This article was found at the online version of afrol News. The URL and reference to the article is http://www.afrol.com/articles/23093
World's oldest religion discovered in Botswana
On this six meters long by two meter high stone, which resembles a python, researchers found 300-400 indentations that must have been made by humans.
afrol News, 1 December - Archaeologists have discovered what seems to be remains of the world's earliest religious worship site in the remote Ngamiland region of Botswana. Here, our ancestors performed advanced rituals, worshipping the python some 70,000 years ago. The sensational discovery strengthens Africa's position as the cradle of modern man.
The new archaeological findings in Botswana show that our ancestors in Africa engaged in ritual practice 70,000 years ago - some 30,000 years earlier than the oldest findings in Europe, according to a report printed in the research magazine 'Apollon' published by the University of Oslo (Norway).
While, up until now, scholars have largely held that man's first rituals were carried out over 40,000 years ago in Europe, it now appears that they were wrong about both the time and place. Associate Professor Sheila Coulson, from the Oslo University, however claims to have proof that modern humans started performing advanced rituals in Africa 70,000 years ago. She discovered mankind's oldest known ritual in Botswana.
Ms Coulson made the discovery while searching for Middle Stone Age artefacts in the only hills present for hundreds of kilometres in any direction in Ngamiland, north-western Botswana. This group of small peaks within the Kalahari Desert is known as the Tsodilo Hills and is famous for having the largest concentration of rock paintings in the world, some being more than 1,500 years old. Tsodilo is listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site.
The Tsodilo Hills are still a sacred place for the local San people, who call them the "Mountains of the Gods" and the "Rock that Whispers". The San people - known as Basarwa or Bushmen in Botswana - are know to be Southern Africa's indigenous population. San guides who lead archaeologists to the Tsodilo Hills must first check with their deity to ascertain whether they are welcome there.
The python is still one of the San people's most important sacred animals. According to their creation myth, mankind descended from the python and the ancient, arid streambeds around the hills are said to have been created by the python as it circled the hills in its ceaseless search for water.
Ms Coulson's discovery shows that locals even thousands of years ago had a specific ritual location associated with the python. The ritual was held in a little cave on the northern side of the Tsodilo Hills. The cave itself is so secluded and access to it is so difficult that it was not even discovered by archaeologists until the 1990s. The first archaeologists at the site noticed two paintings on one side of the cave and a rock with a large number of indentations in it on the other side.
When Ms Coulson and her team entered the cave this summer, it struck them that the
rock resembled the head of a huge python. On the six meter long by two meter tall rock, they found three-to-four hundred indentations that could only have been man-made."You could see the mouth and eyes of the snake. It looked like a real python. The play of sunlight over the indentations gave them the appearance of snake skin. At night, the firelight gave one the feeling that the snake was actually moving," Ms Coulson told 'Apollon'.
The team - composed of scientists and students from the Norwegian universities of Oslo and Tromsø and from the University of Botswana - found no evidence that work had recently been done on the rock. In fact, much of the rock's surface was extensively eroded.
Wondering what the cave had been used for and how long people had been going there, the archaeologist team decided to dig a test pit directly in front of the python stone. At the bottom of the pit, they found many stones that had been used to make the indentations. Together with these tools, some of which were more than 70,000 years old, they found a piece of the wall that had fallen off during the work.
In the course of their excavation, the Norwegian-Batswana team found more than 13,000 artefacts. "All of the objects were spearheads and articles that could be connected with ritual use, as well as tools used in carving the stone," the team concluded. They found nothing indicating another use of the cave.
Further, the stones that the spearheads were made from are not from the Tsodilo region but must have been brought from hundreds of kilometres away. These spearheads were better crafted and more colourful than other spearheads from the same time and area. Surprisingly enough, it was only the red spearheads that had been burned.
"Stone age people took these colourful spearheads, brought them to the cave, and finished carving them there. Only the red spearheads were burned. It was a ritual destruction of artefacts. There was no sign of normal habitation. No ordinary tools were found at the site. Our discovery means that humans were more organised and had the capacity for abstract thinking at a much earlier point in history than we have previously assumed. All of the indications suggest that Tsodilo has been known to mankind for almost 100,000 years as a very special place in the pre-historic landscape," according to Ms Coulson.
Ms Coulson further discovered a secret chamber behind the python stone. Some areas of the entrance to this small chamber were worn smooth, indicating that many people had passed through it over the years.
"The shaman, who is still a very important person in San culture, could have kept himself hidden in that secret chamber. He would have had a good view of the inside of the cave while remaining hidden himself. When he spoke from his hiding place, it could have seemed as if the voice came from the snake itself. The shaman would have been able to control everything. It was perfect," she says. The shaman could also have "disappeared" from the chamber by crawling out onto the hillside through a small shaft.
One is compelled to wonder why no one has made this discovery before. In fact, Ms Coulson is one of the few archaeologists studying the Middle Stone Age in Africa. The Middle Stone Age spans the period from 250,000 until 40,000 years ago, yet very few human traces have been found from that period.
Archaeologists studying Africa - especially East Africa - have most often concentrated on the many extremely old finds that can tell us more about human history from the Early Stone Age, which lasted from about two million until 250,000 years ago, Ms Coulson holds.
It was a major archaeological find five years ago that made it possible for Sheila Coulson to date the finds in this little cave in Botswana. Up until the turn of the century, archaeologists believed that human civilisation developed in Europe after our ancestors migrated from Africa. This theory was crushed by archaeologist Christopher Henshilwood, when he published his find of traces from a Middle Stone Age dwelling in the Blombos Cave in Southern Cape, South Africa.
"That was the first solid archaeological evidence to demonstrate that early Homo sapiens were thinking abstractly and behaving like modern people long before it was thought to be possible. It became clear that Africa was not just the place that people became physically modern, but that many culturally modern practices were present in Africa long before they appeared in Europe," says Ms Coulson.
Since the publication of the find at Blombos, archaeologists from other parts of the world have come forward with similar evidence to confirm the earlier development of culturally modern practices. "The finds at Tsodilo fit this pattern," Ms Coulson concludes.
By Yngve Vogt, Alan Louis Belardinelli & afrol News staff
© afrol News
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
Tuareg
Tuareg
Religion and Expressive Culture
Religious Beliefs.
The local belief system, with its own cosmology and ritual, interweaves and overlaps with Islam rather than standing in opposition to it. In Islamic observances, men are more consistent about saying all the prescribed prayers, and they employ more Arabic loanwords, whereas women tend to use Tamacheq terms. There is general agreement that Islam came from the West and spread into Aïr with the migration of Sufi mystics in the seventh century (Norris 1975). Tuareg initially resisted Islam and earned a reputation among North African Arabs for being lax about Islamic practices. For example, local tradition did not require female chastity before marriage. In Tuareg groups more influenced by Quranic scholars, female chastity is becoming more important, but even these groups do not seclude women, and relations between the sexes are characterized by freedom of social interaction.
Religious Practitioners.
In official religion, Quranic scholars, popularly called ineslemen, or marabouts, predominate in some clans, but anyone may become one through mastery of the Quran and exemplary practice of Islam. Marabouts are considered "people of God" and have obligations of generosity and hospitality. Marabouts are believed to possess special powers of benediction, al baraka. Quranic scholars are important in rites of passage and Islamic rituals, but smiths often act in these rituals, in roles complementary to those of the Quranic scholars. For example, at babies' namedays, held one week following a birth, the Quranic scholar pronounces the child's name as he cuts the throat of a ram, but smiths grill its meat, announce the nameday, and organize important evening festivals following it, at which they sing praise songs. With regard to weddings, a marabout marries a couple at the mosque, but smiths negotiate bride-wealth and preside over the evening festivals.
Ceremonies.
Important rituals among Tuareg are rites of passage—namedays, weddings, and memorial/funeral feasts—as well as Islamic holidays and secular state holidays. In addition, there is male circumcision and the initial men's face-veil wrapping that takes place around the age of 18 years and that is central to the male gender role and the cultural values of reserve and modesty. There are also spirit-possession exorcism rituals (Rasmussen 1995). Many rituals integrate Islamic and pre-Islamic elements in their symbolism, which incorporates references to matrilineal ancestresses, pre-Islamic spirits, the earth, fertility, and menstruation.
Arts.
In Tuareg culture, there is great appreciation of visual and aural arts. There is a large body of music, poetry, and song that is of central importance during courtship, rites of passage, and secular festivals. Men and women of diverse social origins dance, perform vocal and instrumental music, and are admired for their musical creativity; however, different genres of music and distinct dances and instruments are associated with the various social strata. There is also the sacred liturgical music of Islam, performed on Muslim holidays by marabouts, men, and older women.
Visual arts consist primarily of metalwork (silver jewelry), some woodwork (delicately decorated spoons and ladles and carved camel saddles), and dyed and embroidered leatherwork, all of which are specialties of smiths, who formerly manufactured these products solely for their noble patrons. In rural areas, nobles still commission smiths to make these items, but in urban areas many smiths now sell jewelry and leather to tourists.
Medicine.
Health care among Tuareg today includes traditional herbal, Quranic, and ritual therapies, as well as Western medicine. Traditional medicine is more prevalent in rural communities because of geographic barriers and political tensions. Although local residents desire Western medicines, most Western-trained personnel tend to be non-Tuareg, and many Tuareg are suspicious or shy of outside medical practioners (Rasmussen 1994). Therefore rural peoples tend to rely most upon traditional practitioners and remedies. For example, Quranic scholars cure predominantly men with verses from the Quran and some psychological counseling techniques. Female herbalists cure predominantly women and children with leaves, roots, barks, and some holisitic techniques such as verbal incantations and laying on of hands. Practitioners called bokawa (a Hausa term; sing. boka) cure with perfumes and other non-Quranic methods. In addition, spirit possession is cured by drummers.
Death and Afterlife.
In the Tuareg worldview, the soul (iman) is more personalized than are spirits. It is seen as residing within the living individual, except during sleep, when it may rise and travel about. The souls of the deceased are free to roam, but usually do so in the vicinity of graves. A dead soul sometimes brings news and, in return, demands a temporary wedding with its client. It is believed that the future may be foretold by sleeping on graves. Tuareg offer libations of dates to tombs of important marabouts and saints in order to obtain the al-baraka benediction. Beliefs about the afterlife (e.g., paradise) conform closely to those of official Islam.
Copyright © 2007 - Advameg Inc.
http://www.everyculture.com/Africa-Middle-East/Tuareg-Religion-and-Expressive-Culture.html
_______________________________________________________
Religion and Expressive Culture
Religious Beliefs.
The local belief system, with its own cosmology and ritual, interweaves and overlaps with Islam rather than standing in opposition to it. In Islamic observances, men are more consistent about saying all the prescribed prayers, and they employ more Arabic loanwords, whereas women tend to use Tamacheq terms. There is general agreement that Islam came from the West and spread into Aïr with the migration of Sufi mystics in the seventh century (Norris 1975). Tuareg initially resisted Islam and earned a reputation among North African Arabs for being lax about Islamic practices. For example, local tradition did not require female chastity before marriage. In Tuareg groups more influenced by Quranic scholars, female chastity is becoming more important, but even these groups do not seclude women, and relations between the sexes are characterized by freedom of social interaction.
Religious Practitioners.
In official religion, Quranic scholars, popularly called ineslemen, or marabouts, predominate in some clans, but anyone may become one through mastery of the Quran and exemplary practice of Islam. Marabouts are considered "people of God" and have obligations of generosity and hospitality. Marabouts are believed to possess special powers of benediction, al baraka. Quranic scholars are important in rites of passage and Islamic rituals, but smiths often act in these rituals, in roles complementary to those of the Quranic scholars. For example, at babies' namedays, held one week following a birth, the Quranic scholar pronounces the child's name as he cuts the throat of a ram, but smiths grill its meat, announce the nameday, and organize important evening festivals following it, at which they sing praise songs. With regard to weddings, a marabout marries a couple at the mosque, but smiths negotiate bride-wealth and preside over the evening festivals.
Ceremonies.
Important rituals among Tuareg are rites of passage—namedays, weddings, and memorial/funeral feasts—as well as Islamic holidays and secular state holidays. In addition, there is male circumcision and the initial men's face-veil wrapping that takes place around the age of 18 years and that is central to the male gender role and the cultural values of reserve and modesty. There are also spirit-possession exorcism rituals (Rasmussen 1995). Many rituals integrate Islamic and pre-Islamic elements in their symbolism, which incorporates references to matrilineal ancestresses, pre-Islamic spirits, the earth, fertility, and menstruation.
Arts.
In Tuareg culture, there is great appreciation of visual and aural arts. There is a large body of music, poetry, and song that is of central importance during courtship, rites of passage, and secular festivals. Men and women of diverse social origins dance, perform vocal and instrumental music, and are admired for their musical creativity; however, different genres of music and distinct dances and instruments are associated with the various social strata. There is also the sacred liturgical music of Islam, performed on Muslim holidays by marabouts, men, and older women.
Visual arts consist primarily of metalwork (silver jewelry), some woodwork (delicately decorated spoons and ladles and carved camel saddles), and dyed and embroidered leatherwork, all of which are specialties of smiths, who formerly manufactured these products solely for their noble patrons. In rural areas, nobles still commission smiths to make these items, but in urban areas many smiths now sell jewelry and leather to tourists.
Medicine.
Health care among Tuareg today includes traditional herbal, Quranic, and ritual therapies, as well as Western medicine. Traditional medicine is more prevalent in rural communities because of geographic barriers and political tensions. Although local residents desire Western medicines, most Western-trained personnel tend to be non-Tuareg, and many Tuareg are suspicious or shy of outside medical practioners (Rasmussen 1994). Therefore rural peoples tend to rely most upon traditional practitioners and remedies. For example, Quranic scholars cure predominantly men with verses from the Quran and some psychological counseling techniques. Female herbalists cure predominantly women and children with leaves, roots, barks, and some holisitic techniques such as verbal incantations and laying on of hands. Practitioners called bokawa (a Hausa term; sing. boka) cure with perfumes and other non-Quranic methods. In addition, spirit possession is cured by drummers.
Death and Afterlife.
In the Tuareg worldview, the soul (iman) is more personalized than are spirits. It is seen as residing within the living individual, except during sleep, when it may rise and travel about. The souls of the deceased are free to roam, but usually do so in the vicinity of graves. A dead soul sometimes brings news and, in return, demands a temporary wedding with its client. It is believed that the future may be foretold by sleeping on graves. Tuareg offer libations of dates to tombs of important marabouts and saints in order to obtain the al-baraka benediction. Beliefs about the afterlife (e.g., paradise) conform closely to those of official Islam.
Copyright © 2007 - Advameg Inc.
http://www.everyculture.com/Africa-Middle-East/Tuareg-Religion-and-Expressive-Culture.html
_______________________________________________________
Iran's small Zoroastrian community remembers 7th century Arab conquest of Persia
Iran's small Zoroastrian community remembers 7th century Arab conquest of Persia
The Associated Press
Monday, June 18, 2007
CHAK CHAK, Iran: Dressed in white to symbolize purity, a priest recited from the Zoroastrian holy book at a shrine as members of this ancient pre-Islamic religion marked what they see as one of the most bitter events in Iran's history: the 7th century Arab conquest of Persia.
The Arab invasion changed history for Persia, the ancient name for non-Arab Iran: Islam was imposed as the new religion, replacing Zoroastrianism, whose followers were dispersed.
Thousands of Zoroastrians from Iran's small remaining community and from India, the United States and other countries gathered at this mountain shrine this week for five days of ceremonies that ended Monday, commemorating the event.
Priest Goshtasb Belivani addressed the gathering, standing at the tall bronze doors of the shrine, built into a cliff-side cave where a heroine of the faith, Nikbanou, is said to have fled from the Arab assault.
"We have all gathered at this sacred place to pray to Ahura Mazda," he said, using the Zoroastrians' name for God. "We are also here to remember Nikbanou and what happened to our ancestors by the Arab invaders."
Belivani spoke to the crowd in modern Farsi, before reciting the verses from the Avesta, the faith's holy book, in an ancient version of the language.
According to legend, Nikbanou, the youngest daughter of the last king of the Persian empire, took shelter in the mountain and prayed to Ahura Mazda for help from the attackers. Miraculously, the mountain opened up and gave her protection.
Near the shrine, a slowly dripping spring emerges from the mountain, giving the site its name "Chak Chak" means "drip drip" in Persian. The legend says the spring is the mountain shedding tears in remembrance of Nikbanou. An immense tree stands nearby, said to have grown from Nikbanou's cane.
The legends regretting the invasion that brought Islam to this country highlight the unusual status of Zoroastrians in today's Iran ruled by an Islamic government headed by clerics.
Since coming to power in the 1979 revolution, the Islamic Republic has tolerated the sect, giving it official status and guaranteeing a Zoroastrian seat in parliament. It also allows its members to practice their rites. For example, while the law forbids mixed dancing, Zoroastrian men and women are permitted to dance together and play music as part of their worship in special places like temples or covered buildings.
Still, the Zoroastrian community's numbers have dwindled to around 50,000, down from 300,000 in the 1970s, with many emigrating to the U.S.
Human rights reports say Zoroastrians like members of Iran's small Jewish and Christian minorities suffer some discrimination, kept out of some jobs. But many Zoroastrians left simply because of the general restrictions on all Iranian society imposed by the Islamic government.
Still, Zoroastrian traditions remain embedded in Iran, where the population of 70 million overwhelmingly Shiite Muslim take deep pride in their pre-Islamic civilization.
Every year, Iranians of all religions mark Chahar-Shanbe Suri, or the Wednesday feast, part of celebrations for the Persian New Year, in March. During the rites, Iranians light bonfires in the streets and jump over them and dance, hoping to put failures behind them and the rite has persisted despite attempts by the ruling clerics to discourage it as un-Islamic.
"Zoroastrians are not a big population in Iran but our rituals remain widely respected not only in Iran but other parts of the world," said chief Zoroastrian priest Ardeshir Khorshidian.
At Chak Chak also known by the name Pir-e Sabz, 550 kilometers southeast of the capital Tehran the pilgrims crowded into pavilions set up at the base of the mountain, below the shrine in the cliff. Families sitting on rugs had picnics, while children danced and their parents attended prayers in the shrine.
"For many Zoroastrians, summer begins with a pilgrimage to Pir-e-Sabz," said Pedram Soroushpour. "This event is a symbol of Zoroastrians remaining loyal to their manners and rituals."
Copyright © 2008 The International Herald Tribune http://www.iht.com/
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Fun Link- Which Goddess Are You?
http://quiz.ivillage.com/love/tests/goddessfinal.htm
My results:
Each of us has aspects of all seven goddesses in her personality. Some women may have more Demeter than Athena, some more Aphrodite than Hera. But to achieve a healthy balance, we all need to integrate characteristics of each of the goddesses into our lives. By identifying the qualities of the goddesses in yourself, you can recognize needs you have left unfulfilled; by attending to those needs, you can become happier and more self-confident.
Note: Scores are rounded to one decimal place and therefore may not total 100%
You scored 25%
Hestia
If you embody the qualities of Hestia, you understand the value of having your own sacred place, whether it's an actual room or simply a time of day when you free your mind of busy thoughts and experience peace. While home is your sanctuary, you are at home with yourself wherever you are and no matter who you are with. You know that the meaning of your life springs from your spiritual center. This brings you a great sense of security. You do not crave attention or material possessions; you nurture your friends and family with your unconditional love.
You scored 25%
Persephone
If you exemplify the qualities of Persephone, you have most likely experienced great loss in your life -- the loss of your health or your emotional or physical security, the betrayal of a friend or lover, the loss of a child, your own divorce or that of your parents. This experience has forced you to face the dark, unenlightened side of yourself (the side that blames other people or circumstances for your own suffering) and transform yourself into a stronger, more independent, more accepting and more loving person. It may have also led you down a spiritual path, and moved you to place great emphasis on inner calm and on close connections with friends. You are capable of embracing, integrating and accepting difficult experiences. Because of that skill, you offer others the gift of empathy -- you know where people are or have been.
You scored 16.7%
Demeter
If you fit the Demeter archetype, you are a nurturer and caretaker. You have a generous heart and enjoy extending your love to others. You are motivated by the most powerful of instincts -- to give life -- and selflessly devote yourself to the life you create. You feel compelled to care for all those around you, even if they are not your own children. In short, you feel the need to be all things to all people, and therefore, your own needs sometimes go unmet. You must learn to say no, and apply Artemis's sense of boundaries and Aphrodite's ability to put herself first. That way, you can give to others from an overflowing rather than a half-full cup. To learn how to incorporate the qualities of these goddesses into your life, follow our Become a Love Goddess in 30 Days workshop.
You scored 16.7%
Athena
If you are ruled by Athena, you are bright-eyed, shrewd, resourceful and inventive. With friends, you are the wise counselor -- always ready with an empowering message. You believe strongly that women can accomplish anything men can. No wonder you put so much time into your career. Athena women tend to be ruled by their heads, not by their hearts. You carefully guard your intimate side, protecting your emotions and vulnerability. If you want to awaken your unexpressed womanliness, you'll have to use the same passion you apply to your intellectual achievements. It's important that you work to integrate your strong masculine side with your feminine side -- bringing together your strength with your vulnerability, your creativity with caring, your intelligence with imagination. Otherwise, you risk coming off as unaffectionate and self-righteous. Take lessons from the goddesses Hestia and Aphrodite to do this. See our Become a Love Goddess in 30 Days workshop for suggestions.
You scored 8.3%
Aphrodite
If you are ruled mostly by Aphrodite, your femininity and passionate spirit are the controlling forces in your life. You tend to be charismatic and self-assured, comfortable with your body and unrestrained sexually. Men are drawn to you like bees to flowers, which satisfies your erotic nature. However, you tend not to form permanent attachments with lovers because you value your sexual freedom, which may leave you feeling lonely and even depleted once a relationship ends. To find and form a more lasting relationship, you need to add more of the goddess Hera to your life. Check out our Become a Love Goddess in 30 Days workshop to find out how.
You scored 8.3%
Hera
If you possess many of Hera's qualities, you tend to find fulfillment in relationships and look on marriage as a permanent union. In marriage, you feel no sense of frustration or resentment, because you are an equal partner with your spouse. You are confident and have no trouble asserting your authority in and out of the relationship. You seek men who are self-confident and successful, because you are comfortable with the concept that you can be fulfilled through him (and him through you). As long as your partner honors the marriage as much as you do and appreciates you, you will be happy. If he doesn't, you must concentrate on your own growth and discover an identity independent of him.
You scored 0%
Artemis
If you are ruled by Artemis, your independent spirit belongs to no one but yourself. Your body is vibrant, your attitude robust and your manner vigorous and alive. You are driven by physical rather than mental energy. You feel complete without a man in your life and would never compromise your essential nature for a romantic partner. You are skilled at establishing personal boundaries and enter into relationships on your own terms -- in short, you can take care of yourself. This attitude may at times put men off. But if what you're looking for is an equal, loving relationship, take some tips from Hera and check out our Become a Love Goddess in 30 Days workshop.
___________________________________________________
My results:
Each of us has aspects of all seven goddesses in her personality. Some women may have more Demeter than Athena, some more Aphrodite than Hera. But to achieve a healthy balance, we all need to integrate characteristics of each of the goddesses into our lives. By identifying the qualities of the goddesses in yourself, you can recognize needs you have left unfulfilled; by attending to those needs, you can become happier and more self-confident.
Note: Scores are rounded to one decimal place and therefore may not total 100%
You scored 25%
Hestia
If you embody the qualities of Hestia, you understand the value of having your own sacred place, whether it's an actual room or simply a time of day when you free your mind of busy thoughts and experience peace. While home is your sanctuary, you are at home with yourself wherever you are and no matter who you are with. You know that the meaning of your life springs from your spiritual center. This brings you a great sense of security. You do not crave attention or material possessions; you nurture your friends and family with your unconditional love.
You scored 25%
Persephone
If you exemplify the qualities of Persephone, you have most likely experienced great loss in your life -- the loss of your health or your emotional or physical security, the betrayal of a friend or lover, the loss of a child, your own divorce or that of your parents. This experience has forced you to face the dark, unenlightened side of yourself (the side that blames other people or circumstances for your own suffering) and transform yourself into a stronger, more independent, more accepting and more loving person. It may have also led you down a spiritual path, and moved you to place great emphasis on inner calm and on close connections with friends. You are capable of embracing, integrating and accepting difficult experiences. Because of that skill, you offer others the gift of empathy -- you know where people are or have been.
You scored 16.7%
Demeter
If you fit the Demeter archetype, you are a nurturer and caretaker. You have a generous heart and enjoy extending your love to others. You are motivated by the most powerful of instincts -- to give life -- and selflessly devote yourself to the life you create. You feel compelled to care for all those around you, even if they are not your own children. In short, you feel the need to be all things to all people, and therefore, your own needs sometimes go unmet. You must learn to say no, and apply Artemis's sense of boundaries and Aphrodite's ability to put herself first. That way, you can give to others from an overflowing rather than a half-full cup. To learn how to incorporate the qualities of these goddesses into your life, follow our Become a Love Goddess in 30 Days workshop.
You scored 16.7%
Athena
If you are ruled by Athena, you are bright-eyed, shrewd, resourceful and inventive. With friends, you are the wise counselor -- always ready with an empowering message. You believe strongly that women can accomplish anything men can. No wonder you put so much time into your career. Athena women tend to be ruled by their heads, not by their hearts. You carefully guard your intimate side, protecting your emotions and vulnerability. If you want to awaken your unexpressed womanliness, you'll have to use the same passion you apply to your intellectual achievements. It's important that you work to integrate your strong masculine side with your feminine side -- bringing together your strength with your vulnerability, your creativity with caring, your intelligence with imagination. Otherwise, you risk coming off as unaffectionate and self-righteous. Take lessons from the goddesses Hestia and Aphrodite to do this. See our Become a Love Goddess in 30 Days workshop for suggestions.
You scored 8.3%
Aphrodite
If you are ruled mostly by Aphrodite, your femininity and passionate spirit are the controlling forces in your life. You tend to be charismatic and self-assured, comfortable with your body and unrestrained sexually. Men are drawn to you like bees to flowers, which satisfies your erotic nature. However, you tend not to form permanent attachments with lovers because you value your sexual freedom, which may leave you feeling lonely and even depleted once a relationship ends. To find and form a more lasting relationship, you need to add more of the goddess Hera to your life. Check out our Become a Love Goddess in 30 Days workshop to find out how.
You scored 8.3%
Hera
If you possess many of Hera's qualities, you tend to find fulfillment in relationships and look on marriage as a permanent union. In marriage, you feel no sense of frustration or resentment, because you are an equal partner with your spouse. You are confident and have no trouble asserting your authority in and out of the relationship. You seek men who are self-confident and successful, because you are comfortable with the concept that you can be fulfilled through him (and him through you). As long as your partner honors the marriage as much as you do and appreciates you, you will be happy. If he doesn't, you must concentrate on your own growth and discover an identity independent of him.
You scored 0%
Artemis
If you are ruled by Artemis, your independent spirit belongs to no one but yourself. Your body is vibrant, your attitude robust and your manner vigorous and alive. You are driven by physical rather than mental energy. You feel complete without a man in your life and would never compromise your essential nature for a romantic partner. You are skilled at establishing personal boundaries and enter into relationships on your own terms -- in short, you can take care of yourself. This attitude may at times put men off. But if what you're looking for is an equal, loving relationship, take some tips from Hera and check out our Become a Love Goddess in 30 Days workshop.
___________________________________________________
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Jennifer Louden's Self Care Minder
Jennifer Louden's Self-Care Minder
Dec 28, 2007
Minimum Requirements for Centering Self-Care
adapted from The Life Organizer (get a free audio CD if you order by January 15th)
Why wait until January to start taking basic care of yourself? Between surviving and leading a fully humming creative life lies the middle ground of determining your minimum requirements for centering self-care, a duded-up way of saying what you absolutely must have to stay in touch with your center. Basic needs, or minimum requirements, are different for each woman, although getting enough sleep, moving their bodies, eating fresh food, being touched, and connecting to something larger than themselves show up pretty consistently on women's lists--but again, not on everybody's. It can be easy to discount the importance of these basics, because getting enough alone time or napping when you are tired just doesn't sound as sexy as realizing some fabulous dream. Yet without these basics, the dreams don't always come true, or you can't sustain them when they do, or, most tragically, it turns out that you are not following your dreams, but rather a script about what you should do. When you reach a certain stage of commitment to yourself, you find that you are willing to give the amount of attention and energy needed to your basics, because without them, it isn't your life. You discover that you have less leeway to stray from what is essential than you thought.
Give yourself time to find your real minimum requirements. Allow yourself to notice and adjust as you go through life. Perhaps you declared some minimums for yourself early this year when you bought a copy of The Life Organizer? And perhaps you haven't looked at them for awhile? Or perhaps the idea never sparked with you— why not join our Comfort Queen Yahoo list and see what other women are doing around this minimums? (It's f*r*E*E)
Of course, minimum requirements change over time and with your situation. When my husband was sick, my minimums shrank to taking my vitamins and herbs, drinking water, and touching living things (my husband). I knew I would reevaluate what I needed after his treatment began. The paradox here is your personalized list may be your treasure map home, and sometimes you don't want or can't use it. But you can always find where you buried it. As Laraine said a few months after attending a Kripalu retreat with me:
By writing down your minimum requirements and then paying attention to your list--perhaps posting it were you can see it or checking in with it when prompted by the Life Planner questions throughout the book or sharing it with a buddy or the Yahoo list--you become aware of what you are already doing to maintain your connection to self. You will also see what trips you up, and then you can decide if you want to do anything about it. If you have a fear of self-care--that it will make you a pampered, selfish bitch, for instance--this sort of noticing moves you toward gaining resiliency and taking more responsibility for your life. If you focus only on the big vision or on all you want to do for yourself, you can forget the basics; this focus on the ideal can keep you from getting where you want to go or from having enough energy to enjoy it once you get there. You can also make a list just for one week or month at a time (see my example below) which allows you to not over-promise or get sucked into believing you have to do something perfectly for the rest of your life.
My Minimum Requirements for January of 2008:
DAILY
Go outside
Do daily spiritual practices including pranayama and prayer: opening heart
Move my body
Take my vitamins and herbs
Make some art marks
WEEKLY
Service work of some kind
Journal
Do something fun especially with Lillian
Cook something healthy at home
Jennifer
COMFORT WISHES
When the brutality of the world threatens to crush you: the dying bees, the hungry children, the lonely nights And you want to bury yourself like my dog buries her rawhidesFurious and furtive, pulling the earth over you and everybody you love tucked safe, out of sight (and then, sometimes, forgotten)
Cast off your shoes and walk or crawlinto the forest and witness the nurse logs crumbling, feeding life
Touch the lichen, infinitely patient in its eons of duty
Lean your forehead against a big leafed maple or an ancient oak,listen to its inhale and exhale
You will not close your heart
You will not close your heart
You will swaddle yourself in light
You will continue, proudly and strongly, into the light
Dec 28, 2007
Minimum Requirements for Centering Self-Care
adapted from The Life Organizer (get a free audio CD if you order by January 15th)
Why wait until January to start taking basic care of yourself? Between surviving and leading a fully humming creative life lies the middle ground of determining your minimum requirements for centering self-care, a duded-up way of saying what you absolutely must have to stay in touch with your center. Basic needs, or minimum requirements, are different for each woman, although getting enough sleep, moving their bodies, eating fresh food, being touched, and connecting to something larger than themselves show up pretty consistently on women's lists--but again, not on everybody's. It can be easy to discount the importance of these basics, because getting enough alone time or napping when you are tired just doesn't sound as sexy as realizing some fabulous dream. Yet without these basics, the dreams don't always come true, or you can't sustain them when they do, or, most tragically, it turns out that you are not following your dreams, but rather a script about what you should do. When you reach a certain stage of commitment to yourself, you find that you are willing to give the amount of attention and energy needed to your basics, because without them, it isn't your life. You discover that you have less leeway to stray from what is essential than you thought.
Give yourself time to find your real minimum requirements. Allow yourself to notice and adjust as you go through life. Perhaps you declared some minimums for yourself early this year when you bought a copy of The Life Organizer? And perhaps you haven't looked at them for awhile? Or perhaps the idea never sparked with you— why not join our Comfort Queen Yahoo list and see what other women are doing around this minimums? (It's f*r*E*E)
Of course, minimum requirements change over time and with your situation. When my husband was sick, my minimums shrank to taking my vitamins and herbs, drinking water, and touching living things (my husband). I knew I would reevaluate what I needed after his treatment began. The paradox here is your personalized list may be your treasure map home, and sometimes you don't want or can't use it. But you can always find where you buried it. As Laraine said a few months after attending a Kripalu retreat with me:
"Making conscious what makes me feel good helps me recover more quickly from periods when I am denied them and better tolerate not having them because I know when they will resume. The list is a good reminder to eat breakfast on the screened porch looking at the birds rather than in the dark kitchen listening to news on the radio or to reach out to friends for help and in the process find out they need help from me. The daily minimum requirements are a reminder of my strengths and individuality, my right to enjoy life, and the awareness that I am a better person by doing what I want."
By writing down your minimum requirements and then paying attention to your list--perhaps posting it were you can see it or checking in with it when prompted by the Life Planner questions throughout the book or sharing it with a buddy or the Yahoo list--you become aware of what you are already doing to maintain your connection to self. You will also see what trips you up, and then you can decide if you want to do anything about it. If you have a fear of self-care--that it will make you a pampered, selfish bitch, for instance--this sort of noticing moves you toward gaining resiliency and taking more responsibility for your life. If you focus only on the big vision or on all you want to do for yourself, you can forget the basics; this focus on the ideal can keep you from getting where you want to go or from having enough energy to enjoy it once you get there. You can also make a list just for one week or month at a time (see my example below) which allows you to not over-promise or get sucked into believing you have to do something perfectly for the rest of your life.
My Minimum Requirements for January of 2008:
DAILY
Go outside
Do daily spiritual practices including pranayama and prayer: opening heart
Move my body
Take my vitamins and herbs
Make some art marks
WEEKLY
Service work of some kind
Journal
Do something fun especially with Lillian
Cook something healthy at home
Jennifer
COMFORT WISHES
When the brutality of the world threatens to crush you: the dying bees, the hungry children, the lonely nights And you want to bury yourself like my dog buries her rawhidesFurious and furtive, pulling the earth over you and everybody you love tucked safe, out of sight (and then, sometimes, forgotten)
Cast off your shoes and walk or crawlinto the forest and witness the nurse logs crumbling, feeding life
Touch the lichen, infinitely patient in its eons of duty
Lean your forehead against a big leafed maple or an ancient oak,listen to its inhale and exhale
You will not close your heart
You will not close your heart
You will swaddle yourself in light
You will continue, proudly and strongly, into the light
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Yard Stones
Yard Stones
Posted by: "Stephanie Pflumm" ozarkrockexchange
Sun May 18, 2008 6:46 am (PDT)
Happy Sunday All, Heavy Spring rains and deep snow melts are going to be loosening things up quite a bit. Should make for some excellent rock hunting in area streams and creeks!
Yard Stones
by Stephanie Pflumm
©Copyright 2008
Long ago, further back than the first stones date, swirling clouds of StarDust became caught in the gravitational pull of Grandfather Sun. One theory says the dust came from the explosion of a twin Sun, explaining how they came to be so close to the Grandfather. Of course, no one really knows exactly what happened.
Most scientists agree that gases and space dust were pulled into orbital paths around the Sun. Somehow these gases began to liquify, raising the temperatures of these swirls, then as they gained density, they attracted more Star Dust and space debris, growing and slowly developing an outer crust.
Every stone on Mother Earth shares a connection to those natal Star energies that spawned ours, and the planets around us. Many of them hold the footprints of the very first organisms to nourish and thrive on Mother. Others have been transformed, reshaped and moved by the constant labor pains of Earth.
The oldest stones have been dated back 4.5 billion years. Most gemstones and crystals began forming approximately 200 - 400 million years ago. Many of them date back to the shifting of the continental plates, which caused catastrophic earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, mixed with the tremendous friction created by the massive forces at work equaled the perfect conditions for crystal growth.
The geological truth is, these conditions still exist. In some areas (mostly below the oceans), only three miles separate Earth's outer crust from her molten heart. Most of the time, there are 20 to 30 miles of insulating stone between you and the magma. Continental plates in the Himalayas Mountains are still pushing together, as they are all around the world. As much as an inch a year in some regions. All this means, stones, gems, crystals are still being formed, the process is not complete.
It also means any stone can be a tool for manifesting your higher good, your fullest potential.
Inside every stone is the story of change, evolution, strength and improvement. Inside every stone is your story of challenge, survival and spiritual triumph.
In the simplest geological terms, there are three basic types of stones that you will find in your back yard. Igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. The formation of these stones is as complicated and diverse as the most rare crystal, even breaking down into several subclasses. I'll try to keep it simple.
IGNEOUS
These are some of the oldest stones on Mother Earth. Formed by the cooling of molten magma, many of these original stones contained high concentrations of minerals. As Mother slowly aged, these minerals would precipitate out of these stones, which then became perfect hosts for growing crystals.
Obsidian, Limestone, Quartz, Agate are all examples of Igneous stones. Extremely hot liquid minerals that cooled into solids.
These are the teachers. The stones that will help you see your greatest potential. If your lessons are endurance, persistence and spiritual maturity, or if your path involves any kind of learning, carry an Igneous stone from your back yard.You can recognize these stones by their hard, compact appearance. Some may have a crystallized surface.
Quartz crystals, Obsidian and Tourmaline are examples of Igneous crystals.
SEDIMENTARY
Stones that are formed by the weathering process of the planet. As the mountains wear away, the gravel, dust, sand is washed into creeks, hillsides, ravines and valleys. It collects, building layer over layer, pressure from water, time and crawling glaciers create new stones from the remains of the old.
Sedimentary stones are created from their environment, just as we are shaped by ours. Often, when our childhood environment was painful, we carry those pains with us. Using Sedimentary stones can help you become a new person, by breaking down those old walls, and building something more beautiful and much stronger from the remains.
Chrysocolla, Turquoise and Selenite are some of the stones formed through the sedimentary process. You can pick these stones from your yard by looking for layers within the stone, a tendency to crumble and they also weigh much less than other stones of equal size.
METAMORPHIC
These are stones that were quite literally smashed together by tremendous geological forces. The weight of land masses crashing together creates friction, causing nearby stones to become heated to the point of being very soft, but not quite liquid. This halfway point allows the different minerals to be folded together.
Charoite, Tiger Iron, Jadeite and Nephrite are examples of Metamorphic stones.
To identify possible Metamorphic stones in your yard, look for folded lines, distinctive zones or a woven together appearance. These will be the most difficult stones to locate, unless you live in a geologically active region.
As survivors of change, a Metamorphic stone is your best companion for navigating the changes in your life. They will also help you initiate change from within. Meditate with this stone to examine your motivations, goals, desires. Are these really what you want? What are you doing to achieve them?
Use your free Stones exactly as you would any crystal or gem. Cleanse them before using, introduce yourself and your intent and charge it with that intention.If stones are not readily available in your yard, try a nearby stream or creek. The dirt road that goes into the woods by my house offers a treasure trove of stones. It's hard not to bring them all home.
Please be aware, thatif you are in a national or state park, it is against the law to remove anything. Be sure to leave a gift behind when you collect your stone. Some recommend tobacco, personally, I like leaving other stones.
Abundant blessings,
Stephanie
~**~~ There is a Gypsy Wind
blowing acrossthe midnight colored plain. ~*~~**
http://www.ozarkrockexchange.com/
from Green Witch Garden yahoo group
______________________________________________
Posted by: "Stephanie Pflumm" ozarkrockexchange
Sun May 18, 2008 6:46 am (PDT)
Happy Sunday All, Heavy Spring rains and deep snow melts are going to be loosening things up quite a bit. Should make for some excellent rock hunting in area streams and creeks!
Yard Stones
by Stephanie Pflumm
©Copyright 2008
Long ago, further back than the first stones date, swirling clouds of StarDust became caught in the gravitational pull of Grandfather Sun. One theory says the dust came from the explosion of a twin Sun, explaining how they came to be so close to the Grandfather. Of course, no one really knows exactly what happened.
Most scientists agree that gases and space dust were pulled into orbital paths around the Sun. Somehow these gases began to liquify, raising the temperatures of these swirls, then as they gained density, they attracted more Star Dust and space debris, growing and slowly developing an outer crust.
Every stone on Mother Earth shares a connection to those natal Star energies that spawned ours, and the planets around us. Many of them hold the footprints of the very first organisms to nourish and thrive on Mother. Others have been transformed, reshaped and moved by the constant labor pains of Earth.
The oldest stones have been dated back 4.5 billion years. Most gemstones and crystals began forming approximately 200 - 400 million years ago. Many of them date back to the shifting of the continental plates, which caused catastrophic earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, mixed with the tremendous friction created by the massive forces at work equaled the perfect conditions for crystal growth.
The geological truth is, these conditions still exist. In some areas (mostly below the oceans), only three miles separate Earth's outer crust from her molten heart. Most of the time, there are 20 to 30 miles of insulating stone between you and the magma. Continental plates in the Himalayas Mountains are still pushing together, as they are all around the world. As much as an inch a year in some regions. All this means, stones, gems, crystals are still being formed, the process is not complete.
It also means any stone can be a tool for manifesting your higher good, your fullest potential.
Inside every stone is the story of change, evolution, strength and improvement. Inside every stone is your story of challenge, survival and spiritual triumph.
In the simplest geological terms, there are three basic types of stones that you will find in your back yard. Igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. The formation of these stones is as complicated and diverse as the most rare crystal, even breaking down into several subclasses. I'll try to keep it simple.
IGNEOUS
These are some of the oldest stones on Mother Earth. Formed by the cooling of molten magma, many of these original stones contained high concentrations of minerals. As Mother slowly aged, these minerals would precipitate out of these stones, which then became perfect hosts for growing crystals.
Obsidian, Limestone, Quartz, Agate are all examples of Igneous stones. Extremely hot liquid minerals that cooled into solids.
These are the teachers. The stones that will help you see your greatest potential. If your lessons are endurance, persistence and spiritual maturity, or if your path involves any kind of learning, carry an Igneous stone from your back yard.You can recognize these stones by their hard, compact appearance. Some may have a crystallized surface.
Quartz crystals, Obsidian and Tourmaline are examples of Igneous crystals.
SEDIMENTARY
Stones that are formed by the weathering process of the planet. As the mountains wear away, the gravel, dust, sand is washed into creeks, hillsides, ravines and valleys. It collects, building layer over layer, pressure from water, time and crawling glaciers create new stones from the remains of the old.
Sedimentary stones are created from their environment, just as we are shaped by ours. Often, when our childhood environment was painful, we carry those pains with us. Using Sedimentary stones can help you become a new person, by breaking down those old walls, and building something more beautiful and much stronger from the remains.
Chrysocolla, Turquoise and Selenite are some of the stones formed through the sedimentary process. You can pick these stones from your yard by looking for layers within the stone, a tendency to crumble and they also weigh much less than other stones of equal size.
METAMORPHIC
These are stones that were quite literally smashed together by tremendous geological forces. The weight of land masses crashing together creates friction, causing nearby stones to become heated to the point of being very soft, but not quite liquid. This halfway point allows the different minerals to be folded together.
Charoite, Tiger Iron, Jadeite and Nephrite are examples of Metamorphic stones.
To identify possible Metamorphic stones in your yard, look for folded lines, distinctive zones or a woven together appearance. These will be the most difficult stones to locate, unless you live in a geologically active region.
As survivors of change, a Metamorphic stone is your best companion for navigating the changes in your life. They will also help you initiate change from within. Meditate with this stone to examine your motivations, goals, desires. Are these really what you want? What are you doing to achieve them?
Use your free Stones exactly as you would any crystal or gem. Cleanse them before using, introduce yourself and your intent and charge it with that intention.If stones are not readily available in your yard, try a nearby stream or creek. The dirt road that goes into the woods by my house offers a treasure trove of stones. It's hard not to bring them all home.
Please be aware, thatif you are in a national or state park, it is against the law to remove anything. Be sure to leave a gift behind when you collect your stone. Some recommend tobacco, personally, I like leaving other stones.
Abundant blessings,
Stephanie
~**~~ There is a Gypsy Wind
blowing acrossthe midnight colored plain. ~*~~**
http://www.ozarkrockexchange.com/
from Green Witch Garden yahoo group
______________________________________________
Sea Witches
For centuries stories of sea witches have predominately enhanced British folklore. The tradition, and legends, of Sea Witches surrounds experiences of seafarers and beachcombers as well as others in the seafaring trade. These legends with the aid of imagination, and frequently superstition, have produced tales of phantoms, or ghosts of the dead allegedly possessing supernatural powers that control the fate of seafarers on the waves.
However, the tradition of the Sea Witch still exists. Sea Witches focus on Moon lore, the tides, and weather magicks. From these elements came the Witch tradition of women who could raise wind and cause storms, which even 200 years ago could send them to the stake. Currently the path of the Sea Witch is one chosen by few Pagans.
The Sea Witch works with the chaotic forces of nature. Many term chaos evil, especially those enthralled with the powers of light. Here the Sea Witch differs, she or he recognizes that chaos, if evil at all, is a necessary evil because the chaotic climatic elements are part of the environment of the sea. Thus, the Sea Witch does not just use "white magick" and/or "black magick," but "gray magick" because the person deals with all elements at her/his disposal when maintaining a balance between light and dark powers. Not many ordinary persons can manage such a feat, which is why most Sea Witches are solitary, working alone and by themselves.
Sea magick pertains to magick performed involving the element of Water, usually performed by the seashore; however, in modern times, depending on the location of the Witch, substitutes such as a lake,river, pond, or bath tube can be used. Even placing a bowl of saltwater on an altar with the proper intention will suffice. The magickis usually sea related.
Although several types of magick may be performed, the most common is weather magick since precipitation iswater related. Such activity stems from old traditions when seawitches were called upon to control the weather to insure seafarers safe voyages. Related to Sea Magick is Moon Magick since the Moon controls the tides of the sea.
According to legends witches were believed to be able to control the wind. One method was with the use of three knots tied into a rope, orsometimes into a handkerchief. When the three knots were tied in the proper magical way, the wind was bound up in them. Witches gave, or sometimes sold, these magic knots to sailors to help them experience safe voyages. The release of one knot brought a gentle, southwesterly wind; two knots, a strong north wind; and three knots, a tempest.
In the folklore of the Shetland Islands and Scandinavia, some fishermen were said to have commanded the wind this way. The belief in controlling the wind by tying it goes back to the legends of ancient Greece; Odysseus received a bag of wind from Aeolus to help him on his journey.In other legends the activities of witches and sorcerers have been confused, which is a common practice even today.
For example, Sir Francis Drake is said to have sold his soul to the Devil in order to become a skilled seaman and admiral. The Devil allegedly sent Drake sea witches, who raised a storm that helped him to defeat the Spanish Armada in 1588. The battle occurred near Devil's point, overlooking Davonport, which, by some, is still considered haunted by witches.
In summary, Sea Witch magick strives to achieve a balance between light and dark powers; the Witch does not focus more on one than the other. The reason for this is that the Sea Witch realizes such a balance is maintained throughout the continuum of life, even in oneself, just as it is in the environment of the sea. She/he experiences emotional depression and optimism at times, neither are harmful for short durations and both help establish personal emotional stability.
When understanding this the Witch, or person, is more complete and better able to deal with life's situations. A.G.H.
From: SatoriLuna
To: WakeTheWitch yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, May 18, 2008 9:12
________________________________________
For centuries stories of sea witches have predominately enhanced British folklore. The tradition, and legends, of Sea Witches surrounds experiences of seafarers and beachcombers as well as others in the seafaring trade. These legends with the aid of imagination, and frequently superstition, have produced tales of phantoms, or ghosts of the dead allegedly possessing supernatural powers that control the fate of seafarers on the waves.
However, the tradition of the Sea Witch still exists. Sea Witches focus on Moon lore, the tides, and weather magicks. From these elements came the Witch tradition of women who could raise wind and cause storms, which even 200 years ago could send them to the stake. Currently the path of the Sea Witch is one chosen by few Pagans.
The Sea Witch works with the chaotic forces of nature. Many term chaos evil, especially those enthralled with the powers of light. Here the Sea Witch differs, she or he recognizes that chaos, if evil at all, is a necessary evil because the chaotic climatic elements are part of the environment of the sea. Thus, the Sea Witch does not just use "white magick" and/or "black magick," but "gray magick" because the person deals with all elements at her/his disposal when maintaining a balance between light and dark powers. Not many ordinary persons can manage such a feat, which is why most Sea Witches are solitary, working alone and by themselves.
Sea magick pertains to magick performed involving the element of Water, usually performed by the seashore; however, in modern times, depending on the location of the Witch, substitutes such as a lake,river, pond, or bath tube can be used. Even placing a bowl of saltwater on an altar with the proper intention will suffice. The magickis usually sea related.
Although several types of magick may be performed, the most common is weather magick since precipitation iswater related. Such activity stems from old traditions when seawitches were called upon to control the weather to insure seafarers safe voyages. Related to Sea Magick is Moon Magick since the Moon controls the tides of the sea.
According to legends witches were believed to be able to control the wind. One method was with the use of three knots tied into a rope, orsometimes into a handkerchief. When the three knots were tied in the proper magical way, the wind was bound up in them. Witches gave, or sometimes sold, these magic knots to sailors to help them experience safe voyages. The release of one knot brought a gentle, southwesterly wind; two knots, a strong north wind; and three knots, a tempest.
In the folklore of the Shetland Islands and Scandinavia, some fishermen were said to have commanded the wind this way. The belief in controlling the wind by tying it goes back to the legends of ancient Greece; Odysseus received a bag of wind from Aeolus to help him on his journey.In other legends the activities of witches and sorcerers have been confused, which is a common practice even today.
For example, Sir Francis Drake is said to have sold his soul to the Devil in order to become a skilled seaman and admiral. The Devil allegedly sent Drake sea witches, who raised a storm that helped him to defeat the Spanish Armada in 1588. The battle occurred near Devil's point, overlooking Davonport, which, by some, is still considered haunted by witches.
In summary, Sea Witch magick strives to achieve a balance between light and dark powers; the Witch does not focus more on one than the other. The reason for this is that the Sea Witch realizes such a balance is maintained throughout the continuum of life, even in oneself, just as it is in the environment of the sea. She/he experiences emotional depression and optimism at times, neither are harmful for short durations and both help establish personal emotional stability.
When understanding this the Witch, or person, is more complete and better able to deal with life's situations. A.G.H.
From: SatoriLuna
To: WakeTheWitch yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, May 18, 2008 9:12
________________________________________
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Daily Feng Shui Tip for Tuesday, May 13
Daily Feng Shui Tip for Tuesday, May 13
There is a simply simple and beautiful Eastern event that is thought to bring a mate to your doorstep, sooner rather than later. It involves cherries, a fruit long been thought to attract or stimulate true love. This tale tells that to tie a single strand of your own hair to a blossoming cherry tree will bring you more than George Washington looking for a reason to lie. Even drinking cherry juice is said to cleanse the blood and, sleeping with a cherry pit under your pillow for 14 nights, starting on the first night of the New Moon, will bring you a lover who will be yours forever. Obviously these little red fruits pack a mighty big punch!
There is a simply simple and beautiful Eastern event that is thought to bring a mate to your doorstep, sooner rather than later. It involves cherries, a fruit long been thought to attract or stimulate true love. This tale tells that to tie a single strand of your own hair to a blossoming cherry tree will bring you more than George Washington looking for a reason to lie. Even drinking cherry juice is said to cleanse the blood and, sleeping with a cherry pit under your pillow for 14 nights, starting on the first night of the New Moon, will bring you a lover who will be yours forever. Obviously these little red fruits pack a mighty big punch!
Clearing Your Mind
Green Witch Garden
Posted by: "Laura"
Sun May 13, 2007 8:51 am (PST)
Clearing Your Mind
After a full day out in the world, stories, words, images, and songs from any number of sources continue to play in our heads hours after we encounter them. Even as we lie in bed, in the quiet dark, our minds continue noisily processing all the input from our day. This can leave us feeling unsettled and harassed. It also makes it difficult to take in any new information or inspiration. Like a cluttered house that needs to be cleared if it is to have room for movement and new life, our minds need clearing if they are to be open to new information, ideas, and inspiration.
Too often, the activities we choose to help us relax only add to the clutter. Watching television, seeing a movie, reading a book, or talking to a friend all involve taking in more information. In order to really clear our minds, we need a break from mental stimulation. Activities like yoga, dancing, or taking a long walk help to draw our attention to our bodies, slowing our mental activity enough that our minds begin to settle. Deep breathing is an even simpler way to draw attention away from our mental activities. Once we are mentally relaxed, we can begin the process of clearing our minds. Most of us instinctively know what allows our minds to relax and release any unnecessary clutter. It may be meditation or time spent staring at the stars. Whatever it is, these exercises feel like a cool, cleansing bath for the brain and leave our minds feeling clear and open.
Setting aside time to clear our minds once a day creates a ritual that becomes second nature over time. Our minds will begin to settle with less effort the more we practice. Ultimately, the practice of clearing our minds allows us to be increasingly more open so that we can perceive the world as the fresh offering it is, free of yesterday's mental clutter.
Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished
by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.
Dale Carnegie
Posted by: "Laura"
Sun May 13, 2007 8:51 am (PST)
Clearing Your Mind
After a full day out in the world, stories, words, images, and songs from any number of sources continue to play in our heads hours after we encounter them. Even as we lie in bed, in the quiet dark, our minds continue noisily processing all the input from our day. This can leave us feeling unsettled and harassed. It also makes it difficult to take in any new information or inspiration. Like a cluttered house that needs to be cleared if it is to have room for movement and new life, our minds need clearing if they are to be open to new information, ideas, and inspiration.
Too often, the activities we choose to help us relax only add to the clutter. Watching television, seeing a movie, reading a book, or talking to a friend all involve taking in more information. In order to really clear our minds, we need a break from mental stimulation. Activities like yoga, dancing, or taking a long walk help to draw our attention to our bodies, slowing our mental activity enough that our minds begin to settle. Deep breathing is an even simpler way to draw attention away from our mental activities. Once we are mentally relaxed, we can begin the process of clearing our minds. Most of us instinctively know what allows our minds to relax and release any unnecessary clutter. It may be meditation or time spent staring at the stars. Whatever it is, these exercises feel like a cool, cleansing bath for the brain and leave our minds feeling clear and open.
Setting aside time to clear our minds once a day creates a ritual that becomes second nature over time. Our minds will begin to settle with less effort the more we practice. Ultimately, the practice of clearing our minds allows us to be increasingly more open so that we can perceive the world as the fresh offering it is, free of yesterday's mental clutter.
Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished
by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.
Dale Carnegie
Balance
Green Witch Garden
Posted by: "Laura"
Sun May 13, 2007 8:51 am (PST)
Balance:
Often in our lives we perceive opposites. Night/Day Spring/Winter are just a couple of examples of polarities that we witness. In order to find balance we have to come to a place where we fully understand that both are necessary. If the sun shone constantly we would burn up and cease to exist. If the darkness never ceased we would suffocate. Life does not exist without the balance and harmony of the two. Neither one is totally "bad" or "good", but both are necessary components for life to continue.
In our inner worlds also comes a lot of duality. We tend to accentuate all the things we deem acceptable while trying to deny the other aspects of ourselves, either by repression or denial. In this fashion we seek to deny the "darkness" we perceive within our own souls believing that we are only "good" when we turn away from the negative emotions of anger/fear etc. The truth is we are comprised of both "light" and "dark" for a reason, all are part of the rich human experience. The key is to take the best from both sides and find our center, the place where we are able to maintain balance.
What to do:
Look at some of the areas of your life that feel out of sync or offbalance. How can you incorporate all sides of the situation, both the "negative" and the "postive" to make a complete circle? The key to "perfection" is learning to move away from extremes and into the middle ground.
Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished
by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.
Dale Carnegie
Posted by: "Laura"
Sun May 13, 2007 8:51 am (PST)
Balance:
Often in our lives we perceive opposites. Night/Day Spring/Winter are just a couple of examples of polarities that we witness. In order to find balance we have to come to a place where we fully understand that both are necessary. If the sun shone constantly we would burn up and cease to exist. If the darkness never ceased we would suffocate. Life does not exist without the balance and harmony of the two. Neither one is totally "bad" or "good", but both are necessary components for life to continue.
In our inner worlds also comes a lot of duality. We tend to accentuate all the things we deem acceptable while trying to deny the other aspects of ourselves, either by repression or denial. In this fashion we seek to deny the "darkness" we perceive within our own souls believing that we are only "good" when we turn away from the negative emotions of anger/fear etc. The truth is we are comprised of both "light" and "dark" for a reason, all are part of the rich human experience. The key is to take the best from both sides and find our center, the place where we are able to maintain balance.
What to do:
Look at some of the areas of your life that feel out of sync or offbalance. How can you incorporate all sides of the situation, both the "negative" and the "postive" to make a complete circle? The key to "perfection" is learning to move away from extremes and into the middle ground.
Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished
by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.
Dale Carnegie
THE SEVEN STEPS TO STAGNATION
Green Witch Garden Yahoo group
Posted by: "Laura"
Sun May 13, 2007 8:48 am (PST)
THE SEVEN STEPS TO STAGNATION
You may recall that for centuries people believed Aristotle was right when he said that the heavier an object, the faster it would fall to earth. The philosopher was regarded as one of the greatest thinkers of all time, and so it follows that he MUST be right!
But nearly 2,000 years after Aristotle's death someone actually tested the theory. In 1589 Galileo Galilei summoned learned professors to the base of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. He pushed two weights from the topof the tower -- one light and one heavy. They landed at the same instant. But the power of belief was so strong that the professorsdenied their eyesight! They continued to teach that Aristotle was correct.
Galileo and others also tried to convince the educators of his day that the earth revolves around the sun. But they would not believeanything so radical and eventually forced him to recant his support of the Copernican theory. He lived the last years of his life under house arrest.
"The Seven Steps to Stagnation."
You have no doubt heard these statements before.
Most of us have said them!
They are:
1. We've never done it that way before.
2. We're not ready for that.
3. We are doing all right without trying that.
4. We tried it once before.
5. We don't have money for that.
6. That's not our job.
7. Something like that can't work.
There is tremendous power in belief. Our beliefs shape our future; what we believe to be true quite literally becomes true for us!
And there is a bold and exciting tomorrow awaiting anyone with the courage to believe something new CAN HAPPEN -- things CAN BE DIFFERENT! Your life -- your organization -- can be stagnant or things can change. Tomorrow can look very different than today for those whobelieve.
Will you stagnate or will you believe in tomorrow?
The real voyage of discovery
consists not in seeing new landscapes,
but in having new eyes.
- Marcel Proust -
Posted by: "Laura"
Sun May 13, 2007 8:48 am (PST)
THE SEVEN STEPS TO STAGNATION
You may recall that for centuries people believed Aristotle was right when he said that the heavier an object, the faster it would fall to earth. The philosopher was regarded as one of the greatest thinkers of all time, and so it follows that he MUST be right!
But nearly 2,000 years after Aristotle's death someone actually tested the theory. In 1589 Galileo Galilei summoned learned professors to the base of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. He pushed two weights from the topof the tower -- one light and one heavy. They landed at the same instant. But the power of belief was so strong that the professorsdenied their eyesight! They continued to teach that Aristotle was correct.
Galileo and others also tried to convince the educators of his day that the earth revolves around the sun. But they would not believeanything so radical and eventually forced him to recant his support of the Copernican theory. He lived the last years of his life under house arrest.
"The Seven Steps to Stagnation."
You have no doubt heard these statements before.
Most of us have said them!
They are:
1. We've never done it that way before.
2. We're not ready for that.
3. We are doing all right without trying that.
4. We tried it once before.
5. We don't have money for that.
6. That's not our job.
7. Something like that can't work.
There is tremendous power in belief. Our beliefs shape our future; what we believe to be true quite literally becomes true for us!
And there is a bold and exciting tomorrow awaiting anyone with the courage to believe something new CAN HAPPEN -- things CAN BE DIFFERENT! Your life -- your organization -- can be stagnant or things can change. Tomorrow can look very different than today for those whobelieve.
Will you stagnate or will you believe in tomorrow?
The real voyage of discovery
consists not in seeing new landscapes,
but in having new eyes.
- Marcel Proust -
Einstein: Bible Is 'Primitive, Pretty Childish'
Einstein: Bible Is 'Primitive, Pretty Childish'
LONDON , Associated Press
Tue May 13, 2:54 PM EDT
Albert Einstein: arch rationalist or scientist with a spiritual core?
A letter being auctioned in London this week adds more fuel to the long-simmering debate about the Nobel prize-winning physicist's religious views.
In the note, written the year before his death, Einstein dismissed the idea of God as the product of human weakness and the Bible as "pretty childish."
The letter, handwritten in German, is being sold by Bloomsbury Auctions on Thursday and is expected to fetch between $12,000 and $16,000.
Einstein, who helped unravel the mysteries of the universe with his theory of relativity, expressed complex and arguably contradictory views on faith, perceiving a universe suffused with spirituality while rejecting organized religion.
The letter up for sale, written to philosopher Eric Gutkind in January 1954, suggests his views on religion did not mellow with age.
In it, Einstein said that "the word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honorable but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish."
"For me," he added, "the Jewish religion like all other religions is an incarnation of the most childish superstitions."
Addressing the idea that the Jews are God's chosen people, Einstein wrote that "the Jewish people to whom I gladly belong and with whose mentality I have a deep affinity have no different quality for me than all other people. As far as my experience goes, they are also no better than other human groups, although they are protected from the worst cancers by a lack of power. Otherwise I cannot see anything 'chosen' about them."
Bloomsbury spokesman Richard Caton said the auction house was "100 percent certain" of the letter's authenticity.
It is being offered at auction for the first time, by a private vendor.
John Brooke, emeritus professor of science and religion at Oxford University, said the letter lends weight to the notion that "Einstein was not a conventional theist" — although he was not an atheist, either.
"Like many great scientists of the past, he is rather quirky about religion, and not always consistent from one period to another," Brooke said.
Born to a Jewish family in Germany in 1879, Einstein said he went through a devout phase as a child before beginning to question conventional religion at the age of 12.
In later life, he expressed a sense of wonder at the universe and its mysteries — what he called a "cosmic religious feeling" — and famously said: "Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind."
But, he also said: "I do not believe in the God of theology who rewards good and punishes evil. My God created laws that take care of that. His universe is not ruled by wishful thinking, but by immutable laws."
Brooke said Einstein believed that "there is some kind of intelligence working its way through nature. But it is certainly not a conventional Christian or Judaic religious view."
Einstein's most famous legacy is the special theory of relativity, which makes the point that a large amount of energy could be released from a tiny amount of matter, as expressed in the equation E=MC2 (energy equals mass times the speed of light squared).
The theory changed the face of physics, allowing scientists to make predictions about space and paving the way for nuclear power and the atomic bomb.
Einstein's musings on science, war, peace and God helped make him world famous, and his scientific legacy prompted Time magazine to name him its Person of the 20th Century.
Associated Press.
All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
LONDON , Associated Press
Tue May 13, 2:54 PM EDT
Albert Einstein: arch rationalist or scientist with a spiritual core?
A letter being auctioned in London this week adds more fuel to the long-simmering debate about the Nobel prize-winning physicist's religious views.
In the note, written the year before his death, Einstein dismissed the idea of God as the product of human weakness and the Bible as "pretty childish."
The letter, handwritten in German, is being sold by Bloomsbury Auctions on Thursday and is expected to fetch between $12,000 and $16,000.
Einstein, who helped unravel the mysteries of the universe with his theory of relativity, expressed complex and arguably contradictory views on faith, perceiving a universe suffused with spirituality while rejecting organized religion.
The letter up for sale, written to philosopher Eric Gutkind in January 1954, suggests his views on religion did not mellow with age.
In it, Einstein said that "the word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honorable but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish."
"For me," he added, "the Jewish religion like all other religions is an incarnation of the most childish superstitions."
Addressing the idea that the Jews are God's chosen people, Einstein wrote that "the Jewish people to whom I gladly belong and with whose mentality I have a deep affinity have no different quality for me than all other people. As far as my experience goes, they are also no better than other human groups, although they are protected from the worst cancers by a lack of power. Otherwise I cannot see anything 'chosen' about them."
Bloomsbury spokesman Richard Caton said the auction house was "100 percent certain" of the letter's authenticity.
It is being offered at auction for the first time, by a private vendor.
John Brooke, emeritus professor of science and religion at Oxford University, said the letter lends weight to the notion that "Einstein was not a conventional theist" — although he was not an atheist, either.
"Like many great scientists of the past, he is rather quirky about religion, and not always consistent from one period to another," Brooke said.
Born to a Jewish family in Germany in 1879, Einstein said he went through a devout phase as a child before beginning to question conventional religion at the age of 12.
In later life, he expressed a sense of wonder at the universe and its mysteries — what he called a "cosmic religious feeling" — and famously said: "Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind."
But, he also said: "I do not believe in the God of theology who rewards good and punishes evil. My God created laws that take care of that. His universe is not ruled by wishful thinking, but by immutable laws."
Brooke said Einstein believed that "there is some kind of intelligence working its way through nature. But it is certainly not a conventional Christian or Judaic religious view."
Einstein's most famous legacy is the special theory of relativity, which makes the point that a large amount of energy could be released from a tiny amount of matter, as expressed in the equation E=MC2 (energy equals mass times the speed of light squared).
The theory changed the face of physics, allowing scientists to make predictions about space and paving the way for nuclear power and the atomic bomb.
Einstein's musings on science, war, peace and God helped make him world famous, and his scientific legacy prompted Time magazine to name him its Person of the 20th Century.
Associated Press.
All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Monday, May 12, 2008
May 12, 2008
In The World And In Ourselves
Feeling Fed Up With Humanity
From time to time, we may all feel fed up with humanity, whether it's from learning about what's going on around the world, or what’s going on next door. There are always situations that leave us feeling as if people are simply not capable of behaving in a way that is coming from a place of awareness. Often it seems as if people are actually geared to handle things in the worst possible way, repeatedly. At the same time, none of us wants to linger in a judgmental mood about our own species. As a result, we might tend to repress the feelings coming up as we take in the news from the world and the neighborhood.
It is natural to feel let down and disappointed when we see our fellow humans behaving in ways that are greedy, selfish, violent, or uncaring, but there are also ways to process that disappointment without sinking into despondency. As with any emotional response, we honor our feelings by feeling them fully, without judging or acting on them. Once we've done that—and we may need to do it every day, as part of our daily self-care—we can begin to consider ways that we might help the situation in which humanity finds itself.
As always, we start with ourselves, utilizing our awareness of the failings of others to renew our own commitment to be more conscious human beings. We are all capable of the best and the worst that humanity has to offer, and remembering this keeps us in check, as well as allowing us to find compassion for others. We may find ourselves feeling compelled to serve people who are suffering injustices at the hands of other people, or we may begin to speak out when we see something that we don’t think is right. Whatever the case, the only thing we can do is pledge to serve the best, rather than the worst, of what humanity has to offer, both in the world, and in ourselves.
Daily Om
______________________
In The World And In Ourselves
Feeling Fed Up With Humanity
From time to time, we may all feel fed up with humanity, whether it's from learning about what's going on around the world, or what’s going on next door. There are always situations that leave us feeling as if people are simply not capable of behaving in a way that is coming from a place of awareness. Often it seems as if people are actually geared to handle things in the worst possible way, repeatedly. At the same time, none of us wants to linger in a judgmental mood about our own species. As a result, we might tend to repress the feelings coming up as we take in the news from the world and the neighborhood.
It is natural to feel let down and disappointed when we see our fellow humans behaving in ways that are greedy, selfish, violent, or uncaring, but there are also ways to process that disappointment without sinking into despondency. As with any emotional response, we honor our feelings by feeling them fully, without judging or acting on them. Once we've done that—and we may need to do it every day, as part of our daily self-care—we can begin to consider ways that we might help the situation in which humanity finds itself.
As always, we start with ourselves, utilizing our awareness of the failings of others to renew our own commitment to be more conscious human beings. We are all capable of the best and the worst that humanity has to offer, and remembering this keeps us in check, as well as allowing us to find compassion for others. We may find ourselves feeling compelled to serve people who are suffering injustices at the hands of other people, or we may begin to speak out when we see something that we don’t think is right. Whatever the case, the only thing we can do is pledge to serve the best, rather than the worst, of what humanity has to offer, both in the world, and in ourselves.
Daily Om
______________________
Dancing Goddess Dolls
My collection so far!!! The dolls from left to right: King Arthur, Beltaine, Litha, Kuan Yin, Sophia, Niobe. Joined by Cerridwen, Mary, Buddha and Kwan Yin (last two hard to see) and various animals and shells!
Love Kelli's dolls, and anticipate each and every one of them arriving in the mail! (Kinda envious of her skill and talent, but putting that aside, LOL, She makes such lovely creations! )
Way to go Kelli, be prepared, more to come!
Huggies!
My collection so far!!! The dolls from left to right: King Arthur, Beltaine, Litha, Kuan Yin, Sophia, Niobe. Joined by Cerridwen, Mary, Buddha and Kwan Yin (last two hard to see) and various animals and shells!
Love Kelli's dolls, and anticipate each and every one of them arriving in the mail! (Kinda envious of her skill and talent, but putting that aside, LOL, She makes such lovely creations! )
Sophia and Kuan Yin were my first! These were custom made for me.
Way to go Kelli, be prepared, more to come!
Huggies!
Saturday, May 10, 2008
May 9, 2008
Remembering To Pause
Beyond Reacting
We have all had the experience of reacting in a way that was less than ideal upon hearing bad news, or being unfairly criticized, or being told something we did not want to hear. This makes sense because when our emotions are triggered, they tend to take center stage, inhibiting our ability to pause before we speak. We may feel compelled to release the tension by expressing ourselves in some way, whether it’s yelling back at the person yelling at us, or rushing to deliver words of comfort to a friend in trouble. However, there is much to be said for teaching ourselves to remember to pause and take a deep breath before we respond to the shocks and insults that can come our way in life.
For one thing, our initial response is not always what’s best for us, or for the other people involved. Reacting to childish rage with childish rage will only escalate the negativity in a situation, further ensnaring us in an undesirable dynamic. Similarly, when we react defensively, or simply thoughtlessly, we often end up feeling regret over our words or actions. In the end, we save ourselves a lot of pain when we take a deep breath and really tune in to ourselves, and the other person, before we respond. This doesn’t necessarily mean we don’t say anything, although in some cases, that may be the best option.
Some situations require a fairly immediate response, but even just a moment of grounding ourselves before we do so can help enormously. The next time you find yourself wanting to react, try to pause, and in that pause, take a deep breath. Feel your feet on the floor, the air on your skin, and listen for a response to arise within you, rather than just going with the first thing that pops into your head. You may find that in that moment, there is the potential to move beyond reaction and into the more subtle and creative realm of response, where something new can happen.
DailyOM
Remembering To Pause
Beyond Reacting
We have all had the experience of reacting in a way that was less than ideal upon hearing bad news, or being unfairly criticized, or being told something we did not want to hear. This makes sense because when our emotions are triggered, they tend to take center stage, inhibiting our ability to pause before we speak. We may feel compelled to release the tension by expressing ourselves in some way, whether it’s yelling back at the person yelling at us, or rushing to deliver words of comfort to a friend in trouble. However, there is much to be said for teaching ourselves to remember to pause and take a deep breath before we respond to the shocks and insults that can come our way in life.
For one thing, our initial response is not always what’s best for us, or for the other people involved. Reacting to childish rage with childish rage will only escalate the negativity in a situation, further ensnaring us in an undesirable dynamic. Similarly, when we react defensively, or simply thoughtlessly, we often end up feeling regret over our words or actions. In the end, we save ourselves a lot of pain when we take a deep breath and really tune in to ourselves, and the other person, before we respond. This doesn’t necessarily mean we don’t say anything, although in some cases, that may be the best option.
Some situations require a fairly immediate response, but even just a moment of grounding ourselves before we do so can help enormously. The next time you find yourself wanting to react, try to pause, and in that pause, take a deep breath. Feel your feet on the floor, the air on your skin, and listen for a response to arise within you, rather than just going with the first thing that pops into your head. You may find that in that moment, there is the potential to move beyond reaction and into the more subtle and creative realm of response, where something new can happen.
DailyOM
Magickal Herb of the Day: Flax Seed
Used for money spells and healing rituals. Mix seeds with red pepper and keep in a box in the home to protect it. Put in a sachet to protect against hostile magick. Place some in shoe or in pocket, wallet, purse, or altar jar with a few coins to ward off poverty. Sprinkle an infusion made with flax seed around the area before divination to get a more accurate reading of someone's future. Burn for divinatory powers.
Also Called: Linseed
Used for money spells and healing rituals. Mix seeds with red pepper and keep in a box in the home to protect it. Put in a sachet to protect against hostile magick. Place some in shoe or in pocket, wallet, purse, or altar jar with a few coins to ward off poverty. Sprinkle an infusion made with flax seed around the area before divination to get a more accurate reading of someone's future. Burn for divinatory powers.
Also Called: Linseed
May 10, 2008
Incontestable Love
Leo Daily Horoscope
You may be driven by emotion today and prone to speaking your mind where your feelings are concerned. As a result, you may find that you are far more demonstrative than usual. If you typically keep your sentimentality under wraps, your emotions may exert themselves in a variety of ways. You may be inclined to show affection by giving the people you care for plenty of hugs and kisses, or you may be inspired to write letters of gratitude to the individuals who have played important roles in your life. Your devoted mood can become the mortar that cements the bonds of tenderness you share with your loved ones. Consider, today, that your friends and relatives will likely respond to your loving overtures with reciprocal warmth.
When we freely demonstrate our affection through loving words and deeds, the people we care most about move through their lives assured of the strength of our feelings. Many people fear that expressing their tenderness will make them appear vulnerable in the eyes of others and inadvertently leave their loved ones questioning the strength of the bonds they share. Yet any gesture that inspires warmth in the hearts of those closest to us will reassure them that our feelings for them are loving and rooted in kindness. We can then take pleasure in the awareness that the people we care for are secure in our affection and know that we would do anything to ensure their continuing well-being. You will guarantee that your loved ones understand the scope of your feelings today by expressing your love openly.
DailyOM
________________________________________
Incontestable Love
Leo Daily Horoscope
You may be driven by emotion today and prone to speaking your mind where your feelings are concerned. As a result, you may find that you are far more demonstrative than usual. If you typically keep your sentimentality under wraps, your emotions may exert themselves in a variety of ways. You may be inclined to show affection by giving the people you care for plenty of hugs and kisses, or you may be inspired to write letters of gratitude to the individuals who have played important roles in your life. Your devoted mood can become the mortar that cements the bonds of tenderness you share with your loved ones. Consider, today, that your friends and relatives will likely respond to your loving overtures with reciprocal warmth.
When we freely demonstrate our affection through loving words and deeds, the people we care most about move through their lives assured of the strength of our feelings. Many people fear that expressing their tenderness will make them appear vulnerable in the eyes of others and inadvertently leave their loved ones questioning the strength of the bonds they share. Yet any gesture that inspires warmth in the hearts of those closest to us will reassure them that our feelings for them are loving and rooted in kindness. We can then take pleasure in the awareness that the people we care for are secure in our affection and know that we would do anything to ensure their continuing well-being. You will guarantee that your loved ones understand the scope of your feelings today by expressing your love openly.
DailyOM
________________________________________
King Arthur in Literature
by David Nash Ford
The earliest full stories concerning King Arthur and his exploits appear to be the little known Welsh tales of "Culhwch and Olwen" and the "Dream of Rhonabwy". Though dating from before the 11th century, these two stories became a late attachment to a collection of Welsh mythological tales taken from the 14th century White Book of Rhydderch and Red Book of Hergest. Together, they are known as the "Mabinogion": an introduction for aspiring poets.
Though the stories have a mythological slant, a certain amount of bardic poetic license is to be expected. Their background, however, is clearly an unfamiliar Dark Age society that gives us some idea of what the realArthur was probably like.
The much-maligned Geoffrey of Monmouth, Archdeacon of Monmouth and later Bishop of St. Asaphs, first popularized King Arthur's story, around 1136, in his "History of the Kings of Britain". Though he was writing some six hundred years after Arthur's death, there is no reason to suppose that Geoffrey's history was "made up...from an inordinate love of lying" as both contemporary and modern historians almost universally insist. Geoffrey claimed he had taken most of his information from an earlier British source (he referred to it as "a certain, very ancient book written in the British language"; ed.), unknown to us today.
The early portion of his history clearly relates the mythology of the Celtic peoples and the stories of their gods, whom his source had turned into early Kings: Bladud, Leir, Belenus, Brennius and so on. Later in his account, however, he turns to real history. From the time of Julius Caesar's invasion of Britain in 55 bc, which both Geoffrey and the great man (ie. Caesar), himself, relate at great length, we can no longer be sure that the Archdeacon is reciting mere legend. Much of his information has corroborative historical sources like this. Who is to say that everything he tells us, from then on, is not pure fact? Furthermore, Geoffrey was the only source to hail the existence of King Tenvantius of Britain, until modern archaeologists began finding Iron Age coins bearing his name: "Tasciovantus". What other gems of Geoffrey's history have been dismissed by today's historians?
It was the French medieval poet, Chrétien de Troyes, however who, not long after Geoffrey, introduced us to most of the characters and tales that we now think of as an integral part of the Arthurian story. He specialized in tales of Arthurian courtly love and thus brought us: Erec & Enid (1160), Lancelot (c.1162), Cligés (1164), Yvain (c.1170) and the Count of the Grail (also known as Perceval) (1180). He transformed the names of Geoffrey's characters from Welsh to the medieval French used today.
It was Chrétien and those who followed him who distorted the Arthurian story, so that the true historical Arthur became lost in an amalgam of Celtic myth and literary fantasy. For example, neither Lancelot nor the Holy Grail were part of the Arthurian legend before Chrétien came along. Both do have origins in early Celtic myth, but there is little justification for including them in Arthur's story.
During the early 13th century, the anonymous Vulgate Cycle further embellished the Arthurian stories. This collection of romantic prose was apparently put together by Cistercian clerics between 1215 and 1235, some say at the instigation of their founder, St. Bernard of Clairvaux. The vast work consists of the Prose Lancelot, Queste del Sainte Graal, Estoire del Sainte Graal, Mort Artu and Vulgate Merlin. It is particularly noted for introducing the idea that Mordred was the incestuous son of King Arthur.
Sir Thomas Malory's 15th century work, "Le Morte d'Arthur" is, perhaps, better known than Geoffrey or Chrétien. He took their stories and retold them with an epic unity, creating the Romantic Age of Chivalry. With one stroke of his pen, he transformed Arthur's Court from Dark Age obscurity to the height of medieval pageantry. Being written in English and printed by William Caxton, "Le Morte d'Arthur" was instantly available to the masses, and it remains highly popular, even today, as a classic work of literature. Malory's work, however, is just that: a work of literature. There is little history left amongst his pages.
Arthur's modern popularity owes much to his re-emergence during the Victorian Age at the hands of Alfred, Lord Tennyson. His huge poetic elegy entitled "Idylls of the King" led to a resurgence in interest in this early monarch, as reflected in much of the pre-Raphælite art of the time. The fascination is still going strong today. However, modern Arthurian students have become much more critical of the romantic picture woven by many of these literary greats. Nowadays, we tend to be much more interested in the real Arthur, drawing upon the Mabinogion, Geoffrey and beyond, to examine historical sources that may just show us a glimpse of the truth behind this strangely compelling character.
See Also:
Arthur, King of the Britons
Arthur, General of the Britons
12 Battles of King Arthur
Arthur, the Myth
References to an Historical King Arthur
---------------------------------------------------------
©2007 Britannia.com
_______________________________________
by David Nash Ford
The earliest full stories concerning King Arthur and his exploits appear to be the little known Welsh tales of "Culhwch and Olwen" and the "Dream of Rhonabwy". Though dating from before the 11th century, these two stories became a late attachment to a collection of Welsh mythological tales taken from the 14th century White Book of Rhydderch and Red Book of Hergest. Together, they are known as the "Mabinogion": an introduction for aspiring poets.
Though the stories have a mythological slant, a certain amount of bardic poetic license is to be expected. Their background, however, is clearly an unfamiliar Dark Age society that gives us some idea of what the realArthur was probably like.
The much-maligned Geoffrey of Monmouth, Archdeacon of Monmouth and later Bishop of St. Asaphs, first popularized King Arthur's story, around 1136, in his "History of the Kings of Britain". Though he was writing some six hundred years after Arthur's death, there is no reason to suppose that Geoffrey's history was "made up...from an inordinate love of lying" as both contemporary and modern historians almost universally insist. Geoffrey claimed he had taken most of his information from an earlier British source (he referred to it as "a certain, very ancient book written in the British language"; ed.), unknown to us today.
The early portion of his history clearly relates the mythology of the Celtic peoples and the stories of their gods, whom his source had turned into early Kings: Bladud, Leir, Belenus, Brennius and so on. Later in his account, however, he turns to real history. From the time of Julius Caesar's invasion of Britain in 55 bc, which both Geoffrey and the great man (ie. Caesar), himself, relate at great length, we can no longer be sure that the Archdeacon is reciting mere legend. Much of his information has corroborative historical sources like this. Who is to say that everything he tells us, from then on, is not pure fact? Furthermore, Geoffrey was the only source to hail the existence of King Tenvantius of Britain, until modern archaeologists began finding Iron Age coins bearing his name: "Tasciovantus". What other gems of Geoffrey's history have been dismissed by today's historians?
It was the French medieval poet, Chrétien de Troyes, however who, not long after Geoffrey, introduced us to most of the characters and tales that we now think of as an integral part of the Arthurian story. He specialized in tales of Arthurian courtly love and thus brought us: Erec & Enid (1160), Lancelot (c.1162), Cligés (1164), Yvain (c.1170) and the Count of the Grail (also known as Perceval) (1180). He transformed the names of Geoffrey's characters from Welsh to the medieval French used today.
It was Chrétien and those who followed him who distorted the Arthurian story, so that the true historical Arthur became lost in an amalgam of Celtic myth and literary fantasy. For example, neither Lancelot nor the Holy Grail were part of the Arthurian legend before Chrétien came along. Both do have origins in early Celtic myth, but there is little justification for including them in Arthur's story.
During the early 13th century, the anonymous Vulgate Cycle further embellished the Arthurian stories. This collection of romantic prose was apparently put together by Cistercian clerics between 1215 and 1235, some say at the instigation of their founder, St. Bernard of Clairvaux. The vast work consists of the Prose Lancelot, Queste del Sainte Graal, Estoire del Sainte Graal, Mort Artu and Vulgate Merlin. It is particularly noted for introducing the idea that Mordred was the incestuous son of King Arthur.
Sir Thomas Malory's 15th century work, "Le Morte d'Arthur" is, perhaps, better known than Geoffrey or Chrétien. He took their stories and retold them with an epic unity, creating the Romantic Age of Chivalry. With one stroke of his pen, he transformed Arthur's Court from Dark Age obscurity to the height of medieval pageantry. Being written in English and printed by William Caxton, "Le Morte d'Arthur" was instantly available to the masses, and it remains highly popular, even today, as a classic work of literature. Malory's work, however, is just that: a work of literature. There is little history left amongst his pages.
Arthur's modern popularity owes much to his re-emergence during the Victorian Age at the hands of Alfred, Lord Tennyson. His huge poetic elegy entitled "Idylls of the King" led to a resurgence in interest in this early monarch, as reflected in much of the pre-Raphælite art of the time. The fascination is still going strong today. However, modern Arthurian students have become much more critical of the romantic picture woven by many of these literary greats. Nowadays, we tend to be much more interested in the real Arthur, drawing upon the Mabinogion, Geoffrey and beyond, to examine historical sources that may just show us a glimpse of the truth behind this strangely compelling character.
See Also:
Arthur, King of the Britons
Arthur, General of the Britons
12 Battles of King Arthur
Arthur, the Myth
References to an Historical King Arthur
---------------------------------------------------------
©2007 Britannia.com
_______________________________________
Friday, May 9, 2008
Quote
"Learn to get in touch with the innermost essence of your being. This true essence is beyond the ego. It is fearless, it is free, it is immune to criticism, it does not fear any challenge. It is beneath no one, superior to no one, and full of magic, mystery and enchantment."- Deepak Chopra
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Money Maker Potpourri
2 - cinnamon sticks (broken up)
1 teaspoon ground ginger
2 Tablespoons whole cloves(though ground will work)
4 Tablespoons whole cardamon seeds
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Mix all ingredients together in a bowl with your fingers while visualizing prosperity, As you mix, say:
"Money, money everywhere,
Money simmer in the air"
To use, fill a pot with about 2 cups of water, add the potpourri,simmer over low heat for at least half an hour. if longer, add more water.
As the scent rises, the power and energy you've placed into the potpourri will be released into the air.
by, Morgaine-Le-Fey
from Green Witch Garden yahoo group
--------
2 - cinnamon sticks (broken up)
1 teaspoon ground ginger
2 Tablespoons whole cloves(though ground will work)
4 Tablespoons whole cardamon seeds
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Mix all ingredients together in a bowl with your fingers while visualizing prosperity, As you mix, say:
"Money, money everywhere,
Money simmer in the air"
To use, fill a pot with about 2 cups of water, add the potpourri,simmer over low heat for at least half an hour. if longer, add more water.
As the scent rises, the power and energy you've placed into the potpourri will be released into the air.
by, Morgaine-Le-Fey
from Green Witch Garden yahoo group
--------
History Of The Apothecary Garden
Posted by: "Lilye"
Thu May 8, 2008 5:21 pm (PDT)
History Of The Apothecary Garden
by Tamarra S. James
The idea of separating a garden into one for useful plants and another for beauty is a fairly recent innovation. Until about three hundred years ago, all plants were considered to be useful either as medicine or food, some in a practical way, others in a purely symbolic application. Even the beauty of the plants themselves was thought to be medicinal, contributing to the general health of the individual by strengthening the spirit, giving comfort to the soul, and lifting depression of the mood. One must not lose sight of thisprinciple when approaching the medieval garden, as in a very real sense, all gardens had their origin in the physic garden.
Aside from the few basic medicinal plants grown by every housewife for the cure of common minor ills, much like we use the patented medicines of today, the bulk of the truly curative herbs were originally cultivated in the monastery gardens. Healing was, from the earliest recorded times granted the distinction of being a religious practice. Each culture of the Pagan period had its healing gods, and in evolution, one of the greatest miracles attributed to the god of the new religion was the power to heal.
The monks were, by and large a literate class of people where the greater population was not, so it is that the majority of the hard information regarding growth, plant description, and garden lists has come from them. We can assume that the gardens of the doctors and apothecaries were similar if on a much smaller scale, as the monks had greater access to plants imported from other parts of the world than the common man.
The infirmary garden of a monastery generally consisted of several raised rectangular beds with walkways between them. Most of the plants were to be found in the Emperor Charlemagne's list of medicinal herbs which formed a part of his "Capitulare de Villis" a document from the ninth century which detailed the plants he wished his gardeners' to plant on his estates and which he encouragedall of his subjects to plant for the benefit of the nation.
As society reached out of the Middle Ages into the fifteenth century, new plants were being brought back from the Americas. Master Ion Gardener wrote the practical text, "The Feate of Gardening". This was a set of instructions on cultivation, grafting, and the culture of herbs. All of the herbs listed in Master Ion's treatise were old world, and had been commonly grown all over Europe for hundreds of years. It reached beyond the folklore of plants andprovided a sound scientific base for the gardener to work from.
In the sixteenth century we find the first wave of dramatic change in the gardening consciousness of Europe since the beginning of the Crusades. Prior to this there had been a limited number of herbs that had grown familiar to the herbalist through years of cultivation and use. Now we have almost daily expansion of the herbalists, as navigators and explorers carried back new seedand rootstock, along with documents containing native applications of the medicines of their lands. Most significant in this influx of new botanicals were those from the Americas.
The feeling of the time is best illustrated by a quotation from Holinshed, a historian of the sixteenth century. "It is a wonder also to see how many strange herbs, plants, and annual fruits are daily brought unto us from the Indies, Americas, Taprobane, Canary Isles and all parts of the world. I have seen in someone's garden to the number of three or four hundred of them, if not more, the half of those names within forty years past we had no manner of knowledge."
The first botanic gardens as places of study were founded in Padua Italy 1545 and in Oxford England 1621. These schools of herbalism effectively took medicine out of the hands of the monastery and placed it under the control of the educating physicians. Doctors began to lecture on the healing properties of herbs, and their reliance on leeching, or bleeding, and chemical alchemy was largely replaced by the study of the new science of herbal alchemy.
It was in the seventeenth century, following this great influx of herbs, that the largest number of herbals were published. Many of them included the New World herbs as a matter of course. Most of these books were written by doctors of medicine, but they were now leaning more heavily on the botanical properties and characteristics of plants than on the previous, almost mystical systems of humours, planetary influences, and doctrine of signatures.
Prior to this time, almost all herbals relied heavily on Dioscorides volume entitled "De Materia Medica". It required the discovery of new plants to generate original research and the development of herbal philosophy. There was still a problem in that many of these authors were writing about plants they had never seen or used. There existed popular engraving templates for the illustration of herbals, usually created by artists rather than herbalists, and often from description instead of observation. In some cases, such as JohnGerard's "Great Herbal", or "History of Plants" the wrong illustration was placed in the text, confusing the reader, and the dilettante herbalist, who repeated the error in his own book.
In 1577 an herbal of an entirely new type was translated from the Spanish into English. It was written by Nicholas Monardes, and was entitled, "Joyfull Newes Out Of The Newe Founde Worlde". This book catalogued and described medicinal plants from America. Then, in 1629 and 1640 a pair of books were published that changed the entire face of herb lore. They are often considered to be the greatest English books on herbs and plants ever published. They were written by John Parkinson, and are entitled respectively, "Paradisi I Sole Paradisus Terrestris" and "Theatrum Botanicum: The Theatre of Plants". More than 3,000 plants are described in this volume, and unlike their predecessors,these books combine history, horticulture, botany, and pharmacy all in one place. Parkinson is also the first herbal author to seriously attempt botanical classification into tribes or families of plants, and into classes.
The herbals of Parkinson and Gerard went to the New World along with the settlers, and a selection of seed and rootstock for various medicinal herbs accompanied them. The ships returned to England with native North American plants to be cultivated, and studied in the European botanical colleges and gardens. The properties of many of the plants were learned from the Native Indians, which lead to the publication of John Josselyn's book, "New England's Rarities Discovered" in 1672. This book included "The Physical and ChyrurgicalRemedies Wherewith The Natives Constantly Use To Cure Their Distempers, Wounds and Sores". In 1728, John Bartram founded North America's first botanic garden near Philadelphia. In 1765, he was commissioned 'Botanizer Royal For America' and began to travel and collect plants, accompanied by his son, who was a major botanical artist. It is through the labours of these two men that many North American herbs came to the attention of the Swedish Botanist Carl Linnaeus, and were classified by him.
The study of the herb garden is in itself a study in the evolution of botanical medicine and its development. In the garden lists we see not just the herbs that were known to the early doctor, but more importantly, those which were used by him.
A list of the herbs from John Bartram's garden examined in relation to the monastery garden of the ninth century gives indication of a greater range of subtlety in the mixing of possible ingredients, and a wider set of applications than those available to the lay brothers in their time. An asterick marks the New World herbs.
Melissa officinalis, Lemon Balm.
Ocimum basilicum, Sweet Basil
*Mondara didyma, Bee Balm.
*Cimicifuga racemosa, Black Cohosh.
*Eupatorium perfolatum, Boneset.
Borago officinalis, Borage.
Nepeta cataria, Catnip.
Dianthus caryophyllus, Clove Pink.
Vinca major, Periwinkle.
Symphytum officinale, Comfrey.
Digitalis purpurea, Fox Glove.
Cochlearia amoracia, Horseradish.
Pulmonaria officinalis, Lungwort.
*Lobelia siphilitica, Great Lobelia.
Calendula officinalis, Pot Marigold.
Verbascum thapsus, Mullein.
Paeonia officinalis, Peony.
Myrtus communis, Myrtle.
Hypericum perforatum, St. John's Wort.
Teucrium marum, Germander.
Galium odoratum, Sweet Woodruff.
Tanacetum vulgare, Tansy.
Artemisia dracunculus, French Tarragon.
Dipsacus fullonum, Fuller's Teasle.
*Asarum virginicum, Wild Ginger.
*Gaultheria procumbens, Wintergreen.
Acorus calamus, Sweet Flag.
Crocus sativa, Saffron Crocus.
Allium schoenoprasum, Chives.
Lonicora caprifolium, Woodbine Honeysuckle.
Rubus fruticosus, Blackberry.
*Hamamelis virginiana, Witch Hazel.
Lindera benzoin, Spice Bush.
Punica granatum, Pomegranate.
Cassia acutifolia, Alexandrian Senna.
Ilex aquifolium, English holly.
*Populus candicans, Poplar, Balm of Gilead.
*Cornus florida, Dogwood.
*Sassafras albidum, Sassafras.
Laurus nobilis, Bay laurel.
The following herbs are also to be included in this garden. Latin names can be found in the previous list:
Chamomile, Lovage, Dill, Fennel,Horehound, Hyssop, French Lavender, Pennyroyal, Mint, Rosemary, Rue, Agrimony, Sage, Thyme, Yarrow, Madonna Lily, Apothecary's Rose
It is likely that this is an optimistic list since weather conditions in Philadelphia would have made the growth of plants such as Pomegranate extremely difficult, although most of the herbs would quite handily grow there. As you can see, the majority of the herbs from the ninth century list are still included, with the many additions of the New World herbs. Today, many of these herbs arestill grown for their use as pharmaceuticals and even as medicine advances into the "Modern age" it remains rooted with the herbs, in the origins of the apothecary garden.
Bibliography
# John Gerard. The Herbal Or General History of Plants.Facsimile Edition Of 1633 Edition. Dover Publications NY 1975.
# Gosta Brodin. Agnus Castus A Middle English Herbal. Reconstructed from various manuscripts. Upsalla 1950.
# Andrew Boorde. Fyrst Boke Of The Introduction Of Knowledge. Repro Of The 1542 Edition. Early English Text Society Reprint 1964.
# Sarah Garland. The Herb Garden. Penguin Books NY 1984.
# Rosetta E. Clarkson. The Golden Age Of Herbs And Herbalists.Dover Publications NY 1972.
# L. Butler & C. Given-Wilson. Medieval Monasteries Of Great Britain. Michael Joseph London 1983.
# Nicholas Culpepper. Culpepper's Complete Herbal. W. Foulsham & Co. London.
from Green Witch Garden yahoo group
-------
Posted by: "Lilye"
Thu May 8, 2008 5:21 pm (PDT)
History Of The Apothecary Garden
by Tamarra S. James
The idea of separating a garden into one for useful plants and another for beauty is a fairly recent innovation. Until about three hundred years ago, all plants were considered to be useful either as medicine or food, some in a practical way, others in a purely symbolic application. Even the beauty of the plants themselves was thought to be medicinal, contributing to the general health of the individual by strengthening the spirit, giving comfort to the soul, and lifting depression of the mood. One must not lose sight of thisprinciple when approaching the medieval garden, as in a very real sense, all gardens had their origin in the physic garden.
Aside from the few basic medicinal plants grown by every housewife for the cure of common minor ills, much like we use the patented medicines of today, the bulk of the truly curative herbs were originally cultivated in the monastery gardens. Healing was, from the earliest recorded times granted the distinction of being a religious practice. Each culture of the Pagan period had its healing gods, and in evolution, one of the greatest miracles attributed to the god of the new religion was the power to heal.
The monks were, by and large a literate class of people where the greater population was not, so it is that the majority of the hard information regarding growth, plant description, and garden lists has come from them. We can assume that the gardens of the doctors and apothecaries were similar if on a much smaller scale, as the monks had greater access to plants imported from other parts of the world than the common man.
The infirmary garden of a monastery generally consisted of several raised rectangular beds with walkways between them. Most of the plants were to be found in the Emperor Charlemagne's list of medicinal herbs which formed a part of his "Capitulare de Villis" a document from the ninth century which detailed the plants he wished his gardeners' to plant on his estates and which he encouragedall of his subjects to plant for the benefit of the nation.
As society reached out of the Middle Ages into the fifteenth century, new plants were being brought back from the Americas. Master Ion Gardener wrote the practical text, "The Feate of Gardening". This was a set of instructions on cultivation, grafting, and the culture of herbs. All of the herbs listed in Master Ion's treatise were old world, and had been commonly grown all over Europe for hundreds of years. It reached beyond the folklore of plants andprovided a sound scientific base for the gardener to work from.
In the sixteenth century we find the first wave of dramatic change in the gardening consciousness of Europe since the beginning of the Crusades. Prior to this there had been a limited number of herbs that had grown familiar to the herbalist through years of cultivation and use. Now we have almost daily expansion of the herbalists, as navigators and explorers carried back new seedand rootstock, along with documents containing native applications of the medicines of their lands. Most significant in this influx of new botanicals were those from the Americas.
The feeling of the time is best illustrated by a quotation from Holinshed, a historian of the sixteenth century. "It is a wonder also to see how many strange herbs, plants, and annual fruits are daily brought unto us from the Indies, Americas, Taprobane, Canary Isles and all parts of the world. I have seen in someone's garden to the number of three or four hundred of them, if not more, the half of those names within forty years past we had no manner of knowledge."
The first botanic gardens as places of study were founded in Padua Italy 1545 and in Oxford England 1621. These schools of herbalism effectively took medicine out of the hands of the monastery and placed it under the control of the educating physicians. Doctors began to lecture on the healing properties of herbs, and their reliance on leeching, or bleeding, and chemical alchemy was largely replaced by the study of the new science of herbal alchemy.
It was in the seventeenth century, following this great influx of herbs, that the largest number of herbals were published. Many of them included the New World herbs as a matter of course. Most of these books were written by doctors of medicine, but they were now leaning more heavily on the botanical properties and characteristics of plants than on the previous, almost mystical systems of humours, planetary influences, and doctrine of signatures.
Prior to this time, almost all herbals relied heavily on Dioscorides volume entitled "De Materia Medica". It required the discovery of new plants to generate original research and the development of herbal philosophy. There was still a problem in that many of these authors were writing about plants they had never seen or used. There existed popular engraving templates for the illustration of herbals, usually created by artists rather than herbalists, and often from description instead of observation. In some cases, such as JohnGerard's "Great Herbal", or "History of Plants" the wrong illustration was placed in the text, confusing the reader, and the dilettante herbalist, who repeated the error in his own book.
In 1577 an herbal of an entirely new type was translated from the Spanish into English. It was written by Nicholas Monardes, and was entitled, "Joyfull Newes Out Of The Newe Founde Worlde". This book catalogued and described medicinal plants from America. Then, in 1629 and 1640 a pair of books were published that changed the entire face of herb lore. They are often considered to be the greatest English books on herbs and plants ever published. They were written by John Parkinson, and are entitled respectively, "Paradisi I Sole Paradisus Terrestris" and "Theatrum Botanicum: The Theatre of Plants". More than 3,000 plants are described in this volume, and unlike their predecessors,these books combine history, horticulture, botany, and pharmacy all in one place. Parkinson is also the first herbal author to seriously attempt botanical classification into tribes or families of plants, and into classes.
The herbals of Parkinson and Gerard went to the New World along with the settlers, and a selection of seed and rootstock for various medicinal herbs accompanied them. The ships returned to England with native North American plants to be cultivated, and studied in the European botanical colleges and gardens. The properties of many of the plants were learned from the Native Indians, which lead to the publication of John Josselyn's book, "New England's Rarities Discovered" in 1672. This book included "The Physical and ChyrurgicalRemedies Wherewith The Natives Constantly Use To Cure Their Distempers, Wounds and Sores". In 1728, John Bartram founded North America's first botanic garden near Philadelphia. In 1765, he was commissioned 'Botanizer Royal For America' and began to travel and collect plants, accompanied by his son, who was a major botanical artist. It is through the labours of these two men that many North American herbs came to the attention of the Swedish Botanist Carl Linnaeus, and were classified by him.
The study of the herb garden is in itself a study in the evolution of botanical medicine and its development. In the garden lists we see not just the herbs that were known to the early doctor, but more importantly, those which were used by him.
A list of the herbs from John Bartram's garden examined in relation to the monastery garden of the ninth century gives indication of a greater range of subtlety in the mixing of possible ingredients, and a wider set of applications than those available to the lay brothers in their time. An asterick marks the New World herbs.
Melissa officinalis, Lemon Balm.
Ocimum basilicum, Sweet Basil
*Mondara didyma, Bee Balm.
*Cimicifuga racemosa, Black Cohosh.
*Eupatorium perfolatum, Boneset.
Borago officinalis, Borage.
Nepeta cataria, Catnip.
Dianthus caryophyllus, Clove Pink.
Vinca major, Periwinkle.
Symphytum officinale, Comfrey.
Digitalis purpurea, Fox Glove.
Cochlearia amoracia, Horseradish.
Pulmonaria officinalis, Lungwort.
*Lobelia siphilitica, Great Lobelia.
Calendula officinalis, Pot Marigold.
Verbascum thapsus, Mullein.
Paeonia officinalis, Peony.
Myrtus communis, Myrtle.
Hypericum perforatum, St. John's Wort.
Teucrium marum, Germander.
Galium odoratum, Sweet Woodruff.
Tanacetum vulgare, Tansy.
Artemisia dracunculus, French Tarragon.
Dipsacus fullonum, Fuller's Teasle.
*Asarum virginicum, Wild Ginger.
*Gaultheria procumbens, Wintergreen.
Acorus calamus, Sweet Flag.
Crocus sativa, Saffron Crocus.
Allium schoenoprasum, Chives.
Lonicora caprifolium, Woodbine Honeysuckle.
Rubus fruticosus, Blackberry.
*Hamamelis virginiana, Witch Hazel.
Lindera benzoin, Spice Bush.
Punica granatum, Pomegranate.
Cassia acutifolia, Alexandrian Senna.
Ilex aquifolium, English holly.
*Populus candicans, Poplar, Balm of Gilead.
*Cornus florida, Dogwood.
*Sassafras albidum, Sassafras.
Laurus nobilis, Bay laurel.
The following herbs are also to be included in this garden. Latin names can be found in the previous list:
Chamomile, Lovage, Dill, Fennel,Horehound, Hyssop, French Lavender, Pennyroyal, Mint, Rosemary, Rue, Agrimony, Sage, Thyme, Yarrow, Madonna Lily, Apothecary's Rose
It is likely that this is an optimistic list since weather conditions in Philadelphia would have made the growth of plants such as Pomegranate extremely difficult, although most of the herbs would quite handily grow there. As you can see, the majority of the herbs from the ninth century list are still included, with the many additions of the New World herbs. Today, many of these herbs arestill grown for their use as pharmaceuticals and even as medicine advances into the "Modern age" it remains rooted with the herbs, in the origins of the apothecary garden.
Bibliography
# John Gerard. The Herbal Or General History of Plants.Facsimile Edition Of 1633 Edition. Dover Publications NY 1975.
# Gosta Brodin. Agnus Castus A Middle English Herbal. Reconstructed from various manuscripts. Upsalla 1950.
# Andrew Boorde. Fyrst Boke Of The Introduction Of Knowledge. Repro Of The 1542 Edition. Early English Text Society Reprint 1964.
# Sarah Garland. The Herb Garden. Penguin Books NY 1984.
# Rosetta E. Clarkson. The Golden Age Of Herbs And Herbalists.Dover Publications NY 1972.
# L. Butler & C. Given-Wilson. Medieval Monasteries Of Great Britain. Michael Joseph London 1983.
# Nicholas Culpepper. Culpepper's Complete Herbal. W. Foulsham & Co. London.
from Green Witch Garden yahoo group
-------
Celestial Nature of Plants
Posted by: "Lilye"
Thu May 8, 2008 5:04 pm (PDT)
Celestial Nature of Plants
Guest article by Veronique Foster
http://healing.about.com/od/astrologyhealth/a/astroherbs.htm
Herbalism has regained a lot of respect lately and has helped many people improve and maintain their health. However, it seems to me that most people have lost touch with the true spirit of plants. They have forgotten what healers around the world have known: plants can heal us on a mental and a spiritual level as well as on a physical plane.
Perhaps, if we go back in time and look at plants the way our ancestors did, we can adjust our perspective on healing and live by this knowledge and wisdom. As we take our herbal teas or supplements, we can benefit greatly from putting our intent on the celestial nature of plants and their special healing power and virtues.
First, we must consider that our ancestors' understanding of the world was based on the fundamental beliefs.
Fundamental Beliefs
People, plants, planets and constellations are made of the same elements (fire, earth, air and water) and the same energies (hot/dry, hot/moist, cold/dry, cold/moist). This commonality facilitates people's connection with nature and the universe.
The human body is a miniature replica of our solar system with each body part and system symbolically representing a sign and planet. Nature often has a way to tell us what a specific plant is good for. This belief has even been attributed to Adam who, in naming the creatures in the Garden of Eden, understood that each name has the power to describe the essence of things.
Hence, celestial correspondences were established by keenly observing what a plant is good for, detailed in the Doctrine of Signatures, and by using the language of astrology and its rich, ancient contribution to our medical wisdom. In this article, let us focus on some aspects of the Doctrine of Signatures, attributed to Paracelsus (1493- 1541), and begin to understand the richness of its philosophy.
Appearance of Plants
Sun: Plants with heart shaped leaves are used for heart ailments. Plants with yellow flowers (Calendula, St. John's Wort) and plants that turn towards the sun (Dandelion) are associated with the Sun.
Mars: Plants with thorns or prickles (Milk Thistle, Nettle) are identified with Mars, the planet symbolizing a pioneer, combative spirit.
Saturn: Plants that exhibit a knobby quality may remedy swollen joints, the body part associated with Capricorn, ruled by Saturn. Perennials with long lives (Mullein), plants with annual rings or woody plants (Kava Kava) are also identified with Saturn, the planet of aging.
Mercury: Plants with hairy, fuzzy leaves (Mullein) often correspond to the cilia of the mucus membranes of the lungs, the body part associated with Gemini, ruled by Mercury. Plants that have finely divided leaves like the bronchi of lungs (Dill, Fennel) or vines that grow on trees (Honeysuckle) are also associated with Mercury, the planet of communication and planet ruling the nervous system.
Venus: Plants with lots of mucilage (Marshmallow) soothe irritated mucus membranes, associated with Taurus, ruled by Venus. Plants with beautiful flowers (Vervain, Violet) or red fruits (Raspberry) are also linked with Venus, the planet symbolizing beauty.
Moon: Plants with little white or pale yellow flowers (Cleavers) and plants with juicy leaves (Catnip) or moon shaped leaves (Caraway).
Jupiter: Large edible plants (Burdock, Centaury), that remind people of the planet of expansion.
Neptune: Plants growing in or near the ocean (Dulse, Kelp) as Neptune is the Lord of the Oceans.
Plant Qualities
Sun: Plants beneficial to the heart and circulation (Motherwort, Ginger)
Mars: Plants growing under adversity (Elder, Beet, Blackberry).
Venus: Herbs that calm overindulgence in food (Burdock, Vervain, Sage).
Saturn: Plants that are grounding (Ho Shu Wu) and help one complete projects on the material plane.
Mercury: Plants that are good for the nervous system ( Skullcap, Lavender).
Moon: Plants that may affect the subconscious. Plants living by the water (Peppermint, Watercress).
Jupiter: Herbs that promote a positive frame of mind and expansion (Oatstraw).
Neptune: Mystical herbs that are helpful in dream work (Skullcap) or help bring physical concepts to the next plane (Willow).
Uranus: Herbs that are hybrids and easy to transplant as Uranus is the planet of sudden changes. Herbs that energize, stimulate and promote inspiration (Cinnamon, Cloves).
Pluto: Herbs beneficial for enhancing sexuality (Damiana, Saw Palmetto) and for balancing the physical and spiritual aspects of a personality.
First, all these correspondences demonstrate how harmonious our natural world and our Universe are! As we get a sense of belonging to this organized, beautiful world, we feel more connected and gain a higher consciousness.
Secondly, by creating a state of resonance with the planetary energy of our choice, we help strengthen our energetic field and connection with ourselves. In fact, famous scientists like Fritz Poppe, William Reich (founder of Orgone Therapy), Harold Saxton, Robert Jahn and Brenda Dunne have all demonstrated that we receive planetary energies through our skin, our energetic field or states of resonance.
Which planetary energy should one support? I recommend that people look at the planets ruling their Sun (Birth) sign, Moon sign or Rising sign: Supporting their Sun Sign will increase their vitality, supporting their Moon sign will nourish their emotional make up and supporting their rising sign will nourish their physical body. Of course, with the help of an astrologer, people can explore many other avenues!
Copyright 2000, Veronique Foster © All rights reserved
This article is a reference work not intended to treat, diagnose or prescribe. The information contained herein is in no way to be considered as a substitute for consultation with a licensed health professional.
Further reading:
Culpeper's Color Herbal, 1983
Cunningham, Scott, Cunninghams' Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, 1994
Hopman, Ellen Evert, A Druid's Herbal, 1995
Moore, Erin, Astrology and Herbal Energetics, 1993
Petulengro, Leon, Herbs, Health and Astrology, 1977
Tobyn, Graeme, Culpeper's Medicine, a practice of Western Holistic Medicine, 1997
from Green Witch Garden yahoo group
Posted by: "Lilye"
Thu May 8, 2008 5:04 pm (PDT)
Celestial Nature of Plants
Guest article by Veronique Foster
http://healing.about.com/od/astrologyhealth/a/astroherbs.htm
Herbalism has regained a lot of respect lately and has helped many people improve and maintain their health. However, it seems to me that most people have lost touch with the true spirit of plants. They have forgotten what healers around the world have known: plants can heal us on a mental and a spiritual level as well as on a physical plane.
Perhaps, if we go back in time and look at plants the way our ancestors did, we can adjust our perspective on healing and live by this knowledge and wisdom. As we take our herbal teas or supplements, we can benefit greatly from putting our intent on the celestial nature of plants and their special healing power and virtues.
First, we must consider that our ancestors' understanding of the world was based on the fundamental beliefs.
Fundamental Beliefs
People, plants, planets and constellations are made of the same elements (fire, earth, air and water) and the same energies (hot/dry, hot/moist, cold/dry, cold/moist). This commonality facilitates people's connection with nature and the universe.
The human body is a miniature replica of our solar system with each body part and system symbolically representing a sign and planet. Nature often has a way to tell us what a specific plant is good for. This belief has even been attributed to Adam who, in naming the creatures in the Garden of Eden, understood that each name has the power to describe the essence of things.
Hence, celestial correspondences were established by keenly observing what a plant is good for, detailed in the Doctrine of Signatures, and by using the language of astrology and its rich, ancient contribution to our medical wisdom. In this article, let us focus on some aspects of the Doctrine of Signatures, attributed to Paracelsus (1493- 1541), and begin to understand the richness of its philosophy.
Appearance of Plants
Sun: Plants with heart shaped leaves are used for heart ailments. Plants with yellow flowers (Calendula, St. John's Wort) and plants that turn towards the sun (Dandelion) are associated with the Sun.
Mars: Plants with thorns or prickles (Milk Thistle, Nettle) are identified with Mars, the planet symbolizing a pioneer, combative spirit.
Saturn: Plants that exhibit a knobby quality may remedy swollen joints, the body part associated with Capricorn, ruled by Saturn. Perennials with long lives (Mullein), plants with annual rings or woody plants (Kava Kava) are also identified with Saturn, the planet of aging.
Mercury: Plants with hairy, fuzzy leaves (Mullein) often correspond to the cilia of the mucus membranes of the lungs, the body part associated with Gemini, ruled by Mercury. Plants that have finely divided leaves like the bronchi of lungs (Dill, Fennel) or vines that grow on trees (Honeysuckle) are also associated with Mercury, the planet of communication and planet ruling the nervous system.
Venus: Plants with lots of mucilage (Marshmallow) soothe irritated mucus membranes, associated with Taurus, ruled by Venus. Plants with beautiful flowers (Vervain, Violet) or red fruits (Raspberry) are also linked with Venus, the planet symbolizing beauty.
Moon: Plants with little white or pale yellow flowers (Cleavers) and plants with juicy leaves (Catnip) or moon shaped leaves (Caraway).
Jupiter: Large edible plants (Burdock, Centaury), that remind people of the planet of expansion.
Neptune: Plants growing in or near the ocean (Dulse, Kelp) as Neptune is the Lord of the Oceans.
Plant Qualities
Sun: Plants beneficial to the heart and circulation (Motherwort, Ginger)
Mars: Plants growing under adversity (Elder, Beet, Blackberry).
Venus: Herbs that calm overindulgence in food (Burdock, Vervain, Sage).
Saturn: Plants that are grounding (Ho Shu Wu) and help one complete projects on the material plane.
Mercury: Plants that are good for the nervous system ( Skullcap, Lavender).
Moon: Plants that may affect the subconscious. Plants living by the water (Peppermint, Watercress).
Jupiter: Herbs that promote a positive frame of mind and expansion (Oatstraw).
Neptune: Mystical herbs that are helpful in dream work (Skullcap) or help bring physical concepts to the next plane (Willow).
Uranus: Herbs that are hybrids and easy to transplant as Uranus is the planet of sudden changes. Herbs that energize, stimulate and promote inspiration (Cinnamon, Cloves).
Pluto: Herbs beneficial for enhancing sexuality (Damiana, Saw Palmetto) and for balancing the physical and spiritual aspects of a personality.
First, all these correspondences demonstrate how harmonious our natural world and our Universe are! As we get a sense of belonging to this organized, beautiful world, we feel more connected and gain a higher consciousness.
Secondly, by creating a state of resonance with the planetary energy of our choice, we help strengthen our energetic field and connection with ourselves. In fact, famous scientists like Fritz Poppe, William Reich (founder of Orgone Therapy), Harold Saxton, Robert Jahn and Brenda Dunne have all demonstrated that we receive planetary energies through our skin, our energetic field or states of resonance.
Which planetary energy should one support? I recommend that people look at the planets ruling their Sun (Birth) sign, Moon sign or Rising sign: Supporting their Sun Sign will increase their vitality, supporting their Moon sign will nourish their emotional make up and supporting their rising sign will nourish their physical body. Of course, with the help of an astrologer, people can explore many other avenues!
Copyright 2000, Veronique Foster © All rights reserved
This article is a reference work not intended to treat, diagnose or prescribe. The information contained herein is in no way to be considered as a substitute for consultation with a licensed health professional.
Further reading:
Culpeper's Color Herbal, 1983
Cunningham, Scott, Cunninghams' Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, 1994
Hopman, Ellen Evert, A Druid's Herbal, 1995
Moore, Erin, Astrology and Herbal Energetics, 1993
Petulengro, Leon, Herbs, Health and Astrology, 1977
Tobyn, Graeme, Culpeper's Medicine, a practice of Western Holistic Medicine, 1997
from Green Witch Garden yahoo group
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
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