Hi, folks!
Wicca 103 at 5pm. Lesson 6
Dragon splashed down in the Pacific at 8:42am. The morning clouds are thick enough (gee, what a surprise) that they’re taking a while spotting it. I’ve got the NASA channel running. …Preliminary report, close to target. Spotted chutes in the water. …Later report, pretty much right on target. …Contact at 8:55. …Parachutes separated and they’re powering down for pick-up.
It’s rather dim and green here. Clouds are at 800 feet, which ought to mean that they’ll burn off, but the computer says not. It’s already 58F, which is the forecast high.
The sparrows are busy on the feeder, very businesslike this morning, no fluffing and fighting.
The early part of the day, yesterday, was spent on paperwork again, and then on sorting papers before I finally managed to get outside.
The first thing I did was to harvest the buttercups and I’m looking at the patch and as many more have bloomed again! Wow… I gotta remember to save out a couple of minutes to harvest more. I spent a couple of hours weeding around and through those, the chives, the dandelion, blue-eyed grass, yarrow and rush that are all at that end of the garden. Pieces of me started to hurt, so I got up and went inside to get myself something to drink and then came out and just gazed at the beautiful day for a while and then spent another hour pulling things out of the pathway that shouldn’t be there, after harvesting several flowers from the calendula.
Tempus got home right around then and in lying down on the grass for a few waiting for him to come back outside (since he had his hands full of groceries) I realized there was an *awesome* rainbow halo around the sun! I grabbed the camera and I think I have a pic or two. There was a left-hand sundog and I kept hoping for a circumzenithal arc…and it tried, but the cirrus was burning away too fast.
So then we got back to garden work. He started with the string trimmer and then dug up the spot where the compost ring is going to go. I know he also did a lot of weeding in the retaining wall, but by then I was inside dealing with dinner. He seems to have hurt his knee, too. He was limping badly and complaining last night, but he says he’s doing better this morning.
I did get out to harvest the sage blossoms, and also got a lot of bindweed in the process. I have a few more stems to go from a couple of the later bloomers, but the big sage is harvested. I also found a whole bunch of blue violets again. Those things keep blooming forever! I trimmed a bit off the bay again, to lift it up above the violets and give them a bit of breathing space. I got the last of the lilacs cut, too, and then sat down with bags on the front porch and sorted everything out.
…and then I went in to deal with dinner. I made the salad that I’ve been talking about (macaroni pasta, chopped fresh tomatoes, minced garlic, mozzarella), added the basil and sorrel chiffonades and quite a bit of onion and salt. I also made a Yorkshire Pudding, but didn’t get the oven hot enough so it was rather flat and heavy. It tasted good, though. So did the salad. It feels a little odd to not have some kind of the dressing like mayo or oil&vinegar on it, but it tasted fine without. We’ve got plenty for lunches, too.
Tempus also picked up some apples for apple crisp, (when I get a minute), and a lemon so that I can do some baked fish, and a cucumber that I ate almost all of doing the prep for the salad. Tempus ate the rest.
I did get that first order placed, since the previous one showed up today…and that means we have quite a few amulets again, more spell candles and a couple of new tote bags.
So today I’m going to try to harvest the flax leaves before leaving for the shop and I’ll be checking the suspicious red spots on the species rose in the retaining wall to see if those are buds. Once I’m at the shop I have to prep those harvested herbs, first, which is going to take a while. I’ve a whole bag of the bindweed to untangle. Then I have to inventory the herb wall and then to see what we actually have that I can add to it. We found a lot of stuff that’s been sitting a while in the course of cleaning up and digging things out. I’ve burned the really old stuff, but there’s some that’s still perfectly fine, since it’s been kept airtight in the dark.
We’re opening at 10am, finally switching to summer hours. We’ll be there through class time tonight and I have pictures to take.
Psychic fair this weekend! http://www.ancientlight.info/events/#fair Check the schedule below for the rest of the stuff. I’ve had a couple of requests to re-run The Burning Times, so that’s the movie for the weekend.
We’ll be switching to summer hours this week!
The shop opens at 10am today and we’ll be there through class time. Summer hours, 10am-7pm, Wednesday through Monday. If we’re supposed to be closed, but it looks like we’re there, try the door. If it’s open, the shop’s open!
Love & Light,
Anja
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NASA Science News for May 28, 2012 - On Monday, June 4th, the Moon will pass through the shadow of Earth, producing a partial lunar eclipse visible across the Pacific from China to the United States. FULL STORY: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-na sa/2012/28may_strawberry/
VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aszUiI6J-L8
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Ancient Light’s website – www.ancientlight.info – You *can* order from here! …or e-mail…or call on the phone… or Facebook….etc…..
Tempus does Outdoor Power Equipment repair! - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Magycke-Mower-Small -Engine-Service/132610430115634
http://www.ancientlight.info/magycke/
Café Press Products from Ancient Light - http://www.cafepress.com/ancientlight Everything from T-shirts to pillows to coffee mugs to journals with witchy or just fun designs! The newest designs are here: http://www.cafepress.com/ancientlight/8866346 These are the Your Personal Satyr designs.
Spoonflower Fabrics - http://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/coastalanja The newest designs are in the Anja’s Spring Garden collection (think daffodils in the snow and violets…). We have designs for sale in the Bugs ‘n Slugs Collection, the Garden Collection and Mushroom Collection and two Pagan Collections are coming soon.
Our Circle’s site! - http://www.ancientlight.info/circle/ Add things by e-mailing me here. mbartlett@harborside.com
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Today
The Moon is waxing gibbous. Waxing Moon Magick - The waxing moon is for constructive magick, such as love, wealth, success, courage, friendship, luck or healthy, protection, divination. Any working that needs extra power, such as help finding a new job or healings for serious conditions, can be done now. Also, love, knowledge, legal undertakings, money and dreams.
Waxing Gibbous Moon - From seven to fourteen days after the new moon. For spells that need concentrated work over a ¼ moon cycle this is the best time for constructive workings. Aim to do the last working on the day of the Full moon, before the turn. Phase ends on 6/2 at 4:12pm
The waxing gibbous Moon will line up under Spica and Saturn on Thursday the 31st, forming an upward line this evening. How straight the line is will depend on when and where you're viewing from.
Neptune (magnitude 7.9, in Aquarius) is in the southeast before dawn's first light.
Celtic Tree Month of Huath Hawthorn May 13 - Jun 9
Goddess Month of Hera runs from 5/16 - 6/12
Runic Half-month of Odal 5/29-6/13- The rune Odel signifies ancestral property, the homestead, and all those things that are “one’s own”.
Sun in Gemini
Moon in Libra
Venus, Saturn, Juno, Pluto Retrograde
Color: Purple
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©2012 M. Bartlett, Some parts separately copyright
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Calendar
5/31 - 5pm - Wicca 103 – Lesson 5/6
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Planting 6/1-2
June 1-3 – Psychic Fair – Special Guest, Tanya Lester, Tasiographer
6/1 – Friday, Tea Leaf Reading Workshop 7pm – by donation
6/2 – Saturday, 10am-6pm - Tea Leaf & Tarot Readings by Tanya Lester, Tasiographer
6/2 – Saturday, 11am - Herb Workshop
Noon - Brandon Tweed on Raising Fowl
2pm – Care & Feeding of a Rock Tumbler
3pm - Sewing Workshop
6pm - Metta Meditation
7pm – Movie Night, showing The Burning Times (discussion follows)
6/3 – Sunday, 10am-6pm - Tea Leaf & Tarot Readings by Tanya Lester, Tasiographer
6/3 – Sunday, 10am – Wicca 101
Noon - Brea’s Elements (class)
1pm – Free showing of The Burning Times
3pm – Discussion follows movie
Harvest 6/4
Lunar Eclipse – 6/4/12 4:03am
6/4 – Full Strong Sun Moon at 4:12am, Pathfinding Horse Moon
Neptune Retrograde 6-4-12 2:03pm
6/4 – Monday – 6pm – Wicca 101 – Lesson 5
Planting 6/5-6
6/6 – Wednesday, 3pm – Herbs Outdoors – (weather permitting)
6/6 – Wednesday, 7pm, esbat, waning moon
Harvest 6/7-9
6/9 – Saturday, 11am - Herb Workshop
Noon-ish – Care and Feeding of a Rock Tumbler
3pm - Sewing Workshop
Planting 6/10-11
6/10 – Sunday, 10am – Wicca 101
Noon - Brea’s Elements (counseling)
2pm - Practical Craft
Chiron Retrograde 6-11-12 10:12pm
Harvest 6/12-14
6/14 – Thursday – Waldport Chamber of Commerce meeting – Noon
Waldport City Council Meeting – 2pm
Planting 6/15-16
Harvest 6/17-18
6/16 – Waldport Beachcomber Days
New Moon, 6/19, 8:02am
Sun enters Cancer 4:09pm
Planting 6/20-21
6/20 – Wednesday 7pm, Circle business meeting for Litha (run-through)
Litha Sabbat Open Circle, 6/22, Friday, 7pm at Ancient Light (waxing moon)
6/21 - 3pm, Crones’ Tea
Saturn Direct 6-25-12 1am
Venus Direct 6-27-12 8:07am
Planting 6/29-30
June 30 - July8 – Psychic Fair – Special Guests, Kat Cunningham, Carl Neal & Lupa Bi
Oregon Coast Pan-Pagan Gathering, Friday – Sunday, September 28-30
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www.wunderground.com
May. 31, 2012, Rise, Set
Actual Time, 5:35 AM PDT, 8:53 PM PDT
Civil Twilight, 4:59 AM PDT, 9:29 PM PDT
Nautical Twilight, 4:12 AM PDT, 10:15 PM PDT
Astronomical Twilight, 3:15 AM PDT, 11:13 PM PDT
Moon, 4:42 PM PDT, 2:45 AM PDT
Length Of Visible Light, 16h 29m
Length of Day, 15h 18m
Tomorrow will be 1m 22s longer.
Waxing Gibbous, 80% of the Moon is Illuminated
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Celtic tree month Huath Hawthorn May 13 - Jun 9 - I am fair among flowers - Color: Purple - Class: Peasant - Letter: H - Meaning: Being held back for a period of time - Hawthorn - Like willows, hawthorns have many species in Europe, and they are not always easy to tell apart. All are thorny shrubs in the Rose family (Rosaceae), and most have whitish or pinkish flowers. The common hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna Jacq.) and midland hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata (Poiret) DC.) are both widespread. They are common in abandoned fields and along the edges of forests. Both are cultivated in North America, as are several native and Asiatic hawthorns. Curtis Clark
Huathe - Hawthorne Ogam letter correspondences
Month: April
Color: Purple
Class: Peasant
Letter: H
Meaning: Being held back for a period of time
to study this month - Ur - Heather and Mistletoe Ogam letter correspondences
Month: None
Color: Purple
Class: Heather is Peasant; Mistletoe is Chieftain
Letter: U
Meaning: Healing and development on the spiritual level.
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Tides for Alsea Bay
Day High Tide Height Sunrise Moon Time % Moon
/Low Time Feet Sunset Visible
Th 31 Low 3:48 AM 0.5 5:35 AM Set 2:46 AM 71
31 High 9:48 AM 5.5 8:53 PM Rise 4:43 PM
31 Low 3:25 PM 1.7
31 High 9:43 PM 8.0
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Affirmation/Thought for the Day – Make this a Light day!
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Journal Prompt – What do you think? - Do you think smoking should be against the law, or should people have the right to smoke—even if it hurts their health or the health of those around them?
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Quotes
For fast acting relief, try slowing down. - Lily Tomlin
Forever is composed of nows. - Emily Dickinson
Go out into the world and run straight at your fears. - Kerr Cuhulain
Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anyone else expects of you. Never excuse yourself. - Henry Ward Beecher
You
who are absent there
we have found you here
in the Rose of Splendor.
You are non-existent as essence –
yet you exist in this unfolding Light-Flower. - Jalal-ud-Din Rumi (Translated by Andrew Harvey from A Year of Rumi)
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Magick – Litha
deborah wrote:
To: Hearth_Witch@yahoogroups.com
From: "deborah"
Date: Tue, 06 Jun 2006 17:20:16 -0000
Subject: [Hearth_Witch] The Midsummer Altar
The Midsummer Altar
As like most seasons we usually like to decorate accordingly, around Christmas, we do get a tree and decorate it with baubles and ornaments, and a Yule log as the centerpiece of our table. During the spring I will put up flowers and add a more spring like quality to our home. The ever shifting nature of seasonal decorations is fun and gets the mind in gear for creativity.
What about the altar? Sometimes that is something that even I overlook when the seasons and sabbats change. One moment my altar is decorated in blacks and oranges, the scent of cinnamon rising up from the burning candles and the next it is already Midsummer and wondering where did the time go?
In a world where we go, go, go all the time, it is often the little things, like our altars, that go unnoticed. Take a look at your altar. What do you see on it? What colours are there? Maybe it hasn't been dusted in awhile or perhaps the candles are looking a bit old and used. Take a moment to assess how you feel about your altar, what does it speak to you? Where are you at in your life right now with your practices and spirituality?
When you set to re-decorating the altar for Litha think of warm summer days, the colours of the fire in the bar-be-cue pits, and the sunny cloudless days. Bright colours are a wonderful way to warm up the altar, perhaps you are working more with the fire elements these days, then these bright colours would be perfect. If you are working, perhaps, more with the water element, then shades of blues and greens wrapped around your altar is a lovely idea.
Some of the other things you could use to decorate the Litha altar would be fresh candles (don' t throw the old ones out though!), to represent the newness and fertility of the season. Maybe some items that are representations of the summer months, birds, butterflies and other insects, fruits and flowers, anything that your imagination can think of.
Scents also play an important part in any altar. What smells speak to you of Midsummer? Something flowery, the scent of the ocean on a warm summer's breeze or anything else really that tickles your fancy.
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Energy list
5/29/12 – Car accident. Painful, not serious, but ow!
5/19/12 – Dealing with a persistent ex, a mistake from the git-go, stressed and feeling under attack constantly. Help!
5/16/12 – For someone who has found a dream job and wants some extra oomph to help him get it.
5/13/12 – “I am still very sick and have been for a month now - really need help kicking this on the spiritual plane - depression makes you sick and I am having a hard time climbing out of this hole. I now have bronchitis as well as the ongoing infection - see Dr again on Monday - This is probably the only request for help/healing I have ever made - but I just can't seem to kick this on my own. Whatever you think will help - I feel like I am dying a very slow and painful death.” Update 5-8 Doing better, but still need help. Update 5/17 Sunshine helps!
5/8/12 - 9-year-old boy with an inoperable brain tumor. Starting radiation. Family and friends asking help for him and for the children that know him. Update 4/7 He’s doing pretty well and back in school despite the treatments. Update 5/8 No news is good news. Update 5/25 He is 10x better. He is in full remission.
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Silliness – GCF: Outdoor Gear
Duck decoys, fishing rods, boots -- outdoor gear of all kinds was piled high in the garage. One day I found my wife staring at the mess. "I hope I die first, so I don't have to get rid of all this," she sighed.
"Look on the bright side," I suggested. "If I go first, you can put an ad in the paper. When all the men come by to check out the stuff, you can pick out a replacement for me."
Still staring at the pile, she said, "Nah. Whoever would want all this stuff wouldn't be my type."
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