The Desert Path

The Dusty Ramblings of a Desert Pagan

Cat’s Morning Bits for December 31, 2020

Posted on December 31, 2020 by Cat

Cat’s Morning Bits for December 31, 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.

Stay healthy, Stay safe!

Blessings, Cat

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December’s Events

Dec. 7 Pearl Harbor Day

Dec, 10 Hanukkah

Dec. 14 New Moon at 8:16 am PST/ 9:16 am MST/ 11:16 am EST

Dec,15 National Cat Herders Day

Dec. 20 Ugly Sweater Day

Dec. 21 Winter Solstice/Winter Begins

Dec. 21 Moon 1st Qtr 3:41pm PST/ 4:41 pm MST/ 6:41 pm EST

Dec. 23 Festivus

Dec. 24 Christmas Eve

Dec. 24 Celtic Tree month of Birch begins

Dec. 25 Christmas Day

Dec. 26 Kwanzaa

Dec. 29 Full Moon at 7:28 pm PST/ 8:28 pm MST/ 10:28 pm EST

Dec. 31 New Years Eve

Dec. 31 Hogmanay

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Spirit Library: Exhale….& Breathe (a message from Kate Spreckley)

With this Full Moon there is a growing sense of peace. A stillness that reflects the moment before the exhale. In this moment we are pregnant with possibility, gathering the energy

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The Cottage Fairy: choosing to accept your personality – a New Year Resolve

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Spiritual Unite: HAZEL TREE SYMBOLISM – ABUNDANCE AND LOVE

Hazel tree symbolism has played a part in the cultures of Europe and the Mediterranean for thousands of years.

Although different cultures see different meanings, all seem to agree on the magical properties of this sacred tree

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ThoughtCo: Magical Pagan and Wiccan Symbols

In modern Paganism, many traditions use symbols as part of ritual, or in magic. Some symbols are used to represent elements, others to represent ideas. These are a few of the more commonly used symbols in Wicca and other forms of Paganism today.

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Patheos / New Visions: Finding It

How will you ever find peace

unless you yield to love?

—Rabia

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Manifesting New Year Goals with Sigil Magic, Intention & Spell Work – Magical Crafting – Witchcraft

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Elephant Journal: 12 Unique & Nourishing Ways to Ring in the New Year from Home.

Thinking about what we were unknowingly sliding into last New Year’s Eve—a worldwide coronavirus crisis—it’s no wonder that a lot of people aren’t excited about this turn of the year.

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Treehugger: Man Rescues 16 Pets From Burning Building
Keith Walker saved a community group’s 10 dogs and six cats from an Atlanta fire.

Ten cats and six dogs are safe thanks to the quick thinking of Keith Walker, a homeless man in Atlanta who saw a home burning and darted in to help save them.

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EarthSky News: Star Sirius rings in New Year!

Want to surprise and impress your friends on New Year’s Eve? Show them Sirius, the brightest star in the sky, sometimes called the Dog Star because it’s part of the constellation Canis Major the Greater Dog. Sirius might also be called the New Year’s star. It’ll celebrate the birth of 2021 and every new year by reaching its highest point in the sky around the stroke of midnight. That’s the case this year, and every year.

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Patheos-Pagan: Ways to Magically Welcome the New Year

I love the week between Christmas and New Year, and always look forward to the new year arriving. It is such a liminal space, and the quiet limbo of the week is a welcome respite from all the celebrating and anticipation that fills the weeks before this time.

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Pagan Playlist: Eivør – Salt (Lyric Video)

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Inner Journey: THE KEY TO THE FUTURE

“The future is not some place we are going, but one we are creating. The paths are not to be found, but made. And the activity of making them changes both the maker and their destination.”
— John Schaar

We’ve been taught to look forward to our future. Somehow, we believe, things will be better then. But the future is not available to be lived – we can only live NOW. So what are we doing to live best right now? What are we doing now that will bear fruitwhen we reach some future now?

“Let him who would enjoy a good future waste none of his present.”
— Roger Babson

higherawareness.com

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A Note from the Universe

If you were able to look back at your most brilliant successes, stunning comebacks, amazing catches, and smokin’ ideas and you were to find that virtually all of them seemed to materialize out of thin air, when you least expected them, and that they had exceeded even your greatest expectations at the time, how excited would you be about the new year and whatever else I’ve got up my sleeve?

Hubba, hubba –

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Red Wine Hot Chocolate

Chocolate and red wine are two things that go so well together. Combining them on a cold winter night and topping it off with a creamy froth and a sprinkle of grated chocolate will make you feel all warm and cozy inside.

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Magical Correspondences for Thursday

Magickal Intentions: Luck, Happiness, Health, Legal Matters, Male Fertility, Treasure and Wealth, Honor, Riches, Desires, Leadership, Public Activity, Power and Success

Element: Earth

Incense: Cinnamon, Musk, Nutmeg and Sage

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

Deities include Juno, Jupiter,Thor, Zeus

Thursday is ruled by Jupiter. Today’s energies influence all matters involving material gain and spell work for general success, accomplishment, honors and awards, legal issues, luck, gambling, and prosperity.

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Daily Wisdom
December 31, 2020

Goals
“What we truly and earnestly aspire to be, that in some sense we are. The mere aspiration, by changing the frame of the mind, for the moment realizes itself.”

-Anna Jameson, 1855

We wouldn’t aspire to something if it wasn’t within our capability to achieve it. We can see, both literally and figuratively, ahead as far as we want to go. Because we can perceive something means that it is already a part of us. Distance, whether in time or space, is all relative.

-Lissa Coffey coffeytalk.com

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Biddy Tarot: Make The Most Of Your Year With A New Year Tarot Spread

It’s that time of the year again when many of us go into a mad panic thinking, “Where on earth did the year go? And what’s up ahead in the new year?”

I can’t help but wonder if people allow the year to disappear without really living it or being truly present in every moment.

Cat’s Morning Bits for August 5, 2020

Posted on August 5, 2020 by Cat

KODAK Digital Still Camera

Cat’s Morning Bits for August 5, 2020

Blessings, Cat

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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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August Events & Holidays

Aug 1 Lughnasadh/ Lammas NH/ Imbolc SH

Aug 2 Moon enters Aquarius

Aug 3 Full “Sturgeon” Moon 8:58 am PST/ 9:58 am MST/ 11;58 am EST

Aug 5 Celtic Tree Month of Hazel begins

Aug 5 Moon enters Pisces

Aug 7 Moon enters Aries

Aug 10 Moon enters Taurus

Aug 11 3rd Qtr Moon 9:44 am PST/ 10:44 am MST/ 12:44 pm EST

Aug 12 Moon enters Gemini

Aug 14 National Navajo Code Talkers Day

Aug 14 Moon enters Cancer

to be cont.

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Spirit Library: Something New Is Forming (a message from Kate Spreckley)

In the second half of 2020 humanity’s process of evolutionary growth is accelerating at a much greater pace. The intense energy we have experienced over the last few months is radically quickening our processes and creating deep and lasting change.

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Herbal Jedi: The Magic of Mugwort

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Celtic Tree Month of Hazel

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MBG: The Not-So-Obvious Sign You May Be Facing Mental Burnout, From A Reiki Master

Burnout can be tricky: Not only can it manifest in a multitude of ways, both physical and mental, but it can be difficult to identify burnout before it becomes severe. It can be rather frustrating; after all, the key to managing burnout is to prevent the onset in the first place—aka, to combat the stress before it becomes debilitating.

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Today’s DIY: DIY Travel Tarot Mat

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Elephant Journal: Our Truest Reflection of Self-Love can be seen in How we Cultivate our Gardens

I’m sitting in my garden and watching the rabbits sprint and jump.
The birds have been up for hours now—their singing is full of life with no worries.

That is the phrase for this garden: worry free.

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Magical Correspondences for Wednesday

Wednesday (masculine)

Magickal Intentions: Communication, Divination, Writing, Knowledge, Business Transactions, Debt, Fear, Loss, Travel and Money Matters

Element: Air

Incense: Jasmine, Lavender, Sweet Pea
Planets: Mercury and Chiron (though this is a moon of Pluto)
Star Sign: Virgo
Angel: Raphael
Power Colors: Orange, Light Blue, Grey, Yellow and Violet
Herbs & Plants: Fern, Lavender, Hazel, Cherry, Periwinkle
Sacred Stones: Aventurine, Bloodstone, Hematite, Moss Agate and Sodalite
Oil: (Mercury) Benzoin, Clary Sage, Eucalyptus, Lavender

Deities include Athena, Hermes, Lugh, Mercury, Odin

Wednesday is ruled by Mercury. Wednesday’s vibration adds power to spell work involving inspiration, communication, writers, poets, the written and spoken word, and all matters of study, learning, and teaching. This day also provides a good time to begin efforts involving self-improvement or understanding.

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Daily Wisdom
August 5, 2020

Interdependence
“There’s a thread that binds all of us together, pull on one end of the thread, the strain is felt all down the line.”

-Rosamond Marshall, 1943

We have an inherent obligation to help out. When someone is in pain, that hurt affects more than just that one person. By reaching out, by showing compassion, by doing whatever we can to ease the burden, we make it better for all of us. Love lifts, love heals, love lightens. Whether it’s right here at home, or across the world, there are so many opportunities to make a difference.

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Daily Tarot: Death

A change has been in the air for some time and today the actual transformation could happen. There’s nothing to be afraid of, or to dread, or to fear losing. Room is being made and energy is being set aside for something new and better for you. It could be something small or something large, but whatever it is will be meaningful and affect your daily life.

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/

The Celtic Tree Month of Hazel Begins August 5

Posted on August 4, 2020 by Cat

noisettes-dans-l-arbre-hazelnut-1617248

The Celtic Tree Month of Hazel or Coll, August 5th – September 1st.

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HAZEL LORE

Long ago, hazel trees were prized by the Romans who used the limber twigs to hold up grapevines. These vines were sacred to the Roman god Bacchus and goats who were found feeding on them were sacrificed to Bacchus and roasted on hazel spits. The Romans were also responsible for giving Scotland it’s the Latin name of Caledonia. Hazel trees were plentiful in Scotland and the Romans called it Cal-Dun or Hill of Hazel. Since the medieval times hazel has been held sacred, particularly in Ireland where it is part of a Celtic triad – Apple for beauty; Hazel for wisdom; Oak for strength. These trees were in fact so sacred that cutting one unnecessarily carried the penalty of death. Hazel was often used in funeral pyres and it was also found in the coffins of people of note like chiefs and rulers.

In Irish legend, 9 hazel trees grew around the sacred well of Connla. The trees produce flowers and fruit (nuts0, the nuts fell into the well and were eaten by the salmon, the legend says that the salmon will have the exact number of spots as the number of nuts it has eaten. The salmon became the carrier of all knowledge.

PLANT INFORMATION

This tree is found all over the world ( Europe, North Africa, Asia, Britain, and the US). It can be found growing in damp places, hedgerows, and oak woods. It resembles a large shrub more than a tree although it grows to heights of 12-20 feet. Hazel trees have heart-shaped leaves and produce yellowish catkins (male) along with reddish flowers (female) which can be seen between April and May. There are approximately 15 species of Hazel and they all produce nuts, called hazelnuts, filberts or cobnuts depending on where you live. The nuts are ripe by September and can be eaten right off the tree, The uneaten nuts fall off the tree and will actually germinate if left. The wood from this tree is tough and limber. It is used to make walking sticks, fishing poles, baskets, and hampers. It’s excellent firewood and the charcoal is used for making gunpowder and crayons.

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HAZEL IN MAGICK

Hazel is used for divination and dowsing rods are often made from it. This was actually documented by Roman author, and philosopher, Pliny the Elder. The art of dowsing is called rhabdomancy and traditionally a divining rod was cut at night and from the eastern side of the tree. Before the 17th century, these dowsing rods were used not only to find water but treasure, thieves, and murders. An interesting fact is that this form of dowsing is still practiced in the Celtic nation of Cornwall. Cornish legend says that the dowsing rod is guided to water or ore loads by piskies who guard the hazel trees. The nuts can also be used for divination. It is said that if you eat hazelnuts prior to divinatory workings you will gain increased knowledge. You can also use the wood, leaves, and nuts in dark moon rituals.
The nuts were talismans carried for various reasons. People carried them to prevent toothaches. And they were said to help cure snakebites. Along this line St. Patrick used a hazel rod to drive all the snakes from Ireland. In Scandanavia this tree was sacred to the Thunder God, Thor, and was used to protect a person again being struck by lightning.

In Scotland, on Halloween, 2 hazelnuts are given the names of lovers and put into the embers of the fire. If they burn quietly and stay together, the lovers will remain together. But if they crack and move apart they are ill-matched. Hazelnuts are also considered good luck and said to increase fertility. New brides were often given strings of hazelnut as gifts.

Ancient sailors also wore crowns of woven hazel twigs called wishing caps. These caps offered protection against bad storms at sea. The ancient druids believed that if you wore such a crown you could become invisible.

This wood is also good for crafting wands and record of them can be found in ancient Egyptian and Chaldean records. According to Greek myth, Apollo gave a hazel wand to Mercury. With it, Mercury was able to instill good virtues into mankind.

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HAZEL PEOPLE
If you are a hazel person you should pay attention to your own natural rhythm. It is easy for you to be impatient and you should sit back and let thing s happen naturally. You will be much happier. Hazel people are also understanding, moody, honest, and tolerant partners and have excellent ideas of right and wrong.

Choosing Hazel or Hazelnut as a magickal name represents someone who is wise and experienced.

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HAZEL CORRESPONDENCES

Folk Names: Coll, Poets Tree, and Dripping Hazel

Deity Associations: Mercury/ Hermes, Thor, Artemis, Arianrhod, Mannen Mac Lir, Ogma, and Diana.

Ruled by: Mercury and the Sun

Star Signs: Virgo, Libra, Gemini

Sacred Stones: Lapis, Amethyst, Sapphire

Colors: Brown, Dark Blue

Animals: Salmon, Crane

Key Word: Intuition

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Written by CatSister/LBolotin 2010 from the following resources:
The New Book of Magickal names by Phoenix McFarland
Flower and Tree Magic by Richard Webster
Whispers from the Woods by Sandra Kynes
Contraversical.com

Photo from freeimages.com

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/

The Celtic Tree Month of Hazel (Coll) August 5th – September 1st.

Posted on August 4, 2019 by Cat

noisettes-dans-l-arbre-hazelnut-1617248

The Celtic Tree Month of Hazel (Coll) August 5th – September 1st.

HAZEL LORE: The Tree of Knowledge

Long ago, hazel trees were prized by the Romans who used the limber twigs to support their grape vines. These vines were sacred to the Roman god Bacchus, and goats who were found feeding on them were sacrificed to Bacchus and roasted on hazel spits. The Romans were also responsible for giving Scotland it’s Latin name of Caledonia. Hazel trees were plentiful in Scotland and the Romans called it Cal-Dun or Hill of Hazel. Since the medieval times hazel has been held sacred, particularly in Ireland where it is part of a Celtic triad – Apple for beauty; Hazel for wisdom; Oak for strength. These trees were in fact so sacred that cutting one unnecessarily carried the penalty of death. Hazel was often used in funeral pyres and it was also found in the coffins of people of note like chiefs and rulers.

In Irish legend, 9 hazel trees grew around the sacred well of Connla. The trees produce flowers and fruit (nuts). The nuts fell into the well and were eaten by the salmon, the legend says that the salmon will have the exact number of spots as the number of nuts it has eaten. The salmon became the carrier of all knowledge.

PLANT INFORMATION This tree is found all over the world ( Europe, North Africa, Asia, Britain and the US). It can be found growing in damp places, hedgerows, and oak woods. It resembles a large shrub more than a tree although it grows to heights of 12-20 feet. Hazel trees have heart shaped leaves and produce yellowish catkins (male) along with reddish flowers (female) which can be seen between April and May. There are aproximately 15 species of Hazel and they all produce nuts, called hazelnuts, filberts or cobnuts depending on where you live. The nuts are ripe by September and can be eaten right off the tree, The uneaten nuts fall off the tree and will actually germinate if left. The wood from this tree is tough and limber. It is used to make walking sticks, fishing poles, baskets and hampers. It’s an excellent firewood and the charcoal is used for making gunpowder and crayons.

HAZEL IN MAGICK
Hazel is used for divination and dowsing rods are often made from it. This was actually documented by Roman author, and philosopher, Pliny the Elder. The art of dowsing is called rhabdomancy and traditionally a divining rod was cut at night and from the eastern side of the tree. Before the 17th century these dowsing rods were used not only to find water but treasure, thieves and murders. An interesting fact is that this form of dowsing is still practiced in the Celtic nation of Cornwall. Cornish legend says that the dowsing rod is guided to water or ore loads by piskies who guard the hazel trees. The nuts can also be used for divination. It is said that if you eat hazel nuts prior to divinatory workings you will gain increased knowledge. You can also use the wood, leaves, and nuts in dark moon rituals. The nuts were talismans carried for various reasons. People carried them to prevent toothaches. And they were said to help cure snakebites. Along this line St. Patrick used a hazel rod to drive all the snakes from Ireland. In Scandinavia this tree was sacred to the Thunder God, Thor and were used to protect a person again being struck by lightning.

In Scotland, on Halloween, 2 hazel nuts are given the names of lovers and put into the embers of the fire. If they burn quietly and stay together, the lovers will remain together. But if they crack and move apart they are ill matched. Hazel nuts are also considered good luck, and said to increase fertility. New brides were often given strings of hazel nut as gifts.

Ancient sailors also wore crowns of woven hazel twigs called wishing caps. These caps offered protection against bad storms at sea. The ancient druids believed that that if you wore such a crown you could become invisible.

This wood is also good for crafting wands and record of them can be found in ancient Egyptian and Chaldean records. According to Greek myth Apollo gave a hazel wand to Mercury. With it Mercury was able to instill good virtues into mankind.

HAZEL PEOPLE If you are a hazel person you should pay attention to your own natural rhythm. It is easy for you to be impatient and you should sit back and let thing s happen naturally. You will be much happier. Hazel people are also understanding, moody, honest and tolerant partners and have excellent ideas of right and wrong. Choosing Hazel or Hazelnut as a magickal name represents someone who is wise and experienced.

HAZEL CORRESPONDENCES

Folk Names: Coll, Poets Tree and Dripping Hazel

Deity Associations: Mercury/ Hermes, Thor, Artemis, Arianrhod, Mannen Mac Lir, Ogma and Diana.

Ruled by: Mercury and the Sun

Star Signs: Virgo, Libra, Gemini

Sacred Stones: Lapis, Amethyst, Sapphire

Colors: Brown, Dark Blue

Animals: Salmon, Crane

Key Word: Intuition

Written by CatSister/LBolotin 2010/ Updated 2019 from the following resources:
The New Book of Magickal names by Phoenix McFarland
Flower and Tree Magic by Richard Webster
Whispers from the Woods by Sandra Kynes
Contraversical.com

Photo courtesy of freeimages.com

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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