The Sacred Glen
Volume #1 Issue #8
November 2007
The Sacred Glen is a publication of Daughters of the Greening online school. All articles within this ezine are written by students of the school and are their own personal property, unless otherwise credited. Daughters of the Greening is dedicated to teaching about the sacredness of all life and offers classes in Sacred Ecology, Holistic Healing, Discovering Past Lives, Faery Magic and Women's Spirituality. The school is open to anyone who is 18 years of age or older.
The Sacred Glen Council
Morgana Ravenwings
Dryw
Stephanie Mayfield
Anarane
Belou
Susan Allen
In this issue:
Sacred Days of the Ancestors
The Goddess Speaks
Gaia's Resources for Health
Sit a Spell New Column!
Animal Medicine Double Feature!
The Moon and Her Phases Special Feature!
Songs of the Muse
Celtic Birth Totems Special Feature!
Garden of Eatin'
Harvests from the Printing Press
Spider Woman's Web
Sacred Days of the Ancestors
November 2007
November 1 Feast of All Saints
November 2 All Soul's Day, Ancestral Season ends
November 8 Festival of the Kitchen Goddess
November 10 Goddess of Reason
November 11 Queen of the Fairies
November 16 International Day of Tolerance
November 20 United Nations Child's Day
November 28 Day of Sophia Goddess of Wisdom
Parts contributed by Belou
The Goddess Speaks
By Morgana
Amphitrite is an ancient Greek Sea Goddess, who does not have a Greek name. Her name actually means "the third one who encircles", and is often used, especially by Homer, as synonymous with the ocean itself. Originally, She was the Ocean. The Greeks however, married Her off to their Oceanic God, Poseidon, and demoted Her to sea nymph. Some believe that She is one of the fifty Nereides. Even though She was married off to Poseidon, She managed to retain Her own individuality and continued to lay claim to ownership of the caves under the sea. It is there that She lived and kept Her jewels. She emerged from these caves to tend Her livestock of the fish and mammals of the deep.
These creatures were Her Heart. When we see pictures in children's books of a Sea world, with castles and fish for livestock, this is a recollection of Amphitrite and her magical underwater kingdom. It is said that Amphitrite did not want to marry Poseidon, and fled his advances.
Symbols associated with Amphitrite include the moon, the ocean, dolphins, seahorses and crabs. Colors are white, blue and green. Call on Amphitrite whenever you need to calm the emotional turbulence within you. Just as She controls the storms of the sea, She can teach us to calm our emotions.
Animal Medicine
By Morgana
Scarabs are a beetle that were sacred to the ancient Egyptians. Beetles in general are an insect that have close associations with transformation and change. They go through a type of metamorphosis from grub to winged. In the winged stage, the wings themselves are hardened in order to protect the soft underside. This can either show a need for protecting oneself or that we are being too closed off. If
Beetle has shown up in your life, it is time to sit back and figure out what is going on and at what stage you are in your own metamorphosis. Do you need a change? Are you stagnating? Is it time to leave the past behind?
Call on the medicine of Scarab by wearing Scarab jewelry when ever you
are beginning something new. Job interviews, new homes, new business
ventures are all opportunities to use this medicine.
The Moon and Her Phases
By Venus Being
There are four phases of the moon each month; new, waxing, full and waning.
I’m going to start with the New Moon. The New Moon is sometimes referred to as the Dark Moon, because the moon is not visible to us at this time. Some feel this to be a time of peace and relaxation; a time to recharge one's batteries, so to speak. Others find it a good time to do magick to bring bout one's hopes and wishes, for this is a time of emerging from the darkness.
The New Moon is followed by the Waxing Moon. It is during this phase of the moon when it is good to do work towards goals of growth, expansion, and drawing spells. Beginning with this phase, the moon is also considered to be in conjunction with the Goddess and her aspects of Maiden, Mother, and Crone. In the waxing phase of the moon we see the emergence of Artemis, or Diana. Artemis was a young huntress Goddess who was an archer and virgin. In Her aspect and worship as Diana, She started out as a maiden huntress and protector of things wild and free. However as Diana’s worship grew so did She. She grew into a mother and during the witch trials she became known as Mistress of Magick and the Queen of Witches.
Then we come to the Full Moon when She is fully visible in the sky. There are different beliefs as to how long we are influenced by the Full Moon. Some believe that her effects are only felt the day before, the day of, and the day after. Then there are those who believe her effects are felt for a whole week; the three days before, the day of, (this being Her strongest point) and three days after. The Full Moon is a time for spiritual workings that involve growth to its fullest potential. This phase is kept in reverence to the Goddess Selene, Luna or any of the Mother Goddesses such as Isis and Gaia. She is the ultimate care giver, healer and giver or bringer of life and abundance.
The final phase is the Waning Moon, when it starts to get smaller on its journey back to the New Moon. This phase is a good time to do workings that release things, such as bad habits. In this phase of the moon reverence is given to the Crone or Dark Mother. Some of these Goddesses are Hecate
and Kali Ma. The Crone is Goddess of the Underworld and guardian over the dead. As the Crone the Goddess is the Mother with full and ancient knowledge, for She was there with us at the beginning as the maiden Diana,
then as Selene as She grew into motherhood and then She is there with us again at the end as Hecate. She will be with us once again as we continue on in the cycle of birth-death-rebirth. The Crone holds all the secrets of life. I, for one look forward to learning Her secrets and intend to create an altar in dedication of all Her loving aspects.
Songs of the Muse
OCEAN RELAXATION
©Dianne Barskey 2007
Ocean surf
Ebbing and flowing
On the beach and off
Bringing seashells
And seaweed
Scenting the air with salt
Soothing sounds
Of the surf
And the seagulls
Seagulls laughing
At who knows what
Dolphins jumping in the waves
Lay back on the sand
Listen to all the sounds
Soothing, relaxing
Bringing peace to a harried mind
©Dianne Barskey 2007
Trees everywhere you look
Touching the sky
Leaves shimmering in the sun
Toadstools and moss
Wild flowers of many kinds
Bowing in reverence at the bases
Fairies hiding among the flowers
Waiting for the next bloom
To show itself
So they can help it along
Toads standing watch
Waiting for the next fly
To buzz by
Insects crawling this way and that
Through the forest litter
Looking for their next morsel
So many sounds
Crickets, birds, toads, frogs
Trees, leaves, wind
So busy yet so peaceful
©Dianne Barskey 2007
Green leaves of summer
Turning gold and red in fall
The first signs that winter
Will be here soon.
Drifting, twisting, turning
Closer to the ground
One by one they fall
Compiled by Belou
Date of Birth: December 24-January 20
Animal: Stag
Gaelic Name: Damh (Approximate pronunciation: Dav)
Ruling Planet: The Sun
Key Words: Independence, Majesty, Integrity, Pride
Gift Quality or Ability: Sensitivity to other worlds, shape shifting,
initiation, journeying
Birthstone: Crystal
Compatibility: Harmonious relations with the signs of adder and salmon. Will also relate well to the signs of seal, otter and goose. Difficulties may be expected in relation to all other signs.
Date of Birth: January 21-February 17
Animal: Crane
Gaelic Name: Corr (Approximate pronunciation: Corr)
Ruling Planet: Uranus
Key Words: Secret Knowledge, Eccentric, Patient
Gift Quality or Ability: Crane people are unusually clever people with
specialized skills and talents, with a progressive outlook on life.
They have a sense of the evolving spirit, sensitivity to the other world, journeying and magick.
Birthstone: Peridot
Compatibility: Harmonious relations with the signs of bee and swan. Will also relate well to the signs of bear, owl and cat. Difficulties may be expected in relation to all other signs.
Date of Birth: February 18-March 17
Animal: Seal
Gaelic Name: Ron (Approximate pronunciation: Ron)
Ruling Planet: Neptune
Key Words: Spiritual, Loving, Super-sensitive.
Gift Quality or Ability: Seal people tend to have great compassion and are highly adaptable folk. They are also the romantics and dreamers of life. They are artistic and emotional and feel sensitivity to the other world. Shape changing and connection with the faerie folk.
Birthstone: Coral
Compatibility: Harmonious relations with the signs of otter and goose.
Will also relate well to the signs of salmon, stag, and adder.
Difficulties maybe expected in relation to all other signs
Date of Birth: March 18-April 14
Animal: Bear
Gaelic Name: Art (Approximate pronunciation: A as in cat, R as in
English, T as in English Chin. AiRCH)
Ruling Planet: Mars
Key Words: Achieving, Primal Power, Instinct.
Gift Quality or Ability: Bear people are very connected to their
ancestral roots. They are filled with courage and a sense of adventure.They are also extremely physical, extroverts. Protection, journeying, and sensitivity to the other world.
Birthstone: Ruby
Compatibility: Harmonious relations with the signs of cat and owl. Will
also relate well to the signs of crane, bee and swan. Difficulties may be expected in relation to all other signs.
Date of Birth: April 15-May 12
Animal: Adder
Gaelic Name: Nathair (Approximate pronunciation: na-CHair. N, a in cat,T as in Chin, h silent, air.)
Ruling Planet: Moon
Key Words: Transformation, Healing, Life Energy.
Gift Quality or Ability: Adder people have a virtue of resourcefulness, that is one of their greatest strengths. They have a strong interest in family and an excellent memory. They are drawn to natural methods of healing. Healing, magick, shape shifting and initiation.
Birth Stone: Moonstone
Compatibility: Harmonious relations with the signs of stag and salmon.
Will also relate well to the signs of seal, otter and goose.
Difficulties may be expected in relation to all other signs
Date of Birth: May 13-June 9
Animal: Bee
Gaelic Name: Beách (Approximate pronunciation: beh-ach. B, E as in
get, A as in cat, CH as in German iCH.)
Ruling Planet: Vulcan
Key Words: Organization, Community, Analytical.
Gift Quality or Ability: Bee people are very charismatic and full of new ideas. The possess lively spontaneity and the ability to communicate on every level. Influential and very social. Fertility and creativity.
Birth Stone: Topaz
Compatibility: Harmonious relations with the signs of crane and swan.
Will also relate well to the signs of bear, cat and owl. Difficulties may be expected in relation to all other signs.
Date of Birth: June 10-July 7
Animal: Otter
Gaelic Name: Dobhran (Approximate pronunciation: dav-rhan.)
Ruling Planet: Jupiter
Key Words: Family, Helpfulness, Intuitive.
Gift Quality or Ability: Otter people are enterprising with a wide
breadth of vision. They are very optimistic with a personal magnetism. Protection, shape shifting, and journeying.
Birth Stone: Diamond
Compatibility: Harmonious relations with the signs of goose and seal.
Will also relate well to the signs of salmon, adder, and stag.
Difficulties may be expected in relation to all other signs.
Date of Birth: July 8-August 4
Animal: Cat
Gaelic Name: Kati (Approximate pronunciation: ka-Chi.)
Ruling Planet: Earth
Key Words: Creative, Sensual, Nobility
Gift Quality or Ability: Cat people have a strong sense of personal
integrity and a firm set of values. They are loyal and trustworthy. They have a deep devotion to family and are affectionate. Protection, shape shifting and sensitivity to
the other world.
Birth Stone: Red Carnelian
Compatibility: Harmonious relations with the signs of owl and bear. Will also relate well to the signs of the crane, bee, and swan. Difficulties may be expected in relation to all other signs.
Date of Birth: August 5-September 1
Animal: Salmon
Gaelic Name: Bradan (Approximate pronunciation: bra-TAN.)
Ruling Planet: Mercury
Key Words: Wisdom, Inspiration, Rejuvenation
Gift Quality or Ability: Salmon people have knowledge of the arts and science as well as good reasoning powers. They are perceptive and clever and are keen observers. Initiation, shape shifting, connection with faerie.
Birth Stone: Amethyst
Compatibility: Harmonious relations with the signs of adder and stag.
Will also relate well to the signs of otter, seal and goose.
Difficulties may be expected in relation to all other signs.
Date of Birth: September 2-September 29
Animal: Swan
Gaelic Name: Eala (Approximate pronunciation: ellah.)
Ruling Planet: Venus
Key Words: Beauty, Love and Soul.
Gift Quality or Ability: Swan people are kind and gentle, adept in love
and the social arts. Calm and serene with a strong domestic sense, they have a connection with faerie, shape shifting, and creativity.
Birth Stone: Emerald
Compatibility: Harmonious relations with the signs of crane and bee.
Will also relate well to the owl, cat and bear. Difficulties may be expected in relation to all other signs.
Date of Birth: September 30-October 27
Animal: Goose
Gaelic Name: Geadh (Approximate pronunciation: Gia-gh.)
Ruling Planet: Moon
Keywords: Veiling, Direction, Vigilance, Stamina
Gift Quality or Ability: Goose people are generous providers but also
thrifty savers and investors regarding their future security. They have a sharp intellect as well as a wit. They are artistic. Protection, fertility, and creativity.
Birth Stone: Opal
Compatibility: Harmonious relations with the signs of seal and otter.
Will also relate well to the signs of adder, stag and salmon.
Difficulties may be expected in relation to all other signs.
Date of Birth: October 28-November 24
Animal: Owl
Gaelic Name: Cailleach-oidhche (Approximate pronunciation: Kall-eeck
Oheeche.)
Ruling Planet: Pluto
Keywords: Wisdom, Change, Detachment.
Gift Quality or Ability: Owl people have a powerful presence and
personal magnetism that can both attract and overpower sensitive people. Highly imaginative and passionate. Initiation, sensitivity to the other world, magick.
Birth Stone: Jasper
Compatibility: Harmonious relations with the signs of cat and bear. Will also relate well to the signs of bee, swan and crane. Difficulties may be expected in relation to all other signs.
Date of Birth: November 25-December 23
Animal: Raven
Gaelic Name: Bran (Approximate pronunciation: Bran.)
Ruling Planet: Saturn
Gift Quality or Ability: Raven people have a constructive approach to
life. They will continue a struggle that would defeat most people. They are very self-disciplined and patient. Shape shifting, sensitivity to the other world, connection to the faerie.
Gaia's Resources for Health
Affirmations of the Month
Submitted by Belou
Practice one or all of the following affirmations 30 times a day for 30
days. These affirmations help to build up the energy around you and
within the Universe to manifest these desired changes in your life.
My strength is my willingness to surrender.
I attract abundance every moment of the day.
Sit a Spell
Beauty Spells
By Morgana
In ancient times it was believed that witches and faeries could work
glamour, making themselves appear different than they actually were.
Old women could appear young, short women could grow several feet in
front of your eyes. It was believed that adepts could shape-shift into
other species, such as cats or crows, and sneak around spying on
others....going into enemy camps and hearing their plans, visiting
neighboring houses to see what went on in private, etc.
People believed, especially those who were single and looking for a
mate, that their neighborhood wise woman could whip up potions to
make them beautiful and more attractive to the opposite sex. These
beliefs persisted well into modern times, and still exist in many
places. Some of the potions we know now actually do have medicinal
properties, others worked by bolstering the user's confidence.
Whatever the reason, the spells did work and the people kept coming
back down through the generations. Some of these old spells were
written down. Others were passed on by word of mouth.
Presented here are some old spells for beauty and youth. Give them a
try if you wish!
1. Wash your face in Midsummer's morning dew.
2. Bathe in Lilac dew on May Day.
3. Tie a red thread around a ginseng root and carry with you.
4. Charge three acorns under the New Moon, and wear them in your hair.
5. Soak violets in goat's milk and wash your face with it.
6. Reserve the water used for boiling eggs, and use it to wash your face.
7. Take a bath in a tub filled with water and flower blossoms.
8. Keep old age at bay by frequently inhaling the scent of rosemary.
9. Hang sprigs of anise by your bed to restore your youthful nature.
10. Crumble ash leaves in your bath water to restore youth.
Have fun with these!
Spellwork by Lunar Phase
By Belou
Abundance (To Gain): waxing to full moon.
Addictions (To End): waning moon.
Artistic Creations (To Bring Forth): waxing to full moon.
Bad Habits (to break): waning moon.
Bad Luck (to reverse): waning moon.
Beauty and Health: full moon.
Bindings: waning moon.
Blessings: full moon.
Career Advancement: waxing moon.
Communication: full moon.
Curses, Hexes (to break): waning moon.
Divinations: waxing and full moons.
Energy Raising: waxing moon.
Exorcisms: waning moon.
Fear (overcoming): waning moon.
Fertility Rituals: waxing and full moons.
Forgiveness: new moon.
Friendship: waxing moon.
Garden Planting Spells: waxing moon.
Goals (attainment of): waxing to full moon.
Good Luck: waxing moon.
Growth (of an kind): waxing moon.
Harmony: waxing moon.
Happiness: waxing and full moons.
Healings (to increase health): waxing moon.
Healings (to end sickness): waning moon.
House Blessings: full moon.
Inspiration: waxing and full moons.
Intuition: full moon.
Jinx-Breaking: waning moon.
Judgment: waxing and full moons.
Liberation (to free oneself from something): waning moon.
Love Magick: waxing and full moons.
Love Spells (to reverse): waning moon.
Lunar Goddess Invocations: full moon.
Money Matters (to increase wealth): waxing moon.
Negativity (to banish): waning moon.
Nightmares (to banish): waning moon.
Obtaining (things and goals): waxing and full moons.
Omens: full moon.
Overcoming: waning moon.
Peace (to end hostility, war): waning moon.
Power: waxing and full moons.
Prophetic Dreams: full moon.
Protection: waxing moon.
Psychic Powers (developing, strengthening): full moon.
Quests: new moon.
Real Estate (to buy): waxing moon
Real Estate (to sell): waning moon.
Sexual Desires (to stimulate, increase): waxing moon.
Shapeshifting: full moon.
Spirit Conjurations: full moon.
Strength: waxing moon.
Teaching: waxing and full moons.
Transformations: full moon.
Travel: waxing moon.
Unions (marriages, business partnerships): waxing and full moons.
Weatherworkings (to bring forth): waxing moon.
Weatherworkings (to quell): waning moon.
Weight Gain: waxing moon.
Weight Loss: waning moon.
Wisdom (to increase): waxing and full moons.
Wish-magick: waxing and full moons.
Garden of Eatin’
Susan's Pumpkin Cake
This is a great substitute for traditional pumpkin pie! I've made it every year since I was 12. My husband won't have our Thanksgiving any other way!
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Ingredients:
Crust
1 white cake mix (minus 1 cup for later)
1/2 cup of butter (melted)
1 egg
Mix all ingredients together and press into the bottom of a 9 x 13 greased pan (I use cooking spray). Set aside.
Filling
1 (29 oz) can Libby’s Pumpkin Pie Mix
2 eggs
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2/3 cup milk
Mix thoroughly and pour over crust in pan. Set aside.
Topping
1 cup of reserved white cake mix
1/4 c of butter (softened but NOT melted)
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp
Mix cake mix, sugar and cinnamon together. Add butter and cut (a fork works best) into the mixture to make a crumbly topping. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the cake.
Bake for 50to 60 minutes at 350 degrees.
This cake is awesome warm with some whipped cream. Any leftovers should be refrigerated. It’s also wonderful cold.
by Susan Allen
A Certain Slant of Light
By Laura Whitcomb
While this book is not one we normally recommend or review in our newsletter, it is a masterful work of fiction that deserves some recognition and praise.
A Certain Slant of Light is young adult fiction. It is one of 15 books voted to be on Missouri’s Gateway Readers program. This program recommends both fiction and non-fiction books for young adults. They are sold in a packaged set to high school libraries all over the state. This book held no interest for me as an adult until I discovered that our librarian had chosen to withhold it from the shelves of our high school library. Naturally, being a bit of a rebel, I had to read it. It did not disappoint.
Helen is content with her existence until one day in Mr. Brown’s classroom; she notices that a young man can see her. She is immediately curious and attempts to figure out why. I refuse to tell you more, because I don’t want to give away the story.
While this book is about ghosts, it is very much about Life. It’s about the every day moments we take for granted and what can happen when we give up on living. Through Helen’s experiences upon meeting this boy, we get a glimpse of what the afterlife could be for some of us. It’s a story about connection to others, fear of the unknown, and most of all, the power of the soul to do the extraordinary despite fears. Although dead, the ghosts learn valuable lessons about their own lives. It’s about the angst of being a teenager, about not knowing who you really are. The book captures the awkwardness of this age perfectly while telling a masterfully romantic story.
Warning: moderate sexual descriptions that may cause high school librarians not to put the book on the shelf.
Spider Woman's Web
Here are some links we love!!
A new website to check out
http://www.theravensjourney.com/
Pagan Dictionary
A great project that many of us can learn something new from
http://www.thestonepentacle.com/project/dictionary.html
Andromeda’s Store!
http://www.trueilluminations.com/
A Witches Mall
For All of Your Metaphysical Needs, from herbs, to books, and altar
supplies
http://a-witches-mall.vstore.ca/
A beautiful gallery:
http://www.effusion.bz/
Links to Daughters of the Greening:
Information on Courses
Tarot Readings
Prayer Requests
Email: school@daughtersofthegreening.com
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