The Desert Path

The Dusty Ramblings of a Desert Pagan

Cat’s Morning Bits for November 22, 2018

Posted on November 22, 2018 by Cat

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Cat’s Morning Bits for November 22, 2018

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

Blessings, Cat

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Bring forth the harp, and let us sweep its fullest, loudest string.
The bee below, the bird above, are teaching us to sing
A song for merry harvest; and the one who will not bear
His grateful part partakes a boon he ill deserves to share.

-Eliza Cook (1818-89)

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Coffey Talk: Numerology of Number 5

Our series on vedic numerology continues with the number 5 today.

Those who are born on days 5, 14, or 23 are ruled by the planet Mercury. Mercury is restless, and changeable, and these attributes are reflected in 5 people. 5’s are often risk-takers. They are witty and funny and good with words. They also have a passion for travel and adventure, and often live in foreign countries. They are curious people, and they want to learn about themselves and others. They study psychology, astrology and other sciences. They are scholarly, and they also love anything to do with art, especially poetry, as they can be quite poetic themselves. 5’s are independent thinkers and love to associate with both educated and wise people as well as young people who challenge them.

Mercury has a dual nature, and a mixed temperament. They can be hard to read, and indecisive as they are always weighing the pros and cons. However they can also be impulsive. They love change and are often impatient, avoiding long-term planning. They’re also set in their ways at home, and don’t like other people touching their stuff. 5’s tend to be intuitive and can read people easily. They can also use this trait to manipulate people.

The times when Mercury is in retrograde can be difficult on 5 people as they feel more vulnerable and sad. Wednesdays and Fridays are best for 5’s. Green, turquoise, light brown, grey, and white are all good colors for them.

When the number 5 is repeated it is usually a signal for change. When you see these numbers look around and see where you are, and think about where you want to be, and what you can do to get there.

Jewel, Chris Brown, and Laura Linney were all born on 5 days.

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MBG: 3 Simple Practices For More Gratitude & Compassion

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on what we are grateful for—family, friends, food, or health. Although we may have the intention to give thanks for things in our life, it can be difficult to know how to act on our intentions. How can we find gratitude even when we are not feeling so grateful?

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/3-practices-for-more-gratitude-and-compassion-this-thanksgiving

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Daily Good: The Meadow Across the Creek

At age twelve, Thomas Berry became acquainted with a meadow. That magic moment came to be normative for his thinking: that which preserves and enhances the meadow is good and that which opposes or negates the meadow is not good. He applies this life orientation to economic, political, educational, religious, etc. endeavors. He believes it is by experiencing lilies blooming in a meadow that we remember to coordinate our meaning with the meaning of our surroundings, orient our children to the center of the universe so they can orient themselves to their own centers, give voice to the mysteries of existence, become universe-referent, celebrate the universe, and ultimately, join the symphony called to heal the planet

http://www.dailygood.org/story/2143/the-meadow-across-the-creek-thomas-berry/

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Elephant Journal: 5 Mindful, Intimate Ways to Reconnect with our Spouse.

For the past 15 years, I’ve been in the most peaceful, reliable, and fun relationship of my life.
But our once-close connection has eroded.
It’s my second marriage. We’ve brought two children into the world. We’ve traveled the world.

And in some ways, we’ve grown worlds apart. The constant change and upheaval of raising a family has formed gulfs between us.

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2018/11/5-mindful-intimate-ways-to-reconnect-with-our-spouse/

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MNN: 5 ways being thankful can improve your life
Gratitude is the cornerstone of Thanksgiving, but research suggests it’s also an important building block for mental and physical health.

Some Thanksgiving traditions are best in small doses, like pie binges, chair naps and televised parade coverage. But thanks to a group of scientists at the University of California-Berkeley, the holiday’s namesake spirit of gratitude is quickly outgrowing its November context, fed by research that points to wide-ranging health benefits from a steady diet of thankfulness.

https://www.mnn.com/health/fitness-well-being/blogs/5-ways-being-thankful-can-improve-your-life

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EarthSky News: Full moon in Taurus on November 22

On November 22, 2018, despite the glare from the full or nearly full moon, you might be able to spot two major signposts in the constellation Taurus the Bull. Look first for the bright star Aldebaran, part of the V-shaped face of the Bull. Then look for the dipper-shaped Pleiades star cluster, in the Bull’s shoulder.

https://earthsky.org/tonight/beaver-moon-in-taurus-on-november-22

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Patheos-Pagan: Turning Towards Darkness During the Holidays

As Thanksgiving approaches, the Jolly Meter starts rising. The Jolly Meter is artificial, as the retail industry begins pushing holiday sales with increasing levels of excitement, and like clockwork, people soon follow suit. It’s only the third week of November, and I have already lost count of how many people have mentioned the holidays and “all they have to do”. Bah humbug to that.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/witchindeed/2018/11/turning-towards-darkness-during-the-holidays/

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Inner Journey:

Look for the gifts

“In school you get the lesson and then take the test…In life you take the test and then get the lesson.”
— Unknown Source

How is a problem in your life really an opportunity?

Problems invite us to go inside to recognize a bigger picture of ourselves and of life. This bigger picture brings meaning to what is unfolding.

When you feel trapped in a problem, see if you can shift your perspective. Ask yourself, “What am I being invited to learn from this situation?” The answer will always revolve around a quality or value, like gratitude, freedom, compassion, love, will, humour or acceptance. The answer will also always promote union rather than separation.

As soon as we find the meaning in our challenge, our resistance to it melts away. Often, awareness of the lesson is all that is needed to resolve the problem. If not, the awareness brings us courage and ways to work through it.

“The period of greatest gain in knowledge and experience is the most difficult period in one’s life.”
— Dalai Lama

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

Wow, was that you?!

I was just playing around with some time-space elements, inventing and stuff, when I thought I heard a familiar voice say, “Holy @#$%, Universe! Thank you so much for this day and every second of it! Exactly as it is, exactly as I am…”

Almost dropped my chocolate into my peanut butter.

You’re welcome, you are so welcome –

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Pinenut Encrusted Green Beans

This wonderful aromatic dish is easy to prepare and a nice change from your family’s normal vegetable routine. Perfect for holiday dinners as well.

https://www.thriftyfun.com/tf33617048.tip.html

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Magical Correspondences for Thursday

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

Incense: Cinnamon,Henbane Nutmeg and Sage

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

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

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Daily Wisdom
November 22, 2018

Passion

“How little do they know human nature, who think they can say to passion, so far shalt thou go, and no farther!”

-Sarah Scott (1750)

It’s probably a very good thing that we can’t stop our true passions! Passion is exactly what drove Einstein, Madame Curie, Mother Teresa, and many more people who have had a positive impact on our world! Passion helps us to progress; it keeps us going despite the invariable obstacles. Every great achievement began with someone’s passion, and was carried forward by that momentum.

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Beliefnet: Unusual Depression Triggers

You will be surprised what can trigger depression.

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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 November 21, 2018

Posted on November 21, 2018 by Cat

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Cat’s Morning Bits for November 21, 2018

Blessings, Cat

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Valleys lay in sunny vapor,
And a radiance mild was shed
From each tree that like a taper
At a feast stood. Then we said,
“Our feast, too, shall soon be spread,
Of good Thanksgiving turkey.”
-George Parsons Lathrop (1851-98)

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MBG: How To Give Your Home An Energetic Makeover This Fall, According To Feng Shui

In feng shui philosophy, the season of autumn is related to the metal element. Metal, water, wood, fire, and earth make up the five “phases,” or elements, that Taoists and Buddhists observe to relate the cycles of nature with the patterns in our homes, bodies, and lives. Many different ancient cultures have their own five-element system, such as the Native Americans, Tibetans, and Hindus.

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/feng-shui-home-energy-cleanse

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Daily Good: In the Footsteps of Kabir

Possibly the most-quoted poet-saint of north India is Kabir, the illiterate, 15th century mystic who belonged to a class of weavers in the ancient city of Varanasi. Kabir was a ‘nirguni’, one who believes in a formless divinity that can be discovered both within and without. With whip-like wit, his poetry scorns outward rituals and displays of piety exhorting his listeners to seek the divine through self-interrogation, and to recognise the impermanence of manifest reality. Read on for an extract from ‘The Bijak of Kabir’, one of the most important anthologies of the Eastern tradition of Kabir’s verses.

http://www.dailygood.org/story/2134/in-the-footsteps-of-kabir-linda-hess-and-sukhdev-singh/

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Elephant Journal: 12 Yoga Poses to improve Digestion & Core Strength

Having a strong core enables us to stand tall, sit straight, be centered, and walk our talk with purpose.
Often, when we think of “core strength,” we think exclusively of the abs. But core strengthening is about much more than attaining a toned six-pack. We must also pay attention to the back of the core, as well as the oblique abdominals—the muscles on the sides of the lower torso.

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2018/11/12-yoga-poses-to-improve-digestion-core-strength/

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MNN: ‘Alice’s Restaurant’: It’s a Thanksgiving music tradition

Thanksgiving is full of traditions. With a few exceptions, the food on my Thanksgiving table looks almost exactly like the food that was on my parent’s Thanksgiving table year after year. It’s tradition. When my son was 3 years old, he made paper pilgrims and Native Americans in the shape of paper drumsticks at school. I proudly taped them onto the china cabinet. The next year, he found them and taped them back up. Voila — tradition.

https://www.mnn.com/food/healthy-eating/blogs/alices-restaurant-traditional-thanksgiving-music

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EarthSky News: Come to know the Pleiades, or 7 Sisters

November is the month of the Pleiades star cluster. On these November nights, the Pleiades cluster shines from nightfall until dawn. It’s low in the east at nightfall, high overhead around midnight and low in the west before dawn. Locate it by the bright star Aldebaran this evening, or any evening soon.

https://earthsky.org/tonight/november-is-the-month-of-the-pleiades

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Patheos-Pagan: Irish-American Witchcraft: Be Your Own Spiritual Leader

There’s an aspect of modern paganism that has always puzzled me and recently I think I’ve started to understand a bit about why. It’s not a judgement, just an observation about how different formative experiences create different approaches to things. I often see the wider pagan community looking for and to spiritual leaders and texts as if they are ultimate authorities. And that has always puzzled me somewhat

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/agora/2018/11/be-your-own-spiritual-leader/

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Inner Journey:

FOLLOW THROUGH AND COMPLETE

“Activity is not achievement. It is not enough to rush about beginning a lot of things and keeping busy. A well-spent life is one that rounds out what it has begun.”
— Eknath Easwaran

Intention and the words we speak are powerful. When we say we are going to do something, we set energy in motion. When we fail to act or complete our intention, we drain our energy. We lose our power.

We would be wise to choose our words carefully — to really mean what we say and to honour the commitments we have made.

“Genius begins great works; labor alone finishes them.”
— Joseph Joubert

“Good to begin well, better to end well.”
— English proverb

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

Yikes! The holidays are upon us and I have no idea what to get for 8 billion people this year! Do you have any idea how difficult it is shopping for people who already have dominion over all things?

There’s NOTHING I can give them, that they can’t give to themselves.

Tallyho,

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Persimmon Daikon Salad

It’s persimmon season and I love it! Persimmons are such a versatile fruit. They can be used in savoury dishes, turned into sweet desserts, or eaten by themselves. This Japanese style persimmon daikon salad is so easy to make, even though it is probably a bit out of the ordinary. It’s bright and punchy and goes great on the side of any dish. If you can’t find daikon, use any radish

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Persimmon-Daikon-Salad.html

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Magical Correspondences for Wednesday

Intentions:Rules healing, 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
November 21, 2018

Passion

“The fiery moments of passionate experience are the moments of wholeness and totality of the personality.”

-Anais Nin (1968)

Passion is often associated with fire. It feels “hot.” It feels like it could consume us. We need to pay attention to the things that we feel passionate about. Our passions are tools which help us to learn and grow. When we are pursuing our passions we feel alive, we are living in the moment, taking it all in and savoring each experience. They are the times when we are more of who we really are, and we know it.

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Beliefnet: 7 Things That Happen When You Take Responsibility For Your Life

Too many of us simply drift through our lives, allowing fate to take us where it may. But a life without commitment is a life wasted, and so it’s important to live on purpose, and to make intentional choices every single day.
Read more at https://www.beliefnet.com/inspiration/7-things-that-happen-when-you-take-responsibility-for-your-life.aspx#ReFtttvwxKi0eT31.99

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

I invite you to check out my websites!

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

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

Cat’s Morning Bits for November 20, 2018

Posted on November 20, 2018 by Cat

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Cat’s Morning Bits for November 20, 2018

Blessings, Cat

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Bending above the spicy woods which blaze,
Arch skies so blue they flash, and hold the sun
Immeasurably far; the waters run
Too slow, so freighted are the river-ways
With gold of elms and birches from the maze
Of forests.
-Helen Hunt Jackson (1930-85)

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Pioneer Thinking: Healthy Holiday Mocktails

Festive parties do not have to wreak havoc on your health during the holidays. Replace cocktails with a healthy alternative — mocktails. By ditching the alcohol for nutrient-rich fruit, herbs and fermented ingredients, you can create nutritious holiday drinks that will not only look stunning, but also nourish your body to boot.

https://pioneerthinking.com/healthy-holiday-mocktails

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MBG: 8 Tension-Relieving Yoga Postures To Soothe The Body & Mind

As our culture is deeply intertwined in and consistently hunching over our beloved devices, it is no surprise that the modern-day human complains of not only aching backs but also scattered brains. The physical and mental stress is detrimental to our health as a whole—both the body (organs, muscles, bones, discomfort/disease) and mind (anxiety, worry, guilt, fear).

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/9-tension-relieving-yoga-postures-to-soothe-the-body-and-mind

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Daily Good: Gardening and the Secret of Happiness

“By a shower of gifts and a heavy rain of lessons,” a good mother loves her children. This is how author and botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer came to the awakening of true happiness as she realized that the time spent and lost in her garden were the happiest moments of her days. Like her children lost in the wonder of digging in the soil, Kimmerer saw what was most important in her life as she was picking beans from within the “spiraling vines of her tepee trellis.” Kimmerer awakened to the beauty of being on this earth as part of a loving relationship with the Otherwith Mother Earth and all she nurtures. Read and listen to more of Kimmerer’s thoughts on nature.

http://www.dailygood.org/story/2142/gardening-and-the-secret-of-happiness-maria-popova/

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MNN: Wyoming billionaire pledges to protect 30% of the planet by 2030

If you follow global conservation and don’t already know the name Hansjörg Wyss, there’s a good chance you soon will.
Born in Bern, Switzerland, the 83-year-old entrepreneur and businessman first made his fortune in the Belgian steel industry before establishing the U.S. division of Synthes, a multinational medical device manufacturer best known for producing internal screws and plates used to help mend fractured bones. (The company has since been acquired by Johnson & Johnson.)

https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/blogs/wyoming-billionaire-pledges-protect-30-planet-2030

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EarthSky News: Moon near Uranus on November 20

Tonight – November 20, 2018 – as the moon travels in front of the constellations of the zodiac, it’ll appear in the general direction of the planet Uranus. Both the moon and Uranus are near the border of the constellations Pisces and Aries tonight. Although the bright moon will drown out Uranus from view tonight, the moon will mark the approximate position of Uranus in the starry sky.

https://earthsky.org/tonight/moon-near-uranus

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Patheos-Pagan: Kitchen Witchcraft: Garden Magic

It doesn’t matter if you only have a window sill with a pot plant on it, a small city terrace, a playing field or several acres, you can always work with the magic in your garden. The kitchen extends into the garden anyway and a Kitchen Witch will often be found pottering around in amongst the plants.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/beneaththemoon/2018/11/kitchen-witchcraft-garden-magic/

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Inner Journey:

HONOUR YOURSELF

“I’d gone through life believing in the strength and competence of others; never in my own. Now, dazzled, I discovered that my capacities were real. It was like finding a fortune in the lining of an old coat.”
— Joan Mills
Take a moment to stop and think about what you give to the people and life around you. Don’t think about what you’re not doing right. Look instead at all you do that is a blessing. Many of us continually beat ourselves up for not doing or being enough. Butimagine for a moment that you are great just as you are. Feel the relief this brings! Now open to the possibility that this is not a daydream. It’s true! Believe it!
“People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking that they can do things. When they believe in themselves they have the first secret of success.”
— Norman Vincent Peale

“We cannot rise higher than our thought of ourselves.”
— Orison Swett Marden

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

An old soul is not an old soul by virtue of age, but for their patience, self-measure, and happy tears for no apparent reason.

Hmmmmm,

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: One Bowl Cinnamon Banana Muffins

There are a lot of delicious ways to use up overripe bananas. An added advantage of the recipe is the ability to prepare the batter using one bowl, making cleanup easy. Then just sit back and indulge

https://www.thriftyfun.com/One-Bowl-Cinnamon-Banana-Muffins-1.html

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Magical Correspondences for Tuesday

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

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

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

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

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Daily Wisdom
November 20, 2018

Passion

“It is the soul’s duty to be loyal to its own desires. It must abandon itself to its master passion.”

-Rebecca West (1985)

Something within us helps us to find our passions. It’s not like a conscious choice, like looking through a catalog and picking a hobby or something. We are drawn to things that we feel passionate about. We can’t help but move towards things that give us that drive, that energy, that life force that is so all-encompassing. We have the desires, and the passions that we have for a reason. And pursuing our passions is one of the most important things we can do while we’re living our lives.

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Beliefnet: How Does Responsibility Relate To Peace?

Responsibility is a companion of freedom. When we take responsibility for our actions, we are free to act. We are free to act when we know that we can accept the consequences. When the consequences are unfavorable, we accept the challenge to take action toward a favorable direction.
Read more at https://www.beliefnet.com/love-family/how-does-responsibility-relate-to-peace.aspx#MfK7DO1BvU9l5Ffh.99

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

I invite you to check out my websites!

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

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

Cat’s Morning Bits for November 19, 2018

Posted on November 19, 2018 by Cat

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Cat’s Morning Bits for November 19, 2018

Blessings, Cat

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Besides the Autumn poets sing,
A few prosaic days
A little this side of the snow
And that side of the Haze.
-Emily Dickinson (1830-86)

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Tetraktys: Zen, Stoicism and How to Deal With Difficulties

We all face difficulties from time to time. Nobody can go through life without having to deal with all sorts of tough decisions and situations, and thus, we need to learn to face those. Sadly, it’s not always easy, and therefore, one might feel overwhelmed when the time comes to actually respond to those situations if he has no clue on how to approach them.

https://www.thetetraktys.com/2018/zen-stoicism-and-how-to-deal-with-difficulties-a-short-guide/

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MBG: Why You Need To Release Your Emotions — For The Sake Of Your Health

How many times have you heard this advice about dealing with painful emotions? “Stop being so sensitive. Suck it up and move on.”
When others tell you to bury your feelings, it makes you question yourself and the messages your body is trying to send to you. Think about how many times today you’ve attempted to push away a painful feeling by scrolling through social media, bingeing on Netflix, or using food, alcohol, or addictive substances to avoid emotions.

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/suppressing-your-emotions-physical-health

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Karma Tube: The Man on a Mission to End Loneliness

Mike Niles had a high paying job in London, but felt that something was missing from his life. He gave up his lucrative position to start a charity, b:Friend, to help to eliminate loneliness among isolated elders. In Niles’ home town of Doncaster, a quarter of its elderly population is classified as “chronically lonely” by Age UK. An idea that took root after he visited an elderly neighbor who was lonely has led to what he calls the best job he has ever had. The companionship among the befrienders and their older neighbors show the true meaning of community.

http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=8240

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Elephant Journal: Not today, Gratitude: when Being Real is better than Being Grateful

Sometimes gratitude is hard.
Yesterday a friend of mine texted me a link to an online gratitude course, with the reminder: “We all need gratitude!” and my immediate thought was, “Nope, not today we don’t.”
And I closed that text like a cyber hot potato.

I felt a fleeting twinge of guilt. Because practicing gratitude is so good, and so important, and so helpful.
I know this.

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2018/11/not-today-gratitude-when-being-real-is-better-than-being-grateful/

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MNN: 5 animal tracks you can identify in your yard

Have you ever wondered who visits you backyard when you aren’t paying attention? Or perhaps you don’t suspect anyone at all … though you’d probably be surprised to know how many critters come visiting your yard or the park down the street.
If you’re interested in growing your skills as a naturalist, learning animal tracks is an excellent place to start. There are a handful of common species likely to hang out in most suburban and even urban yards, which means you might not even have to leave your own neighborhood to gain skills in animal tracking.

https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/blogs/animal-tracks-you-can-identify-your-own-yard

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EarthSky News: Use Big Dipper to find star Capella

Tonight – or any autumn or winter evening – if you can see the Big Dipper, use its famous pointer stars (which point to Polaris, the North Star) to find the bright golden star Capella in the constellation Auriga the Charioteer. The top two bowl stars point toward Capella, as we depict on the chart at the top of this post.

https://earthsky.org/tonight/big-dipper-bowl-points-to-bright-star-capella

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Patheos-Pagan: What Fictional Witches Can Teach Us About Pursuing What We Really Want

The Book of the Beast is a plot device in The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. It exists in that fictional universe and nowhere else.1
About three episodes into The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina a thought occurred to me. If I had seen this show when I was 16 or so, I would have been saying to myself “where is that book? I want to sign it!”
And a moment later I realized that thought was revisionist history. I would have done no such thing.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbeckett/2018/11/fictional-witches-teach-what-we-really-want.html

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Inner Journey:

LIFE AS A MIRROR

“Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.”
— C.G. Jung

We get clues about our unconscious programming if we watch our reactions, responses, feelings and thoughts about other people and events. Ask yourself: How do I judge or stereotype people? What pushes my buttons? What makes me angry or fearful or sad?

The outer incidents that trigger these reactions in me simply MIRROR my own nature. If I didn’t have beliefs around the issues that upset me, where would my reactions come from? If I didn’t have some internal reference, I wouldn’t react at all.

When outer events spark a reaction, we need to look inside to explore what’s going on.

“We discover in ourselves what others hide from us and we recognize in others what we hide from ourselves.”
— Vauvenargues

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

Next time you feel fear either right after a major decision or just before one, it usually means you’re exactly where you need to be.

Nice,

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Recipes Using Acorn Squash

There are many delicious ways to use this nutritious fall vegetable in casseroles, soups, pies and filled with stuffing

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Recipes-Using-Acorn-Squash.html

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Magical Correspondences for Monday

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

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
November 19, 2018

Passion

“Without passion man is a mere latent force and possibility, like the flint which awaits the shock of the iron before it can give forth its spark.”

-Henri Amiel (1821-1881)

Passion is such a primal human trait. We all know what it is, what it feels like. Whether it is passion for a person, place, or activity, passion is what carries us forward to new and greater heights of life experiences. And it is through these experiences that we learn more about ourselves, and are able to express ourselves. Our passions show us who we are, and what we can do.

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Beliefnet: Lessons From the Peanuts Gang

Has it really been over 60 years since we first laid eyes on Charles M. Schultz’s first “Peanut” comic strip? What started as a comic strip in the 1950s became a legacy to readers young and old. Our favorite baldy Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and Pigpen will always be the bedrock in pop culture. As the holidays approach us, one can’t help to think of “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” as part of your tradition and “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”
Read more at https://www.beliefnet.com/inspiration/galleries/lessons-from-the-peanuts-gang.aspx#dToLsvKRAZTJqXzM.99

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

I invite you to check out my websites!

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

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

Cat’s Morning Bits for November 16, 2018

Posted on November 16, 2018 by Cat

Cat’s Morning Bits for November 16, 2018

Blessings, Cat

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My long two-pointed ladder’s sticking through a tree
Toward heaven still,
And there’s a barrel that I didn’t fill
Beside it, and there may be two or three
Apples I didn’t pick upon some bough.
But I am done with apple-picking now.
-Robert Frost (1874-1963)

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Spiritual Unite: Sigil Magick: The Beginners Guide
Hello witches! Here’s a new article in my series “Types of Magick”. This week, I am sharing with you my knowledge on sigil magick. This post contains all you need to know to create effective sigils right away. This article is separated in two part. The first part introduces the theory behind sigil magick and the second part is a detailed practical guide.

https://www.thetetraktys.com/2018/sigil-magick-beginners-guide/

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MBG: Social Media Really Does Cause Depression. Here Are 6 Ways To Make It A Healthier Habit

We’ve known for a while that social media use is linked to symptoms of depression and loneliness, primarily by causing FOMO-related anxiety (i.e., fear of missing out on experiences with your friends, or at least knowing what everybody’s up to) or by making us constantly compare our lives and bodies to those of random internet people.

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/proof-that-social-media-causes-depression-and-what-to-do-about-it

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Daily Good: K9s for Warriors: Together We Stand

Sometimes it’s not the human who rescues the dog, but the dog who rescues the human. K9s for Warriors, a program based out of Ponte Verda, Florida, was established in 2011 to help soldiers experiencing PTSD and other war trauma disabilities. The dogs are trained to be service dogs and address symptoms in their owners such as anxiety, isolation, depression, and nightmares, often serving in conjunction with traditional treatments like medication and psychotherapy. To date, the program has rescued more than 850 dogs and 440 military service members, with an astounding 99% program success rate. “Service dogs are prescriptions on four legs,” says owner Shari Duvall. Read on to learn more about the inspiring stories behind the soldiers and their canine warriors

http://www.dailygood.org/story/2140/k9s-for-warriors-together-we-stand-scott-smith/

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MNN: 10 cultural variations on Thanksgiving

Harvest festivals around the globe

Thanksgiving is defined by oversized meals with family or close friends (not to mention football games, parades and other modern additions). Historians still debate the origin of American Thanksgiving, but the most common narrative attributes it to early North American pilgrims, who held feasts to celebrate successful harvests. The concept of celebrating agricultural success dates back much further than the 17th century. Ancient Greeks, South Asians, and Celts all marked harvest holidays.

https://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/photos/thanksgiving-and-harvest-festivals-around-world/harvest-festivals-around-globe

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EarthSky News: Leonids peak mornings are November 17 and 18

The famous Leonid meteor shower is expected to be at its best in the predawn hours on Saturday, November 17, and Sunday, November 18, 2018. We give the nod to Saturday, November 17, because there will be less moonlight to intrude on the show.

https://earthsky.org/tonight/radiant-point-for-leonid-meteor-shower

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Patheos-Pagan: Of Light & Shadow: Anubis, God of the Modern Age

I can’t tell you exactly how old I was the first time I encountered Anubis, but I was rather young. I was likely around 5 years old, and it was a chilly, but pleasantly sunny autumn day. My grandfather and I were out on one of our nature walks, this time in a wooded area just a few miles outside of our small town in the Midwest.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/agora/2018/11/of-light-and-shadow-anbuis/

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Inner Journey:

SLOW DOWN AND ENJOY

“Adopt the pace of nature, her secret is patience.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Racing through life is very stressful. If we stay in high gear too long, we lose our ability to shift down. And when we’re stressed, we can’t access happiness, appreciation, fun, compassion, generosity, awareness of beauty and other wonderful qualities.High stress also triggers negative emotions like frustration, impatience, anger and fear.

Life has so much to offer if we will slow down and truly experience it. We must always remember that we are the ones in control of the accelerator. We CAN choose to brake.

“Slow down and enjoy life. It’s not only the scenery you miss by going too fast — you also miss the sense of where you are going and why.”
— Eddie Cantor

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

To put a few “non-things” into a time, space, and material perspective, it’s as if all the love that now bathes the world comes from a heart 7 zillion times larger than your sun.

Your “guardian angel” is so gigantic, her halo would reach the moon.

And your ultimate happiness is so assured, we’ve been celebrating your life since the day you were born.
Yeah, you insisted –

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower Soup

This recipe came from a magazine called Ohio Valley. The original did not call for chicken and only really had onion and cauliflower. We added mushrooms, red pepper, and chicken, and we found it much improved.

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Roasted-Cauliflower-Soup-3.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
November 16, 2018

Laughter

“A good laugh is sunshine in a house.” -William Makepeace Thackeray

Norman Cousins discovered personally, and wrote eloquently, about the healing power of laughter. Laughter is good medicine. When we laugh, we can’t help but feel good. We feel good around people who laugh, people who enjoy life and can express themselves so freely.

Here’s a little story I heard that might get you giggling:

A wealthy man dies and goes to Heaven. He brings with him all of his earthly belongings when he meets St. Peter at the gate. St. Peter says: “Oh, my… you know, you can’t bring any of that in here.” The man pleads his case, he worked so hard for everything and can’t bear to leave it all behind. Finally St. Peter agrees to discuss the situation with his boss, who says, “Fine, let him bring in just one suitcase.” The man is overjoyed! He goes through everything and loads up one of his largest bags and presents it to St. Peter for inspection. It is filled to the brim with solid gold bars. St. Peter looks at his quizzically and says: “You brought pavement?”

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Beliefnet: 5 Effective Tips to Teach Kids to Be Grateful
Being grateful is an important skill for children. It can be taught by parents and teachers who make it a priority, say authors Jeffrey J. Froh and Giacomo Bono in their book “Making Grateful Kids:…

Cat’s Morning Bits for November 14, 2018

Posted on November 14, 2018 by Cat

CMB canva sm

Cat’s Morning Bits for November 14, 2018

Blessings, Cat

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O wild West Wind, thou breath of Autumn’s being,
Thou, from whose unseen presence the leaves dead
Are driven, like ghosts from an enchanter fleeing.

-Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)

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Spiritual Unite: Chakra Colour Meaning And Its Significance

Chakra colours are how the specific energy frequencies of the seven primary chakra energy centres express themselves in the human aura.
By looking at these unique to each person aura colours and how they appear around the body, we can find out a lot about the chakras and the metaphysical health of the individual.

https://www.spiritualunite.com/articles/chakra-colour-meaning-and-its-significance/

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Daily Good: How to Break the Loop of Our Destructive Patterns

When we’re afraid, we often find ourselves caught up in habitual ways of responding that fail to bring us the relief we seek. “To keep repeating a baleful pattern without recognizing that we are caught in its loop is one of life’s greatest tragedies; to recognize it but feel helpless in breaking it is one of our greatest trials; to transcend the fear of uncertainty, which undergirds all such patterns of belief and behavior, is a supreme triumph.” In a beautiful response to Vincent Van Gogh’s 1884 letter to his brother on fear and risk-taking, novelist Nicole Krauss sheds light on how rather than being governed by our fears, we can recognize the opportunity to step outside of them and ultimately overcome them

http://www.dailygood.org/story/2129/how-to-break-the-loop-of-our-destructive-patterns-maria-popova/

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Coffey Talk: Numerology of Number 4

As we continue our series on Vedic Numerology, today we take a look at the number 4.

Those born on day 4, 13, 22, or 31 in any month are ruled by the number 4, and by Rahu. Rahu is one of the two nodes of the moon, the other being Ketu. Rahu is the north node of the moon, it is active and works primarily on mental energy. Rahu can bring confusion and dissatisfaction. It can also great talent in the arts, painting, writing and editing. It can cause 4 people to be suspicious or secretive, and this can cause problems in their family life. They often have the ability to see the unseen. They make good spies and detectives.

Rahu has been described by astrologers as smoky. It has no shape on its own and is always changing, and when present it obscures the shape of what is nearby. Rahu gives 4 people intelligence, courage, and patience.

4 people are prone to lots of changes in their lives. They get used to this, and take it in stride. However, this tends to make them uncertain, so they often seek the advice of others. 4 people root for the underdog. This is probably because they often face opposition and can relate. They are flexible, easily adjusting themselves in social situations. They can be stubborn and unconventional, but they are also efficient and organized. They like to make a difference; they advocate for social and environmental reform, and they often go into politics. They are not afraid of facing opposition and can often be selfish. They need to take care not to isolate themselves or they could get depressed.

Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays are generally good days for 4 people. Blue, grey and khaki are favorable colors.

There is a saying that when 4’s appear, angels are near. 4 is all about safety, security and stability. When you see 4’s repeated it’s basically the universe saying to you “don’t worry, I’ve got you.”

Glen Campbell and Jack Nicholson were both born on April 22 – a 4 day in a 4 month!

coffeytalk.com

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MNN: Ancient Egyptian tomb turns out to be crawling with mummified cats

It’s no secret that ancient Egyptians had an abiding fondness for cats. Many gods were depicted with unmistakably feline features. And strict laws forbade anyone from harming a cat.
But there seems to have been a bit of a legal loophole for turning cats into mummies.

https://www.mnn.com/green-tech/research-innovations/stories/cat-mummies-egypt-tomb

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EarthSky News: Moon, Mars pair up November 14-16

These next several evenings – November 14, 15 and 16 – highlight the moon and Mars coming quite close together on the sky’s dome. Look first for the moon, and you can’t miss the red planet Mars, which shines more brilliantly than a 1st-magnitude star all month long. For us in North America, the moon will swing closest to Mars for the month on the evening of November 15

https://earthsky.org/tonight/moon-mars-pair-up-november-14-16

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Patheos-Pagan: You Are Your Own Spiritual Authority

Witch, Pagan, Neo-Pagan, Wiccan, and so on. These are all labels, titles, words to allow us to fit ourselves into little boxes. They are also words that create an us vs. them mentality. “I am not a Wiccan.” “You shouldn’t capitalize neopagan.” And my ever favorite and constant argument, “Well, actually, that tradition you practice in is only XX years old.” We spend a lot of time telling other people what does or doesn’t make their practice legit. We waste a lot of energy ‘othering’ those whose practices aren’t in perfect alignment with our own.

Personally I’m rather tired of it.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/thewitchesnextdoor/2018/11/you-are-your-own-spiritual-authority/

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Inner Journey:

QUESTION YOUR INTENTION

“Men are more accountable for their motives, than for anything else ….”
— Archibald Alexander

Why are you doing what you are doing?

Throughout the day, continually ask yourself about your underlying motivation. Are you doing what you are doing for selfish, manipulative or fearful reasons, or in honest service? Maybe you will see that much of your activity lacks purpose. This is a great way to become more conscious.

Your intention and motives are fundamental to the results you receive. Set high intentions and your life will blossom.

“A good intention clothes itself with power.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

Do you know what tickles me?

Besides you.

For every single time-space manifestation, from catching a cold to the accumulation of massive personal wealth, a shifting of props and persons must be choreographed from here with mind-boggling precision. Taking into account not only all of your other thoughts, beliefs, and expectations as they change from moment to moment, but those of everyone else on the planet, so that not one of you, not one, is ever denied getting exactly what you think about.

And to answer the often unasked question, “Yes, you can still have it all, no matter what others in your life might think, say, or do.”

Talk about multi-tasking –

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Spicy Asian Watermelon Salad

Packed with nuts, avocados, tomatoes and watermelon, this dish is loaded with great textures. It’s also full of vitamins and healthy fats. I didn’t use an oil in the dressing because of the balance you get from the cashews and avocado. This savoury and spicy twist on a melon salad makes a great side for any meal. Give it a try!

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Spicy-Asian-Watermelon-Salad.html

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Magical Correspondences for Wednesday

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

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
November 14, 2018

Laughter

“Life can be wildly tragic at times, and I’ve had my share. But whatever happens to you, you have to keep a slightly comic attitude. In the final analysis, you have got not to forget to laugh.”

-Katharine Hepburn

Most of comedy is built on tragedy – the slip on the banana peel, the pie in the face, the big misunderstanding. And we laugh because we can relate – we’ve been there. In movies there can only be so much drama before we’re offered up some “comic relief.” Writers know that audiences need a break in their emotions or they just go numb. Yes, life is tragic, and life can also be hysterically funny. Have you ever had one of those things happen where you say: “We’re going to look back on this and laugh one day?” We all have. And you know what? That day does come when we laugh – and it feels good.

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Beliefnet: Flipping the Coin on Your Problems
I have an approach to problems, which I refer to as The Coin Theory. I consider problems to be like a coin. One side of our problem is the heads side, and the other side is the tails side. The tails side…
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/

Cat’s Morning Bits for November 13, 2018

Posted on November 13, 2018 by Cat

CMB canva sm

Cat’s Morning Bits for November 13, 2018

Blessings, Cat

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November, month of mornings, misty-bright
With golden light-
Month when the many-tinted leaf
Lies thick upon the moss below;
While to and fro
The breezes moan, as if in grief.

-Mortimer Collins (1827-76)

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Tetraktys: Sea Magick 101: The Ultimate Guide

Hello witches! This article is part of the “Types of Magick” blog series. Today, I will share with you my knowledge on sea magick, also called sea witchcraft and sea witchery. First, I will explain the principles of sea magick. Then, I will teach you how to start practicing it. Finally, I will share with you my best practice tips.

https://www.thetetraktys.com/2018/sea-magick-ultimate-guide/

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Daily Good: Proust On Memory and Madeleines

“But when from a long-distant past nothing subsists, after the people are dead, after the things are broken and scattered, taste and smell alone, more fragile but more enduring, more immaterial, more persistent, more faithful, remain poised a long time, like souls, remembering, waiting, hoping, amid the ruins of all the rest; and bear unflinchingly, in the tiny and almost impalpable drop of their essence, the vast structure of recollection.” In this celebrated literary exploration of our evocative, mysterious relationship to memory, Marcel Proust vividly describes the torrent of experience unleashed by one ‘memorable’ bite of a madeleine, and his attempt at decoding the process

http://www.dailygood.org/story/2136/the-madeleine-excerpt-from-remembrance-of-things-past-marcel-proust/

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Did You Know?
The Pilgrim’s thanksgiving feast in 1621 occurred sometime between September 21 and November 1. It lasted three days and included 50 surviving pilgrims and approximately 90 Wampanoag Indians, including Chief Massasoit. Their menu differed from modern Thanksgiving dinners and included berries, shellfish, boiled pumpkin, and deer.

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Elephant Journal: A Manifesto for Real Men.

We are men faced with a challenging moment in time, but men have always faced challenging moments throughout time—with courage, with clarity, and with conviction.
Now is no different.
We are men of the moment.

I am not concerned with the colour of your skin, with your politics, or your religion. I am not concerned with your nationality, your preferences, or your sexuality.
My concern is that you are a good man, a real man. My concern is for my brother.

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2018/11/a-manifesto-for-real-men/

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MNN: Can pets get seasonal affective disorder?

During the shorter, darker days of winter many of us turn lethargic and gloomy. But seasonal affective disorder (SAD) isn’t just a human affliction. The animals we share our lives with may also suffer from something akin to the “winter blues.”
Here’s what experts know about SAD in pets and what you can do to alleviate it. (Hint: Some of the same things that counteract seasonal depression in people also work for our four-legged companions.)

https://www.mnn.com/family/pets/stories/can-pets-get-seasonal-affective-disorder

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EarthSky News: Venus spectacular in morning sky

In late October 2018, the planet Venus transitioned out of the evening sky and into the morning sky. Now that it’s well into November 2018, this dazzling world has reclaimed its position as the morning “star” and will be shining at its brightest best in the morning sky in late November and early December.

https://earthsky.org/tonight/venus-spectacular-in-morning-sky

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Patheos-Pagan: The Thread of Commonality

Working in a witch shop (aka “metaphysical book store” as I name it for the fearful ones), I meet so many curious people. They come into the store, if they are not familiar with it, a bit overwhelmed, because they are a bit nervous, a bit thrilled, and enter with a whole lot of questions.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/witchindeed/2018/11/the-thread-of-commonality/

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Inner Journey:

BE AWARE OF YOUR THINKING

“There is a thought in your mind right now. The longer you hold on to it, the more you dwell upon it, the more life you give to that thought. Give it enough life, and it will become real. So make sure the thought is indeed a great one.”
— Ralph Marston

Most of our self-talk comes unconsciously from our subconscious. Yet every thought that exists in our subconscious got there through a conscious decision to accept that thought.

We need to become conscious of our self-talk so we can at will choose to replace negative beliefs with positive ones. We have the power to choose an identity we love, but we need to do the work. The process of changing our subconscious beliefs requires awareness, diligence, consistency and repetition.

“Man is made or unmade by himself. In the armory of thought he forges the weapons by which he destroys himself. He also fashions the tools with which he builds for himself heavenly mansions of joy and strength and peace.”
— James Allen

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

Baby souls see what’s wrong.

Young souls see what’s right.

And old souls know better.

I know you,

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Spicy Cauliflower

Cutting cauliflower into small, flat segments ensures even cooking and well-distributed flavours. I’ve added curry, coriander, cumin, and chili lime powder for a really nice kick. This is easy to prepare and makes a big impression.

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Spicy-Cauliflower.html

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Magical Correspondences for Tuesday

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

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

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

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Daily Wisdom
November 13, 2018

Laughter

“Man is the only creature endowed with the power of laughter; is he not also the only one that deserves to be laughed at?”

-Lord Greville

And why does man deserve to be laughed at? Because we take ourselves entirely too seriously! Think about it – we’re running around with our ear glued to a cell phone, dashing through parking lots, stressing about deadlines. All the while missing what’s really important in and all around us. And we do this daily. We can’t help it, we’re creatures of habit! Well, it’s time to get into some new habits, and we can start by realizing just how silly we really are!

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Beliefnet: 4 Things You Should Be Doing to Boost Your Brain

Most people want to be smart. They want to be able to state with honesty that they are intelligent. They also want to be able to do the things that intelligent people can do. They want to be able to remember things rather than rely on sticky notes and reminders on their phone. They want to be able to solve problems on their own without assistance from other people. They want, in short, to be able to make the best use possible of their brains.
Read more at https://www.beliefnet.com/wellness/4-things-you-should-be-doing-to-boost-your-brain.aspx#AibGrxPx0qo0AdQx.99

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

I invite you to check out my websites!

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

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

Cat’s Morning Bits for November 12, 2018

Posted on November 12, 2018 by Cat

CMB canva sm

Cat’s Morning Bits for November 12, 2018

Blessings, Cat

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No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees,
No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds,
-November!

-Thomas Hood (1799-1845)

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

In total, there are twelve realms of existence or dimensions of consciousness. Most of the time, we are only really concerned with our physical world but there are higher realms of existence that we encounter during our journeys. So let’s take a look at those higher realms of existence and how they differ from the 3D world we experience

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

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MBG: Weekly Horoscope: Everything You Need To Know To Crush This Week’s Tricky Transits

November 12, 2018

On Thursday, Mars enters Pisces, and daydreaming will ensue.
Just when you thought you were going to plow through those end-of-year work assignments, you could get diverted to the Enchanted Forest…or onto some other random but fascinating quest. This Thursday, November 15, make-it-happen Mars floats into dreamy Pisces until December 31.

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/november-12-18-2018-horoscope-including-a-mercury-retrograde

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Daily Good: Unity and the Power of Love

“Unity holds the essential vision that we are one living, interconnected ecosystem — a living Earth that supports and nourishes all of its inhabitants. If we acknowledge and honor this simple reality, we can begin to participate in the vital work of healing our fractured and divisive world and embrace a consciousness of oneness that is our human heritage. This is the opportunity that is being offered to us, even as its dark twin is constellating the dynamics of nationalism, tribalism, isolationism, and all the other regressive forces that express ‘me’ rather than ‘we.'” Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee shares more in this thoughtful essay.

http://www.dailygood.org/story/2133/unity-and-the-power-of-love-llewellyn-vaughan-lee/

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Elephant Journal: Enlightenment doesn’t Care how you Get There.

Some years back, I came across a most empowering gem that gave me permission to expand.
It’s from the spiritual author, Thaddeus Golas:
“Enlightenment doesn’t care how you get there.”

This bit of wisdom profoundly changed my relationship with a well-worn spiritual path.

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2018/11/enlightenment-doesnt-care-how-you-get-there/

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MNN: This Snail Wrangler will make you love snails

If we’re lucky, we find a passion in life — something that endlessly interests us and about which we care about deeply. Marla Coppolino is such a fortuitous person: Snails are her passion.
It started early — she was just 7 years old when she found tiny land snails in the backyard of her New Jersey home. “Some of them were not much bigger than a pin head — they were teeny-tiny. I

https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/blogs/snail-wrangler-marla-coppolino-make-you-love-snails

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EarthSky News: Find Hercules between 2 bright stars

Tonight, try locating one of the coolest constellations up there. The constellation Hercules the Kneeling Giant can be seen ascending in the east-northeast on these Northern Hemisphere spring evenings. You can find Hercules between two brilliant stars: Arcturus and Vega. The chart at the top of this post shows the sky for around 9 to 10 p.m. local time (10 to 11 p.m. Daylight Time), when the constellation Hercules, and the two stars so essential for finding it, are well up in the northeastern to eastern sky.

https://earthsky.org/tonight/two-stars-lead-to-constellation-hercules

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Patheos-Pagan: Wicca: Not as Stupid as You Think

I think it was Jason Mankey, quoting his wife, who quipped that, “Hating Wicca is the new black.” Between the latest incarnation of Wicca vs. Traditional Witchcraft (minus the sassiness of Cochrane and Valiente that originally made it interesting) and “Wiccanate” privilege, the Wiccan heyday seems to be over.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/oathbound/2015/08/wicca-not-as-stupid-as-you-think/

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Inner Journey:

SPIRITUAL PATHWAYS

“In any way that men love me in that same way they find my love: for many are the paths of men, but they all in the end come to me.”
— Song of God, Bhagavad Gita

Spirit – the life force – exists in everything. It follows, then, that ANY path, any encounter is spiritual if we have the awareness to see it as such. Going deeper, going higher, emptying, connecting, believing or disbelieving, bouncing off the bottom,experiencing the heights, in pain, in ecstasy ….

Too often, we search afar for our own purpose when it is in our lives all the time, waiting for us to express it more openly. Bring greater awareness to each encounter and situation in life. Tune in to what you are inspired to do, who you are inspired tobe. Your answers are waiting for you to pay attention – every moment!

“…focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.”
— Greg Anderson

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

Low days exist to remind you that you still have choices.

High days exist to remind you of how fast you rebound… among other things.

Boing,

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Glazed Pomegranate Pork Ribs

I came up with this recipe when I was actually craving a tart apple pork dish, but had no apples. Luckily, we have an abundance of pomegranates sitting around, so pomegranate pork was to be made. I can now report that this has my tart apple pork beat.

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Glazed-Pomegranate-Pork-Ribs.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

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
November 12, 2018

Laughter

“Laughter is the lightning rod of play, the eroticism of conversation.” -Eva Hoffman

Look in any women’s magazine and you’ll find some sort of survey that ranks “sense of humor” as one of the most attractive qualities in a person. We love to laugh, and we love people who can make us laugh! Laughter builds wonderful connections between us. We let down our guard and allow ourselves to just enjoy the moment.

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Beliefnet: Easy Ways to Practice Gratefulness

When you’re running late to work, your child spit up on your new shirt, and the phone is ringing off the hook it can be hard to find any silver lining. Instead, frustration and anger build that ultimately gets taken out on those around you. When you’re stuck in moments like these, it can be hard to see any positive forces.
Read more at https://www.beliefnet.com/wellness/easy-ways-to-practice-gratefulness.aspx#XVvvQS4voSh12QQ4.99

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

I invite you to check out my websites!

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

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

Cat’s Morning Bits for November 9, 2018

Posted on November 9, 2018 by Cat

CMB canva sm

Cat’s Morning Bits for November 9, 2018

Blessings, Cat

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Dry leaves upon the wall,
Which flap like rustling wings, and seek escape;
A single frosted cluster on the grape
Still hangs-and that is all.

-Sarah Chauncey Woolsey (1835-1905)

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Daily Good: The Gift of Threshold Moments

Like moments of joy, awe, or bliss, threshold moments are experiences to notice, appreciate, and treasure “. . . where sound trails off into silence, time disappears into timelessness, and the known world is engulfed by the great mystery.” It is not the full moments sometimes but the empty ones that can touch us deeply and profoundly. The gaps rather than the events that give us a glimpse of great mystery. The transitions, shifts, or pauses rather than the activities themselves that make us realize how much we don’t know and cannot comprehend. In this beautiful and profound essay, Sam Keen shines a spotlight on threshold moments, celebrating and elevating them, like jewels of wisdom.

http://www.dailygood.org/story/1835/the-song-of-the-wood-thrush-sam-keen/

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Elephant Journal: We Can’t Truly Love Ourselves until we Stop Saying these 2 Words.

Two words.
They flash in my head like dayglow in the dark and roll off my tongue at rapid speed, like a wakeful child barreling out of bed to the tree on Christmas morning.
Of the thousands of words that I could pull together to respond to benign actions, such as walking in when someone is walking out, unintentionally making someone wait, interrupting someone, walking in front of someone, taking “too long” to get my change out, or making a thoughtful decision at the café counter, it is these two words that spring to mind like a jackrabbit on a sunny spring day.

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2018/11/we-cant-truly-love-ourselves-until-we-stop-saying-these-2-words/

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MNN: 6 conspicuous facts about mandarin ducks

There are any number of birds out there with beautiful plumage, but many pale in comparison to the male mandarin duck.
The bird has a red bill, a purple breast, a crest of black, green, blue and copper and golden-orange wings. Basically, male mandarin ducks are an array of beautiful colors that you can’t help but notice.

https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/stories/mandarin-ducks-facts

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EarthSky News: Tips for watching North Taurid meteors

This weekend is a good time to look for North Taurid meteors. This long-lasting shower – which, with its sister shower, the South Taurids – runs throughout late October and November. The nominal peak of the North Taurids is on the night of November 11-12, 2018. Generally, this shower is at its strongest for several hours, centered around midnight local time. This weekend, a waxing crescent moon sets at relatively early evening, providing moon-free skies for the expected peak date of the North Taurid meteor shower.

https://earthsky.org/tonight/peak-night-for-n-taurid-meteor-shower-on-november-1112

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Patheos-Pagan: Herbal Magick : Pomegranates and Persephone

“Lost in Hell,-Persephone,
Take her head upon your knee;
Say to her, “My dear, my dear,
It is not so dreadful here.”
― Edna St. Vincent Millay, Collected Poems
There are many herbs and botanicals associated with the abundance of the summer months, but when we look towards the colder half of the year the list dwindles

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/voodoouniverse/2018/01/herbal-magick-pomegranates-and-persephone/

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Inner Journey:

REALLY BE THERE FOR ANOTHER

“Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. You can see that when you think how the friends that really listen to us are the ones we move toward, and we want to sit in their radius as though it did us good, like ultraviolet rays.”
— Brenda Ueland

How well do we communicate with others? Often, when we are interacting with others, our attention in both speaking and listening is focused on meeting our own needs.

Our communication skills improve when we can open to be aware of the needs of the other person. When we listen, we can release the filters that serve our own needs for security and receive the message with our compassionate heart. And when we speak, we can choose words that the listener is able to receive. True communication happens when we harmonize with the other individual.

“So when you are listening to somebody, completely, attentively, then you are listening not only to the words, but also to the feeling of what is being conveyed, to the whole of it, not part of it.”
— Jiddu Krishnamurti

“The first duty of love is to listen.”
— Paul Tillich

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

Do you really need someone else’s permission, acceptance, wink, or nod, or are you ready to give these to yourself?

I say, “Ready. Now.”

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Spiced Pecans

Spiced pecans offer the perfect balance of spicy and sweet. If you haven’t had this variety, here are some recipes to try.

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Spiced-Pecans-Recipes.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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Daily Wisdom
November 9, 2018

Beauty

“At some point in life the world’s beauty becomes enough. You don’t need to photograph, paint or even remember it. It is enough.”

-Toni Morrison

We always seem to be striving for MORE. More money, more time, more patience, more love… when we have so much and don’t even know it. Or if we know it in the intellectual sense, we don’t really believe it enough to live it. We have all of this abundance and more available to us – it is ours to claim and enjoy and celebrate! The beauty of our world, God’s world, is in us and all around us at all times. At some point, we come to respect that, and appreciate it, and know that it is plenty enough.

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Beliefnet: 7 Ways to Bring Adventure Back Into Your Life

Human beings are creatures of habit. This can be a good thing, as the habits we form can allow us to autopilot through the more tedious aspects of life.
Read more at https://www.beliefnet.com/inspiration/7-ways-to-bring-adventure-back-into-your-life.aspx#fHe6AQ1XeTthmQ30.99

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

I invite you to check out my websites!

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

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

Cat’s Morning Bits for November 8, 2018

Posted on November 8, 2018 by Cat

CMB canva sm

Cat’s Morning Bits for November 8, 2018

Blessings, Cat

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The geese honked overhead
I ran to catch the skein
To watch them as they fled
In a long wavering line.

-May Sarton (1912-95)

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MBG: Well Read: 5 Books You Won’t Be Able To Put Down This November

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

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/best-books-november-2018

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Daily Good: The Art and Discipline of Seeing Compassionately

“Prophets and sages throughout the generations have all agreed on this one point: how you see determines what you see and don’t see. So if we want to heal the divisions in our country and our homes, we have to learn a new way of seeing.” In this excerpt from his book “Practice Makes PURPOSE: Six Spiritual Practices That Will Change Your Life and Transform Your Community”, Paul Schroeder offers insight on how to develop compassionate seeing

http://www.dailygood.org/story/2031/the-art-and-discipline-of-seeing-compassionately-c-paul-schroeder/

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Elephant Journal: How we Clean Up Toxic Masculinity.

There is no question that masculinity is caught in a tumultuous tempest. But I believe the social and psychological storm we endure now will be the catalyst for a sea-change, transforming yesterday’s man into something rich and strange.

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2018/11/how-we-clean-up-toxic-masculinity/

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MNN: These stores will be closed on Thanksgiving

Six years ago, big-box giant Walmart surprised the country by announcing that its Black Friday sales would start on Thanksgiving night. Die-hard Black Friday shoppers cheered the decision, while die-hard turkey day enthusiasts claimed the move destroyed the meaning of the Thanksgiving holiday and forced both employees and customers to abandon their families.

https://www.mnn.com/money/green-workplace/blogs/more-stores-close-thanksgiving-online-shopping

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EarthSky News: Go young moon hunting November 8-10

Today – November 8 – you might (or might not) spot the young moon in your western sky after sunset. Generally, it’s difficult to catch a pale, whisker-thin waxing crescent moon that’s less than 24 hours old (24 hours past new moon). If you miss the young moon at dusk November 8, try again on November 9 or 10. Day after day, a wider crescent moon will stay out later after sunset and will be easier to catch at early evening.

https://earthsky.org/tonight/go-young-moon-hunting-november-8-10

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Patheos-Pagan: The Mists of Avalon

I didn’t know what else to name this entry – it had to be “Mists of Avalon” because that is exactly what I would like to share with you all today. This is not an article about the book with the same name in which a fictional account of the King Arthur story from the perspective of the women in it is recounted-

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/adamantinemuse/2018/11/the-mists-of-avalon/

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Inner Journey:

EGO’S TRICKS

“One of the great dangers of transformational work is that the ego attempts to sidestep deep psychological work by leaping into the transcendent too soon. This is because the ego always fancies itself much more ‘advanced’ than it actually is.”
— Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson

The Tibetan teacher, Chogyam Trungpa, warned of the trap of spiritual materialism. He says we must be ever diligent to spot the ego’s use of the spiritual journey to further its own ends.

We may think it’s spiritual to yearn for divine connection. And yet, if the longing is to fill an emptiness inside, just how does this differ from the one who yearns for money or possessions to fill the inner void? Do we look to our spiritual practices asproof of our evolved consciousness or as protection against fears?

Any time we use spiritual disciplines to maintain our identity and security, we are not yet on the path of genuine spiritual development.

“Enlightenment is ego’s ultimate disappointment.”
— Chögyam Trungpa

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

At first we thought it would be really cool if only your “positive” thoughts became the things and events of your life.

But then we couldn’t think of any things or events that wouldn’t eventually be considered “positive,” so we decided to just leave you “turned on” all the time.

B-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z…

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Spinach and Cheese Appetizers

Well, I have spent this weekend trying out some new recipes for my upcoming holiday get togethers. This one I found and of course tweaked it here and there to my own liking and I have to say, they came out pretty tasty!

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Spinach-and-Cheese-Appetizers.html

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Magical Correspondences for Thursday

Incense: Cinnamon,Henbane Nutmeg and Sage

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

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Daily Wisdom
November 8, 2018

Beauty

“Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful; for beauty is God’s handwriting – a wayside sacrament. Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every fair flower, and thank God for it as a cup of blessing.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Beauty is everywhere, all around an in each one of us. Yet where do we put our attention? On what we have decided is “wrong?” On what we think needs to be “fixed?” There is beauty in these things, too – if we would only look for it. There is a lesson, a gift, a treasure to be found in every situation and circumstance. We can acknowledge it or turn away from it – but it is there nonetheless.

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Beliefnet: 10 Things That Steal Your Joy

Here are ten habits that start off small but grow to choke the joy out of your life. Avoid these and regain your strength…
Read more at https://www.beliefnet.com/wellness/galleries/10-things-that-steal-your-joy.aspx#cjPJxFOERWUmLweA.99

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

I invite you to check out my websites!

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

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

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