The Desert Path

The Dusty Ramblings of a Desert Pagan

Cat’s Morning Bits for May 29, 2020

Posted on May 29, 2020 by Cat

Cat’s Morning Bits for May 29, 2020

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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June Events and Holidays

June 5: Full Strawberry Moon at 12:12 pm PST/ 1:12 pm MST/ 3:12 pm EST

June 8: World Oceans Day

June 10: Celtic Tree Month of Oak begins

June 14: Flag Day

June 20: Mid Summer/ Summer Solstice

June 20: New Moon at 11:41 pm PST

June 21: New Moon at 12:41 am MST/ 2:41 am EST

June 21 Father’s Day

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In the great gardens, after bright spring rain,
We find sweet innocence come once again,
White periwinkles, little pensionnaires
With muslin gowns and shy and candid airs.
-Dame Edith Sitwell (1887-1964)

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Spirit Library: Reboot (a message from Kate Spreckley)

Change and transformation are occurring at a very rapid rate and the speed of our awakening and healing is increasing dramatically. Every area of our lives is being impacted by the current transformational energies, which is initiating change in every sphere of life as social, political and financial systems break down so that we may establish a new way of being in the world

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Eros and Psyche Story (Complete) – Greek Mythology – Cupid and Psyche Myth

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ThoughtCo: Archangels of the 4 Elements: Air, Fire, Water, and Earth

Those who celebrate the existence and power of heavenly angels believe that God assigned four of his archangels to be in charge of the four elements in nature—air, fire, water, and earth

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MBG: 7 Tips For Creating An Empath Sanctuary During The Pandemic

As people spend more time at home—working, studying, and socializing remotely due to the COVID pandemic—empaths need sanctuaries at home where they can retreat and recover more than ever.

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Daily Dream Meaning: Hawk

1. In Native American mythology, the hawk is the messenger. Therefore, if the hawk seems to be friendly, an important and probably positive message will come your way.
2. Other symbols in the dream can reveal what that message concerns.
3. A hawk can also indicate an important opportunity coming your way. If the hawk seems forbidding, however, this is a warning to take care of your emotional baggage before seizing whatever new opportunity comes your way.

astrology.com

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Today’s DIY: DIY Incense Cones | World Crafted

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MNN: Historic deal preserves millions of pollination corridors for monarch butterflies

A huge swath of land that wasn’t being fully utilized has been set aside for monarch butterfly habitat. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the University of Illinois at Chicago have signed an agreement to create habitat for the butterflies on potentially millions of acres along rights-of-way and associated land.

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EarthSky News: Watch for the legendary green flash

The green flash image at the top of this post was taken by Jim Grant, an EarthSky friend on Facebook. He captured it off the coast of Ocean Beach, California, and identified it as a mock mirage green flash.

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Patheos-Pagan: Green Witch Plant Profile: Lavender For Purification, Third Eye, Protection

Lavender is one of my favorite plant allies. This is a plant growing in my garden, harvested and kept in my apothecary as dried buds, and holds a place in my kitchen cabinet for cooking, baking, and enjoying as tea.

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Pagan Playlist: Celtic Music – Mists of Avalon

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Inner Journey:

LOVE YOURSELF

“If you had a friend who talked to you like you sometimes talk to yourself, would you continue to hang around with that person?”
— Rob Bremer

Thanks to the power of our inner critics, most of us have a very poor opinion of ourselves. Yet self- contempt merely keeps us miserable and stuck in our mediocrity.

If we were to make only one change to transform the quality of our lives, we might try sending a little love our own way.

“A critic is a legless man who teaches running.”
— Channing Pollock

“Unkind criticism is never part of a meaningful critique of you. Its purpose is not to teach or to help, its purpose is to punish.”
— Barbara Sher

“You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
— Buddha

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe
You are “here” (your life now) and you want to go “there” (your dreamed-of life). And because both are physical places, it would seem that you must manipulate the physical world to go from “here” to “there.”

This is the ultimate illusion.

Physical places are simply mirages, reflections of an inner world, the world of your thoughts. So to get from “here” to “there,” begin your manipulations within, by thinking of your desired end results, as if they’d already come to pass.

A thought worth dwelling on,

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: 10 Gorgeous Watermelon Drinks to Bust Your Thirst All Summer
Eat juicy ripe watermelon on a throat-parching day, and you’ll know what refreshment’s all about. Now, take that watermelon and turn it into drinks, and you’ve got the ultimate thirst-quencher with the bonus of that ravishing watermelon color.

Cat’s Morning Bits for May 22, 2020

Posted on May 22, 2020 by Cat

Cat’s Morning Bits for May 22, 2020

Blessings, Cat

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May Events & Holidays

May 22 New Moon at 10:38 am PST/ 11:38 am MST/ 1:38 pm EST

May 25 Memorial Day (USA)

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Come rambling awhile through this exquisite weather
Of days that are fleet to pass,
When the stem of the willow shoots out a green feather,
And buttercups burn in the grass!
-Edgar Fawcett (1847-1904)

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Spirit Library: Perseverance Is Needed (a message from Kate Spreckley)

The call for change and transformation will ultimately have an exceptionally positive impact on all areas of our lives, but may well be challenging and difficult in the moment. The shifts occurring now are initiating profound awakenings that will generate a more effective arrangement of our world.

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ThoughtCo: How To Properly Dispose of Ritual and Magic Tools

Sometimes, for whatever reason, you may decide that you have a ritual tool you no longer need. Perhaps you’ve got three athames too many, or someone has gifted you with a new chalice and you’re tired of the old one, or maybe that deck of Tarot cards just doesn’t speak to you the way it used to.

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MBG: 8 Fun Ideas For Tapping Into The High-Vibe New Moon In Gemini

Ready for a rebrand or an image refresh? The 2020 new moon on Friday, May 22 (at 1:38 PM EDT) wants us to think about the messages we’re sending out to the world.

Ruled by chatty Mercury, Gemini is the star sign that governs communication, friendship, and local affairs. Begin putting your feelings and ideas into words

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Daily Dream Meaning: Superhero/Heroine

1. A male superhero represents a super intellect; thus to dream of seeing Superman, Batman, Spiderman, or whoever indicates that your mind is particularly sharp right now, and if there is a project you’re working on that requires a quick, agile, and insightful intellect, this is the time to concentrate primarily on it. Female superheroes such as Wonder Woman or Supergirl indicate a heightened supportive mind – and thus the dreamer’s intuition is operating at a very high level. Therefore at this time the dreamer should definitely believe in his or her hunches and go with them – no matter what the intellect tells you.
2. If the dreamer encounters both male and female superheroes, then both faculties of his mind are especially sharp right now. Use your intellect, but when in doubt, follow your heart.
3. If the superhero or heroine is flying, or performing a rescue, then your mental and/or intuitive faculties will save you from an uncomfortable situation.

astrology.com

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Wise Woman Herbal Ezine: Hawthorn and the Celebration of the May:
A Series… Crataegus: A Generative Genus by EagleSong Gardener

Hawthorns have been a focus in my herb crafting for close to 3 decades. Three threads weave through my life that made an apprenticeship with the generative genus, Crataegus, inevitable. First, my descent from a maternal lineage of farm folk in the Welsh and English hedge medicine tradition.

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Today’s DIY: How to Make A Terrarium (Full Version) // Garden Answer

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Customizable Prosperity Oil || Spell Work

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MNN: 7 natural home remedies for your dog
From ear gunk to constipation, you might be able to tackle these issues naturally with your pet.

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EarthSky News: Young moon, 2 planets May 23, 24 and 25
At evening dusk – May 23, 24 and 25, 2020 – find an unobstructed horizon in the direction of sunset, and watch for the young moon, plus the planets Mercury and Venus, to pop out into the deepening twilight. From many places worldwide,

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Pagan Playlist: Clannad – Robin (The Hooded Man) (Official HD Video)

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Inner Journey:

MAKE TIME TO PLAY

“If we fail to nourish our souls, they wither, and without soul, life ceases to have meaning…. The creative process shrivels in the absence of continual dialogue with the soul. And creativity is what makes life worth living.”
— Marion Woodman

Stress, fear, negativity, too much to do and doing things for others at the expense of our own needs — these all stifle our innate creativity. Relaxation, fun, meditation, and going after our dreams all get the creative juices flowing. Soul is always creative, always fresh and new.

How can you create more space in your life to allow the soul’s energy out to play?

“I learned… that inspiration does not come like a bolt, nor is it kinetic, energetic, striving, but it comes to us slowly and quietly and all the time, though we must regularly and every day give it a little chance to start flowing, prime it with a little solitude and idleness.”
— Brenda Ueland

“I lived in solitude in the country and noticed how the monotony of quiet life stimulates the creative mind.”
— Albert Einstein

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

A question from your friend The Universe:

Just how much time do you spend thinking big?

I mean really, really BIG?

Good, very good! Because that’s exactly how much of “it” you’re going to get!

What a coincidence,

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Lemon-Buttermilk Pound Cake with Aunt Evelyn’s Lemon Glaze

My mother’s blue-ribbon pound cake recipe. It always gets rave reviews.

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Magical Correspondences for Friday

Stones: Rose Quartz, Moonstone, Pink Tourmaline, Peridot, Emerald and Jade
Oil: (Venus) Cardamom, Palmarosa, Rose, Yarrow
Friday belongs to Venus, and its energies are warm, sensuous, and fulfilling. Efforts that involve any type of pleasure, comfort, and luxury, as well as the arts, music, or aroma (incense and perfume), works well on this day. As Venus lends its sensuous influences to the energies of this day, use it for any magical work that deals with matters of the heart.

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Daily Wisdom
May 22, 2020

Thinking
“To have ideas is to gather flowers. To think is to weave them into garlands.”

-Anne-Sophie Swetchine, 1869

I love this! We gather ideas all the time, yet if we do nothing with them, they whither and die like flowers do over time. But if we take the time to do something with them, something creative, organized, and original – then we are taking our ideas to a new level, where they live on and bring extended benefits to the world! It’s the “what if” the “how” and the “why” that gets our juices flowing

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Daily Tarot: The Chariot

It may start out as an ordinary day but a situation may arise that uncovers talents that you had no clue you had. Be adaptable and be willing to say, “Yes, I’ll give that a try,” rather than automatically saying, “Well I’m not sure. I’ve never done that before.” Be positive, optimistic, and sure of yourself. It’s the perfect day to learn something useful and profitable as well as exciting.

astrology.com

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About Cat’s Morning Bits: These daily posts 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 May 15, 2020

Posted on May 15, 2020 by Cat

Cat’s Morning Bits for May 15, 2020

Blessings, Cat

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May Events & Holidays

May 18 Victoria Day (Canada)

May 22 New Moon at 10:38 am PST/ 11:38 am MST/ 1:38 pm EST

May 25 Memorial Day (USA)

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Would that thou could’st last for aye,
Merry, ever-merry May!
Made of sun-gleams, shade and showers,
Bursting buds, and breathing flowers.
-William D. Gallagher (1808-94)

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Spirit Library: Karmic Completion (a message from Kate Spreckley)

The evolutionary growth of humanity is increasing quite dramatically as each and every human being is impacted by the current global situation. The intense energy we are experiencing is radically quickening our awakening process bringing deep and lasting change and transformation

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The Pagan Library: The Albion Song by JenniferSmith

Fading away in the mists of time
The Older Gods did go.
And we mere mortals left behind
with Younger Gods to know.
And now they too are fading fast
And we are left alone.
And, oh, my love
I grieve the past and long to go back home.

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ThoughtCo: Saraswati: The Vedic Goddess of Knowledge and Arts

Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, music, art, wisdom, and nature, represents the free flow of wisdom and consciousness. She is the mother of the Vedas, and chants directed to her, called the ‘Saraswati Vandana’ often begin and end Vedic lessons

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MBG: Consume Rosemary To Reap Its Health Benefits

When’s the last time you consumed rosemary? Chances are, it was garnishing a chicken dish, baked in with potatoes, or maybe in a loose-leaf tea. Well, rosemary has applications out of the kitchen, too, and can potentially boost your mood, memory, and gut health. Here’s what you need to know about the easiest and most effective way to reap the benefits of this powerful herb

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Daily Dream Meaning: Hiding

1. If the dreamer is doing the hiding, there is a part of him that is “hidden,” even from him, that perhaps needs to come to the surface and be looked at.
2. If the dreamer hides an object from someone else, then he is concealing something that perhaps needs to be revealed.
3. If the dreamer is searching for someone or something, there is something missing, either an idea or an actual object, that she needs to find and make use of. Other symbols in the dream could reveal exactly what that is.
Astrological parallels: Pluto, Scorpio.
Tarot parallel: The Moon.

astrology.com

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Simple Money Bowl Spell || Spellwork

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Today’s DIY: How to Make an Indoor Water Garden!

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Elephant Journal: She was Finally Awake—A Powerful Rhyme about Finding the Goddess Within

She sat there on the clifftop
reflecting upon her life—
thinking how far she had come.
Always a mother but no longer a wife.

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MNN: Norway plans to excavate a Viking ship burial for the first time in a century

For the first time in more than 100 years, the government of Norway plans to conduct a full excavation of a buried Viking ship, the country’s Ministry of Climate and Environment has announced. That could be eye-opening, researchers say, thanks to modern technology and methods that weren’t available in 1904, when the last excavation took place.

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EarthSky News: Bright star Vega on May evenings

Vega is a lovely star to come to know. When I was first learning the night sky, more than 40 years ago, I spent hours, days, weeks, months poring over charts and books. So I sometimes came to know the names and whereabouts of certain stars before seeing them in the night sky. One soft May evening

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Patheos-Pagan: Daily Witchcraft Challenges

Maybe you are at home with nothing much to do, perhaps you have slipped a little in your practice and don’t know how to get back, see my blog here for Lost Connection

Or perhaps you just like doing little challenges.

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Pagan Playlist: Sleepsong ~ Lullaby from a Secret Garden

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Inner Journey:

BEING GENUINE

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson

When we don’t know who we are — or if we are afraid to be who we are — we betray ourselves. We pretend to be who we think we are. Our self image is made up of our experiences, desires and other people’s ideas and expectations of us.

Maintaining this false self is a betrayal of ourselves. In all deep spiritual journeys, there is the experience of betrayal. Betrayal always tells us to adjust our life to be more authentic. What we identify with is all important.

There are large betrayals (e.g., your partner leaving you) and small betrayals (e.g., disappointments). They are all experiences of being wounded for the purpose of breaking down the defenses of the personality. When we allow the wounding and accept the betrayals as divine gifts, we greatly benefit.

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”
— Dr. Seuss (via Elena)

“What you must dare is to be yourself.”
— Dag Hammarskjold

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

Opportunity never stops knocking. New friends are on their way. The ideas you need will find you. You’ll have another chance. Things are getting brighter. You are feeling lighter. Love is rising. Be still. Prepare. Others will call you lucky. Your parents are so proud. You ain’t seen nothing yet.

Look out world, Cat Bolotin is stirring. A giant is waking up.

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: This Rainbow Couscous Is The Colorful Lunch Inspiration You’ve Been Looking For

We’ve all experienced, at some point, desk lunch boredom—it’s not our fault; it’s just that sometimes even our best meal prep efforts fall flat. So if you’ve exhausted all your favorite quinoa bowls, salads, and desk-lunch combos, we have just the thing you’re looking for.

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Magical Correspondences for Friday

Magickal Intentions: Love, Romance, Marriage, Sexual Matters, Physical Beauty, Friendship and Partnerships, Strangers and Heart
Incense: Strawberry, Sandalwood, Rose, Saffron, 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, Palmarosa, Rose, Yarrow
Friday belongs to Venus, and its energies are warm, sensuous, and fulfilling. Efforts that involve any type of pleasure, comfort, and luxury, as well as the arts, music, or aroma (incense and perfume), works well on this day. As Venus lends its sensuous influences to the energies of this day, use it for any magical work that deals with matters of the heart.

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Daily Wisdom
May 15, 2020

Consistency
“Consistency is contrary to nature, contrary to life. The only completely consistent people are the dead.”

-Aldous Huxley

It is our nature to grow and to change. We evolve. We learn. Sometimes we shake things up with our new views and opinions – but that just promotes more growth. Sometimes we have to prune the dead branches from a tree in order for the new buds to have room to grow and for the tree to be healthy and thrive. We can prune away our outdated thinking, and leave room for expansion

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Daily Tarot: The Sun

The Sun shines bright and shows that all will be revealed today. You have a clear romantic path and all of the dark days associated with recent disappointments are over. A hidden truth is revealed, and everything negative associated with it goes away once it is brought to light. There is no arrogance linked with growth today. You deserve the all good things that come your way.

astrology.com

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About Cat’s Morning Bits: These daily posts 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 May 8, 2020

Posted on May 8, 2020 by Cat

Cat’s Morning Bits for May 8, 2020

Blessings, Cat

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May Events & Holidays

May 10 Mother’s Day

May 13 Celtic Tree Month of Hawthorn begins

May 14 Moon in 3rd Qtr. at 7:02 am PST /8:02 am MST/10:02 am EST

May 18 Victoria Day (Canada)

May 22 New Moon at 10:38 am PST/ 11:38 am MST/ 1:38 pm EST

May 25 Memorial Day (USA)

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In May, when sea-winds pierced our solitudes,
I found the fresh Rhodora in the woods,
Spreading its leafless blooms in a damp nook,
To please the desert and the sluggish brook.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-82)

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Spirit Library: Reflect & Accept (a message from Kate Spreckley)

Light is illuminating the earth igniting within us a renewed sense of purpose and passion. We are being asked to consciously recommit to our purpose and to let go of anything that may be holding us back from building a new, sustainable future

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ThoughtCo: Lunar Folklore

The moon is, in terms of distance, the closest heavenly body to earth. We can see it in the sky for three weeks out of four, and for thousands of years, people have used its light to guide them in the dark. In addition to the personification of the moon as deity, there are all kinds of fascinating legends and myths associated with the moon and its cycles.

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MBG: A Beginner’s Guide To Reading Palms

If you’ve already memorized your astrology chart, calculated and recalculated your numerology life path, and perfected your tarot pull, reading palms might be your next form of divination and character assessment. Here’s what you need to know to do a basic palm reading on yourself or a friend.

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Daily Dream Meaning: Robber

1. If the dreamer is concerned about safety, security, and financial affairs, this dream could reflect those fears. Whether the fear – that someone in some way is going to rip you off – is real or not depends on the circumstances and other symbols in the dream.
2. If the dreamer is looking for love, this could represent a warning: The dreamer could meet and fall for someone fascinating, but who has an agenda of his or her own and could end up breaking the dreamer’s heart.

astrology.com

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Wise Woman Herbal Ezine: Hawthorn and the Celebration of the May: A Series… A Hawthorn Love Potion by EagleSong Gardener

I enjoy tending several hawthorns in the hoop of life I travel each year. The hawthorns are among my favored allies because of their persistence, sense of humor and down right tenacity.

I travel the highways and byways of the Snoqualmie, Skykomish and Snohomish rivers for most of my herbal interplay now days. Settling into this triad of rivers and the medicine found here is an ongoing exploration in a layered, well-lived life.

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Today’s DIY: How to Grow Ginger in Containers And Get a Huge Harvest

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Elephant Journal: 8 Mantras for the Days when we’re just Not Okay.

There are days when you wake up and you don’t feel like doing anything.
Nothing makes you happy and you just don’t know the reason behind feeling like this.

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MNN: ‘Rebel botanists’ use sidewalk chalk to help people connect with nature

When Sophie Leguil hits the streets near her home in London, she’s armed with sidewalk chalk. The French ecologist and botanist is one of an army of “rebel botanists” working to identify the little-known and underappreciated wild plants that grow along the sidewalks and curbs of cities throughout Europe.

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EarthSky News: Arc to Arcturus, spike to Spica

Tonight, look outside in the evening and learn a phrase useful to sky watchers. The phrase is: follow the arc to Arcturus, and drive a spike (or speed on) to Spica. You can use this phrase in any year.

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Patheos-Pagan: Following Nature’s Rhythm To Lavender Cookies

Spring has made it to Michigan!

Well, I live in modest hope that consistent warmer temperatures are in my near future. The sun made a grand appearance after several weeks of rain and chilly temperatures which even by Michigan standards are unusual by this point in May.

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Pagan Playlist: The Hobbit (Part 3): ‘Lament For Thorin’ by Eurielle (Inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien) – Lyric Video

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Inner Journey:

Give yourself free time

“What is it that makes all of us end each day with the sense that we have not lived our time, but have been lived, used by what we do?”
— Jacob Needleman

How can you free up more time for yourself?

All of the great masters counsel that we need time daily for solitude. And if our journey in life is to become more aware of who we are, then surely we need some free time each day to explore our inner landscapes and uncover our passions.

What activities can you cut out of your life to give you more growing room?

“Life is made up of moments, small pieces of glittering mica in a long, stretch of gray cement. It would be wonderful if they came to us unsummoned, but particularly in lives as busy as the ones most of us lead now, that won’t happen. We have to teach ourselves how to make room for them, to love them, and to live, really live.”
— Anna Quindlen

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe
There once was a time in your very own planet’s history, long, long ago, when the earth was truly a paradise. The diversity of life was as mind-boggling as it was spectacular. Flowers sprang up in impossible places. Birds and their songs filled the air over every continent. Snow, fog, showers, or sunshine added sometimes shocking and unexpected beauty to every setting. Animals were loved as family members. And complete strangers smiled and waved to one another, as it was everyone’s natural instinct to be kind, to give, and to love.

Yeah, very little has changed.

See the good,

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Chicken Ranch Enchiladas

I got this recipe from my cousin and now this is my favorite dish. The ranch dressing mix adds nice flavor.

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Magical Correspondences for Friday

Magickal Intentions: Love, Romance, Marriage, Sexual Matters, Physical Beauty, Friendship and Partnerships, Strangers and Heart
Incense: Strawberry, Sandalwood, Rose, Saffron 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
Friday belongs to Venus, and its energies are warm, sensuous, and fulfilling. Efforts that involve any type of pleasure, comfort, and luxury, as well as the arts, music, or aroma (incense and perfume) works well on this day. As Venus lends its sensuous influences to the energies of this day, use it for any magical work that deals with matters of the heart.

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Daily Wisdom
May 8, 2020
Fortune
“To be thrown upon one’s own resources, is to be cast into the very lap of fortune; for our faculties then undergo a development and display an energy of which they were previously unsusceptible.”

-Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

Sometimes something we see as misfortune at the time can turn out to be one of the best things that has ever happened to us. Maybe it’s a wake-up call – something that spurs us on to achieve. Whatever it is, we have to have faith that all of the resources we need we already have. We can do anything

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Daily Tarot: The World

You may not expect or even want it, but today you will be properly acknowledged and even honored for a skill, talent, or accomplishment. Your big heart will also be appreciated. Some sort of public reward is possible, if only in the form of praise, which can be transformed into something more tangible later. If not seeking validation or kudos, be on the alert because it’s coming. You’ve earned it!

astrology.com

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

I invite you to check out my websites!

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

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

Cat’s Morning Bits for April 24, 2020

Posted on April 24, 2020 by Cat

Cat’s Morning Bits for April 24, 2020

Blessings, Cat

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April Events & Holidays

April 24 Arbor Day

April 30 Walprgis Night

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Summer, fall, winter, spring,
The seasons rotate as each brings
Its special beauty to this Earth of ours.
Winter’s snow and summer’s flowers;
Frozen rivers will flow come spring,
There is a renewal of everything.
-Edna Frohock (1906-97)

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Spirit Library: Find Meaning (a message from Kate Spreckley)

Consciousness is expanding as humanity rises to a new level of awareness and understanding. Our experience of life is changing, reality is transforming and our perceptions are shifting.

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ThoughtCo: 8 Common Belief Systems in the Modern Pagan Community

Not all Pagans are Wiccans, and not all Pagan paths are the same. From Asatru to Druidry to Celtic Reconstructionism, there are plenty of Pagan groups out there to choose from. Read on and learn about the differences and the similarities.

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MBG: 17 People Share How Quarantine Has Changed Their Perspective On Nature

During a time when it feels like so much has been taken away, the natural world outside our windows remains. Our plans may be on an indefinite pause, but our environment keeps carrying on all the same. In honor of Earth Day, here, 17 members of the mbg community share how they are watching it with a new sense of appreciation and awareness:

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Daily Dream Meaning: Guns

1. In Freudian dream analysis, a symbol for physical passion. If the dreamer is the one doing the shooting, then he is consciously or unconsciously searching for a partner. If the dreamer is the one being shot, someone out there feels desire for him.
2. The release, or need for release, of pent-up anger. Again, if the dreamer is doing the shooting, she needs to control her temper and find a positive way to release her anger. If she is the victim, then someone is angry with her.
3. Something important coming up, implying a need to “get out the big guns.”
Astrological parallel: Mars/Uranus combinations.
Tarot parallel: The Tower.

astrology.com

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Today’s DIY: A Spring Spell

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Elephant Journal: A Quickie Coronavirus Crystal Relief Ritual

Being quarantined can feel at times restful and restorative, and other times frustrating and stressful.
If you find yourself in the latter category, sometimes adding a little something extra to your routine can help. While yoga, binge watching true crime, and taking up cross stitching are certainly worthy pursuits, I recommend adding some dazzle to your day by working with crystals.

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MNN: 12 incredible facts about lemurs

Lemurs are easy to love. They’re cute, charismatic and oddly humanlike, which isn’t just a coincidence. Lemurs are primates like us, and while they’re not as closely related to people as chimpanzees and other apes are, they’re still family.

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EarthSky News: Venus at its brightest in late April

Late April 2020 presents the planet Venus at its brightest as the evening “star” for all of this year. No matter where you live worldwide, look west after sunset to marvel at this brilliant beauty lighting up the evening dusk first thing after sunset.

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Patheos-Pagan: Walpurgisnacht: Fertility Rite. Witches Night. And All That Jazz.

So, as we near the end of April there is a Spring celebration coming up — Beltane and Walpurgisnacht (Walpurgis Night). Today, I have decided to take a look at Walpurgisnacht. What is the history behind the observance and why might it be important for me as a Witch?

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Pagan Playlist: Faun – Gaia

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Inner Journey:

Capture your inspiration!

“Ideas can come from anywhere and at any time. The problem with making mental notes is that the ink fades very rapidly.”
— Rolf Smith

Insights and inspiration come to us for a reason. Don’t let them disappear on you!

When a great idea pops into your mind, write it down and capture it. Keep a mini-journal or piece of paper with you at all times.

Reflect on your insights. How might you anchor this great idea so it enhances your life?

“Everyone who has ever taken a shower has had an idea. It’s the person who gets out of the shower, dries off, and does something about it that makes a difference.”
— Nolan Bushnell

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe
I have to tell you that one of the greatest things about being the Universe, is knowing absolutely everything.

Well, that and making dreams come true.

I also love being eternal… and having no limits.

Creating worlds simply with thought.

Knowing that reality is unfolding just exactly as it should.

Having it all, being it all, doing it all.

And I like being perpetually in love… and loved.

How ’bout you? What’s your favorite thing about being the Universe?

Tallyho,

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Ma’amoul (Lebanese Date Cookies)

After a few phone calls with my mom and grandma, I managed to write a detailed recipe for one of my favorite Lebanese sweets, ma’amoul. They take time to make, but are not very difficult. Wooden ma’amoul molds give them their distinctive decorative shapes.

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Magical Correspondences for Friday

Magickal Intentions: Love, Romance, Marriage, Sexual Matters, Physical Beauty, Friendship and Partnerships, Strangers and Heart
Incense: Strawberry, Sandalwood, Rose, Saffron 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, Palmarosa, Rose, Yarrow
Friday belongs to Venus, and its energies are warm, sensuous, and fulfilling. Efforts that involve any type of pleasure, comfort, and luxury, as well as the arts, music, or aroma (incense and perfume) works well on this day. As Venus lends its sensuous influences to the energies of this day, use it for any magical work that deals with matters of the heart.

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Daily Wisdom
April 24,

Future
“If we can recognize that change and uncertainty are basic principles, we can greet the future and the transformation we are undergoing with the understanding that we do not know enough to be pessimistic.”

-Hazel Henderson (1981)
One of my favorite books of all time is Martin Seligman’s “Learned Optimism.” It is a classic, and it makes so much sense. The subtitle is “How to Change Your Mind and Your Life.” It’s just a matter of looking at things, including the future, differently. It can make a huge difference in how we experience things.

Lissa Coffey

Coffeytalk.com

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Daily Tarot: The Magician

It may be hard to be serious and stick to those dull but crucial tasks that keep the day running smoothly. Be systematic, cheerful, and don’t let it show if you feel undervalued or underappreciated. Save your sharp wit and cleverness for another time and place. Time spent with younger people or children can lift your spirits and keep things in perspective for you.

astrology.com

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

I invite you to check out my websites!

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

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

Cat’s Morning Bits for April 17, 2020

Posted on April 17, 2020 by Cat

Cat’s Morning Bits for April 17, 2020

Blessings, Cat

_________________________

April Events & Holidays

April 22 Earth Day

April 22 New Moon at 7:25 pm PST/ 8:25 pm MST/ 10:25 pm EST

April 23 Ramadan

April 24 Arbor Day

April 30 Walprgis Night

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

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Spirit Library: Do Not Resist Change (a message from Kate Spreckley)

The incoming energy is intensifying the need for change and transformation both internally and externally. The energy sweeping the planet now is supporting the dissolution of the old and the breakdown of the very foundations upon which our reality was built.

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ThoughtCo: Gods and Goddesses of Death and the Underworld

Death is rarely so apparent than it as at Samhain. The skies have gone gray, the earth is brittle and cold, and the fields have been picked of the last crops.

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from Wise Woman Herbal Ezine: Emotional Freedom Techniques

How to Get That Extra Mile From Your Herbal Medicines
With a Simple ‘Tapping’ Procedure”
by Karen Lewis

Having qualifications in the use of Herbal Medicine, I know that herbs, these beautiful, gentle remedies provided by Mother Nature, do a wonderful job of restoring our bodies to a state of balance and wholeness, working as well as many modern drugs, but with few, if any, of the toxic side effects. Utilize the right selection of herbs and you can get fantastic results

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MBG: How To Connect To & Trust Your Intuition In A Time Of Crisis

During challenging times, your intuition can be heightened to give you extra support. The problem is, when you’re dealing with a crisis, it’s also natural to feel scattered and emotional. This can make you distrust your intuition or make it harder to discern what’s helpful intuitive guidance from toxic fear or wishful thinking.

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Daily Dream Meaning: Fireworks

1. Watching fireworks burst into a rain of light in the sky is an omen of great good fortune ahead, particularly in romance.
2. If someone throws a firecracker at you, this is a sign of trouble, probably because of someone else. But if the firecracker turns out to be a dud, that person will not succeed.
3. Sparklers and Roman candles are portents of an increased social life and good times ahead.

astrology.com

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Daily Good: Powered by Love — an Emerging Worldview

“There is a worldview that has come to dominate every aspect of global reality affecting human civilization, the natural world and planetary climate conditions. It can be summarized as the quantitative worldview. The quantitative worldview is in a crisis so deep it is leading, in an interconnected and interdependent world, to deep systemic disruptions, chaotic conditions and signs of complete failure. If this worldview were a patient receiving care it would be in intensive care on life support.There is another emerging worldview that is, from a whole world-whole systems perspective, in the natal unit being born into the world exactly as the quantitative worldview is on life support: this worldview, constituting a universal paradigm shift, can be summarized as the qualitative worldview.” James O’Dea shares more. { read more }

Be The Change

For more inspiration, read this piece on “How to Live a More Courageous Life.” Put one or more of its suggestions into action this week. { more }

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Today’s DIY: Ink, Art, and Herbalism || Weekly Vlog

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Elephant Journal: 5 Things your Dog wants you to Remember during the Covid-19 Pandemic.

My dog Peaches is an amazing being. But aren’t they all!
She touches my life, each day, in so many ways.

From little fun things to deep healing. Begging for treats and licking my nose. And meeting me in a place where words aren’t needed.

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MNN: Melting ice reveals lost Viking highway’s secret

Vikings may have captured our imagination with their larger-than-life exploits, but it’s easy to forget they were also a practical people. They built sensible settlements, engaged in trade and only occasionally indulged in psychoactive drugs before battle.

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EarthSky News: Spica, guide star to Omega Centauri

In April and throughout the month of May, let the sparkling blue-white star Spica help you find the famous Omega Centauri globular star cluster. In mid-April, Spica and Omega Centauri climb highest up for the night at or around midnight ( 1 a.m. daylight saving time)

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Patheos-Pagan: Starry Eyed Witch: Embodying The Morrigan – the Lady at the Ford

I have felt the deep stillness upon me of late, the urge to be silent, and watch, and wait. Submerged in the Other essence that laps around me, flowing out Deathwards and circling my frame. The currents speak of cycles reborn, of blood washing clean of generational wounding, or Prophecy in the water.

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Pagan Playlist: Blackbriar – Snow White and Rose Red (feat. Ulli Perhonen)

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Inner Journey:

WHAT HEALS?

“Paradoxically, a group of humans becomes healing and converting only after its members have learned to stop trying to heal and convert. Community is a safe place precisely because no one is attempting to heal or convert you, to fix you, to change you. Instead, the members accept you as you are. You are free to be you. And being so free, you are free to discard defenses, masks, disguises; free to seek your own psychological and spiritual health; free to become your whole and holy self.”
— Scott Peck

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

You and I…

We’re older than the sun, wiser than the moon, and deeper than the depths of space. We’ve always been together, we’ll always be together, and until thy Kingdom comes and we are known as One, nothing will ever change this. Whatever you can imagine, I can make happen. Whatever you want, I already have. And for as long as you have thoughts to think, dreams to weave, and seeds to sow, NOTHING, for us, will be impossible.

Ungawa!

Your other half,

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Lemon-Buttermilk Pound Cake with Aunt Evelyn’s Lemon Glaze

My mother’s blue-ribbon pound cake recipe. It always gets rave reviews.

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Magical Correspondences for Friday

Magickal Intentions: Love, Romance, Marriage, Sexual Matters, Physical Beauty, Friendship and Partnerships, Strangers and Heart
Incense: Strawberry, Sandalwood, Rose, Saffron 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
Friday belongs to Venus, and its energies are warm, sensuous, and fulfilling. Efforts that involve any type of pleasure, comfort, and luxury, as well as the arts, music, or aroma (incense and, perfume) works well on this day. As Venus lends its sensuous influences to the energies of this day, use it for any magical work that deals with matters of the heart.

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Daily Wisdom
April 17, 2020

Parents
“Children begin by loving their parents; as they grow older they judge them; sometimes they forgive them.”

-Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)
Whether or not we have children ourselves, we have parents. And, like it or not, our parents have had a huge influence in how we define ourselves. The relationship is a complex one, but it is essential to our growth. It is a part of God’s design. We have the parents we have for a reason. As we learn and grow we view these people in our lives, and our relationship with them, in different, more expanded, ways.

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Daily Tarot: The Judgement

However the day goes, you’ll be able to enjoy yourself by noticing how big a part is played by beauty in your daily existence. There is no such thing as a senseless act of kindness, since it has such power to feed and empower your soul. You can salvage the messiest situation or cheer up the unhappiest person by appreciating the wonders that are all around us

astrology.com

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

I invite you to check out my websites!

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

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

Cat’s Morning Bits for April 10, 2020

Posted on April 10, 2020 by Cat

Cat’s Morning Bits for April 10, 2020

Blessings, Cat

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April Events & Holidays

April 12 Easter

April 15 Celtic tree Month of Willow begins

April 22 Earth Day

April 22 New Moon at 7:25 pm PST/ 8:25 pm MST/ 10:25 pm EST

April 23 Ramadan

April 24 Arbor Day

April 30 Walprgis Night

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A violet by a mossy stone,
Half-hidden from the eye!
Fair as a star, when only one
Is shining in the sky.
-William Wordsworth (1770-1850)

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Spirit Library: Dawning of a New Age (a message from Kate Spreckley)

We are at the dawning of a new age. An age that is exposing the energetic soul blueprints we need to manifest our new reality. Our soul blueprints are an energetic framework which contains our pure potential.

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from Wise Woman Herbal Ezine: Make your own Bottled Sunshine..
by Corinna Wood and Lee Warren

There is no other medicinal herb that bespeaks more of sunshine than St. Johnswort, or St. J’s, as we fondly call it. It loves sunny open places, blooms at the height of summer solstice, soothes the skin after sunburn, and even brings sunshine into our lives through its mood elevating properties.

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ThoughtCo: Beltane Prayers

Beltane falls on May 1 in the Northern Hemisphers (it’s six months later for our readers below the equator) and is a time to celebrate the fertility and greening of the earth in spring. By the time Beltane rolls around, sprouts and seedlings are appearing, grass is growing.

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MBG: 3 Calming Breathing Techniques That Will Help You Stay Positive

I, like so many people, am finding it challenging to remain positive these days. Though I’m fortunate enough to be able to stay inside, cabin fever is setting in, my family is getting on each other’s nerves, and there’s a steady stream of adrenaline-producing news in the background.

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Daily Dream Meaning: Doctors

1. If the dreamer is having difficulties, help is on the way.
2. If in the dream the doctors are making a diagnosis or suggesting treatment, the dreamer should pay attention. What they’re saying may relate to a hidden health issue, or a psychological or emotional issue that needs attention.
Astrological parallel: Virgo, Pisces.
Tarot parallel: King of Cups.

astrology.com

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Daily Good: Healing Our Relationship to Reality

“As human beings we are hardwired to search for stability, security, certainty and a sense of control in our lives. And yet, life by definition is perpetually in flux, it is famously unpredictable, riddled with uncertainty and fundamentally uncontrollable. These realities are the ground on which we practice. And practicing on this ground invites us into the heart of paradox. The paradox of finding joy in the midst of relentless change, the paradox of discovering balance in the midst of uncertainty and of finding our true agency in the midst of a surrender.” This piece explores what somatic practices like yoga can offer as we navigate the realities of existence.{ read more }

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Today’s DIY: A Simple Way to Add Witchcraft to Your Everyday

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Patheos Pagan: The Corner Crone: Reclaiming a Solitary Practice

The full moon rose, large and luminous and glowing, flaming in the twilight, as creamy as buttery-fresh milk. Up, up she rose through the latticework of the oak trees, framed in a tangle of criss-crossed branches and cotton boll clouds. And there stood I, physically alone in my sacred grove of oaks and palms yet profoundly connected to All That Is with a vibrance I hadn’t experienced in a very long time.

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MNN: How to share Earth with other animals
A renowned biologist wants us to set aside half the planet for wildlife, part of a growing effort to avert the first man-made mass extinction.

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EarthSky News: Use the Big Dipper to find the Little Dipper

So you say you can find the Big Dipper, but not the Little Dipper? This post is for you. Here’s the view northward on April evenings. At present the Big Dipper is high in the north during the evening hours. Notice the two outer stars in the bowl of the Big Dipper. These two stars – called Duhbe and Merak – always point to Polaris, the North Star. Find Polaris, and you can find the Little Dipper.

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Patheos-Pagan: Plant Spirit Familiars

For millennia mankind has turned to the natural world for answers to the mysteries of life. The laws governing all things both seen and unseen can be understood through observation and interaction with nature. Our lives are inextricably linked to the natural world no matter how sterile and far removed our lives have become.

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Pagan Playlist: Damh The Bard – Ceridwen and Taliesin

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Inner Journey:

PERFECTIONISM

“We have the need to be accepted and to be loved by others, but we cannot accept and love ourselves. The more self-love we have, the less we will experience self-abuse. Self-abuse comes from self-rejection, and self-rejection comes from having an image of what it means to be perfect and never measuring up to that ideal. Our image of perfection is the reason we reject ourselves the way we are, and why we don’t accept others the way they are.”
— Don Miguel Ruiz

“The maxim ‘Nothing but perfection’ may be spelled ‘Paralysis.'”
— Winston Churchill

“After enough mirror gazing, we all develop our ‘cosmic sense of humor.’ We no longer try to be perfect, or try to get all our work done in time. We become content with whatever life brings. Just to deal with what comes up without crucifying ourselves or others is enough of a challenge.”
— Paul Ferrini

“Good enough never is.”
— Debbi Fields

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

A coincidence?

Do you think it’s just a coincidence that you look exactly as you do?

Do you think your height, the color of your eyes, or the sound of your voice were accidents?

Do you think your insights into life, your gifts of perception, or your sense of humor were the result of random genetics?

No. You are exactly as you now are, with every freckle, trait, and charm, because they all added up to how you could make the biggest difference with your life in time and space, while having the most fun.

In appreciation,

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Dave’s Big Raisin Cookies

Here is Dave’s Big Raisin cookies, the best you can find.

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Magical Correspondences for Friday

Magickal Intentions: Love, Romance, Marriage, Sexual Matters, Physical Beauty, Friendship and Partnerships, Strangers and Heart
Incense: Strawberry, Sandalwood, Rose, Saffron 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, Palmarosa, Rose, Yarrow
Friday belongs to Venus, and its energies are warm, sensuous, and fulfilling. Efforts that involve any type of pleasure, comfort, and luxury, as well as the arts, music, or aroma (incense and perfume) works well on this day. As Venus lends its sensuous influences to the energies of this day, use it for any magical work that deals with matters of the heart.

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Daily Wisdom
April 10, 2020

Meaning
“One needs something to believe in, something which one can have whole-hearted enthusiasm. One needs to feel that one’s life has meaning, that one is needed in this world.”

-Hannah Senesh (1938)
It’s that passion, that purpose, that spurs us forward in life. We know that there is more to life than just paying the bills and hanging out. But that “more” is different for each one of us. Understanding that Life has meaning is one thing, but we must also understand that our own lives have meaning. We’re here for a reason. And it’s up to each one of us to discover just what that reason is and to embrace it whole-heartedly!

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Daily Tarot: Justice

Be an impartial observer in your own love life today. Instead of complaining that things aren’t fair, try to be honest and loyal even if you don’t get the same in return. Serve as a peacemaker. Justice says that there’s no use in trying to keep track of all of the ways you’ve been wronged, because everything evens out in the end.

astrology.com

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

I invite you to check out my websites!

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

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

Cat’s Morning Bits for April 3, 2020

Posted on April 3, 2020 by Cat

Cat’s Morning Bits for April 3, 2020

Blessings, Cat

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April Events & Holidays

April 7 Full Pink Moon & Super Moon at 7:35 pm PST/ 8:35 pm MST/ 10:35 pm EST

April 12 Easter

April 15 Celtic tree Month of Willow begins

April 22 Earth Day

April 22 New Moon at 7:25 pm PST/ 8:25 pm MST/ 10:25 pm EST

April 23 Ramadan

April 24 Arbor Day

April 30 Walprgis Night

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Everyone suddenly burst out singing;
And I was filled with such delight
As prisoned birds must find in freedom
Winging wildly across the white
Orchards and dark green fields; on; on; and out of sight.
-Siegfried Sassoon (1886-1967)

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Spirit Library: Look Beyond the Darkness (a message from Kate Spreckley)

Our world has shifted and will continue to do so as all of humanity is being drawn into a time uncertainty. There is much speculation surrounding this time of extreme change and transformation. We are all feeling the intensity of this process which is greatly affecting the collective consciousness.

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Pioneer Thinking: Detoxifying Healing Bath & Foot Bath

Try this detoxifying and healing bath or foot soak with natural sea salts. Natural sea salts are rich in minerals and charged with electrical and healing properties that you can especially benefit from in a warm bath.

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ThoughtCo: How to Celebrate Beltane

With roots in the British Isles, Beltane is a celebration that falls midway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. It honors spring at its peak and the coming summer.

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MBG: .”I Take It One Day At A Time” & 6 More Mantras To Ease Fear Of The Unknown

We’re living in a turbulent and confusing time, to say the least. Climate change disasters are spanning the globe, and the coronavirus has left so many of us questioning an unknown future. Uncertainty about life can keep us feeling disconnected, anxious, and fearful.

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Daily Dream Meaning: Church or Cathedral

1. If a small, rustic church, then the dreamer will find spiritual insight under very simple and ordinary conditions.
2. If an ordinary, modern church, the dreamer may find friends who share his or her spiritual path.
3. If a cathedral, joy and spiritual fulfillment lie ahead.
Astrological parallel: Sagittarius.
Tarot parallel: The Pope.

astrology.com

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Daily Good: Humanity’s Wake Up Call

“The rapid spread of novel coronavirus has prompted government, business, and civil society to take dramatic action–canceling events large and small, restricting travel, and shutting down major segments of the economy on which nearly all of us depend. It is a demonstration of our ability, when the imperative is clear, for deep and rapid global cooperation and change at a previously unimaginable speed and scale.There is an obvious desire to protect ourselves and our loved ones. But we are also seeing something more as communities mobilize to address the crisis–a sense of mutual responsibility, born of a recognition that we are ultimately bound to a common fate.” David Korten shares more.{ read more }

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Today’s DIY: Prosperity Spell || Blackberry Thumbprint Cookies || Recipe and Spell

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MNN: Shinrin-yoku: A deep dive into forest bathing
Even indoor plants can have a positive effect on your mental health.

A friend from France once said the best lunch in Paris is a baguette, cheese, a bottle of wine and a park bench. She didn’t know it, but she had hit on the concept of a preventative form of nature therapy called shinrin-yoku, which was introduced half-a-world-away in Japan in 1982.

Read more…..
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EarthSky News: Follow the arc to Arcturus, drive a spike to Spica

Follow the arc to Arcturus, and drive a spike to Spica. Scouts learn this phrase. Grandparents teach it to kids. It was one of the first sky tools I learned to use in astronomy.

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Patheos-Pagan: A Witch At Home – 13 Ways to Muster Your Solitary Practice

A lot of folks right now are dealing with the challenge of sheltering in place. Maybe you’re working from home for the first time, or are dealing with the stress of not being able to work at all.

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Pagan Playlist: Eivør – Í Tokuni

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Inner Journey:

GIVING CHOICE

“Freedom of choice is more to be treasured than any possession earth can give.”
— David O. McKay

I want to choose the details of my life. Fortunately, I’ve come to appreciate how important it is to give others the freedom to choose their own paths.

None of us wants our choice robbed from us. I can’t know what’s best for anyone but me. So why give unsolicited advice to others and expect them to follow it?

“The truest characters of ignorance are vanity, and pride and arrogance.”
— Samuel Butler

“What man wants is simply independent choice, whatever that may cost and wherever it may lead.”
— Fyodor Dostoyevsky

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe
Invariably, when big dreams come true, and I mean BIG, there is a total metamorphosis of one’s life. Thoughts change, words change, decisions are made differently. Gratitude is tossed about like rice at a wedding. Priorities are rearranged and optimism soars. Yeah, those folks can be really annoying.

You could have guessed all of that, huh? But would you have guessed that these changes invariably come about before, not after, the big dream’s manifestation?

Woohooooooo,

The Universe
tut.com
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Today’s Recipe: Baked Teriyaki Chicken

A much requested chicken recipe! Easy to double for a large group. Delicious!

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Magical Correspondences for Friday

Intentions: Love, Pleasure, Affairs of the Heart, Romance, Marriage, Sexual Matters, Physical Beauty, Friendship and Partnerships, Strangers, Peace, Healing, Beauty, gentleness and Women’s Issues.

Incense: Strawberry, Sandalwood, Rose, Saffron, Verbena and Vanilla
Planet: Venus
Sign: Libra and Taurus
Angel: Ariel
Colors: Green, Pink, Aqua
Herbs/Plants: Pink Rose, Ivy, Birch, Heather, Clematis, Sage, Violet and Water Lilly

Stones: Rose Quartz, Moonstone, Pink Tourmaline, Peridot, Emerald and Jade
Oil: (Venus) Cardamom, Palmrosa, Rose, Yarrow, Apple Blossom, Musk, Ambergris

Goddesses: Astarte, Aphrodite, Erzulie, Aida Wedo, Eve, Venus, Freya, Diana, Aset [Isis], The Witch Of Gaeta, Chalchiuhtlique

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Daily Wisdom
April 3, 2020

Mystery
“No object is mysterious. The mystery is your eye.”

-Elizabeth Bowen, 1936
Like beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so is mystery. The questions we ask when we observe something are all our own. What is going on in our mind’s eye? What definition are we giving to an object? What emotion are we attaching to it? And the miracle is that we can see and perceive an object! It’s this whole process that is mysterious, and beautiful
-Lissa Coffey
coffeytalk.com
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Daily Tarot: The Star

The Star is one of the most positive cards of the Tarot. It represents a great sign of hope, and lets you know that everything you have gone through to this point, you’ve gone through for a reason. You’re on the right path now, and romantic happiness will soon be yours. You can count on your inner strength to guide you even when you feel as though you’ve lost your direction.

astrology.com

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About Cat’s Morning Bits: These daily posts 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 March 20, 2020 ” Ostara Edition”

Posted on March 20, 2020 by Cat

Cat’s Morning Bits for March 20, 2020

Blessings, Cat

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March Events & Holidays

March 20: Ostara/ Spring Equinox

March 24: New Moon : 2:28 am PST./ 3:28 am MST/ 5:28 am EST

March 27: Easter

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For glad Spring has begun,
And to the ardent sun
The earth, long time so bleak,
Turns a frost-bitten cheek.
-Celia Thaxter (1835-94)

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Spirit Library: Be Courageous & Daring (a message from Kate Spreckley)

Currently we are in a phase of collapse where the old destructive patterns of the world are failing and disintegrating. At the same time new energetic structures, which are in harmony with the universal laws and principles of balance, are being established

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Pagan Library: Ostara Return to Us by Savannah Skye

The wheel has turned to our Goddess
Our lovely Maiden Goddess
Goddess Ostara
Who will return to us

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ThoughtCo: Deities of the Spring Equinox

Spring is a time of great celebration in many cultures. It’s the time of year when the planting begins, people begin to once more enjoy the fresh air, and we can reconnect with the earth again after the long, cold winter.

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Pagan Library: Spring Sabbat Incense

Anon

3 parts Frankincense
2 parts Sandalwood
1 part Benzoin
1 part Cinnamon
a few drops Patchouli oil

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Daily Dream Meaning: Rain

1. If the rain is a gentle one, and especially if rainbows are present, this is a positive symbol, foreshadowing the coming of a peaceful interlude and much happiness.
2. If the rain is heavy, this indicates a change in the dreamer’s financial fortunes. Depending on his circumstances, it could be a windfall or a major setback.
3. A major thunderstorm with thunder and lightning indicates a sudden and unexpected increase in wealth, possibly through a legacy.
Astrological parallel: Venus.
Tarot parallel: The Wheel of Fortune.

astrology.com

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“Gwyl Canol GwenWynol or Eostre: (pronounced E-ostra, also known as Ostara, Spring Equinox etc.), March 21-23. Time of equal day and equal night. This is often celebrated with eggs (beginnings) and rabbits (fertiity) … see the theme? It is now time to lay the seeds of new projects and new directions that you have meditated on throughout the cold months. Now is the time to start taking action. (A lot of traditions use this particular sabbat for initiations. New roads, a new breath.) Colours for this sabbat: Purple and Yellow. The Spring Equinox defines the season where Spring reaches it’s apex, halfway through its journey from Candlemas to Beltane. Night and day are in perfect balance, with the powers of light on the ascendancy. The god of light now wins a victory over his twin, the god of darkness. In the Welsh Mabinogion, this is the day on which the restored Llew takes his vengeance on Goronwy by piercing him with the sunlight spear. For Llew was restored/reborn at the Winter Solstice and is now well/old enough to vanquish his rival/twin and mate with his lover/mother. And the great Mother Goddess, who has returned to her Virgin aspect at Candlemas, welcomes the young sun god’s embraces and conceives a child. The child will be born nine months from now, at the next Winter Solstice. And so the cycle closes at last to begin anew. The customs surrounding the celebration of the spring equinox were imported from Mediterranean lands, although there can be no doubt that the first inhabitants of the British Isles observed it, as evidence from megalithic sites shows. But it was certainly more popular to the south, where people celebrated the holiday as New Year’s Day, and claimed it as the first day of the first sign of the Zodiac, Aries. However you look at it, it is certainly a time of new beginnings, as a simple glance at Nature will prove.”
– Spring Equinox

gardendigest.com

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Today’s Music: – Ostara – Lisa Thiel

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Elephant Journal: Remembering the Spring Equinox—in the Dead of a Worldwide Winter.

Outside my windows, burgundy shoots are dancing on the ends of maple trees, in their metamorphosis to leaves.
That these leaves begin their lives red as blood, long before they turn to green, is not lost on me.

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The Spring Equinox is associated with, or known as: Alban Eilir, Eostar, Eostre, Feast of Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Festival of Trees, Lady Day, NawRuz, No Ruz, Ostara, Ostra, Rites of Spring, and the Vernal Equinox.

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EarthSky News: Fastest sunsets happen near equinoxes

Here’s a natural phenomenon you might never have imagined. That is, the sun actually rises and sets faster around the time of an equinox. In 2020, the vernal equinox falls on March 20 at 3:50 UTC; translate to your time zone. The fastest sunsets (and sunrises) happen at or near the equinoxes. And the slowest sunsets (and sunrises) happen at or near the solstices.

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Patheos-Pagan: Ostara: What Are You Planting?

As the warmth of spring starts to loosen the grip of winter’s cold, the quickening of Imbolc transforms from thought and desire into action. The energies of new beginnings and rebirth are everywhere and seeds are planted, literally and metaphorically, for the coming harvest.

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Inner Journey:

NATURAL VIBRATIONS

“I sing the body electric.”
— Walt Whitman

The water that makes up so much of our bodies is like ocean water. The salt crystals in this water vibrate at ever-changing frequencies. Our hearts are the emotional centers of our bodies, and they put out frequencies that are 10 times the power of the frequencies of our brains.

When we are happy, we vibrate at a higher frequency than when we are angry or sad. Our emotions change the chemical composition of the water in our systems. That’s why happy tears taste different than tears of sadness.

Experiencing physical, emotional and mental stillness harmonizes the vibrational output of the body, heart and mind and we become stronger.

“The message we give our bodies — one of irritation or acceptance — is the message to which our bodies will answer.”
— Deb Shapiro

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe
Ever wonder what the world would be like without you?

Who would shine a light into all the dark corners you now illuminate? Who would comfort, guide, and inspire all those you now reach? Who would smile to those who need yours the most?

We do.

All the time.

And it ain’t pretty.

Here’s lookin’ at you,

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: How To Celebrate Ostara With Lavender Cookies and Spring Greens

One of my favorite Ostara flavors is lavender. It’s great in sugar cookies, as long as you use a sparing hand. You can also burn it as a lovely incense. To me, the smell and flavor are so reminiscent of the garden season which is to come. Every year I look forward to the green things coming up.

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Magical Correspondences for Ostara

Deities: Fertility deities, youthful deities, love goddesses, the Green Man, Gaia, Cerrunos, Eostre, Persephone, Thoth, Odin, Osiris, Isis, Venus, Pan, Athena.

Symbols for Ostara: Eggs, rabbits, snakes, unicorns, pegasus

Colors: Pastels, grass green, robins egg blue, violet, light pink and white

Stones: Moonstone, aquamarine, rose quartz, quartz crystal, amethyst.

Herbs/Incense: Jasmine, myrrh, rose petals, strawberry, sage, cinnamon, frankincense, orange peel, nutmeg.

Plants: Bulb plants, crocus, daffodils, Irish moss, ginger, snowdrops.

Foods: Eggs, the first fruits of the season, seeds, leafy greens, cheese, ham

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Daily Wisdom
March 20, 2020

Reason
“Reason consists of always seeing things as they are.”

-Voltaire (1694-1778)
“What is” is the truth. When we start going off on what “should be” or “could be” or “would be” then we’re living a life of illusion. Why create confusion and conflict? Accept what is. Love what is. Work with what is. That’s reasonable. Yes, we can make changes – but only when we start from a place of clear understanding.

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Daily Tarot: The Hermit

Are you questioning which path to take next in your love life? The Hermit is pictured in solitary reflection, so spend some time considering your options by yourself before you make your final decision. Asking others their opinion will most likely only confuse the situation. It isn’t too early to plan for something you really want to happen in the future.

astrology.com

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About Cat’s Morning Bits: These daily posts 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 March 13, 2020

Posted on March 13, 2020 by Cat

Cat’s Morning Bits for March 13, 2020

Blessings, Cat

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May you have warm words on a cold evening, a full Moon on a dark night, and the road downhill all the way to your door.
-Irish blessing
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Spirit Library: Integrating (a message from Kate Spreckley)

We are being pushed, prodded, challenged and driven to move beyond our past history and detach from our old patterns, beliefs and attitudes. We are being called to take responsibility for the imbalances in our life, our environment and in our world. As a result, we may be thrown out of balance momentarily so that we may realign, reconstruct and rebuild our lives in ways that are more supportive, responsible and sustainable.

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ThoughtCo: A Year of Pagan Sabbat Rituals
Samhain to Ostara

As the Wheel of the Year turns and the eight NeoPagan Sabbats pass by, many people like to celebrate with special ceremonies and rituals. Learn about the different Sabbats, what they mean, and how you can celebrate with your group or as a solitary practitioner.

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MBG: What Animal Best Represents You? This Quiz Can Help You Find Out

In the Native American tradition, spirit animals are a sacred type of spiritual guide. To pay homage to this idea (without appropriating indigenous practice), it can be valuable to think of the animal(s) that represent your current situation—your tendencies, strengths, and what you have yet to learn.

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/spirit-animal-quiz

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Daily Dream Meaning: Love

1. If the dream involves happiness in love, then happiness and contentment lie ahead. Dreaming of being happily in love augurs health and happiness through adjusting to your present circumstances. If you’re dreaming of a present lover, the dream has less significance than otherwise, though it still portends a wonderful life ahead.
2. If the dream involves an illicit or forbidden love, the dreamer is hiding things – perhaps even from herself. Illicit love, such as having an affair with someone who’s married, is a warning that you should not get greedy, and should be more realistic in what you want from life.
3. If the dream is of observing the love between two other people, this portends the consummation of some of the dreamer’s own hopes and wishes.
4. If the dream involves choosing between two rival lovers, the dreamer faces a difficult choice.
5. Dreaming of being in love with a movie star, rock star, politician, sports figure or other famous person implies being in love with someone who is out of reach. It could also imply that you desire something that this person suggests to you – glamour, talent, skill, and so forth – and so you need to discern exactly what the desired factor is. Next look to other symbols in the dream to see whether it is attainable, and if so, how to attain it.
6. To dream of being betrayed by a lover, no matter who that lover is, implies that someone out there does not have your best interests at heart, and caution in dealing with others is definitely called for.
7. Dreaming of watching others making love is a sign of forthcoming success in all enterprises.
Astrological parallel: Venus.
Tarot parallel: The Lovers.

astrology.com

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Pioneer Thinking: Honey and The Honeymoon

Did you know that the word honeymoon traces its roots back to ancient times? In some cultures, mead (a drink made with honey) was given to newlyweds during their first month of marriage to increase fertility.

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Today’s DIY: Sea shell candle stand

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MNN: These award-winning photos capture the drama of nature
See the winners of the International Garden Photographer of the Year contest.

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EarthSky News: Use Big Dipper to locate Hunting Dogs

Tonight, or any March evening, look for the Big Dipper in the northeast sky. This star pattern – one of the most noticeable from Northern Hemisphere locations – is part of the constellation Ursa Major, the Great Bear

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Patheos-Pagan: Elderberry Booster Brew as Anti-Viral Defensive Magick

A most important herbal defense against viruses comes from the Elderberry, Sambucus Nigra. This is the fruit of the Black Elder tree native to North America, Europe and Western Asia. The Elder tree is considered a sacred tree of the Goddess, and in the Rede of the Wicca poem

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Inner Journey:

WHAT HEALS?

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

There are only miracles and to one degree or another they all soothe, pamper, and enrich. However, to avoid blowing too many minds at once, some are disguised as unpleasant surprises, botched circumstances, and twisted acquaintances that can rarely be seen for who or what they truly are until the pendulum has fully swung.

Yes… don’t I think of everything?

Duck!

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Spanish Garlic Toast

“When we lived in Barcelona we used to eat this all the time. Warning! Everyone has to eat this. If you don’t the garlic smell will drive you out of the room

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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
March 13, 2020

Animals
“The behavior of men to the lower animals, and their behavior to each other, bear a constant relationship.”

-Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)
This is sure something to think about. Maybe when we learn to respect and appreciate other animals, we can more readily respect and appreciate our fellow human being. Maybe it’s as simple as following the Golden Rule when it comes to animals – to treat them as we would want to be treated if the hierarchy were reversed. Maybe then we wouldn’t have “Mad Cow” disease, or furs as a status symbol, or hunting for sport.

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Daily Tarot: The Moon

The Moon guides your emotions and subconscious, and the appearance of this card shows that you are ready to trust yourself and overcome your romantic fears today. What are you most afraid of? Put your imagination and creative talents to work in order to come up with productive solutions to your problems. Pay attention to dream imagery (sleeping and daydreaming) and what your subconscious is trying to communicate.

astrology.com

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About Cat’s Morning Bits: These daily posts 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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