This week's stew scintillates the spirit with the pull of the thinning veil and preparations for Samhain. We'd love to hear from you about your own preparations for our favorite holiday! Leave us a comment and tell us about it!
Don't forget: The month-long October Celebration is going on over at Samhain's Sirens! There will be daily giveaways Monday-Saturday, right up through October 31, with a final grand prize winner announced on November 1.
Recipes, songs, crafts and blogs as well! Go check it out!
Ready to dig in? Then, let's get to it!
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
It's the first Sunday in October.. for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, we're beginning to really feel the pull of the Otherworld. The veil is thinning, and we're preparing to welcome the spirits and to honor the dead at Samhain.
I'm a huge fan of Loreena McKennitt. She has a gift of evoking the emotions associated with this pull. One of my favorite songs is "The Mystic's Dream" from her album, "The Mask and The Mirror". This song brings about the images of a mystical dreamer paying homage and expressing love to Spirit, The Mystery, "God", whatever label suits your fancy, and the connection this mystic has through nature. I'll post the lyrics to help you get a true sense of this song. It's perfect for the first full week of our favorite time of year.
Happy Birthday this week to Marie Bargas, Tiffany Newson, Melody Siracusa, Theresa Di Biasi, Wendy Coleman, Marc Roney, Barbra Annino, Colleen Calhoun, Christina Harrison, and Lindsey Beall Nash!!
May this be your best birthday yet, and may this next year of life bring you all the very best of good things in abundance!
9 Reasons You Might Have Been Suspected of Witchcraft in 1692
I Wasn't Delivered of Witchcraft
As Gambia Leaves Commonwealth, it's people live under a cult of witchcraft and execution
Residents Brew Up Plan To Restore 'Witch's Hat'
From witch-doctor's altar to freedom
60 year old man accused of practising witchcraft shot down
Man accused of killing 'witch' over meth
Sunday, October 6
On this date, an annual nine-day religious festival begins in Nepal to honor the great Hindu god Vishnu and to celebrate his awakening on a bed of serpents. As part of an ancient tradition, secret offerings are made to the god and placed in unripe pumpkins.
Monday, October 7
In the fifteenth century, peasants in Germany celebrated a week-long festival called the Kermesse. A Pagan icon (or some other sacred object) would be unearthed from its yearlong burial spot and then paraded through the village on top of gaily decorated pole. After a week of feasting, dancing, and games, the villagers would dress up in their mourning attire and rebury the icon in its grave, where it would remain until the next year's Kermesse.
On this date in the year 1909, famous author and Gardnerian Witch Arnold Crowther was born in Kent, England. He was initiated into the Craft in 1960 by Patricia Dawson, whom he later married. He passed away on Beltane-Sabbat in the year 1974.
Tuesday, October 8
On this day, an annual good luck festival called Chung Yeung Day (the Festival of High Places) is celebrated in China. Traditionally good omen kites are flown to carry away evil spirits. The festival also commemorates an ancient Chinese scholar named Huan Ching who, upon heeding the warning of a soothsayer, escaped with his family and friends high into the hills and thereby avoided a mysterious plague of death which swept through the village below, killing every living thing in sight.
Wednesday, October 9
Day of Felicitas. A festival celebrating the ancient Roman Goddess of luck and good fortune was held annually on this date in many parts of Italy. For many Wiccans and modern Witches, it is a time for casting spells and making amulets to attract good luck or to end a streak of bad luck.
Thursday, October 10
Throughout the country of Brazil, the annual Festival of Light begins on this date. The centuries-old festival, which is celebrated for two consecutive weeks, includes a parade of penance and the lighting of candles, torches, and hearth-fires to symbolically drive away the spirits of darkness who bring evil and misfortune.
Friday, October 11
Every year on this date, Witches in the countries of Denmark and Germany honor the Old Lady of the Elder Trees, an ancient Pagan spirit who dwells within and watches over each and every tree of the elder family. Before cutting any branches to use as magick wands, a libation of elderberry wine is poured onto the tree's roots and a special prayer is recited.
Saturday, October 12
On this date in the year 1875, famous occultists and ceremonial magician Aleister Crowley was born in Warwickshire, England. He authored many popular and controversial books on the subject of magick, and was notorious for his rites of sex magick, ceremonial sorcery, and blood sacrifices. Crowley often referred to himself as the Beast of the Apocalypse and was nicknamed The Wickedest Man in the world by the news media and by many who knew him personally. He died on December 1, 1947, and after his cremation, his ashes were shipped to his followers in the United States of America.
Also on this date in the year 1888, famous ceremonial magician and occult author Eliphas Levi died.
Have a great week everyone, and I'll see you next time with another edition of Pagan Lore!
Karen
Spiritual Protection Bags
Samhain Preparations
I start preparing in September. My husband birthday is on 17th so I start the celebration then or the coming weekend.
How I start to prepare is cleaning and cleansing the house. I physical clean and scrub everything getting into all the nicks and crannies that get forgotten over the busy months.
I then follow with cleaning opening windows, lighting candles and incense, and blasting some music, while dancing. Letting in the autumn breezes and refreshing the houses energies before locking it up for the winter.
I also start the decorations. Changing the table decor to gold, orange and purple. I pull out all my fancy dishes and set the table setting an empty place for Our Ancestors. I dust off the mantle (really need to get better at this) with all that family pictures, past and present. I refresh the herbs I have in front of my husband's mother. The mix contains pepper, cinnamon, bay leaves with wishes on them, and sea salt.
This year like the two years prior, I carve out pumpkins with my daughter and this year will be the first for my son. My daughter has already started asking about them.
Besides baking up a storm, I just made peach cobbler from scratch, yum! I don't do much else for Samhain. I stay in the kitchen have a glass or two of moscato and bake myself hot.
On October 2, 2002 my mom lost her final battling with cancer. I miss her greatly but, whenever I take out one of recipe card she wrote, and fix a meal, I remember the times we shared in the kitchen; the smile of triumph for my successes and the merciless but, good natured ribbing about my failures. The recipe I share with you this week is one of my favorites. After I moved out on my own, mom would always make it whenever I came home to visit. It is also the first I mastered. Though I must admit, mine never taste as good as hers.
Smothered Chicken
Ingredients:
•Frying chicken cut into 8 pieces
•2 teaspoons kosher salt
•2 teaspoons fresh ground pepper
•1 cup all-purpose flour plus 2 tablespoons
•½ cup vegetable oil
•1 large onion, coarsely chopped
•1 green bell pepper, corded, seeded and coarsely chopped
•1 stalk of celery coarsely chopped.
•1 cup water
Directions:
•Trim the excess fat from the chicken pieces and sprinkle them with a teaspoon each of salt and pepper
•Season the 1 cup of flour with remaining salt and pepper, dredge the chicken in flour
•Over medium heat, heat oil in heavy deep skillet until oil sizzles
•Add chicken pieces to skillet make sure the pieces do not touch
•Fry until chicken pieces are browned on all sides, about 6 minutes. Do not overbrown
•Remove done chicken and repeat process with remaining pieces
•When all chicken pieces are done, drain off all but 4 tablespoons of drippings, reduce heat to medium, and add the onions, peppers and celery to skillet.
•Cook until vegetables are brown and tender. About 10 minutes
•Move vegetables to one side of the skillet and sprinkle the 2 table spoons of flour over the cleared side of the skillet; cook until flour is golden brown, stirring constantly -- CARE NOT TO LET THE FLOUR BURN)
•Slowly pour water into skillet and stir until the gravy is smooth
•Place chicken pieces in heavy dutch oven or two heavy skillets with lids
•Pour gravy and vegetables over chicken and cover tightly
•Simmer over low heat until chicken is cooked through, about 15 minutes
This dish pairs nicely with cooked rice and collard greens (or whichever greens you prefer)
Don't forget: The month-long October Celebration is going on over at Samhain's Sirens! There will be daily giveaways Monday-Saturday, right up through October 31, with a final grand prize winner announced on November 1.
Recipes, songs, crafts and blogs as well! Go check it out!
Ready to dig in? Then, let's get to it!
Song of the Week with Kallan Kennedy
(standing in for Kestril who is on a break)Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
It's the first Sunday in October.. for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, we're beginning to really feel the pull of the Otherworld. The veil is thinning, and we're preparing to welcome the spirits and to honor the dead at Samhain.I'm a huge fan of Loreena McKennitt. She has a gift of evoking the emotions associated with this pull. One of my favorite songs is "The Mystic's Dream" from her album, "The Mask and The Mirror". This song brings about the images of a mystical dreamer paying homage and expressing love to Spirit, The Mystery, "God", whatever label suits your fancy, and the connection this mystic has through nature. I'll post the lyrics to help you get a true sense of this song. It's perfect for the first full week of our favorite time of year.
The Mystic's Dream
by Loreena McKennitt
by Loreena McKennitt
A clouded dream on an earthly night
Hangs upon the crescent moon
A voiceless song in an ageless light
Sings at the coming dawn
Birds in flight are calling there
Where the heart moves the stones
It's there that my heart is longing for…
All for the love of you
A painting hangs on an ivy wall
Nestled in the emerald moss
The eyes declare a truce of trust
Where deep in the desert twilight
Sand melts in pools of the sky
Darkness lays her crimson cloak
Your lamps will call me home
And so it's there my homage's due
Clutched by the still of the night
Now I feel you move
And every breath is full
So it's there my homage's due
Clutched by the still of the night
Even the distance feels so near
All for the love of you
A clouded dream on an earthly night
Hangs upon the crescent moon
A voiceless song in an ageless light
Sings at the coming dawn
Birds in flight are calling there
Where the heart moves the stones
It's there that my heart is longing
All for the love of you
May this be your best birthday yet, and may this next year of life bring you all the very best of good things in abundance!
In the News
9 Reasons You Might Have Been Suspected of Witchcraft in 1692
I Wasn't Delivered of Witchcraft
As Gambia Leaves Commonwealth, it's people live under a cult of witchcraft and execution
Residents Brew Up Plan To Restore 'Witch's Hat'
From witch-doctor's altar to freedom
60 year old man accused of practising witchcraft shot down
Man accused of killing 'witch' over meth
Pagan Lore with Karen Szabo
Good Morning, Sunday Stew readers! Hope you're enjoying some beautiful Autumn weather, wherever you are! Here is this week's Pagan Lore:
Sunday, October 6
On this date, an annual nine-day religious festival begins in Nepal to honor the great Hindu god Vishnu and to celebrate his awakening on a bed of serpents. As part of an ancient tradition, secret offerings are made to the god and placed in unripe pumpkins.
Monday, October 7
In the fifteenth century, peasants in Germany celebrated a week-long festival called the Kermesse. A Pagan icon (or some other sacred object) would be unearthed from its yearlong burial spot and then paraded through the village on top of gaily decorated pole. After a week of feasting, dancing, and games, the villagers would dress up in their mourning attire and rebury the icon in its grave, where it would remain until the next year's Kermesse.
On this date in the year 1909, famous author and Gardnerian Witch Arnold Crowther was born in Kent, England. He was initiated into the Craft in 1960 by Patricia Dawson, whom he later married. He passed away on Beltane-Sabbat in the year 1974.
Tuesday, October 8
On this day, an annual good luck festival called Chung Yeung Day (the Festival of High Places) is celebrated in China. Traditionally good omen kites are flown to carry away evil spirits. The festival also commemorates an ancient Chinese scholar named Huan Ching who, upon heeding the warning of a soothsayer, escaped with his family and friends high into the hills and thereby avoided a mysterious plague of death which swept through the village below, killing every living thing in sight.
Wednesday, October 9
Day of Felicitas. A festival celebrating the ancient Roman Goddess of luck and good fortune was held annually on this date in many parts of Italy. For many Wiccans and modern Witches, it is a time for casting spells and making amulets to attract good luck or to end a streak of bad luck.
Thursday, October 10
Throughout the country of Brazil, the annual Festival of Light begins on this date. The centuries-old festival, which is celebrated for two consecutive weeks, includes a parade of penance and the lighting of candles, torches, and hearth-fires to symbolically drive away the spirits of darkness who bring evil and misfortune.
Friday, October 11
Every year on this date, Witches in the countries of Denmark and Germany honor the Old Lady of the Elder Trees, an ancient Pagan spirit who dwells within and watches over each and every tree of the elder family. Before cutting any branches to use as magick wands, a libation of elderberry wine is poured onto the tree's roots and a special prayer is recited.
Saturday, October 12
On this date in the year 1875, famous occultists and ceremonial magician Aleister Crowley was born in Warwickshire, England. He authored many popular and controversial books on the subject of magick, and was notorious for his rites of sex magick, ceremonial sorcery, and blood sacrifices. Crowley often referred to himself as the Beast of the Apocalypse and was nicknamed The Wickedest Man in the world by the news media and by many who knew him personally. He died on December 1, 1947, and after his cremation, his ashes were shipped to his followers in the United States of America.
Also on this date in the year 1888, famous ceremonial magician and occult author Eliphas Levi died.
Have a great week everyone, and I'll see you next time with another edition of Pagan Lore!
Karen
Mid-Air Moxie with Adelina Soto Thomas
Samhain Preparations: Welcoming the Spirits
Preparing for Samhain requires a great deal of ‘fine tuning’ of my energy. My celebrations include honoring those loved ones who have passed, but the manner in which I do this is a bit different every year. The reason is because I am guided by those beyond the Veil for what they want to see each year. As Samhain approaches I have come to recognize that in order to prepare for the visits from spirits, I first must make sure that I am spiritually prepared to receive them.
As the Veil between the worlds becomes thinner, I am bombarded by dreams. I normally remember most of my dreams but as Samhain draws near, my dreams have a potency that can feel overwhelming. It’s like having a paranormal party supply list given to me every night. My dreams are full of my beloved departed and they let me know just what they want from me. It could be what they want on the altar, a movie they want me to watch or a book they think I should read, or places that they want me to go. Normally I would call to my ancestors to give me guidance if I had need of their aid. At this time of the year, the Spirits are the chatty house guests who show up, unannounced. If not prepared, they can run you in circles until they finally go back home after the holidays and leave you utterly spent.
I have to say, having Spirits come by way of dreams now is done at my own request. I’m basically a scaredy cat…I don’t like being startled or taken by surprise. When first developing my abilities to be in touch with Spirits, I was taught to meditate, to be quiet and listen when the Spirits occasionally showed up and favored me with their presence and advice. Most of the time, I would sense they were near…’feel’ their energy, ‘hear’ their voices and occasionally ‘see’ them. My priestess and teachers taught me how to calmly connect with that energy and how to raise energy within myself so I could recognize Spirits when I called to them.
What I wasn’t prepared for was Octoberfest…meaning, the crazy month leading up to Samhain when Spirits would travel much easier (and more frequently) between worlds. It was like Grand Central Station in my house! Spirits would pop in while I was sleeping, eating, watching television, and yes, in the shower. Ick! I knew how to turn it ‘on’ but I didn’t know quite how to turn it ‘off’ or better still, restrict access in a way that I could handle it. Finally, I realized that like any house guest, I needed to set some rules for them or I would have no peace of mind. So now, at the end of September and all through October, I set the rules for the Spirits-every day. I take a few moments in the morning or evening to speak to them.
I welcome them for their visit. They may not harm or scare me, my husband or my cat. If they break the rules, they must leave. If they have something urgent to speak to me about, the dreams are the easiest way to do it. I will have their favorite foods and play their favorite music. In dreams they take me on journeys to the places they loved. They tell me wonderful stories in my dreams. Sometimes they want me to go places for them. It might be the cemetery where they are buried. It might be the local bakery where they can take in the scents they loved when they were alive. During my waking hours, I prepare the altar, prepare myself, and prepare the offerings for them. It can be a wonderful time, enjoying dream time with the Spirits. This works best for me and others have their own ways to welcome Spirits.
A little conversation over my morning coffee with the Spirits is all the preparation I need for the dream time visit later that night. But it’s all about spending some extra time with those who influenced who I am today. It’s another moment to say, ‘Welcome back. I missed you.’
Oh the Humanity! with Loren Morris
Spiritual Protection Bags
Since the Veil is getting thinner, the ability to communicate with Other Side is becoming easier and easier. While most people relish this time of getting closer to their spirit friends, there are some that feel it and they dread it.
My older son is one of the "dreaders". Read my post about him HERE. He has always been able to see spirits to a higher degree than me. My son and one of friends came over for some more spiritual protection the other night.
After I performed the spell for my son that put his spirit in a jar, I've had some interesting results. This will also be a lesson to all of you that "board". Since I did the spell, I have not been able to speak to anyone but this spirit that I trapped, on the board. It was heinous. It was continually telling me that it was "assigned" to Curtis and that it was sent as a lesson. My spirit guide couldn't come through at all and honestly, it was getting tiring. I also had to wax the top of the jar. The lid kept loosening.
I spoke with Christian Day about it and he offered me a very simple solution, that in my aggravation, I didn't think of. (Thank you, Christian) He said to simply put the jar inside a ring of salt. It worked like a charm. My spirit guide, Orion, was able to come through and he informed me that the spirit had been lying, it was not assigned to Curt. I knew the little bastard (my nickname for it) was lying to me. But, I thought I would include this story so that you would understand how some spirits work and that you cannot fall for everything that is told to you on a board. This spirit had attached itself to my son because of his energy and it enjoyed being around him.
Now, I mentioned that my son brought a friend with him that also wanted help. I have his spirit in a jar, also. I have performed the same spell for him. His was a psychic attack placed on him by a priest of Santeria. It happened when he was still a teenager, in Florida. He has known for the past few years that something just wasn't right, and he felt like he was being followed. My spirit guide confirmed this during our board session.
Since both boys were having trouble with spirits, I thought that I would make protection bags for them to carry to keep the spirits at bay. They are a little different in their contents and I am going to walk you through the steps for each.
We will do Curtly's (my nickname for him) first. He is open to spirits constantly, so in his I included items to ground him.
Read the rest of this post at Saga's Cottage blog.
Loren's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SagasCottage
Loren's Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SagasCottage
Sunshine's Meanderings with Kathleen Lane
Samhain Sharing
I have always had trouble deciding how to decorate for Samhain. Growing up with it being a harvest festival at this time colored my views about how to decorate. Then I absorbed Samhain into my belief and it made it difficult. Do I decorate for Harvest or for Halloween or a combo of the two? And if I combine them, which is the focus?
Since we now live in a city where we actually have Trick or Treaters in droves, I decorate the outside with all of the usual Halloween regalia. It is fun and I set up a table on the porch with goodies for the long suffering parents who are shepherding their kids around. I put out a crockpot of hot spiced cider and adult goodies. It is amazing how much cider we go through and how much the parents appreciate a quick break. Our porch is a huge wrap around with lots of space and comfortable seating so it gives the parents a chance to sit down for a few minutes and rest their feet.
Inside the house, Harvest abounds with all of the wonderful bounty of the season and I use incense that evokes the season. My ritual involves reaching out to the family and friends who have passed over and remembering them. In particular I always reach out to my grandfather. He has been gone since 1976 but I have never stopped missing him and there have been more than a few occasions when I have felt him. He and I had a very special bond and I adored him. He always called me Sunshine or George and the big teddy he got me back in the 60's is always on my dresser.
One of the traditional Harvest things I do is a ritual that involves forgiveness of anger and grudges from the past year. I write down on a slip of paper either the name of the person or the act and put them in my cauldron and burn them. Then I wash away the anger with the ashes. The tribal ritual also dealt with debts from the past year. They were either forgiven or paid back in some way. It allowed each person to end the year on a fresh note.
What do you do to celebrate this time of year?
Kathi
Tiffany's Jumbo with Tiffany Newson
Samhain Preparations
I start preparing in September. My husband birthday is on 17th so I start the celebration then or the coming weekend.
How I start to prepare is cleaning and cleansing the house. I physical clean and scrub everything getting into all the nicks and crannies that get forgotten over the busy months.
I then follow with cleaning opening windows, lighting candles and incense, and blasting some music, while dancing. Letting in the autumn breezes and refreshing the houses energies before locking it up for the winter.
I also start the decorations. Changing the table decor to gold, orange and purple. I pull out all my fancy dishes and set the table setting an empty place for Our Ancestors. I dust off the mantle (really need to get better at this) with all that family pictures, past and present. I refresh the herbs I have in front of my husband's mother. The mix contains pepper, cinnamon, bay leaves with wishes on them, and sea salt.
This year like the two years prior, I carve out pumpkins with my daughter and this year will be the first for my son. My daughter has already started asking about them.
Besides baking up a storm, I just made peach cobbler from scratch, yum! I don't do much else for Samhain. I stay in the kitchen have a glass or two of moscato and bake myself hot.
The Spice with La'Trice Lott
Growing up, I was the eldest child of a single, working mother who, in addition to all the stress that comes from trying to raise children alone, also battled cancer several times. When my mom was working and when she became too ill to hand the day-to-day chores, the bulk of those responsibilities fell on me. Including but, not limited to preparing dinner. In our family, you learned to by doing. If you were old enough to hold a spoon, then you were old enough to stir a bowl. The complexity level of your cooking tasks increased with age. By the time I was 11; I had mastered several recipes, and could put together a full meal in under 2 hours.
On October 2, 2002 my mom lost her final battling with cancer. I miss her greatly but, whenever I take out one of recipe card she wrote, and fix a meal, I remember the times we shared in the kitchen; the smile of triumph for my successes and the merciless but, good natured ribbing about my failures. The recipe I share with you this week is one of my favorites. After I moved out on my own, mom would always make it whenever I came home to visit. It is also the first I mastered. Though I must admit, mine never taste as good as hers.
Smothered Chicken
Ingredients:
•Frying chicken cut into 8 pieces
•2 teaspoons kosher salt
•2 teaspoons fresh ground pepper
•1 cup all-purpose flour plus 2 tablespoons
•½ cup vegetable oil
•1 large onion, coarsely chopped
•1 green bell pepper, corded, seeded and coarsely chopped
•1 stalk of celery coarsely chopped.
•1 cup water
Directions:
•Trim the excess fat from the chicken pieces and sprinkle them with a teaspoon each of salt and pepper
•Season the 1 cup of flour with remaining salt and pepper, dredge the chicken in flour
•Over medium heat, heat oil in heavy deep skillet until oil sizzles
•Add chicken pieces to skillet make sure the pieces do not touch
•Fry until chicken pieces are browned on all sides, about 6 minutes. Do not overbrown
•Remove done chicken and repeat process with remaining pieces
•When all chicken pieces are done, drain off all but 4 tablespoons of drippings, reduce heat to medium, and add the onions, peppers and celery to skillet.
•Cook until vegetables are brown and tender. About 10 minutes
•Move vegetables to one side of the skillet and sprinkle the 2 table spoons of flour over the cleared side of the skillet; cook until flour is golden brown, stirring constantly -- CARE NOT TO LET THE FLOUR BURN)
•Slowly pour water into skillet and stir until the gravy is smooth
•Place chicken pieces in heavy dutch oven or two heavy skillets with lids
•Pour gravy and vegetables over chicken and cover tightly
•Simmer over low heat until chicken is cooked through, about 15 minutes
This dish pairs nicely with cooked rice and collard greens (or whichever greens you prefer)
Sunday, October 6: Moon Void of Course until 4:32 am, then moves into Scorpio
Monday, October 7: 1:53 pm, Venus moves into Scorpio
Tuesday, October 8: Moon Void of Course from 12:53am-8:21am, then moves into Sagittarius
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![]()
9:04am Waxing Crescent Moon
Monday, October 7: 1:53 pm, Venus moves into Scorpio
Tuesday, October 8: Moon Void of Course from 12:53am-8:21am, then moves into Sagittarius
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
9:04am Waxing Crescent MoonWednesday, October 9: All's Quiet in the Heavens
Thursday, October 10: Moon Void of Course from 6:10am-11:17am, then moves into Capricorn
Friday, October 11: 7:02pm First Quarter Moon
Moon Void of Course from 8:04pm through the rest of the night
Saturday, October 12: Moon Void of Course until 1:59pm then moves into Aquarius
Weekly Horoscope from DarkStar Astrology
"The path of destiny. Karma on a grand scale. An unexpected turn of good fortune. A link in the chain of events. Success, luck, and happiness."~ facade.com
The Wheel of Fortune is one of my favorite cards. It, of course, represents the Wheel of The Year, the cyclical nature of life, and the changing of the seasons, with all of their symbolism. This card, in the upright position, portends success and happiness. It also suggests that you do not have to accept everything that "life" throws at you. You do have the ability to move the wheel to your favor. However, adversity and challenges are also a part of life, and it's how you handle them that matters. Having "faith", rolling with the changes, and knowing that the lean times are simply part of the cycle helps it to move faster and teach you lessons that are valuable in your growth.
The Wheel of Fortune also speaks to a pivotal point in your life. You are ready for good things to happen. New options are now available to you. You must choose to take that first step on a new path, or to make changes necessary to move toward that dream or goal. You can take the wheel and drive. Trust yourself and the Universe to work together for your best intention.
Key words: Joy, Play, Helpfulness
Otters are some of my favorite animals to watch in the wild. We have a river otter that visits my back yard every once in awhile (I happen to be lucky enough to live with a creek behind us that feeds into a run, that feeds into a river). According to National Geographic, "otters swim by propelling themselves with their powerful tails and flexing their long bodies. They also have webbed feet, water repellent fur to keep them dry and warm, and nostrils and ears that close in the water. They remain active in winter, using ice holes to surface and breathe. They can hold their breath underwater for some eight minutes."
Sociologist and animal behaviorists agree that socialization is a key to brain development and intelligence. Otters have this in spades. "River otters are renowned for their sense of play. Otter play mostly consists of wrestling with conspecifics. Chasing is also a common game. River otters rely upon play to learn survival skills such as fighting and hunting." ~Smith College Biology Dept.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![]()
Those who carry an otter totem are some of the most fun people to be around. They never lose their sense of childlike wonder and play. They know when to laugh at themselves and when to use their antics to cheer up another. In many indigenous North American cultures, otter was seen as the ultimate feminine creature, and one to which both men and women should aspire for her nurturing, playful spirit that lives without jealousy.
Otter (Dobhran- which means water dog in Gaelic) in Celtic culture was also seen as a playful, go-with-the-flow creature with a strong sense of fun.
Otter's message is to remember the wonder of the world and your connection to nature. Don't take everything so seriously and lighten up this week. Have fun, go outside. Take a hike in the woods, build a fort out of twigs and fallen branches, skip rocks, climb a tree.. be a child again- go ahead. You have permission. PLAY!
That's it for this week's Stew. Mull. Digest. Enjoy!
The Sunday Stew is a free, e-publication delivered every Sunday as a loving gift to the Pagan community. All submissions are the intellectual property of their authors, and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the blog owner. All photos used are either copyrighted to their owners and are used with permission or are used through creative commons license. Astrology, Tarot and Totem are for entertainment purposes.
We welcome your feedback! Please be sure to tell us how we're doing and give us suggestions for improvement. You can leave a comment here (remember, they are moderated so it may take some time for yours to appear), use the contact form at the top of the page, email Kallan, or comment on Kallan's Facebook page. We look forward to hearing from you!
Thursday, October 10: Moon Void of Course from 6:10am-11:17am, then moves into Capricorn
Friday, October 11: 7:02pm First Quarter Moon
Moon Void of Course from 8:04pm through the rest of the night
Saturday, October 12: Moon Void of Course until 1:59pm then moves into Aquarius
Weekly Horoscope from DarkStar Astrology
Weekly Tarot with Kallan Kennedy
The Wheel of Fortune| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| Angie Chow, Artist |
"The path of destiny. Karma on a grand scale. An unexpected turn of good fortune. A link in the chain of events. Success, luck, and happiness."~ facade.com
The Wheel of Fortune is one of my favorite cards. It, of course, represents the Wheel of The Year, the cyclical nature of life, and the changing of the seasons, with all of their symbolism. This card, in the upright position, portends success and happiness. It also suggests that you do not have to accept everything that "life" throws at you. You do have the ability to move the wheel to your favor. However, adversity and challenges are also a part of life, and it's how you handle them that matters. Having "faith", rolling with the changes, and knowing that the lean times are simply part of the cycle helps it to move faster and teach you lessons that are valuable in your growth.
The Wheel of Fortune also speaks to a pivotal point in your life. You are ready for good things to happen. New options are now available to you. You must choose to take that first step on a new path, or to make changes necessary to move toward that dream or goal. You can take the wheel and drive. Trust yourself and the Universe to work together for your best intention.
Weekly Totem with Kallan Kennedy
OtterKey words: Joy, Play, Helpfulness
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| River Oter by Ravenari |
Sociologist and animal behaviorists agree that socialization is a key to brain development and intelligence. Otters have this in spades. "River otters are renowned for their sense of play. Otter play mostly consists of wrestling with conspecifics. Chasing is also a common game. River otters rely upon play to learn survival skills such as fighting and hunting." ~Smith College Biology Dept.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Those who carry an otter totem are some of the most fun people to be around. They never lose their sense of childlike wonder and play. They know when to laugh at themselves and when to use their antics to cheer up another. In many indigenous North American cultures, otter was seen as the ultimate feminine creature, and one to which both men and women should aspire for her nurturing, playful spirit that lives without jealousy.Otter (Dobhran- which means water dog in Gaelic) in Celtic culture was also seen as a playful, go-with-the-flow creature with a strong sense of fun.
Otter's message is to remember the wonder of the world and your connection to nature. Don't take everything so seriously and lighten up this week. Have fun, go outside. Take a hike in the woods, build a fort out of twigs and fallen branches, skip rocks, climb a tree.. be a child again- go ahead. You have permission. PLAY!
Here is a poem from one of my favorites, Seamus Heaney- Irish poet and playwright, and winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1995. He died in August of this year, and the world is dimmer for it.
The Shameless Plug
This might seem like a weird place to give kudos, but that's how I'm rolling. I want to give a shout out to the television series, "American Horror Story". Their new season begins on October 9, and is entitled, "Coven". Yes, it's going to be a horror story about witches, Marie Laveau, and Voodoo. In a rare display of responsibility for television, the show's producers have gone the extra mile to produce the following video that actually educates the public on Voodoo prior to the airing of their fictional story. I have the utmost respect for this, as I so rarely see it happen. Well done, AHS! Well done!
Leftovers
Still hungry? Come check out Friday's blog post, where I am honoring the dead.
Sláinte!!
K
That's it for this week's Stew. Mull. Digest. Enjoy!
The Sunday Stew is a free, e-publication delivered every Sunday as a loving gift to the Pagan community. All submissions are the intellectual property of their authors, and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the blog owner. All photos used are either copyrighted to their owners and are used with permission or are used through creative commons license. Astrology, Tarot and Totem are for entertainment purposes.
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