Spellcraft and EarthMagick <SpellcraftandEarth>
"Blessed Samhain"
| ||||
 | ||||
| ||||
| ||||
 | Mabinogi | Il y a 517 jours | ||
| ||||
| The Four Branches of the Mabinogi are the best known tales from the medieval Welsh prose collection known as the Mabinogion. The word "Mabinogi" originally designated only these four tales, which are really parts or "branches" of a single work, rather than the whole collection. The tales contain most of what is recorded of Welsh mythology. The most mythological stories contained in the Mabinogion collection are the four interrelated tales, by a single author or storyteller, titled The Mabinogi in the manuscripts, or often "The Four Branches of the Mabinogi". The use of characters' names as titles for each branch is also a modern practice; they are not so named in the original manuscripts. One figure, Pryderi appears in all four branches, though not always as a central character. First Branch: Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed; which tells of Pryderi's parents and his birth, loss and recovery. Second Branch: Branwen, Daughter of Llŷr; which is mostly about events following Branwen's marriage to the King of Ireland. Pryderi is named but does not play a part in the tale. Third Branch: Manawydan, son of Llŷr; Pryderi returns home with Manawydan, brother of Branwen. Misfortunes follow them there. Fourth Branch: Math, son of Mathonwy; about Math and Gwydion, who come into conflict with Pryderi. It has been suggested that originally these tales were all part of a tradition surrounding the life of Pryderi, and that later additions of material have since come to dominate the stories. It is unclear whether this is indeed the case, or if, alternatively, Pryderi himself was introduced to link legends of separate origins. The Stories First branch - Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed The first branch tells of how Pwyll, the prince of Dyfed, exchanges places for a year with Arawn, the ruler of Annwn (the underworld), defeats Arawn's enemy Hafgan, and on his return encounters Rhiannon, a beautiful maiden whose ambling horse cannot be caught up with. He manages to win her hand at the expense of Gwawl, to whom she is betrothed. He does so by using a magic bag that can never be filled which he traps Gwawl in. His men proceed to beat Gwawl while he is in the bag. Rhiannon bears Pwyll a son, but the child disappears the night after he is born. Rhiannon is accused of killing him and forced to carry guests on her back as punishment. The child has been taken by a monster, and is rescued by Teyrnon and his wife, who bring him up as their own, calling him Gwri Golden Hair, until his resemblance to Pwyll becomes apparent. They return him to his real parents, Rhiannon is released from her punishment, and the boy is renamed Pryderi. Second branch - Branwen, Daughter of Llŷr In the second branch, Branwen, sister of Bendigeidfran (meaning Bran the Blessed), king of Britain, is given in marriage to Matholwch, king of Ireland. Branwen's half-brother Efnisien, angry that he was not consulted, insults Matholwch by mutilating his horses, but Bendigeidfran gives him compensation in the form of new horses and treasure, including a magical cauldron which can restore the dead to life. After returning to Ireland, Matholwch and Branwen have a son, Gwern, but Efnisien's insult continues to rankle among the Irish and Branwen is banished to the kitchen and beaten every day. Branwen trains a starling to take a message to Bendigeidfran, who goes to war against Matholwch. His army crosses the Irish Sea in ships, but Bendigeidfran is so huge he wades across. The Irish offer to make peace, and build a house big enough to entertain Bendigeidfran, but inside they hang a hundred bags supposedly containing flour but actually containing armed warriors. Efnisien, suspecting a trick, reconnoitres the hall and kills the warriors by crushing their heads inside the bags. Later, at the feast, Efnisien, again feeling insulted, throws Gwern on the fire and fighting breaks out. Seeing that the Irish are using the cauldron to revive their dead, Efnisien hides among the corpses and destroys the cauldron, although the effort costs him his life. Only seven men, all Welsh, survive the battle, including Pryderi, Manawydan and Bendigeidfran, who is mortally wounded by a poisoned spear. Bendigeidfran asks his companions to cut off his head and take it back to Britain where it continues to live for sometime as they partake of an enchanted feast. Branwen dies of grief on returning home. Five pregnant women survive to repopulate Ireland. Third branch - Manawydan, son of Llŷr Pryderi and Manawydan return to Dyfed, where Pryderi is reunited with his wife Cigfa and Manawydan marries Rhiannon (Pryderi's mother from the First Branch). However, a magical mist descends on the land, leaving it empty of all domesticated animals and humans apart from the four protagonists. They stay in Dyfed and support themselves by hunting at first, then move to England where they make a living making saddles, shields and shoes of such quality that the local craftsmen cannot compete, and drive them from town to town. Eventually they return to Dyfed and become hunters again. While hunting, a white boar leads Pryderi and Manawydan to a mysterious castle. Pryderi, against Manawydan's advice, goes inside, but does not return. Rhiannon goes to investigate and finds Pryderi clinging to a bowl, unable to speak. The same fate befalls her, and the castle disappears. Manawydan and Cigfa return to England as shoemakers, but once again the locals drive them out and they return to Dyfed. They sow three fields of wheat, but the first field is destroyed before it can be harvested. The next night the second field is destroyed. Manawydan keeps watch over the third field, and when he sees it destroyed by mice he catches one and decides to hang it the next day. A scholar, a priest and a bishop in turn offer him gifts if he will spare the mouse, but he refuses. When asked what he wants in return for the mouse's life, he demands the release of Pryderi and Rhiannon and the lifting of the enchantment over Dyfed. The bishop agrees, because the mouse is in fact his wife. He reveals that his name is Llwyd son of Cil Coed and he caused the enchantment on Dyfed in revenge for an insult against his friend Gwawl, whom Pwyll, Pryderi's father, humiliated in the First Branch. Fourth branch - Math, son of Mathonwy While Pryderi rules Dyfed in south Wales, Gwynedd in north Wales is ruled by Math, son of Mathonwy. His feet must be held by a virgin at all times except while he is at war. Math's nephew Gilfaethwy is in love with Goewin, the current footholder, and Gilfaethwy's brother Gwydion tricks Math into going to war against Pryderi so Gilfaethwy can have access to her. Gwydion kills Pryderi in single combat, and Gilfaethwy rapes Goewin. Math marries Goewin in compensation for her rape, and banishes Gwydion and Gilfaethwy, transforming them into a breeding pair of deer, then pigs, then wolves. After three years they are restored to human form and return. Math needs a new footholder, and Gwydion suggests his sister, Aranrhod, but when Math magically tests her virginity, she gives birth to two sons. One, Dylan, immediately takes to the sea. The other is raised by Gwydion, but Aranrhod swears that he will never have a name or arms unless she gives them to him, and refuses to do so. But Gwydion tricks her into naming him Lleu Llaw Gyffes (Lleu Skilful Hand) and giving him arms. She then swears he will never have a wife of any race living on earth, so Gwydion and Math make him a beautiful wife from flowers, and name her Blodeuedd ("Flowers"). Blodeuedd falls in love with a passing hunter called Gronw Bebyr, and they plot to kill Lleu. Blodeuedd tricks Lleu into revealing the means by which he can be killed, but when Gronw attempts to do the deed, Lleu escapes, though wounded, transformed into an eagle. Gwydion finds Lleu and transforms him back into human form, and turns Blodeuedd into an owl (Blodeuwedd = "Owl," more literally "Flower Face"). Gronw offers to compensate Lleu, but Lleu insists on returning the blow that was struck against him. He kills Gronw with his spear, which is thrown so hard it pierces him through the stone he is hiding behind. with aid from the wonderful book The Mabinogi and Other Medieval Welsh Tales. Ford, Patrick K. | ||||
| ||||
| 0 commentaires | ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| I'm Pagan - - Can I Still Have a Holiday Tree? | Il y a 620 jours | ||
| ||||
| I read this today - I like the way she explained this with some nice fresh ideas Smile I'm Pagan - - Can I Still Have a Holiday Tree? The short answer to that question is: it's your house, you can decorate it any way you like. The slightly longer answer is that a lot of modern Pagans find a way to blend the Christmas traditions of their childhood with the Wiccan or Pagan beliefs they've come to embrace as adults. So yes, you can have a family Yule celebration and still have a holiday tree, and hang stockings with care by the fire. During the Roman festival of Saturnalia, celebrants often decorated their homes with clippings of shrubs, and hung metal ornaments outside on trees. Typically, the ornaments represented a god -- either Saturn, or the family's patron deity. The laurel wreath was a popular decoration as well. The ancient Egyptians didn't have evergreen trees, but they had palms -- and the palm tree was the symbol of resurrection and rebirth. They often brought the fronds into their homes during the time of the winter solstice. Early Germanic tribes decorated trees with fruit and candles in honour of Odin for the solstice. These are the folks who brought us the words Yule and wassail, as well as the tradition of the Yule Log! In other words, if you want to have a decorated tree for the holiday, don't let anyone tell you it doesn't have Pagan origins. Obviously, you probably won't want to hang a little baby Jesus or a bunch of crosses on it like your Christian neighbours, but there are a ton of other things out there you can use. Suns and solar ornaments - raid the craft stores and find stars to turn into suns Gods Eyes - make then out of cinnamon sticks and seasonal coloured yarn or ribbons Pipecleaner pentacles -- make them out of shiny chenille stems, bent into stars with circles around them Natural objects like acorns, feathers, holly, mistletoe or pine cones Lights, lights, and more lights Magical items -- cups, wands, or daggers Fertility symbols -- eggs, antlers, horns So what about a tree topper? Usually, they're found pre-made as angels, but you could substitute a star, a Santa Claus, or some other item that strikes you as appropriate -- one of the best tree toppers I ever saw was actually a tin Green Man wall hanging. The bottom line is, if you want to have a holiday tree for Yule, then go right ahead and have one. Decorate it in the way that speaks to you, and enjoy your holiday -- after all, the Winter Solstice only comes once a year! From Patti Wigington, Your Guide to Paganism / Wiccan. | ||||
| ||||
| 0 commentaires | ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| The number 13 In religion | Il y a 658 jours | ||
| ||||
Christianity The number of participants at the Last Supper. According to Matthew 10:2-5 there were twelve apostles, not thirteen. Thirteen was once associated with the Epiphany by Christians, the child Jesus having received the Magi on his thirteenth day of life. Judaism In Judaism, 13 signifies the age at which a boy or girl matures and becomes a bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah. The number of principles of Jewish faith according to Maimonides According to the Torah, God has 13 Attributes of Mercy A Significant Number For various reasons 13 is considered a number carrying a special significance in many cultures. Unlucky 13 Thirteen is regarded as an unlucky number in many cultures. Fear of the number 13 is termed triskaidekaphobia. The thirteenth of a month is likewise ominous, particularly when it falls on a Friday in some English-speaking cultures, Russia and Germany (see Friday the 13th) or a Tuesday in the Greek and Spanish-speaking world. The number 13 also is very unlucky at hotels. In some hotels the 13th floor and the room number 13 are excluded. There is also a superstition that should thirteen sit at a table to dine, one will die in the next year, a superstition that prompted the formation of The Thirteen Club to debunk it. Suggested explanations Thirteen may be considered a "bad" number simply because when a group of 13 objects or people is divided into two, three, four or six equal groups, there is always one leftover, or "unlucky", object or person. It was suggested by Charles A. Platt writing in 1925 that the reason 13 is considered unlucky is that a person can count from 1-12 with their 8 fingers, two thumbs and 2 feet, but not beyond that, so the number 13 is unknown, hence frightening, hence unlucky. This idea discounts the use of toes or other body parts in counting. Some Christian traditions have it that at the Last Supper, Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, was the 13th to sit at the table. According to another interpretation, the number 13 is unlucky because it is the number of full moons in a contemporary year, but two full moons in a single calendar month (mistakenly referred to as a blue moon in a magazine article of the 1940s) only happens about every 2.5 years. Early nursery rhymes stated there were thirteen months in a year because of the natural moon cycle that was used to count the lunar year. In England, a calendar of thirteen months of 28 days each, plus one extra day, known as "a year and a day" was still in use up to Tudor times. The lunar year was the easiest to count for cultures before scientific methods existed to observe the movement of the earth around the sun, so it was associated with worship of the pagan Great Goddess[citation needed] for thousands of years, which may be another reason for 13 becoming a taboo number. Taboo often is misunderstood when only half of the totem and taboo relationship is recognized. Among religions having totem and taboo characteristics, that which is taboo on a regular basis may become quite sacred on special occasions. In Tarot decks, the 13th card of the Major Arcana is Death. While Death is rarely interpreted literally, it is possible that this furthered the perception of 13 as an unlucky number. Another hypothesis about the origin of Friday the 13th as an unlucky day is attributed to this being the day that the Knights Templar were slaughtered in a collaboration between King Philip IV of France and Pope Clement V finishing with the burning at the stake of Jacques De Molay. The legion with which Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon was the Legio XIII Gemina or the 13th legion. 13 is the 6th prime number. 6 is sometimes considered an unlucky number due to its association with 666. Examples In Scotland, there is no gate 13 in any airport, instead there is a gate 12B. Some airplanes skip a row 13, going straight from 12 to 14. Some tall buildings have resorted to skipping the "thirteenth floor", either by numbering it "14" or as "12a". Some streets do not contain a house number 13. In many cultures, getting married on any day of the week that falls under number 13 is highly discouraged. The Code of Hammurabi, a collection of laws created ca. 1760 BC, does not contain a thirteenth law. On the 13th day of the Persian new year (Norouz), people consider staying at home unlucky, and go outside for a picnic in order to ward off the bad luck. Most race car drivers consider 13 a very unlucky number, as a car carrying that number has never won the Indianapolis 500 or a NASCAR Nextel Cup race, and almost all Formula 1 teams are no longer given the number 13 when car numbers are given out to teams on basis of points. Usually the team finishing seventh in the previous year's championship will take numbers 14 and 15, instead of 13 and 14. Only once in recent years (1991, Ricky Johnson) has an AMA Motocross rider chosen #13 instead of #14. Some NASCAR tracks refuse to have a pit stall #13. At the Universal Studios sound stages in California, there is no sound stage numbered 13. Microsoft plans to skip Office 13 for being "an unlucky number," going directly from Office 12 to Office 14. The creators of the online game Kingdom of Loathing avoid the number 13 in all of their programming. The College of William and Mary claims 13 priorities, or achievements of the academic world, which they accomplished before any other university or college in the United States. For example, William and Mary was the first college in the US to establish an honor code. A marble plaque commemorating these 13 priorities hangs on the exterior wall of the Wren Building, the nation's oldest academic building still in continuous use. Today, the Wren Building houses the college's Religious Studies department. The Apollo 13 spacecraft malfunctioned on April 13th, forcing it to return to Earth without a landing on the moon and imperiling its crew. Lucky 13 In Sikhism, the number 13 is considered a special number since 13 is tera in Punjabi, which also means "yours" (as in, "I am yours, O Lord"). The legend goes that when Guru Nanak Dev was taking stock of items as part of his employment with a village merchant, he counted from 1 to 13 (in Punjabi) as one does normally; and thereafter he would just repeat "tera", since all items were God's creation. The merchant confronted Guru Nanak about this, but found everything to be in order after the inventory was checked. April 13 also usually turns out to be Vaisakhi every year, which is the Sikh New Year and the major Sikh Holiday. Several successful athletes have worn the number 13. Alex Rodriguez is said to be one of the most talented baseball players ever; he has also signed the biggest sports contract and wears the number 13. Dan Marino, an American football player known for passing more yards than any other quarterback in NFL history, wore the number 13, although pundits in the sport have often cited him as the greatest quarterback never to win an NFL championship. Another athlete Wilt Chamberlain wore the number 13 on his jersey throughout his NBA career. Also, FIBA rules require a player to wear the number in international competitions (only numbers from 4 to 15 could be worn, and as there are 12 players, one must wear 13); Chris Mullin, who wore #20 in college and #17 in the NBA, wore #13 for both (1984 and 1992) of his Olympic appearances. Shaquille O'Neal wore #13 in 1996, Tim Duncan wore #13 in 2004, Steve Nash is currently wearing it for the Phoenix Suns, and also Mats Sundin, wears 13 in the NHL. One of Iceland's all time best handball players, Sigurður Sveinsson, wore the number 13 when he played for the national team. In Italy, 13 is also considered to be a lucky number. In mythology The number of circles, or "nodes", that make up Metatron's Cube. The number of Norse gods (there were 12) at a banquet that was crashed by the evil spirit Loki (making 13) who killed one of the guests with a poison arrow. Age 13 For many Anglophones, it is at this point when a person officially becomes a teenager or a person in between childhood and adulthood. In Jewish tradition a boy becomes bar mitzvah at age 13, when a ceremony is held and the boy reads from the Torah for the first time. In sports There are 13 players in a rugby league team. In rugby union one of the centres, most often but not always the outside centre, wears the 13 shirt Basketball Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain wore number 13. Three NBA teams, plus the Harlem Globetrotters, have retired his number. Phoenix Suns Steve Nash wears number 13. Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino wore number 13 for the Miami Dolphins, who retired his number in 2000. New York Jets quarterback Don Maynard wore number 13 for the New York Jets, who retired his number in 1972. Pro baseball player Alex Rodriguez wears number 13. Pro future hall of fame NBA guard and second all time assist leader Mark Jackson wore number 13. Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner, a two-time MVP, wears number 13. New York Giants quarterback Jared Lorenzen wears number 13. Atlanta Falcons quarterback Joey Harrington wears number 13. Minnesota Viking quarterback Kelly Holcomb wears number 13. Australian Football League player Dale Thomas wears number 13. Toronto Maple Leafs and captain Mats Sundin wears number 13. Also led Team Sweden to Gold Medal as captain wearing number 13 | ||||
| ||||
| 1 commentaire | ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| 2008 Sabbats | Il y a 681 jours | ||
| ||||
| 2 FEBRUARY 2008 ~ IMBOLC: The time when the first signs of life are seen returning to the land and the Goddess changes her robes of Crone for those of Maiden. This date is fixed and does not change. 20 MARCH 2008 ~ OSTARA: The Spring Equinox, when day and night are equal. This is the festival of the Goddess “Eostar,” who is derived from the Goddess Astarte, and whose symbols are the egg and the hare. This date is variable from year to year. 1 MAY 2008 ~ BELTANE: The second most important festival of the year, when the Goddess changes her robes of Maiden for those of Mother and we celebrate the marriage of the Goddess and the God. This date is fixed and does not change. 20 JUNE 2008 ~ LITHA: The Summer Solstice, when the Sun is at the peak of its power; from this time onwards the days gradually grow shorter again. This sabbat is also known as Mid-Summer. This date is variable from year to year. 1 AUGUST 2008 ~ LAMMAS: The festival of the first of the harvest. This is the feast of Lugh and of the Sacrificial King, who is these days most often represented by a gingerbread man. This sabbat is also known as Lughnassah. This date is fixed and does not change. 22 SEPTEMBER 2008 ~ MABON: The Autumn Equinox, when once more the balance of day and night are equal. This sabbat also marks the height of the harvest. This date is variable and changes from year to year. 31 OCTOBER 2008 ~ SAMHAIN: The most important of the pagan festivals, marking the beginning and end of the year, the beginning of the resting season of the land and a time of remembrance of those who have gone before. This sabbat is a feast of the Goddess as Crone and Wise One. This date is fixed and does not change. 21 DECEMBER 2008 ~ YULE: The Winter Solstice, when the decreasing days give way to increasing light and life and pagans celebrate the rebirth of the Sun. This sabbat is also known as Mid-Winter. This date is variable from year to year. | ||||
| ||||
| 0 commentaires | ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| Candlemas Crescent Cakes | Il y a 696 jours | ||
| ||||
| Candlemas Crescent Cakes Required - 1 1/4cups flour 3/4 cup sugar 1 cup finely ground almonds 3 drops almond extract 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened 1 tablespoon honey 1 egg yolk Method - In a large mixing bowl, combine the first four ingredients. Add the butter, honey, egg yolk and mix together well. Cover with aluminum foil or plastic wrap, and then chill for 1½ to 2 hours in the refrigerator. When ready, pinch off pieces of the dough (about the size of plums) and shape them into crescents. Place the crescents on a well-greased cookie sheet and bake in a 350-degree preheated oven for approximately 20 minutes. The recipe yields about one dozen crescent cakes _________________ | ||||
| ||||
| 1 commentaire | ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| Come check out the forums | Il y a 700 jours | ||
| ||||
| Merry Meet check out our forums Spellcraft and EarthMagick http://www.freewebs.com/spellcraftan... Blessed Be Raven Heart | ||||
| ||||
| 0 commentaires | ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| Scrying with your Crystal Ball | Il y a 700 jours | ||
| ||||
Place your ball in front of you with some dark cloth behind and underneath it to minimize reflections and create a plain background. Dim the lights, but not too much because you still need to be able to see; just enough to create the right ambience and reduce any reflected light on your crystal ball, while being able to clearly see the ball at the same time. Fix your gaze upon the surface of your crystal ball for a few minutes, meditate upon it until you feel at ease, try to see through the crystal ball to a point about ten or twelve inches beyond. Try and keep your eyes open without blinking, but don't worry about it if you do blink, just keep staring deep into your crystal ball. If you are not used to concentrating or meditating in this way, you may find that your thoughts begin to wander; if you notice this happening bring your mind back to the task at hand, firmly but gently. What you are trying to achieve is a blank screen / mind on which to display symbols and visions. There is nothing exactly magical about a crystal ball; it is merely an ideal vessel for focusing your own innate psychic powers to produce a seeing faculty in your mind. | ||||
| ||||
| 0 commentaires | ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| Have a lovely day | Il y a 710 jours | ||
| ||||
http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/3... | ||||
| ||||
| 0 commentaires | ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| I Walk Alone | Il y a 713 jours | ||
| ||||
http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fusea... | ||||
| ||||
| 0 commentaires | ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| Yule Story | Il y a 716 jours | ||
| ||||
| The Holly King and Oak King The Two Celtic Kings Battle Twice a Year At Yule and Midsummer, the Holly King and Oak King fight to see who will rule the next half of the year, giving bold symbolism to the change of seasons. The story of the Holly King and the Oak King are part of Celtic myth and tradition, and they represent two sides to the Greenman, or Horned God, of nature. Sometimes he is called Cernounnos or Herne the Hunter. Even for those who don't follow a Celtic path specifically, the theme and idea of these two archetypes is often well-known. Between the two of them, they rule over the year, illustrating the basic seasonal changes and the way people used to view the summer and winter times of the year. The Basic Holly King and Oak King Story They confront each other in battle twice a year, once at Yule and once at Midsummer (also known as Litha) to see who would rule over the next half of the year. At winter Yule, the Oak King wins and at summer Litha, the Holly King, is victorious. The outcome is always the same. The basic concept is that the Oak King rules over the lighter half of the year, and the Holly King over the darker half. The change from one King to the other is a common theme for Pagan rituals at Yule, and also at Midsummer. A Variation on the Tale Another version of the Holly King and Oak King story is that they do not actually changes places twice a year, but rather both Kings live simultaneously. The Oak King is born at Yule, and his strength and influence grows through the spring, peaks at Beltane and then he weakens and dies at Samhain. The Holly King lives a reverse existence, who is born at Midsummer, waxes more strongly through the summer and fall, to his own peak at Samhain. Then he dwindles to die at Beltane. In this perspective, the two Kings have a more intricate relationship of power and influence, and this is perhaps a better illustration of their duality. At any given time, they both exist but have varying levels of influence throughout the year. Either way, each King represents different ideas. The summer time of the Oak King is for growth, change, development, healing, and new projects. The Holly King's winter time is for rest, meditation, reflection, and learning. Why Oak and Holly? To the Celts, trees were sacred and influenced many of their myths. During the summer, the mighty oaks were the most visible trees in the forest. Then during the winter when all the leaves had been lost, the evergreen holly stood out in bright green amongst the empty trunks. So it's natural that they would associate the oak and holly with the two main seasons. | ||||
| ||||
| 0 commentaires | ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
Publicité