Enchanted Forest

February 2013 magazine

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Prayer of Wolf
Posted by Blazing Eagletree
Great spirit watch over me Through the darkness of the night As I go to quell my hunger Guide me with the moon's light I know that I am hated By Man deep within his mind But this world is one of the predator That is how it was designed I ask only to be left in peace So that I may live from day to day And for room to raise my family So they may run and feed and play And when I answer that final lonesome howl As my ancestors who have gone on before I hope that I will meet them At heavens very door I pray that will be the place Where man can live at our side Where the valleys are deep, mountains are high and the spaces are forever wide That then he may finally see That I am his brother and not his foe for only through losing hatred May our spirits ever grow
Jack Spirko 11-5-95

The sacred union of marriage.. Should we?

Posted by Willow Raine
Deciding Whether To Marry Though we may make many commitments throughout our time on earth, few have a lifelong impact on the path our lives will take. The decision to marry someone you love-to bond yourself to them completely-is unlike any other and can reshape your existence. When two people have similar goals, values, and needs, marriage can result in a lifetime partnership of love and respect, shared laughter and tears, friendship, and intimacy that is ultimately fulfilling. Love is often cited as the sole prerequisite of a strong and stable married life. However, the decision to get married should be made with the mind and the soul as well as with the heart. Carefully considering whether you truly want to get married, both individually and as a couple, can ensure that if you do choose to marry, your relationship can grow to unimaginable depths. The decision-making process you employ to determine whether you should marry should be a thoughtful and honest one in which you appraise not only your partner but also yourself. Consider that love and attraction do not guarantee long-term compatibility. If your relationship is not secure, marriage will not make it so. Likewise, if your partner is not as attentive, loving, or kind as you would like, your becoming spouses will not change that. Marriage has no power to permanently fill any emotional or spiritual gaps in your life. Before you choose to marry, ask yourself whether you and your partner are adept at resolving conflict, can speak openly to one another, and fully respect one another. Your attitudes regarding the nature of marital commitment, children and child rearing, and marital roles may be the same or they may differ. It is your shared responsibility to discuss your similarities and come to agreements regarding your differences that will predict how successful your future marriage will be. Often times, younger couples rush into marriage just for the wedding dress, the ring, the party, and honeymoon. Would you still be willing to be married if you couldn't have these things? Remember that planning a wedding is simple when compared to the intricacies of nurturing a marriage. The honeymoon and nesting period will eventually wear off, and what you are left with is a partner for life. When you work together with your partner, reassure and support one another, and are honest about your feelings regarding marriage, you'll come to the right decision.

Not having what you want

Posted by Willow Raine
We all know what it feels like to want something we don't have. It may be a pair of expensive jeans, a romantic partner, or rent money; it may be a certain attitude, a car, or a savings account. This is part of life, and in the best-case scenario, we experience a constant flow of money, companions and experiences, in and out of our lives. However, many of us linger in a state of wanting and not having, a state of lack that never seems to subside. We consistently perceive ourselves as not having what we need or not having what we want. This is an energetically draining state to be in. It is also self-perpetuating because how we feel about ourselves determines what we are able to create for ourselves. How we feel profoundly influences how we perceive our reality. When we feel we are lacking, we look around and see what is not there. On the other hand, if we feel abundant, we can look at the very same situation and see a completely different picture, one full of blessings and advantages. The more we see the blessings, the more abundant we feel, and the more blessings we attract. Similarly, if we see lack, we tend to create and attract that energy. If you find yourself habitually residing in a feeling of lack, it may be due to a core belief formed in your childhood or even in a past life. It may be because you are out of touch with your inner divinity, which is the source of your abundance. In any case, know that your perception of lack is a misperception that can be corrected with awareness and effort. It can be as simple as taking 10 or 15 minutes each day to quiet your mind and imagine yourself in a state of unlimited abundance, handling the financial demands and others in your life with total ease, drawing from an endless supply of resources. Know that it is your birthright to be fully supported in the fulfillment of your needs and desires.

Well its cold season again

Posted by lillie watcher
Since it that time of the year again. figured I would do a blog on some of the things we do around my house to deal with the cold season. Number one washing hands so important to prevent the spread. second a staple of when any one is sick in my house is chicken noodle soup with garlic powder, onion powder and Italian spice. if it for me I usually add real garlic and onions and mushrooms but for the kids have to sneak it in. Also little small snack or meals throughout the day instead of three big ones. hot fluids , hot fluids, hot fluids, for the kids I will make honey tea just hot water and honey. for myself tea especial peppermint or chamomile or both. with lots of honey. essential oils in the bath for me and Nat also seem to really help such as lavender, peppermint and eucalyptus. I also recently found a eucalyptus room spray that I really like. lots of rest another thing I have been trying lately is cutting an onion and having set in the room to absorbs bacteria not too sure if its working but cant see it hurting know this part may be the neat freak in me. so bare with me on top of wiping everything down I can possible think that the kids may touch I wash all their jackets hats mitts , bedding this is done to try to min their exposure to the germ really starting to think it may be just the clean freak in me. well hopefully this gives ya some ideas oh I also put vinegar in with their bedding.

WHAT HOPE MEANS

Posted by SpiritWitch)O(

Hope is gentle cold breeze on a hot summer day Hope is to remain positive when going gets tough hope is seeking more when others think u had enough What hope means Hope is dreaming of tomorrow Hope is simmering under sorrow Hope is sparkles when tears in our eyes Hope is a beautiful thing and beautiful things never dies What hope means Hope is as light as a feather Hope keeps all of us together Hope is ubiquitous and free of cost Hope is the last thing ever lost.....

I Am Witch )O(
Posted by SpiritWitch)O(
I am a Witch With rhymes and reasons I am a changeling like the seasons. My Mother is the Moon My Father is the Sun. With Goddess Earth I am of One. I am a Witch, Pagan child Mother Nature's spirit Grows within me, Meandering like a spellbound stream. Enchanting my every waking dream. I breathe the air of liberation, I tend the fire of transformation. I drink the water of creation. Earth magic is my conjuration. I am a Witch of shadow and Light, Of Avalon mists and Ravens flight. I am a Witch, with pride say I, For a Witch's soul does never die..

NASA: New Planet Candidates Discovered, With Some Thought To Be 'Habitable'

Posted by Blazing Eagletree

An artist rendering shows a newly discovered planet about a year ago called Kepler 35 NASA's Kepler mission has identified 461 new planet candidates, the space agency announced today. Four of the planet candidates orbit in their sun's "habitable zone," meaning liquid water might exist on their surfaces, NASA said. The new findings are based on an analysis of data collected from May 2009 to March 2011. Kepler has now identified a total of 2,740 potential planets orbiting 2,036 stars. NASA estimates there are billions of Earth-size alien planets in the Milky Way galaxy alone -- perhaps 100 billion or more. Here's how NASA discovers a planet candidate: The Kepler space telescope identifies planet candidates by repeatedly measuring the change in brightness of more than 150,000 stars in search of planets that pass in front of, or "transit," their host star. At least three transits are required to verify a signal as a potential planet. The latest data show a 43-percent increase in potential Earth-size planets and a 21 percent jump in "Super Earth" planet candidates. "There is no better way to kick off the start of the Kepler extended mission than to discover more possible outposts on the frontier of potentially life-bearing worlds," Christopher Burke, a Kepler scientist leading the analysis, said of the discoveries. The Kepler space telescope has been detecting potential alien planets since March 2009. You can find more about the "Search For Another Earth" at PlanetQuest, a website maintained by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California.

Imbolc bread
Posted by Blazing Eagletree
For Imbolc:

Prep Time: 1 hour Cook Time: 30 minutes Total Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes Ingredients: 3 loaves frozen bread dough, thawed (this is in the frozen foods section at the grocery store) 1 egg Water Sesame seeds Preparation: Allow the bread loaves to defrost at room temperature. Before it begins to rise, cut each loaf in half with a large pizza cutter or a knife. Roll each half out until it's about 18" long, and about an inch thick. You'll end up with six of these long strips. Take three of the strips, and braid them together, trying not to stretch them out too much. When you've reached the end of the braid, tuck the ends underneath themselves. Repeat the process with the other three strips, making a second braid. Place the braids either on a baking stone, or on a pan that has been sprinkled with cornmeal. Beat the egg in a small bowl, and add 2 Tbsp. water. Lightly brush the egg and water mixture over the braids, and then sprinkle with sesame seeds. Let them rise in a warm place for about an hour, or until doubled in size. Bake at 375 for 30 minutes, or until a light golden brown color. Remove from baking sheet, and allow to cool for 15 minutes or more before serving. ** Note: if you want to really jazz this up, use different types of bread, such as white and wheat. The end result is visually very appealing, with the different colors braided together.

Why Wolves Are Forever Wild, but Dogs Can Be Tamed

Posted by Blazing Eagletree
Jan. 17, 2013 Dogs and wolves are genetically so similar, it's been difficult for biologists to understand why wolves remain fiercely wild, while dogs can gladly become "man's best friend." Now, doctoral research by evolutionary biologist Kathryn Lord at the University of Massachusetts Amherst suggests the different behaviors are related to the animals' earliest sensory experiences and the critical period of socialization. Until now, little was known about sensory development in wolf pups, and assumptions were usually extrapolated from what is known for dogs, Lord explains. This would be reasonable, except scientists already know there are significant differences in early development between wolf and dog pups, chief among them timing of the ability to walk, she adds. To address this knowledge gap, she studied responses of seven wolf pups and 43 dogs to both familiar and new smells, sounds and visual stimuli, tested them weekly, and found they did develop their senses at the same time. But her study also revealed new information about how the two subspecies of Canis lupusexperience their environment during a four-week developmental window called the critical period of socialization, and the new facts may significantly change understanding of wolf and dog development. When the socialization window is open, wolf and dog pups begin walking and exploring without fear and will retain familiarity throughout their lives with those things they contact. Domestic dogs can be introduced to humans, horses and even cats at this stage and be comfortable with them forever. But as the period progresses, fear increases and after the window closes, new sights, sounds and smells will elicit a fear response. Through observations, Lord confirmed that both wolf pups and dogs develop the sense of smell at age two weeks, hearing at four weeks and vision by age six weeks on average. However, these two subspecies enter the critical period of socialization at different ages. Dogs begin the period at four weeks, while wolves begin at two weeks. Therefore, how each subspecies experiences the world during that all-important month is extremely different, and likely leads to different developmental paths, she says. Lord reports for the first time that wolf pups are still blind and deaf when they begin to walk and explore their environment at age two weeks. "No one knew this about wolves, that when they begin exploring they're blind and deaf and rely primarily on smell at this stage, so this is very exciting," she notes.

She adds, "When wolf pups first start to hear, they are frightened of the new sounds initially, and when they first start to see they are also initially afraid of new visual stimuli. As each sense engages, wolf pups experience a new round of sensory shocks that dog puppies do not." Meanwhile, dog pups only begin to explore and walk after all three senses, smell, hearing and sight, are functioning. Overall, "It's quite startling how different dogs and wolves are from each other at that early age, given how close they are genetically. A litter of dog puppies at two weeks are just basically little puddles, unable to get up or walk around. But wolf pups are exploring actively, walking strongly with good coordination and starting to be able to climb up little steps and hills." These significant, development-related differences in dog and wolf pups' experiences put them on distinctly different trajectories in relation to the ability to form interspecies social attachments, notably with humans, Lord says. This new information has implications for managing wild and captive wolf populations, she says. Her experiments analyzed the behavior of three groups of young animals: 11 wolves from three litters and 43 dogs total. Of the dogs, 33 border collies and German shepherds were raised by their mothers and a control group of 10 German shepherd pups were hand-raised, meaning a human was introduced soon after birth. At the gene level, she adds, "the difference may not be in the gene itself, but in when the gene is turned on. The data help to explain why, if you want to socialize a dog with a human or a horse, all you need is 90 minutes to introduce them between the ages of four and eight weeks. After that, a dog will not be afraid of humans or whatever else you introduced. Of course, to build a real relationship takes more time. But with a wolf pup, achieving even close to the same fear reduction requires 24-hour contact starting before age three weeks, and even then you won't get the same attachment or lack of fear.

Mixed Forests More Productive

Posted by Blazing Eagletree
Forestry and nature conservation can benefit from promoting a diversity of tree species, new study finds. Modern forestry is largely based on monocultures -- in Sweden usually pine or spruce -- mainly because it is considered more rational. However a forest contributes more ecosystem services than timber production, such as biological diversity, carbon storage, and berries. A new study from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) and Future Forests shows that mixed forests, in comparison with monocultures, have positive effects on several different areas, including production. "Many people have suggested that high diversity of tree species has a favorable impact on processes in the ecosystem, but until now this connection has primarily been studied in terms of one process or ecosystem service at a time," says Lars Gamfeldt from University of Gothenburg, who directed the new study. The study, performed by an international research group, is based on material from the Swedish National Forest Inventory and the Swedish Forest Soil Inventory. By examining the role played by the occurrence of diverse tree species for six different ecosystem services (tree growth, carbon storage, berry production, food for wildlife, occurrence of dead wood, and biological diversity), the study demonstrates that all six services were positively related to the number of tree species. Different trees contribute to different services. For example, the amount of spruce is related to high tree growth and the amount of pine to berry production, while carbon storage was found in plots with more birch. In order to attain more of all services, forestry may thus need to make use of different tree species. Other studies of forests in Central Europe, the Mediterranean region, and Canada support these findings. The study also investigated the relationship between the various ecosystem services. For example, high tree growth appears to be negatively related to the production of both berries and food for wildlife and to the occurrence of dead wood. On the other hand, food for wildlife was positively associated with both berry production and biological diversity in ground vegetation. "It's not so simple that you can always get more of everything. Sometimes you have to consider trade-offs between different ecosystem services," says Jon Moen from Ume University. The new study, which is published in the scientific journalNature Communications, runs partly counter to conventional thinking in forestry in Sweden. According to 2011 data from the Swedish National Forest Inventory, only about 7.5 percent of the productive forest land has mixed forests. "Our findings show that both forestry and nature conservation stand to gain by promoting a greater variety of tree types, thereby providing more diverse ecosystem services," says Jan Bengtsson, from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.

When does the Age of Aquarius begin?

Posted by Blazing Eagletree
Age of Aquarius begins when vernal equinox point moves out of constellation Pisces and into Aquarius. Theres no definitive answer as to when that will be.

When does the Age of Aquarius begin? And what is the Age of Aquarius? The Age of Aquarius is not part of astronomy. Its an astrological age, which occurs because of a real motion of Earth known as the precession of the equinoxes, which, for example, causes the identity of the pole star to change over time. The cycle of precession lasts 25,800 years, and there are 12 constellations of the Zodiac. So, roughly every 2,150 years, the suns position at the time of the March, or vernal, equinox moves in front of a new Zodiac constellation. The Age of Aquarius begins when the March equinox point moves out of the constellation Pisces and into the constellation Aquarius. When will that be? Theres no definitive answer. Various interpretations give different answers to this often-asked question.

Leonardo da Vincis famous Vitruvian Man, a drawing created circa 1487, with the 7 chakras or energy centers indicated.

Age of Aquarius from astronomical perspective. First of all, we give the answer from an astronomical point of view. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) which in the 20th century assumed the duty of officially naming and defining all things astronomical created official constellation boundaries in 1930. From the perspective of astronomy, then, the beginning of the Age of Aquarius is based upon IAU constellation boundaries, which astrologers or New Age practitioners might or might not choose to use in their computations. According to the Belgian astronomer and mathematical wizard Jean Meeus (bio here), who does adhere to the IAUs definitions, the sun at the March equinox passed from being in front of the constellation Aries and to being in front of the constellation Pisces in 68 B.C. Looking ahead, again according to Jean Meeus, the March equinox will cross over into the constellation Aquarius in 2597. Once again, these are the astronomical dates, based on IAU constellation boundaries established in 1930. Other interpretations for the beginning of the Age of Aquarius. The constellations as defined by the IAU are different sizes. Astrologers often like to divide the Zodiac into twelve equal sections. For example, the constellation Pisces as defined by the IAU spans more than 30o along the ecliptic, or suns annual path in front of constellations of the Zodiac. Astrologers, though, might disregard the span of the constellation Pisces on the skys dome, and instead regard an astrological age as a precise 30o shift of the March equinox in front of the backdrop stars.

But even if you equalize the size of the signs of the Zodiac, you need to consider when the Age of Pisces started to be able to know when the Age of Aquarius begins. Apparently, theres no firm consensus among astrologers as to when the Age of Pisces began, either. And thus there is no consensus as to when the Age of Aquarius begins. In The Book of World Horoscopes, Nicholas Campion suggests that approximated dates for entering the Age of Aquarius range from 1447 AD to 3597 AD. Campion also reviewed published material on the subject, from astrological sources. He says that most writers claim the Age of Aquarius arrived in the 20th century (29 claims). The 24th century is in second place (12 claims). Campion, by the way, is director of the Sophia Centre and Course Director of the MA in Cultural Astronomy and Astrology at the University of Wales, Lampeter. See Campions credentials here. -Continued after Craft class ad-

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Some astrologers say the Age of Aquarius actually begins in 2012. Thats because they believe the star Regulus in the constellation Leo the Lion marked the ancient border between the constellations Leo and Cancer. This star moves to within 30o of the September equinox point in 2012, meaning that Regulus leaves the sign Leo to enter the sign Virgo this year. Presuming equal-sized constellations in antiguity, that places the border of the constellations Pisces and Aquarius at 150o west of Regulus, or at the March equinox point. By this reckoning, the Age of Aquarius starts in 2012. But again, although there is firm reckoning by many for the beginning of this astrological age, there is no agreement. Wikipedia lists what various writers have claimed. To reiterate, we at EarthSky look at the subject from an astronomical persepective. If any knowledgeable astrologers out there would like to show us other ways of determining the Age of Aquarius, please do! We welcome your comments. The equinox point moves westward in front of the backdrop stars. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons Definition of terms: March (or spring or vernal) equinox point. This is the point on the imaginary celestial sphere surrounding Earth at which the ecliptic or path of the sun across our sky intersects the celestial equator, or line around the sky directly above Earths equator. Its sometimes called the First Point in Aries, because the sun used to be located in front of the constellation Aries at the time of the vernal equinox. For the past two thousand years, though, the sun has been located in front of the constellation Pisces at the time of this equinox. Thats the significance of the so-called Piscean Age. At some point, the sun at the equinox will be in front of Aquarius. Thats when the Age of Aquarius begins. How did the Age of Aquarius enter popular culture? The Age of Aquarius in the U.S. is associated with the hippies of the 1960s and 70s, and now with the New Age movement. In both cases, the arrival of the Aquarian age has been associated with well, harmony and understanding, sympathy and trust abounding. And that brings us to the 1967 smash-hit musical Hair, with its opening song Aquarius, by a musical group called the 5th Dimension. The song opened with the lines: When the moon is in the Seventh House And Jupiter aligns with Mars Then peace will guide the planets And love will steer the stars This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius Its hard to describe how Hair, which seems daring even today, affected people when it opened on Broadway in 1968. It subsequently ran for 1,750 performances on Broadway and 1,997 performances in London, with simultaneous productions in cities across the United States and Europe, and with accompanying recordings (the original Broadway cast recording sold three million copies). Almost single-handedly in the late 1960s and early 1970s, this Broadway musical brought the Aquarian Age concept into the popular culture. The video below isnt the original, but youll get the idea. Bottom line: The Age of Aquarius is an astrological age, which shifts roughly every 2,150 years. Its defined by the suns position at the time of the March, or vernal, equinox. The Age of Aquarius begins when the March equinox point moves out of the constellation Pisces and into the constellation Aquarius. But theres no definitive answer as to when that will be. This post explores some of the possibilities.

The Ancient Akitu Festival of Mesopotamia

Posted by stormcat (saille)
Akitu is the earliest New Year's festival for which we have written records, as well as one of the oldest Mesopotamian festivals, dating back to the middle of the third millennium B.C.E. Although it was initially observed on a semiannual basis, due to a local system of six-month equinox years, it sometimes came to be celebrated with more emphasis on one of its two dates in some of the region's city states. Thus, in Babylonia, it started on the new moon closest to the spring equinox to honor the sky god Marduk; the Akitu nearest the fall equinox in Assyria honored the high god Ashur; and Akitus were held on both dates each year in Uruk to honor the sky god Anu. In each case, there would be a procession to a temple called "Akitu house" along a canal out in the fields, cultic dramas reenacting the creation of the cosmos by the god being honored, and the sacred marriage of a god and goddess to ensure the land's prosperity. Development Which gods were involved depended on the current political fortune of the particular Mesopotamian city state that had them as patrons, since each would reenact with an Akitu festival a god's original triumphal entry to take possession of it. Each city had a calendar of its own, with months named after local religious festivals. That of Nippur, which was the religious center of legitimate authority for the region and where all its local practices converged, eventually became the standard calendar. This calendar incorporated the dates that originated in Ur for the Akitu festivals. One of these Ur Akitus was celebrated in the first month (lasting about a week) and the other in the seventh month (lasting eleven days) when the equinoxes occurred. In the Nippur calendar, one Akitu was celebrated in the fourth month (for five different deities!) and the other in the twelfth month, but the names of both months sounded like those of the Ur months for the Akitus. These imported festivals were absorbed by preexisting agricultural festivals after which these months were named in Nippur, and they lost their connection to the moon, whose god, Nanna, was the one Ur worshipped (though the original Ur dates were still observed much later in the Akitu festivals of Babylon and even Hellenistic Uruk). In its Nippur version, Akitu provided a model for other cities in Sumer and then Mesopotamia (the culture that succeeded Sumer in a larger area between the Rivers Tigris and Euphrates, which is now at the heart of Iraq), since each city also wanted to show its god the respect due it in a triumphal welcome (the equivalent of a medieval prince's royal entry into one of his cities), in return for which the god would rule the city justly and grant it a happy fate. Thus, there was an Akitu for Urash in Dilbat and one for Belit in Sippar. In some cities, other deities beside the local patron, such as the more broadly regional goddess Ishtar, might also be welcomed into the city at times of the year that did not conflict with their chief god's Akitu. In the course of the second millennium B.C.E., Babylon became the political capital of Mesopotamia, and its god Marduk incorporated the attributes of the agro-pastoral god Tammuz he largely supplanted in the new state religion. In the process, the semi-annual Akitu festival held previously by the Akkadians (whose kingdom held sway in the region from the twenty-fourth to the twenty-second centuries B.C.E.) in honor of Tammuz (who emerged with the spring shoots and rose again with fall harvests after his death in summer droughts) became strictly a spring event. It even absorbed a fall New Year's festival called Zagmuk. It filled the gap between the end of the solar and lunar years with a dozen-day celebration tied to the spring equinox (just like the twelve days of Christmas that follow the winter solstice in European tradition).

Having started out as a sowing and harvest festival, it came to prominence in Babylon as the proper occasion for the crowning and investiture of a new king. On this occasion, the reigning monarch's divine mandate was renewed in connection with the sky god Marduk's victory over Tiamat, the goddess of salt water. As a spring festival, Akitu thus bound together the renewal of nature's fertility, the reestablishment of the king's divine authority (formerly a fall ceremony), and the securing of the people's favorable destiny over the coming year-especially the scorching summer heat-while putting an end to the sterility of the winter months when the world seemed old and worn out. Seasonal Ordeals of Gods and Kings In Babylon, the year's most important festival began with ritual preparations on the first three days of the month of Nisan. On the fourth day, a high priest, the sheshgallu, recited the creation epic Enuma elish (which was written down in the late twelfth century B.C.E.) in praise of Marduk (also known simply as Bel or Lord), who was the city's patron and head of its pantheon. Meanwhile, the king went to Borsippa to fetch an effigy of that city's patron, the sky god's son Nabu. He brought back the statue of this god of vegetation and of writing in a solemn ritual procession that arrived the next day by barge. In the interval, residents and pilgrims roamed the streets of Babylon looking for Marduk, whose captivity inside a mountain (like that of Tammuz, his predecessor as supreme god) explained the land's desolate 6 | akitu condition in the winter. The shrines of Marduk and Nabu were purified on the fifth day, when the king would enter the great Esagila temple to be greeted by a priest, who proceeded to lead him to Marduk's shrine. There, the priest stripped the monarch of his regalia, slapped his face, and pulled his ears. As part of this royal penitential rite, the king had to kneel before the god and assure him he had not neglected his duties toward his city Babylon and his temple Esagila. Only then could he be reinvested with the insignia of Marduk's kingship and partake again of his divine powers. It has been suggested (Cohen 1993, pp. 440-441) that this ceremony of the humbling of the king, which normally occured after his arrival from the Akitu house, was put on the fifth day because that was when time was available for it in the midst of the festivities associated with an Akitu of Nabu. The latter went on until the eighth day, followed by an abridged Akitu of Marduk which went on for another three and a half days (since the Akitus of Borsippa and Babylon seem to have been combined due to the growing regional importance of the cult of Nabu in the first millennium B.C.E.). After Nabu's own triumphal entry on the fifth day, mock battles were staged to reenact his struggle to avenge and free his father from his enemies. The enemies were represented by two small figurines, one made from tamarisk and the other from cedar. These were decapitated and burned on the sixth day. On the eighth day, Nabu could serve as a scribe to register the decrees of an assembly of all the gods, whose statues were arranged and carried following a strict hierarchy. The king would "take Marduk by the hand" (i.e., escort him) first to the temple's courtyard and then to his Throneof- Destiny on the Sacred Mound to proclaim the solar sky god's sovereignty over all the other gods for the beginning of the New Year on Zagmuk. Then, he would "take Marduk by the hand" again to lead a grand procession of the gods, who went in battle order to the Euphrates in carriage boats to fight the forces of chaos. There, real boats awaited the royal party to take it upriver to the Akitu house (Bit Akitu), or "House of Offerings," north of the city, for a "banquet of the gods," which celebrated Marduk's triumph and the resulting prosperity of his Babylonian kingdom.

Ritual Dramas of Divine Victory and Sacred Marriage As part of the ritual drama of this "banquet of the gods," the story of the Enuma elish (meaning "When on high . . .") was reenacted, either with the gods' statues or by humans, including the king who represented Marduk. It related the story of the sun god Marduk's victory over the titanic powers of chaos, which were unleashed by his great-grandmother Tiamat (turned sea dragon in her wrath) against her unruly divine progeny, and the resulting creation of the universe out of her carcass. With Marduk's enthronement as head of the gods, at which Babylon's gods annually renewed their consent to be governed by him, the dominance of the city's royalty was also reaffirmed as the earthly representation of the order of the universe created by its national god. However, there was a period during the second half of the thirteenth century B.C.E. when Assyria defeated Babylon and took over its Akitu along with the statue of Marduk, only to cast him in a less glorious role: that of one who abused his commission in the cosmic battle by trying to claim for himself the legitimate supreme leadership of Anshar, the true hero of the Enuma elish in this alternate reading, allowing him to be identified with Ashur. In this version, Marduk appears to have been made to go through an ordeal and admit to having wronged Assyria's national god, before being allowed to return to his captors' capital and rejoin the assembly of his divine peers. At the conclusion of their banquet in Babylon, the king, in the role of Marduk, would normally consummate his "sacred marriage" or hierogamy with a priestess of royal blood, representing the god's consort Zarpanit-"she of the city Zarpan." Since the days of Sumerian civilization, what made kings divine were the marital relations they had with the goddess of the land they ruled at the beginning of a new year. This assured that she would ease this delicate transition and bestow her protection beyond it, bringing some seasonal regularity to the unpredictable environmental conditions of the region. On the festival's eleventh day, the gods' statues were brought back by road to the Esagila from the Akitu house-whose main purpose was probably just to provide a city's primary god with a "home away from home." This journey gave him an excuse to reenter the city in the same glory as on the mythical day he first took possession of it. Judgment and Celebration Another assembly of the gods would take place in Babylon's Shrine of Destinies on the last day of Akitu. It represented the one held after Marduk's initial victory, when the gods decided to create humans as servants to work for them and to reward or punish them accordingly. For this was when the gods ratified what had been decreed about the kingdom's fate over the coming year at the previous assembly. It was followed by a final banquet of the gods. (Soon after Rosh Hashanah-the Jewish New Year festival of God's enthronement and "Judgment Day," which is probably derived from Akitu-a similar ten-day interval separates God's decree from its final ratification on Yom Kippur.) In addition to this ritual drama, many sacrificial offerings were made; they stemmed from agrarian rites that were used for Akitu when it was celebrated in the month of Nisan- whether as a spring festival or as the New Year-on which this public, political dimension had come to be overlaid.

This solemn state affair thus also had a lighter counterpart in popular feasting and street celebrations. They included joyful songs and dances that were fostered by the "sweet sounds" of lyres, harps, tambourines, and other instruments, as described in the allusions of ancient texts to such occasions where the festive spirit of the Babylonians (like that of the Sumerians before them) had always found an outlet in fun and games. Once Akitu was over and a new year had begun, gods and men returned from Babylon to their native cities and regular functions, reassured that they might get the kind of treatment they expected from each other to prosper in their respective spheres.

My little one is gifted afraid to lose the connection

Posted by haw
I been noticing lately there are a few parents who have young children who seem to be expressing gifts they have and at times this concerns the parents.. and one of the first things too be done is a shield ..but our kids have a natural shield allready with the Love the parents present and hold for them so dont try too worry so much about that..It is things like scary movies we grew up with thinking of the influence of our young ones with nightmares and they soon go away realizing it was just a movie..but with gifts many parents know whats out there and have seen or dealt with situations unlike movies..been there myself .. But you never undermine your natural shield for your child never lose confidence in that shield when you feel in fear of your child your not giving power to that shield but power too that there is a possibility of something happening..and that is actually feeding that possibility..so never let your guard down..allways KNOW that your child is protected by your love or any other trinket you gave power to protect your child..the worse thing a parent can do is think first thing when a child is experiencing various gifts that its something negative..your only opening a doorway for that..just KNOW its not possible . is the best thing you can do for your child..and as I have posted previously about gifted children do not try to force answers from them..at times they cannot..and unfortunatly for some the child via the higher source has blocked parents from knowing and this concerns them..We have to learn and except a child is gifted even if is our little darling..I am seeing parents fear as if their child is growing too fast ..But many of us knew that the children of today are more advanced then some of us who knew we were gifted since a young age and we grew too understand..we didnt come with manuals. but these kids are more protected and will have more intelect with their gifts then we did..they will be closer to the higher source then we were at first..We ran the test of life as we grew..a resolve or decision was made by our results and now our kids are the ones who will be the ones who make the changes we have exposed.. Again do not ever take first thought of an incident when child comes to you as being something negative..they will come to you with dreams and symbols and maybe utter words you maynot understand..and at the same time you will notice your child is not scared or in fear..maybe confused but all that will work out in time..I may get with Fox too do a break down on how to maintain dealing and teaching your young one at different levels so the parents can better work with their child and not fear them of having these gifts..you do and you trust in your higher source and are protected by that so dont deny your child of their gift.. There still are subliminals out there like scary movies that do not help gifts what so ever.. too me these days its a sensitive situation when your child has insight and gifts that they watch something like freddie kreugar it can mess up their inner site somewhat.. I havent watched TV in 4-5 years and my clarity is so much better into things ..instant responses and answers ..so I am little concerned about the subliminal input givin to the child in a normal enviroment of growing up..not quite sure how sheilded they are from that..

I have a feeling about most things in this all good..but the earthly things such as scary movies have to consider who makes them and what they are known for .Hollywood been known for subliminals since cartoons of the 30's Simple as mikky d commercial..make you hungry or nice new car to make you want it..there are messages in the movies that do promote violence and makes em ok too be a hero.. So all that has too be worked out in time.. primarily this discussion is too let parents know your not losing your little one ..you are their Mom and dad and allways will be that will never and can never be takin away from you or them..But do help them when you can if they come with some wierd off the wall mumbo jumbo or symbols..write it down or draw what they see or have them draw..but only when they mention it.. please never go back and try too give them the 3rd degree for what they saw..for a child they may feel they have done something wrong and will huddle into a shell and for some you will never be told anything else they receive..so is imperative to not shy away your child.. Take what you get told and write it down..it maybe messages translated to us too figure out when time is right ..and some things they may say probably wont sound of the english Norm" so dont try too force a word they say too be something else again parents can take a word out of context next thing you know its something evil and parents are smudging their kids ..NO. Most I know keep their surroundings cleansed if you trust in that then you have no worries.. and give these kids something too work with complicated things..their minds like too work.. they will bore easy at times..their minds are complex and some of us know how that feels ..speacially when suddenly we find ourselves with idle hands..Let your child be the child it is but they are somewhat different in different ways within their minds ..DNA and their inner protection is much stronger and defined.. So love your child and be a parent as usuall but dont freak thinking your losing your young one..you were chosen to have this child for a very speacial reason and purpose and that alone is a gift in itself..not just any parent deals with this..their heart and intent has to be in right place to even raise a gifted child as I have seen with few that have had concerns of losing their little one..wont happen never will..One simple suggestion I made to a parent was too put your hands on your childs chest and feel the love you have for them and think of a color you both like and when you place your hand on their chest thinking of that color ..you can make that their sheild anytime you think about them ..think of that color and it will reinforce that sheild you give them..from negative.. NOTE::: Yes Life has been around for centuries but the generation we grew upto be were the most gifted in long time..we were the change of all the history by what we seen and how we effected those we were around and the vibrations we set in motion..so is why the time now is so much different thus so our kids are more advanced..} Much peace Huggs Shadow

Chats with Susun Weed

~ Third Monday of every month ~ Please join us with Susun Weed every month as she discusses different Herbal topics. Very informative and helpful to all. Check the dates below and time sand hope you can come by and visit and check out some of Susuns classes
Feb 18 /Garlic March 18 /Skullcap April 15 /Coffee May 20 /Sugar(s) June 17 /Ground Ivy July 15 /Chicory August 19 /Berries Sept 16 /Quinoa Oct 21 /Yellow dock Nov 18 /Miso & Soy Dec 16 /Sauerkraut

scheduled time for all chat sessions: Eastern - 7 pm Central - 6 pm Moutain Time - 5 pm Western - 4 pm Australia (Melbourne) - 9 am UK - 12 am

-Youre my StarAs I look amongst these stars I wonder where you are .. So far and vast with Love that lasts. always bright and in my sight but not so close to touch. The beauty radiates night after night. As I know I can look out every night and there they are all the stars. Hoping one day the one that comes closer is the one I seek with you on it is what I see .when I sleep Dreams Far and Wide as the stars in the night sky shine too me your home your star from afar. Fore every night as I gaze I will never give up thru the starlight haze as one shoots by I hope it is but not your star long gone forever. But the one I sit and stare with wide eyes glare. And knowing one day you will be standing right here.

Much Love and Huggs From Shadow to Breeze

Imbolc Lore
Posted by Whispr
Imbolc, (pronounced "IM-bulk" or "EM-bowlk"), also called Oimealg, ("IM-mol'g), by the Druids, is the festival of the lactating sheep. It is derived from the Gaelic word "oimelc" which means "ewes milk". Herd animals have either given birth to the first offspring of the year or their wombs are swollen and the milk of life is flowing into their teats and udders. It is the time of Blessing of the seeds and consecration of agricultural tools. It marks the center point of the dark half of the year. It is the festival of the Maiden, for from this day to March 21st, it is her season to prepare for growth and renewal. Brighid's snake emerges from the womb of the Earth Mother to test the weather, (the origin of Ground Hog Day), and in many places the first Crocus flowers began to spring forth from the frozen earth. The Maiden is honored, as the Bride, on this Sabbat. Straw Brideo'gas (corn dollies) are created from oat or wheat straw and placed in baskets with white flower bedding. Young girls then carry the Brideo'gas door to door, and gifts are bestowed upon the image from each household. Afterwards at the traditional feast, the older women make special acorn wands for the dollies to hold, and in the morning the ashes in the hearth are examined to see if the magic wands left marks as a good omen. Brighid's Crosses are fashioned from wheat stalks and exchanged as symbols of protection and prosperity in the coming year. Home hearth fires are put out and re-lit, and a besom is place by the front door to symbolize sweeping out the old and welcoming the new. Candles are lit and placed in each room of the house to honor the re-birth of the Sun. Another traditional symbol of Imbolc is the plough. In some areas, this is the first day of ploughing in preparation of the first planting of crops. A decorated plough is dragged from door to door, with costumed children following asking for food, drinks, or money. Should they be refused, the household is paid back by having its front garden ploughed up. In other areas, the plough is decorated and then Whiskey, the "water of life" is poured over it. Pieces of cheese and bread are left by the plough and in the newly turned furrows as offerings to the nature spirits. It is considered taboo to cut or pick plants during this time.

Various other names for this Greater Sabbat are Imbolgc Brigantia (Caledonni), Imbolic (Celtic), Disting (Teutonic, Feb 14th), Lupercus (Strega), St. Bridget's Day (Christian), Candlemas, Candlelaria (Mexican), the Snowdrop Festival. The Festival of Lights, or the Feast of the Virgin. All Virgin and Maiden Goddesses are honored at this time. Deities of Imbolc: All Virgin/Maiden Goddesses, Brighid, Aradia, Athena, Inanna, Gaia, and Februa, and Gods of Love and Fertility, Aengus Og, Eros, and Februus.

Symbolism of Imbolc: Purity, Growth and Re-Newal, The Re-Union of the Goddess and the God, Fertility, and dispensing of the old and making way for the new. Symbols of Imbolc: Brideo'gas, Besoms, White Flowers, Candle Wheels, Brighid's Crosses, Priapic Wands (acorntipped), and Ploughs. Herbs of Imbolc: Angelica, Basil, Bay Laurel, Blackberry, Celandine, Coltsfoot, Heather, Iris, Myrrh, Tansy, Violets, and all white or yellow flowers. Foods of Imbolc: Pumpkin seeds, Sunflower seeds, Poppyseed Cakes, muffins, scones, and breads, all dairy products, Peppers, Onions, Garlic, Raisins, Spiced Wines and Herbal Teas. Incense of Imbolc: Basil, Bay, Wisteria, Cinnamon, Violet, Vanilla, Myrrh. Colors of Imbolc: White, Pink, Red, Yellow, lt. Green, Brown. Stones of Imbolc: Amethyst, Bloodstone, Garnet, Ruby, Onyx, Turquoise. Activities of Imbolc: Candle Lighting, Stone Gatherings, Snow Hiking and Searching for Signs of Spring, Making of Brideo'gas and Bride's Beds, Making Priapic Wands, Decorating Ploughs, Feasting, and Bon Fires maybe lit.

9 Steps To Becoming a Witch

Posted by Whispr
By Kim K Brown

STEP ONE - discovering your path Read and study. Read everything you can get your hands on. You need to read anything that will tell you more about the beliefs of witchcraft, magazines, books and web pages. While studying there are other forms of the craft that help. (nature) For example you could go hiking or go camping. Sunbathe, moonbathe, watch animals etc. STEP TWO - defining your path In a notebook, folder or journal start writing down some reasons why the craft is for you. What does being a witch mean to you? What do you hope to achieve? How do you visualize the God and Goddess? What does the Divine mean to you? Be honest. This notebook will become your book of shadows. STEP THREE - Exploring magic - Magic is simply raising and channeling energy that is found in yourself, nature and the divine. Before you begin working with magic you need to understand what it is. You also need to know the basic structure of a ritual, casting circles, calling quarters, invoking the God/dess, raising and directing energy, grounding and centering and closing the circle. Know the moon phases. Learn to feel how the moon effects your body. Keep records of all you have learned in your book of shadows. STEP FOUR - learning to focus - Now you should start working on meditation and visualization exercises to increase your concentration. Learn to be calm. You can start out by meditating at least 3 times a week for about five minutes. You should do this for at least a month. Remember to keep a record in your book of shadows. STEP FIVE - working with magic - Now you can begin some basic spell work. Start with a full moon ritual or a new moon ritual. STEP SIX - self dedication - After you have been studying for at least five or six months on meditating and working with magic it is time to perform a self dedication ritual. Design it however you want. A self dedication ritual means you are dedicating yourself to the craft. STEP SEVEN - the year between dedication and initiation You can initiate yourself when you feel you are ready. The year you spend between your self dedication and your initiation you should spend celebrating the Sabbats, meditation, practicing your spellwork and studying. Use this time to learn about different forms of divination, such as Tarot or Runes, and different forms of healing, such as herbalism. Make sure you are recording in your book of shadows. STEP EIGHT - Networking - You should spend a solitary year study after self dedication before a witch considers joining a coven or a circle. This gives you a full year to celebrate the cycle of Sabbats. STEP NINE - Initiation An initiation should be something that's meaningful to you. The ritual should be written only by you. A coven initiation is a means of bonding a group together. Initiation into the craft should always be a solitary ritual.

You still have to learn and practice. If you truly want to be a witch be prepared to spend the rest of your life studying and learning about this religion.

PLEASE JOIN US..WILL BE A CHAT PLACED IN THIS GROUP BEFORE EACH CLASS!!! THANK YOU AND ENJOY USA CENTRAL - 7pm EASTERN - 8pm WESTERN - 5pm AUSTRALIA(MELBOURNE) Noon Friday UK - 1am With Blazing Eagletree

7 Powerful Steps Towards Wisdom

Posted by Rev. Carol A. Ingle (Raven)
"I changed my mind." These are four of the most powerful words in the English language. They can prevent you from being manipulated into an undesirable outcome, and launch you forward on the road to personal and spiritual growth. Depriving yourself of the freedom to change your mind will lock you into a rigid mindset that can hamper your successes and your development. Early in life, you may have been led to believe that it's not good to change your mind. There are numerous words with negative connotations associated with those who do change their minds: fickle, indecisive, hesitant, unsure, wavering, erratic or wishy-washy. You'd much prefer to be known as steadfast, decisive, confident and sure - right? Skilled manipulators use this near-universal conditioning against you every day. For example, has a salesman ever asked you, "Are you in a position to make a decision today?" Once you agree to this proposition, you'll feel pressure to "make a decision today," and buy the product, even if you have reservations. After all, if you don't buy, you'd likely be considered "indecisive" by either the salesman or your own self-doubting ego. But this is not what changing your mind is all about. Changing your mind means that after thinking about the subject or after gathering more complete information, you came to a different conclusion - a better and more informed decision. This is not being indecisive. It's being logical, prudent and wise. Let's look at this matter from a different perspective. What would happen if you weren't allowed to change your mind? You'd spend all your free time watching cartoons, eating ice cream or playing tag. Or, more seriously, you'd be forced to believe the sun revolves around the earth. Your evolution on every level depends on your ability to assimilate new information and "change your mind" as to what it means and how it applies. Psychologists call the unease you feel when you hold two conflicting opinions cognitive dissonance. The theory is that you will be naturally unwilling to simultaneously hold two apparently contradictory beliefs in your mind, and will attempt to modify one or the other to minimize the dissonance or conflict. If you told the salesman that you "would be in a position to make a decision today," and yet, you actually felt that you needed more time to gather additional information and think it through, the uncomfortable feeling in your gut would mean that you were experiencing cognitive dissonance. The skilled salesman would then try to use this to push you into a buying decision today! If he lets you think it over, you may not make the purchase or may buy from someone else. For example, it's almost never a good idea to buy a new car after talking to only one dealer!

Imagine what would happen in instances involving somewhat more deep-seated beliefs. You think so-and-so is the best candidate, or such-and-such is the finest restaurant or this-or-that company produces the fastest car. To complicate matters, also imagine that you are on record as publicly stating that so-and-so is the best candidate, the finest restaurant is such-and-such or the fastest car comes from this-or-that company. You have invested your credibility in this belief. What happens when new evidence comes along that contradicts this deep-seated belief? Most likely, you'll immediately discount it. Not only do you have the dissonance associated with trying to hold two contradictory beliefs in your mind simultaneously, but, even worse, if you accept the new idea, that might mean the first one was WRONG and you've lost your invested credibility! How would most people handle the situation? Most people don't like being "wrong;" so, they would either ignore the new idea, or, even worse, come up with all sorts of counter arguments as to why it's wrong, vehemently defending their original position. In extreme cases, they may outright lie to others and to themselves, just to avoid the cognitive dissonance. To an independent observer, this appears totally irrational. To a student of human behavior, it is understandable. As mystics, we're after the truth. Consequently, if it turns out that the second idea is more accurate, serves us better, or is otherwise superior to the first, we owe it to ourselves and to others to accept it, at least until a better idea comes along. We may be forced to utter three words that are even more powerful than "I changed my mind": "I was wrong." Being able to admit a mistake is a sign of humility, which is a prized mystic virtue. It does not mean you're a doormat or that you are subservient to somebody else. Acknowledging your having been mistaken about anything, and then changing your mind after gathering more complete information and thoroughly thinking things through is a sign of being logical, thorough, thoughtful and wise. Your prime allegiance is to the truth, regardless of where it originates. There is tremendous freedom in uttering these powerful words. Your cognitive dissonance vanishes. You don't have to expend any energy defending the idea of "being right." You are free to pursue the truth without baggage. Once you get into the habit of allowing yourself to say "I changed my mind" and "I was wrong" (7 words), you will experience newfound freedom. You will have taken 7 powerful steps towards the mystic virtue of wisdom. Best Wishes,

You Have The Inner Strength

Posted by Rev. Carol A. Ingle (Raven)

There are many ways to evolve energy in all the dimensions. Some souls have preference while others randomly seek their place in different processes. We have talked to many who do not have an appreciation for the physical. Some of it is due to difficult dramas while others are at odds with the energy vibration. The truth of the physical participation lies in the unique ability the physical offers to souls of all levels. It does take great boldness from a soul to move through all the denseness of the linear. If one can keep open to the energy, great evolution may be available to souls with the courage to walk through it. Physical life was designed for evolution of the soul. Great strength is required. Know that all of you have the inner strength to boldly walk through any life. Even the creation of difficulty represents a soul with great boldness. Perhaps reconsider the experience. Be proud of your boldness. Move through it all while in alignment with your energy. It is indeed possible. The rewards infinite. You are brave enough to do it.
Credit site below http://www.innerwhispers.org/

What is your truth? Arch Angel Uriel January 26th

Posted by Willow Raine
A message from Archangel Uriel channeled by Jennifer Hoffman Who you are, your life purpose, the purpose of your life, the journey you create and the choices you make are all based in truth. Truth is not given to you or created for you, it is a vibrational frequency that you create based on your judgments. In other words, truth is a perception that is created when an energy flow that is frozen by a judgment. Each person has their own truth and you are joined to others through the intersections of your truths. Freezing energy is how you create your reality because from spirit requires a dense reality to be in physical space. This is how you learn lessons and create the ascending evolution that is humanitys path. You create judgments and freeze energy in a specific truth so you can make it false, this is your healing journey. Through these judgments you create I am not scenarios so you can recall your I AM presence. Many of these I am not scenarios are mirrored by others, through their actions and words. Instead of trying to change their truth, know that they are helping you to change yours. The truth connections occur when someones truth resonates with a truth you also hold, even if you do not believe it to be true for you. This truth is often an aspect of your I am not truth and you respond with rejection. But this does not make it untrue, and it holds powerful learning, healing and transformation for you. It is by acknowledge the painful truth as reflections of your own beliefs and understanding that you achieve the healing these truths hold for you. There are no lies because everyone acts, speaks and believes from their truth, which is a unique mirror of their energy. You may call it a lie but it is true for them and reflects the truth they choose to believe, integrate and align with at that time. Do you feel an obligation to change their truth? What is it resonating with for you? What new truths can you create for yourself that serve your lifes healing purpose, evolve your purpose into a higher aspect, manifest new potentials for your life path and transform your journey from karma into creation? That is the purpose of their truth and why you may find it annoying, frustrating, anger-causing or uncomfortable. When you feel this, you know that a truth connection has been made. Now you can use this truth to activate a more powerful aspect of your IAM presence and change your truth. Of course, you can be angry with the other person but that does not accomplish anything on your healing journey. Instead of judgment, explore your truth and create a new truth for your life that allows you to evolve into higher frequencies and explore expanded aspects of your unlimited I AM presence. Be the truth you wish to know yourself through and you will find the peace, joy and love that is the truth of your soul.

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2013 Great Promise for a more loving humanity

Posted by Willow Raine

A message from The Council of 12 channeled by Selacia It's a new year with new energies, even if you don't yet feel them. Chances are, you may even be having moments wondering if anything has changed since last year - so many things in your outer world looking the same. Indeed, though, 2013 does hold a new energy and vast potential for positive movement in your life. 2013 - Great Promise for a More Loving Humanity This year holds great promise for a more conscious and loving humanity. This new reality is possible because of a very long cycle of awakening across the planet. You are a vital part of that process. Throughout countless lifetimes, you have been developing qualities such as kindness and patience, waking up to your true potential. In this current lifetime, you have experienced many struggles and opportunities for growth. As you met them with courage, you developed an inner reservoir of strength and determination to complete what you were born to do this life. As a divine changemaker you are awakening to your true power to create a life of passion, joy, and purpose. Regardless of how far you feel you came in 2012, you indeed progressed by leaps and bounds. Trust this. During these initial days of 2013, it's helpful to be more present-time focused so that you can optimally observe and respond to subtle shifts in energies. Looking back at expectations you had in 2012 can prevent you from seeing current things as they really are. Likewise, being future focused, you can miss seeing signposts and opportunities only grasped in the moment. 2012 and 2013 in Perspective The year 2012 was associated with an accelerated waking up and an intense desire for a brandnew type of world. People had a whole range of notions about what would really happen by year end, and what now would look like. While it's true that the cycle ending in 2012 was a marker point for humanity and the shift to a more loving world, it's short sighted to view what occurred in a linear way. Black-and-white thinking will lead to disappointment and dilution of your enthusiasm. You must endeavor to keep your enthusiasm and your passion alive - to have the inner strength for the path ahead. Your emotional responses to what's occurring in the now will have a direct impact on your thinking, and potentially your actions. If you feel sad, honor that sadness but then work with it skillfully to let it go. If you feel angry, recognize the anger but do not allow that anger to impact what you say or do next.

This type of skillful energy management is crucial for thriving and living in joy during 2013. It's an inside job - meaning no one can do it for you. Of course, you can receive help from outside sources, reaching out for assistance from healing tools and energy clearings from skilled practitioners. In the end, though, it is your responsibility to fully use the assistance you receive and to remember in the moment what you have learned about energy management. Resolutions for 2013 If you have made resolutions for 2013, refer back to them from time to time to keep yourself on track. Avoid, however, looking at your progress with a linear yardstick. Allow for flexibility and adjustments over time. If you are hard on yourself, you won't get to your goals faster. Go gently. The most powerful new year's resolutions involve intentions to remember and connect with your true nature - which is love. As you and others do this, sharing love with others, a more loving world is catalyzed into being. As the new year begins, intend to observe and experience life in a deeper, more spiritual way. Invite your higher self to show you new approaches to your life and to connect you with new members of your spiritual family. Your Spiritual Progression Acknowledge that much has shifted within you this past year, allowing 2013 to hold new promise. To continue your spiritual progression, regularly invite spirit to show you what else needs to go. You are a work in progress, after all, discovering your gifts and abilities while becoming aware of what remains in your way of success. Awareness of these things, indeed, unfolds more easily when you let go of resisting the natural process of evolving into your authentic self. Trust that this is where you are headed, and be okay with what is in the meantime. How you begin something sets the tone for the rest of that thing. Your beginning energy matters, whether it's the start of a new day, new month, or new year. With the first days of 2013 now unfolding, consider how you are starting out energetically. Remember that you can change direction at any moment by shifting your focus and intent. As you continue the journey of discovering your divine nature, we surround you with our love and blessings. We are The Council of 12.

Meditate for Answers

Posted by Rev. Carol A. Ingle (Raven)
One way to find an answer is to relax into a deep meditation. As we sit still the body calms and settles. Then by concentrating on breathing and saying a mantra we free space in the depths below the rambling mind to pull out the answer to a problem. Meditation Begin by gathering together a journal and pen to record insights from the meditation. Choose a place where you will have quiet and privacy. Light your meditation candle and burn incense if you wish. I like to fill the air with the scent of sandalwood because it is clearing to me. Sit on a cushion on the floor with your legs bent in, or sit on a chair with the soles of your feet firmly planted on the floor for balance. Keep your back straight but not rigid. Fold your hands in your lap or place them face up or face down on your thighs. Close your eyes and begin even and regular breathing, which means like your everyday breathing. For example, breathe in one count, breathe out one count, breathe in one count and continue this rhythmic pattern throughout your meditation. Do not hold your breath at any time in your practice. If your thoughts stray during meditation gently return to following the course of your breaths in and out, in and out. The photo illustrates the use of mala beads when you use a mantra. Move one bead forward with each mantra repetition. Coordinate saying the syllables of your mantra to fit with the even breathing. If your mantra has 2 syllables breathe in on the first and out on the second syllable. If there are more syllables figure out how to divide them to keep the even breathing pattern. All of this figuring out will keep your mind busy in a repetitive way to allow the deeper question the space to work itself out and bring the answer you are needing to the forefront in your consciousness. When the mind is calm and one-pointed, answers have room to swim to the surface of mind without hitting and being delayed by extraneous thoughts. After watching your breathing for a few minutes and saying your mantra if desired ask the question you wish answered. Say a few prayers or affirmations of appreciation for new insights that arise to the surface. Finish your meditation session with a long breath in and a matching exhalation. Open your eyes, stretch out, record your insights in your meditation journal now, while fresh in your mind.

DRESSING A CANDLE FOR RITUAL

Posted by Rev. Carol A. Ingle (Raven)

1. Choose type and color of candle appropriate for ritual. 2. Cleanse the candle of prior energies: you may use water, salt, pure soap, or baby oil (all previously blessed and consecrated.) 3. Bless and consecrate oil to be used, appropriate to ritual. 4. State and engrave (if you wish) what the candle is to represent. 5. Anoint the candle with oil and focus on desire (purpose of ritual.) A. For ritual of achievement: anoint oil from the top of the candle to the middle in a downward motion, then from the bottom of the candle to the middle in an upward motion. B. For ritual of banishment: anoint oil from the middle of the candle to the top in an upward motion, then middle to bottom of the candle in a downward motion. 6. Bless and consecrate the candle. 7. Meditate on desired outcome. Some people do not use matches to light candles, the sulfur is considered unclean. If you feel this way, use an incense starter or stick to light your candles. To extinguish a candle, snuff it out or wave your hand over it hard enough to make a breeze to put it out. Do not blow or pinch it out. Blowing a candle out blows desires away, and pinching a flame pinches out desires.

The Keeping Of The Soul

Posted by Marjabella Le Fey

~BlackElk(Mystic)~

A Lakota Ritual for Keeping a Loved Ones Spirit Alive

In The Sacred Pipe, Lakota mystic Black Elk described a ritual that helped survivors establish a new relationship to the deceased in the year following the loved ones death. The ritual was called The Keeping of the Soul, and served as spiritual therapy for everyonethe deceased, the grieving family, and the entire tribe.Black Elk explained that the practice originated when a young boy of the tribe died and his grieving father sought out the shaman for help. The shaman told the father, This boy seems to be dead, yet he is not really, for we shall keep his soul among our people, and through this our children and the children of their children will become wakan [holy]. The shaman then addressed the soul of the child: Behold O soul! Where you dwell upon this earth will be a sacred place; this center will cause the people to be as wakan as you are. Our grandchildren will now walk the path of life with pure hearts, and with firm step! And to the parents: We shall gain great knowledge from this soul which has here been purified. Be good to it and love it, for it is wakan. The ritual itself was lengthy and involved a number of steps to be performed by the shaman, the family members, and the rest of the tribe. In an early phase, the shaman purified a lock of hair of the dead person and wrapped it in sacred buckskin. This bundle then was seen as housing the soul and was hung in a special place in the familys tipi. The keeper of the soul, usually a family member, would take special care of the bundle. He or she would pray to it, feed it, and show it many other signs of respect. As the shaman would tell the parents:

You are now keeping the soul of your own son, who is not dead, but is with you. From now on you must live in a sacred manner, for your son will be in this tipi until his soul is released. You should remember that the habits which you establish during this period will remain with you always. You must take great care that no bad person enters the lodge where you keep the soul, and that there be no arguments or dissensions; there should always be harmony in your lodge, for all these things have an influence on the soul which is being purified there. Your hands are wakan; treat them as such! And your eyes are wakan; when you see your relatives and all things, see them in a sacred manner! Every day and night your son will be with you; look after his soul all the time, for through this you will always remember WakanTanka [the Great Spirit]. From this day on you will be wakan, and as I have taught you, so you too will now be able to teach others. During the time that a soul was being kept, the keeper was not supposed to fight or use a knife for any reason. The people should love and honor this holy man, frequently bringing food and gifts to him, and the keeper of the soul should in turn offer up his pipe very often to Wakan-Tanka for the good of the nation. In good weather, the bundle was to be hung outside. By bringing it gifts and praying before it, the people of the tribe gained blessings from this soul. The concluding part of the ritual, the Releasing of the Soul, would typically take place a year after the persons death. Everyone participated in it. After offering gifts to the various powers of earth and sky, the holy keeper spoke to the soul within the bundle: You, O soul, were with your people, but soon you will leave. Today is your day, and it is wakan. Today your Father, Wakan-Tanka is bending down to see you; all your people have arrived to be with you. All your relatives love you, and have taken good care of you. You and the holy woman of the four ages, who brought to us the sacred pipe, are now together here in this lodge. . . . The bundle was carried past the threshold of the tipileaving the circle of this lifeand thus the soul was released. In its purified state, the soul was ready to rejoin the Great Spirit. The shaman would say to the parents, You loved your son, and you have kept him at the center of our peoples hoop. As you have been good to this your loved one, so be good to all other people! This sacred influence of your sons soul will be upon the people; it is as a tree that will always bloom. It was through this rite, Black Elk wrote, that we purify the souls of our dead, and that our love for one another is increased. Through purification the soul becomes one with Wakan-Tanka and need not wander the earth, he declared, as is the case with the souls of bad people. And further, the keeping of a soul helps us to remember death and also Wakan-Tanka, who is above all dying. Through the survivors prayers, respect, and peaceful behavior, a mutual benefit would occur. The presence of the bundle continually reminded the family that how they behaved would affect the soul, for good or ill. For a year they focused on the good that this soul was bestowing on them and their tribe; they found inspiration in it to purify themselves and share this goodness with others. Survivors gained consolation in knowing that their loved ones spirit remained near them and that they were helping to prepare the soul for its journey. This ritual helped to make real the notion that the death of a loved one can serve life-giving purposes for those who remain behind. No soul ever truly leaves his or her loved ones. He or she remains with them for a time in spirit and, through their mutual love and respect, they create a lasting legacy of goodwill.

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