Bits for April 22, 2019

Posted on April 22, 2019 by Cat

Cat’s Morning Bits for April 22, 2019

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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When April blows his horn,
It’s good for hay and corn.

-Proverb

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Witchwood Teahouse & Magick Kitchen:

Connecting with Sacred Plants

When it comes to Witchcraft and plants, the two seem to be inseparable. It makes sense when you dig a little (not even that deeply) into the practice of ancient Witchcraft and similar earth-base traditions. Within these traditions, plants are elevated to a divine…

http://www.themagickkitchen.com/magickal-herbalism/

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Spirit Library: The Vibration of Abundance

What does abundance mean to you? For most people it is about paying the bills, buying a house or car, having a well-paying job; a means to end in what you seek to have. All of that is very true. However, everything in life has a vibration and working with the vibration of abundance you have the opportunity to actually move deeper into infinite abundance than from the human perspective

https://spiritlibrary.com/goddess-light/the-vibration-of-abundance

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ThoughtCo: Hestia, Greek Goddess of the Hearth

The Greek goddess Hestia watches over domesticity and the family, and was traditionally honored with the first offering at any sacrifice made in the home. On a public level, Hestia’s flame was never allowed to burn out. The local town hall served as a shrine for her—and any time a new settlement was formed, settlers would take a flame from their old village to the new one.

https://www.learnreligions.com/hestia-greek-goddess-of-the-hearth-2561993

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MBG: Taurus Season Is Here & These 5 Tips Will Help You Make The Most Of It

On April 19, 2019, the Sun hunkers down in steady Taurus. For the next four weeks, the sensual, steadfast Bull will take charge, helping us prioritize—with a side of pleasure. But don’t mistake the slower pace for passivity. When you see a goal worth pursuing, make like el Toro and charge!

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/taurus-season-2019-how-to-navigate-these-sensual-and-steadfast-times

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MNN: 13 cool facts about the oddball kakapo

The kakapo is an unusual bird. The world’s largest parrot was common throughout its native New Zealand until predators hunted it to the brink of extinction. Now the stocky green-and-yellow bird is critically endangered, and it’s the focus of a considerable conservation effort from the New Zealand Department of Conservation’s Kakapo Recovery program. There are currently 147 known adult birds, each named and extensively monitored

https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/stories/12-cool-facts-strange-kakapo

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EarthSky News: Lyrid meteor shower best before dawn

It’s Lyrid meteor time! We expect the Lyrid meteors to fly most abundantly tonight – from late evening April 22 until dawn April 23 – though under the light of a brilliant waning gibbous moon. The greatest number of Lyrid meteors usually fall in the few hours before dawn. That’s when the radiant point – near the star Vega in the constellation Lyra – climbs highest up in the sky, and when you’re likely to see the most meteors.

https://earthsky.org/tonight/lyrid-meteors-best-before-dawn

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Patheos-Pagan: Beltane Sabbat Index: Rituals, Crafts and Aphrodisiacs for Witch’s High Spring

When Beltane tides peak, we witches celebrate the Grand Sabbat of High Spring that is certainly the most juicy and delicious of them all. Spring peaks in the Northern Hemisphere when we reach 15 degrees Taurus on our journey around the sun. This typically falls during the first week of May. For all your celebration needs, I offer this index of my articles on the thealogy and practices of this holiday, including rituals, craft projects and planning for Maypole dances.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/witchonfire/2019/04/beltane-sabbat-index-rituals-crafts-and-aphrodisiacs/

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Inner Journey:

CHANGE

“I find it fascinating that most people plan their vacations with better care than they plan their lives. Perhaps that is because escape is easier than change.”
— Jim Rohn

“Slowness to change usually means fear of the new.”
— Philip Crosby

“Just as the tumultuous chaos of a thunderstorm brings a nurturing rain that allows life to flourish, so too in human affairs times of advancement are preceded by times of disorder. Success comes to those who can weatherthe storm.”
— I Ching No. 3

“If you want things to be different, perhaps the answer is to become different yourself.”
— Norman Vincent Peale

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

Invariably a sudden disappointment, a bit of “bad” news, or a flutter of butterflies gathering in your stomach, are all omens that a fabulous adventure is fast approaching.

Hit me baby,

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Easy Eggplant Parmesan

Traditional eggplant Parmesan involves salting the eggplant to “sweat” it, and frying it before baking. I took a few shortcuts and everyone liked it a lot. This dish can be made after a busy day at work. We had it with spaghetti on the side.

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Easy-Eggplant-Parmesan.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
April 22, 2019

Effort
“John Wooden taught us that doing the best you are capable of is victory enough.”

-Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

John Wooden, who coached UCLA’s championship basketball team for so many years, was and still is one of the best-loved sports figures out there. He is an icon, a legend. What made him such a great coach was not only his love of the game, but his love of his players, and his love of life. John Wooden was a philosopher. He was a sage. We would all do well to listen to what he had to say!

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Pioneer Thinking: Companion Planting Guide

The combinations of plants make for a more varied, attractive, healthy vegetable garden. Many of the modern principles of companion planting were present many centuries ago in the cottage garden.

https://pioneerthinking.com/companion-planting-guide

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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 April 19, 2019

Posted on April 19, 2019 by Cat

Cat’s Morning Bits for April 19, 2019

Blessings, Cat

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Blossom of the almond trees,
April’s gift to April’s bees,
Birthday ornament of spring,
Flora’s fairest daughterling.

-Sir Edwin Arnold (1832-1904)

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Spirit Library: 5 Steps of Creative Manifestation

We are creative beings, uniquely gifted with the ability to create matter from energy. This is not an insignificant attribute, it is how we create the reality we live in and yet it is something we generally ignore, take for granted, or do not use. If we know how to use our creative ability we would be able to live in our personal ‘heaven on earth’ instead of the nightmarish reality we often find ourselves in. How do we ensure we’re always in the flow of congruent harmony and using our creative energy wisely? Let’s talk about the 5 Steps of Creative Manifestation

https://spiritlibrary.com/jennifer-hoffman/5-steps-of-creative-manifestation

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ThoughtCo: Pagan and Wiccan Prayers for All Occasions

Many Pagans and Wiccans pray to their deities on a regular basis. The prayers on this page are designed to help you pray on specific occasions, or in times of special need. If you’re not sure about how to pray as a Wiccan or Pagan, read about the Role of Prayer in Wicca and Paganism. Keep in mind that if these prayers don’t quite work for you as they’re written, it’s okay – you can write your own, or make adjustments to the ones here on this page as needed.

https://www.learnreligions.com/pagan-prayers-for-all-occasions-2562573

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MBG: 4 Steps To Eliminating Self-Limiting Beliefs & Creating Possibility

Some beliefs are just more stubborn than others, and these setbacks are part of the natural clearing process. You might have to repeat this process a few times before the new belief pattern sticks. Throughout these steps, I provide an example from my coaching practice of how this might work in your life. Let’s start the process now with Step 1

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/4-steps-to-eliminating-self-limiting-beliefs-and-creating-possibility

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Daily Good: This Library Takes an Indigenous Approach to Categorizing Books

For over a century, the traditional Dewey Decimal classification system has dictated how libraries organize their collections. Yet the way information is sorted conveys a lot about what’s prioritized and what’s left out. Xwi7xwa Library (pronounced whei-wha) at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada is working to change the way materials on indigenous cultures are sorted in an effort to challenge Western, colonial bias and better represent the knowledge of Indigenous peoples. Books on indigenous communities often get sorted into the history section, failing to recognize their present-day roots, and are organized alphabetically, a system which typically excludes Native American languages that use non-Roman characters in the spelling of certain words.

http://www.dailygood.org/story/2277/this-library-takes-an-indigenous-approach-to-categorizing-books-sydney-worth/

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Elephant Journal: The Empath’s guide to Social Media minus the Suffering.

I’m just like everyone else.
I’m totally addicted to my smartphone. More specifically, I’m addicted to the social media apps on the smartphone.

Any chance I get, I’m scrolling.
I check the news, and look to see if anyone has posted a compelling new article, but I’m also guilty of nosiness. What’s my ex from 20 years ago doing? Is there a current outrage, or a political scandal? Maybe I should be doing something about it. Oh no, there’s a GoFundMe attached to an unspeakable tragedy. A friend I care about is publicly grieving a loved one on Facebook, while an old friend from high school, a vegan activist, just posted graphic photos of animal cruelty

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2019/04/the-empaths-guide-to-social-media-minus-the-suffering-victoria-fedden/

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MNN: The colorful, fantastical world of Dale Chihuly

The whimsical and colorful glass creations of artist Dale Chihuly are often grand-scale sculptures that seem to spring from the pages of an abstract fairy tale. There are rainbow-striped massive orbs, towering spikes and fantastical swirling creations.
https://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/blogs/chihuly-glass-blowing-artist

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EarthSky News: Seek for a daytime moon after sunrise

The April full moon lit up the nighttime for the last few nights, shining pretty much from dusk till dawn. But the moon is now waning in phase, so it is no longer out first thing at nightfall. The moon is beginning to rise later at night. For the mainland United States, the moon on April 20 rises in the east roughly 1 1/2 hours after sunset. And the moon will set in the west roughly 1 1/2 hours after sunrise April 21. The next several mornings, after sunrise, present the perfect time to catch a daytime moon over your western horizon after sunrise. Woot!

https://earthsky.org/tonight/seek-for-a-daytime-moon-after-sunrise

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Patheos-Pagan: 3 Pagans & A Cat: You Are Witch Enough

There is a sentiment we have heard from some of our 3 Pagans and a Cat Podcast listeners over the past year. These particular listeners are often new to the Craft, or returning after a long absence, and feel as if they are not “witchy” enough.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/agora/2019/04/3-pagans-a-cat-you-are-witch-enough/

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Inner Journey:

ALL IS MIND

“I want to know the thoughts of God; the rest are details.”
— Albert Einstein

Everything — absolutely everything — that happens in our lives has a spiritual cause. Events on all other levels — mental, emotional and physical — are only effects.

When we are struggling with any challenge, whether it be ill health, a lack of money, a lost job, relationships, an accident, whatever — we need to look for the spiritual learning. We can ask ourselves, “What quality does my soul want me to live more fully?”

“If you start to think the problem is ‘out there,’ stop yourself. That thought is the problem.”
— Stephen Covey

higherawareness.com
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Today’s Recipe: Crispy Garlic Parmesan Asparagus

This is such a fabulous asparagus recipe for many reasons. Besides it tasting absolutely divine, it’s a cinch to put together and will not go floppy on you. Just pop it in the oven, remove in 8 minutes, and you’ll have a perfectly cooked, crisp side dish.

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Crispy-Garlic-Parmesan-Asparagus.html

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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
April 19, 2019

Praise

“I do the very best I know how – the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what is said against me won’t amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference.”

-Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)
We’re bound to receive criticism, either positive or negative, no matter what we do in this lifetime. It’s inevitable. So whom do we answer to? Only ourselves! We have to decide what is right, and what is right for us. We’re all doing the best we can.

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Beliefnet: Clearing Power of the Labyrinths
With the clearing of the snow, we can now walk our local Labyrinth. I love the labyrinth. It does wonderful things including helping you let go of energy that doesn’t serve you. With no indoor labyrinth…

Cat’s Morning Bits for April 18, 2019

Posted on April 18, 2019 by Cat

CMB canva sm

Cat’s Morning Bits for April 18, 2019

Blessings, Cat

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Again the blackbirds sing; the streams
Wake, laughing, from their winter dreams,
And tremble in the April showers
The tassels of the maple flowers.
-John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-92)

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Spirit Library: Master Every Moment?

Excerpt from the interactive book: A Course in Mastering Alchemy: Tools to Shift, Transform and Ascend.

At the beginning of this course, long before I knew it would be a course, Ascended Master Kuthumi told me that it is necessary (i.e. required) for me to be masterful of every thought, every emotion, every action … every moment. I swallowed hard and nodded, not sure how this was even possible and very clear it was far out of my reach.

https://spiritlibrary.com/jim-self/master-every-moment

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ThoughtCo: Understanding Omens and Symbols

For many practitioners of various magical traditions, there is a tendency to look for and find symbolism in everything, particularly in aspects of nature. Often, these symbols are interpreted as omens

https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-an-omen-2561765

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MBG: Tonight’s Libra Full Moon Is The Best Time To Do These 5 Things

Relationship check-in time! Peace and harmony is the Libra way—this balanced sign counts Gandhi, John Lennon, and Alfred Nobel (of the Nobel Peace Prize) among its ranks, after all. The Libra full moon tonight is occasion to celebrate our soft spot for all of humankind, passing out olive branches and extending our goodwill.

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/april-full-moon-2019-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-libra-moon

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Daily Good: The Skittish Stallion

“There were two horses. One was a quarter horse and the other one was this big black stallion that had been abused. It was quite skittish. You couldnt get close to it. Of course, I was determined to become friends with that horse.” Rosemary Peterson shares more in this beautiful piece that speaks to the power of patience and intention in our relationships.

http://www.conversations.org/story.php?sid=171

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Elephant Journal: For the Wild Ones who Sing to the Moon. {Poem}

No matter
how hard they try,
they cannot
keep us apart.

They can pour concrete
over the rich, dark earth,
put us in a plastic chair
inside a Sheetrock box

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2019/04/for-the-wild-ones-who-sing-to-the-moon-kai-siedenburg/

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MNN: 10 curious truths about Stonehenge
The world’s most famous ring of standing stones has been studied for centuries, yet we learn something new about it all the time.

https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/stories/10-curious-truths-about-stonehenge

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EarthSky News: April full moon shines in Virgo

On April 19, 2019, the moon turns full in front of the constellation Virgo the Maiden at 11:12 UTC. That is 7:12 a.m. EDT, 6:12 a.m. CDT, etc, and thus tonight’s moon might look more full for you than tomorrow night’s if you live in Earth’s Western Hemisphere. More about that shortly. In the meantime, for all of us around the world, as darkness falls on April 18, you’ll find an almost-full waxing gibbous moon close to Spica, the constellation Virgo’s one and only 1st-magnitude star.

https://earthsky.org/tonight/april-full-moon-shines-in-virgo

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Patheos-Pagan: Pagan Portals Sun Magic

Pagan Portals Sun Magic
An introduction to working with Sun magic, and how to live in harmony with the solar year and to utilise all the magical powers it provides.
A book filled with the basics of the sun cycle, the representations and correspondences, what magic to work and when. A look at the solar year, sun deities, sun spells, meditations, specific sun rituals, sun recipes and more..

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/beneaththemoon/2019/04/pagan-portals-sun-magic/

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Inner Journey:

TIME TO BLOSSOM

“The voice of our original self is often muffled, overwhelmed, even strangled, by the voices of other people’s expectations.”
— Julia Cameron

Many of us unconsciously believe that we’re unworthy or defective. We adopted this belief very early in our lives when the people we looked up to disapproved of our demands, wishes and behaviours. We concluded that we had to learn to be good.

Unfortunately, ‘being good’ usually meant giving up our own differences or uniqueness. We learned that we might get the love we wanted if we acted and felt like others wanted us to.

If we seek true joy and connection with life, we now need to remove these artificial masks and express our deep authentic nature.

“For all those years you’ve protected the seed. It’s time to become the beautiful flower.”
— Stephen C. Paul

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

Have you ever stopped to consider that due to your eternal nature, you and everyone else live forever?

Of course you have.

And therefore, have you realized that in the truest sense, everyone beats cancer, AIDS, and starvation?

Un-hun, un-hun…

And you totally get that between now and forever, you will meet and fall deeply in love with everyone, and they with you?

Let’s not wait…

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Steamed Greens with Ginger and Water Chestnuts

This Asian–style recipe calls for water chestnuts, which add a crunchy texture to this flavorful leafy greens medley. Leafy greens contain fiber and folate, as well as lutein and other phytochemicals that help protect against many chronic diseases from cataracts to cancer.

https://pioneerthinking.com/steamed-greens-with-ginger-and-water-chestnuts

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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
April 2019

Praise
“My soul preached to me and said, “Do not be delighted because of praise, and do not be distressed because of blame.'”

-Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931)

We must not get too caught up in the teeter-totter of outside commentary on our works. There will always be some who appreciate what we do and others who disparage it. The ego is what gets caught up in this game of needing approval. The soul is wise, and knows that life is a balance of opposites. The soul itself can’t be affected by praise or blame.

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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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 April 17, 2019

Posted on April 17, 2019 by Cat

CMB canva sm

Cat’s Morning Bits for April 17, 2019

Blessings, Cat

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Gladness is born of the April weather,
And the heart is as light as a wind-tossed feather.
Who could be sad on a day like this?
The care that vexed us no longer is.
-Eben Eugene Rexford (1848-1916)

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Spirit Library: Whine or Create?

Dear Ones,

Many of you complain to the Universes that the 5D or beyond skills we promised you are not coming to fruition, that we or you made a mistake.

Even though such is not so, that is what you wish to believe. For without that belief, you will need to expose yourself to the masses. Something you have avoided for numerous 3D lives

https://spiritlibrary.com/brenda-hoffman/whine-or-create

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ThoughtCo: Lilac Magic & Folklore
Fortune, flirtation, and fragrance, all rolled into one!

Lilacs are lovely and fragrant, and in the late spring and early summer, you’ll probably notice their distinct, heady scent whenever you’re near one. Unfortunately, they only bloom for a very short period–just a couple of weeks, depending on where you live–so if you’re going to take advantage of their magical properties, you’ve got a pretty brief window of time to harvest the flowers. They typically appear between Beltane and Litha, the summer solstice, but again, there will be some variations depending on your planting zone.

https://www.thoughtco.com/lilac-magic-and-folklore-4064885

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MBG: How To Grow Your Own Food If You Don’t Have A Garden

Maybe you don’t have a yard. Or your homeowners’ association restricts what you can do. Or you just don’t have the ability to build a chicken coop right now. Regardless of your situation or roadblocks there are plenty of ways to upgrade your pantry so you can start eating better-tasting—and nourishing—food. Think outside the box (and the grocery store) with some of these ideas.

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/how-to-grow-your-own-food-if-you-dont-have-a-garden

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Daily Good: The Gentlest Thing in the World

“The gentlest thing in the world is an open mind. Since it doesn’t believe what it thinks, it is flexible, porous, without opposition, without defense. Nothing has power over it. Nothing can resist it. Even the hardest thing in the world a closed mind can’t resist the power of openness. Ultimately the truth flows into it and through it, like water through rock.”

http://www.dailygood.org/story/2295/the-gentlest-thing-in-the-world-byron-katie/

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Elephant Journal: What Bradley Cooper has to Teach You about Your Magic Man: the Divine Masculine.

Yes, he’s divinely hot.
And yes, his directing and acting are godly.

But when I say Bradley Cooper was the very picture of the divine masculine in a Star Is Born, what I’m referring to is “the scene.”
You know, the one you can’t stop playing over and over in your mind (or watching over and over, in my case.)

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2019/01/what-bradley-cooper-can-teach-you-about-manifesting-with-your-magic-man-aka-the-divine-masculine/

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Tetraktys: Beltane Weaving Ritual for Solitary Witches – How to Cast a Witch’s Ladder Spell

Beltane is a festival of fertility, seduction, love, and sensuality. When we think about this Sabbat, we often picture a big bonfire with a lot of people dancing, drinking and feasting together. But if you are a solitary witch, it might seem strange to celebrate it by yourself. So today, I am sharing with you a solitary Beltane ritual taken from my own Book of Shadow

https://www.thetetraktys.com/2019/beltane-weaving-ritual-witchs-ladder-spell/

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EarthSky News: Fly with the world’s fastest bird

When in its hunting dive, the Peregrine falcon is the fastest bird – in fact, the fastest animal – on Earth. Get a bird’s-eye view of the flight of this magnificent creature, in this video

https://earthsky.org/earth/fastest-bird

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Patheos-Pagan: The Battle of the Queens – A Bit of Beltane Frivolity

I found this as I was working on a new blog post for Beltane. I wrote it as part of Denton CUUPS’ Beltane circle in 2005. It’s silly, but it was fun to do, so I think it’s worth sharing. I have a few pictures from that year’s Beltane, but none of the play – you’ll have to imagine it for yourself.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbeckett/2019/04/the-battle-of-the-queens-a-bit-of-beltane-frivolity.html

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Inner Journey:

Soul lives in connection

“We all seek Soul. While Soul is always present, it doesn’t appear in our lives automatically. Soul requires our attention and reflection. Offering our respectful regard to the Soul is a way of loving it, caring for it, nurturing it.”
— Benjamin Shield and Richard Carlson

How do we experience soul in our lives?

It’s so simple! STOP AND PAY ATTENTION! Soul lives in connection. Whenever we are present and conscious, soul emerges.

To easily experience soul, find something you love to do and immerse yourself in it. Consciously savour a favourite piece of music. Consciously enjoy a walk in nature. Really experience your breathing and the pounding of your heart as you exercise. Really be present to your partner, your kids, your pet or another, and you will know the contentment of soul.

“I think that whenever soul is present, it’s because what you’re doing, whom you’re with, where you are, evokes love without your thinking about it. You are totally absorbed in the place or person or event, without ego and without judgment.”
— Jean Shinoda Bolen

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

The entire world now spins in the palm of your hand.

A thriving business and a steady income is not asking for too much.

Come on, let’s go –

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe from Herbal Muse: Lavender Panna Cotta

Panna cotta is a dish of “cooked cream” original to Northern Italy. Although it’s truly an elegant
dessert, it’s remarkably easy to prepare. It’s creamy texture is even more impressive when enhanced with floral lavender and, if you wish, garnished with a drizzle of honey or shaved chocolate.

https://www.herbalmusings.com/single-post/2019/04/11/Lavender-Panna-Cotta

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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
April 17, 2019

Praise

“The house praises the carpenter.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

I guess this is another way of saying that your work speaks for itself. But I think it means more than that, too. It means that when we put the best of ourselves into something, we know it – it shows. And even if no one else can see it, we can be proud of our efforts.

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Beliefnet: Living An Intentional Life
Many of us live our lives on auto-pilot. We follow the same schedule each day. We respond to crises as they occur. And we sort of putter along, year after year, with no goals or grand purpose. The problem…

Cat’s Morning Bits for April 16, 2019

Posted on April 16, 2019 by Cat

CMB canva sm

Cat’s Morning Bits for April 16, 2019

Blessings, Cat

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The season comes when, from her three-month trance,
The Earth awakens: already her deep heart
Begins to stir, and send its life abroad.
-Thomas Buchanan Read (1822-72)

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Spirituality & Health: The Art of Deep Listening
BY RICHARD WOLF

When you listen to music intently, you hear the music and simply allow it to be. Your mind doesn’t race to something else. Applying that mode of listening to other areas of your life can help you in your meditation and your mindfulness.

https://spiritualityhealth.com/articles/2019/04/12/the-art-of-deep-listening

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ThoughtCo: Sacred Plants of the Beltane Sabbat

In most modern Pagan traditions, plants and their folklore are an integral part of belief and practice. In particular, many of the Sabbats are associated with the magical properties of different plants. Beltane falls on May 1 in the northern hemisphere, and around October 31/November 1 if you live below the equator. Let’s take a look at Beltane, and some of the plants that often correspond with the season.

https://www.thoughtco.com/sacred-plants-of-the-beltane-sabbat-2561637

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MBG: New Study Finds People Who Meditate Deal With Stress More Quickly

We’re well aware that meditation can help you relax, get centered, and feel less stressed out over time when done regularly. Now a new study published in the Psychoneuroendocrinology shows exactly why: People who meditate regularly actually have a faster physiological recovery from stress, primarily thanks to one specific psychological strategy that meditation makes them very good at.

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/meditation-makes-you-deal-with-stress-better

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Daily Good: Quiet Spirituality

Go within and you will find the noise of the world if you don’t also allow the quiet of silence to reveal itself. And what we need so very much is quiet to help us skillfully navigate our lives. Many of us yearn for the deep peace that comes from being in touch with the stillness in our depths. By seeking out silence in our daily lives, we are able to find balance within the constant noise and demands that bombard most of us each day. The rewards are in-built. This piece by Mirka Knaster delves into the theme of quiet spirituality. “It is in the womb of silence that we can grow ideas for the best course of action to take and ensure that such action is rooted in compassion and wisdom.”

http://www.dailygood.org/story/2260/quiet-spirituality-mirka-knaster/

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MNN: Lyrid meteor shower to peak on Earth Day
Our planet is now passing through ancient debris left by Comet Thatcher, which hasn’t visited the inner solar system since 1861.

Earth is treating its inhabitants to quite a show for Earth Month. There was the Virginids meteor shower, for example, plus a double shadow transit of Jupiter, a crescent moon sidling up to Mars and a glimpse of Pallas, one of the largest asteroids in the solar system.

https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/space/blogs/2014-lyrid-meteor-shower-to-peak-on-earth-day

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EarthSky News: Moon to move between two colorful stars

These new several nights – April 16, 17 and 18, 2019 – find the brilliant waxing gibbous moon on a course to move between two bright and beautiful stars, Arcturus and Spica. Sparkling above the eastern horizon at early evening, these stars travel westward (along with the moon) throughout the night. Arcturus and Spica shine high in the southern sky around midnight, and as dawn starts to color the sky, these gems light up the western sky

https://earthsky.org/tonight/moon-highlights-two-colorful-springtime-stars

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Patheos-Pagan: Dance of the Maenad: Dionysian Mysteries

A Mystery, in a pagan sense, is a ritual that is not shared beyond participants, because the true meaning is something that can’t be put into words, only experienced.
The most well known of the secret rituals in Ancient Greece were the Eleusinian Mysteries, performed by the cult of Demeter and Persephone in Eleusis in their honor

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/agora/2019/04/dance-of-the-maenad-dionysian-mysteries/

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Inner Journey:

HOW DO YOU SHOW YOU CARE?

“Love is not only something you feel. It is something you do.”
— David Wilkerson

In her book, ‘No Less Than Greatness,’ Mary Manin Morrissey speaks of a research study that explored how family members communicate with each other. Apparently, the most frequently spoken words between husbands, wives, sisters and brothers were “What’s on?” and “Move.”

She goes on to say, “We all desire great relationships but often settle for just getting by. Many of us have stopped questioning the fact that we may know fictitious TV families more intimately than we do our own.”

The most powerful force in our lives is our ability to love. Indeed, it’s the most basic essence of who we are. How do you experience and express your love for the people in your life?

“The whole idea of compassion is based on a keen awareness of the other…. The whole purpose of life is to live by love.”
— Thomas Merton

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

Stop thinking that you have to make it happen and let it happen…

That you have to be better, and be yourself…

That I’ve ever judged you, and be free…

That was the plan,

The Universe

tut.com

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Herbal Muse: Easy Hummus Recipe

Hummus is a Middle Eastern traditional dish made from chickpeas, sesame paste (tahini), garlic, olive oil and various herbs and spices. This simple staple has so many uses…appetizer, dip, side dish, sandwich spread and more

https://www.herbalmusings.com/single-post/2015/03/25/Easy-Hummus-Recipe

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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
April 16, 2019

Praise

“The advantage of doing one’s praising for oneself is that one can lay it on so thick and exactly in the right places.”

-Samuel Butler (1835-1902)

Every once in awhile we need to give ourselves a pat on the back. We’re each working so hard, doing our thing, and making our way. Too often we don’t get the praise we think we deserve. But that’s okay – because we can recognize our accomplishments and praise ourselves! And we ARE doing pretty well with all we’ve got going on. Kudos to you, dear friend!

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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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 April 15, 2019

Posted on April 15, 2019 by Cat

CMB canva sm

Cat’s Morning Bits for April 15, 2019

Blessings, Cat

_________________________

A flower is looking through the ground,
Blinking at the April weather;
Now a child has seen the flower:
Now they go and play together.

-Harold Monroe (1879-1932)

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Herbal Muse: Herb Profile: Blessed Thistle

Blessed Thistle (Cnicus benedictus), also known as Spotted Thistle and St. Benedict’s Thistle, is a member of the daisy family that is native to the Mediterranean region, North Africa and western Asia. During the Middle Ages, blessed thistle was cultivated in European monastery gardens as a medicinal herb and recommended for gout and digestive complaints. In combination with fenugreek seed, blessed thistle is traditionally used as a galactagogue to stimulate lactation in nursing mothers. It is also among the 27 herbs and spices that flavor Benedictine liqueur, the recipe for which is known only to three people at any time.

https://www.herbalmusings.com/single-post/2015/03/21/Blessed-Thistle

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Spirit Library: Humanities Crystalline Blueprint High Fairy & Sylphs Realms

We are in the pure light realms of existences of kindness and Love and, yes, High Magic, awakening you through the crystals and your crystalline ethereal empathic blueprint.

Be among and amidst nature and we will sing to you a new love song lullaby, allow your heart healing through the luscious green of the trees, flowers and plant medicine. The blue oceans, babbling brooks refresh and restore your spirit as they have memory and enlightened code elements of the Light Body’s cosmic nature

https://spiritlibrary.com/shekina-rose-blue-ray/humanities-crystalline-blueprint-high-fairy-sylphs-realms

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ThoughtCo: Deities of the Hunt

In many ancient Pagan civilizations, gods and goddesses associated with the hunt were held in a position of high regard. While for some of today’s Pagans, hunting is considered off-limits, for many others, deities of the hunt are still honored. While this is certainly not meant to be an all-inclusive list, here are just a few of the gods and goddesses of the hunt that are honored by today’s Pagans:

https://www.thoughtco.com/deities-of-the-hunt-2561982

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MBG: This Is The Day To Check In On Your Relationship, According To Astrology

On Monday, Venus and Jupiter will conspire to make us more gullible.
People might talk a good game, but can they back up their words with action? That’s questionable this Monday, April 15, when charming Venus in Pisces squares optimistic Jupiter. While both planets have a strict “no negative vibes” policy, refusing to take off the rose-colored glasses

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/the-astrotwins-weekly-horoscope-for-april-15-21-2019

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Daily Good: Discovering the Sacred in Everyday Life

Tuning into the sacred of the everyday takes practice. Things around us don’t suddenly become more awe-inducing but our perception of them can change. “When something is recognized as sacred, it is known to have a quality that is beyond the material, physical world. It’s not subject to the mind’s analysis, judgment, or interpretation.” In this article by psychologist Gail Brenner, practices for opening your mind to daily graces are introduced, along with an invitation to expand your awareness through gentle reminders

http://www.dailygood.org/story/2291/discovering-the-sacred-in-everyday-life-gail-brenner/

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Elephant Journal: This is the Soulmate we Have to Let Go Of.

I recognize soul contracts. I spot soulmates in my life almost immediately. I work tirelessly with people who are grieving the end of a relationship with a soulmate, not understanding why they came into their lives at all if they weren’t meant to be together, and unable to accept that the contract is complete and it’s simply time to let it go

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2017/06/this-is-the-soulmate-we-have-to-let-go-of/

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EarthSky News: Mercury below Venus in morning sky

Tomorrow – April 16, 2019 – presents the closest pairing of the planets Mercury and Venus in the morning sky for all of 2019. These two worlds will be around 4 degrees (width of two fingers at an arm length) apart on the sky’s dome. They’ll be close enough together to fit (or nearly fit) inside a single binocular field. So if you see Venus, but not Mercury, in the predawn/dawn sky, try aiming binoculars at Venus to view Venus and Mercury in the same binocular field together.

https://earthsky.org/tonight/mercury-below-venus-in-morning-sky-2

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Patheos-Pagan: Grounding for Beginners

Grounding is a skill that should not be ignored. The word itself is magical code for remembering who we are at the deepest level. It is a practice that grows with time, fostering inner balance and eventually combining with other techniques to become a foundation of calmness, awareness, patience, and courage.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/theothersideofthehedge/2019/04/grounding-for-beginners/

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Inner Journey:

THE EYES OF THE SOUL
Today, we want to share a passage from Martia Nelson’s book, ‘Coming Home’:
“My greatest teacher was the experience of living in split realities: personality and true self. Personality is our daily companion, our conscious self that sees the world through the eyes of limitation and dutifully keeps us informed about what we can and cannot do. True self, on the other hand, patiently stands by, offering the unwavering knowledge that a state of vibrant well- being and unlimited possibility is our true nature, a birthright that can be lived if we choose to do so. … True self simply refers to the aspect of our being that is completely aware of its expanded nature no matter what we may be experiencing at the time.”

Whenever we feel constrained, fearful, unworthy, inadequate or anything we deem to be negative, we have identified with our personality. We can always choose to view the same situation from the perspective of our soul.

“As a Witness, you begin to discover that you are not that which you have been observing; you are not those things that you have been noticing about your body. Instead, you are the noticer.”
— Wayne Dyer

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

Did you know that God prefers to go barefoot, laughs a lot, and is always happy?

Loves orange, wears blue jeans, and has read every book ever written?

Skips stones, plays in the rain, and rocks out?

Remembers birthdays, forgets arguments, and every day visualizes you smiling even more?

And, at this very moment, is accepting applications from those who wish to make a whopping difference.

Approved! Approved! Approved!

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Sweet Potato Corn Muffins

This is a healthy, high-fiber, low-sugar muffin. I substituted Truvia blend for the sugar

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Sweet-Potato-Corn-Muffins.html

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Magical Correspondences for Monday

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
April 15, 2019

Praise

“When you do well, do not praise yourself but the gods.”

-Bias (6th cent B.C.) One of the Seven Sages of Greece

We can keep praise in check by understanding that the gifts that we bring to the world do not really come from ourselves, but from God. The good that we do, the light that shines through, is pure Spirit.

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

_________________________________

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 April 12, 2019

Posted on April 12, 2019 by Cat

CMB canva sm

Cat’s Morning Bits for April 12, 2019

Blessings, Cat

_________________________

Blossom of the almond trees,
April’s gift to April’s bees,
Birthday ornament of spring,
Flora’s fairest daughterling.

-Sir Edwin Arnold (1832-1904)

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Spiritual Unite: Have I Found My Soulmate – Connect The Dots

Soulmates are very important to us. They help us to learn about ourselves, learn about the experiences of others and, crucially, help us to experience love.
Some people spend their whole lives searching for their soulmate

https://www.spiritualunite.com/articles/have-i-found-my-soulmate-connect-the-dots/

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ThoughtCo: How to Celebrate Beltane

With roots in the British Isles, Beltane is a celebration that falls midway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. It honors spring at its peak and the coming summer. If the spring has been a fruitful one, usually the rains have produced rich and fertile earth with verdant green woodlands. And Beltane celebrates the new life that will emerge during this seasonal transition

https://www.thoughtco.com/beltane-4159809

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MBG: This Personality Trait Has A Big Impact On Your Overall Life Satisfaction

In psychology, there exists a theory that we humans have an unconscious longing to return to the blissful symbiosis of mother and infant. Known as “oneness fantasies,” this controversial concept hearkens images of an unborn fetus comfortably wrapped in the warm, loving darkness of the mother’s womb, a small, knowable universe that the fetus is both sustained by and also one with.

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/spiritual-interconnectedness-is-linked-with-life-satisfaction-new-research-shows

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Pioneer Thinking: 10 Tips to Easily Double The Size of Your Herb Garden

After spending just a few dollars for your initial purchase of some herbal seed packages or seedlings, is that it? “Gee,” you’re wondering, “is this going to take forever for me to have a real herb garden?” And the answer is, absolutely not. With these herbs and growing tips, you are going to take those first few plants and surprise the heck out of yourself (and your neighbors) by having tons of amazing herb garden plants in no time.

https://pioneerthinking.com/herbs-and-growing-10-tips-to-easily-double-the-size-of-your-herb-garden

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Elephant Journal: How Reiki Works—The Science Bit.

If you are like me, deeper understanding comes from learning everything both spiritually and physically, and how it fits into everyday life, as we can understand it in a tangible and logical way.
But to explain something that we cannot see or fully understand with our limited human minds is a massive task. I will try my best to collate my extensive research into a short version here as best as I can to help dispel any fears that may be associated with working with what is still not completely understood.

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2016/02/how-reiki-works-the-science-bit/

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MNN: Why do bees have pockets?

When you see bees flitting about your garden, you might notice that some of them have orange or yellow clumps along their hind legs. Resembling tiny saddlebags, these bright spots of cargo are pollen baskets or corbiculae. These baskets are found in apid bees, including honey bees and bumblebees.
Pollen sticks to bees each time they visit flowers. As the Adirondack Almanack points out, “It sticks to their antennae, their legs, their faces, their bodies. They become one giant pollen magnet.

https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/blogs/why-do-bees-have-pockets

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EarthSky News: Moon and Gemini stars on April 12

On April 12, 2019, you’ll find the moon at or near its half-lit first quarter phase and in the vicinity of Castor and Pollux, the two brightest stars in the constellation Gemini the Twins. By the way, the moon crosses the ecliptic (Earth’s orbital plane) at its ascending node about one hour before the moon reaches its first quarter phase.

https://earthsky.org/tonight/are-geminis-castor-and-pollux-whales

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Patheos-Pagan: The Element of Fire as an Altar in Witchcraft

Welcome to the next piece in this series on the Elements as Altars. Here, we will focus on Fire as an altar in Witchcraft. In case you missed it, here’s the first one, which featured Air.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/tempest/2019/04/the-element-of-fire-as-an-altar-in-witchcraft.html

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Inner Journey:

BELIEVE IN YOUR UNLIMITED POTENTIAL

“You cannot see anything that you do not first contemplate as a reality.”
— Ramtha

How do you typically define yourself? Do you tell yourself and others that you are slow and methodical, that you have two left feet, that you are lazy, or unimaginative or that you can’t hang on to money?

In our unconscious self talk, most of us rarely say positive things about ourselves. List the positive and the negative ways you describe yourself. Then look over your list and contemplate how those definitions limit your ability to be cosmic in your outlook and performance.

“Belief has the word ‘lie’ in it… and that pretty much sums up what the world has us believing about ourselves.”
— Doug Firebaugh

“We are what we believe we are.”
— Benjamin N. Cardozo

higherawareness.com
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Today’s Recipe: Lemonade Fruit Dressing Recipe

Frozen lemonade concentrate makes a delicious dressing for all sorts of fruit salad combinations

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Lemonade-Fruit-Dressing-Recipe.html

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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.

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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Beliefnet: Four Signs That You’re Overmanifesting
This occurs when you focus so much on wanting something that you don’t allow it to manifest for you. Manifesting is co-creating with the universe.
Read more…………………

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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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