The Sunday Stew: November 25-December 1

This Week's Stew is light and airy. Probably a good thing after the heavy Thanksgiving dinners and leftovers we've been consuming the last few days. The winter holiday season is officially upon us, and I wish for you a very happy and healthy one. Please do remember in the hustle and bustle of this time of year to take some time for you, and don't neglect to care for your spirit and body. Many of us get stressed out with gift-buying, preparing for the end of the year at work (or if you're in retail, the crazy busy time through January). My advice is to take some time each day, even if it's only 10-15 minutes for some quiet time just for you. Meditate, write in a journal, visualize your favorite place to be,  read something positive and uplifting, or just listen to a favorite song. Something just for you. Stay true to yourself and honor your own spiritual path right now :) And now, on to the Stew...


Happy Birthday this week to Sally Dubats (!!!!), Carol Diane O'Brocki, James Kidder, Rosalie Barnett, and Sharon Aven Rawson. May this be your best birthday ever, and may your next year of life be filled with joy, peace, good health, happiness and all the best things in abundance :)

In the News

Pagan Federation takes Charitable Status Case to Tribunal

Elderly Woman Killed in Witchcraft Claim

Angolan Church Frets over 'Chronic Witchcraft Problem'

Fear of Witchcraft Fuels Child Trafficking to the UK

University of Alberta Proud Owner of Rare Book on Fighting Witchcraft

South Africa: Accused of Being a Witch

Return of the Witch: World's Oldest Working Computer Gets a Reboot

The Woman Who Became a Witch-Pricker

Pagan Lore with Karen Szabo

Good Morning!  Here we are in a whole new week, which ends with December 1 -- can you believe it's almost Winter Solstice?  Seems there's always so much to do, and so little time!  But it's such a beautiful, cheerful, time of the year!

Sunday, November 25
Windmill Blessing Day. In days of old, many millers in Holland would bless their windmills on or around this date each year by throwing a handful or two of flour into the wind as an offering to appease the mischievous invisible entities known as the Windmill Spirits.

Monday, November 26
On this day (approximately), annual manhood initiation rites are performed by young males in the Basari villages of Senegal. The centuries-old ceremonies are followed by a joyous celebration of dancing, singing, and athletic competition.
A centuries-old fire festival takes place every year on this day in Tibet. The festival is dedicated to the ancient Goddesses who rule over light and fire.

Tuesday, November 27
The Indian Mother-Goddess known as Gujeswari is honored on or around this date each year by Buddhists and Hindus in Nepal. Prayers are recited throughout the day, and a musical procession fills the streets with sacred songs after sunset.
In India, a religious festival called the Parvati-Devi takes place on this day each year. It honor the Triple Goddess known as the Mother of the Universe, whose three Goddess aspects are Sarasvati (Maiden), Lakshmi (Mother), and Parvati (Crone).

Wednesday, November 28
Sophia, the ancient Greek Goddess of wisdom and inner truth, is honored and invoked annually on this day by cants, libations, and secret Pagan rituals performed by those who seek to acquire arcane knowledge.

Thursday, November 29
Each year on this night (according to ancient legend), vampires in Rumania are believed to rise up from their graves after a year-long sleep and walk the Earth in search of human blood. Garlic and crucifixes are hung on doors and windows for protection.  In ancient Egypt, the Feast of Hathor as Sekhmet was held each year on this day. It honored the lion-headed Goddess of battle, who was also the consort of the Moon-God Ptah.

Friday, November30
Saint Andrew's Night:  In many rural villages in Germany, young women still perform traditional love-divinations on this night. Using various methods of fortune-telling, they read omens and dreams to find out about their future husbands and marriages.
On this date in the year 1942, Otter Zell (Pagan priest and the founder of The Church of All Worlds) was born in Saint Louis, Missouri.


Saturday, December 1
In some parts of the world, the first day of December is the traditional time for young girls to perform the ancient art of cromniomancy (divination by onion sprouts) to find out the name of their future husband.
To find out who your future husband will be, take some onions and upon each one carve or write a different man's name. Place the onions near a fire and the man whose name is on the onion that sprouts first will be the one.

Wishing all of you a great day, and a wonderful season to come!  See you next time with more Pagan Lore,
Karen

This Week in Astrology

Monday, November 26, 5:48pm EST: Mercury Goes Direct

November 28, 9:46am EST: Full Moon in Gemini
Also called the Frosty Moon or the Beaver Moon, this is the smallest full moon of the year, and will be affected by a penumbral eclipse. If you're on the East Coast of the U.S., you won't see the eclipse at all, but several of you will have an opportunity. Go here for more information.
Full Moon articles:
http://www.libraseekingbalance.com/archives/6251
http://darkstarastrology.com/lunar-eclipse-november-2012/

Song of the Week with Kestril Trueseeker

Weekly Tarot: King of Swords

Key words and phrases: Intellect, Being Articulate, Applying reason and logic, Having high ethical standards.
The essence of air, such as a clear blue sky: A mature leader of unwavering ethics and indisputable authority. An incorruptible judge, whose devotion to the law cannot be swayed by emotion or material concerns. Perfect clarity of thought, directness of action, and eloquence of speech. One who, like a great general, inspires not love or devotion, but absolute trust and loyalty. In readings, the King of Swords asks you to take the kinds of actions he might take. For example: telling the truth, thinking up a solution, communicating well, or judging fairly. This King can also represent a man or woman who is acting as he does, or an atmosphere of reason, honesty and high standards.

Weekly Totem: Falcon

Key words and phrases: Freedom, Prophecy, Intensity, Determination

The Falcon is a solar emblem for success, victory and rising above a situation.
Further evidence of its solar influence, the Falcon was symbolic of the rising sun in Egypt. It is also the king of all birds where many gods were shown with the head or body of the Falcon (including Ra).

In European tradition, the Falcon represents the huntsman and is associated with the Germanic sky-gods Wodan as well as Frigg and the trickster Loki. In European culture the Falcon is considered a warlike symbol.

At its core, the Falcon animal totem represents visionary power, wisdom, and guardianship. This powerful bird awakens visionary power, and leads you to your life purpose. The Falcon carries with it a message of transition and change - perhaps in your vocation, work, career, etc...

Falcon comes into your life to tell you to take more initiative. Actively seek new opportunities as you work to navigate any current challenges. Falcons encourage insight, initiative, and leadership. When they appear they encourage you to be proactive.

Shameless Plug:

This week's Shameless Plug goes to two amazing artists, Gwain Nighthawk and Blake Octavian Blair's CD, "Canyon Storm". If you haven't heard their music, you are totally missing out. If you like Native flute music, you'll love this. Today and tomorrow, you can take an extra 15% off and support some really great independent artists. Check them out here.

*note: I shameless plug artists, blogs, artisans, crafters, musicians, etc.. that I like. I am not compensated in any way for these. If you've found something you think I might like to plug, feel free to email me or use the jot form at the top of this blog page.










That's it for this week's stew. Mull.Digest. Enjoy!