miercuri, 22 decembrie 2010

[Earthwise] Digest Number 2495

Messages In This Digest (3 Messages)

Messages

1a.

Birch Moon

Posted by: "Silver Fox" silverfox_57@hotmail.com   trickster9993

Tue Dec 21, 2010 7:11 am (PST)




Birch Moon
Source: Mind Body Spirit
December 24 – January 20

Gender Association: Masculine, Feminine
Planetary Ruler: Sun
Animal Association: The White Stag
Ruling Deity: Lugh
Magical Properties: Rebirth, patience, organization, leadership skills, diligence, loyalty, the calming of emotions, Moon of Inception; Moon of Beginning Protection of children; purification; creativity

The first of the 13 months of the Celtic calendar is the month of the Birch Moon. It begins just after Yuletide and runs through most of January. Starting just after the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, the month of the Birch Moon marks the period of the year when the hours of daylight start to increase over the hours of darkness. Its associated color is flame red; from this comes the red candles that we burn at Yuletide.

The month of the Birch Moon falls into the "quiet time" during the bleakest period of winter. None of eight major witchcraft festivals occur in this month. There is little to do but wait for warmer weather. This month is therefore primarily a time of contemplation, of looking to the future and starting to make plans for the year ahead, hence the tradition of making New Year's resolutions.

When a forested area burns, Birch is the first tree to grow back. The Celtic name for this month is Beth, pronounced beh. Workings done in this month add momentum and a bit of extra "oomph" to new endeavors. The Birch is also associated with magic done for creativity and fertility, as well as healing and protection. Tie a red ribbon around the trunk of a Birch tree to ward off negative energy. Hang Birch twigs over a cradle to protect a newborn from psychic harm. Use Birch bark as magical parchment to keep writings safe.

The Lady Of The Woods

The silvery bark that covers the trunk of the birch tree resembles the silver of the moonlight, which it reflects at night giving it a magical look.

With its long, slender branches that stretch up to the sky, the birch symbolizes the female aspects of nature and is often known as the "the Lady of the Woods." Growing up to the 100 feet high, it has also been thought to as a ladder that shamans can climb to reach the gods.

Resolution Blessing Spell

The birch is the first tree to grow back after a forest has been cut down or razed, reinforcing its association with new beginnings. It is a tree of extreme hardiness, thriving in places where the oak cannot. When you make a New Year's resolution, increase your chances of sticking to your guns by performing this blessing spell. You Will Need:

*Red Candle
*Red Ribbon
*Birch Wand
*Frankincense, rose and benzoin essential oil.

1) Go for a walk in your local park and collect a birch twig no more than 12 inches long. As birch is a very common tree, you should be able to find one easily, even in urban areas and parks.

2) Mix a few drops of rose, frankincense and benzoin essential oil into the palm of your hand and rub the mixture into a red candle.

3) Light the candle and stand in front of it for a few moments visualizing your resolution. If you are planning to learn to play guitar, for instance visualize yourself happily strumming your favorite song. You may want to state your intent aloud, saying: "I will learn to play guitar."

4) Holding your birch twig at one end, pass it through the candle's flame. Then turn around, counterclockwise, holding the twig in front of you to draw a circle around yourself.

5) Repeat the incantation: "I manifest new chances for good fortune, clarity and insight. I open myself to new experience and allow change to manifest in my life."

6) Now sit down for a few minutes and quietly contemplate your wish. When you have finished, blow out the candle.

Purification And Cleansing

The silver color of the birch's bark is associated with purity and cleansing. Criminals and naughty schoolboys were often beaten with birch twigs, "birched," in order to purify them and drive out any evil influences.

This is a good time to cleanse your mind of negative thoughts or attitude, such as anger and jealousy or addictive behavior, such as smoking. A full Moon that falls within the month of the Birch Moon is called the Cold Moon; you can strengthen your intent by performing the following ritual at this time.

A Simple Cold Moon Ritual:

1) Light a white candle beside a small bowl of natural spring or rain water.

2) Stand over the water and pray for the strength to let go of your vice.

3) Write down your negative behavior nine times on a piece of paper.

4) Fold up the paper, place it inside a freezer bag, and pour in some of the prayer water.

5) Place the bag inside your icebox to "freeze" your bad habits – putting them behind you forever.

Birch Throughout The Year


Birch is used for purification, exorcism and protection. A red ribbon tied to a birch twig will help ward off the evil eye.


Witches' brooms are sometimes made of birch twigs tied around an ash branch with strips of willow. The purifying birch sweeps away evil spirits, as well as dirt.


At Beltane (May Day), birch twigs are used to light the fires that signal the beginning of the new season.

Silver Fox

"It is all true, it is not true. The more I tell you, the more I shall lie. What is story but jesting Pilate's cry. I am not paid to tell you the truth."
Jane Yolen; The Storyteller

2a.

Aromatherapy - Peppermint Oil

Posted by: "Silver Fox" silverfox_57@hotmail.com   trickster9993

Tue Dec 21, 2010 7:11 am (PST)




Peppermint Oil
Source: Enhancing Mind Body Spirit
http://www.realage.com/tips/wake-up-and-smell-the-peppermint
One of my absolute favorite scents, never seem to get enough of it.

Peppermint oil has been used for centuries, its fresh aroma and scent being evident in toothpastes and mouthwashes to this date. It is a good digestive stimulate, aiding in the digestion of fats and strengthening liver functions. Thus making it an excellent oil for relieving indigestion and treating gastric fevers and diarrhea.

It helps too with stimulating the body's circulation, reviving aching muscles and joints. As a powerful decongestant, it is used to treat fevers and respiratory infections. Peppermint oil complements other decongestion oils such as Eucalyptus and Thyme, working to boost the body's immune system. The aroma of Peppermint can help with cooling the feelings of anger, hysteria or emotional burnouts. It also acts as a deodorant.

The ancient Greeks and Romans recognized the benefits of peppermint and used it to relieve colds, fevers, headaches and stomach complaints. Peppermint's strong, clean odor lead to the believe of it being a good purifier. It was sometimes used to rub walls, floors and furniture to purify an area of negativity. In medieval times, peppermint was thought to "make the heart of man rejoice." Bedrooms were strewn with mint leaves to give pleasure and the leaves were placed under pillows to encourage good dreams.

Active Ingredients

Esters - Contains menthyl and acetate, these give Peppermint its soothing and anti-flammatory properties.

Ketones - The ketone menthone makes up 20-30 percent of peppermint oil and its therapeutic properties work to relieve pain.

Menthol - A form of alcohol, it is responsible for Peppermint's stimulating and invigorating properties. It can also however cause skin irritation and sensitivity, so should be used sparingly.

Cautions:

*Do not use when pregnant as it does stop the flow of breat milk.

*Do not use on childern under three years old or those taking homeopathic medicines.

*use in low dilutions to avoid causing skin irritation.

Sharpening the Mind
Peppermint oil helps to invigorate the mind, acting as a nerve tonic and stimulant.
Science has confirmed that when there's a hint of mint wafting through the room, workers perform better on jobs that demand accuracy. In a study, participants made fewer typing mistakes and alphabetized things faster when under the influence of peppermint's aroma compared to tasks performed in a scent-free zone.

The scent of peppermint is like a drill sergeant, telling your brain to "Wake up and focus!" New research shows that you pay better attention to dull-but-must-do jobs when this scent is around. So the next time you're mentally sluggish, grab a candy cane, chew a stick of peppermint gum, or inhale the scent of mint-infused oil, and then listen to your brain say, "Can do!"

*Sharpen concentration and alertness, simply combine 5 drops each of peppermint and basil oil with 10 drops of lemon and use in a room vaporizer.

*Fight mental fatigue and emotional burnout with a stimulating whole body massage. Add 4 tbsp sweet almond oil to 4 drops each of peppermint and geranium and 10 drops rosemary.

*Clear headaches with a soothing neck massage using peppermint and lavender oils. You can also try gently sniffing from a bottle of Peppermint essential oil. This is said to work especially well for sinus headaches.

Digestive Disorders

For relief from constipation, dilute:

*3 drops peppermint
*5 drops lemon
*7 drops rosemary in
*2 tbsp of grapseed oil.

Massage the mix gently over the abdomen in clockwise, circular movements every couple of hours.

For easing painful acid heartburn, dissolve:

*1 drop peppermint oil
*1 tbsp honey

In a mug of hot water. Stir together and sip slowly.

Treat diarrhea with an aromatic compress. Soak a facecloth in 5 drops of peppermint, ginger and marjoram in hot water. Wring the facecloth out and apply it to the abdomen.

Cold and Flu Remedies

Add 2 drops of peppermint, rosemary and lavender to boiling water. Place a towel over your head and inhale the steam for five minutes.

Treat feverish colds by putting a few drops of peppermint, eucalyptus and pine in a room diffuser.

Sinus Infection

A compress with Peppermint oil relieves the symptoms of a sinus infection.

Mix 5 drops of Peppermint oil in two cups of warm water. Lay a small cloth dampened with the mixture across your nose and your cheekbones. Breathe deeply, keeping your eyes closed.

Reviving Tired Feet

*Relieve aching feet in an invigorating spa containing 4 drops each of peppermint and geranium and 3 tbsp of Epsom salts.

*Combine 3 drops each of peppermint, rosemary and lavender with 2 tbsp of grapeseed oil for an invigorating foot massage. Use firm, brisk strokes.

*Make your own antiseptic foot powder to treat athlete's foot. Simply add 5 drops of lavender and 3 drops of peppermint to 2 tbsp of unperfumed talcum powder.

Ant Problems

Ants hate Peppermint essential oil. Place a few drops where they enter the house or 2 drops on the ant.

Silver Fox

"It is all true, it is not true. The more I tell you, the more I shall lie. What is story but jesting Pilate's cry. I am not paid to tell you the truth."
Jane Yolen; The Storyteller

3.

Help Save the Matronae Goddess Sanctuary w/your Emails

Posted by: "Karen Tate" karentate108@ca.rr.com   specialjourn

Tue Dec 21, 2010 10:40 am (PST)



Greetings,
Please take a moment to help save the Matronae Sanctuary of Nettersheim
in Germany, which has been sacred to three Goddesses since living
memory. The long story of this campaign to save the sanctuary with
links and a photo is below. The short story is this site might be
desecrated by the erection of a huge 8 meter high cube in the middle of
the sanctuary.

If you want to help, send your emails to this address:

info@matria.de

_They should clearly say these words in your email_:

*The sanctuary must be kept as it is. it should not be subject to
profit and greed! *

The people receiving the emails are collecting them from all over the
world and will present them to the proper authorities in an attempt to
preserve this sacred Goddess site.

Thanks for your help!

Karen Tate
www.karentate.com

_LONG STORY OF THIS CAMPAIGN TO SAVE THE SANCTUARY_ --

In the middle of a beautiful hill in the Eifel in Germany lays the small
borough of NETTERSHEIM. Three goddesses have been worshipped here since
living memory, in Latin Deae Matrone, the so called "three matrons." The
Romans came to this area about 2000 years ago and built many hundreds of
stone monuments in reverence of the Goddesses , the mothers and keepers
(or guardians) of the land about whom they learned. See:
http://www.nordeifel.de/roemerbauten/goerresburg/goerresburg.html (Even
if you can't read German, there are pictures.)
About 800 stone testimonies to Goddess adoration, the Matronae Stones
have survived. About 40 of them are in the Bonn Cathedral Crypt. It is
no coincidence that this huge church was exactly built above them to
hide them. Most of the Matron monuments are kept locked up in the
federal land archives. Why are they kept under lock and key? For a long
time we have asked ourselves whether someone does not want women to
learn about this great divine female worship.
On top of this there can be found in NETTERSHEIM something that is
unique in the world: the so called "GÃ--RRESBURG", a prehistoric
sanctuary set on a hill. When the Romans discovered these Goddesses of
the land sanctuary they lined it with stones. Within this sanctuary they
built 3 stone rooms (lat. cellae) and erected many Matron monuments
(today replicas stand in their place).
*The Outrage:*
The major of NETTERSHEIM wants to erect a huge 8 meter high cube in the
middle of this sanctuary. It´s ment to be a kind of "roman information
center." See for example http://www.ksta.de/html/artikel/1281431700918.shtml
This idea probably satisfies the mainstream. However, this sanctuary has
a much longer history, it already existed before roman times and
considered as the mothers of the land. At first we thought this must be
a bad joke. Unfortunately the secret plans are already very advanced. An
architect is already dreaming about making this outrageous action
permanent, and the mayor is dreaming of hordes of tourists bringing
their money. This construction in the middle of this sanctuary would be
an terrible crime. It's about more than questioning the subject of
reputation, prestige and profit; the fact is that this project would
destroy irretrievable evidence of our foremothers and ancestors.
We´re sure the public has not yet realized that this plan exists. In
the past churches were built on sanctuaries to honour goddesses in order
to destroy them. Today is it going to be info centers built to attract
tourist which will destroy our remaining sanctuaries?
We need create a public outcry about this outrage to the ancient Goddess
heritage. The mayor has still not reacted to protest letters, sent in
large numbers to him. Please help us to demonstrate that GÃ--RRESBURG is
of international importance. Not only for us women! A petition to the
UNESCO as world heritage site is planned.
We ask for your help. Write in the clearest possible terms: The
sanctuary must be kept as it is. It should not be subject to profit and
greed! Please send your e-mail to us, we will forward your words
accordingly, which you send us from overseas: *info@...*
Please mark the letter head of your correspondence with your personal
title and function. Please inform people in your network about this cry
for help. will show with your protest that women from other countries
such as England, Italy, Holland, France, Poland, Finland, America,
Canada, India etc do not accept the destruction of antiquities , which
count for motherliness and feminity. Certainly together we can stop this
action.
Thanks very much.Dagmar Margotsdotter-Fricke
info@...www.gerda-weiler-stiftung.de/www.matriaval.de
<http://www.gerda-weiler-stiftung.de/www.matriaval.de%EF%BB%BF>
Some of the Matronae stones at Gorresburg

--
Karen Tate
www.karentate.com

http://www.examiner.com/x-22579-LA-Womens--Goddess-Spirituality-Examiner
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1291934676&ref=profile
http://www.myspace.com/karentate108
fOLLOW ME On TWITTER @karentate108

Voices of the Sacred Feminine Radio....Extended Edition
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/VoicesoftheSacredFeminine

Voices of the Sacred Feminine Radio Program Archives
http://www.karentate.com/Tate/radio_show.html

Author of Sacred Places of Goddess: 108 Destinations&
Walking an Ancient Path: Rebirthing Goddess on Planet Earth

You-Tube....http://www.youtube.com/isisisis13

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