Pumpkins, spiced cider, hot chocolate, Samhain.. all coming up! We're going to have a really special edition of The Sunday Stew next week, so be sure to bring your appetite as we celebrate together!
There are several interesting news articles this week, and a theme has emerged through divinations and articles. It's a good one. Grab your favorite beverage and feed those hungry minds/spirits! On to the Stew!
Happy Birthday this week to: Elijah Olson, Jen Rue, Lailani Martinez, Ashley Marie Nicole, Laura Perry, Marilyn Kaye Muma-Reid, Sadie Rose, Kit Berry, Tanyaisa Hawkins Payne, Rita Digilova, Caroline Amalia Amor, and Monika Kristine Barger! May this be your best birthday ever, and may your next year of life bring you much joy, peace, happiness and the very best of life's abundance :)
Song of the Week
Kestril is on a break this week, so I'm filling in for her.
In compiling The Stew this week, I've noticed a theme of going with the flow, moving out of your comfort zone, cutting through to the heart of a matter, and embracing your life experiences. In this song, my favorite band, Omnia, asks you, "Can you touch the root that feeds us? Can you hear the words that I say? Can you feel the music move you? Can you feel ALIVE today?" And, that sums it up. Notice how they use the senses to ask, "Are you feeling alive"?
It is the last official week of summer here in the Northern Hemisphere. We're moving into a time when the crops are in their full harvest. It will be time for the weather to get cooler. We'll be preparing for the quiet time when the green things die off and Mother Earth begins to sleep. There's never been a better time to feel alive and embrace what it has to offer us, and what we have to offer life. So, dance and sing and write your Imramma (storyline) with joy. There is no other like you:
In the News
‘Witch-Gun’ and Superstition in Guinea and Sierra Leone
Enchanted witch shop in Salem has that Cabot magic
Scholar unearths details about Salem witch trials
Battered, stripped and disgraced: Is this woman truly a witch? *Graphic Photos*
Pagan-era rock tombs unearthed in southeastern part of Turkey
SLIDESHOW - Traditional pagan ritual continues to pull crowds
Bishop Paprocki: “Christians have to mentally adjust…it’s a pagan kind of a culture”
Pagan Lore with Karen Szabo
Sunday, September 15
The full moon of September, known as the Harvest Moon, normally begins on or around this date. Many believe it to possess great magickal powers, and numerous superstitions are connected with it. Harvest Moon rituals are performed throughout the world on the first night of the full moon by many Witches and Pagans, especially those who dwell in the country.
Monday, September 16
Feast of Saint Cornely. On this day, villagers and farmers who live in Brittany honor Saint Cornely, the patron of horned animals who is believed to have created the Carnac megaliths by magickally transforming enemy soldiers into stone. At midnight, oxen are blessed in a shrine dedicated to him.
Tuesday, September 17
On this date in the year 1964, Bewitched (the first television sitcom about a Witch) made its debut on ABC-TV. It became an instant hit and received twenty-two Emmy nominations. In ancient Greece, the Goddess Demeter was honored annually on this date with a festival of secret rites.
Wednesday, September 18
In the town of Berkshire, England, a centuries-old celebration known as Scouring the White Horse begins on this date. The festival of games and athletic competition takes place on a hillside carved with the huge figure of a galloping steed, and lasts for two consecutive days.
Thursday, September 19
On this day in ancient Babylonia, an annual festival of prayers and feasts took place in honor of Gula, the Goddess of birth. On this date in the year 1692, Giles Corey (a Massachusetts man charged with the crime of Witchcraft) was pressed to death by two large stones in Salem for refusing to acknowledge the Court's right to try him.
Friday, September 20
The Spring Equinox (South of the Equator) was celebrated approximately on this date by the ancient Incas. It was a time for honoring the Sun God, feasting, rejoicing, animal sacrifices, and divinations. Festivals were also held on this date throughout South America to celebrate the birthday of the god Quetzalcoatl.
Saturday, September 21
Saint Matthew's Day. In many parts of the world, this is a traditional day for performing divinations of all kinds. In Germany, fortune-telling wreaths of straw and evergreen, made on this day by young girls, were used for love divination. In ancient Greece, the birth of the Goddess Athena was celebrated annually on this day.
And there you have it! Wishing everyone a wonderful week,
Karen
Sparkle and Shine with Sosanna
Moment of Zen
Over the last month or so I've been taking a look at what really matters. I've had a lot of time on social media as well as tons of time working. I usually spend about 14-16 hours a day working. As a person with Bipolar Disorder, I have to have a lot of things going on at the same time to keep my mind busy. As my day goes along I have to break it up with different things. I have literally had 2 computers, an iPad and my cell phone open at one time while being on the phone.
Like most people involved in social media I “like” to have to people “like” me. I want to be friends with everyone. I want to make people happy. I’m a people pleaser. Over the course of my 20 some years online I've learned quite a few lessons. Some of them not so nice.
This week for the Stew I wanted to offer a bit of advice for those that spend a lot of time online.
Currently there are over a billion people on Facebook. Being loved by them all doesn't change your core. That means that no matter how many people like you, in the end you have to like who you are. Sometimes you can make wonderful friendships online, however keep in mind, these people that you see are not the “be all end all” of who you are. I read a story just last year of a man who murdered a couple over being unfriended on Facebook. Really, Facebook isn't THAT important.
Being blocked or removed by someone does not devalue you. You are important. Every part of you. No matter your size or color. No matter your shape or religion. You are an individual. Bully is nothing new. For years kids around the world have be picked on and teased just for being different. I remember when I was younger, probably around 10 or 11, I desperately wanted to be friends with the cool kids. One day one of the girls came over and invited me to play with them. I was so excited. Before recess I went to the bathroom. While I was in the stall, those same girls came in and started to talk. One said to the other, “Why are were you talking to her” (talking about me) “She’s fat and no one likes her” I was devastated. I wanted to crawl under the floor.
As an adult, I've recently been in a situation where I had to stand up for something I felt strongly about. It wasn't popular. In fact, the majority of the people didn’t want to hear what I had to say, and when the truth came out, it was a disaster. Several people decided to remove me.
Over the years more than one person has been pushed so far that they decided to take their own life over bullying. Social media sites like Facebook make it easier for bullies to come out in force. They hide behind passive aggressive memes and hateful status updates instead of the bathroom stalls. The school room has been traded for the chat room. Earlier this year a young girl had all the bullying she could take. In January a young girl named Carolina decided to take her own life. She believed all the horrible messages that were being sent to her. She took all those nasty words to heart and believed that her worth was measured by what those people online thought of her.
As I sat looking at the screen, seeing the hateful messages being posted and it suddenly came to me. What they think about me doesn't change who I am. What they believe in their minds is not reality. I know that I am a wonderful person. I am a trusting, caring person. I am a strong, independent woman. I speak my mind and I am a defender of justice. Nothing they can say can take that away.
While you’re online, posting in forums or chatting in the chat room; remember that no one defines who you are. No one can take away your core. Being liked by everyone, or hated by them all changes nothing. You are an individual. You are special. A like, or an unlike, a friend or an unfriend will not make or break you. We’re never too old to learn that we are fantastic, just the way we are. We just sparkle and shine.
Namaste and Blessed Be
Sosanna
Mid-Air Moxie with Adelina Soto Thomas
Many of us came to our spiritual paths as a way to feel more connected to the world around us and to try to bring something positive into the world. For those seeking a more meaningful and fulfilling life and who want to become more enlightened beings…a ‘spiritual comfort zone’ is more like a cosmic rut. That which comes easiest, that which you are accustomed to and accomplished in are wonderful foundations but they are not that which will help you grow and develop along your chosen path. Activities outside of your comfort zone should be things which inspire you or things you’ve never tried before. What is the ultimate goal? It is to dare, to challenge ourselves to face the doubt and fear of the unknown. It is to grow in confidence and master yourself. Make no mistake, even those who have been walking spiritual paths for many years can get into a ‘spiritual comfort zone’. This is not about knowledge, this is about the way you practice your spiritual beliefs and live your spiritual life. Everyone can get stuck in a rut, and sometimes the most learned among us just can’t seem to get out of their own way…
‘Spiritual comfort zones’ tell us who we are but not who we may yet become. They keep us in one spot, believing we are doing ‘something’ but not revealing the lack of personal or spiritual progress. We read all sorts of books but only put 10% into practice. We join online groups but only interact with 20% of the people in the group. We get opportunities to express what we know and we say ‘It’s not a good time’ to participate. We have a million excuses why we can’t try something new or different, but that’s all they really are….excuses! We hide in familiar shadows lest our flaws be exposed to the light. Inside our ‘spiritual comfort zone’ we feel safe and accepted. We are just knowledgeable enough and from the safety behind our computer monitors and smart phones, we can engage with others without really risking too much by getting too close. If someone else finds out we really don’t know as much as they do, the fear is that to do so might present a very awkward situation. Instead of looking at this as an opportunity to learn, we run from the potential embarrassment of not being the smartest Witch in the room.
To read the rest of this post, visit Lina at Mid-Stride Moxie!
Notes from the Circle with Alan Heartsong
Dancing Your TalkI’m not going to say that I think it’s a bad saying, because it’s not. It has given many people something to think about, reflect on, and do some honest self-examination with. It’s succinct and easy to remember, and the mental imagery works to get the point across. But it’s not enough, really.
To read the rest of this post, come visit Alan at Heartsong's Circle
This Week's Recipe
Amish Cinnamon Bread
Since La'Trice is off this week, I thought I'd share something I love. I thank Tracey Donnelly for this delicious find that she shared with me a few weeks ago. I tried it that day, and it is melt-in-your-mouth good!
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| Amish Cinnamon Bread |
I'm going to send you over to Just A Pinch, where the recipe is located so you can print, save or Pin it for later. Trust me, you'll thank me for this one!
This Week in Astrology
All times Eastern Daylight Time
Sunday, September 15: Moon Void of Course until 8:05am then moves into Aquarius.
Waxing Gibbous Moon 9:59pm
Monday, September 16: Moon Void of Course from 12:15pm through the rest of the day.
Tuesday, September 17: Moon Void of Course until 9:57am then moves into Pisces.
Wednesday, September 18: All's Quiet in the Heavens
Thursday, September 19:Full Moon in Pisces at 7:12am immediately goes Void until 12:57pm then moves into Aries.
Friday, September 20: Pluto Stations Direct at 11:28am (it will not leave the Rx zone until January 2014). For a great article on Pluto Retrograde, click here.
Saturday, September 21: Moon Void of Course from 10:24am to 6:33pm then moves into Taurus
Note: The Autumnal Equinox takes place on Sunday, September 22 at 4:44pm
Weekly Horoscopes from DarkStar Astrology
Weekly Tarot: Queen of Swords
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| Steampunk Tarot |
The Queen of Swords marries intuition with intellect. She is good at reading people, and is able to keep her emotions in check. She carries with her the grace of royalty and is capable of negotiating peace. She can also cut through to the heart of a matter, and get straight to the point.
Her message is that while compassion is the venue through which truth should be delivered, it should not cloud your judgment. Think with your head this week, and not your heart. Remain impartial and fair in your dealings this week.
Weekly Totem: Weekly Totem: Swan
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| Onebigphoto.com |
The Swan is one of the most powerful and ancient of totems. It is found in nearly every indigenous culture’s totemic line-up.
Swan’s message is that it's time you began realizing your own true beauty and recognizing your power from within. A Swan totem heralds a time of altered states of awareness and the development of intuitive abilities.
Swan people have the ability to see the future, and have a great aptitude for ‘going with the flow’. They can adapt to changes in their lives with grace and dignity. They are extremely intuitive and have strong psychic abilities. They know who is calling when the phone rings. They are strong (a swan can beat a man to death with his/her wings) and beautiful. Some are silent, some sing beautiful songs. They tend to attract people easily, although most prefer smaller groups.
You may have read Hans Christian Andersen's tale, "The Ugly Duckling", but did you know that it's a prevalent tale in many cultures? In Native American mythology, there is a story of how Swan (as an ugly duckling) meets with Dragonfly (the keeper of dreamtime mystery) and asks for entrance into the Dreamtime. She tells Dragonfly that she is willing to submit to whatever plan The Mystery has for her. He takes pity on the poor ugly creature, and allows her to enter the Dreaming Lands. Several days later, he encounters Swan again, but she is now one of the strongest, most beautiful creatures he has ever seen. He asks her what happened, and she tells him that because she was willing to submit to the flow of the currents of the Dreamtime river, and was willing to see the beauty in all things that shaped her, her form was changed.
Swan encourages you to find your strength and beauty from within. All of the events and situations that have transpired in your life have shaped you into who you are today. This is cause for celebration and not despair. You are transformed when you accept who you are and embrace the current of your life's story.
For those who haven't read the Ugly Duckling, here is a version of it from Disney that won awards in 1939:
Swan people have the ability to see the future, and have a great aptitude for ‘going with the flow’. They can adapt to changes in their lives with grace and dignity. They are extremely intuitive and have strong psychic abilities. They know who is calling when the phone rings. They are strong (a swan can beat a man to death with his/her wings) and beautiful. Some are silent, some sing beautiful songs. They tend to attract people easily, although most prefer smaller groups.
You may have read Hans Christian Andersen's tale, "The Ugly Duckling", but did you know that it's a prevalent tale in many cultures? In Native American mythology, there is a story of how Swan (as an ugly duckling) meets with Dragonfly (the keeper of dreamtime mystery) and asks for entrance into the Dreamtime. She tells Dragonfly that she is willing to submit to whatever plan The Mystery has for her. He takes pity on the poor ugly creature, and allows her to enter the Dreaming Lands. Several days later, he encounters Swan again, but she is now one of the strongest, most beautiful creatures he has ever seen. He asks her what happened, and she tells him that because she was willing to submit to the flow of the currents of the Dreamtime river, and was willing to see the beauty in all things that shaped her, her form was changed.
Swan encourages you to find your strength and beauty from within. All of the events and situations that have transpired in your life have shaped you into who you are today. This is cause for celebration and not despair. You are transformed when you accept who you are and embrace the current of your life's story.
For those who haven't read the Ugly Duckling, here is a version of it from Disney that won awards in 1939:
A Note from Cap'n Dave
Fair Winds and Following SeasI have enjoyed numerous posts, have had a joyous exchange with many people, have shared humorous things, frightening things, troubling things, and odd things, but lately, it seems as though matters have traversed into areas that I just can't continue to tread.
The recent spate of "share this if you have had a friend who has died from cancer" posts pretty well did it in for me. You see, I HAVE had a friend who died from cancer. Or, rather, from the "TREATMENT" for cancer. No, I won't share the status. Ever. My friend was vibrant. Alive. Chemotherapy took that away. I didn't see him again for 2 months. TWO MONTHS!!! When I saw him again, he was gaunt. He weighed 20 lbs. lighter (at least). He was pale. He was weak. He was completely hairless. He wasn't who he was anymore. Chemo took that away. No, I won't share that status. I never saw my friend again. Ever.
That was the last straw - dredging that up again.
Facebook has become, for me, nothing more than re-hashing of anger, hatred, fear, with the occasional cat post. I don't enjoy going there anymore. I don't enjoy seeing the strife, the wars, the accusations...even the fun things, but these get outweighed by the former these days.
Facebook used to be a place where I could hang out with my friends. It has changed into a place I get exposed to the detriment of society from anonymous sources, and I can't, in good conscience, allow those energies into my home through my computer anymore.
I thank you all for the enjoyment that we have shared, and wish that we could have a place devoid of the mess that has transpired. I would truly wish that we could meet someday in person, and would graciously accept any invitation to a place online where we could share our thoughts instead of this mess that has transpired.
I will try to keep tabs on you all via your various blogs, but should we never see one another again, know in your heart that you have found a special place in my own.
Blessings, and ashé!
Kallan's note: The Cap'n is taking a hiatus from The Stew until after Samhain, when we hope he will return. He is also on Google+ if you'd like to join him there.
That's it for this week's Stew! Mull. Digest. Enjoy!