The Desert Path

The Dusty Ramblings of a Desert Pagan

Cat’s Bits for September 17-23 : Autumn Equinox and Opening Your Heart

Posted on September 17, 2017 by Cat

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Cat’s Bits for September 17-23 : Autumn Equinox and Opening Your Heart

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“Nature holds her breath …………….. and Summer slides into Autumn. ~ Cat”

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September Events:

Sept 20: New Moon at 1:30 am EST

Sept 21: International Day of Peace

Sept 22: Fall Equinox/ Mabon and Sun enters Libra at 4:02 pm EST

Sept 30: Celtic Tree Month of Ivy begins

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Harvest home, Harvest home!

We’ve plowed, we’ve sowed.

We’ve reaped, we’ve mowed and brought safe home, every load.

Harvest Home Song

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Autumn Equinox / Mabon / Harvest Home: On or around September 21st

This year Mabon is on Friday, September 22

This is the second harvest festival and like the Vernal Equinox night and day are equal. It is a time to honor the changing season and to give thanks for the bounty and abundance in our lives.

Symbols and Decorations: Fall leaves, apples, gourds, vines, flowers, acorns grapes, berries, indian corn and grains.

Colors: Wine, Rust, Brown, Autumn Orange and Gold

Deities: Pomona, Demeter, Persephone, Bacchus, Dionysus, Green Man, Tezcatzontecatl, Osiris

Herbs: Marigold, Milkweed, Fern, Benzoin, Honeysuckle, Passionflower, Rose Sage, Solomon’s Seal, Thistle (A Druid’s Herbal)

Incense: Pine, Myrrh, Sage, Sweetgrass

Trees: Maple, Magnolia, Locust, Hickory, Hackberry, Aspen. (Whispers from the Woods)

Sacred Stones: Green Aventurine, Dendritic Agate, Chrysoprase for goal setting and planning /Sunstone , Moonstone for balance. (Hibiscus Moon)

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Autumn Equinox and Opening Your Heart
By Tammi Baliszewski, Ph.D.

The Autumn Equinox signals the end of the summer months and the beginning of winter. From the Equinox forward, the nights become longer and the days become shorter. The word “equinox” comes from the Latin term that simply means “equal night.” The Fall Equinox arrives on the cusp of Virgo/Libra with astrology using the scales as a symbol of this season. Not only does this represent the balance of light and dark but also an important time to cultivate personal balance and inner harmony.

When the Fall Equinox occurs, the universal energy on our planet shifts, and all of life begins to turn inward. Accompanying the Fall Equinox is a shift from the more “Yang” masculine, action oriented self, to a more “Yin” feminine, intuitive, receptive self. We are being invited into the realms of our inner-worlds, perhaps giving ourselves permission to sleep a little more and delve more fully into our subconscious worlds of dreaming, meditation, contemplation, prayer and creativity.

Autumn is Earth’s designated time to turn inward and surrender. As the nights lengthen and cool, the trees change into their warm and varied colors we are reminded of the cycles mirrored in our lives. As we witness the trees begin to surrender their warm, bright and varied colored leaves, we may be inspired to surrender and relinquish those things that are a burden or no longer serving us. All religious traditions pay tribute to such acts of relinquishment. Fall is the time to practice getting out of the way and invite Spirit to take greater charge of our lives.

The beginning of the Fall season can be a powerful time to take personal inventory and reflect on the seeds you have planted and if those seeds have grown into fruition. It is an opportunity to acknowledge how far you have come and where you may want to go next. This is a potentially a transformational time, where you have the opportunity to take greater responsibility and refocus your attention on what you truly want to manifest and then set the intention to create it.

As we go deeper into the Fall, we celebrate the season of grace, gratitude and thanksgiving. The time of the abundant harvest is symbolized by cornucopias and horn of plenty, overflowing with great bounty. This is joyously accompanied by huge feasts, celebration, music and dance. This is the perfect occasion to consciously open your heart more fully in generosity and celebrate both your divine connection and human relationships. This is a beautiful season to begin a tithing practice or give more fully of your heart, energy, resources, talents and time.

Our time here on Earth is temporary and to meet the seasons with an open and vulnerable heart helps us experience a deeper and more soulful life. To venture forward courageously, with intentionality, while taking responsibility, can support each of us in becoming more empowered and more fulfilled. It can also help us cultivate greater affection and reverence for ourselves for each other and for the world.

Dr. Tammi Baliszewski is a holistic life counselor, author, artist and sacred art facilitator. To learn more about Tammi and her services, or to receive your free Manifesting Report and MP3 guided meditation, please visit her website at http://www.tammibphd.com/ Tammi also hosts a weekly radio show Called Journey to Center http://www.empoweradio.com/home/

Bright Blessings for a Magickal Week!

Cat

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Autumn-Equinox-and-Opening-Your-Heart&id=7297570] Autumn Equinox and Opening Your Heart

Laura (Cat) Bolotin has been following an eclectic pagan/spiritual path for over 25 years. She currently lives in Western Colorado where she enjoys communing with nature, desert crawling, belly dancing, nature photography, jewelry crafting and writing stuff she hopes will help others along their path. She is married and owned by 6 cats.

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Please feel free to check out my websites!

The Desert Path: The Dusty Ramblings of a Desert Pagan. https://catsister.wordpress.com

Sacred Spirals on Facebook: The Place Where All Paths Meet https://www.facebook.com/groups/sacredSpirals/

This page may be shared with others as long as no changes are made, and ALL credits, links, photos and copyrights remain intact. All written work and are created by and copyrighted to LBolotin/Cat 2007-2017

Cat’s Bits for September 10-16: Autumn Reflections

Posted on September 10, 2017 by Cat

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Cat’s Bits for September 10-16: Autumn Reflections

Note: This week’s offering is an older one that I happened across the other day. Since it struck a cord and seemed relevant to my thoughts, I decided to share it with you! Cat

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September Events:

Sept 20: New Moon at 1:30 am EST

Sept 21: International Day of Peace

Sept 22: Fall Equinox/ Mabon and Sun enters Libra at 4:02 pm EST

Sept 30: Celtic Tree Month of Ivy begins

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The Canvas

The canvas of the summer is made of shades green;

Emerald, jade and serpentine with many in between.

When the harvesttime begins the Lady takes up her brush;

She starts to add new colors, vibrant, bold and lush.

Carnelian, garnet, amber dots the forest floor;

She lets it dry a day or so, before she adds a little more.

She works with slow precision as she paints each leaf with care;

Ash, oak and aspen glow; with gemstone hues everywhere.

When the landscape is complete she adds a turquoise sky;

Wild geese and soft white clouds gently sail on by.

To the lady we give thanks for the beauty that she brings;

Each season is a masterpiece that helps our spirit sing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ KODAK Digital Still Camera

Autumn Reflections

by Cat Bolotin 2006

This year the change of seasons has put me in a reflective mood, leaving me with the conclusion that autumn is an odd season. Some years the change happens slowly, while other times it happens over night. There are times that it arrives early and other times when summer seems to have no end and autumn is a long time coming. Maybe I notice these things because autumn is a dramatic season………………

This year autumn is early, as I write this, the month of August isn’t even over with and already the autumn faeries have been busy. There are splashes of yellow in the aspen groves and small patches of red in the ground cover. The pine trees are dropping their cones and the black tailed squirrels are busy harvesting the fallen treasure. Only the scrub oak remains unaffected, while they are loaded with acorns, they will be the last to decorated by the faeries. Yesterday, my husband and I were hiking to our hunting spot with our friend John. As we were walking through a pocket of pine and aspen John said “Look! This is my favorite part of fall!” He was holding a beautiful red and gold aspen leaf, about the size of a quarter, almost reverently in his fingers. “Aren’t they amazing? Hey! Did you ever press them in wax paper when you were a kid?” I nodded and smiled “Yep, sure did!”

Like spring, there is something about autumn that brings out the joy in people. These seasons are also in between times. Hot and cold, light and dark, life and death. Spring brings the miracle of rebirth, while autumn reminds us that nothing is permanent and everything passes away. The wheel of the seasons turns……….. The Great Wheel also corresponds with the Sabbats, of which there are greater and lesser. It has occurred to me that there are greater and lesser seasons as well. To me spring and autumn are greater seasons because they ultimately bring about the greatest changes in the form of rebirth and dying off. Summer and winter are times when things slow down and level out. They flow into the more dramatic seasons of spring and autumn. This theory may be obvious to some and debatable by others. Either way, it’s something to think about.

During this time of magick and beauty, I hope that you too will reflect on the coming seasons as well. As humans we tend to “ignore” the subtle things. While we dutifully honor the Sabbats we miss the miracles of nature that lead up to them. By slowing down and observing the subtleties of change that each day brings, we can connect more fully to the natural world. It is my belief that the Goddess asks this of each of us and whether we do it or not is up to the individual. Each season should be enjoyed in it’s time and the connection to the other seasons acknowledged. For it is through awareness, the beauty and miracles that surround us are more easily seen and enjoyed.

The wheel of the seasons turns in a seamless flow, each blending with the next and containing it’s own unique magick……………………….Can you feel it?

Bright Blessings for a Magickal Week!

Cat

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Please feel free to check out my websites!

The Desert Path: The Dusty Ramblings of a Desert Pagan. https://catsister.wordpress.com

Sacred Spirals on Facebook: The Place Where All Paths Meet https://www.facebook.com/groups/sacredSpirals/

Cat’s Bits for September 3- 9 “Celtic Tree Month of Vine”

Posted on September 1, 2017 by Cat

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Cat’s Bits for September 3- 9 “Celtic Tree Month of Vine”

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September Events:

Sept 2: Celtic Tree Month of Vine begins

Sept 4: Labor Day

Sept 6: Full Harvest Moon at 3:03 am EST

Sept 20: New Moon at 1:30 am EST

Sept 21: International Day of Peace

Sept 22: Fall Equinox/ Mabon and Sun enters Libra at 4:02 pm EST

Sept 30: Celtic Tree Month of Ivy begins

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The Celtic Tree Month of Vine

I dreamed this mortal part of mine
Was metamorphosed to a vine,
Which, crawling one and every way…
from Robert Herrick’s “The Vine”VINE LORE

The Celtic month of Vine or Muin runs from September 2nd to September 29th.

The month of Vine is the bridge between the Autumn Equinox and the dark time of the year that begins at Samhain. Muin is an Ogham word that means highest of beauty and strongest of effort and the Irish word Muine means thicket.

Vine symbolizes emotion and sensuality and represents the clinging aspirations of artists and of poets. Vine refers to specifically to the Grape Vines. In mythology, the grape vine is personified in the God Dionysus or Bacchus, who brought the art of wine making to mankind. Carvings of this god show him with an ivy wreath upon his head and his body covered with grapes and leaves. As such he resembles the GreenMan of the celtic traditions. In Pagan/Wiccan traditions the five pointed leaves are sacred to the Goddess as is the spiral growing pattern of thevines themselves.

PLANT INFORMATION

This is not a tree but more like a shrub and is probably the oldest cultivated plant in the world. It is a long lived plant and scientists have found fossilized grape leaves that date back 40 million years! These vines have large lobed leaves and produce small whitish flowers, that in turn produce grapes. Vine can grow up to 115 feet in length and live to a recorded life span of 600 years. The stem of very old grape vines have been know to produce “planks” 15 inches wide when cut. This vine has no uses other than wine making.

In healing, vine is known for it’s restorative and regenerative powers. It can help with fever, the leaves and seeds were used to stop hemmoraging, bleeding and inflamation. Grapes are rich in iron, and vitamins and provide an excellent source of instant energy. They are also a laxative and a diuretic. Blackberries were used by the ancient Greeks to treat gout. In England the leaves were used to treat burns while berries were used to treat bug bites, loose teeth and sore throats. The bark and roots are known for their astringent properties and are still used today.

VINE IN MAGICK

Vine is female and is ruled by the moon. It can be used to promote prosperity, fertility, mental powers and can be used in garden magick. Ritual uses include celebrations, grounding and faery magick. Use the leaves of this plant to enhance your own goals and ambitions. Vine is also one of the nine sacred woods burned at Beltane as a symbol of joy.

Vines properties are as follows:

Thistle: Protection, strength, exorcism, hex breaking
Blueberry: Spirituality, protection and dream magick
Grape: Garden magick fertility, prosperity/money and binding
Blackberry: Protection, healing and properity

To dream of grapes/blackberries is a sign of abundance, if the leaves are green then success is coming your way and if you are harvesting the berries your income will be a good one. To dream of walking through a vinyard fortells of prosperity.

Here is a recipe for Vine Moon Tea (good for use in Earth magic, sex magic, overcoming difficulties):
1 part blackberry
1 part dandelion
splash of currant wine or Grape juice
pinch of hibiscus
(dutchie.org)

VINE PEOPLE

Vine people have high personal standards and tend to be natural socializers and well organized. They also have well developed insticts and an eye for detail however this can become an issue as they can be highly self critical. They are also secretly romantic and sensitive. Vine people have a dual personality and can be happy one minute and down the next. It is important for Vine people to learn the importance of balance between giving and receiving.

To choose Vine as a magickal name can indicate that you are a climber and have great potential. You are willing to work hard to achieve what you want.

Deities: Dionysus, Osirus, Branwen,Brigid, Danu, Freya , Hathor, Bacchus, Dagd, Etain.
Animals: White swan, eagle, lizard, hound
Sacred Stones: Blue beryl and emerald

written by CatSister 2010
sources:
The New Book of Magical Names by Phoenix McFarland
Cunninghams Encyclopedia of Magickal Herbs
Whispers from the Woods by Sandra Kynes
dutchie.org
controverscial.com

Grapes on the Vine photo: freeimages.com

Bright Blessings for a Magickal Week!

Cat

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Please feel free to check out my websites!

The Desert Path: The Dusty Ramblings of a Desert Pagan. https://catsister.wordpress.com

Sacred Spirals on Facebook: The Place Where All Paths Meet https://www.facebook.com/groups/sacredSpirals/

Thought for the Day: August 8, 2017 “The Nature of Self Care”

Posted on August 8, 2017 by Cat

Happy Tuesday!

There are times when you just need to get outside, away from the confining walls where most of us spend our weekdays. Nature can help provide us with needed self care and stress relief. Doing something as simple as sitting in the sun for 10 minutes can clear the mind and help you to relax. I used to take my lunch break at a nearby park every day, sun, rain, or snow. I’d watch the butterflies and the birds along the river. It was a great way to put the job behind me for a time and I always left feeling refreshed. So today I leave you with these pagan words of wisdom!

Daily Thought

I invite you to check out my other websites:

Cat’s Treasure Trove: An Eclectic Collection of Jewelry & Gifts: at www.catstreasuretrove.weebly.com

and my group Sacred Spirals: The place where all paths meet at https://www.facebook.com/groups/SacredSpirals/

Cat’s Bits for July 16-22 The Definitions of Popular Egyptian Symbols

Posted on July 16, 2017 by Cat

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Cat’s Bits for July 16-22 The Definitions of Popular Egyptian Symbols

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July Events:

July 22: Sun enters Leo at 11:15 am EST

July 23: New Moon at 5:46 am EST

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Mau Bast

My time has come, as evening settles her blue shadowed veils around the temple. The scents and sounds of the coming night drift on the warm night air.

The smell of myrrh mixes with the black earth scent of the Nile. The distant sounds of voices and the calling of night birds and frogs from the lotus pond are a soothing hum.

I rise and stretch in the fading light. Muscles sleek and sinuous, eyes glowing amber fire. I enter the temple hall where servants are lighting the rush lights, they bow as I silently pad past.

From the temple there are voices raised in song and the rattle of sistrums, a tribute to the living goddess. I consider joining them but the night beckons, like a seductive lover I cannot resist.

As I emerge into the dusk world I am greeted by the small wild-cats that are my children and the scent of lotus flowers. Together we fade into the cloak of night. It is my time

©LBolotin/Cat 2005

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The Definitions of Popular Egyptian Symbols
By John Mackata

Most of the Egyptian symbols are depicted in hieroglyphs as the ‘words of God’ and were commonly used by priests. Some have appeared in novels and films due to the mysteries they are associated with. The most common symbols as seen on the Egyptian hieroglyphic include the eye of Horus, Bast, Crescent Moon, the Lotus Flower, Feather of Maat and the falcon. These are commonly used in religions as well as in magical rituals.

The Ankh
This is an Egyptian character that stands for ‘life’. In the ancient days, only the Kings, Pharaohs and the Gods were allowed to posses them. It was believed that the person who possessed them had the power to giving life. It was commonly used to represent air and water and was commonly held to a patient’s lips to give breath. The design also invokes the sun rising with the combination of the cross and the circle.

Bast (the Cat Goddess)
This is a representation of the daughter of Ra who was known as the cat headed Goddess. Bast was associated with both childbirth and fertility and known also as the goddess of joy, dancing and music. She was believed to have been connected with the moon and the possessor of Oudjat (the eye of her twin brother known as Horus). She was the personification of the soul of Isis according to a myth and also known as the ‘Lady of the East’. To receive her blessings of music, love and dancing, figures of cats were offered to Bast.

The Crescent Moon
This is known to be symbol especially for the children and the mothers. It was used as the symbol of Isis in the ancient Egypt. Being the queen of Egypt, Isis was known as the protector of women, motherhood and the sick healer. She was also believed to rule magic.

The Eye of Horus
This is one of the most popular Egyptian symbols which designed to resemble a falcon’s eye. Horus was a falcon headed god and the son of Isis and Osiris. He was generally associated with health, vitality and regeneration. The right eye was white and means to represent the sun. The left eye was black and was believed to represent the moon. According to some myth, it is believed that Seth, the brother to Horus, killed Osiris and the two had a fight to the extent that Horus lost the left eye. Thoth used his magic to restore the eye.

The Falcon
In the Egyptian symbols, the Falcon was associated with Horus, the god of solar. He was believed to appear as the Pharaoh’s falcon or as the ‘Falcon headed go’. It was believed that he had the capability of seeing everything at once due to his right eye being the sun and the left one the moon. In the representation, the Falcon is seen wearing double crown.

There are thousands of Ancient Egyptian Art [http://www.egyptiansymbols.org/learn-about-the-transformations-of-egyptian-art-forms/] forms that one can go through. The internet offers adequate information on them. In addition to that, Egyptian symbols can be bought on leading online stores. Check out Egyptian Symbols [http://www.egyptiansymbols.org/] and their meanings for more information.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Definitions-of-Popular-Egyptian-Symbols&id=5610675] The Definitions of Popular Egyptian Symbols

Bright Blessings for a Magickal Week!

Cat

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Please feel free to check out my websites!

Cat’s Treasure Trove: An Eclectic Collection of Jewelry and Gifts! http://catstreasuretrove.weebly.com

The Desert Path: The Dusty Ramblings of a Desert Pagan. https://catsister.wordpress.com

Sacred Spirals on Facebook: The Place Where All Paths Meet https://www.facebook.com/groups/sacredSpirals/

Hopeful Thinking: Cat’s Angel Message for June 16, 2017

Posted on June 16, 2017 by Cat

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Hopeful Thinking: Cat’s Angel Message for June 16, 2017

June Theme: Balance – Focus – Faith

Hopeful thinking can get you out of your fear zone and into your appreciation zone. ~ Martha Beck

616: One of the most common angel messages is about holding positive thoughts. Today is a lesson in how we create our own reality and how the importance of positive thought plays an important role in the manifestation process. When we look for and expect good things to happen, they do. While it may not be exactly what we asked for we benefit from them nonetheless. Another common message is giving your fears and worries over to the angels. It doesn’t matter whether you’re an angel person, pagan, wiccan or just spiritual, letting the negative nasty’s go is imperative to your overall wellbeing. Sometimes we are our own worst enemy. The longer we hold on to them the less good we are able to manifest for ourselves. The angels are asking us to keep our thoughts, actions and energy levels positive so that we have full access to manifesting our desire on all levels.

Archangels Raziel and Ariel can assist us in both the accessing of divine magic and in the manifestation process. Ascended Masters Melchizedek, helps us to manifest while shielding us against the negative nasty’s and overcoming unpleasant situations, and Babaji who aids manifestation while helping us to detach from becoming too materialistic. Our Sacred Stones for today are Zoisite and it’s cousin Tanzanite. Zoisite takes negative energy and turns into positive. It helps us to manifest ourselves rather than what others impose on us and infuses creativity into our thinking. Tanzanite helps to link with the angelic realms, spirit guides and the ascended masters.

Blessings for a magickal day!

Cat

I invite you to share my work as long as no changes are made and to check out my websites:

Cat’s Treasure Trove: An Eclectic Collection of Jewelry & Gifts! at www.catstreasuretrove.weebly.com

and my group Sacred Spirals: The place where all paths meet at https://www.facebook.com/groups/SacredSpirals/

The Desert Path: The Dusty Ramblings of a Desert Pagan. https://catsister.wordpress.com

Daily readings are written by Cat. Angel graphic is created and (C)LBolotin 2016-17.

Nothing is Enough: Cat’s Angel Message for June 10, 2017

Posted on June 10, 2017 by Cat

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Nothing is Enough: Cat’s Angel Message for June 10, 2017

June Theme: Balance – Focus – Faith

Nothing is enough for the man to whom enough is too little. ~ Epicurus

610: Starting today and carrying over into tomorrow we move from balance to the realms of positive thought. This includes affirmations, gratitude and focusing on the blessings in your life. The angels are reminding us that we are all wealthy in many ways and on many levels. By acknowledging our blessings and living in gratitude we are effectively creating an infinite supply. The key is to focus on what you HAVE and not on what you DON’T. Remember that true wealth is not about how many “cool new things” you have, I know people with this mentality and they are some of the most miserable people I know. Make a list today of all the good things and blessings in your life and you will see that you really are wealthier than you realized!

Archangel Jophiel is considered the patron of artists and beauty. Her energy is friendly and positive and she teaches us how to take time to enjoy our lives and the things that really matter. As the angel of beauty she helps us to see the beauty in our lives and within ourselves. Use Apatite, Tiger’s Eye, Pink Sapphire and Rose Quartz to to brings your feelings of gratitude to the surface.

Blessings for a magickal day!

Cat

I invite you to share my work as long as no changes are made and to check out my websites:

Cat’s Treasure Trove: An Eclectic Collection of Jewelry & Gifts! at www.catstreasuretrove.weebly.com

and my group Sacred Spirals: The place where all paths meet at https://www.facebook.com/groups/SacredSpirals/

The Desert Path: The Dusty Ramblings of a Desert Pagan. https://catsister.wordpress.com

Daily readings are written by Cat. Angel graphic is created and (C)LBolotin 2016-17.

Full Strawberry Moon: June 9, 2017

Posted on June 8, 2017 by Cat

June 9, 2017 Full Moon at 9:10 am EST

The Strawberry Moon

The Old Farmers Almanac calls this moon The Full Strawberry Moon. The name comes from the Algonquin tribes of the Eastern US and honors the ripening of the wild strawberries or “heart berries”. They are considered one of the “fruits of love”. There is a Cherokee tale that goes like this;

Long ago, the Great Spirit made First Woman and First Man. They soon became husband and wife and everything was good. Then one day something bad happened and they began to argue, angry words were spoken and feelings were hurt. First Woman grabbed up some of her belongings and said that she was leaving and would find somewhere else to live. First Man was angry too and at first did not follow. After a while he regretted his harsh words and went after her to apologize. But she was so far ahead that he could not catch her.

He called upon the Great Spirit for help. “Answer me this” replied the Great Spirit “Is your soul one with hers?” “Yes!” First Man answered, “it has been sine you first breathed life into us!” Seeing the man’s grief the Great Spirit took pity upon him and did his best to slow First Woman down. He created bushes full of tempting berries that grew at her feet as she walked. Gooseberries, Service Berries, Huckleberries and Blackberries, but the woman kept walking and paid no attention. The Great Spirit was suddenly struck with an idea. He went into his garden and grabbed up some strawberry plants and threw them to the earth. The little plants landed at First Woman’s feet and began to bloom and then came the berries! The bright red berries drew her attention and she stopped to taste one and one led to another. As she ate the berries her anger was forgotten and suddenly she longed for her husband. Rummaging through her things she found a basket and filled it with berries.

First Man was hurrying along the path when suddenly he saw First Woman coming toward him and smiling. he never got to apologize, his wife popped a strawberry in his mouth and taking his hand…. led him home.

This full moon will be sitting in Sagittarius and positive energy abounds. If you need a miracle or help in a legal matter then this is a great time to ask for assistance. Money magick, wisdom and accessing ancient knowledge is also part of this moon’s energy. It’s also a good time for workings that maintain or enhance what you already have. (jobs, relationships, home garden) Do a little for yourself as well by wearing warm colors like yellow, orange or gold to brighten your outlook. You can also wear, meditate or work with stones like Topaz which will recharge and align the meridians and Agates that helps to ground as it stabilizes the aura. However you celebrate the full moon remember to let its energy rejuvenate your heart and spirit.

Full Moon Blessings to All!
Cat

I invite you to check out my other websites:

Cat’s Treasure Trove: An Eclectic Collection of Jewelry & Gifts: at www.catstreasuretrove.weebly.com

and my group Sacred Spirals: The place where all paths meet at https://www.facebook.com/groups/SacredSpirals/

Cat’s Bits for June 4 -10 Violet Lore

Posted on June 4, 2017 by Cat

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Cat’s Bits for June 4 -10 Violet Lore

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June Events:

June 9: Full Moon at 9:10 am EST

June 10: Celtic Tree Month of Oak begins

Flag day: June 14

June 18: Father’s Day

June 21; Summer Solstice and Sun enters Cancer at 12:24 am EST

June 23: New Moon at 10:31 pm EST

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The Violet

Down in a green and shady bed,
A modest violet grew;
Its stalk was bent, it hung its head
As if to hide from view.
And yet it was a lovely flower,
Its colour bright and fair;
It might have graced a rosy bower,
Instead of hiding there.

Yet thus it was content to bloom,
In modest tints arrayed;
And there diffused a sweet perfume,
Within the silent shade.

Then let me to the valley go
This pretty flower to see;
That I may also learn to grow
In sweet humility.

Jane Taylor (1783- 1824

THE PLANT

The tiny violet is a common flower, it’s small purple face dotting shady places from forests to gardens. The ancient Greeks began cultivating violets around 500 BC. There are between 400-500 species and the plant comes in a variety of colors, purple, blue, white, yellow and even gray. It has 5 petals, 2 at the top, 1 on each side and one on the bottom which is striped. The leaves are heart shaped, which may have led to the conclusion that it was a flower of love. Some violets can have a 2 year lifespan and all violets bloom for about 3 months. They like shaded areas, often moist but not always, and where they grow wild they grow in profusion.

In some locations the violet is considered a weed due to their aggressive growth patterns. In fact I remember at my parents condo how the ground under their back deck was loaded with wild violets, they even popped up in their lawn and occasionally in the flower beds. However every time I tried to transplant them they withered and died. Colorado is notoriously hard on shade loving plants.

Both Greeks and Romans used these plants for their herbal properties, wine and a natural sweetener. Today they are used (sparingly) as decorations in jellies and other food items. Violets are a laxative and are not for consumption in large quantities. However if you are interested in the healing properties of this plant you can visit: http://www.gardensablaze.com/HerbVioletMed.htm

VIOLETS IN MYTH

In Greek myth this small flower was a tribute to Io, one of Zeus’s lovers. Violets are also associated with the story of Attis. While out hunting he was killed and where his blood touched the earth violets grew.

Violets are also part of the great love story of Napoleon and Josephine. Evidently, the violet was Napoleon’s favorite flower and on the day that he and Josephine were married he gave her a bouquet of violets and continued to do on each wedding anniversary. When Josephine died the grieving husband placed a violet from the grave site and placed it in a locket, it is said that Napoleon wore that locket until his own death.

VIOLET CORRESPONDENCES & IN MAGIC

Magic: Protection, love / lust, wish granting, healing

Deities: Venus, Aphrodite, Astarte, Blodeuwedd

Names: Common violet, hooded violet, blue violet, sweet violet

Element: Water

To the Greeks, violets were a symbol of both fertility and love and they used the flowers to create love potions and wore them to induce sleep and calm the temper. In Rome, violets were worn because they were said to keep one from getting drunk.

In Christian symbolism the violet became known a symbol of modesty as well as humility and according Richard Webster, the term shrinking violet comes from this association.

Another folk spell says that if you wear a crown of violets that it will ward against headaches and light headedness. Or to heal wounds and stop evil spirits form making the wound worse you should wear a green sachet filled with violet leaves. but if you wear a necklace of violets you will hear only the truth.

To dream of violets is said to be a sign that an important area of your life is about to move forward, thing will improve and the hard work you have done is about to pay off. Another meaning is that you will marry someone younger than you.

As a magical name Violet (which means purple)would be good for a person wanting to increase their spiritual development or as a power name to increase self confidence.

Bright Blessings for a Magickal Week!

Cat

Sources: Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, Scott Cunningham

Flower and Tree magic, Richard Webster

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Please feel free to check out my websites!

Cat’s Treasure Trove: An Eclectic Collection of Jewelry and Gifts! http://catstreasuretrove.weebly.com

The Desert Path: The Dusty Ramblings of a Desert Pagan. https://catsister.wordpress.com

Sacred Spirals on Facebook: The Place Where All Paths Meet https://www.facebook.com/groups/sacredSpirals/

Cat’s Bits May 28- June 3: The Hanged Man: Knowing When to Surrender

Posted on May 28, 2017 by Cat

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Cat’s Bits for May 28- June 3

The Hanged Man: Knowing When to Surrender

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May Events:

May 29: Memorial Day

June Events:

June 9: Full Moon at 9:10 am EST

June 10: Celtic Tree Month of Oak begins

Flag day: June 14

June 18: Father’s Day

June 21; Summer Solstice and Sun enters Cancer at 12:24 am EST

June 23: New Moon at 10:31 pm EST

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The Hanged Man: Knowing When to Surrender

The image of The Hanged Man has been showing itself to me over the last month. In the past six months or so I have felt like I am in a holding pattern. In the last year a lot has happened my husband both lost and gained job. We lost two beloved pets, one of which was my bonded familiar. Fighting depression and hormone changes and watching my mom make the slow decline into the forgetfulness of old age. It’s been tough to deal with as anyone who has gone through any of this will know. I went through various stages of fear, anger, resentment, sadness and not to mention completely out of balance. There is after all only so much you can deal with before shutting down. I felt like I had no one to turn to, after all everyone has their own problems so why should they care about mine. So I turned to the only person who could help….. me.

I started by working through and letting go of the negative baggage. I found it was imperative to know and separate the things you CAN do something about as opposed to the things that you CAN’T. But as I continued to plow my way through I began to realize that the upsets and turmoil lost their punch. This made them easier to work with and heal. They became less important and I stopped letting them steal my power. It was unbelieveable how much energy was freed up by this process. Some days scraps of negative trash still pop up out of nowhere. “Work in Progress. Please excuse the construction trash!” The truth is that we are all a work in progress,. We do the best we can and keep working at making ourselves better. Then The Hanged Man showed up.

I have been a pagan for over 25 years and repetitive signs mean a lot. During this time I have received signs in stones, animals, weather and many other things but never as Tarot card symbol. When my husband asked me why I was sleeping in Tree Pose, I laughed it off. Then I realized that during the down times in dance class I was standing in Tree Pose. I knew there was a message here but couldn’t work out the connection. The third time’s the charm as they say and so it was. I was reading The Lady of Rivers by Philippa Gregory where the heroine Jaquetta, who has the powers of an oracle, pulls a tarot card for Joan of Arc. That card was The Hanged Man. He is there willingly, hanging in limbo. He is tied to the tree by his ankle but he can let himself go at any time, but for now he is surrendering. Letting life unfold around him naturally .Now I have a new word for “shutting down”, it’s surrender. Sometimes we must surrender ourselves to what’s going on and let things play out before letting ourselves go and moving on.

So what does The Hanged Man symbolize? Let’s take a look………………..

Reversal of values or attitudes / Patience / Surrender or Sacrifice / Deepening of experience /Peace / Independence /Understanding

This card is a symbol of gaining deeper experience, it’s a kind of initiation. We gain the most from this initiation by surrendering and simply letting ourselves go to the Divine Source. We allow ourselves to wait patiently, making no demands and having no expectations. We let of the need to be in control and it is through this that we gain understanding by letting go of the need to understand. Our reward freedom and peace which can only be found in surrender. This card invites us to examine our values, attitudes and priorities that we have in regard to life.

The signs to help us along our path are everywhere. We must be awake enough to see them, open minded enough to grasp the knowledge they bring, honest enough to see how it applies and courageous enough to take the necessary steps help ourselves.

Bright Blessings for a Magickal Week!

Cat

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Please feel free to check out my websites!

Cat’s Treasure Trove: An Eclectic Collection of Jewelry and Gifts! http://catstreasuretrove.weebly.com

The Desert Path: The Dusty Ramblings of a Desert Pagan. https://catsister.wordpress.com

Sacred Spirals on Facebook: The Place Where All Paths Meet https://www.facebook.com/groups/sacredSpirals/

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