This week's Stew is a strange brew of homey goodness. Sosanna's talking cats, Renee has a poem, and Kathleen's taking on religion. Karen, Kestril and I have your usual lore, songs and divinations, and there's plenty of news and astrology to review as well. Our friends in the Blackberry Circle Coven have a special announcement, so be sure to check that out, especially if you're in the Texas area, and I'm shamelessly plugging away ;)
Do you have your favorite cuppa? Ok, then, let's serve up some stew!
Happy Birthday this week to Ppi Jenn Hodgson, Emily MacDonald, Clear Rivers, Maria de la Gueparada, Jennifer Rudolph (my Steelers buddy!), Firelyte Rioter(!), Carolyn Nugent, and Lillie Moonbirch! May this be your best birthday ever, and may this next year of your life bring you joy, peace, happiness, health and good fortune in abundance!
Mob Tortures and Beheads Two Women on Witchcraft Charges
Nepal Witchcraft Attack Condemned
NZ urged to help repeal PNG Sorcery Act
Women Killed for Practising Sorcery
Capturing the Still Practiced Pagan Rituals of Europe
Britain's biggest police force has four mediums, a Pagan and a DRUID among its bobbies on the beat
Pagans Celebrate Religious Tolerance
Special Announcement:
Hi and Merry Meet. I'm a member of Blackberry Circle Coven in Conroe, Texas. We are hosting the Houston Pagan Conference in May and we're needing some help with funding. We have started a campaign on GoFundMe. You can find our page and information here: http://www.gofundme.com/Houston-Pagan-Conference .
Good Morning! Welcome to another week of Pagan Lore, full of facts and interesting Pagan tidbits from all around the world!
Sunday, April 14
According to superstitious belief, the fourteenth day of April is a very unlucky time for travel, especially by ship. (It was on this date in the year 1912 that the oceanliner Titanic collided with an iceberg and sank to the bottom of the sea.) Whether the Titanic tragedy spawned the superstition or merely served to reinforce it is unknown. Maryamma (or Mariamne), the Hindu Goddess of the sea, is honored in India with a sacred festival which begins annually on this day.
Monday, April 15
In ancient Rome, the Earth-Goddess Tellus (or Tellus Mater) was honored annually on this day. A pregnant cow was traditionally sacrificed at her sacred festival and the unborn calf burned in a bonfire to ensure the fertility of the crops. Also on this day, the Festival of the Iron Phallus (Kanamara Matsuri) is celebrated annually in Kawasaki City, Japan. The ancient Japanese deities associated with sexuality and human reproduction give their sacred blessings and encouragement; especially to couples who wed late in life or to men who suffer from declining potency.
Tuesday, April 16
Every year on this day, the god Apollo was worshipped and supplicated by his faithful cult in ancient Greece. An annual festival called the Hiketeria was celebrated in his honor. On this date in the year 1946, Pagan author Margot Adler was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. Her Wiccan handfasting on June 19, 1988 was the first Neo-Pagan Wedding to appear in the New York Times' society pages.
Wednesday, April 17
In the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal, an annual religious event called the Chariot Festival of the Rain God begins on this day. It is dedicated to Machendrana, the ancient and powerful Indian god of rain. The festival is celebrated for approximately eight consecutive weeks.
Thursday, April 18
The Festival of Rama-Navami is celebrated every year on this date at sacred shrines throughout India. It honors both the great Hindu god Rama (the seventh incarnation of Vishnu) and the Goddess Sita.
Friday, April 19
On this date in the year 1824, Lord Byron (whose real name was George Gordon) died of a fever. The English poet, who was known for dabbling in the occult arts, helped shape Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and gave John Polidori the idea for this novel "The Vampyre". Lord Byron's heart was removed from his corpse and buried in Greece; the rest of his remains were shipped back to England.
Saturday, April 20
On this date (approximately) the Sun enters the astrological sign of Taurus. Persons born under the sign of the Bull are said to be stable, reliable, patient, and often stubborn. Taurus is an earth sign and is ruled by the planet Venus.
Here's hoping the week brings you some lovely Spring weather! See you next time,
Karen
Apr 15th: Venus enters Taurus 3:25 AM
Apr 18, 2013 8:31 AM Sun Square Moon (First Quarter Moon)
"Change with the Quarter Moons" by Dana Gerhardt
Apr 19th: Sun enters Taurus 6:03 PM
Apr 20th: Mars enters Taurus 7:48 AM
Remember, Pluto is in Retrograde from now until September 20th. Here is a great article in case you missed it last week. From Lynn Koiner's Astrology
Weekly Horoscopes from Darkstar Astrology
Moon VoC Calendar April
Someone once said that people get the Gods they deserve. Growing up exposed to various religions confirmed that concept in my head. Later on I took a course in Comparative Theology and found it fascinating. I personally think we create Gods in our own image.
If you look at the origins of the various religious beliefs that have survived the ages you discover that groups of people who tended to be warlike and territorial, created their Gods in their own image. The people of the mid-East based their religions on Abrahamic beliefs. The largest Abrahamic religions are Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Bahá'í Faith.
The religions based on Abrahamic beliefs all seem to have a basic underlying "us and them" concept and the idea of a vengeful angry god who punishes unbelievers. This same god gives his followers the right and indeed obligation of converting others to their belief and killing any who do not comply. The early people of the mid-East were violent territorial people and it makes sense that they would create Gods who would approve of their behavior.
Hinduism is the predominant religion of India. Among other practices and philosophies, Hinduism includes a wide spectrum of laws and prescriptions of "daily morality" based on karma, dharma, and societal norms and is a conglomeration of distinct intellectual or philosophical points of view, rather than a rigid common set of beliefs. It is probably the oldest religion but is more philosophy rather than a true religion. But again, we find Gods who are violent and in the image of the people they represent.
Tao is a Chinese concept signifying way,path or route and sometimes principle. Within the context of traditional Chinese philosophy and religion, Tao is a metaphysical concept originating with Laozi that gave rise to a religion and philosophy. The concept of Tao was later adopted in Confucianism and Zen Buddhism and throughout East Asian philosophy and religion in general. Within these contexts Tao signifies the essence or fundamental nature of the universe.
In Taoism, Chinese Buddhism and Confucianism, the object of spiritual practice is to become one with the tao or to harmonise one's will with Nature. This involves meditative and moral practices. Important in this respect is the Taoist concept of De (virtue). Although there are Gods in Tao they tend to be mainly concerned with learning and intellect, rather than violence and control.
Being Irish and Native American I would love to believe that our Celtic Gods were a bit more "civilized" than the others, but that is sadly not the case. My Celtic ancestors were warriors and their gods tended to represent that. There were very localized Gods and Godesses that represented various topographical things like rivers, mountains, sacred springs, etc but the others were of a different type.
And then I come to the Earth Mother religion I grew up with. She gave birth to all life on this planet and thus we are related to all living things. Since we are all related, how can we look down on someone of another race or belief or sexual orientation? When groups like the Westboro Church protest funerals, gatherings and places in the name of their God they are proving that the God they created is a true representative of themselves. When political organizations ban same sex marriages as against their religion, they are again proving that their God is a representative of their own narrow minded mentality.
Francis Bacon said "Whatever deserves to exist, deserves to be known". How can we stand in judgment on another being if we don't truly know them?
Now that I am in a much better position in life and I cannot stop smiling due to the wonderful things I am blessed with daily (I am so grateful for so much), I still find myself at a loss for words. I turned back to poetry, writing some of the same styles I had before, but this time, I tried haikus. With their 5 – 7 – 5 syllable rule in three short phrases, it became therapeutic to write one and two and that would turn into many, many more.
Here are a few of my more emotional and favorite ones that I have written and they all touch my heart, and I hope they will do the same for all who read them.
☼
to wake up and see
incomplete visions pass by
right choices have set me free
☼
no second guessing
liberation from the past
headstrong; I stand tall
☼
trust can be daunting
especially without sight
surrender occurs
☼
thoughts captured and held
please have faith in Life's process
dance, sing, live out loud
☼
not always my fault
forgotten words and gestures
excuses steal light
☼
overwhelming thoughts
translates – turn inward and live
create from the heart
I am loving and living life for me and blessed through Divinity, 17 syllables at a time.
STARshine Blessings,
Renee Avard
All of the above © Renee Avard 2013 and may not be used elsewhere without consent.
For even more, please visit me at worthcatching.blogspot.com
I have a soft spot for songs about dreams and dreaming. This particular dream song (which rocks out loud) really speaks to me about the journey that people take when following their dreams. You don't sit back for them to fall in your lap. You roll on even when the sky gets dark, and if you are serious, you run down that dream where it leads you.
The journey can take you to some strange and magical places you've never been before. You just have to be willing to take that trip.
Keep dancing,
Kestril
Key words and phrases: warm, generous, unselfish, responds to the earth, resourceful, trustworthy
"The essence of earth behaving as water, such as a hot spring: A warm and generous host, providing shelter and comfort for all who would seek it. A person steadfast, practical, and domestic, able to create opulence and stability in any setting. The qualities of maturity and sensibility, coupled with an innate appreciation for nature and the material world." ~Facade
When this gracious queen shows up, it's a sign of prosperity, peace and comfort at home, progress in your work, and taking care of yourself. Be sure you are keeping a good balance in your health habits, and that you trust yourself above all others in your spiritual life.
Robins are one of life's greatest joys. Their song is full of cheer. They lay the most arguably beautiful eggs of any bird on earth. Robins are happy totems in every culture. Robin signifies joy, peace and prosperity in our lives- a time of happiness and contentment.
This is a time to renew your hope in your gods, mankind, the earth, Great Spirit, etc... Be purposefully grateful and happy with your life. You'll be amazed at what you can attract by that simple gesture.
This week's plug is for my lovely friend Tess's shop: East Coast Craft & Curio. She has some of the most delightful pieces of work you'll ever find anywhere.
Aren't these lovely? You can find more of her treasures on her website: East Coast Craft & Curio and on The East Coast Craft &Curio Facebook page. Go check her out and tell her Kallan sent you :)
That's it for this week's stew. Mull. Digest. Enjoy!
The Sunday Stew is a free, weekly news and entertainment publication created as a service to the Pagan community . Articles posted are copyrighted to their authors and all opinions expressly those of each contributor (not necessarily those of the blog owner). Feedback and suggestions are always welcome, as are submissions (although there are no guarantees of publication). For more information, please contact Kallan at kallan.kennedy@gmail.com
Do you have your favorite cuppa? Ok, then, let's serve up some stew!
Happy Birthday this week to Ppi Jenn Hodgson, Emily MacDonald, Clear Rivers, Maria de la Gueparada, Jennifer Rudolph (my Steelers buddy!), Firelyte Rioter(!), Carolyn Nugent, and Lillie Moonbirch! May this be your best birthday ever, and may this next year of your life bring you joy, peace, happiness, health and good fortune in abundance!
In the News
What Are Pagan Religions?
Mob Tortures and Beheads Two Women on Witchcraft Charges
Nepal Witchcraft Attack Condemned
NZ urged to help repeal PNG Sorcery Act
Women Killed for Practising Sorcery
Capturing the Still Practiced Pagan Rituals of Europe
Britain's biggest police force has four mediums, a Pagan and a DRUID among its bobbies on the beat
Pagans Celebrate Religious Tolerance
Special Announcement:
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| Bonnie Cooper |
Pagan Lore with Karen Szabo
Good Morning! Welcome to another week of Pagan Lore, full of facts and interesting Pagan tidbits from all around the world!
Sunday, April 14
According to superstitious belief, the fourteenth day of April is a very unlucky time for travel, especially by ship. (It was on this date in the year 1912 that the oceanliner Titanic collided with an iceberg and sank to the bottom of the sea.) Whether the Titanic tragedy spawned the superstition or merely served to reinforce it is unknown. Maryamma (or Mariamne), the Hindu Goddess of the sea, is honored in India with a sacred festival which begins annually on this day.
Monday, April 15
In ancient Rome, the Earth-Goddess Tellus (or Tellus Mater) was honored annually on this day. A pregnant cow was traditionally sacrificed at her sacred festival and the unborn calf burned in a bonfire to ensure the fertility of the crops. Also on this day, the Festival of the Iron Phallus (Kanamara Matsuri) is celebrated annually in Kawasaki City, Japan. The ancient Japanese deities associated with sexuality and human reproduction give their sacred blessings and encouragement; especially to couples who wed late in life or to men who suffer from declining potency.
Tuesday, April 16
Every year on this day, the god Apollo was worshipped and supplicated by his faithful cult in ancient Greece. An annual festival called the Hiketeria was celebrated in his honor. On this date in the year 1946, Pagan author Margot Adler was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. Her Wiccan handfasting on June 19, 1988 was the first Neo-Pagan Wedding to appear in the New York Times' society pages.
Wednesday, April 17
In the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal, an annual religious event called the Chariot Festival of the Rain God begins on this day. It is dedicated to Machendrana, the ancient and powerful Indian god of rain. The festival is celebrated for approximately eight consecutive weeks.
Thursday, April 18
The Festival of Rama-Navami is celebrated every year on this date at sacred shrines throughout India. It honors both the great Hindu god Rama (the seventh incarnation of Vishnu) and the Goddess Sita.
Friday, April 19
On this date in the year 1824, Lord Byron (whose real name was George Gordon) died of a fever. The English poet, who was known for dabbling in the occult arts, helped shape Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and gave John Polidori the idea for this novel "The Vampyre". Lord Byron's heart was removed from his corpse and buried in Greece; the rest of his remains were shipped back to England.
Saturday, April 20
On this date (approximately) the Sun enters the astrological sign of Taurus. Persons born under the sign of the Bull are said to be stable, reliable, patient, and often stubborn. Taurus is an earth sign and is ruled by the planet Venus.
Here's hoping the week brings you some lovely Spring weather! See you next time,
Karen
Sparkle and Shine with Sosanna
A Clowder of Cats
Early this year I noticed a new cat had shown up and seemed to have joined the colony of feral cats I rescued last year. I took her to SNAP to have her fixed. SNAP is the Spay and Neuter Assistance Program. In North Carolina, our SNAP offers Cat spay/neuter for $70 and Dog for $100 up to 59lbs. This includes the surgery, Rabies shot, Distemper (& Parvo for Dogs) and a pain injection. They offer other services such as microchip and heartworm testing. Our SNAP comes to different centralized locations throughout NC to provide low cost basic vetting for pet owners as well as ferals without regards to income.
While I was standing in line at the SNAP van to pick up “Brown Kitty” as she’s been so affectionately named, the coordinator stepped out of the van and yelled, “All feral s for pick up, down here.”
A number of us moved to the front of the line. I heard a murmur over the crowd and some actually questioned out loud, “What’s a feral?”
The staff brought our traps outside covered in the towels we left them in and several of us answered the crowd, “Wild, it means wild cats.”
Feral cats usually join together in a colony called a clowder. Feral cats are not open to human contact. They do not want to be picked up or held, or even petted. They enjoy the company of their colony mates only. They mark there territory by spraying or by scratching the trees.
Many groups around the country offer trap neuter return programs (TNR). One such group is Fix Nation out of California. Fix Nation will provide the following services, the surgery, rabies, distemper, parasite treatment, pain meds, fluids, antibiotics and any medical treatment required at the time of trapping for FREE.
Some groups such as PETA believe that TNR programs are harmful to our environment. They believe that all feral cats should be trapped and killed. They believe that feral cats are caught and used for dog fighting, baiting, abuse, torture and animal sacrifice. (I’m not making that last one up)
I don’t see the rationale for putting an otherwise healthy animal down. All of these things COULD happen to a feral cat IF they can catch it. However, why would a person that wants to eventually kill the animal spend all the time and energy required to catch a feral when they can walk up to any yard and pick up a tame one with no issue. OR walk into someone’s back yard and click their dog off the chain they’ve been tied to for their entire life.
After the feral has been fixed and is recovered from the surgery the colony manager will usually release the cat back into its colony. The colony manager usually keeps track of the cats, sometimes by name and will continue to TNR until the entire colony is fixed. Much like what I did with my colony. Brown Kitty showed up earlier this year. It’s common for cats to travel and visit other colonies. Brown Kitty has been a regular guest at the feeding station for over 3 months so I figured she was probably going to stay. Female cats can become pregnant as early as five months old. I noticed she was putting on a bit of weight and with kitten season starting I knew I needed to get her in to be fixed. One pair of unaltered cats can produce 420,000 kittens in 7 years. I could tell she had not been part of a TNR program because she still had both of her ear tips. In TNR programs the top part of the left ear of the cat is snipped off so their spay/neuter status can be seen from a distance.
Working with Melody Drew of PawnHandrescue, we were able to get her trapped, and taken in to be fixed. Melody was recently very ill, and is being released to go home from the rehab facility today. Even from her rehab bed, Melody was posting photos and sharing pics of animals in need. She manages several feral colonies and has always been a huge support source when I had questions on mine.
Working with the animals be tamed house cats that live out their days eating treats and watching the birds out the window, to their wild cousins living in my back yard; I believe that these lives are equally important. (Pinterest board with all my rescues)
What began by watching PSAs on TV when I was a kid to actively feeding feral cats, fostering rescues and raising my own pets, is my obsession and is one of the many things that make me sparkle and shine.
Namaste & Blessed Be
Sosanna
)O(
This Week in Astrology
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| Josephine Wall |
Apr 18, 2013 8:31 AM Sun Square Moon (First Quarter Moon)
"Change with the Quarter Moons" by Dana Gerhardt
Apr 19th: Sun enters Taurus 6:03 PM
Apr 20th: Mars enters Taurus 7:48 AM
Remember, Pluto is in Retrograde from now until September 20th. Here is a great article in case you missed it last week. From Lynn Koiner's Astrology
Weekly Horoscopes from Darkstar Astrology
Moon VoC Calendar April
Sunshine's Meanderings with Kathleen Lane
The Gods We Deserve
Someone once said that people get the Gods they deserve. Growing up exposed to various religions confirmed that concept in my head. Later on I took a course in Comparative Theology and found it fascinating. I personally think we create Gods in our own image.
If you look at the origins of the various religious beliefs that have survived the ages you discover that groups of people who tended to be warlike and territorial, created their Gods in their own image. The people of the mid-East based their religions on Abrahamic beliefs. The largest Abrahamic religions are Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Bahá'í Faith.
The religions based on Abrahamic beliefs all seem to have a basic underlying "us and them" concept and the idea of a vengeful angry god who punishes unbelievers. This same god gives his followers the right and indeed obligation of converting others to their belief and killing any who do not comply. The early people of the mid-East were violent territorial people and it makes sense that they would create Gods who would approve of their behavior.
Hinduism is the predominant religion of India. Among other practices and philosophies, Hinduism includes a wide spectrum of laws and prescriptions of "daily morality" based on karma, dharma, and societal norms and is a conglomeration of distinct intellectual or philosophical points of view, rather than a rigid common set of beliefs. It is probably the oldest religion but is more philosophy rather than a true religion. But again, we find Gods who are violent and in the image of the people they represent.
Tao is a Chinese concept signifying way,path or route and sometimes principle. Within the context of traditional Chinese philosophy and religion, Tao is a metaphysical concept originating with Laozi that gave rise to a religion and philosophy. The concept of Tao was later adopted in Confucianism and Zen Buddhism and throughout East Asian philosophy and religion in general. Within these contexts Tao signifies the essence or fundamental nature of the universe.
In Taoism, Chinese Buddhism and Confucianism, the object of spiritual practice is to become one with the tao or to harmonise one's will with Nature. This involves meditative and moral practices. Important in this respect is the Taoist concept of De (virtue). Although there are Gods in Tao they tend to be mainly concerned with learning and intellect, rather than violence and control.
Being Irish and Native American I would love to believe that our Celtic Gods were a bit more "civilized" than the others, but that is sadly not the case. My Celtic ancestors were warriors and their gods tended to represent that. There were very localized Gods and Godesses that represented various topographical things like rivers, mountains, sacred springs, etc but the others were of a different type.
And then I come to the Earth Mother religion I grew up with. She gave birth to all life on this planet and thus we are related to all living things. Since we are all related, how can we look down on someone of another race or belief or sexual orientation? When groups like the Westboro Church protest funerals, gatherings and places in the name of their God they are proving that the God they created is a true representative of themselves. When political organizations ban same sex marriages as against their religion, they are again proving that their God is a representative of their own narrow minded mentality.
Francis Bacon said "Whatever deserves to exist, deserves to be known". How can we stand in judgment on another being if we don't truly know them?
Starsteps with Renee Avard
There are so many times, at least in my life and I am sure yours as well, that words to explain something just do not do the emotion justice. When I began writing twenty years ago, I started out with poetry. I could release a lot of anger and hurt through that style of writing. It was the only way I knew how to cope.
Now that I am in a much better position in life and I cannot stop smiling due to the wonderful things I am blessed with daily (I am so grateful for so much), I still find myself at a loss for words. I turned back to poetry, writing some of the same styles I had before, but this time, I tried haikus. With their 5 – 7 – 5 syllable rule in three short phrases, it became therapeutic to write one and two and that would turn into many, many more.
Here are a few of my more emotional and favorite ones that I have written and they all touch my heart, and I hope they will do the same for all who read them.
☼
to wake up and see
incomplete visions pass by
right choices have set me free
☼
no second guessing
liberation from the past
headstrong; I stand tall
☼
trust can be daunting
especially without sight
surrender occurs
☼
thoughts captured and held
please have faith in Life's process
dance, sing, live out loud
☼
not always my fault
forgotten words and gestures
excuses steal light
☼
overwhelming thoughts
translates – turn inward and live
create from the heart
I am loving and living life for me and blessed through Divinity, 17 syllables at a time.
STARshine Blessings,
Renee Avard
All of the above © Renee Avard 2013 and may not be used elsewhere without consent.
For even more, please visit me at worthcatching.blogspot.com
Song of the Week with Kestril Trueseeker
I have a soft spot for songs about dreams and dreaming. This particular dream song (which rocks out loud) really speaks to me about the journey that people take when following their dreams. You don't sit back for them to fall in your lap. You roll on even when the sky gets dark, and if you are serious, you run down that dream where it leads you.
The journey can take you to some strange and magical places you've never been before. You just have to be willing to take that trip.
Keep dancing,
Kestril
Weekly Tarot: Queen of Coins (Pentacles)
Key words and phrases: warm, generous, unselfish, responds to the earth, resourceful, trustworthy
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"The essence of earth behaving as water, such as a hot spring: A warm and generous host, providing shelter and comfort for all who would seek it. A person steadfast, practical, and domestic, able to create opulence and stability in any setting. The qualities of maturity and sensibility, coupled with an innate appreciation for nature and the material world." ~Facade
When this gracious queen shows up, it's a sign of prosperity, peace and comfort at home, progress in your work, and taking care of yourself. Be sure you are keeping a good balance in your health habits, and that you trust yourself above all others in your spiritual life.
Weekly Totem: Robin
Key words: Joy, Hope, Clarity, Renewal, Pleasure, Happiness, SatisfactionRobins are one of life's greatest joys. Their song is full of cheer. They lay the most arguably beautiful eggs of any bird on earth. Robins are happy totems in every culture. Robin signifies joy, peace and prosperity in our lives- a time of happiness and contentment.
This is a time to renew your hope in your gods, mankind, the earth, Great Spirit, etc... Be purposefully grateful and happy with your life. You'll be amazed at what you can attract by that simple gesture.
The Shameless Plug: East Coast Craft & Curio
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| Tess |
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| Yemaya's Ocean Bracelet |
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| Mirror Pendant |
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| Yemaya Plate |
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| Enchanting snake ring |
That's it for this week's stew. Mull. Digest. Enjoy!
The Sunday Stew is a free, weekly news and entertainment publication created as a service to the Pagan community . Articles posted are copyrighted to their authors and all opinions expressly those of each contributor (not necessarily those of the blog owner). Feedback and suggestions are always welcome, as are submissions (although there are no guarantees of publication). For more information, please contact Kallan at kallan.kennedy@gmail.com