The Desert Path

The Dusty Ramblings of a Desert Pagan

Cat’s Morning Bits for July 17, 2019

Posted on July 17, 2019 by Cat

CMB green

Cat’s Morning Bits for July 17, 2019

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

Blessings, Cat

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Deep in the greens of summer sing the lives
I’ve come to love. A vireo whets its bill.
The great day balances upon the leaves;
My ears can hear the bird when all is still.
-Theodore Roethke (1908-63)

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Spiritual Unite: Does Rejecting Actually Equal Accepting?

They say if we want to change something within ourselves, we must first accept it. How do we accept something we do not like? Also, is it necessary to accept it?
We know that what we resist persists. So what happens when we are not happy with a component of our lives and how do we move into a state of acceptance so we can embrace it, grow from it, and release it for good?

https://www.spiritualunite.com/articles/does-rejecting-actually-equal-accepting-guest-post/

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ThoughtCo: Make a Loaf of Lammas Bread

Bread is the ultimate symbol of the Lammas season. After all, once the grain is harvested, it is milled and baked into bread, which is then consumed. It is the cycle of the harvest come full circle. The spirit of the grain god lives on through us in the eating of the bread. In many traditions, a loaf of special bread is baked in the shape of a man, to symbolize the god of the harvest.

https://www.learnreligions.com/lammas-lughnasadh-bread-recipe-4588964

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Daily Good: Vesuvius at Home: The Power of Emily Dickinson

“For years I have been not so much envisioning Emily Dickinson as trying to visit, to enter her mind, through her poems and letters, and through my own intimations of what it could have meant to be one of the two mid-19th-century American geniuses, and a woman, living in Amherst, Massachusetts. Of the other genius, Walt Whitman, Dickinson wrote that she had heard his poems were “disgraceful.” She knew her own were unacceptable by her world’s standards of poetic convention, and of what was appropriate, in particular, for a woman poet. Seven were published in her lifetime, all edited by other hands; more than a thousand were laid away in her bedroom chest, to be discovered after her death.

http://www.dailygood.org/more.php?n=8130

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Elephant Journal: Crack Open your Heart & Ease your Journey with these Mercury Retrograde Affirmations.

Mercury is in Retrograde until July 31st and a little bit after that due to the after shadow effect.
So, during this time, many of us have been feeling the pull of our core wounds. While we enter a truly tender phase and are inclined to run from the pain, we must remember that when Mercury is in retrograde it begs us to look into our dark corners to understand these wounds and shed light on where our ego has trapped us

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2019/07/heart-opening-grounding-affirmations-for-this-mercury-retrograde-july-31st/

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A Little Bit of Besom Lore

1) Never give away a used broom. It bring bad luck to you and the person you gave it to.

2) You should never sweep your house at night. The faeries and spirits that live in and around your home find it an insult.

3) To keep ghost out of your home, you should lean your broom against the door jamb.

4) If you drop a broom on the floor, you will have company.

5) If you unmarried and step over a broom that is on the floor, you will never marry.

6) The first items brought into a new home should be a new broom and a loaf of bread. It will bring good luck.

7) Never sweep dust out of the front door with your broom. All the good luck will be swept out with the dust!

8) Taking a broom across the water brings bad luck.

9) You should never lean a broom against a bed or the person who sleeps on that side will die.

10) Never hit someone with a broom, it will make them lazy.

collected from various internet resources

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MNN: Remembering Apollo 11 and the giant step that changed everything
It’s been 50 years since the Apollo 11 mission and the first step on the moon. Here’s a look back in photos.

Fifty years ago, a rocket carrying the Apollo 11 crew blasted off from Earth on its historic mission to land humans on the moon. The mission launched from Cape Kennedy on July 16, 1969, carrying Commander Neil Armstrong, Command Module Pilot Michael Collins and Lunar Module Pilot Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin.

https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/space/blogs/remember-apollo-11-photos

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Daily Tarot: The Pope

It’s important to stick with the plan already in place and be loyal to those who are already committed to you. You’re not so much part of a team as you are the leader of a group of people who will do what you ask of them if you only treat them properly and look after their needs, especially the tiny personal ones.

astrology.com

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EarthSky News: Watch for a daytime moon

In the coming mornings, watch for a daytime moon. No matter where you are on Earth, look generally westward after sunrise to see the moon in a blue daytime sky, assuming yours is clear.
Why can you see the moon in the daytime now?

https://earthsky.org/tonight/daytime-moon-this-upcoming-week

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Today’s Deity: Rhiannon, Horse Goddess of Wales

In Welsh mythology, Rhiannon is a horse goddess depicted in the Mabinogion. She is similar in many aspects to the Gaulish Epona, and later evolved into a goddess of sovereignty who protected the king from treachery.

https://www.learnreligions.com/rhiannon-horse-goddess-of-wales-2561707

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Patheos-Pagan: How to Hold a Solo Sacred Cacao Ceremony

It is a powerful experience to share the cacao with a group of people but don’t feel you must be in a group to experience the medicine of cacao. As cacao is linked with opening the heart and emotions, you might prefer to hold a ceremony alone in familiar surroundings. When you begin to open up and explore your emotions, you never know how wide your heart will open

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/awaywiththewitch/2019/01/how-to-hold-a-solo-sacred-cacao-ceremony/

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Inner Journey:

THINK FOR YOURSELF

“I think the reward for conformity is that everyone likes you except yourself.”
— Rita Mae Brown

Where do you need to think for yourself?

When we begin to cultivate awareness of our thoughts and emotions, we begin to see just how much we live according to other people’s and society’s beliefs and actions. Don’t get upset by this. Just get in touch with how you really think and feel inside and begin to express your authenticity.

“Once in a while it really hits people that they don’t have to experience the world in the way they have been told to.”
— Alan Keightley

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

If summer resisted fall it wouldn’t really be summer or fall.

Better to celebrate the season you’re in… especially those of your wonderful life.

Everything keeps getting better,

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Watermelon Dessert Pizza

A fun dessert or party treat that looks like pizza but is sweet!

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Watermelon-Dessert-Pizza.html

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Magical Correspondences for Wednesday

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

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

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

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Daily Wisdom
July 17, 2019

Sharing

“Friends share all things.”

-Pythagoras (580? – 500? B.C.)

True friends share things without even realizing it sometimes. When one of us feels joy, that joy is shared by our friends – we are happy for each other! Whether it is good news or bad news, it feels good to share it with a friend, with someone who will feel the emotions and help us through it.

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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

I invite you to check out my websites!

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

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

Cat’s Morning Bits for July 16, 2019

Posted on July 16, 2019 by Cat

CMB green

Cat’s Morning Bits for July 16, 2019

Blessings, Cat

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St. Swithin’s Day if thou dost rain, For forty days it will remain.
St. Swithin’s day if thou be fair, for forty days ’twill rain nae mair.
-Proverb

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Spiritual Unite: Astral Travel In Dreams – Direct Line To Light Body

Astral travel in dreams is a psychic ability that we all have access to once we have awakened our light body.
It allows us to travel the astral plane while our bodies are asleep

https://www.spiritualunite.com/articles/astral-travel-in-dreams/

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ThoughtCo: Setting Up Your Lammas (Lughnasadh) Altar

It’s Lammas, or Lughnasadh, the Sabbat where many Pagans choose to celebrate the beginnings of the harvest. This Sabbat is about the cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth — the grain god dies, but will be reborn again in the spring. Depending on your tradition, you may also observe this Sabbat as the day of the Celtic craftsman god, Lugh.

https://www.learnreligions.com/setting-up-your-lammas-lughnasadh-altar-2562171

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Daily Tarot: The Hanged Man

It’s possible that a trust has been violated or a relationship may be hurt by a broken promise, or you sense that this might happen soon. Until you know for sure who and what might be involved, take no action, although the discreet question asked of a trustworthy person might be all right, though still risky. Make no accusations but respect your own self-interest.

astrology.com

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MBG: Everything You Need To Know About Tonight’s Capricorn Full Moon & Eclipse

Remember those New Year’s resolutions you started mapping out in late December of last year? Maybe…and then again maybe not! But this Tuesday, July 16, you may hit a few of those milestones under the light of the Capricorn full moon. Look back particularly to January 5, 2019, the date of the Capricorn new moon solar eclipse. Any seeds planted then could come together now—or be up for a midyear review. Have you put in the sweat equity to reap the rewards for your hard work?

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/full-moon-in-capricorn-and-lunar-eclipse-july-2019-everything-you-need-to-know

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Elephant Journal: I Found the Divine in my Own Beating Heart. {Poem}

I carried a myth
for many years,
handed to a little boy
sitting in a church pew
every Sunday morning.
This world
was not to be trusted.

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2019/07/god-is-in-the-red-blooded-beat-of-every-human-heart-matthew-foley/

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MNN: How Dutch bus stops are helping bees
Utrecht finds a clever way to keep the bees buzzing

One city in the Netherlands is expanding biodiversity in a buzz-worthy way.

About 316 bus stops in Utrecht have been planted with sedums as a way of helping honey bees and bumblebees in the city.

https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/videos/dutch-bus-stops-help-bees

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EarthSky News: Partial lunar eclipse on July 16-17

On the night of July 16-17, 2019, much of the world can watch a partial eclipse of the full moon. This will be the last time that the moon sweeps through the Earth’s dark umbral shadow until the total lunar eclipse on May 26, 2021.

https://earthsky.org/tonight/partial-lunar-eclipse-on-july-16-17

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Patheos-Pagan: Out of the Broom Closet

When you meet people, do you tell them you’re a witch? Is it included in your descriptors, along with human, mom, friend, job title, and assorted hobbies/passions? Writer, baker, artist, tarot reader and more?

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/witchindeed/2019/07/out-of-the-broom-closet/

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Inner Journey:

TRUST IN ABUNDANCE

“Once, when we were discussing a world peace project with my teacher, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, somebody asked him, ‘Where is all the money going to come from?’ And he replied without hesitation, ‘From wherever it is at the moment.'”
— Deepak Chopra

How can you open to greater trust that you’ll always have what you need?

Fear, doubt, anxiety and disbelief all serve to repel abundance from us. Faith, love and gratitude for the gifts of our lives keep energy and abundance flowing. The more we trust in our well being, the more it will be realized.

“Manifestation is an act of trust. It is the soul pouring itself out into its world, like a fisherman casting a net to gather in the fish he seeks; with each cast properly made, we will bring what we need to us, but first we must hurl ourselves into the depths without knowing just what lies beneath us.”
— David Spangler

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

Usually, the best way to find the yellow brick road of your life is to start out on the dusty, dirt one.

And then let yourself become so preoccupied in making the best of it, having fun, and challenging yourself that you actually stop paying attention to the path.

Until, one day, not so long from now, with a new best friend, wearing cool clothes, feeling awesome, a teeny tiny bit taller, fresh from a WOW vacation, looking for the path you just left, you’ll notice that it’s 24 carats… baby.

And you’ll wonder for a long, long time, sipping on some exotic fruit drink, when the transformation actually took place…

Tripping,

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Garlic Basil Scallops

Scallops are one of my favourite meats. One serving has around 100 calories and 20 grams of protein. Skip spending huge bucks on them at the restaurant and make them yourself at home. Here is a surefire way to cook them perfectly in a pan in just minutes.

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Garlic-Basil-Scallops.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
July 16, 2019

Sharing

“Sharing what you have is more important than what you have.”

-Albert M. Wells, Jr.

Sharing is not limited to material things. We can share our memories, experiences, and knowledge for example. The beauty in this is that we aren’t giving those things away – we couldn’t if we tried! But they are so valuable, and they become even more valuable, when we share them other people. The most simple advice can be such a treasure. The fact that we are open and willing to share what we have learned can make this journey more beneficial for all of us.

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Natural Living Ideas: 21 Out Of The Ordinary Ways To Use Fresh Mint Leaves

Delightfully fragrant and relatively low maintenance, mint is a joy to grow – earning its place in any kitchen herb garden.

Mint can, however, be a little invasive and spreads quickly – so don’t be surprised if you end up with an abundance of this zesty herb at the end of the growing season. Never fear though, your bounty need not go to waste! Here’s everything you need to know about harvesting and using homegrown mint.

https://www.naturallivingideas.com/21-ways-to-use-mint/

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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 July 15, 2019

Posted on July 15, 2019 by Cat

CMB green

Cat’s Morning Bits for July 15, 2019

Blessings, Cat

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Very good in the grass to lie
And see the network ‘gainst the sky,
A living lace of blue and green,
And boughs that let the gold between.
-Katharine Tynan Hinkson (1861-1931)

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Spiritual Unite: Hawk Spirit Animal – Take The High Road

Your hawk spirit animal appears in your life when you are optimistic, you need a higher perspective, or you would benefit from a more systematic approach.
This is a powerful spirit animal that flies into your awareness during spiritually active times in your life.

https://www.spiritualunite.com/articles/hawk-spirit-animal/

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ThoughtCo: Pagan Prayers for the Lammas Sabbat

At Lammas, sometimes called Lughnasadh, it’s time to begin reaping what we have sown throughout the past few months, and recognize that the bright summer days will soon come to an end. Use these simple seasonal prayers to celebrate Lammas, the early grain harvest.

https://www.learnreligions.com/lammas-prayers-and-blessings-4057769

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Daily Tarot: The Chariot

If you’ve been working hard toward some goal or specific result, you could see victory today. Feel like a winner, project the confidence of a winner, and perhaps behave as though you have already won. Keep your spirits high no matter what happens and be pleased with how many people are happy for you. No matter how huge or trivial, it is still a big step forward.

astrology.com

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MBG: Heads Up: There’s A Full Moon AND Mercury Retrograde This Week

The Capricorn full moon on Tuesday is an invitation to check in with your goals.
Do you remember those New Year’s resolutions you made way back at the beginning of 2019? Or maybe some wishes you set in motion with the Capricorn solar eclipse on January 5?

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

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Wise Woman Herbal: Herbal and Home Remedies That Prevent Memory Loss
by Susun S. Weed

Even a single family member who is senile or afflicted with Alzheimer’s is enough to make anyone dread the possibility. Since women have always lived longer than men, the Ancient Grandmothers have a thing or two to tell us about how to keep our memory sharp until the day we die (at 100+).

http://www.wisewomanmentor.com/wise-woman-ezine/7773646

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Elephant Journal: 6 Truth-Bombs to help Unearth your Best Self.

How do we find the way to our truest selves?
How can we navigate our lives to achieve joy and satisfaction?

Happiness seems to be the ultimate goal, but it’s a challenge for most of us. Sadly, we waste a lot of time waiting for it, or pursuing dead ends.

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2019/07/6-ways-to-truly-unearth-your-best-self-kimberly-valzania/

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MNN: 14 things you didn’t know about goats

Baby goats are as cute as puppies. When you see one, you just want to pick it up and cuddle it and take it home. In fact, researchers found that goats are more like dogs than we thought. They’ll look people in the eye when they’re frustrated with a task and could use a little help, according to a study published in Biology Letters.

https://www.mnn.com/family/pets/stories/things-you-didnt-know-about-goats

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EarthSky News: Moon goes by Saturn night of July 15

On July 15, 2019, the almost-full waxing gibbous moon and the planet Saturn pair up together on the sky’s dome, staying out nearly all night long. Saturn just passed its yearly opposition on July 9. It’s now at its brightest and best for all of 2019. Although the July 15 moon will probably appear full to the eye, it isn’t truly full until the night of July 16

https://earthsky.org/tonight/moon-goes-by-saturn-night-of-july-15-16

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Patheos-Pagan: The Power Of The Witches’ Mind: Self-Deception, The Imagined Other, And Sympathetic Magick

Through our powerful witches’ minds, we create magick both in the form of an actual poppet or of the entirely energetic variety when we create mighty illusions of ourselves and others. Like sympathetic witchcraft, our thoughts create beings of ourselves and others that may have little to do with truth. Whether the poppet is a physical creation or entirely an energetic thought-form, sticking needles and otherwise giving attention to false poppets leads to trouble.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/keepingherkeys/2019/07/the-witches-journey-self-deception-the-imagined-other-and-servitors/

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Inner Journey:

ON SADNESS

“Our sadness is an energy we discharge in order to heal. …Sadness is painful. We try to avoid it. Actually discharging sadness releases the energy involved in our emotional pain. To hold it in is to freeze the pain within us. The therapeutic slogan is that grieving is the ‘healing feeling.'”
— John Bradshaw

“To weep is to make less the depth of grief.”
— William Shakespeare

“There is no despair so absolute as that which comes with the first moments of our first great sorrow, when we have not yet known what it is to have suffered and be healed, to have despaired and recovered hope.”
— George Eliot

“Seek not happiness too greedily, and be not fearful of unhappiness.”
— Lao-tzu

“When the heart grieves over what it has lost, the spirit rejoices over what it has left.”
— Sufi epigram

higherawareness.com
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Today’s Deity: Tezcatlipoca: Aztec God of Night and Smoking Mirrors

Tezcatlipoca (Tez-ca-tlee-POH-ka), whose name means “Smoking Mirror”, was the Aztec god of night and sorcery, as well as the patron deity of Aztec kings and young warriors. As with many Aztec gods, he was associated with several aspects of Aztec religion, the sky, and the earth, winds and the north, kingship, divination, and war. For the different aspects he embodied, Tezcatlipoca was also known as the Red Tezcatlipoca of the West, and the Black Tezcatlipoca of the North, associated with death and cold.

https://www.thoughtco.com/tezcatlipoca-aztec-god-of-night-172964

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A Note from the Universe

And the day will come when all of the gold in the world will not appeal to you as much as having just one more day of being who and where you already are, with what you already have.
If it hasn’t already.
Thank you,

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Zingy Honey Mustard Salad Dressing

It’s so easy to make just about any kind of salad dressing, and fast. Made without any preservatives, and just tastes better when you make them yourself. If you like a little zing (spicy hot) this honey mustard dressing you’re sure to enjoy.

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Zingy-Honey-Mustard-Salad-Dressing.html

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Magical Correspondences for Monday

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

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

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

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Daily Wisdom
July 15, 2019

Sharing

“For we must share, if we would keep,
that blessing from above;
Ceasing to give, we cease to have;
such is the law of love.”
-Richard C. Trench

By sharing we recognize the abundance of whatever it is we have and are content to allow others to participate in our good fortune. There’s another saying that “love isn’t love until you give it away.” Blessings, like love, are meant to be shared. And whatever we share we seem to have more of!

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Beliefnet: 7 Powerful Habits to Transform Your Life

Your habits play a vital role in shaping up your life and bringing desired outcomes. Whatever and wherever you are today, it’s the sum of your habits. The law of karma says your actions alone are responsible for what you will be tomorrow, which means the habits you practice today will determine how your tomorrow will be.

Cat’s Morning Bits for July 11, 2019

Posted on July 11, 2019 by Cat

CMB green

Cat’s Morning Bits for July 11, 2019

Blessings, Cat

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The summer morn is bright and fresh,
the birds are darting by
As if they loved to breast the breeze
that sweeps the cool clear sky.
-William C. Bryant (1794-1878)

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Spiritual Unite: Hawk Spirit Animal – Take The High Road

https://www.spiritualunite.com/articles/hawk-spirit-animal/

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ThoughtCo: Lammas Cooking & Recipes

Lammas, or Lughnasadh , is the time of year when the gardens are in full bloom. From root vegetables to fresh herbs, so much of what you need is right there in your own back yard or at the local farmer’s market. If you’re one of our gluten-free Pagan readers, be sure to read the article about celebrating Lammas when you’re on a gluten-free diet. Let’s take advantage of the gifts of the garden, and cook up a feast to celebrate the first harvest at Lammas

https://www.learnreligions.com/lammas-cooking-and-recipes-2562188

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Daily Good: Unexpected Art in Unexpected Places

What happens when we look more closely, whether with the naked eye or equipment? Incredible details come into focus, bringing with them the possibility of beauty and interest we might never have conceived of. Imagine what would occur if you suddenly zoomed in on all those things you have lying around your house and studio or rusting outside. What new art might be inspired by such “stuff”? Mikra Knaster shares more in this piece

http://www.dailygood.org/story/2263/unexpected-art-in-unexpected-places-mirka-knaster/

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Daily Tarot: The Star

You can make today memorable purely by the strength of your unfailing hope for all things to work out for the best. No matter how muddled the events of the day, how confused or how many mixed messages people give you, especially at work, your innate hopeful spirit will cut through most of the mist and give you good results. Look forward to many satisfying encounters, however little or much gets done.

astrology.com

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Elephant Journal: Remember This when you feel Fat, Unlovable & Not Good Enough.

I am not strong because I have an iron will and Protestant work ethic.
I am not strong because I can slap a game face on and pull myself up by my bootstraps.
I am not strong because “I wish a mother f*cker would.”
I am strong because one day, I decided to love myself exactly as I am.

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2019/03/remember-this-when-you-feel-fat-unlovable-not-good-enough-angela-meyer/

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MNN: The red-cockaded woodpecker is making a comeback

Endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers were once common across the Southeast U.S. The mostly black-and-white birds made their homes in pine forests, drilling holes in the trees to search for insects. But with increased logging, much of their habitat was lost. As the trees diminished, so did the woodpeckers.

https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/blogs/red-cockaded-woodpecker-southeast

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EarthSky News: Moon’s near side is its dark side

Tonight, while the moon is a few days shy of meeting up with the king planet Jupiter, let’s see if we can make out the dark areas on tonight’s waxing gibbous moon. These smooth, low-lying lunar plains are called maria, the plural for the word mare, the Latin word for sea. You should be able to see the darkened portions on the moon with the eye alone. The dark maria on the moon’s near side – the solidified remnants of ancient lunar seas of molten magma – make the near side of the moon reflect less light than the far side, which has fewer maria

https://earthsky.org/tonight/moons-dark-side-faces-earth

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Patheos-Pagan: Sea Charm for Protection

Last month I was out of town much of the month. Part of my travel was to San Francisco for a lovely well needed vacation. The second part was to attend my 2nd year at Pantheacon. It was a fantastic time, and I will be blogging about some of the things I learned very soon. However this blog is all about a Sea Charm for protection.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/waterwitch/2015/03/sea-charm-for-protection.html

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Today’s Deity: Kali

Kali comes from the Sanskrit root word Kal which means time. There is nothing that escapes the all-consuming march of time. In Tibetan Buddhism Her counterpart is male with the name Kala. Mother Kali is the most misunderstood of the Hindu goddesses. The Encyclopedia Britannica is grossly mistaken in the following quote, “Major Hindu goddess whose iconography, cult, and mythology commonly associate her with death, sexuality, violence, and, paradoxically in some of her later historical appearances, motherly love

http://goddess.ws/kali.html

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Inner Journey:

REVIEW AND RECOMMIT

“Few people have any next, they live from hand to mouth without a plan, and are always at the end of their line.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Just think: When we are driving, we know where we want to go and we plot out our route. When we plan and prepare a meal, we follow a recipe and monitor the food as it cooks.

How much attention do we give to planning the direction of our lives?

Taking the time to review our quality of life gives us a chance to re-evaluate what we are doing and where we want to go. It lets us fine-tune our direction, to ensure we are on track for what we most want.

Stop and think about your last 6 months. What did you learn? What would you like to do differently? Where do you want to recommit?

“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.”
— A. A. Milne

“Always have a plan, and believe in it. Nothing happens by accident.”
— Chuck Knox

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

It’s not the career you choose the friend you marry, or the path you take that determines success or happiness in life, but that each day, in some small way, you seek to amaze as much as be amazed.

You “Wow” me,

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Creamy Garlic Sauce

This is a delicious and easy-to-make garlic sauce. It’s based on a Lebanese garlic sauce I get at one of my favourite shops, but this comes out to being about 1/5th the price (and has no chemicals)! I like using this alongside my meat dishes, as a roast veggie dip, or swiped on breads and crackers.

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Creamy-Garlic-Sauce.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
July 11, 2019

Uncertainty

“Uncertainty and mystery are energies of life. Don’t let them scare you unduly, for they keep boredom at bay and spark creativity.”
-R.I. Fitzhenry

We live in a world of uncertainty. No matter how hard we plan or schedule or try to control things, the truth is that anything can happen, at any time! We can embrace that, and take what comes- or we can live in a state of apprehension. But we can’t change the “unknowingness” – that’s just a part of life, so we might as well enjoy it!

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Beliefnet: 27 Common Things That Prevent Our Happiness
Instead of looking outwards for happiness, simply look within at all the ways you are preventing yourself from being happy in this very moment — and work on letting them go. To get you started,…
Read More……

___________________________
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 July 9, 2019

Posted on July 9, 2019 by Cat

CMB green

Cat’s Morning Bits for July 9, 2019

Blessings, Cat

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Sing a song of seasons,
Something bright in all,
Flowers in the summer,
Fires in the fall.
-Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-94)

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Spiritual Unite: Meaning Of Peacock Feather – Physical And Spiritual

The meaning of the peacock feather holds important symbolism for many cultures across the globe.
From the shamans of tribal cultures to Buddhists in the east, peacock feathers have formed an essential part of ritual and belief for much of history.

https://www.spiritualunite.com/articles/meaning-of-peacock-feather/

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ThoughtCo: Make Your Own Besom

The besom is the traditional witch’s broom. It’s associated with all kinds of legend and folklore, including the popular notion that witches fly around in the night on a broomstick. In addition to being good for playing Quidditch, the besom is a great addition to your collection of magical tools.

https://www.learnreligions.com/make-your-own-besom-2562738

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MBG: Weekly Horoscope: Here’s What The Stars Have In Store For You

On Tuesday, a Saturn transit will bring some structure to all spontaneity.
With Cancer season in full swing, it’s been easy to indulge in life’s comforts, refreshing your glass (and everyone at the table’s) with another pour of “frosé”; nibbling on whatever’s in the fridge. Nothing wrong with that! But when these mindless diversions start turning into habits, you might be numbing out. Tuesday, July 9 could snap you back to awareness, when disciplinarian Saturn in Capricorn opposes the Cancer Sun.

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/weekly-horoscope-from-the-astrotwins-july-11-to-14-2019

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Did you know…

Blackberries were enjoyed by the ancient Greeks, who believed them to be a cure for diseases of the mouth and throat, as well as a preventative against many ailments, including gout.

http://www.pickyourown.org/blackberries.htm

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Elephant Journal: A Manifesto for those who are Done with Love, Light & Positive Vibes Only.

I don’t believe in “positive vibes only.”
I don’t believe in only “love and light.”

Show me your darkness instead.
Terrify me. Surprise me. I want to see the real you beneath your sparkling smiles that don’t last for long.

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2019/07/a-manifesto-for-those-who-are-done-with-love-light-positive-vibes-only-ilda-dashi/

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Daily Tarot: The Chariot

astrology.com

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Tetraktys: Lughnasadh Gratitude Ritual: A Bread & Beer Celebration

Hello readers! This week, I am writing about the pagan holiday of Lughnasadh (pronounced Lunasah), which is celebrated on August 1st. First, I will explain the origins of Lughnasadh, then I will share with you a simple gratitude ritual that you can perform on your own to celebrate it. So let’s get started!

https://www.thetetraktys.com/2018/lughnasadh-gratitude-ritual/

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EarthSky News: Moon and Spica on July 8 and 9

On July 8 and 9, 2019 – as the setting sun closes the curtains on the day, and the darkening skies bring out a myriad of far-off suns – let the moon introduce you to a special star. The bright star to the east of the moon on July 8 is none other than Spica, the sole 1st-magnitude star in the constellation Virgo the Maiden.

https://earthsky.org/tonight/moon-and-spica-on-july-8-and-9

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Patheos-Pagan: Magickal Fatigue: When You Need Inspiration

There comes a time every year when you are just worn down, worn out, and tired. Exhausted, fed up, tired of people, tired of the day-to-day drudge. Maybe it happens more than once a year. Maybe you save it for special occasions. You have what can be termed Magickal Fatigue, and what you need is inspiration, oomph, motivation, just something.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/witchindeed/2019/07/magickal-fatigue-when-you-need-inspiration/

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Today’s Deity: Astarte

Astarte, also spelled Athtart or Ashtart, great goddess of the ancient Middle East and chief deity of Tyre, Sidon, and Elat, important Mediterranean seaports. Hebrew scholars now feel that the goddess Ashtoreth mentioned so often in the Bible is a deliberate conflation of the Greek name Astarte and the Hebrew word boshet, “shame,” indicating the Hebrews’ contempt for her cult. Ashtaroth, the plural form of the goddess’s name in Hebrew, became a general term denoting goddesses and paganism.

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Astarte-ancient-deity

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Inner Journey:

FINDING CONTENTMENT

“When the sun rises, I go to work. When the sun goes down, I take my rest. I dig the well from which I drink. I farm the soil which yields my food. I share creation. Kings can do no more.”
— Chinese proverb

Do you sense the peace and contentment that can come from an appreciation of one’s place in the cosmos?

How do we get there with the complexities and pressures of our current lifestyles? Perhaps it’s a matter of becoming aware of what we truly have as opposed to what our egos believe we need. If we look closely, we may find that our ego ‘needs’ are just desires.

When you find yourself longing for something, stop and ask, “What is missing from my life? Is it a need? What are the essential qualities of what I seek? How can I experience that now?”

“If we have not quiet in our minds, outward comfort will do no more for us than a golden slipper on a gouty foot.”
— John Bunyan

“Try to be like the turtle — at ease in your own shell.”
— Bill Copeland

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

The main reason someone moves mountains, wins friends, influences people, amasses a fortune, or anything else is because they thought they would.
You can do this,

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Tex-Mex Spiced Lentils

I am trying to eat less meat. Lentils are a healthy and economical way to do that. These are quick and easy to prepare and are delicious. You can freeze if desired.

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Tex-Mex-Spiced-Lentils.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
July 9, 2019

Uncertainty

“Every area of trouble gives out a ray of hope, and the one unchangeable certainty is that nothing is certain or unchangeable.”
-John F. Kennedy

Isn’t this uncertainty such a great concept? It sure helps us out when we make a mistake! We can change things, make them better. Nothing is set in stone, that’s just the way it is – life is fluid, moving, changeable – and that is good for us. There is great potential in uncertainty- it means that ANYTHING, and everything is possible.

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Beliefnet: High Anxiety: Conquer Your Fear
On this earth, you’ll never run out of things to worry about, but when you adjust the way you worry, you don’t have to scrabble through life. Here are several coping strategies for overcoming…
Read more………………

___________________________
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 July 8, 2019

Posted on July 8, 2019 by Cat

CMB green

Cat’s Morning Bits for July 8, 2019

Blessings, Cat

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A moon-flooded prairie; a straying
Of leal-hearted lovers; a baying
Of far away watching dogs; a dreaming
Of brown-fisted farmers; a gleaming
Of fireflies eddying nigh, –
And that is July!
-James N. Matthews (1852-1910)

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Spiritual Unite: Koala Spirit Animal – Relaxing Is A Must

When the koala spirit animal appears in your life, it is a message that you need to slow down, take some time off and reconnect with your energy and with nature.
These marsupials are native to Australia and live an arboreal lifestyle, hanging from the branches of its favorite eucalyptus tree.

https://www.spiritualunite.com/articles/koala-spirit-animal/

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ThoughtCo: How to Hold a Gratitude Ritual

For many Pagans, autumn is a time of giving thanks. Although this is the most obvious around the Mabon holiday, if you live in the United States, most of your friends and family will be giving thanks in November. If you’d like to tie in to that a little, but with a Pagan flair, you might want to consider doing a short gratitude ritual as a way of expressing your own thankfulness

https://www.learnreligions.com/how-to-hold-a-gratitude-ritual-2562296

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MBG: Ready For Bold Self-Love? Try These 4 Tone Ups For The Heart Chakra

There are over 700,000 heart attacks reported each year in the U.S., and cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in this country. Rightfully so, conventional medicine puts a great deal of effort toward preventing heart disease. And yet, our nation continues to die of heartbreak—literally. Managing risk factors such as high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels, diabetes, and obesity can be very effective, yet I believe there is an additional dimension to the heart that requires an entirely different kind of support.

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/hearth-chakra-healing-4-exercises-to-open-a-blocked-chakra

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Daily Good: The Daily Opportunity in Randomness

“The physicist Leonard Mlodinow changes how we think about the agency we have in shaping our own destinies. As a scientist, he works with principles like Brownian motion, by which Einstein helped verify the existence of molecules and atoms. As the child of Holocaust survivors, he dances with the experience we all have: that life never goes as planned, and yet the choices we make can matter. The course of your life depends on how you react to opportunities and challenges that randomness presents to you, he says.”

http://www.dailygood.org/story/2353/the-daily-opportunity-in-randomness-on-being/

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Daily Tarot: The Tower

People may be expecting or needing you to be laid-back and easy to deal with but your own inclinations may make you seem more difficult and demanding. You may see yourself as just being direct while others consider you as being tactless. Save yourself a lot of grief and use extra care with your words and actions. If someone gets bent out of shape, try to catch it instantly and stop it as soon as you can.

astrology.com

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Elephant Journal: Real Awakenings are Not Elegant—they are Messy, Ugly, Shattered & Raw.

I want to have an awakening like they do in the movies.
You know, where the protagonist experiences their quantum shift with elegance and grace, leading us, the audience, into a wonderful montage (complete with awesome music) of all the ways their life will now improve.

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2019/05/awakenings-help-us-find-what-we-are-looking-for-our-beautiful-selves/

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MNN: How old bras are saving injured turtles

With the right expertise, it doesn’t take much to repair an injured turtle shell.
Wildlife rehabbers glue the broken shells back together and then hold the pieces firmly in place with wire.

https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/stories/animal-rescue-group-uses-bra-clasps-repair-turtle-shells

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Today’s Deity: Erecura

Erecura or Aerecura /ɛrɪˈkjʊərə/ (also found as Herecura or Eracura)was a goddess worshipped in ancient times, often thought to be Celtic in origin, mostly represented with the attributes of Proserpina and associated with the Roman underworld god Dis Pater, as on an altar from Sulzbach. She appears with Dis Pater in a statue found at Oberseebach, Switzerland, and in several magical texts from Austria, once in the company of Cerberus and once probably with Ogmios. A further inscription to her has been found near Stuttgart, Germany.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erecura

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EarthSky News: Use Big Dipper to find Polaris

Tonight, use the Big Dipper in the constellation Ursa Major the Great Bear to find the sky’s northern pole star, Polaris. This is the star around which the whole northern celestial sphere appears to turn throughout the night. That’s because this star is located nearly above Earth’s northern axis. In times past, wanderers on the northern face of Earth used Polaris to stay on course

https://earthsky.org/tonight/big-dipper-points-to-polaris-aids-in-finding-thuban-2

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Patheos-Pagan: 11 Cool Places to Visit in the Secret Country of Yourself

Your Unique Inner World
The secret country of yourself is your unique inner world. Your visions and dreams happen there; it is the birthplace of inspiration. There you may engage with your past and future selves, dance the fire with your spirit guides, connect to the archetypes that make up your personal pantheon. The possibilities are endless!

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/dirtheartwitch/2019/07/cool-places-secret-country-yourself/

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Inner Journey:

SELF TALK IS REVEALING

“If you wish to know the mind of a man, listen to his words.”
— Chinese Proverb

What passes over your lips each day?

Are your words typically negative, critical, gossiping, deceptive, illusory, justifying, blaming, manipulative and argumentative? Are they more uplifting, inspirational, positive, questioning, beautiful, loving, universal, truthful, accepting and supportive?

The throat is our center of expression. Who we are sneaks out in our attitudes and in what we say.

“Handle them carefully, for words have more power than atom bombs.”
— Pearl Strachan Hurd

“The wise weigh their words on a scale with gold.”
— Bible

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

In times of great stress and great joy you are completely surrounded by loved ones in the unseen who adore and support you, wanting to share whatever you’re experiencing.

So, at those times, if you can remember to be calm and quiet and go within, you’ll feel them, you’ll remember them, and you’ll benefit most from their presence.

“Look, Cat is smiling… Whoohoooo!!!”

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Kidney Bean Salad Recipes

Kidney beans are often an ingredient in three bean salad recipes, but they can be used alone to create delicious bean salads.

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Kidney-Bean-Salad-Recipes.html

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Magical Correspondences for Monday

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

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Daily Wisdom
July 8, 2019

Uncertainty

“If we insist on being as sure as is conceivable… we must be content to creep along the ground, and can never soar.”

-John Henry Cardinal Newman

“Playing it safe” is a choice – but if we make that choice every time, life could get boring. Sometimes it’s good to take a risk, to leap into uncertainty with both feet! Maybe we’ll fall, and maybe we’ll fly- but we won’t know “for sure” until we’ve actually done it!

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Natural Living Ideas: How To Make Your Own Rose Water & 14 Ways to Use It

Beautifully fragrant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and edible, rose water is an extremely versatile item to have on hand.

Save dollars and ensure the purity of your product by making your own DIY rose water – a surprisingly simple process.

https://www.naturallivingideas.com/rose-water/

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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 July 3, 2019

Posted on July 3, 2019 by Cat

CMB green

Cat’s Morning Bits for July 3, 2019

Blessings, Cat

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Great is the sun, and wide he goes
Through empty heaven without repose;
And in the blue and glowing days
More thick than rain he showers his rays.
-Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-94)

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Spiritual Unite: Lynx Spirit Animal Meaning – Use Your Patience

The Lynx spirit animal appears in your life when there are hidden forces in your life.
Lynx spirit animal symbolizes:

https://www.spiritualunite.com/articles/lynx-spirit-animal/

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ThoughtCo: Holding a Pagan Blessing Ritual for New Babies

In a powerful scene in the landmark miniseries “Roots”, his jubilant father holds the infant Kunta Kinte up to the sky, and says, “Behold, the only thing greater than yourself.” In the same miniseries, many years later, the adult Kunta Kinte does the same thing with his own child, despite the fact that they are thousands of miles from his homeland.

https://www.learnreligions.com/how-to-hold-a-baby-blessing-ritual-2562529

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MBG: Feeling Stuck? Here’s An Exercise To Help You Discover Your Life’s Purpose

Are your needs for general physical health, safety, and human connection basically met? Are you looking for something else—an understanding of your purpose beyond the basics? Do you know that you have work to do in the world but you’re not quite sure what it is or how to do it?

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/feeling-stuck-heres-an-exercise-to-help-you-discover-your-lifes-purpose

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Daily Good: What Does it Take to Be Racially Literate?

Few people really believe that race does not affect their lives in some way, but most of us are unwilling to admit it. We avoid discussing these differences and do ourselves a disservice. Priya Vulchi and Winona Guo are two high school students who decided it was time to bring this discussion out in the open. The key, they say, is to face the issue with both our hearts and our minds, for our minds lead us to understand and our hearts lead us to care.

http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=8177

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Elephant Journal: 14 Surprisingly Inspirational Quotes from Someone who Doesn’t Give a F*ck.

Mark Manson, author of best-selling books The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck and Everything is F*cked: A Book about Hope, looks at self-help with a cold eye.
He believes that happiness requires struggle and that positivity is a side effect of handling the negative things in our lives.

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2019/07/14-surprisingly-inspirational-quotes-from-someone-who-doesnt-give-a-fck-david-baumrind/

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MNN: National park poster artist aims to inspire a new generation of nature lovers

Rob Decker visited his first national park when he was 6 years old. That trip to Yosemite made an impact. Two years later, on a 10,000-mile cross-country trip with his family, Decker visited five more national parks. He photographed them with a Kodak Duaflex camera with black-and-white film and was hooked.

https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/blogs/national-park-posters-rob-decker

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EarthSky News: Watch for a young moon after sunset

Over the next few evenings – July 3 to 6, 2019 – watch for the young moon in the west after sunset. Fresh from the July 2 South American solar eclipse, the moon will be a very thin crescent and hard to catch on July 3. But, especially if you live in the Americas or on an island in the Pacific, you might catch it shortly after sunset.

https://earthsky.org/tonight/go-young-moon-hunting-after-sunset

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Daily Tarot: High Priestess

Even if it’s a busy day at work or with loved ones, it may still be an introspective kind of day when you need to frequently take a quiet moment to reflect. Be organized and perform your tasks well, but also find those quiet instances when you can make sense of your feelings and impressions. You can get a great deal done today, and feel inwardly satisfied about it.

astrology.com

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Patheos-Pagan: Foxglove: Digitalis and the Faery Realm

The Queen of Elphame, the Faery Queen is an important figure in traditional witchcraft. With her consort the King of Elphame they rule over the People of Goda as they are known in the initiatory tradition based on the teachings of Robert Cochrane, the Clan of Tubal Cain. Foxglove or Digitalis purpurea, one variety of the plant has gone by many names that indicate its connection with the Faery Realm and the beings that populate it.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/poisonersapothecary/2019/07/02/foxglove-digitalis-and-the-faery-realm/

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Inner Journey:

CONTEMPLATE UNITY

“Poverty is in separatism. Abundance is in unity.”
— Torkom Saraydarian

Watch for those times when you perceive yourself to be separate from the rest of the world. When you find yourself feeling uncomfortable, threatened or isolated, remember Neale Donald Walsch’s words: “there’s only one of us in this room.”

When we perceive differences in thinking and behaving, we might remember that these are merely different expressions of the one universal life force. We can release judgment as to whether those differences are right or wrong or good or bad. We can drop the labels that divide the world into pieces, and simply appreciate the rich variety of ways that energy can manifest as form.

“If we are to achieve a rich culture, rich in contrasting values, we must recognize the whole gamut of human potentialities, and so weave a less arbitrary social fabric, one in which each diverse human gift will find a fitting place.”
— Margaret Mead

higherawareness.com
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Today’s Deity: The Three Norns

There are three Norns (Old Norse: “Nornir”) in Norse mythology and they live at the well Urd in Asgard (home of the Gods and Goddesses). Their names are Urd “What Once Was” (Old Norse “Urðr”), Verdandi “What Is Coming into Being” (Old Norse “Verðandi”) and Skuld “What Shall Be” (Old Norse “Skuld”), the three Norns are the Goddesses of fate in Norse mythology.

https://norse-mythology.net/norns-the-goddesses-of-fate-in-norse-mythology/

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A Note from the Universe

Of course you’re strong enough.

Or what would be the whole point?

Go forth,

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Strawberry Lime Cake

This is an elegant looking yet easy to make cake for these warmer months. The juice from the strawberries seep into the sponge and makes for a really moist cake. Using both the juice and the zest of the limes really gives it a nice kick. I hope you enjoy this cake!

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Strawberry-Lime-Cake.html

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Magical Correspondences for Wednesday

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
July 3, 2019

Meditation

“The very best and utmost attainment in this life is to remain still and let God act and speak in thee.”

-Meister Eckhart
All the wisdom of the universe can be found in silence, can be experienced through meditation. When we are quiet, we allow spirit in, we are in-spired! This is how we get the answers we seek, this is how God communicates with us.

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Tetraktys: The Wheel of the Year in Wicca – A Complete Guide

The Wheel of the Year is at the core of the Wiccan practices and it is used by a lot of modern witches. If you follow the Wiccan path, understanding it is a crucial step in your spiritual journey. What is it exactly? Why do we practice it? How does it work? In this article, I am sharing with you all I know on this topic. You will learn that following the Wheel of the Year goes further than simply observing the eight Sabbats.

https://www.thetetraktys.com/2019/wheel-of-the-year-wicca-guide/

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

I invite you to check out my websites!

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

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

Cat’s Morning Bits for July 2, 2019

Posted on July 2, 2019 by Cat

CMB green

Cat’s Morning Bits for July 2, 2019

Blessings, Cat

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Now summer is in flower and nature’s hum
Is never silent round her sultry bloom
Insects as small as dust are never done
Wi’ glittering dance and reeling in the sun
And green wood fly and blossom haunting bee
Are never weary of their melody.
-John Clare (1793-1864)

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Spiritual Unite: Spider Spirit Animal Meaning – Control Your Dark Side

When your spider spirit animal appears in your life, it symbolizes your creativity, feminine energy, and patience.
It can also warn you of your dark side, and to be wary of your temptations and desires.

https://www.spiritualunite.com/articles/spider-spirit-animal/

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ThoughtCo: Do Pagans Believe in God?

So you’re interested in Wicca, or some other form of Paganism, but now you’re a little worried because some well-meaning friend or family member has cautioned you that Pagans don’t believe in God. Oh no! What’s a new Pagan to do? What’s the deal here, anyway?

https://www.learnreligions.com/do-pagans-believe-in-god-2561833

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MBG: How To Tap Into The Emotional Force Of Tonight’s New Moon In Cancer

This July 2, the Cancer new moon, which is also a powerful partial solar eclipse, offers a healing moment to open our hearts and be more demonstrative with our loved ones. The zodiac’s Crab is all about security, and this new moon asks us all to examine: What does “home” mean to you?

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/new-moon-july-2019-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-cancer-moon

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Daily Tarot: The Hanged Man

Possibly a romantically disquieting day, you may begin to suspect that your love is not being returned, at least not in kind. Or perhaps you can’t bring yourself to return the affections of an ardent admirer. This might feel even worse. The head and heart don’t always speak the same language or have the same opinions. Be strong and as kind as you can.

astrology.com

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Elephant Journal: 7 Buddha Quotes that will bring Peace to your Chaos.

If someone can help us in solving modern-day problems with the help of just a line or a quote, then that lifesaver is none other than lord Buddha.

Siddhartha Buddha or Gautama Buddha was a sage who influenced a lot of people with his teachings and beliefs. The meaning of the word “Buddha” is “the enlightened one” or “the awakened one.”

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2019/06/some-quotes-by-lord-buddha-for-living-a-positive-life/

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MNN: What to see in the night sky in July

While fireworks will dominate the evening skies on the Fourth of July across the U.S., the rest of the month will feature visual spectacles of a different kind, from the full Thunder Moon to close encounters with other planets.

https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/space/blogs/what-see-night-sky-july

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Today’s Deity: Diana

In Roman mythology, Diana (lt. “heavenly” or “divine”) was the goddess of the hunt and moon and birthing, being associated with wild animals and woodland, and having the power to talk to and control animals. She was equated with the Greek goddess Artemis, though she had an independent origin in Italy.

https://www.crystalinks.com/diana.html

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Patheos-Pagan: Working With “Tarot For Troubled Times” By Shaheen Miro and Theresa Reed

I’ve been a fan of Theresa Reed since long before I met her, and then she became one of my favorite people of all time. When I heard she had, with Shaheen Miro, co-authored a new book called Tarot for Troubled Times, I was delighted. This book is what we all need right now. It’s a navigational tool in troubled times

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/doubletoilandresist/2019/07/working-with-tarot-for-troubled-times-by-shaheen-miro-and-theresa-reed/

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Inner Journey:

INTUIT AND DO IT

“If doubt is challenging you and you do not act, doubts will grow. Challenge the doubts with action and you will grow. Doubt and action are incompatible.”
— John Kanary

To reap the greatest benefits from intuition, we need ACTION. Be in motion. Act as if your highest expectations have already happened. Be in front of more opportunities and people. Let go of any blocks or attachments. Create mental space and physical space. Plan your work and work your plan.

Miracles rarely happen by doing nothing. Most miracles happen through other people.

What actions can you take that will move you towards your goals?

“Never forget that life can only be nobly inspired and rightly lived if you take it bravely and gallantly, as a splendid adventure in which you are setting out into an unknown country, to meet many a joy, to find many a comrade, to win and lose many a battle.”
— Annie Besant

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

You could always send a golden thought balloon to the most rocking possible version of your future self, and thank them for reaching back to you with inspiration, hunches, instincts, and impulses, to help you bridge all gaps, connect all dots, and leap tall buildings… you know, to bring about your quickest merger.

Love mergers,

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Watermelon Cookies

You really have to allow yourself some space and time to make these. They are time consuming, but I won First Prize in 1998 at the Oregon State Fair for them, so for me, they were worth it.

https://www.thriftyfun.com/tf83580054.tip.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
July 2, 2019

Meditation

“You are used to listening to the buzz of the world, but now is the time to develop the inner ear that listens to the inner world. It is time to have a foot in each world, and it can be done.”
-Saint Bartholomew

It’s all about balance. Rather than getting inundated by the buzz of the world, we can tune in to the silence, turn on that higher frequency and experience what really matters. And then the beauty of meditation is that we bring that experience of stillness back into our activity, and find that life is just so much easier and more fulfilling. We are better able to feel the joy that is always there.

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Beliefnet: 6 Ways Moms Can Spiritually Nurture Themselves

Wearing caked on makeup from the prior day because you crashed on the sofa. Walking around with formula stains on your sweater and it’s too late to go back home and change. Such a glamorous life most bleary-eyed mothers live. Ordering diapers, having enough butt cream are normal.

Cat’s Morning Bits for July 1, 2019

Posted on July 1, 2019 by Cat

CMB green

Cat’s Morning Bits for July 1, 2019

Blessings, Cat

_________________________

When the heat like a mist veil floats,
And poppies flame in the rye,
And the silver note in the streamlet’s throat
Has softened almost to a sigh. It is July.
-Susan Hartley Swett (1860-1907)

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Spiritual Unite: The Third Eye, The Pineal Gland: How We Are Connected To The Cosmos

It all comes down to the mystical Third Eye. The Third Eye is an inner visual organ and a concept in mysticism.
It refers in part to the Ajna chakra of Eastern spiritual traditions. The Third eye is said to be the gate that leads into the spaces of higher consciousness within.

https://www.spiritualunite.com/articles/the-third-eye-the-pineal-gland-how-we-are-connected-to-the-cosmos/

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ThoughtCo: Sun Worship

At Litha, the summer solstice, the sun is at its highest point in the sky. Many ancient cultures marked this date as significant, and the concept of sun worship is one nearly as old as mankind itself. In societies that were primarily agricultural, and depended on the sun for life and sustenance, it is no surprise that the sun became deified. While many people today might take the day to grill out, go to the beach, or work on their tans, for our ancestors the summer solstice was a time of great spiritual import.

https://www.learnreligions.com/history-of-sun-worship-2562246

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MBG: A Dancing Ritual For Rejoicing During The New Moon In Cancer

In today’s world, if you have the means and the time to commit to self-growth, doing so can be nearly addicting. It provides an opportunity for perfectionists like me to stay in the zone of continuous self-work—without taking a moment to just rejoice.

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/new-moon-in-cancer-2019-a-dancing-ritual-for-rejoice

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Daily Tarot: The Sun

Not only may you be inherently happy today, you’ll be able to explore all manner of intellectual problems, puzzles, and concerns. Great satisfaction can come from even the smallest insight, and if you can connect with the right person, you may have a conversation that will enrich and inform you for months to come. You may be attracted to more difficult problems today, and you’ll be up to the challenge.

astrology.com

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Elephant Journal: July’s Astrology Report: 2 Dark Moons, 2 Eclipses (Plus “You Know Who” is in Retrograde).

When’s the new moon? There’s an eclipse? What sun sign are we in? Is it Mercury retrograde again?
These are the questions I receive daily from my tribe. It’s so much easier to follow the natural cycles of the cosmos when we don’t have to search for each bit of information separately.

Cat’s Morning Bits for June 28, 2019

Posted on June 28, 2019 by Cat

CMB green

Cat’s Morning Bits for June 28, 2019

Blessings, Cat

_________________________

Ten o’clock: the broken moon
Hangs not yet a half hour high,
Yellow as a shield of brass,
In the dewy air of June,
Poised between the vaulted sky
And the ocean’s liquid glass.
-Emma Lazarus (1849-87)

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Spiritual Unite: Moth Spirit Animal Meaning – Blinded By The Light

Your moth spirit animal signifies that you are hiding your problems from yourself and others around you.
It also represents optimism in the face of adversity, as well as searching for the light in your life.

https://www.spiritualunite.com/articles/moth-spirit-animal/

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ThoughtCo: Magical Days Of the Week

In many traditions of Paganism, days of the week are very important aspects of effective spellcasting. For example, spells to do with abundance or prosperity could be done on Thursday, because it is associated with riches and desire. When casting a spell concerning business or communication, one might prefer to work on a Wednesday due to its associations.

https://www.learnreligions.com/magical-days-of-the-week-2561697

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MBG: For The Judgy Among Us: 6 Things That Happen Every Time You Judge Someone

It may seem there’s something natural, even good about judgment. After all, just about every time our eyes alight on someone or something, we judge it as good or bad based on how it stacks up against our inner ideal of how things should be.

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/why-judging-others-is-bad-for-us-and-how-to-stop-being-judgmental

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Daily Good: What We Should Know About Animals

It’s easy to assume that animals experience happiness (just think of a dog wagging its tail), but what about higher-level emotions and qualities like selflessness, empathy, or even love? In “Beyond Words: How Animals Think and Feel,” conservationist Carl Safina shares stories from decades of observing animals and combines it with new brain research to paint a picture of animals’ emotional landscape that sounds remarkably like our own. In this interview, he shares a story about a wolf who selflessly tries to distract other wolves from attacking his sister, and a whale who saves a seal. He also suggests that animals’ experience of life is not a limited version of our own, but rather a more vivid one.

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/07/150714-animal-dog-thinking-feelings-brain-science/

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Elephant Journal: Venus & Cancer: A Powerful & Romantic combination to Deepen our Connections. {July 3 to 27}

From July 3rd to 27th, love and beauty planet Venus is in the sign of sensitive and romantic Cancer, allowing us to deepen our connections.
This marks a few blissful weeks where we can be softer, sweeter, and more attuned to the feelings of the people around us.

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2019/06/deepen-your-connection-with-venus-in-cancer/

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MNN: What to see in the night sky in July
Saturn shines all month and Neptune’s at its brightest point all year.

https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/space/blogs/what-see-night-sky-july

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Today’s Deity: Meretseger

Meretseger (Mertseger, Merseger, Mereseger) was the goddess of the necropolis at Thebes (Waset, in the 4th Nome of Upper Egypt). Her name means “She Who Loves Silence”. She was believed to live on the mountian which dominates the skyline at Thebes and rises above the valley of the Kings and Queens. The mountain (known as “dehent”) formed a natural pyramid, and the word for “pyramid” in Egyptian was “mr” which formed a pun on the first sylable of her name.

https://ancientegyptonline.co.uk/meretseger/

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Daily Tarot: Temperance

Instinct and impulsive action will cause more trouble than they can solve today, so spend more time reasoning things out and being careful about what you say and do. Asking questions is a good idea. It will get you information you need, and show how thorough, bright, and capable you are. It might take a bit longer, but it will save time and effort in the end.

astrology.com

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EarthSky News: See moon and stars of Taurus before sunrise

The moon is soon to swing by the Pleiades star cluster and star Aldebaran, which rank as the two most prominent signposts in the constellation Taurus the Bull. The moon swings to the south of the Pleiades cluster on June 29, 2019, and then to the north of Aldebaran on June 30, 2019. Finally, the moon will meet up with the planet Venus in the glow of morning dawn on or near July 1, 2019

https://earthsky.org/tonight/see-moon-and-taurus-before-sunrise

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Patheos-Pagan: Regional Cultus: Building a Local Religion

I have lived in Nebraska all my life. These rolling hills, wide rivers, and endless horizons have shaped me, made me who I am. When I first became interested in Paganism, I learned about Danu, Sequana, Sulis. River Goddesses from all over Europe are honored by Pagans in America.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/heathenatheart/2019/06/regional-cultus-building-a-local-religion/

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Inner Journey:

Soul lives in connection

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

How do we experience soul in our lives?

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

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

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

higherawareness.com
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Today’s Recipe: Cucumber and Watermelon Salad

While the combination may sound strange, cucumber and watermelon combine to make a delicious salad.

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Cucumber-and-Watermelon-Salad.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
June 28, 2019

Colors

“Black was bestlooking… Ebony was the best wood, the hardest wood; it was black. Virginia ham was the best ham. It was black on the outside. Tuxedos and tail coats were black and they were a man’s finest, most expensive clothes. You had to use pepper to make most meats and vegetables fit to eat. The most flavorsome pepper was black. The best caviar was black. The rarest jewels were black: black opals, black pearls.”
-Ann Petry, The Narrows, 1953

Black is elegant, and mysterious. Black is often said to be the absence of color, but I think it deserves a place as a color itself. The fashion world certainly couldn’t function without it! Maybe black has gotten a bad rap because it is associated with the villain’s hat – but black, like white, is like a canvas, and we can paint on it most vividly!

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Beliefnet: Action Steps ~ Learning to trust your Knowing
Taking action steps can be confusing when you are waiting for a sign! How do you know when it is time to act and when it is time to wait and allow? When you have been working towards important goals and…
Read more………………..

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

I invite you to check out my websites!

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

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

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