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Cat’s Bits for September 17-23 : Autumn Equinox and Opening Your Heart

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Cat’s Bits for September 17-23 : Autumn Equinox and Opening Your Heart

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“Nature holds her breath …………….. and Summer slides into Autumn. ~ Cat”

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September Events:

Sept 20: New Moon at 1:30 am EST

Sept 21: International Day of Peace

Sept 22: Fall Equinox/ Mabon and Sun enters Libra at 4:02 pm EST

Sept 30: Celtic Tree Month of Ivy begins

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Harvest home, Harvest home!

We’ve plowed, we’ve sowed.

We’ve reaped, we’ve mowed and brought safe home, every load.

Harvest Home Song

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Autumn Equinox / Mabon / Harvest Home: On or around September 21st

This year Mabon is on Friday, September 22

This is the second harvest festival and like the Vernal Equinox night and day are equal. It is a time to honor the changing season and to give thanks for the bounty and abundance in our lives.

Symbols and Decorations: Fall leaves, apples, gourds, vines, flowers, acorns grapes, berries, indian corn and grains.

Colors: Wine, Rust, Brown, Autumn Orange and Gold

Deities: Pomona, Demeter, Persephone, Bacchus, Dionysus, Green Man, Tezcatzontecatl, Osiris

Herbs: Marigold, Milkweed, Fern, Benzoin, Honeysuckle, Passionflower, Rose Sage, Solomon’s Seal, Thistle (A Druid’s Herbal)

Incense: Pine, Myrrh, Sage, Sweetgrass

Trees: Maple, Magnolia, Locust, Hickory, Hackberry, Aspen. (Whispers from the Woods)

Sacred Stones: Green Aventurine, Dendritic Agate, Chrysoprase for goal setting and planning /Sunstone , Moonstone for balance. (Hibiscus Moon)

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Autumn Equinox and Opening Your Heart
By Tammi Baliszewski, Ph.D.

The Autumn Equinox signals the end of the summer months and the beginning of winter. From the Equinox forward, the nights become longer and the days become shorter. The word “equinox” comes from the Latin term that simply means “equal night.” The Fall Equinox arrives on the cusp of Virgo/Libra with astrology using the scales as a symbol of this season. Not only does this represent the balance of light and dark but also an important time to cultivate personal balance and inner harmony.

When the Fall Equinox occurs, the universal energy on our planet shifts, and all of life begins to turn inward. Accompanying the Fall Equinox is a shift from the more “Yang” masculine, action oriented self, to a more “Yin” feminine, intuitive, receptive self. We are being invited into the realms of our inner-worlds, perhaps giving ourselves permission to sleep a little more and delve more fully into our subconscious worlds of dreaming, meditation, contemplation, prayer and creativity.

Autumn is Earth’s designated time to turn inward and surrender. As the nights lengthen and cool, the trees change into their warm and varied colors we are reminded of the cycles mirrored in our lives. As we witness the trees begin to surrender their warm, bright and varied colored leaves, we may be inspired to surrender and relinquish those things that are a burden or no longer serving us. All religious traditions pay tribute to such acts of relinquishment. Fall is the time to practice getting out of the way and invite Spirit to take greater charge of our lives.

The beginning of the Fall season can be a powerful time to take personal inventory and reflect on the seeds you have planted and if those seeds have grown into fruition. It is an opportunity to acknowledge how far you have come and where you may want to go next. This is a potentially a transformational time, where you have the opportunity to take greater responsibility and refocus your attention on what you truly want to manifest and then set the intention to create it.

As we go deeper into the Fall, we celebrate the season of grace, gratitude and thanksgiving. The time of the abundant harvest is symbolized by cornucopias and horn of plenty, overflowing with great bounty. This is joyously accompanied by huge feasts, celebration, music and dance. This is the perfect occasion to consciously open your heart more fully in generosity and celebrate both your divine connection and human relationships. This is a beautiful season to begin a tithing practice or give more fully of your heart, energy, resources, talents and time.

Our time here on Earth is temporary and to meet the seasons with an open and vulnerable heart helps us experience a deeper and more soulful life. To venture forward courageously, with intentionality, while taking responsibility, can support each of us in becoming more empowered and more fulfilled. It can also help us cultivate greater affection and reverence for ourselves for each other and for the world.

Dr. Tammi Baliszewski is a holistic life counselor, author, artist and sacred art facilitator. To learn more about Tammi and her services, or to receive your free Manifesting Report and MP3 guided meditation, please visit her website at http://www.tammibphd.com/ Tammi also hosts a weekly radio show Called Journey to Center http://www.empoweradio.com/home/

Bright Blessings for a Magickal Week!

Cat

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Autumn-Equinox-and-Opening-Your-Heart&id=7297570] Autumn Equinox and Opening Your Heart

Laura (Cat) Bolotin has been following an eclectic pagan/spiritual path for over 25 years. She currently lives in Western Colorado where she enjoys communing with nature, desert crawling, belly dancing, nature photography, jewelry crafting and writing stuff she hopes will help others along their path. She is married and owned by 6 cats.

 

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Please feel free to check out my websites!

The Desert Path: The Dusty Ramblings of a Desert Pagan. https://catsister.wordpress.com

Sacred Spirals on Facebook: The Place Where All Paths Meet  https://www.facebook.com/groups/sacredSpirals/

This page may be shared with others as long as no changes are made, and ALL credits, links, photos and copyrights remain intact. All written work and are created by and copyrighted to LBolotin/Cat 2007-2017

Thought For The Day: Sept. 15, 2017 ” The Magic of You”

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Happy Friday!

Sometime’s we don’t realize what truly magical beings we are. We are unique and beautiful in our own way and everyday we make things happen! Too often we take ourselves and our abilities for granted and this can lead to “amnesia”. We forget what amazing beings we really are and the things that we are able to create and our magic becomes dormant. Waiting for us to remember that it’s there. Look for your magic today, dig for it if you need to, because you deserve to shine!

Daily Thought 2

I invite you to check out my Facebook group, Sacred Spirals: The place where all paths meet at https://www.facebook.com/groups/SacredSpirals/

Thought For The Day: Sept. 14, 2017 ” Being Strong or Being Stubborn”

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Happy Thursday!

People like to think that they can do everything themselves. While it’s true that we are capable of  doing maybe … 90% of everything it’s the other 10% that can come back and bite us in the butt. We all know at least one person who refuses to ask for help no matter what, and yes I’ll say it…… it could even be you (we’ve all been there). The things that stop people from asking for help are pride and ego. Maybe they don’t like the person they need to ask, maybe it’s just plain pig-headed stubbornness, or  maybe they feel that no one can help. Whatever the case, the truth is that help can come from anyone and anywhere. There comes a time when we must put pride and ego on the back burner and find the strength to admit we need help and then ask for it. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, there is no shame in it. True strength can be found in recognizing this!

Daily Thought

I invite you to check out my Facebook group, Sacred Spirals: The place where all paths meet at https://www.facebook.com/groups/SacredSpirals/

Thought for the Day: Sept. 13, 2017 “It’s All Connected”

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Happy Wednesday!

Our thought for the day is about connection.  Everything in this world is connected and interconnected. Everything, no matter how large or how small is part of the whole. What happens to one happens to many, what affects one affects all… eventually. I am reminded of the aspen groves. Each grove starts with a single tree, That tree creates more aspen trees and all are connected to each other. What happens to one eventually happens to them all. This connectedness happens around us everyday. Like the aspen trees what we do, say, feel, and send out has an effect on others in our “grove”. By working together we create a healthy grove that will continue to grow and thrive. This helps to create strong, new groves and healthy connections. How does your grove look?

Daily Thought 2

I invite you to check out my Facebook group, Sacred Spirals: The place where all paths meet at https://www.facebook.com/groups/SacredSpirals/

Thought For The Day: Sept. 12, 2017 “Positive or Negative?”

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Happy Tuesday!

We’ve all seen the quotes ” It starts with you.” and “One person can make a difference.” Do you realize that that’s the truth? It’s about spreading positive energy wherever you go. When we share that energy with one person it makes them feel good. They in turn pass it on to another and it spreads like ripples in a pond. Being negative and nasty works the same way. It’s so easy to make a difference, but we have a choice.   Will the difference that we make be positive or negative………….  What choice will you make today?

Daily Thought

I invite you to check out my Facebook group, Sacred Spirals: The place where all paths meet at https://www.facebook.com/groups/SacredSpirals/

Thought For The Day: Sept. 11, 2017 “It’s An Imperfect World”

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Happy Monday,

Wouldn’t it be great if everything was perfect?  Our job, our relationships, the world, people including ourselves. Well dream on baby because nothing in life is perfect. Each seemingly “perfect” thing comes with it’s own set of imperfections and  quite often we allow these things to to make us unhappy. By letting go of the expectation of “perfection” the world opens up before us. This can reduce stress, promote inner peace and even help us to be happier. Sometimes it’s the imperfect things that are the most beautiful, endearing or fulfilling. Afterall, there is no such thing as the perfect life, there is just life. It our perspective of it that’s important.

Daily Thought

I invite you to check out my Facebook group, Sacred Spirals: The place where all paths meet at https://www.facebook.com/groups/SacredSpirals/

Cat’s Bits for September 10-16: Autumn Reflections

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Cat’s Bits for September 10-16: Autumn Reflections

Note: This week’s offering is an older one that I happened across the other day. Since it struck a cord and seemed relevant to my thoughts, I decided to share it with you! Cat

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September Events:

Sept 20: New Moon at 1:30 am EST

Sept 21: International Day of Peace

Sept 22: Fall Equinox/ Mabon and Sun enters Libra at 4:02 pm EST

Sept 30: Celtic Tree Month of Ivy begins

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The Canvas


The canvas of the summer is made of shades green;


Emerald, jade and serpentine with many in between.






When the harvesttime begins the Lady takes up her brush;


She starts to add new colors, vibrant, bold and lush.






Carnelian, garnet, amber dots the forest floor;


She lets it dry a day or so, before she adds a little more.






She works with slow precision as she paints each leaf with care;


Ash, oak and aspen glow; with gemstone hues everywhere.






When the landscape is complete she adds a turquoise sky;


Wild geese and soft white clouds gently sail on by.






To the lady we give thanks for the beauty that she brings;


Each season is a masterpiece that helps our spirit sing.






© LBolotin/Cat 9-3-07


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Autumn Reflections


by Cat Bolotin 2006






This year the change of seasons has put me in a reflective mood, leaving me with the conclusion that autumn is an odd season. Some years the change happens slowly, while other times it happens over night. There are times that it arrives early and other times when summer seems to have no end and autumn is a long time coming. Maybe I notice these things because autumn is a dramatic season………………












This year autumn is early, as I write this, the month of August isn’t even over with and already the autumn faeries have been busy. There are splashes of yellow in the aspen groves and small patches of red in the ground cover. The pine trees are dropping their cones and the black tailed squirrels are busy harvesting the fallen treasure. Only the scrub oak remains unaffected, while they are loaded with acorns, they will be the last to decorated by the faeries. Yesterday, my husband and I were hiking to our hunting spot with our friend John. As we were walking through a pocket of pine and aspen John said “Look! This is my favorite part of fall!” He was holding a beautiful red and gold aspen leaf, about the size of a quarter, almost reverently in his fingers. “Aren’t they amazing? Hey! Did you ever press them in wax paper when you were a kid?” I nodded and smiled “Yep, sure did!”




Like spring, there is something about autumn that brings out the joy in people. These seasons are also in between times. Hot and cold, light and dark, life and death. Spring brings the miracle of rebirth, while autumn reminds us that nothing is permanent and everything passes away. The wheel of the seasons turns……….. The Great Wheel also corresponds with the Sabbats, of which there are greater and lesser. It has occurred to me that there are greater and lesser seasons as well. To me spring and autumn are greater seasons because they ultimately bring about the greatest changes in the form of rebirth and dying off. Summer and winter are times when things slow down and level out. They flow into the more dramatic seasons of spring and autumn. This theory may be obvious to some and debatable by others. Either way, it’s something to think about.




During this time of magick and beauty, I hope that you too will reflect on the coming seasons as well. As humans we tend to “ignore” the subtle things. While we dutifully honor the Sabbats we miss the miracles of nature that lead up to them. By slowing down and observing the subtleties of change that each day brings, we can connect more fully to the natural world. It is my belief that the Goddess asks this of each of us and whether we do it or not is up to the individual. Each season should be enjoyed in it’s time and the connection to the other seasons acknowledged. For it is through awareness, the beauty and miracles that surround us are more easily seen and enjoyed.




The wheel of the seasons turns in a seamless flow, each blending with the next and containing it’s own unique magick……………………….Can you feel it?


© CatSister/LBolotin 2006








Bright Blessings for a Magickal Week!


Cat


Laura (Cat) Bolotin has been following an eclectic pagan/spiritual path for over 25 years. She currently lives in Western Colorado where she enjoys communing with nature, desert crawling, belly dancing, nature photography, jewelry crafting and writing stuff she hopes will help others along their path. She is married and owned by 5 cats.


 


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Please feel free to check out my websites!


The Desert Path: The Dusty Ramblings of a Desert Pagan. https://catsister.wordpress.com


Sacred Spirals on Facebook: The Place Where All Paths Meet  https://www.facebook.com/groups/sacredSpirals/


This page may be shared with others as long as no changes are made, and ALL credits, links, photos and copyrights remain intact. All written work and are created by and copyrighted to LBolotin/Cat 2007-2017

					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Thought for the Day: Sept. 8, 2017 “Narrow Minds”

			
						

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Happy Friday!


The world has it’s share of narrow minded people. They refuse to see or condisider anything that differs from their own view.  This is a trap and hard to get out of once fallen into. Being open to new ways of seeing and thinking is essential to our personal evolution. However there are times when we all fall into narrow minded patterns. This happens when we find ourselves fighting the need to let something go or when changes must be made and it scares us. Be willing to see things from all directions, to listen with heart, mind and soul, to embrace new ways of thinking, doing and being. If something encourages you to take action or pushes you in a new direction allow yourself to acknowledge the experience and everything it has to offer!


Daily Thought 2


I invite you to check out my Facebook group, Sacred Spirals: The place where all paths meet at https://www.facebook.com/groups/SacredSpirals/

					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Thought for the Day: September 7, 2017 ” At The End Of The Day”

			
						

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Happy Thursday,


A friend shared this quote the other day and I just fell in love with it. We can be our own worst critics and harder on ourselves than anyone else. Our thought for the day goes with yesterday’s of inner peace. By accepting that there is only so much of you to go around and that you can’t do everything AND that that’s OKAY, is a step toward inner peace. For me this is a personal lesson since I became a caregiver and have two houses where things need to be done. I’m learning to choose the most pressing or important things on any given day. If I can fit something else in….. great, if not there is always tomorrow. By accepting this there is a sense of weight lifted and a feeling of accomplishment for what did get done. It’s a change of perspective and outlook that helps heal both mentally and emotionally. Take time to tell yourself “good job” and above all be gentle with yourself. You deserve that as much as anyone!


 


Daily Thought


I invite you to check out my Facebook group, Sacred Spirals: The place where all paths meet at https://www.facebook.com/groups/SacredSpirals/

					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Thought for the Day: September 6, 2017 ” The Path To Inner Peace”

			
						

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Happy Wednesday!


Our thought for the day is about inner peace. While most of us strive to find our inner peace we all know people who try but just can’t seem to pull it off. Inner peace happens when we are able to acknowledge which battles are worth fighting and which ones are best let go. It happens when we no longer allow other people to influence the way we think or feel. It happens when we no longer let the problems of others become our problems (remember, misery loves company). It happens when we truly like ourselves while accepting that we are a work in progress just like everyone else. When we are able to live these things then we can live at peace not only with ourselves but with others as well!


Daily Thought 2


I invite you to check out my Facebook group, Sacred Spirals: The place where all paths meet at https://www.facebook.com/groups/SacredSpirals/