Hi, folks!
The sun occasionally strains his way through the clouds, but not often. It’s over 50F already, though and supposed to get past 60! Oh, that would be nice. It’s kinda breezy out there and there’s a high wind watch from 2pm today through 5am. I’m wishing that I had enough time to get into the garden, but I’m running late through oversleeping. …yet again….drattit…..
Wicca 101 this evening. We’re supposed to be re-starting with Lesson 1 tonight. What happened to the folks who were intending to take this? I haven’t heard back from anyone!
Yesterday was a long day; tiring, but rewarding.
I got to the shop just at 9 and got things open, picked up the class table, then settled down at the computer. We have a bunch of orders that were waiting for payment, so that was first, so I checked that first, so Tempus could pack and get those ready for shipping when he get to the shop. He was still at the house making lunch. The young folks got there around 10 and I called the house, told him how many (9!) and after they wandered around for a few minutes we started into class. I finished at noon and Brea did her class. Kat never showed, so we ran the movie and then the young folks went back to the Center.
While that was going on I sorted out the schedule for the next few psychic fairs and sent out some questions to our special guests for May, June & July, then got the website updates done for this weekend.
This is the schedule:
April 7-8 – Psychic Fair – No Special Guest
11am - Herb Workshop – Storing dried plant materials
Noon – Care & Feeding of a Rock tumbler
1pm – Hypatia and the Burning of the Library of Alexandria
3pm - Sewing Workshop
6pm - Metta Meditation
7pm – Movie Night, showing Agora, discussion will follow, bring snacks. This is a fund-raiser, donations only, although I will be talking about Cherry Hill and the Hypatia society.
4/8 – Sunday, 10am – Wicca 101
Noon - Brea’s Elements (class)
1pm – Free showing of The Agora
3pm – Discussion follows movie
Out “Special Guest” this week is Cherry Hill Seminary, or rather that’s our point of concentration. I’m going to go in-depth this week about the seminary (and the movie), but today I want to say a little about the on-going workshops which are an ongoing series of demonstrations/workshops/classes/seminars with specials added in on psychic fair weekends and large holiday weekends. None of these are large groups, so it’s far closer to the one-on-one instruction that folks used to get in various aspects of craft & Craft.
Our Herb Workshop is the process of getting the plant materials for spellwork that we make from the garden or the wild to set up for use, and then putting those materials to use in everything from sleep pillows, teas, powders and ointments to soaps & candles. Topics vary because we work with what’s available, what’s ready and what we need in the shop, and then throw some things in just because they’re cool.
Care & Feeding of a Rock Tumbler…is just that. It’s a practicum on how you set one up, tips to make it work better, how to choose stones to tumble and how to tell when they’re ready for the next step. …and I had *no* idea how much thinking went into this either when I first started. It’s *not* just chuck ‘em in and turn it on! It’s a multi-stage process, with two tumblers going and we focus (as above) on what’s available and what needs to be done. Bring questions!
The Sewing Workshop is a weekly get-together where we all bring projects. Occasionally I throw in a special one, but folks bring things that they’re having problems with…and we call it “sewing”, but there are two knitter/crocheters in the group and I embroider as much as sew. We’ve re-done clothing that fits badly, re-sized a dress that was outgrown, done both hand & machine stitching, and both pattern construction and clothing construction without a pattern and all kinds of other techniques. We occasionally call this a “Stitch ‘n Bitch” session, but the topics of conversation vary by who’s there.
Meditation for Metta is a simple, calming, life-affirming, positive, group meditation style. It’s a good intro to meditation for the intimidated. The meditations mostly focus on peace and growth, take 10-15 minutes and then you’re welcome to ask questions about this practice or meditation in general.
The Movie Nights are a new thing we’re trying. This is a kick back and relax and have some fun with friends evening. We always have hot drinkables available and Tempus makes popcorn, and folks bring snacks to share. We have a number of movies available in the shop library from documentary to Hocus Pocus, plus Chuck’s Video has others available. The best part of these is you can watch a movie that you might not otherwise get into and then discuss it afterwards! If you have suggestions for movies that you think might be good, let me know. We’re looking for suggestions.
The Sunday Wicca 101 class is set up for late teens/young adults. You can drop into the cycle at any point, unlike the evening 101’s or the Intensives.
Brea’s Elements happens every other week. She covers topics in Wicca from her own background and wide knowledge of the Craft.
So today, is cleaning up from the weekend, the ongoing sorting in the back and some harvest prep. …and inventory… *again*! Argh!
The shop opens at 10am today, although I’ll be there at 9am. Spring Break hours from 3/24-4/1, 10am-6pm, (only closed on Tuesday) from Saturday the 23rd through Sunday, the 1st. If we’re supposed to be closed, but it looks like we’re there, try the door. If it’s open, the shop’s open!
Love & Light,
Anja
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Café Press Products from Ancient Light - http://www.cafepress.com/ancientlight Everything from T-shirts to pillows to coffee mugs to journals with witchy or just fun designs! I’ve added a bunch of products to the Happy Naked Pagan Dance design!
Spoonflower Fabrics - http://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/coastalanja The newest designs are in the Bugs ‘n Slugs Collection. We have designs for sale in the Garden Collection and Mushroom Collection and the Pagan Collection is coming soon.
Our Circle’s site! http://www.ancientlight.info/circle/ Add things by e-mailing me here. mbartlett@harborside.com
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Today
The Moon is waxing gibbous. Waxing Moon Magick - The waxing moon is for constructive magick, such as love, wealth, success, courage, friendship, luck or healthy, protection, divination. Any working that needs extra power, such as help finding a new job or healings for serious conditions, can be done now. Also, love, knowledge, legal undertakings, money and dreams.
Venus is passing through the outskirts of the Pleiades this evening through Wednesday evening, as shown above. Binoculars or a wide-field telescope give a fine view of the delicate cluster behind Venus's overpowering glare.
The waxing gibbous Moon forms a slightly curving line with Mars and Regulus.
Celtic Tree Month of Fearn Alder Mar 18 - Apr 14
Goddess Month of Columbina runs from 3/20 - 4/17
Runic half-month of Ehwaz, 3/30-4/13 - Ehwaz, the horse; time of partnership between humans and Nature, as between rider and horse.
Nigel Pennick, The Pagan Book of Days, Destiny Books, Rochester, Vermont, USA, 1992, p. 55
Sun in Aries
Moon in Leo
Mercury retrograde, Mars retrograde, Saturn retrograde, Juno retrograde
Color: Silver
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©2012 M. Bartlett, Some parts separately copyright
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Calendar
4/2 – Monday – 6pm – Wicca 101
Tuesday, April 3, 2012 - 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM - Destination Branding Workshop - Part 1 Overleaf Events Center at the Overleaf Lodge, 280 Overleaf Lodge Lane, $5.00
http://industry.traveloregon.com/Departments/Tour ism-Development/Oregon-Rural-Tourism-Studio-1.aspx http://industry.traveloregon.com/Departments/Touri sm-Development/Oregon-Rural-Tourism-Studio-1.aspx
Wednesday, April 4, 2012 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Destination Branding Workshop - Part 2
Overleaf Events Center at the Overleaf Lodge (goes with above)
4/4 – Wednesday, Mercury goes Direct at 3:11am
3pm – Herbs Outdoors – (weather permitting)
Esbat, 7pm, Full Moon
4/5 – Thursday – Wicca 103 – Lesson 5
4/6 – Friday, Full Wind Moon, 12:19pm, Peaceful Crane moon
Planting 4/7-8
April 7-8 – Psychic Fair – No Special Guest
11am - Herb Workshop
Noon – Care & Feeding of a Rock tumbler
1pm – Hypatia and the Burning of the Library of Alexandria
3pm - Sewing Workshop
6pm - Metta Meditation
7pm – Movie Night, showing Agora, discussion will follow, bring snacks. This is a fund-raiser, donations only, although I will be talking about Cherry Hill and the Hypatia society.
4/8 – Sunday, 10am – Wicca 101
Noon - Brea’s Elements (class)
1pm – Free showing of The Agora
3pm – Discussion follows movie
Harvest 4/9-11
4/10 – Tuesday, Pluto Retrograde
4/12 – Thursday
Planting 4/12-13
4/13 – Friday, Mars goes Direct, 8:53pm
Harvest 4/14-15
4/14 - Saturday – 11am - Herb Workshop -
1pm – Care and Feeding of a rock tumbler
3pm – Sewing workshop
Planting 4/16-17
Harvest 4/18-20
4/18 – Esbat, Hecate’s Brooch – Lesser Banishing of the Chocolate Bunny
4/19 - Thursday, 3pm - Crones’ Tea
4/19 – Thursday, Sun enters Taurus, 9:12am
4/21 – Saturday, New Moon at 12:18am
Planting 4/22-3
Beltane/Walpurgisnacht Sabbat 5/4, Friday, 7pm at Ancient Light
Sat/Sun May 12/13 – Waldport’s Great Garage Sale
Pan-Pagan Gathering, Friday – Sunday, September 28-30
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www.wunderground.com
Apr. 02, 2012 Rise Set
Actual Time 6:54 AM PDT 7:45 PM PDT
Civil Twilight 6:24 AM PDT 8:15 PM PDT
Nautical Twilight 5:49 AM PDT 8:50 PM PDT
Astronomical Twilight 5:13 AM PDT 9:26 PM PDT
Moon 3:18 PM PDT 4:21 AM PDT
Length Of Visible Light 13h 50m
Length of Day 12h 51m
Tomorrow will be 3m 4s longer.
Waxing Gibbous, 75% of the Moon is Illuminated
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Fearn Alder Mar 18 - Apr 14 - Fern - (FAIR-n), alder - The common alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertner) is common along lowland rivers, where it grows with aspens, poplars, and willows. Like willows, alders sprout from stumps. This allows them to regenerate after heavy flooding. In protect sites they may grow to 20 m (65 feet) tall. Their leaves are more blunt-tipped than most North American alders, which look more like the grey alder (A. incana (L.) Moench). This species is more common in the mountains of Europe, and is not restricted to moist soils. Like ashes, European alders are not widely cultivated in North American (they are often sold as black alders), but several native species are. Alder wood is said to resist rotting when it is wet, and was the wood of choice for pilings in many regions. Alders are members of the Birch family (Betulaceae).
Fearn - Alder Ogam letter correspondences
Month: January
Color: Crimson
Class: Cheiftain
Letter: F, V
Meaning: Help in making choices; spiritual guidance and protection.
to study this month - Ailim - Silver Fir Ogam letter correspondences
Month: None
Color: Light Blue
Class: Shrub
Letter: A
Meaning: Learning from past mistakes; Take care in choices.
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Tides for Alsea Bay
Day High Tide Height Sunrise Moon Time % Moon
/Low Time Feet Sunset Visible
M 2 Low 3:38 AM 2.8 6:54 AM Set 4:21 AM 70
2 High 9:24 AM 6.7 7:45 PM Rise 3:19 PM
2 Low 4:10 PM 0.8
2 High 10:35 PM 6.6
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Affirmation/Thought for the Day – Abundance and success await me!
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Journal Prompt – What does this quote say to you? - When I'm not thanked at all, I'm thanked enough. -- Henry Fielding
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Quotes
Nature does nothing in vain. - Aristotle
Never wear a backward baseball cap to an interview unless applying for the job of umpire. - Dan Zevin
No one can persuade another to change. Each of us guards a gate of change that can only be opened from the inside. We cannot open the gate of another, either by argument or by emotional appeal." If you decide to open your "gate of change" to really understand and live the principles embodied in the Seven Habits, your growth will be evolutionary, but the net effect will be revolutionary. - Overview of the Seven Habits quoting Marilyn Ferguson
No truly great man ever thought himself so. - William Hazlitt
RAPUNZEL AND THE VAMPIRE
The vampire's cape swirled behind him
as he climbed the castle wall;
Oh, Goodness! What was I to do?
Should I be scared? Or will he fall?
I've been in this turret window everyday
hanging down my long blonde braid;
waiting for a climbing prince to come
so I won't have to stay a pure maid.
But I know at least a vampire won't care
about the one drawback that I have...
hanging out of this window everyday
gives me headaches, split ends and frizzy hair! - © August 2005, Beth Johnson (Mystic Amazon)
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Magick – Beltane Ideas and Activites - http://crystalforest3.homestead.com/beltane.html
http://crystalforest3.homestead.com/beltane.html* ** are also great to do with children ;)
***Walk the perimeter of your property to check that everything is in good order. Bring trash bags and do a general clean up of anything that is not where it should be.
***Make a miniature maypole for your altar if you can not make a full size version
***Get a new mirror, or use one you have already, and decorate it with ribbons and flowers for your bedroom
***Fill a cauldron or a large bowl with fresh flowers (wildflowers are best)
***Braid bracelets out of white ribbons and give them as gifts to friends or family
***Make a dish of fruits, berries, nuts and leave in the wood for the animals and fae folk to enjoy
***Cut branches of fresh green from budding trees, or make garlands of flowers to decorate the home for this celebration. Hang them on the doors and windows early, so the may sunrise finds them there!
***Create a special wreath for the top of the May Pole
***Make "May Day" baskets of flowers and leave on friends and family's doorsteps as a surprise gift. Maybe they'll think a faerie did it!
***Create hair pieces and garlands for decorating your head or around your neck from flowers that are in bloom
***Tie ribbons to trees to celebrate the coming of spring. Make a wish each time you tie a ribbon as it's good luck to wish for things on this day!
***Bathe your face in the morning dew to retain youth.
The fair maid who, the first of May
Goes to the fields at break of day
And washes in dew from the hawthorn tree
Will ever after handsome be.
Other sources suggest using the dew found under oaks or on ivy leaves. Make a special wish as you wash your face in it or as you drink from a well before sunrise.
***Dance the May Pole
During the Maypole dance, think about what you wish to weave into, or out of, your spirit. The Maypole is an ancient symbol of the male aspect of the Divine, while the ribbons are strands of life. Have small baskets of goodies around the room to symbolize the coming abundance and to enjoy after the Circle. Magic is hungry work. (from Trish Telesco's Victorian Grimoire)
***Do a Beltane Day Spell for Health and Happiness
***Plant your frost sensitive bulbs now.
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Energy list
3/28/12 – For a man who is terrified he’s going to lose his small daughter to her mother’s new boyfriend. The guy seems to be intent on leaving with her, even if he has no legal right.
3/19/12 – For a high-schooler, crazy for basketball and volleyball who went down with a concussion early in the season. They’re telling her none of her favorite sports for a year, minimum, we’re asking for healing and the strength to deal with not being able to do what she loves for the moment.
3/16/12 – For someone who has found a dream job and wants some extra oomph to help him get it.
3/7/12 - 9-year-old boy with an inoperable brain tumor. Starting radiation. Family and friends asking help for him and for the children that know him.
3/7/12 – “I would also like to ask for healing...I just want to be whole again...able to walk so I can take care of the things I need to take care of. I know with the whole almost dying thing that it would take me a while to recover but a month and a half of being practically bed ridden..its a lot slower than I anticipated...I am just feeling trapped by my own body and these circumstances. To be honest it may seem bigger than it really is because I'm so inward focused and emotional right now. On the plus side I am very happy to say that I have more energy and am walking further every day ;-)”
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Silliness – Short Chips
A six-year-old ran up and down the supermarket aisles shouting frantically, "Marian, Marian!"
Finally reunited with his mother, he was chided by her, "You shouldn't call me 'Marian.' I'm your mother, you know."
"I know," said the child, "but the store is full of mothers."
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