As we move into the busy holiday season, let's take time to remember to care for ourselves, as we are just as important as those for whom we care. Hug yourselves for me and enjoy the stew!
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Pagan Lore with Karen Szabo
Good Morning, and welcome to the Pagan Lore!
Sunday, November 18
Ardvi, a Persian Goddess believed to the Mother of the Stars, is honored annually on this date with a sacred festival called the Ardvi Sura (The Day of Ardvi). The festival, which takes place under the nighttime stars, has been celebrated by the faithful in southwestern Asia since ancient times.
Monday, November 19
Warlock Day. According to medieval superstitious belief, the first stranger you meet on this day who is dressed in black from head to toe will be a warlock (a male Witch). Take care not to look him directly in the eyes; otherwise you will become bewitched.
Tuesday, November 20
On this night, when the Pleiades (a cluster of stars in the constellation of Taurus) become visible to the naked eye, native rituals and celebrations begin in Hawaii to mark the beginning of their harvest season and to honor and give thanks to the ancient god Lono.
Wednesday, November 21
In ancient times, a joyous Mayan festival honoring the god Kukulcan began each year on this date. The celebration lasted for several days and nights. This day is also sacred to the Pagan gods Chango, Damballah, Quetzalcoatl, and Tammuz.
Thursday, November 22
On this date (approximately), the Sun enters the astrological sign of Sagittarius. Persons born under the sign of the Centaur-Archer are said to be optimistic, enthusiastic, curious, and often outspoken and prone to exaggeration. Sagittarius is a fire sign and is ruled by the planet Jupiter.
Friday, November 23
On this day in England, Saint Clement (the patron of ironworkers) is honored with elaborate rituals. However, in ancient times, this day was celebrated with a Pagan feast in honor of the wizard-blacksmith of the Saxon deities.
In Japan, a rice harvest celebration called the Shinjosai Festival for Konohana-Hime is held yearly on this date. It is dedicated to the granddaughter Goddess of the solar deity Amaterasu.
Saturday, November 24
In Japan, the annual festival known as Tori-No-Ichi takes place on or around this date. Traditionally, special bamboo rakes decorated with symbols of good fortune are carried through the streets in order to attract benevolent spirits.
In ancient Egypt, the sacred goddesses of light and birth were honored and invoked annually on or around this day with prayers, libations, and the ritual burning of special lamps.
Ardvi, a Persian Goddess believed to the Mother of the Stars, is honored annually on this date with a sacred festival called the Ardvi Sura (The Day of Ardvi). The festival, which takes place under the nighttime stars, has been celebrated by the faithful in southwestern Asia since ancient times.
Monday, November 19
Warlock Day. According to medieval superstitious belief, the first stranger you meet on this day who is dressed in black from head to toe will be a warlock (a male Witch). Take care not to look him directly in the eyes; otherwise you will become bewitched.
Tuesday, November 20
On this night, when the Pleiades (a cluster of stars in the constellation of Taurus) become visible to the naked eye, native rituals and celebrations begin in Hawaii to mark the beginning of their harvest season and to honor and give thanks to the ancient god Lono.
Wednesday, November 21
In ancient times, a joyous Mayan festival honoring the god Kukulcan began each year on this date. The celebration lasted for several days and nights. This day is also sacred to the Pagan gods Chango, Damballah, Quetzalcoatl, and Tammuz.
Thursday, November 22
On this date (approximately), the Sun enters the astrological sign of Sagittarius. Persons born under the sign of the Centaur-Archer are said to be optimistic, enthusiastic, curious, and often outspoken and prone to exaggeration. Sagittarius is a fire sign and is ruled by the planet Jupiter.
Friday, November 23
On this day in England, Saint Clement (the patron of ironworkers) is honored with elaborate rituals. However, in ancient times, this day was celebrated with a Pagan feast in honor of the wizard-blacksmith of the Saxon deities.
In Japan, a rice harvest celebration called the Shinjosai Festival for Konohana-Hime is held yearly on this date. It is dedicated to the granddaughter Goddess of the solar deity Amaterasu.
Saturday, November 24
In Japan, the annual festival known as Tori-No-Ichi takes place on or around this date. Traditionally, special bamboo rakes decorated with symbols of good fortune are carried through the streets in order to attract benevolent spirits.
In ancient Egypt, the sacred goddesses of light and birth were honored and invoked annually on or around this day with prayers, libations, and the ritual burning of special lamps.
Wishing everyone a wonderful week, and a fantastic Thanksgiving with family and friends! See you next time,
Karen
This Week in Astrology
Tuesday, November 20, 9:31am EST: First Quarter Moon
"At the Quarter Moons, I'm not surprised when the plaintive wail of a siren breaks the silence of my otherwise sleepy town. Or when the nightly news features a sudden eruption of bomb threats, shootings, deadly traffic accidents, domestic quarrels exploding into murderous rage. Full Moons may have the greater reputation for inspiring wild or erratic behavior, but at the quarter Moons, there may be even greater tension in the air. Dane Rudhyar called the first and Last Quarter Moons "crisis" times...(read more here)"
Nov 21st: Sun enters Sagittarius 4:50 pm EST
Profile of Sun in Sagittarius
Nov 21st: Venus enters Scorpio 8:20 pm EST
Profile of Venus in Scorpio
November VoC Moon Calendar
Song of the Week with Kestril Trueseeker
Weekly Tarot: The Sun
A time of contentment and freedom from restraints. Creative inspiration. Achievement, success, and warmth. Light and love in personal or business matters. Happiness and faithfulness in a relationship. You have total confidence in yourself. You are not cocky, but profoundly sure of your power. You have unlimited energy and glow with health. You have a greatness about you and stand out brilliantly. Finally, you see and understand all that is happening within your sphere. When you see this card, know that you will be successful at all you undertake. Now is the time to let your light shine.
Weekly Totem: Vulture
Vultures have many mythological associations across many cultures, from Greece to Egypt to West Africa to Arabia and elsewhere. They have been appropriated in worship of the following deities; Ares, Athene, Buto, Fene-Ma-So, Hathor, The Harpies, Isis, Juno, Mut, Nasr, Neith, Nekhebet, Osiris, Pallas and Saturn. In paganism they represent the Great Mother or the Dark Mother. In Egyptian times, the glyphs that represented the mother and grandmother were stylized images of the vulture.
All vultures have exceptional eyesight, and use this eyesight to spot their food, and to spot other vultures who have spotted food. In this sense, they teach us to be all-seeing in our own lives. This ability can, with work, lead to prophecy as we use our ability to 'see' into different worlds to pull information from the past, present and future.
Vulture is the wind-rider that comes into our lives to show us ways of negotiating problems that do not expend our personal energy and keeps us in peak condition. Vulture's ability to manipulate the wind and sun energies to its own gain suggests that we ourselves should focus on the energies of wind (mind/spirit) and sun (body, childlike wonder) in our own lives.
The vulture's ability to locate death, nourish itself from that death, and perpetuate whole life-cycles from death, lets us understand the relevance of decay. The vulture teaches us to embrace and understand death, either our own, or the death of others.
Vulture, with its connection to mother/dark goddesses often represents transcendent love and love beyond the grave. Vulture can come into our lives to open ourselves up to this eternal well-spring of love and purity, vulture also comes into our lives to help us reach those who have passed on, or to help us reach those of the living - who we feel we can never talk to again because of a 'dead' relationship.
Clearly, vulture is a robust messenger. Do as vulture would do and take what message is nourishing for you at this time.
The Shameless Plug
Sally is not only a great writer, but she's also a genuinely sweet and lovely person. When she says that she loves hearing from her readers, she means it. She responds personally and loves making new friends. You totally need to visit her website, http://sallydubats.com and sign up for her weekly newsletter. You'll be amazed at all of the great tips she gives there.
Take my word for it; you're going to love it. You can also visit Sally on Facebook and Twitter. Be sure to tell her Kallan sent ya ;)
Oh! And, you're welcome.
Special Request
If you prefer to give blankets, clothing, etc... instead, please reach out to Vickie directly. You can reach out to her via her blog or Facebook page. Thank you in advance for your generous, loving spirit and kindness. Even if you can only send up a prayer or some positive energy, it's all very welcome.
That's it for this week's stew. Mull. Digest. Enjoy.
