February 29th, 2012

Happy Leap Year, everyone! As I'm sure you know, every four years February has an extra 29th day to keep the years in time with the seasons. As with many such occasions, there is legend and myth tied to this event, dating back to as early as the 1400s.

According to legend, St. Brighid (sound like a Christianized version of an Imbolc Goddess to you?) complained to St. Patrick that it was unfair for women to be unable to propose, as in this time, and even to modern day in many places, women had to wait for a man to propose to her. St. Patrick then set up a compromise: women would be permitted to propose one day every seven years. Brighid was not content with this, and an argument ensued. Eventually, both came to the agreement that women would be allowed to pop the question once every four years, on Leap Day. Brighid then proposed to Patrick, who refused, but gave her a kiss and lovely dress in consolation. Since then, this legend has come to imply that any marriage where one was proposed to on Leap Day will be happy and lasting. However, this is untrue in Greece, where to be married in a Leap Year is actually considered unlucky. In Denmark, it is a standing tradition that any woman whose proposal is turned down on Leap Day must be compensated by the man with a yearly gift of gloves, for 12 years. Similarly, in Finland, if a man turns down a woman, he must provide her with the fabric for a new skirt.

February 26th, 2012

The 24th - 25th were simply amazing. I picked up Raincloud and her cousin, Lara, after school on Friday, and we then drove to Hazelnut's house. We had pizza and an awesome cake:


And Hazelnut opened presents from her family. I also gave her a little gift; a clay "pencil dragon" I had made.


Then, the four of us headed upstairs and I gave Hazelnut a second, more magickal, present.




I hadn't thought mom would let me buy Hazelnut tarot cards, but she ended up not caring, so I got The Wildwood Tarot from Barnes and Nobel. The illustrations seemed really Pagan and earthy, from what I could tell from the box, and Hazelnut had been hinting that she'd been wanting tarot cards for a while. I suppose I underestimated her in that aspect, she nearly exploded when she pulled off the wrapping paper. :D The four of us hung out all evening, reading everything from Rupert's Tales to various poems. The morning of the 25th, we woke up bright and early (6:00), and took the train to Brookfield Zoo, where we spent the day. Talk about trippy. We had been there hardly an hour when all of a sudden we heard this eerie howling. The wolves were more than out and about; the big alpha male was seated on a rock, calling away for a good 20 minutes, with the others gathered around, listening. They were beautiful creatures; shaggy and grey with pale faces and darker legs and tails. Later, we were searching for the penguins in their exhibit, when we realized that they were literally right in front of us, directly up against the side of the enclosure, and that we'd been looking over their heads the entire time. Indeed, all the animals seemed over-active, as though determined to put on a good display for Hazelnut's birthday. The sea-lions were practically doing flips for us, and an African Wild Dog walked directly up to us and touched the glass with his nose. On the other hand, the Grizzly Bears were most decidedly asleep, curled up in a giant mound of hay so that they looked like great lumps of brown fuzz. We also saw the peacocks; two or three males and at least as many females, being trailed by a horde of guinea fowl. A while back (was it last summer? The summer before?) a peahen adopted a bunch of guinea fowl chicks, so I think the ones we saw must have been the same ones, all grown up. As we were on our way out of the zoo, Hazelnut stopped by a gift shop and got replicas of two amazing instruments: an Andean Flute, and a miniature African drum. Not only will they be great for rituals, they're fantastic looking, and can also be employed for fun, or for meditation. We were passing out the zoo gates, when a most enterprising peacock decided zoo life bored him, and walked right out the gate himself. We were quite panicked at the thought of an escaped peacock, but were assured that the bird was allowed to roam as he pleased, and that he was perfectly all-right. "Escaped" peacock taken care of, we proceeded to return home. I didn't want to leave, but unfortunately, I had church this morning, so I couldn't spend another night with my friend.

Today, I haven't done much besides church and homework, but I just thought I'd mention: the Forget-Me-Nots I planted just started to germinate; I've got one itty-bitty plant! Good thoughts for him, please!

February 23rd, 2012

Well, I simply cannot state how excited I am for tomorrow! It is Hazelnut's birthday, and Raincloud, Raincloud's cousin, and I are all going to Hazelnut's for a serious party. :) I've been itching to post a picture of what I got her, but I'd hate to spoil the surprise for her, so that shall have to wait. As it is, I want to share some intriguing information from a book I checked out at the library last weekend. The Book of Chakras, by Ambika Wauters, gives a really in-depth look at all seven major chakras, as well as various ways to heal said chakras. Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to share some of what I have learned.

The Root Chakra is located at the very base of the spine. As the name suggests, this chakra is a vortex of energy within the body directly related to a feeling of being rooted, stable. When this energy is out of whack, one can feel too tied to the past, or, on the other hand, very insecure. When the energy is balanced, one can draw on the strength of the past while remaining fully in the present and stabilized in one's life and what one is doing.
Generally speaking, this chakra is fully developed by age 7; however, if one had a difficult early life, the chakra may require additional work to get it on-par. It is associated with the color red, and, if one is musically inclined, the note C. It can be opened through through tribal music, particularly drumming, and is also strongly associated with Native American reserves, and the great wilderness. Mythologically, this chakra is commonly paired with the great Indian elephant Ganesh, a white creature with seven tusks. If one wants to get more in touch with the Root Chakra, try saying the following affirmation before getting up and/or before going to sleep:

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I live from my integrity.
I love from my heart. I am connected to life in all its glory.
I know who I am and make choices based on what I know to be right for me.
I affirm my right to the life I choose.
I confirm my right to belong and be a part of something greater than myself.
I know I am truly good.
I live from the depths of my soul longing to express itself in the world.
I stand for justice, truth, and love.
I am supported in life through all my choices to do good and share the light of love.
My body supports me in living a happy and creative life.
I am open to the spirit of life, which carries me beyond my original limits to a higher, more creative space.
I am thankful for all the opportunities for growth and development that have come my way.
I am grateful for the challenges that have taught me who I truly am.
I love life.

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If you enjoy working with crystals, gems such as Ruby, Hematite, and Bloodstone can all do wonders for the Root Chakra. Hold them in the appropriate place and visualize the healing energy of the stone sucking up all the negativity and replacing it with positive energy. Just be sure to wash your stone in running water afterwards!

February 20th, 2012

Today, I checked out (among other things) a book called Rupert's Tales from the library. It is a precious story about Rupert the rabbit who

"...sets out to discover how and why people leave their homes to celebrate seasonal holidays in the forest where he lives."

The book is by a woman who goes by Kyrja, and essentially explains the meaning behind Beltane, Litha, Lammas, and Mabon through the eyes of a rabbit. It is aimed at younger readers, but even I, as a high-schooler, was enchanted simply by the novelty of finding a Pagan picture book. I haven't finished it yet (it's quite long for a picture book!), but the Beltane story was simply adorable, and... I don't know... is magick in its own right. Somehow you can't not feel warm and fuzzy reading it, even if you are familiar with the meaning behind the Sabbats. I'd highly recommend it to anyone and everyone, but particularly if you have Pagan children!

February 19th, 2012

I learned something quite interesting today. Apparently, Mars went into retrograde on January 24th, and will continue passing through this phase until June 19th. For those of you not particularly familiar with astrology, "retrograde" is when a planet appears to be moving backwards through the zodiac. When this happens, that planet exerts a particularly strong force on earth, and tends to create intense situations in areas that the planet rules. Mars dictates male relationships, physical challenges, and risk-taking inclinations, so during a period of retrograde, these may become more pronounced in one way or another, for good or for bad.

Currently, Mars is moving through Virgo, and will therefore increase introspective thought. Since we are also currently in the Tree Month of Ash, this is the ideal time to work on deciphering hidden motivations and inner truths. People with a mutable sign, including (obviously) Virgo, as well as Sagittarius, Pisces and Gemini, will be most affected by this period. This retrograde will also cause worries over weight, nutrition and healthcare. Therefore, people with jobs relating to the former may experience a period of instability.

February 18th, 2012

Today begins the Celtic Tree Month of Ash, or Nion. The tree belongs to the Fraxinus genus, which includes 45 - 65 species, and is actually classified in the same family as Olive trees and Lilacs. While most species are deciduous, some subtropical species are evergreen. Ash trees produce samara fruit, the ever-popular "helicopter seeds".
One of the three trees sacred to the Celts, Ash is present in mythology throughout Europe. According to Norse Legend, the world-tree, or Yggdrasil, was Ash, as was Odin's spear. Further, the first man was born of an Ash tree. Elsewhere in Europe, Ash leaves (or circles drawn with Ash boughs) was said to repel snakes. Conversely, Irish folklore holds that the shadow of the tree is damaging to crops. The Greeks also included the Ash in their mythos, as the Meliae were nymphs of the Ash tree. Interestingly, there is a parallel between Greek legend and the Norse. It was said that the Meliae, who, as you recall, were spirits of the Ash tree, later created mankind, similar to Norse legend, where man was created from the Ash.
Magickally speaking, Ash has many uses. The tree is actually sacred to the God Lugh, celebrated at Lammas (Lughnasadh), and because of its divine connection, it has long been believed that a tool, magickal or mundane, will be more productive when made of Ash than a tool made with any other wood. Therefore, Ash can be used in ritual to increase magickal potency. However, be careful when collecting Ash wood, as those who disrespect the trees frequently find themselves in with a bout of supernatural consequences. The tree is further associated with spiritual journeys and prophetic dreams, as well as divination, making Nion a particularly good time to do magick for personal introspection. European folklore dictates that an ash leaf will remove skin disorders, such as boils and warts, and other folk magick calls for carrying an Ash leaf in the pocket to ensure good fortune.
Unfortunately, I cannot seem to find conclusive information over the internet whether or not the Ash is poisonous. If someone has any information about this, please contact me. In the meantime, I recommend not inhaling the smoke of the tree, nor do I recommend ingesting it in any way.

February 17th, 2012

Ahh, Valentine's week. All pink, flowery things, with an excess of chocolate and cliché cards. It's something of a family tradition to give gifts on the 14th, and my mom, along with a pink scarf, gave me a wee pot in which to plant Forget-Me-Nots. I divided the pot into quadrants and painted each quad specific to an element, and added the Japanese character for each.

土, the symbol for earth, and 風, the symbol for air (wind).

水,water's character, and 火, fire's character.

And I'm sure anyone who is familiar with my blog knows what comes next: an overview of the magick behind the Forget-Me-Not. Know your plants, ladies and gentlemen. Be aware of what influences you have growing in your home. Perhaps your favorite flower has healing properties, or has a mythology tied to it related to your particular patron and/or tradition. Like many plants, the Forget-Me-Not, of the Boraginaceae family, has the root of its name in legend.According to German myth, two young lovers were walking along the side of a powerful river, when the young man saw some beautiful blue flowers growing on a small island out in the water. He swam to the islet, in spite of the danger of the rapids, and picked a bouquet of the flowers for his lady. He had nearly returned to shore when his muscles cramped, and he could no longer swim. He threw the flowers to his lover and cried "forget me not", before the water dragged him under. She, indeed, did not forget him, and wore the flowers in her hair until she died.
In magick, the Forget-Me-Not can be used to for memory and love, both reminiscent of the legend from which it got its name. It also has strong ties with the respiratory system, and can be used in magick aiding the lungs.

February 12th, 2012

I've been thinking a lot recently about balancing the elements within my room. A few rough weeks have left me trying to find that magick spark to get my life back on track. Today, I want to share one of the ways that I maintain balance within my room: candles of the appropriate color are placed for each direction of my room.

The only yellow votive candle in the house is on my altar for a quarter candle, so I have a baby blue votive on the east side of my room. This one, representing element Air, is from a baby shower years ago, so it's done up all pretty:


On the south side of my room, I have a jewelry chest, and on it sits this little pink votive, for Fire:


I've got two bookshelves on the west side of my room, so my blue Water votive sits in front of the books:


Right in front of me, I have a green votive for Earth. Since Earth is the one that's most off-balance for me, I have an owl ring and shell next to it for added support. Of course, one might argue that both tend to belong to different elements, and generally I would agree. However, the ring is a gray metal, and seems to associate itself with Earth, at least to me. Further, the shell is pure white, and feels like bone. The three just seem to go together.


And finally, I have a dream catcher and set of wind chimes hanging from my fan in the center of the room for Spirit. I apologize for the bad picture; I couldn't find an angle and lighting combination that looks good.


Do you do anything within your room, home, garden, or even altar to balance the elements? Please share; I'm always looking for ideas!

Gaia Mask

Yesterday was my beloved Aunt C's birthday. As a gift from all of us, mom ordered her this mask off etsy. I'd never gotten to see a picture of it though, until yesterday when Aunt C posted this one. I was immediately struck by what an apt gift this was for her (and reminded mom that my birthday is next month). It practically screams Gaia, and the pendant it came with is gloriously Pagan too. Just thought I'd share with everyone. What gorgeous work!

February 11th, 2012

Today is a beautiful day. We had some snow yesterday afternoon, and now the sun is shining off it and making everything seem brighter than usual. I redecorated for Ostara, and found some great cloth place-mats we never use. They have two bunnies on each and a few irises. I've dusted them off, and now they're making lovely replacements for my pink altar cloth, which was really just a scrap of torn fabric. I've also cleaned up a bit, as things were getting out of place, and was throwing off the energy of my room. It's attuned very specifically to me, and I can always tell when something is wrong. Even now, things don't seem quite right, and I suspect it is due to my reading corner. I've had my Amaryllis and Nick's Paperwhites there, and for some reason, they started acting up the other day. I suspect too much water is the cause, and I've tried to rehabilitate them properly, but so far there hasn't been any improvement. The Amaryllis in particular is doing poorly; some of the leaves have started to yellow and turn droopy. I moved her out into the kitchen where the light is better, and I'm trying to regulate her water more carefully, so hopefully she'll feel better. I don't have too much (successful) experience growing plants, so if anyone has any idea what to do for a sick Amaryllis, please let me know! Even having made these changes, I think the area has gotten over-cluttered, so I'm going to do some work today getting things straightened out physically. Astrally speaking, I really need to redo an energy-cleansing spell I came up with a while ago, and clean the atmosphere through the whole room. I've had kind of a rough two weeks, and some of that negative energy has seeped into my surroundings. Anyway, here's my Ostara altar (video to come later):

Rapids

A picture taken by my family in 2010, in the Boundary Waters, MN.

February 10th, 2012

I know the trembling of the leaves when the winds sweep through them.
I know what the white clover felt as it held a drop of dew pressed close in its beauteousness.
I know the quivering of the fragrant petals at the touch of the pollen-legged bees.
I know what the stream said to the dipping willows, and what the moon said to the sweet lavender. I know what the stars said when they came stealthily down and crept fondly into the tops of the trees.

~Muriel Strode, "Creation Songs"

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So, having finished my history project last week even though it isn't due until the 22nd, I spent today's research time reading a website of quotes about nature. The above was one I enjoyed, as in a few phrases, it seems to capture much of what about nature is usually uncaptureable: the feeling of "one-ness" that goes beyond the typical metaphor into actual being. In my mind, there is nothing more profound than reclining in a canoe in the middle of a still lake at noon, or crouching on a rock at dawn, with pink-gold light spilling over the tree line. My grandpa Rick, a forester, has a quote painted across a wall in his bathroom: "Trees are poems that earth writes upon the sky". Just think about it.

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Nature hates calculators.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Green Tea Ceremony

Since I was just writing about tea, I thought I would throw in an intriguing connection to the Japanese culture, which has a very specific ritual for making, pouring, and drinking tea. This is called the Way of the Tea, or "chadou" (literally "tea-ism"), and involves a particular preparation of powdered green tea. The specifics of the ritual change depending on the time of year. The colder months, November to April, have different utensils, mannerisms, etc. from the warmer months, May to October. Also, there are two kinds of tea that can be made: thick and thin. Thick tea requires about three times more powder than thin tea, and therefore is kneaded into the water with the tea whisk (see picture), as opposed to the thin tea method, where the powder is simply whisked in quickly. Thin tea is served individually in a small bowl, while thick tea is served to several people in a slightly larger one. Interesting stuff, no? I was curious if the ceremony had any connection to Shintoism, but I'm not seeing anything right off the bat. If anyone has any further information, please, let me know!

February 8th, 2012

2000 BCE - Here, eat this root.
1000 BCE - That root is heathen; here, say this prayer.
1850 CE - That prayer is superstitious; here, drink this potion.
1940 CE - That potion is snake oil; here, swallow this pill.
1985 CE - That pill is ineffective; here, take this antibiotic.
2000 CE - That antibiotic does not work anymore; HERE, EAT THIS ROOT.

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One of the places Hazelnut and I visited last weekend was a winter market. A lovely woman was there who, among chakra blankets and natural crystal candle-holders, was giving free samples of hibiscus tea. The tea also came with an informative packet talking about different types of tea and their properties. Therefore, on behalf of www.alternativesmarthealth.com, today I'd like to share some unorthodox uses for tea.

• To clean carpets. Sprinkle dry, used green tea leaves on a musty carpet and let sit for ten minutes. Then vacuum up the leaves.
• To shine wooden floors. After cleaning the floor as per the norm, rub a bit of black tea brew into the wood and let air dry. Be careful, however, not to use too much water, as this can be damaging to the wood.
• To polish furniture. Dip a soft clothe in a strong-brewed tea and wipe down scratched tables, chairs, etc. The tannins in the tea will re-color light or scratched areas.
• To clean mirrors and windows. To remove greasy and/or stubborn fingerprints from glass, rub a damp teabag over the area or fill a spray bottle with tea and spritz.
  
• To clean toilet bowls. Leave tea leaves in the bowl for a few hours, flush, and scrub the bowl with a brush.
• To soothe a sunburn. Sponge sunburned areas or areas with other mild burns with cooled chamomile tea. Do not use this if the skin is broken.
• To soothe tired eyes. Warm, wet teabags can reduce puffiness and pain in tired eyes. Just place one over each eye, sit back, and relax.
• To soothe bleeding gums. After getting a tooth pulled (or if an older child looses a tooth), try biting down on a cold, wet teabag, as the tannic acid in the tea helps the blood to clot.
• To shine dry hair. Rinse hair with unsweetened tea and leave to dry for a while. Then, rinse again with water.
• To soothe acne. Wash face with green tea, because of it's mild antiseptic properties, or with calendula flower tea, as a natural alternative to benzoyl peroxide.
• To tenderize meat. Marinade tough meat in black tea to increase tenderness.
• As a compost additive. Pouring strong tea in a compost bin increases the decomposition process, and encourages the growth of friendly bacteria.
• To help houseplants. On occasion, use brewed tea instead of water for plants that prefer acidic soil, such as ferns. A few used teabags in the bottom of a planter adds nutrients to the soil, as does spreading tea leaves in with the mulch.
• To dye fabrics. Green and black tea can both be used to dye fabric, as well as paper, to create a beige, antiqued look.

For the record, I have used none of these, and cannot vouch for their effectiveness. Just thought I'd share. Additionally, these might be that much more effective if you empowered the tea for your intent before using it..... ;)

Imbolc

February 4th, 2012

A blessed (and belated) Imbolc to everyone! I stayed over at Hazelnut's house last night, and after dancing in circles around her room for about two hours, we did a lovely Imbolc ritual together. We lit seven candles (six white and one red) and read an invocation of the element fire over each to usher in the warmth and life of spring. Then we meditated for a while and enjoyed some delicious spice cake her mom made. Recipe, please? ;)
Today we walked to a half-dozen thrift and antique stores to browse, and found some really neat stuff. One shop had a mini cast iron pot on three legs that Hazelnut thought would have made a perfect cauldron, but it was $18, and a bit more than she wanted to spend on one item. We also found a pair of adorable rabbit candlesticks (Ostara, anyone?), a statue of a stag, and a few dream catchers; I was quite shocked by the number of witchy items that turned up. However, in the end, we got and split a pair of small bottles made of recycled glass, and a pair of tea-light holders. Mine is a sun, and hers is a moon.