Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Porch Pumpkin Party
I will give you one guess as to WHO (whom?) is responsible for this travesty....this stealthy and messy attack on my front porch. This area is unprotected by dogs, unfortunately. Now perhaps this means the birdfeeders will be left unassailed...though I have my doubts.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Seeking Inspiration
A bit of a dreary day today. Not really cold, but cloudy, and the house is dark. It is tough to find inspiration to do anything creative on a day like this. (sigh).
So take a look at some photos I just took, to shake me out of my doldrums. Recently I went to Feydragon (website on my sidebar) and besides delightful conversation with Mary there, I found these wonderful Yule cards. A pack of 8 cards, 2 designs each, with wonderful envelopes. From original paintings by Anne Stokes, these cards are perfect for my pagan friends. Here is a link to the company that produced the cards, but I am sure you will be able to find these cards at a lot of retailers. Website:www.eastgateresource.co.uk
My favorite is the Spirit of Yule, the GreenMan himself.
I have also been shopping around for little jars to store my herbals in.....really trying to get myself organized. I found these little jars, some at Hobby Lobby http://www.hobbylobby.com/
The squat little Ball jars, I found at my grocery store.
I am thinking of taking photos of my so-called Craft Corner....I have been (very slowly) de-cluttering and reorganizing, because I really and truly want to get going on some craft projects I have in mind. Perhaps if I post the in-progress attempt, I will feel obligated and accountable to show results!!! That corner is the end zone for anything in the house we dont know what to do with! So I shall use positive words and visualize a stunning and clearly designated area for creative endeavors. So mote it be!!!
So take a look at some photos I just took, to shake me out of my doldrums. Recently I went to Feydragon (website on my sidebar) and besides delightful conversation with Mary there, I found these wonderful Yule cards. A pack of 8 cards, 2 designs each, with wonderful envelopes. From original paintings by Anne Stokes, these cards are perfect for my pagan friends. Here is a link to the company that produced the cards, but I am sure you will be able to find these cards at a lot of retailers. Website:www.eastgateresource.co.uk
 |
| Snow Dragon and Yule Angel |
 |
| Snowflake Fairy and Spirit of Yule |
 |
| The envelopes, front and back |
My favorite is the Spirit of Yule, the GreenMan himself.
I have also been shopping around for little jars to store my herbals in.....really trying to get myself organized. I found these little jars, some at Hobby Lobby http://www.hobbylobby.com/
The squat little Ball jars, I found at my grocery store.
I am thinking of taking photos of my so-called Craft Corner....I have been (very slowly) de-cluttering and reorganizing, because I really and truly want to get going on some craft projects I have in mind. Perhaps if I post the in-progress attempt, I will feel obligated and accountable to show results!!! That corner is the end zone for anything in the house we dont know what to do with! So I shall use positive words and visualize a stunning and clearly designated area for creative endeavors. So mote it be!!!
Monday, November 8, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
The yearly setback
Time is an equal opportunity employer. Each human being has exactly the same number of hours and minutes every day. Rich people can't buy more hours. Scientists can't invent new minutes. And you can't save time to spend it on another day. Even so, time is amazingly fair and forgiving. No matter how much time you've wasted in the past, you still have an entire tomorrow. ~Denis Waitely
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Besom Buddies
One of the Witch's magickal tools is a besom, or broom. It actually is more than a tool, it is a hard-working cleaner and protector, a sacred helper for ritual. Before circle casting, ritual or spell casting, the besom is used to sweep negative energies away. In case you were wondering, witches do not use their brooms for transportation. (I do enjoy the sight, though, in that scene from the movie "Hocus Pocus" where the three sister witches jump on their broom, mop, and vacuum cleaner!!)
Here are some old beliefs, stories and facts about the besom:
When you move to a new house, leave the old broom behind...you will not have good luck if you bring the old broom with you.
Make a wish when you use a new broom for the first time...the wish will come true.
If you drop a broom, make a wish before picking it up.
Jump over a broom nine times to be married within a year.
Swing a broom over your head outside to bring rain.
Your broom will act as a lightning rod if you place it on the porch during a thunderstorm.
To keep the evil eye away at night while you sleep, place a small broom under your pillow.
To protect your house, place a broom on the ground in front of the door, or hang two crossed brooms on a wall.
Another way to guard your home: take two needles, make an equal-armed cross with them, and place this cross in a broom....place the broom behind a door.
Stepping over a broomstick will prevent ghosts from haunting you.
Hang a broom on your bedroom door to prevent nightmares.
Use a new broom to sweep something into the house, before using it to sweep dirt out. If you do not, your luck will go out the door.
Do not sweep floors at night...this will prevent good fortune.
Sweep towards the fireplace. If you do not have a fireplace, sweep in any direction except towards the front door, which will remove your luck.
When you stand your broom in a corner, put it bristles up, handle on the floor. This will keep the luck from running out of the broom.
These adages and more can be found in Scott Cunningham's The Magical Household, published by Llewellyn.
Click on the link below to see how you can help pagan students at Syracuse University.
http://jesusandthegreenman.wordpress.com/
Here are some old beliefs, stories and facts about the besom:
When you move to a new house, leave the old broom behind...you will not have good luck if you bring the old broom with you.
Make a wish when you use a new broom for the first time...the wish will come true.
If you drop a broom, make a wish before picking it up.
Jump over a broom nine times to be married within a year.
Swing a broom over your head outside to bring rain.
Your broom will act as a lightning rod if you place it on the porch during a thunderstorm.
To keep the evil eye away at night while you sleep, place a small broom under your pillow.
To protect your house, place a broom on the ground in front of the door, or hang two crossed brooms on a wall.
Another way to guard your home: take two needles, make an equal-armed cross with them, and place this cross in a broom....place the broom behind a door.
Stepping over a broomstick will prevent ghosts from haunting you.
Hang a broom on your bedroom door to prevent nightmares.
Use a new broom to sweep something into the house, before using it to sweep dirt out. If you do not, your luck will go out the door.
Do not sweep floors at night...this will prevent good fortune.
Sweep towards the fireplace. If you do not have a fireplace, sweep in any direction except towards the front door, which will remove your luck.
When you stand your broom in a corner, put it bristles up, handle on the floor. This will keep the luck from running out of the broom.
These adages and more can be found in Scott Cunningham's The Magical Household, published by Llewellyn.
Click on the link below to see how you can help pagan students at Syracuse University.
http://jesusandthegreenman.wordpress.com/
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
A Special Request for Help
I would like to direct your attention to this blog: http://jesusandthegreenman.wordpress.com/
This blog, Jesus and the Greenman, is written by Mary Hudson, the first pagan chaplain ever at Syracuse University. Imagine that, a pagan chaplain! This is a tremendous step in the right direction for pagans everywhere!!! We are all very proud of Mary and the awareness she is raising on behalf of all pagans...that pagans are not satanic worshipping, whacked out weirdos bent on destroying life as we know it! She exemplifies paganism...she is a mom, an entrepreneur, a grandmother, a woman with a great sense of humor, and filled with the passion and compassion that one can find in just about every pagan you might meet.
The request is this: In March, 2011, an interfaith group from Syracuse University, is traveling to England. A planned stop is at Stonehenge, on Ostara, the vernal equinox. Four pagan students will be on this trip, and the plan is for them to celebrate the equinox at Stonehenge. What a wonder!!! what a great event for those students. Can you imagine, as a pagan, to be able to be at Stonehenge, at that particular time. And that you are there on a University trip. Mary Hudson has been asked to accompany the group, as chaperone.
In her blog, Mary asks for help for these students, in a financial way. It will cost $3800.00 for each student. These students are willing to do anything to earn the money, and I am sure they will be involved in countless hours of fundraising. In the meantime though, they need a total of $2000.00 by November 12th 2010, as deposit, to secure the trip. Please go to Mary Hudson's blog, URL right up there at the top of this post, and read more about the trip, and Syracuse University's involvement. Also there, is information about donations. If you are so moved, are able, want to help, want to be part of this fantastic event for pagans, please donate. Just click on the URL at the top of this post, or on my sidebar of the blogs I follow. Thank you for your interest, and support.
This blog, Jesus and the Greenman, is written by Mary Hudson, the first pagan chaplain ever at Syracuse University. Imagine that, a pagan chaplain! This is a tremendous step in the right direction for pagans everywhere!!! We are all very proud of Mary and the awareness she is raising on behalf of all pagans...that pagans are not satanic worshipping, whacked out weirdos bent on destroying life as we know it! She exemplifies paganism...she is a mom, an entrepreneur, a grandmother, a woman with a great sense of humor, and filled with the passion and compassion that one can find in just about every pagan you might meet.
The request is this: In March, 2011, an interfaith group from Syracuse University, is traveling to England. A planned stop is at Stonehenge, on Ostara, the vernal equinox. Four pagan students will be on this trip, and the plan is for them to celebrate the equinox at Stonehenge. What a wonder!!! what a great event for those students. Can you imagine, as a pagan, to be able to be at Stonehenge, at that particular time. And that you are there on a University trip. Mary Hudson has been asked to accompany the group, as chaperone.
In her blog, Mary asks for help for these students, in a financial way. It will cost $3800.00 for each student. These students are willing to do anything to earn the money, and I am sure they will be involved in countless hours of fundraising. In the meantime though, they need a total of $2000.00 by November 12th 2010, as deposit, to secure the trip. Please go to Mary Hudson's blog, URL right up there at the top of this post, and read more about the trip, and Syracuse University's involvement. Also there, is information about donations. If you are so moved, are able, want to help, want to be part of this fantastic event for pagans, please donate. Just click on the URL at the top of this post, or on my sidebar of the blogs I follow. Thank you for your interest, and support.
 |
| Today is Election day...I voted, did you? |
Monday, November 1, 2010
Now it is November
A cold Samhain last night.
 |
| Too much candy left over |
We had a flurry of trick or treaters, and then trickled down to zero. It was 33 degrees by 7:00 pm. Too cold for a lot of the little ghosties and ghoulies.
And then this morning:
 |
| It started snowing. |
Just a light tiny flurry of snow, but I had hoped not to see it yet. Really not quite ready to go dashing through the snow!!
And so we say "Welcome to November" and the dark time between time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)