The Desert Path

The Dusty Ramblings of a Desert Pagan

Cat’s Bits for September 24-30: “Burning Autumn Leaves”

Posted on September 24, 2017 by Cat

cropped-116_0076

Cat’s Bits for September 24-30: “Burning Autumn Leaves”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

September Events:

Sept 30: Celtic Tree Month of Ivy begins

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Burning Autumn Leaves
By Dennis Siluk Dr.h.c.

Burning Autumn Leaves

[1950s in St. Paul, Minnesota]

My long steel pointed rake punctured

And twisted through tons of autumn leaves

(back in the ’50s);

And there’s a hill yet, I didn’t rake, I see

Behind it, two embankments

Leaves I didn’t rake a day ago;

The essence of fall sleeps on the ground.

I love the scent of burning leaves:

I seem to dream of them nowadays.

I cannot shake the excitement I get

From the sight and smells of burning leaves.

Now the city will not allow the burning,

Not sure what can take its place–:

Only wishful thinking and dreaming, I think.

But every leaf that now appears, in autumn

I keep hearing the cracking of the fire; see

The flickering-flames of burning leaves; I

Can even smell—the autumn leaves of long ago.

I have had too much of raking leaves, I do believe–.

I’m now old and tired, too tired to rake those hills;

Yet raking I still desire, not sure why.

There were a thousand days I raked, back then

Held in hand, the rake that struck the earth–

Spiked, into its dirt–capturing those critters (leaves)

Like thieves–: thieves sleeping.

This tiredness of mine will never go away, I fear

It’s called aging, or something, so I will have to find

Another place, to smell the burning autumn leaves;

And perhaps, perchance, do just a ting of raking:

Before the long, long, very long sleep.

#771 7/24/05 Poet Dennis Siluk http://dennissiluk.tripod.com

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 6 cats.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Burning-Autumn-Leaves–[a-poem-in-Spanish-and-English]&id=53812] Burning Autumn Leaves [a poem in Spanish and English]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

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

Posted on September 17, 2017 by Cat

cropped-116_0076

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

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MabonTag_zps08cf9776[1]

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

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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/

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

Posted on September 10, 2017 by Cat

cropped-116_0076

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

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ KODAK Digital Still Camera

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?

Bright Blessings for a Magickal Week!

Cat

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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/

Cat’s Bits for July 16-22 The Definitions of Popular Egyptian Symbols

Posted on July 16, 2017 by Cat

cropped-116_0076

Cat’s Bits for July 16-22 The Definitions of Popular Egyptian Symbols

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

July Events:

July 22: Sun enters Leo at 11:15 am EST

July 23: New Moon at 5:46 am EST

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mau Bast

My time has come, as evening settles her blue shadowed veils around the temple. The scents and sounds of the coming night drift on the warm night air.

The smell of myrrh mixes with the black earth scent of the Nile. The distant sounds of voices and the calling of night birds and frogs from the lotus pond are a soothing hum.

I rise and stretch in the fading light. Muscles sleek and sinuous, eyes glowing amber fire. I enter the temple hall where servants are lighting the rush lights, they bow as I silently pad past.

From the temple there are voices raised in song and the rattle of sistrums, a tribute to the living goddess. I consider joining them but the night beckons, like a seductive lover I cannot resist.

As I emerge into the dusk world I am greeted by the small wild-cats that are my children and the scent of lotus flowers. Together we fade into the cloak of night. It is my time

©LBolotin/Cat 2005

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Definitions of Popular Egyptian Symbols
By John Mackata

Most of the Egyptian symbols are depicted in hieroglyphs as the ‘words of God’ and were commonly used by priests. Some have appeared in novels and films due to the mysteries they are associated with. The most common symbols as seen on the Egyptian hieroglyphic include the eye of Horus, Bast, Crescent Moon, the Lotus Flower, Feather of Maat and the falcon. These are commonly used in religions as well as in magical rituals.

The Ankh
This is an Egyptian character that stands for ‘life’. In the ancient days, only the Kings, Pharaohs and the Gods were allowed to posses them. It was believed that the person who possessed them had the power to giving life. It was commonly used to represent air and water and was commonly held to a patient’s lips to give breath. The design also invokes the sun rising with the combination of the cross and the circle.

Bast (the Cat Goddess)
This is a representation of the daughter of Ra who was known as the cat headed Goddess. Bast was associated with both childbirth and fertility and known also as the goddess of joy, dancing and music. She was believed to have been connected with the moon and the possessor of Oudjat (the eye of her twin brother known as Horus). She was the personification of the soul of Isis according to a myth and also known as the ‘Lady of the East’. To receive her blessings of music, love and dancing, figures of cats were offered to Bast.

The Crescent Moon
This is known to be symbol especially for the children and the mothers. It was used as the symbol of Isis in the ancient Egypt. Being the queen of Egypt, Isis was known as the protector of women, motherhood and the sick healer. She was also believed to rule magic.

The Eye of Horus
This is one of the most popular Egyptian symbols which designed to resemble a falcon’s eye. Horus was a falcon headed god and the son of Isis and Osiris. He was generally associated with health, vitality and regeneration. The right eye was white and means to represent the sun. The left eye was black and was believed to represent the moon. According to some myth, it is believed that Seth, the brother to Horus, killed Osiris and the two had a fight to the extent that Horus lost the left eye. Thoth used his magic to restore the eye.

The Falcon
In the Egyptian symbols, the Falcon was associated with Horus, the god of solar. He was believed to appear as the Pharaoh’s falcon or as the ‘Falcon headed go’. It was believed that he had the capability of seeing everything at once due to his right eye being the sun and the left one the moon. In the representation, the Falcon is seen wearing double crown.

There are thousands of Ancient Egyptian Art [http://www.egyptiansymbols.org/learn-about-the-transformations-of-egyptian-art-forms/] forms that one can go through. The internet offers adequate information on them. In addition to that, Egyptian symbols can be bought on leading online stores. Check out Egyptian Symbols [http://www.egyptiansymbols.org/] and their meanings for more information.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Definitions-of-Popular-Egyptian-Symbols&id=5610675] The Definitions of Popular Egyptian Symbols

Bright Blessings for a Magickal Week!

Cat

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please feel free to check out my websites!

Cat’s Treasure Trove: An Eclectic Collection of Jewelry and Gifts! http://catstreasuretrove.weebly.com

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/

Cat’s Bits for July 2- 8: The Horned Lizard or You Can Never Have Too Much Camouflage

Posted on July 2, 2017 by Cat

cropped-116_0076

Cat’s Bits for July 2- 8: The Horned Lizard or You Can Never Have Too Much Camouflage

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

July Events:

July 4: Independence Day USA

July 8: Celtic Month of Holly begins

July 9: Full “Blessing ” Moon at 12:07 am EST

July 22: Sun enters Leo at 11:15 am EST

July 23: New Moon at 5:46 am EST

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

horny toad

The Horned Lizard or You Can Never Have Too Much Camouflage

Our desert has a number a unique and interesting creatures and the “horny toad” definitely fits the bill. These little fellows are also sometimes referred to as “horned frogs” but in reality they are neither toads or frogs but lizards. They are well adapted to hot, dry desert climates. The spines that appear on it’s sides and back are actually modified scales that prevent loss of water through the skin. The horned lizard is a master of camouflage which helps them hide from predators or people with cameras. They are non aggressive and prefer to remain unnoticed if possible. They blend in almost perfectly with the ground unless startled then they run like heck and then stop. If this tactic fails to deter the predator then they puff up and spike out to appear larger and less appetizing. In western Colorado we have the Texas Horned Lizard which is one of eight species that can shoot a stream of blood (up to 5 feet) from the corners of their eyes. This confuses the predator and it doesn’t taste very good either, particularly to felines and canines.

After my most recent sighting of a small horned lizard last month I started wondering about this creature as a Spirit Animal. After doing some research I was disappointed to learn that all lizards are basically lumped together in one category. However, let’s start with the basic connection and along the way I’ll give you my perspective on the symbolism. The common theme for all lizards is the Dreamtime. This includes dreams during sleep ans well as your personal dreams. So how does this relate to our little friend the horned lizard? Camouflage. This skill makes him hard to see and we must look closely to “see” him. The same goes with our dreams. While not all dreams have a deep spiritual or mystical meaning there are those that do. You may not remember the entire dream but there is usually one thing that you brought out of the Dreamtime. A number, word, feeling, color, person, etc. The symbolism is camouflaged and in order to understand we must be willing to look closely.

The horned lizard also teaches us about protecting our space without aggressiveness or violence and in fact he is pretty non confrontational. His first reaction is to let things flow around him and not engage in “combat” and even going so far as to to remove himself from an unpleasant situation. However if he is pursued he can and will stand his ground by puffing up (gathering his courage) and making his “point”. Although he prefers not to horned lizard is more than capable of protecting himself if forced to do so. While his methods may seem odd or extreme they are merely more for the shock value. The final lesson that horned lizard has for us involves paying attention to our surroundings and the use of quick thinking if something goes awry. Always take in as much information as you can because you never know just what might be useful or help you out of a tight spot.

I hope that you have enjoyed our look at this unusual creature. As habitat dwindles we are seeing fewer of them. It would be a real shame to lose his wisdom altogether. be kind to Mother Earth and all her children!

Bright Blessings for a Magickal Week!

Cat

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please feel free to check out my websites!

Cat’s Treasure Trove: An Eclectic Collection of Jewelry and Gifts! http://catstreasuretrove.weebly.com

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/

Cat’s Bits for June 25- July 1: Black and White Moons

Posted on June 25, 2017 by Cat

cropped-116_0076

Cat’s Bits for June 25- July 1: Black and White Moons

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

July Events:

July 4: Independence Day USA

July 8: Celtic Month of Holly begins

July 9: Full “Blessing ” Moon at 12:07 am EST

July 22: Sun enters Leo at 11:15 am EST

July 23: New Moon at 5:46 am EST

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lady Moon rises and stretches; showing her perfection against the black velvet sky.

She caresses the diamond studded fabric of night and the stars begin to sing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Once in awhile I have the urge to share Native American legends and this is one of those weeks. I hope you enjoy it!

Black and White Moons : A Winnebago Tale as told by Cat

Long ago in the beginning, the good spirits and the evil spirits held a council to decide how the world should be divided between them. The first issue they decided was the question of how many moons there would be from one winter to the next.They asked for suggestions and the first creature to come forward was Turkey. He strutted forward drumming and fanned his tail feathers.

” I say there should be as many moons as there are spots on my tail feathers! Turkey declared.

The council discussed this but in the end voted it down, saying there were far too many spots on Turkey’s tail. Then Partridge strutted forward. He also suggested the number of spots on his tail. After counting the spots on the tail of Partridge the council decided that it was still too many. Then Cipmunk scampered in, throwing his tail over his head in the manner of chipmunks everywhere.

“I say let the year have as many moons as there are black and white stripes on my back!” heh squeaked.

The council discussed this and found it to be a good plan. They decided that the six black stripes would represent the summer moons and the six white stripes would represent the winter moons. And so it was settled.

But everyone knows that evil spirits are greedy. When they saw the bright white moon lighting up the sky they decided that they had not been give enough darkness. So the evil spirits began to eat away at the moon until nothing remained but darkness. But the great Earthmaker was not pleased. He had who had created the moon refused to see it destroyed, leaving the world dark for the evil spirits. So he devised a plan and began to recreate the moon a little each night. At the end of fourteen days the moon was again full and covered the earth with light. Then earthmaker rested. But while he rested the evil spirits once again ate away the moon until darkness once again covered the earth.

So the battle continues. The Earthmaker renewing the moon and the evil spirits eating it away. Cycle after cycle, year after year……….

Bright Blessings for a Magickal Week!

Cat

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please feel free to check out my websites!

Cat’s Treasure Trove: An Eclectic Collection of Jewelry and Gifts! http://catstreasuretrove.weebly.com

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/

Cat’s Bits for June 4 -10 Violet Lore

Posted on June 4, 2017 by Cat

cropped-116_0076

Cat’s Bits for June 4 -10 Violet Lore

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

June Events:

June 9: Full Moon at 9:10 am EST

June 10: Celtic Tree Month of Oak begins

Flag day: June 14

June 18: Father’s Day

June 21; Summer Solstice and Sun enters Cancer at 12:24 am EST

June 23: New Moon at 10:31 pm EST

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Violet

Down in a green and shady bed,
A modest violet grew;
Its stalk was bent, it hung its head
As if to hide from view.
And yet it was a lovely flower,
Its colour bright and fair;
It might have graced a rosy bower,
Instead of hiding there.

Yet thus it was content to bloom,
In modest tints arrayed;
And there diffused a sweet perfume,
Within the silent shade.

Then let me to the valley go
This pretty flower to see;
That I may also learn to grow
In sweet humility.

Jane Taylor (1783- 1824

THE PLANT

The tiny violet is a common flower, it’s small purple face dotting shady places from forests to gardens. The ancient Greeks began cultivating violets around 500 BC. There are between 400-500 species and the plant comes in a variety of colors, purple, blue, white, yellow and even gray. It has 5 petals, 2 at the top, 1 on each side and one on the bottom which is striped. The leaves are heart shaped, which may have led to the conclusion that it was a flower of love. Some violets can have a 2 year lifespan and all violets bloom for about 3 months. They like shaded areas, often moist but not always, and where they grow wild they grow in profusion.

In some locations the violet is considered a weed due to their aggressive growth patterns. In fact I remember at my parents condo how the ground under their back deck was loaded with wild violets, they even popped up in their lawn and occasionally in the flower beds. However every time I tried to transplant them they withered and died. Colorado is notoriously hard on shade loving plants.

Both Greeks and Romans used these plants for their herbal properties, wine and a natural sweetener. Today they are used (sparingly) as decorations in jellies and other food items. Violets are a laxative and are not for consumption in large quantities. However if you are interested in the healing properties of this plant you can visit: http://www.gardensablaze.com/HerbVioletMed.htm

VIOLETS IN MYTH

In Greek myth this small flower was a tribute to Io, one of Zeus’s lovers. Violets are also associated with the story of Attis. While out hunting he was killed and where his blood touched the earth violets grew.

Violets are also part of the great love story of Napoleon and Josephine. Evidently, the violet was Napoleon’s favorite flower and on the day that he and Josephine were married he gave her a bouquet of violets and continued to do on each wedding anniversary. When Josephine died the grieving husband placed a violet from the grave site and placed it in a locket, it is said that Napoleon wore that locket until his own death.

VIOLET CORRESPONDENCES & IN MAGIC

Magic: Protection, love / lust, wish granting, healing

Deities: Venus, Aphrodite, Astarte, Blodeuwedd

Names: Common violet, hooded violet, blue violet, sweet violet

Element: Water

To the Greeks, violets were a symbol of both fertility and love and they used the flowers to create love potions and wore them to induce sleep and calm the temper. In Rome, violets were worn because they were said to keep one from getting drunk.

In Christian symbolism the violet became known a symbol of modesty as well as humility and according Richard Webster, the term shrinking violet comes from this association.

Another folk spell says that if you wear a crown of violets that it will ward against headaches and light headedness. Or to heal wounds and stop evil spirits form making the wound worse you should wear a green sachet filled with violet leaves. but if you wear a necklace of violets you will hear only the truth.

To dream of violets is said to be a sign that an important area of your life is about to move forward, thing will improve and the hard work you have done is about to pay off. Another meaning is that you will marry someone younger than you.

As a magical name Violet (which means purple)would be good for a person wanting to increase their spiritual development or as a power name to increase self confidence.

Bright Blessings for a Magickal Week!

Cat

Sources: Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, Scott Cunningham

Flower and Tree magic, Richard Webster

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please feel free to check out my websites!

Cat’s Treasure Trove: An Eclectic Collection of Jewelry and Gifts! http://catstreasuretrove.weebly.com

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/

Cat’s Bits May 28- June 3: The Hanged Man: Knowing When to Surrender

Posted on May 28, 2017 by Cat

cropped-116_0076

Cat’s Bits for May 28- June 3

The Hanged Man: Knowing When to Surrender

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

May Events:

May 29: Memorial Day

June Events:

June 9: Full Moon at 9:10 am EST

June 10: Celtic Tree Month of Oak begins

Flag day: June 14

June 18: Father’s Day

June 21; Summer Solstice and Sun enters Cancer at 12:24 am EST

June 23: New Moon at 10:31 pm EST

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Hanged Man: Knowing When to Surrender

The image of The Hanged Man has been showing itself to me over the last month. In the past six months or so I have felt like I am in a holding pattern. In the last year a lot has happened my husband both lost and gained job. We lost two beloved pets, one of which was my bonded familiar. Fighting depression and hormone changes and watching my mom make the slow decline into the forgetfulness of old age. It’s been tough to deal with as anyone who has gone through any of this will know. I went through various stages of fear, anger, resentment, sadness and not to mention completely out of balance. There is after all only so much you can deal with before shutting down. I felt like I had no one to turn to, after all everyone has their own problems so why should they care about mine. So I turned to the only person who could help….. me.

I started by working through and letting go of the negative baggage. I found it was imperative to know and separate the things you CAN do something about as opposed to the things that you CAN’T. But as I continued to plow my way through I began to realize that the upsets and turmoil lost their punch. This made them easier to work with and heal. They became less important and I stopped letting them steal my power. It was unbelieveable how much energy was freed up by this process. Some days scraps of negative trash still pop up out of nowhere. “Work in Progress. Please excuse the construction trash!” The truth is that we are all a work in progress,. We do the best we can and keep working at making ourselves better. Then The Hanged Man showed up.

I have been a pagan for over 25 years and repetitive signs mean a lot. During this time I have received signs in stones, animals, weather and many other things but never as Tarot card symbol. When my husband asked me why I was sleeping in Tree Pose, I laughed it off. Then I realized that during the down times in dance class I was standing in Tree Pose. I knew there was a message here but couldn’t work out the connection. The third time’s the charm as they say and so it was. I was reading The Lady of Rivers by Philippa Gregory where the heroine Jaquetta, who has the powers of an oracle, pulls a tarot card for Joan of Arc. That card was The Hanged Man. He is there willingly, hanging in limbo. He is tied to the tree by his ankle but he can let himself go at any time, but for now he is surrendering. Letting life unfold around him naturally .Now I have a new word for “shutting down”, it’s surrender. Sometimes we must surrender ourselves to what’s going on and let things play out before letting ourselves go and moving on.

So what does The Hanged Man symbolize? Let’s take a look………………..

Reversal of values or attitudes / Patience / Surrender or Sacrifice / Deepening of experience /Peace / Independence /Understanding

This card is a symbol of gaining deeper experience, it’s a kind of initiation. We gain the most from this initiation by surrendering and simply letting ourselves go to the Divine Source. We allow ourselves to wait patiently, making no demands and having no expectations. We let of the need to be in control and it is through this that we gain understanding by letting go of the need to understand. Our reward freedom and peace which can only be found in surrender. This card invites us to examine our values, attitudes and priorities that we have in regard to life.

The signs to help us along our path are everywhere. We must be awake enough to see them, open minded enough to grasp the knowledge they bring, honest enough to see how it applies and courageous enough to take the necessary steps help ourselves.

Bright Blessings for a Magickal Week!

Cat

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please feel free to check out my websites!

Cat’s Treasure Trove: An Eclectic Collection of Jewelry and Gifts! http://catstreasuretrove.weebly.com

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/

Cat’s Bits for the Week of May 7-13: Silence of the Spirit

Posted on May 7, 2017 by Cat

KODAK Digital Still Camera

Cat’s Bits for the Week of May 7-13: Silence of the Spirit
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May Events:

May 10: Full Moon at 5:42 pm EST
May 13: Celtic Tree Month of Hawthorn begins
May 14: Mother’s Day
May 25: New Moon at 3:44 pm EST
May 27: Ramadan begins
May 29: Memorial Day

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
True silence is the rest of the mind,
and is to the spirit what sleep is to the body,
nourishment and refreshment.
– William Penn
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sometimes we want to get away from the busy and hectic city life to find solace in the raging waves of the ocean pounding on the rocks or the turbulent splashing of a bubbling waterfall. At other times we are amazed by the immovable silence of a mountain or the gentle caress of a river overjoyed at its union with the sea. The topography of a region speaks to each one of us, a secret language that people from all facets of life understand and relate to.

Stuti Garg

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Article for the Week: Silence of the Spirit

Goddess,
Guide me along the path to stillness.
Grant me the power to truly hear the wisdom within the silence.

What is silence? Webster’s says “Silence is the absence of sound or noise”. But is it? Even in moments of true silence there is noise, it’s soft but it’s there. That little hum as if someone is speaking to you on a frequency to high or fast to comprehend. I find my silence in nature surrounded by the energy of Mother Earth and Father Sky. Natural places are healing places that can do more for a person’s mental state that any doctor or drug. Each person is drawn to different locales and climates. For me it is the desert and the mountains. They fill and refresh my spirit, and they soothe my battered and weary old soul. I visit them to find my silence…………….

Here on the lake it is quiet, away from the noise and the hum of the city.
Although quiet may not be the right word because the air is alive with sound.
This is a different kind of silence, and the silence we find at home is nothing compared to this.

At home you can hear the distant hum of traffic, a train, people, white noise. Here there is only the voice of the wind, accompanied by the avian chorus and the whisper of the pines as they speak to each other in their native tongue.

As the cares of the mundane world fall away I am left with a peaceful feeling of solitude.
It overtakes me slowly and seems to move with the ebb and flow of the lake. It fills me with a rhythm like a distant heartbeat.

I am warm and content in the sunlight, watching it sparkle upon the water. Overhead
a heron soars on silent wings, lazily circling. I envy his view from up there and wonder how the sun and water appear to him, or if he notices them at all.

The energy I feel is healing, cleansing, silent, in a way that it is not in the confines of the city. heavily populated areas have a way of suppressing the natural energy of the earth and of nature. It changes it somehow and makes it less………………pure.

Sitting here in the silence that is not quite silence, sharing energy with the seen and unseen, I find myself pondering the question of silence.

True silence starts within the center of our being. It is the gift of hearing and seeing what goes on around us and within us in a new way. It grants us the ability to be one with the Divine Source and all of nature. To embrace true silence we must first learn to be still.

Breathe and be still…………
Open yourself to the source
Breathe and be still…………
Allow your senses to guide you
Breathe and be still…………
Breathe in the stillness
(C) LBolotin 2017

Bright Blessings for a Magickal Week!
Cat

======================================
Brought to you by:
The Desert Path: The dusty ramblings of a desert pagan. https://catsister.wordpress.com/
Sacred Spirals (a place for all paths to meet)
Visit our group on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/SacredSpirals/
And by:
Cat’s Treasure Trove …. an eclectic collection of jewelry & gifts! http://catstreasuretrove.weebly.com
This page may be shared with other Groups as long as NO changes are made and ALL Credits, Links, Photos and Copyrights remain intact. All Cat’s Bits Graphics are created and © 2007-2017

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: