The Desert Path

The Dusty Ramblings of a Desert Pagan

Cat’s Morning Bits for August 14, 2018

Posted on August 14, 2018 by Cat

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Cat’s Morning Bits for August 14, 2018

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

Blessings, Cat

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And from the hot field’s farthest edge
The cricket’s soft refrain
With mellow accent tells the tale
That August’s here again.
-Helen Maria Winslow (1851-1938)

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Spiritual Unite: Feeling Lost After Spiritual Awakening? You’re Not Alone

If you are feeling lost after your spiritual awakening, then don’t worry, because you are not alone. Every person who gets blessed by attaining this higher form has to suffer the same consequences. We are humans who have a good memory. We can remember things that we have learned them in our childhood

https://www.spiritualunite.com/articles/feeling-lost-after-spiritual-awakening/

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Spirituality & Health: 20 Affirmations for When We’ve Messed Up

Being human is like nail polish. What I mean is, no matter how many coats of polish I use on my fingernails, less than 24 hours later, they start to chip. They are still pretty, still gold and shiny—but they are flawed, and everyone can see it. Wise sages assure us that though we are chipped, we are still loved by the Divine, and also still worthy of self-love. Believing in that worthiness, though, is harder after a major blunder. To give a PG version of a Mumford & Sons’ lyric, “I really mucked it up this time. Didn’t I, my dear?” What, then, do we do after we really muck things up? After we’ve had too much to drink, or lost our temper, or stood someone up, or been rude, or any of the other million ways we behave when we are so not being our higher selves? Here are some affirmations for a chipped-feeling soul.

https://spiritualityhealth.com/articles/2018/08/13/20-affirmations-for-when-weve-messed-up

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Elephant Journal: How to Live a Zen-like Existence even when Life feels Chaotic.

Peace. it does not mean to be in a place where there is no trouble, noise, or hard work. it means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart” ~ Lady Gaga

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2018/08/how-to-live-a-zen-like-existence-even-when-life-is-hectic/

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Tetrakyts: 8 Reasons Why Life Is Worth Living – A “Feel Good” Article

The title says it all: this article will give you 8 reasons to appreciate life and feel good about your own. Although it might sound very cheesy, I believe this kind of articles to be very useful from time to time, as we tend to get so overwhelmed with our own considerations that we forget what the real world is all about. When things seem dire for us, we must remember that the only thing that changes is our own perception. The world is as it is and keeps going.

https://www.thetetraktys.com/2018/8-reasons-why-life-is-worth-living-a-feel-good-article/

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Pioneer Thinking: 10 Lessons from Honeybees

We can learn many things by observing the behaviour of honeybees. Here are ten examples of lessons we could usefully apply to our own lives.

https://pioneerthinking.com/10-lessons-we-can-learn-from-honeybees

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EarthSky News: Moon, Venus, Jupiter August 14 to 16

After sunset on these mid-August evenings, look westward to see three brilliant worlds – the moon, Venus and Jupiter – beautifying the evening twilight. Each successive evening, after sunset, watch for the waxing crescent moon to move away from Venus and closer to Jupiter. This daily eastward movement of the moon relative to the background stars and planets of the zodiac is due to the moon’s orbital motion around Earth.

http://earthsky.org/tonight/moon-venus-jupiter-august-14-to-16

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Patheos-Pagan: We Have Different Definitions of Magic and Witchcraft, And That’s Okay

I’ve been practicing my own version of magic and witchcraft for decades. Lately, I realized that there are some people who want to police witchcraft, with arbitrary rules and hard definitions. They like to tell people there’s only one way to be a witch or sorcerer, and only one right way to work magic. They believe they’re on the right side, which is usually a traditional or historical pagan path, and they tell anyone who doesn’t fit into that hard mold that they’re wrong.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/starlight/2018/08/we-have-different-definitions-of-magic-and-witchcraft-and-thats-okay/

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Inner Journey:

USE YOUR POWER TO CREATE

“I am a child of God. I came from the womb of creation.”
— Tao Te Ching

Our grand business in life is not to see what lies dimly at a distance, but to do what lies clearly at hand.”
— Thomas Carlyle

We each play a role in the bigger game of life. In this bigger picture, life plays with energy and matter to expand, create, express and evolve. It explores new possibilities, realizes them and then reaches for even more. Life continually transforms what is into something brand new.

We choose how actively we take part in this cosmic dance. We can become mere spectators to life if we get stuck in old ideas that have lost their energy for us.

How much passion do you feel for your goals? Are you still being creative in how you work with them?

“Embrace fully your capacity to create, to think in unlimited ways, and to pursue everything that you have been wanting. Be flexible, open and willing to let the new come to you. “This can be the most joyous, prosperous, and creative time of your life.”
— Sanaya Roman and Duane Packer

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

I still don’t get why people are so surprised that the turtle beat the rabbit over the long run.

Consistent effort no matter how small, sparks magic, fills sails, butters bread, turns tides, instills faith, summons friends, improves health, burns calories, creates abundance, yields clarity, builds courage, spins planets, and rewrites destinies.

No matter how small,

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Baked Fish with Mango Jalapeno Relish

This is a super simple recipe for your busier days. It’s got just a handful of ingredients, but looks and tastes like you went well out of your way. The spiciness from the jalapeno really challenge sweetness of the mango, but work well together when smothering the baked fish. I used a whole trout here, but you can use any fish you like.

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Baked-Fish-with-Mango-Jalapeno-Relish.html

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Magical Correspondences for Tuesday

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

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

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

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

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Daily Wisdom
August 14, 2018

Success

“If a man wants his dreams to come true, he must wake up.” -Anonymous

Dreams might come to us, but success is something we must go after. Inspiration strikes, then it’s up to us to take action. We could buy all the great works of literature, but it we don’t actually read them, what is the point? If we feel that success is eluding us, then now is the time to evaluate our activities.

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Beliefnet: Five Ways to Follow Your Dharma in Your Daily Life
Dharma is a Sanskrit word that encompasses an inner wisdom that’s intrinsic to life itself. It is an inner guidance, a natural order, the universal law, a cosmic way of being.

Cat’s Morning Bits for August 13, 2018

Posted on August 13, 2018 by Cat

CMB canva sm

Cat’s Morning Bits for August 13, 2018

Blessings, Cat

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Summer declines and roses have grown rare,
But cottage crofts are gay with hollyhocks,
And in old garden walks you breathe an air
Fragrant of pinks and August-smelling stocks.
–John Todhunter (1839–1916)

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Spiritual Unite: 10 Signs You Are The Carrier Of Your Family Karma

One of the strangest traditional beliefs in spirituality is that some of us are carriers of the bad karma in our bloodlines. Our families often hold bad blood and some advanced spiritualist think that the feud stays in the family and the new generations pay for the sins of the older generations.

https://www.spiritualunite.com/articles/10-signs-you-are-the-carrier-of-your-family-karma/

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MBG: Anxious About Summer Ending? We’ve Got An Essential Oil Blend For That

If you’ve suffered from them, you know: Summer scaries are real. Imagine an amplified version of the Sunday scaries that last way longer than a single night. It makes sense—the shift from summertime into autumn is huge and anxiety-inducing. It’s arguably more significant for both our bodies and our schedules than ringing in the New Year, for example, and yet we don’t give ourselves the time or head space to make sure we’re equipped for the change.

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/best-essential-oil-blends-for-anxiety

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Daily Good: GK Chesterton: A Piece of Chalk

Imagine “roaring with laughter” at the sudden radiant realization that the very thing you so desperately need is right there in abundance all around. You may currently be keenly aware of lacking something physical like the artist’s chalk in this essay. Possibly, you are aching with the lack you feel for something deeper such as love or belonging. Read how expanding your awareness and truly ‘seeing” where you are in this moment sometimes allows the discovery of glorious abundance all around. { read more }

http://www.dailygood.org/story/1944/gk-chesterton-a-piece-of-chalk-g-k-chesterton/

Be The Change

Reflect on one thing you feel keenly lacking in your life at this moment. Experiment with shifting your view of the issue or problem to the idea that it exists in abundance all around, waiting to be discovered. Then go on a treasure hunt of discovery.

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Elephant Journal: Best Quote from the Dalai Lama Ever.

Whether we’re conscious of it or not, all of our actions begin with a motivation. Whether it’s going to the fridge to get a snack or deciding to sell everything and build a yoga retreat center in Iceland, we have some kind of goal in mind.

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2013/01/best-quote-from-the-dalai-lama-ever/

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MNN: How a sound bath can make meditation easier

Even for people who’ve been doing it for years, meditation can be difficult sometimes. So, it’s no wonder that those who are new to the practice can be frustrated or confused about what’s going on. What’s meditation supposed to feel like? How do you make your mind stop racing? How do you know when you’ve done what you need to do to reap the many benefits?

https://www.mnn.com/health/fitness-well-being/blogs/sound-bath-make-meditation-easier

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EarthSky News: Young moon, Venus after sunset August 13

This evening – August 13, 2018 – look westward at dusk to see the young moon and the dazzling planet Venus bejeweling the evening twilight. The moon and Venus rank as the second-brightest and third-brightest celestial bodies, respectively, after the sun, so they’ll pop out into the sky shortly after sunset.

http://earthsky.org/tonight/young-moon-venus-after-sunset-august-13

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Inner Journey:

DON’T THINK AWAY YOUR FEELINGS

“When emotions are managed by the heart, they heighten your awareness of the world around you and add sparkle to life. The result is new intelligence and a new view of life.”
— Doc Childre and Howard Martin

How do you intellectualize your emotions?

Many of us live so much in our heads that we intellectualize our emotions. We analyze, rationalize and explain them away so quickly that we don’t actually experience them.

Learn to honour your emotions at all times by being willing to feel them. Of course, you may need to exercise some judgment over how and when you express them.

“Learning to be aware of feelings, how they arise and how to use them creatively so they guide us to happiness, is an essential lifetime skill.”
— Joan Borysenko

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

There are absolutely no worldly circumstances, Cat, under which you can’t or shouldn’t be making the very best of things.
Including today…

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Cold Soba Noodle Salad

When we have left over rotisserie chicken or any chicken on hand this is our go to quick meal. Tastes delicious and very easy to make

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Cold-Soba-Noodle-Salad.html

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Magical Correspondences for Monday

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

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

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

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Beliefnet: 7 Steps to Reconnect With Yourself
“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” ~Rumi

Cat’s Morning Bits for August 10, 2018

Posted on August 10, 2018 by Cat

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Cat’s Morning Bits for August 10, 2018

Blessings, Cat

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Buttercup nodded and said good-bye,
Clover and daisy went off together,
But the fragrant water lilies lie
Yet moored in the golden August weather.
–Celia Thaxter (1835–94)

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Spiritual Unite: 5 Simple Ways To Create Good Karma

Karma is the gift that keeps on giving and especially to those who like to be negative compared to others who like remain positive. It’s a pretty universal understanding that whatever kind of energy you put out into the universe is destined to come back to you tenfold.

https://www.spiritualunite.com/articles/5-simple-ways-to-create-good-karma/

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MBG: Your Favorite Summertime Sound May Be Disappearing (Thanks, Global Warming)

Fun fact: The sound of chirping crickets is actually male crickets rubbing their back legs together in order to entice nearby females. A not-so-fun fact? This soundtrack of summer could be disappearing, thanks to human activity and climate change.

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/why-are-crickets-disappearing-dying

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Herbal Muse: Spearmint Enhances Brain Function & Memory

Spearmint has been valued for centuries for its antibacterial, antispasmodic and antioxidant qualities. Now scientists are examining the activity of phenolic compounds in the herb that show the ability to promote the generation of new brain cells in the hippocampus area of the brain as well as protect existing cells.

https://www.herbalmusings.com/single-post/2018/08/05/Spearmint-Enhances-Brain-Function-and-Memory

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Elephant Journal: Reclaiming the Fierce Feminine for Ourselves, our Men & our World

What would our world look like if we had a Disney fairy-tale reversal?
What if Cinderella rode in on a horse, dirty, sweaty, and ambitious, searching for a prince who would fit into the perfect-fitting glass loafers?

What if Snow White, in all her red-lipped, porcelain-skinned glory, spent her whole life waiting to resurrect her mystery man with a heroic, gentle kiss?

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2018/08/reclaiming-the-fierce-feminine-for-ourselves-our-men-our-world/

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MNN: This all-women anti-poaching team is changing the face of animal conservation in Zimbabwe

If we’re going to save endangered species living in wildlife reserves in Africa, we humans need to do a better job of protecting them from other humans.

Anti-poaching squads already work hard to fend off people who want to kill elephants for trophies, dubious medical treatments or meat. Now, the focus is on encouraging them to work smarter. One way to to do that is to bring women into this previously all-male world. There are now two all-women anti-poaching squads (the first were the Black Mambas in South Africa) and early data shows they are saving more animals.

https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/blogs/all-women-anti-poaching-group-saving-more-animals

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EarthSky News: Top 10 tips for watching 2018’s Perseid meteors

Another event for this weekend! The Perseid meteor shower will be at its best. People are reporting meteors already. Here’s how to watch.

http://earthsky.org/tonight/perseid-shower-best-between-midnight-and-dawn

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Patheos-Pagan: The Time I Accidentally Manifested a Kitten

You know the expression “it must be something in the water?” That phrase usually follows the observation that everyone around you is pregnant or giving birth, babies everywhere. Human babies really don’t show up on my radar, but the saying has felt applicable to kittens these last few months. Like everyone on my feed has been getting kittens, somehow, somewhere.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/tempest/2018/08/the-time-i-accidentally-manifested-a-kitten.html

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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 oceann 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

It’s being alive that makes you rich.

So easy to forget,

The Universe

tut.com

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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
August 10, 2018

Soul

“The soul unfolds itself like a lotus of countless petals.”

-Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931)

Our spiritual growth is such a beautiful thing. We bloom into ourselves and extend loveliness and sweetness out into the world. Like the lotus, we become more soft and gentle as we unfold into more of who we are- and we also become more “layered” in our experiences and challenges

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Beliefnet: 6 Ways to Reclaim Your Sanity
Go from scattered to sane.

OMG! If it is not an email, a text or an ostensibly unending work week, it’s traffic or other forms of hostility that drive us to the breaking point of aberration. With all the psychological warfare bombarding us on a daily basis, no wonder why we need antidepressants and sleeping aids to survive. We are enslaved to stress and chaos. Do we have anyone else to blame? Nope, nada and zip.
Read more at http://www.beliefnet.com/inspiration/6-ways-to-reclaim-your-sanity.aspx#AOYJ2JSMtJSzOQZd.99

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

I invite you to check out my websites!

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

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

Cat’s Morning Bits for August 9, 2018

Posted on August 9, 2018 by Cat

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Cat’s Morning Bits for August 9, 2018

Blessings, Cat

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August brings the sheaves of corn,
Then the harvest home is borne.
–Sara Coleridge (1802–52)

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Spiritual Unite: 10 Best Crystals to Boost Your Mood

Crystals are highly beneficial to uplift and boost your mood. They can heal the deep-seated tissues in your body and improve your energy and senses by preventing stress and anxiety.
If you are looking for the best crystals to boost your mood, then you are in the right place. Read on to know more about these crystals.

https://www.spiritualunite.com/articles/10-best-crystals-to-boost-your-mood/

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Daily Good: What It Means to Hold Space & 8 Tips to Do it Well

“To truly support people in their own growth, transformation, grief, etc., we can’t do it by taking their power away (ie. trying to fix their problems), shaming them (ie. implying that they should know more than they do), or overwhelming them (ie. giving them more information than they’re ready for). We have to be prepared to step to the side so that they can make their own choices, offer them unconditional love and support, give gentle guidance when it’s needed, and make them feel safe even when they make mistakes.” In this piece, author Heather Plett shares eight concise, clear, and readily-applicable tips she learned from others who have held space for her during tough times. { read more }

http://www.dailygood.org/more.php?n=7550

Be The Change

Try to apply one of the 8 tips to hold space for someone else or yourself.

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Elephant Journal: Asleep at the Wheel: 9 ways I Re-energized my Life.

Our brains are wired to be lazy.
Humans are mammals. As such, we create pattern generators.
What the hell are those?

A pattern generator is a neural pathway we create when we do something over and over. It’s how we learn to dance.
It’s how we learn to play basketball, ride a bike, or do our daily morning routine.

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2018/08/asleep-at-the-wheel-9-ways-i-re-energized-my-life/

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MNN: 23 widespread myths about animals

A lot of animals are misunderstood, plagued by fallacies about their traits and behaviors. Some falsehoods are based on old legends. Others result from exaggerations, distortions, misunderstandings and even deliberate fabrications concocted by self-serving humans.

https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/stories/widespread-myths-about-animals

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EarthSky News: Moonless nights ahead for the Perseids

It’ll be a great year for the annual Perseid meteor shower. Don’t miss this preview by Guy Ottewell, which has the best charts you’ll find anywhere online.

http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/moonless-nights-for-perseids-guy-ottewell

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Patheos-Pagan: Three Gates to Transformation

The Three Gates are the ways that we, practitioners, enter the Path of Transformation. It is how we gain the power to change our lives. Each Gate is an initial approach we might take to enter the greater spiritual world and discover the deeper self. I have discussed them elsewhere as the Priest, Magician, and Shaman; these are the three initial ways to begin training.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/theothersideofthehedge/2018/07/three-gates-to-transformation/

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Inner Journey:

BELIEVE IN YOUR UNLIMITED POTENTIAL

“You cannot see anything that you do not first contemplate as a reality.”
— Ramtha

How do you typically define yourself? Do you tell yourself and others that you are slow and methodical, that you have two left feet, that you are lazy, or unimaginative or that you can’t hang on to money?

In our unconscious self talk, most of us rarely say positive things about ourselves. List the positive and the negative ways you describe yourself. Then look over your list and contemplate how those definitions limit your ability to be cosmic in your outlook and performance.

“Belief has the word ‘lie’ in it… and that pretty much sums up what the world has us believing about ourselves.”
— Doug Firebaugh

“We are what we believe we are.”
— Benjamin N. Cardozo

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

Every fortune, gold medal, and trophy…

Every comeback, triumph, and celebration…

And every kiss, hug, and hand held,

Were first a thought, a whisper, or a dream.

Go, go!

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Orange Banana Smoothie

An orange banana smoothie is a great way to start the day or give a quick energy boost when you need it in the afternoon.

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Orange-Banana-Smoothie-Recipe.html

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Magical Correspondences for Thursday

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

Incense: Cinnamon,Henbane Nutmeg and Sage

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

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

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Daily Wisdom
August 9, 2018

Soul

“The soul of man is immortal and imperishable.”

-Plato (427-347 B.C.)

The physical world is temporary and transient. It is ever changing. What is true and constant and utterly reliable is that God is ever-present. And our connection with that Source remains even when the physical fades away.

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Beliefnet: 7 Ways to Reinvent Yourself

Reinventing yourself shouldn’t be confined to a promise made on New Year’s Day and broken a month later. Now is the time to reflect on the past, consider who you want to be in the future, and make resolutions to be that person!

Cat’s Morning Bits for August 8, 2018

Posted on August 8, 2018 by Cat

CMB canva sm

Cat’s Morning Bits for August 8, 2018

Blessings, Cat

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If the first week in August is unusually warm,
The winter will be white and long.
-proverb

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Spiritual Unite: Worn Out Souls- A Story of Soul Contracts and Synchronicity

There are no coincidences in life. A coincidence is defined as a remarkable concurrence of events or circumstances without apparent connection or significant meaning. Again, these do not exist because all coincidences have meaning — which is what Carl Jung defined as a synchronicity. Synchronicities refer to the law of unity, that we are all linked through our unconscious. There … https://www.spiritualunite.com/articles/worn-out-souls-a-story-of-soul-contracts-and-synchronicity/

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MBG: This Is The Most Important Thing You Can Do To Prevent Alzheimer’s (No Matter Your Age)

By the year 2050, the United States will have 14 million people in need of full-time care for Alzheimer’s disease, a number equal to the populations of New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago combined. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting 40 million adults, and issues like brain fog are finally being taken seriously.

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/alzheimers-prevention-101

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Daily Good: 9 Scientists Share Their Favorite Happiness Practices
Where do you seek happiness? In your relationships? Your work? Your hobbies? This highly sought after feeling can be elusive and hard to hold on to. Once we do obtain it, the good feelings it brings are often fleeting and we begin our quest all over again. What if you could bring happiness into your life in more lasting ways? In this article, 9 scientists share their favorite practices for increasing happiness and well-being. From loving-kindness practices to regular exercise, they offer up a wealth of different tools. { read more } http://www.dailygood.org/story/1997/9-scientists-share-their-favorite-happiness-practices-kira-m-newman/
Be The Change
Choose one of the suggested practices that you haven’t tried before and do it consistently each day for one week. Share about your experience in the comments section below!

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Elephant Journal: When “Self-love” becomes a Barrier to Loving Others. {Poem}

When does Self-love become Self-righteous?
When do the words we build ourselves up with
Become walls that surround us
To such a great height
That we can no longer see friend from foe?

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2018/08/when-self-love-becomes-a-barrier-to-loving-others-poem/

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MNN: Catching up with the squirrel of many hats

When Mary Krupa was a freshman at Penn State in 2012, she began feeding the squirrels on campus. She never envisioned she’d one day be making miniature hats for one of them.
But the more she fed them, the friendlier the critters became. One squirrel in particular was comfortable enough to eat straight from Krupa’s hand.

https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/stories/the-squirrel-that-wears-many-hats

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EarthSky News: August 8 and 9 before sunup: Moon in Gemini

On the mornings of August 8 and 9, 2018, you’ll find the waning crescent moon in front of the constellation Gemini the Twins. Gemini’s two brightest stars, Castor and Pollux, represent twin brothers in Greek mythology, despite the fact that these two stars don’t look alike. If you look closely, you’ll see that Pollux is slightly brighter than Castor. Pollux is also more golden in color.

http://earthsky.org/tonight/moon-in-gemini-on-august-8-and-9

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Patheos-Pagan: Speaking Magick

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the American cultural idea of work. When my son was born, 2.5 years ago, I reduced my work hours to ¾ time – 30 hours a week. Working 30 hours a week with a newborn and now a toddler, I still feel like there’s so little time. I often feel overwhelmed with all that must be done, and there never seems to be enough time in the day. And I have a very present and committed co-parent, though she works more than I do and further away

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/naturessacredjourney/2018/08/speaking-magick/

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Inner Journey:

VALUING THE MOMENT

“… the only time you ever have in which to learn anything or see anything or feel anything, or express any feeling or emotion, or respond to an event, or grow, or heal, is this moment, because this is the only moment any of us ever gets. You’re only here now; you’re only alive in this moment.”
— Jon Kabat-Zinn

Many people regularly squander their time. They live under the assumption that they’ll live forever. As a result, they don’t value the present as a precious opportunity that will never come again.

Others continually race against time, trying to cram too many activities into each hour, and suffering stress in the process.

In our view, we are more effective and most happy when we balance being and doing. We continually ask ourselves what’s most important to get done. And we’re learning to BE — fully present — when we do. We also regularly give ourselves permission to relax.

Make today really matter. It’s all you’ll ever have.

“Very few of us know how much we can put into life if we use it properly, wisely, and economically. Let us economize our time — lifetimes ebb away before we wake up, and that is why we do not realize the value of the immortal time God has given us.”
— Paramahansa Yogananda

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

Be there. Go there now and never leave. Imagine that your dreams have already come true. Live your life from that mindset. Predicate your behavior on that reality, not the illusions that now surround you. Filter every thought, question, and answer from there. Let your focus shift and be born again – because dwelling from, not upon, the space you want to inherit is the fastest way to change absolutely everything.

See the difference?

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Crispy Parmesan Chicken Breasts

These chicken breasts are so juicy, and bursting with flavour. The exterior gets a delicious crunch without the use any kind of breading or flour. The trick is in stuffing Parmesan cheese right under the skin and finishing them in high heat. I am in love with this dish!

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Crispy-Parmesan-Chicken-Breasts.html

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Magical Correspondences for Wednesday

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

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

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

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Daily Wisdom
August 8, 2018

Soul

“All religion, all life, all art, all expression come down to this: to the effort of the human soul to break through its barrier of loneliness, of intolerable loneliness, and make some contact with another seeking soul, or with what all souls seek, which is (by any name) God.”

-Don Marquis (1878-1937)

Yes! Our connection with one another is there, and we are seeking to experience it. And by experiencing our connection with one another, we can experience our connection with God. God expresses through each one of us. Do we notice? Are we listening? Each person we come into contact with has something for us, some piece of the puzzle large or small. We are searching for ourselves, so why don’t we make it easier and stop hiding from ourselves?

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Beliefnet: 5 Ways to Overcome Negative Thinking
If there is one reason why you should work to overcome negative thinking, it is this.
Read more……………

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

I invite you to check out my websites!

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

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

Cat’s Morning Bits for August 7, 2018

Posted on August 7, 2018 by Cat

CMB canva sm

Cat’s Morning Bits for August 7, 2018

Blessings, Cat

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All Nature helps to swell the song
And chant the same refrain;
July and June have slipped away
And August’s here again.
-Helen Maria Winslow (1852-1938)

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Spiritualilty & Health: 5 Morning Rituals You Haven’t Tried Yet

What is up with all the hot water with lemon? Many of wellness junkies start the day with that, and affirmations, meditation and journaling. To shake up the routine a bit, I went in search of some new ideas for morning rituals. I hope the results have you inspired, and maybe even looking forward to the alarm clock ringing tomorrow. Read More.

https://spiritualityhealth.com/articles/2018/08/06/5-morning-rituals-you-havent-tried-yet#

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MBG: Your Weekly Horoscope: This Weekend Brings Some Much-Needed Closure

On Monday, Venus moves into Libra and brings on an appreciation for the finer things in life.

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/weekly-horoscope-august-6-12-2018

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Daily Good: The World I Want to Live In

“Even though I am now almost completely blind due to the late embers of the naked sky of Hiroshima, when I first saw with the ‘vision of the heart,’ I finally understood that I am at last, truly able to see. When I had an epiphany two decades ago, I was convinced that forgiveness is the first step toward peace…My life story demonstrates how a heart twisted by hatred and revenge can be transformed by forgiveness, evolving to a path of peaceful wisdom and the essential work of healing human hearts.” In this sweet video, Takashi Tanemori shares his “vision” for the world after Hiroshima. { read more } http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=7285

Be The Change

Next time you feel anger at a loved one’s actions, try practicing “instant forgiveness,” opening your heart to your loved one’s reality in that moment.

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Elephant Journal: Decoding the Last Eclipse of 2018 & Discovering what it means for your Sign.

The third and final puzzle piece of 2018’s eclipse season arrives with August’s Leo solar eclipse.

On August 11, 2018, the sign of Leo will be lighting up the scene of our ever-changing stories—

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2018/08/decoding-the-last-eclipse-of-2018-discovering-what-it-means-for-your-sign/

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EarthSky News: Think sharks are the coolest ocean predators? Consider mantis shrimps

Do sharks have bullet-like strikes? Do they have super-vision? Can they take down prey in milliseconds? Mantis shrimps have these abilities – and more – to put them among Earth’s most impressive predators.

http://earthsky.org/earth/mantis-shrimp-ocean-predator

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Patheos-Pagan: A Letter To Those Trying To Convert Me

Here lately I’ve had more than my usual share of proselytizers. These are people who begin religious conversations not to learn or even to share, but to “win.” Their goal is to aggressively convert me to their religion, not by convincing me it’s a better way, but by insisting it’s the only way. Most are Christians, some are atheists, a few are Muslims.
I’m a public Pagan – it comes with the territory. And it’s not like there’s even a remote chance they’ll be successful.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbeckett/2018/08/a-letter-to-those-trying-to-convert-me.html

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Inner Journey:

PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR EMOTIONS

“Emotions are the next frontier to be understood and conquered. To manage our emotions is not to drug them or suppress them, but to understand them so that we can intelligently direct our emotional energies and intentions…. It’s time for human beings to grow up emotionally, to mature into emotionally managed and responsible citizens. No magic pill will do it.”
— Doc Childre

Many of us believe that we need to keep a tight lid on our emotions. We fear that if we ever allow these emotions to be expressed, they will do serious damage.

But if we summon up the courage to truly feel our emotions, we discover that they don’t last. The monster in the closet turns out to be a pussycat. In fact, if we are willing to experience our emotions completely, without resistance of any kind, they burn themselves out in only a few minutes.

The only thing that keeps emotions alive within you over long periods is your unwillingness to acknowledge them.

“By starving emotions we become humorless, rigid and stereotyped; by repressing them we become literal, reformatory and holier-than-thou; encouraged, they perfume life; discouraged, they poison it.”
— Joseph Collins

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

The thing is, life’s magic isn’t a substitute for networking, socializing, and “working.” To the contrary, these are some of its greatest incubators.

To the office,

The Universe
tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Refreshing Watermelon Salad

This unique mix of watermelon, basil, cucumbers and ketchup (!) makes a great, refreshing salad!

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Refreshing-Watermelon-Salad.html

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Magical Correspondences for Tuesday

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

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

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

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Daily Wisdom
August 7, 2018

Soul

“The soul of man … is a portion or a copy of the soul of the Universe and is joined together on principles and in proportions corresponding to those which govern the Universe.”

-Plutarch (AD 46?-119?)

Any attempt to define the soul inevitably brings with it a connection with the Universe. So it follows that each soul, while connected to the Universe, is also connected with each other soul – by association, if nothing else! We’re more than family, we are all One.

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Beliefnet: 7 Tips Towards a Digital Detox
Do you sleep with your phone or use it as an alarm? Phones can disrupts sleep patterns since they emit radiation according to a 2008 study. Researchers found that people that slept near their cell…
Read more………..

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

I invite you to check out my websites!

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

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

Cat’s Morning Bits for August 6, 2018

Posted on August 6, 2018 by Cat

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Cat’s Morning Bits for August 6, 2018

Blessings, Cat

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Drip drip the trees for all the country round,
And richness rare distills from every bough;
The wind alone it is makes every sound,
Shaking down crystals on the leaves below.

-Henry David Thoreau (1817-62)

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Tetraktys: Pagan Beliefs and Practices – How to Be a Pagan in the 21st century

Although some have professed the death of all religions in the 21st century, the truth is that the world is becoming more and more religious and religiously diverse these days. As a matter of fact, I stumbled upon this article a few days ago. According to the Pew Research Center, if the actual trend continues, by 2050, Christianity, Islam and Hinduism will add many hundreds of millions of believers to their ranks, if we postulate that children will follow their parents’ religion, that is.

https://www.thetetraktys.com/2018/pagan-beliefs-and-practices-how-to-be-a-pagan-in-the-21st-century/

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MBG: How To Get The Teens In Your Life To Care About Mindfulness

People so desperately want to help their students, children, nieces and nephews, younger siblings, and neighbors learn about mindfulness, partly because the teen years can be so challenging and partly because mindfulness makes life fuller and more satisfying

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/how-to-talk-to-teens-about-mindfulness

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Daily Good: The Science of All Is One

Virtually anyone who turns to the news today will quickly see evidence of painful relationships between various ethnic groups in our communities. What should our response be to such violence of thought and speech if we personally encounter it in our own lives? In this heart-expanding piece, Betsy Leondar-Wright tells a touching story of how she lives her answer to the question of whether we should “call them out” or “call them in.” { read more } http://www.dailygood.org/story/2021/the-science-of-all-is-one-betsy-leondar-wright/

Be The Change

Who do you judge for the things they believe? Next time you encounter such a person, can you experiment by leaning in with curiosity and patience rather than chiding them for their beliefs?

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Pioneer Thinking: Coconut Oil Uses

Coconut oil is versatile and it has many uses. It is commonly used in cooking, replaces other fatty ingredients such as butter, and it has many other applications too. Plus coconut oil is incredibly healthy. Here are some of the uses for coconut oil.

https://pioneerthinking.com/the-uses-of-coconut-oil

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MNN: If you really want to save the world, just give

Jennifer Way explains the ‘helper’s high’ and how you can get one.

We are living through some unprecedentedly complicated times. The speed and quantity of information — plus a population headed towards 8 billion humans — means the constant barrage of data is increasing in volume and scope. We can know more, in more detail, about people near and far

https://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/responsible-living/blogs/save-world-give-365give-project

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EarthSky News: August 6 and 7 before sunup: Moon in Taurus

On August 6 and 7, 2018 – in the predawn hours – the waning crescent moon will be shining in front of the constellation Taurus the Bull. Look for the moon in the vicinity of reddish Aldebaran, Taurus’ brightest star. Notice that Aldebaran is part of a V-shaped pattern of stars. This pattern is called the Hyades. Also, look for the little dipper-shaped star cluster known as the Pleiades, aka the Seven Sisters.

http://earthsky.org/tonight/moon-near-star-aldebaran-and-the-pleaides-cluster

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Did You Know?

Before the Civil War, schools did not have summer vacation. In rural communities, kids had school off during the spring planting and fall harvest while urban schools were essentially year-round. The long summer holiday didn’t come about until the early 20th century.

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Inner Journey:

BE, DO AND HAVE

“Often people attempt to live their lives backwards: they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want so they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then do what you love to do, in order to have what you want.”
— Margaret Young

The formula for success is Be, Do, Have. If we seek abundance, we must be abundant in spirit. We can begin to cultivate spiritual wealth by opening our hearts in gratitude.

Start a gratitude journal today. Each evening, write down at least 5 things for which you are grateful. This simple tool will help you open your eyes to the abundance of your world right now.

“Who does not thank for little will not thank for much.”
— Estonian proverb

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

Did you know that whenever you say, “I think I’m onto something HUGE, I’m so excited, I love my life, I have total clarity…” it’s like hitting an “ON” button that throws countless supernatural, invisible mechanisms into action that gradually begin physically rearranging the props and events of your life so that they’ll soon yield something HUGE, generate excitement, inspire love, and provide clarity?

And that whenever you say, “I don’t know what to do, it’s all so hard, I hate my life, I don’t ever want to return to time and space…” it’s like hitting an “OFF” button.

Of course you did,

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Rich Shrimp Stock

My local seafood shop sells head-on shrimp for nearly half the price of the ones already cut. This is a plus for me because I love to use the heads, skins, and tails, along with vegetable scraps, to make my own rich shrimp stock. Not only is a homemade version more delicious, it’s also so much cheaper. Shrimp stock is full of glucosamine, which is essential for healthy joint health.

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Rich-Shrimp-Stock.html

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Magical Correspondences for Monday

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

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Daily Wisdom
August 6, 2018

Soul

“The growth of the soul may be compared to the growth of a plant. In both cases, no new properties are imparted by the operation of external causes, but only the inward tendencies are called into action and clothed with strength.”

-George Ripley (1802-1880)

Oftentimes when we talk about spiritual growth we compare it with the growth of a plant – planting the seed, allowing it space and time to grow with its own innate intelligence. We use this example because we understand how the growth of a plant “works.” We’ve seen seedlings sprout, we’ve had potatoes take root in glasses of water in our fifth grade science classes. And we need this kind of illustration because spiritual growth is not something we necessarily “see.” It is an internal phenomenon, something we feel, something we experience, something that goes beyond words or pictures.

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Beliefnet: The 8 Best Essential Oils and How They Help You

Essential oils are concentrated liquids extracted directly from various plants and trees, and just a single drop can have all of the tremendous health and wellness benefits inherent to its source. These oils work by concentrating and carrying the medicinal compounds of the plants they were derived from, so that they can be applied to the skin or—even better—diffused into the air with an essential oil diffuser.
Read more………………
___________________________
About Cat’s Morning Bits: These daily post are reblogged from various email newsletters that I receive each day.

I invite you to check out my websites!

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

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

Cat’s Morning Bits for August 3, 2018

Posted on August 3, 2018 by Cat

CMB canva sm

Cat’s Morning Bits for August 3, 2018

Blessings, Cat

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Then a flash of sun on a waiting hill,
Streams laugh that erst were quiet,
The sky smiles down with a dazzling blue
And the woods run mad with riot.
-Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906)

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MBG: Your Monthly Horoscope: Buckle Up Because The Eclipses Just Keep On Comin’

Save the drama…and pause for the cause! Your August monthly horoscope brings an onslaught of theatrics, as expressive Leo season continues with Mercury still retrograde in Leo and a solar eclipse in Leo on the 11th. Technophile Uranus joins a brigade of retrograde planets on the 7th, and energetic Mars continues a long, sleepy backspin, switching gears from Aquarius to Capricorn from the 12th on.

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/august-2018-monthly-horoscope

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Elephant Journal: Bringing back Connection, Relationship & Handmade Treasures to our Present Lives.

Though only 35 years old, I’ve lived the great privilege of growing up in a world very different than the world we live in today.

It was a truly ancient way of living, where everything had a name and a purpose, and if we listened, we could come to know what those were.

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2018/07/bringing-back-connection-relationship-handmade-treasures-to-our-present-lives/

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MNN: This cat — and many others like her — spent most of her life as a lab test subject

If you happen to visit Shannon Keith’s Los Angeles office, there’s a good chance you’ll meet a gray-and-white cat named Amelia.

As the resident office cat, Amelia doesn’t give visitors much choice.

“She’s like the queen of the office,” Keith tells MNN. “She greets everybody.”

https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/stories/lab-testing-cats-animals-rescue

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EarthSky News: Find the Teapot, and the galaxy’s center

Tonight, or on any moonless evening during a Northern Hemisphere summer or Southern Hemisphere winter, you can look in the evening hours toward the center of our Milky Way galaxy. It’s located in the direction of Sagittarius the Archer, with happens to contain a famous asterism – or noticeable pattern of stars – called the Teapot.

http://earthsky.org/tonight/gaze-toward-galactic-center

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Patheos-Pagan: A Fine First Fruit

Corn Mother
Lie down with me
here where the heavy loam
smells like rainwater.
Your long creamy
hair falls golden
under the round moon,
soothes my shoulder,
fire in your eyes,
your musk on my tongue.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/naturessacredjourney/2018/07/fine-first-fruit-methane/

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Inner Journey:

THERE’S LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS

“Each difficult moment has the potential to open my eyes and open my heart.”
— Myla Kabat-Zinn

“Even the most daring and accomplished people have undergone tremendous difficulty. In fact, the more successful they became, the more they attributed their success to the lessons learned during their most difficult times. Adversity is our teacher. When we view adversity as a guide towards greater inner growth, we will then learn to accept the wisdom our soul came into this life to learn.”
— Barbara Rose

“No matter what difficulty you are facing, it is coming from Divine Light to bring you to a higher place within. Write down every conceivable reason that this situation can contribute towards your growth. Write down every way this experience can possibly set the stage for serving to uplift others. When you are complete, and have come to the other side of this experience, you will then know ‘why’ it happened.”
— Barbara Rose

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

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

Now, I have to admit that among inventions, the “Undo” button is right up there with the very greatest of all time, but it’ll never compare to the “Do” button, from which worlds are born.

This is your chance!

Just do it,

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Blackberry Smoothie

Blackberries are in season in the summer but frozen berries can be found anytime to make this delicious smoothie

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Blackberry-Smoothie-Recipe.html

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Magical Correspondences for Friday

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

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

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

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Daily Wisdom
August 3, 2018

Silence

“Silence is the perfectest herald of joy.”

-Shakespeare (1564-1616) Claudio, in Much Ado About Nothing

Some people might think of silence as empty, or lonely – yet it is anything but! Silence is so filled with love and truth and wisdom that is fills our spirit to overflowing.

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Beliefnet: Seven Self-Compassionate Strategies to Experience Sadness
Many of us have a hard time experiencing sadness. We ignore it, hoping it’ll go away. Or we stuff it down with unhealthy habits.

Cat’s Morning Bits for August 2, 2018

Posted on August 2, 2018 by Cat

CMB canva sm

Cat’s Morning Bits for August 2, 2018

Blessings, Cat

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See what delights in sylvan scenes appear!
Descending Gods have found Elysium here.
In woods bright Venus with Adonis stray’d,
And chaste Diana haunts the forest shade.

-Alexander Pope (1688-1744)

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Tetraktys: Agnostic, Atheist or Spiritual – What Atheists Get Wrong About Religion

In this brave new world we live in, organized religion is on the decline worldwide. More and more, people prefer to identify as agnostic, atheist or spiritual but not religious instead of identifying with a religion. Of course, this is a generality, but it’s something worth thinking about.

https://www.thetetraktys.com/2018/agnostic-atheist-or-spiritual-what-atheists-get-wrong-about-religion/

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MBG: How To Create A Sacred Morning, Afternoon, & Bedtime Routine

Falling into a routine doesn’t necessarily sound like the most exciting thing to happen to your life. By definition, the very word “routine” implies the opposite of special, and often, it’s something to break free from, especially when it involves less-than-beneficial habits (gluing ourselves to the couch or blankly scrolling through our phones at bedtime—we’ve all been there

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/how-to-create-sacred-routines-throughout-the-day

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Daily Good: Today is a Gift

One afternoon, a group of people showed up a farmers’ market with armfuls of wrapping paper and colorful ribbons. They came to gift-wrap the entire street to remind everyone that the present moment is a gift. ” We are literally just wrapping up everything in sight” an organizer tells a passerby. Wrapping up the tables and chairs, placing bows on people and dogs — this video is a joyful reminder to celebrate the gift of today. { read more } http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=7127

Be The Change

Take time to notice and appreciate the present moment. Then share that appreciation with those around you.

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CoffeyTalk: Tuning In

Our body is an instrument that sends us signals all the time. This body is our friend, and it’s trying to help us. When we pay attention to its little messages things go easier for us. These messages are subtle, so we need to tune in to pick up on them. The vibrations are there.

We know a kitten is happy because we can feel it purr. And then we know something has startled her when the purring stops and her ears flick. When we’re happy, our body is relaxed and we feel good. But when we get stressed, we tense up, our stomach might ache or our head might hurt.

We can use these signs to gauge the situations around us and make better decisions. Tune into the vibrations and see what happens.

Today we have many tools to help us tune in to the body. Wearable devices measure pulse, breathing, steps taken and more! Make use of this technology to get more information about the body and help it to get what it needs.

newsletter from CoffeyTalk.com

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Elephant Journal: 9 Dos & Don’ts: how to Hold Space for someone who’s Hurting.

Does this sound like you?
You experience something painful. It hurts. You feel anxious, angry, or frustrated, as if you’re on the verge of boiling over. So you self-isolate—sometimes for hours, sometimes for days—and wait for the pain to subside.

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2018/07/9-dos-donts-how-to-hold-space-for-someone-whos-hurting/

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MNN: Even the smallest urban green spaces can have a big impact on mental health

There’s no doubt urban green spaces are more pleasing to the eye than trash-strewn vacant lots that have been sitting in various stages of neglect for who knows how long.
But can transforming scattered patches of urban blight into green spaces also help to alleviate the blues?

https://www.mnn.com/health/fitness-well-being/blogs/tiny-urban-green-spaces-big-impact-mental-health-mood

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EarthSky News: August guide to the bright planets

Venus is the brightest planet, and – as seen from around the world – it’s dazzling this month in the west after sunset, impossible to miss as the evening “star.”

http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/visible-planets-tonight-mars-jupiter-venus-saturn-mercury

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Patheos-Pagan: Do Gods Disappear When Their Worship Ceases?

A reader who wishes to remain anonymous asked a series of questions centered around Gods whose worship ceases. Here’s their question, edited for brevity.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbeckett/2018/07/do-gods-disappear-when-their-worship-ceases.html

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Inner Journey:

USE YOUR BREATH TO RELAX YOUR BODY

“Breath is the link between the inner and outer worlds.”
— Alice Christensen

We live in very demanding times, and our health depends on our being able to relieve our bodies and minds from constant stress. Breathing with awareness can focus and concentrate our attention inside. This slows down our pace and eases the pressure, anxiety, anticipation and excitement that are common stress reactions.

At any time, you can consciously experience your breathing to help you concentrate your mind and relax your body. Compare how you feel after your session with how you felt before. Write about your experience in your journal.

“Controlled deep breathing helps the body to transform the air we breathe into energy. The stream of energized air produced by properly executed and controlled deep breathing produces a current of inner energy which radiates throughout the entire body and can be channeled to the body areas that need it the most, on demand.”
— Nancy Zi

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

Customized Abundance Advisory and Relativity Alert (shhhh…):

Soon, for you, hundred dollar bills in forgotten blue jean pockets will be as plentiful as singles are in your wallet today. Earning an extra five thousand for lending a hand will only be as challenging as earning five hundred, today. And then before you can even ask, “Who let the bucks out?!” you’ll have as many millions in the bank as there are meters in a mile, popes in the Vatican, and stairways to heaven.

Yet still, you’ll be loved most for being a great friend.

That’s just how you roll,

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Steak, Vegetables, and Japanese Eggplant

I love to cook but, I dont like to use recipes. I have a knack for mixing and matching different vegetables and ingredients that are in the house. Because I have a rather large organic garden we eat a lot of fresh vegetables and salads daily. This recipe is one that I have thrown together that everyone loves. Hope you enjoy this recipe too.

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Steak-Vegetables-and-Japanese-Eggplant.html

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Magical Correspondences for Thursday

Incense: Cinnamon,Henbane Nutmeg and Sage

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

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Daily Wisdom
August 2, 2018

Silence

“It [would be] vain for me to endeavor to interpret the Silence. She cannot be done into English.”

-Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

More can be “said” in a few moments of silence than in volumes of literature. Some things are beyond translation. I could go on and on about this… but I’ll be quiet and let you find the silence instead. You’ll see.

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Beliefnet: Stress-Reducing Stretches
Stress is inevitable, but the effects it can have on your body and mind can be reduced by some simple stretches. Stress restricts blood flow causing your muscles to tense up, especially the muscles…

Cat’s Morning Bits for August 1, 2018 Blessed Lughnasadh!

Posted on August 1, 2018 by Cat

CMB canva sm

Cat’s Morning Bits for August 1, 2018

Blessings, Cat

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A languid atmosphere, a lazy breeze,
With labored respiration, moves the wheat
From distant reaches, till the golden seas
Break in crisp whispers at my feet.

-James Whitcomb Riley (1849-1916)

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Spiritual Unite: 4 Common Signs Of Spiritual Growth

Along with our spiritual journey, we will enter into periods of accelerated spiritual growth, but what are the signs that tell us that we are experiencing this progress on our spiritual journey? It’s important we know. After all, how can we know we are making progress without tangible signs?

https://www.spiritualunite.com/articles/4-common-signs-of-spiritual-growth/

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Mara Freeman’s Celtic Spirit Newsletter

Good tidings to you at Lammas!

Love’s Harvest
It’s high summer – time to celebrate the old Celtic festival known as Lughnasadh in Ireland and Lammas in Britain – the traditional time of pilgrimage in the northern Celtic lands where for centuries people have rejoiced in the endless light-filled days by climbing sacred hills, drinking at holy wells, or voyaging to green islands set like jewels in a sunlit sea.

As we pause in our labours, celebrate the warm weather and enjoy the fruits of our daily work, we have an opportunity to take stock of what the seasons so far have yielded: to reflect upon our hopes and dreams that were sown in the dawn of the year, came to life in the springtime, and are now maybe ready to bear fruit. On the spiritual level, we can ask ourselves what wisdom we have garnered so far this year: What will be the harvest of our souls?

For as the wheel turns, the life-giving triumph of the harvest must give way to death, reminding us that nothing stands still, and that on the human level, for whatever is gained in our lives, there must be an equal giving-away, a sacrifice, so that cosmic balance and order can be maintained.

‘Sacrifice’ can be a bit of an alarming term, implying that something we hold dear must be given up. But this is only part of the truth. For in loosening our tightly-bound identity as a small, separate individual, disconnected from each other and from the Divine, we create an opening for Love to pour in – for all beings, including the Earth herself, and the hidden worlds beyond our senses – and so reap a greater harvest of compassion, peace and joy.

http://www.chalicecentre.net/

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Daily Good: Green Museum

“I think artists have the opportunity not just to call attention to problems and preach, but to really help solve problems, to help create things that work better, that are just more beautiful and right. We’re far more likely to do things that are good for us as a society if we’re drawn to them because they look better, are more meaningful and tasty. These are things we’ll choose to do simply because they feel better.” This interview with artist Sam Bower shares more. { read more } http://www.conversations.org/story.php?sid=201

Be The Change

Start with your own environment — back yard, front yard, window box, roof? Let your imagination go to work. Come up with one or two or three things you can do to make your own environment more beautiful, healthier, more tasty.

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“As in the bread and wine, so it is with me.
Within all forms is locked a record of the past
And a promise of the future.
I ask that you lay your blessings upon me, Ancient Ones,
That this season of waning light
And increasing darkness may not be heavy.
So Mote It Be!”
– Faille, Lammas Ritual

gardendigest.com

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Elephant Journal: Bringing back Connection, Relationship & Handmade Treasures to our Present Lives.

Though only 35 years old, I’ve lived the great privilege of growing up in a world very different than the world we live in today.
It was a truly ancient way of living, where everything had a name and a purpose, and if we listened, we could come to know what those were.

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2018/07/bringing-back-connection-relationship-handmade-treasures-to-our-present-lives/

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EarthSky News: Orion the Hunter returns before dawn

Around early August, if you’re up early and have an unobstructed view to the east, be sure to look in that direction in the hour before dawn. You might find a familiar figure – a constellation that is always returning to the sky around this time of year. It’s the beautiful constellation Orion the Hunter – recently behind the sun as seen from our earthly vantage point – now ascending once more in the east before sunrise.

http://earthsky.org/tonight/orion-the-hunter-ghost-of-the-summer-dawn

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Patheos-Pagan: A Child’s Lammas Ritual

Performing rituals with your children is it’s own magical experience. Their sense of wonder and discovery can be infections, as well as their suspension of belief and their sense of play. The following ritual was written with all of this in mind and is aimed at providing parents a simple ritual that they can perform with their own children.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/oakandolive/2018/07/a-childs-lammas-ritual/

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Inner Journey:

TIME TO BLOSSOM

“The voice of our original self is often muffled, overwhelmed, even strangled, by the voices of other people’s expectations.”
— Julia Cameron

Many of us unconsciously believe that we’re unworthy or defective. We adopted this belief very early in our lives when the people we looked up to disapproved of our demands, wishes and behaviours. We concluded that we had to learn to be good.

Unfortunately, ‘being good’ usually meant giving up our own differences or uniqueness. We learned that we might get the love we wanted if we acted and felt like others wanted us to.

If we seek true joy and connection with life, we now need to remove these artificial masks and express our deep authentic nature.

“For all those years you’ve protected the seed. It’s time to become the beautiful flower.”
— Stephen C. Paul

higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe

Truth be told, it takes so very, very little to be happy.

But you knew that.

Phew!

The Universe

tut.com

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Today’s Recipe: Green Goddess Buddha Bowl

Buddha bowls—light, healthy meals comprised of a whole grain, lots of vegetables, a healthful protein source, and a flavorful sauce—are all the rage. This bowl combines the star nutrition power of whole grain sorghum and beans with cool green veggies, such as arugul, avocados, cucumbers, asparagus, and pumpkin seeds. Plus, it’s topped with a house-made, plant-based Green Goddess Dressing that is as tasty as it is pretty.

https://pioneerthinking.com/green-goddess-buddha-bowl

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Magical Correspondences for Wednesday

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

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“‘Lughnassad’ means ‘the funeral games of Lugh’, referring to Lugh, the Irish sun god. However, the funeral is not his own, but the funeral games he hosts in honor of his foster-mother Tailte. For that reason, the traditional Tailtean craft fairs and Tailtean marriages (which last for a year and a day) are celebrated at this time. As autumn begins, the Sun God enters his old age, but is not yet dead. It is also a celebration of the first harvest. The Christian religion adopted this theme and called it ‘Lammas’, meaning ‘loaf-mass’, a time when newly baked loaves of bread are placed on the altar. An alternative date around August 5 (Old Lammas), when the sun reaches 15 degrees Leo, is sometimes employed by Covens.”
– Wiccan Holidays, Lughnassad (July 31 – August Eve)

gardendigest.com

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Daily Wisdom
August 1, 2018

Silence

“Silence is the language of God.”

-Swami Sivananda (1887-1963)

Are we really listening when we are in silence? Or are we “thinking” and listening to our busy minds? Stop the chatter for awhile – breathe – get quiet – and allow those thoughts to pass as clouds drift across a blue sky. Then listen, and hear God.

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

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Beliefnet: 6 Powerful Choices That Will Change Everything

You need to make a fundamental change and making choices are part of the evolution of this method. Choices can be for the good or for the bad, depending on the election. Still, decisions can make us feel awkward and could even promote a sense of fright in people because of the unknown. And yet, it can be for our own welfare. It may help us obtain new friends, venture out into a new business or nudge us to consider visiting another land.
Read more at http://www.beliefnet.com/inspiration/6-powerful-choices-that-will-change-everything.aspx#G87IJCa4ciek6V0u.99

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

I invite you to check out my websites!

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

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

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