The Desert Path

The Dusty Ramblings of a Desert Pagan

Cat’s Morning Bits for April 10, 2019

Posted on April 10, 2019 by Cat

CMB canva sm

Cat’s Morning Bits for April 10, 2019

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

Blessings, Cat

_________________________

In the springtime: April violets glow
In wayside nooks, close clustering into groups,
Like shy elves hiding from traveller’s eye.

-Thomas Buchanan Read (1822-72)

____________________________

Spirit Library: The Springtime of Your Soul

Dear Ones,

It is the springtime of your soul and you do not wish to “have to” do anything other than watch flowers and trees bloom.

So it is you find yourself irritated with those who attempt to have you conform to their idea of what is right for you

https://spiritlibrary.com/brenda-hoffman/the-springtime-of-your-soul

___________________________

ThoughtCo: Athena, Greek Goddess of Wisdom and War

As a goddess of war, Athena often shows up in Greek legend to assist various heroes — Heracles, Odysseus and Jason all got a helping hand from Athena. In classical myth, Athena never took any lovers, and was often revered as Athena the Virgin, or Athena Parthenos. This is where the Parthenon temple got its name.

https://www.thoughtco.com/athena-greek-goddess-of-wisdom-and-war-2561957

___________________________

MNN: Storm in a Jar Activity

What if you could sit atop a cloud and watch the rain fall? In this activity, you can see what is actually happening in the sky before a rain storm. Clouds are formed when moisture is collected in the air. When you see a cloud, you’re looking at water vapor that has attached itself to condensation nuclei, dust and small particles in the sky

https://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/sponsorvideo/storm-jar-activity

____________________________

Daily Good: Mary Webb and the Joy of Motion

Mary Webb, an English writer of the early 20th century was an acute observer of nature and her multi-dimensional splendor.Diagnosed with Graves’ disease at the age of 20, Webb soon discovered that nature played a powerful role in her periods of recovery. ‘The Spring of Joy’compiles a series of essays on nature, penned by Webb with the aim of bringing comfort to’the weary and wounded in the battle of life.’ They are a testament to one woman’s capacity to bear witness to the vast record of nature and to draw nourishment from it that continues to benefit readers far beyond her lifetime. The following is an excerpt from The Spring of Joy: A Little Book of Healing.

http://www.dailygood.org/story/2289/the-joy-of-motion-mary-webb/

____________________________

Tetraktys: The Basics of Rune Magick – The 13 Witch’s Runes for Beginners Part 3

Hello witches! This is the last part of our post series about the Witch’s Runes. Did you know that the runes could be used for other purposes than divination? First, I will teach you how to meditate with the Witch’s Runes. Then, you will learn the basics of runic magic

https://www.thetetraktys.com/2019/basics-rune-magick-13-witchs-runes-beginners-part-3/

______________________________

Elephant Journal: The First Step in Letting Go.

My deepest intuition has always been to hold on.
As far back as I can remember, I’ve held on too tightly to every attachment, and I’ve done everything in my power not to let go. To never say goodbye. To be steadfast in my devotion to anything and everything. White-knuckled, fists clenched, clawing for a stronghold that will allow me to resist change

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2016/06/the-first-step-letting-go/

_____________________________

Herbal Muse: Rosemary-Mint Soap Balls

The scent of this simple, natural “ugly” soap is invigorating and fresh. It’s especially nice to use during the warm weather months. This recipe makes several hand-rolled soap balls, depending on how big (or small) you want them to be. You can also make 2 round or square cakes of soap instead, if you wish.

https://www.herbalmusings.com/rosemary-mint-soap-balls

____________________________

EarthSky News: Moon in Winter Circle April 10 and 11

For the next few evenings – April 10 and 11, 2019 – look for the moon and Winter Circle (or Winter Hexagon) stars. It’s difficult to convey the humongous size of the Winter Circle that fills our western sky at dusk and nightfall. It even dwarfs the constellation Orion the Mighty Hunter, which makes up the southwest portion of this a great big lasso of 1st-magnitude stars.

https://earthsky.org/tonight/moon-shines-inside-of-winter-circle

________________________

Patheos-Pagan: Magical Coffee: The Mundane into Spellwork

Coffee can be part of a daily routine, a special libation, a treat, or a requirement for many. This simple yet mundane beverage can be turned into so many wonderful parts of magic. If you have never used coffee as part of your magical spellwork, consider how many different ways it can be used.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/witchindeed/2019/04/magical-coffee-the-mundane-into-spellwork/

_____________________________

Inner Journey:

WHAT ARE YOU PROCRASTINATING?

“The greatest amount of wasted time is the time not getting started.”
— Dawson Trotman

Procrastination seriously drains our energy and our morale. What remains undone nags at us. What are you avoiding?

Make a list of items and then review each one. Does it really need to be done? After you’ve reviewed your list, prioritize it and start one task today.

Please do not procrastinate taking one minute to write down your answer to this question. Capture it on paper and this will help build awareness, commitment and discipline.

“How soon not now, becomes never.”
— Martin Luther

“Talk does not cook rice.”
— Chinese proverb

“Do you know what happens when you give a procrastinator a good idea? Nothing!”
— Donald Gardner

higherawareness.com
_____________________________

Today’s Recipe: Banana Oat Chia Muffins

I wanted to make a healthier banana bread recipe. So I reduced the fat and sugar then added oats and chia. It came out pretty darn delicious.

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Banana-Oat-Chia-Muffins.html

__________________________________
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]

_________________________

Beliefnet: When Affirmations Don’t Work!
Great affirmations are available everywhere on social media, but are they actual working for you or against you? How do you use affirmations and are you seeing those results manifest for you? Everywhere…

Cat’s Morning Bits for August 15, 2018

Posted on August 15, 2018 by Cat

Cat’s Morning Bits for August 15, 2018

Blessings, Cat

_________________________

Where-e’er you walk, cool gales shall fan the glade,
Trees, where you sit, shall crowd into a shade,
Where-e’er you tread, the blushing flow’rs shall rise,
And all things flourish where you turn your eyes.
-Alexander Pope (1688-1744)

____________________________

MBG: Are Your Self-Care Rituals Making You Unhappy? This Doctor Thinks So

‘m a holistic psychiatrist, so when patients walk through my door, they’re usually already A+ students when it comes to yoga, meditation, eating clean, taking Epsom salt baths, and surrounding themselves with essential oils and salt lamps. Who am I to call any of these lovely practices and rituals into question? I do many of them myself!
And yet, I’ve often wondered if there are times when we do so much self-care that, ironically, it starts to get in the way of our ability to take care of ourselves and can actually contribute to burnout.

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/the-negative-effects-of-self-care-practices

____________________________

Daily Good: How to Unhijack Your Mind from Your Phone

What if we didn’t unplug, but changed the way we used our phones? Would it increase productivity? Would it improve your mood? See what a former Google employee has to say about mindfulness, and how to avoid unnecessary phone time. { read more } http://www.dailygood.org/more.php?op=get&url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2Fthrive-global%2Fdistracted-in-2016-reboot-your-phone-with-mindfulness-9f4c8ad46538

Be The Change

Take at least one of the tips in the above article and implement them in your daily phone usage this week. How do you feel once the week is over?

____________________________

MNN: Never underestimate the power of a good thank-you note

The bottom drawer of my desk contains two things: stationery to write letters, and notes from others that I’ve received in the past few years. On top of everything in the drawer is a three-page letter, forwarded to my writing partner and me by the publisher, from a woman who wrote that she was grateful for the female-centric history book we wrote. In my attic is a box of more notes that have been sent to me over the years

https://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/blogs/power-written-thank-you-gratitude

____________________________

Tetraktys: Everyday Magick: 10 Rituals That Take Less Than 10 Minutes to Perform

Hello witches! This week’s post is about everyday magick. In this article, I will show you how to incorporate small rituals into your daily routine. Instead of performing time-consuming and complicated rituals only one in a while, why don’t you infuse your everyday life with magick?

https://www.thetetraktys.com/2018/everyday-magick-10-rituals-10-minutes/

____________________________

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

After sunset on August 14 to 16, 2018, look west 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 motion in orbit around Earth.

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

________________________

MNN: The surprising beauty and benefits of driftwood

Trees are pillars of their communities, a role they can maintain even in death. An upright dead tree offers vital habitat to certain birds and bats, for example, while a fallen tree is a bonanza for life on the forest floor, including future trees.

Yet rotting in place is not the only natural afterlife for a tree. Sometimes, instead of giving back to its birth forest, a tree will embark on an odyssey to pay it forward, carrying its ecological wealth away from the only home it has ever known

https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/blogs/driftwood-beauty-benefits

_________________________

Inner Journey:

WHAT ARE YOU PROCRASTINATING?

“The greatest amount of wasted time is the time not getting started.”
— Dawson Trotman

Procrastination seriously drains our energy and our morale. What remains undone nags at us. What are you avoiding?

Make a list of items and then review each one. Does it really need to be done? After you’ve reviewed your list, prioritize it and start one task today.

Please do not procrastinate taking one minute to write down your answer to this question. Capture it on paper and this will help build awareness, commitment and discipline.

“How soon not now, becomes never.”
— Martin Luther

“Talk does not cook rice.”
— Chinese proverb

“Do you know what happens when you give a procrastinator a good idea? Nothing!”
— Donald Gardner

higherawareness.com
_____________________________

A Note from the Universe

Lilac pandas, dancing flowers, sugar mountains, and rainbow houses, don’t even hint at the splendor of where you came from. But then, your friends back “home” can’t imagine crimson sunrises, falling snow in moonlight, twirling dolphins, wagging tails, purring hearts, ocean mists, or bare feet in grass.

You’ve so impressed the Joneses.

Another day in paradise,

The Universe

tut.com

_________________________
Today’s Recipe: Summer Squash Lasagne

I had a big summer squash, leftover turkey breast, and leftover cheese. I decided to try putting them together lasagne style, and was pleased with the results. The squash replaces the noodles, so it is low in carbs. You can vary the cheeses, meats, and seasonings. I had basil and kale, so I added them in as well. If I had have ricotta or cottage cheese I would have used that, too.

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Summer-Squash-Lasagne.html

__________________________________
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]

_________________________
Daily Wisdom
August 15, 2018

Success

“I am not the smartest or most talented person in the world, but I succeeded because I keep going, and going, and going.”

-Sylvester Stallone

There is a lot to be said for persistence and perseverance. How much drive and enthusiasm have we put into our efforts? When we pursue something “whole-heartedly” then we simply can’t give up. When we invest our Selves into our plans, we can’t help but succeed!

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

_________________________________

Beliefnet: 9 Ways to Live an Authentic Life
If you’re struggling with redefining your life and need some insight – check out these nine ways to live an authentic life.

Cat’s Morning Bits for July 24, 2018

Posted on July 24, 2018 by Cat

CMB canva sm

Cat’s Morning Bits for July 24, 2018

Blessings, Cat

_________________________

On the warm and perfumed dark
glows the firefly’s tender spark.
-Horatio Nelson Powers (1826-90)

____________________________

Spiritual Unite: This Is How To Obtain Cosmic Energy

Cosmic energy is the basis of everything in the universe. Every object, every molecule, every atom and every subatomic particle relies on cosmic energy in order not only to act but merely to exist. We all contain within us an amount of cosmic energy stored, spent and collected in every fibre of our being

https://www.spiritualunite.com/articles/how-to-obtain-cosmic-energy/

___________________________

MBG: Noticing Yourself Starting To Procrastinate? Do This ASAP

Oftentimes, procrastination is not a sign of laziness. It’s a fear of failure.

This fear drives so much of our lack of initial effort. Since our subconscious wants to keep us safe, the underlying possibility of failure can be enough to keep us in our comfort zone, especially once giving in to that behavior becomes a habit.

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/beat-procrastination-with-this-quick-routine

____________________________

Pioneer Thinking: Daisies – Flowers That Heal

A daisies bouquet is a wonderful gift because there are only positive meanings attached to these flowers. However, their beauty does not stop at their appearance nor does it do so at their meanings. They have both a legend to support them, and a belief which holds them as a kind of prophets, able to reveal one’s feelings.

https://pioneerthinking.com/daisies-flowers-that-heal

____________________________

Tetraktys: Stress Relief – A Guide on Stress Management and Following the Tao
In my last article on depression, I started by saying that we’re living in a time where depression has reached epidemic proportions. This article will tackle something that is even more widespread than depression as a major impediment to living a fulfilling life, and that is stress. 77% of Americans say that they regularly experience physical symptoms of stress, 73% say that they also experience the psychological symptoms and 33% say that they live with extreme stress

https://www.thetetraktys.com/2018/stress-relief-a-guide-on-stress-management-and-following-the-tao/

_____________________________

MNN: Looking for a life-affirming new career? Become a ‘death doula’

These end-of-life coaches are reimagining death and changing lives.

It’s not easy to talk about death. It can be depressing and scary, and often remains hidden in our culture. As a result, many people face their final moments alone in hospitals or nursing homes, hooked to clinical, life-prolonging technologies without loved ones or familiar surroundings to calm their fears and bring meaning to their end-of-life experience.

https://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/responsible-living/stories/looking-life-affirming-new-career-become-death-doula

____________________________

EarthSky News: Moon nearest Saturn on July 24

On the night of July 24, 2018, the moon shines closest for this month to the planet Saturn. At its closest, the moon comes to within four moon-diameters (two degrees) of Saturn, plenty close enough for the duo to fit within a single binocular field.

http://earthsky.org/tonight/moon-near-spica-saturn-plus-lunar-night-vs-lunar-day

________________________
Patheos-Pagan: Friends Are Too Precious To Throw Away by John Beckett

This was going to be a paragraph on Facebook. Turns out I had more than a paragraph to say…
I read somewhere that what we want most is what we didn’t have enough of when we were seven years old. I don’t know if that’s true or not, but it rings true for me.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbeckett/2018/02/friends-precious-throw-away.html

_____________________________

Inner Journey:

LIVE IN RELAXATION

“It would be glorious to see mankind at leisure for once. It is nothing but work, work, work.”
— Henry David Thoreau

Is relaxation possible only when we’re not working? No. With awareness and practice, we can be relaxed no matter what we are doing. In fact, when we work in a relaxed state, our productivity increases as our effort decreases.

For true relaxation, we need to connect with our bodies — to consciously and intentionally become aware of tension and release it.

“Anxiety breaks a man’s backbone.”
— Hebrew proverb

“Don’t hurry, don’t worry. You’re only here for a short visit. So be sure to stop and smell the flowers.”
— Walter Hagen

higherawareness.com
_____________________________

A Note from the Universe

Some things don’t sound like they look.

Others don’t look like they sound.

There are friends who don’t act like friends.

And enemies who’d never dream of hurting anyone.

But do you know what the strangest thing about time and space is?

Your thoughts will never betray you. They will strive to become things. You can change your circumstances on a dime. And where you’ve been, has no bearing on where you can still go.

Zoom, clink, hugs –

The Universe

tut.com

_________________________
Today’s Recipe: Barley Salad

A healthy, filling salad can include cold, cooked grains.

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Barley-Salad-Recipes.html

__________________________________

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

_________________________
Daily Wisdom
July 24, 2018

Inspiration

“The most beautiful thing in the world is, precisely, the conjunction of learning and inspiration.”

-Wanda Landowska, in Denise Restout, ed., Landowska on Music (1964)

This is what spiritual growth is all about. When we are inspired to learn we grow so much. Our inspiration is our calling to grow, to bloom. It is a gift; it is a blessing.

-Lissa Coffey

coffeytalk.com

_________________________________

Beliefnet: Five Tips for Loving Every Bit of You
Learn how to embrace your flaws and love every bit of yourself.

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this: