I had the most excellent Beltane. Wade and I spent the weekend at Lake Anna, what used to be our home away from home. We haven’t been there in over a year, with both of us being hospitalized. It was so nice to see so many old friends, be back on the boat and play cornhole.
We went down armed with a ton of gardening and cleaning gear. With the help of our friends, we got the boat and trailer cleaned and new plants in the yard.
After all that work, it was time to celebrate. We spent the rest of the afternoon on the boat and diapering. What is diapering you ask? Life Jacket on your butt = floatation device. After wakeboarding, we tie our boats together, float around and chat.
After much needed rest, we played cornhole, followed by a big fire. I thought we were going to burn the place down. I’m the only Pagan in the bunch, all my friends know and respect it. Wade and my friend Beth sat around the fire with me, Beth even read my prayers and placed them in the fire.
On to Sunday. What was supposed to be a beautiful day on the boat didn’t happen. The weather got a little chilly with a few sprinkles, but that didn’t ruin a thing. We finished yard-work, then spent the rest of the day around the fire pit talking and grilling. It made it hard to leave.
What a wonderful weekend. A big thanks to my friends who made Beltane and my first time back amazing!
That’s all for now. Thanks for stopping by, have a great day!
Prep time: 15 minutes
Standing time: 20 to 30 minutes
Baking time: 20 to 25 minutes Servings: Makes 1 1/2 dozen rolls
Ingredients
1 (16-ounce) package hot roll mix plus ingredients to prepare mix
1/3 cup raisins
4 tablespoons butter, softened, divided
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 to 2 tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preparation:
Spray a 13 x 9-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Prepare hot roll mix according to package directions; mix in raisins. Knead dough on lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Cover dough with plastic wrap; let stand 5 minutes.
Roll out dough on floured surface to 16 x 10-inch rectangle. Spread dough with 2 tablespoons butter. Combine granulated sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg in small bowl; sprinkle evenly over dough. Roll up dough starting at long end. Pinch edge of dough to seal. Gently stretch sealed dough until 18 inches long.
Slice dough into 1-inch pieces; place, cut side up, in prepared pan. Cover pan loosely with towel. Let stand until double in size, 20 to 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 375F.
Bake rolls until they are golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool in pan on wire rack 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from pan; cool on wire rack.
Combine the confectioners’ sugar, the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, milk and vanilla extract in medium bowl. Mix well; spread glaze over warm rolls.
Tip: Use hot water to plump up raisins if they were dry and hard. Soak the raisins in hot water for 3 to 5 minutes. Then drain them and use as directed in the recipe
Pagan Freedom Day 2011
An ancient pagan Greek historian and author Thucydides (460-404BCE) once wrote “The secret of happiness is freedom. The secret of freedom is courage.” It takes courage to publicly announce ‘I am Pagan’ in South Africa, but that’s exactly what Pagans do every year on Freedom Day.
In January 2004, this initiative was formally chartered as the Pagan Freedom Day Movement (PFDM). Since 2004 Pagans of every religious persuasion, including Witches, Wiccans, Druids, Asatruars and many others, have mingled and shared with other South Africans in celebration of their constitutionally guaranteed freedom to practice their own personal religions, and to gather openly with others of like mind, without fear of persecution or prejudice. Read full story from newstime.co.za
The 13 meter (42 foot) tall statue of Amenhotep III was one of a pair that flanked the northern entrance to the grand funerary temple on the west bank of the Nile that is currently the focus of a major excavation. Read full story from washingtonpost.com
Three-dimensional mapping has “erased” centuries of jungle growth, revealing the rough contours of nearly a hundred buildings, according to research presented earlier this month.
Though it’s long been known to locals that something—something big—is buried in this patch of Guatemalan rain forest, it’s only now that archaeologists are able to begin teasing out what exactly Head of Stone was.
Using GPS and electronic distance-measurement technology last year, the researchers plotted the locations and elevations of a seven-story-tall pyramid, an astronomical observatory, a ritual ball court, several stone residences, and other structures. Read full story from nationalgeographic.com
Arts & Entertainment:
Spout About: Will “Thor” Inspire Neopaganism? Death to Body Swap Movies! Death of a “2001” Influence
Above is a cropped section of a “Thor” bus stop ad posted to BuzzFeed. You can see that someone has taped a religious flyer to it. Intentional? Is there a minor protest going on against the polytheistic themes of the upcoming comic book movie? Does “Thor” have a soundtrack consisting of Varg Vikernes and other infamous neopagan black metal bands? Is there any other reason for people to worry it preaches anti-Christian messages? I sincerely hope this is just a chance occurrence.
Still, apparently some people are seeing too much in a flashy, potentially campy summer blockbuster. Star Foster at the pagan blog Pantheon looks into why “Thor” matters. Remember how people were turned onto Wicca after seeing “The Craft”? Wait, did that really happen? I knew some Wiccans back in high school, but I can’t recall the movie being a huge influence. Anyway, Foster sees a similar thing occurring with “Thor” and neopaganism: Read full story from indiewire.com
News:
Rebuilding Japan’s disaster-hit towns may take a decade
TOKYO, April 26 (Reuters) – The reconstruction of Japanese towns and cities devastated by a deadly earthquake and tsunami last month could take a decade, an advisory panel to the government tasked with coming up with a blueprint for rebuilding said on Tuesday.
The March 11 earthquake and tsunami, which left a large swathe of Japan’s northeast in ruins, killed at least 13,000 people, forced about 130,000 into shelters and is estimated to have caused $300 billion worth of damage.
“The first three years would be needed for tasks like rebuilding roads and constructing temporary housing,” said Jun Iio of Japan’s Reconstruction Design Council, formed after the quake to advise the government’s rebuilding efforts. Read full story from scientificamerican.com
Paranormal:
THE STEYTLERVILLE MONSTER
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – A monster plaguing the town of Steytlerville struck again over the Easter!
There were two sightings of a terrifying shape-shifting monster reported over Easter in the province of Karoo in South Africa.
“Two men were walking near a tavern when they saw another man wearing a black jacket. One of the men, identified only as Nozipho, went up to the stranger and asked him, “What is your problem?” said Nelani.
When the stranger did not respond, Nozipho went closer and saw that the man had no head. The man then turned into a dog that was “very angry” and “as big as a cow”, Nelani said. Read full story from weeklyworldnews.com
I was raised to be a priestess (of Hinduism), grew up surrounded by world scripture and philosophy, and was taught by learned scholars and mystics. But my religious education didn’t really begin until I started talking — and listening — to other people from other ways of life. I had a great foundation but it had to evolve beyond what I could experience as an individual. Understanding is a journey, and it’s nice to have company if you can get it. Read full story from huffingtonpost.com
The church has cut a deal to acquire the historic Los Feliz studio lot that has been home to pubcaster KCET-TV Los Angeles for the past 40 years. In a lengthy statement, the church said the deal allows it to “establish one of the most advanced centers used by religious broadcasters with the ability to harness 21st century broadcast technology and production power to deliver its message to the the largest international audience possible.” Read full story from variety.com
Sathya Sai Controversies and the Art of Guru Bashing
It is not uncommon now that for many Gurus, Rishis or Seers who have emerged from India, there has always been an unprecedented number of vicious attacks launched on them. These have come in the guise of slander, misquotes, false allegations and myriad smear campaigns.
Moreover it is interesting to note that most of these attackers often turn out to be either individuals who have been suffering from dysfunctional complexes or personality disorders, or pseudo spiritualists, fundamentalists and Christian missionaries working at religions conversion of Hindus, or self-appointed- rationalist experts with highly opinionated, insular theories or dishonest television reporters and interviewers sensationalizing and tarnishing the image of Hinduism and Hindu Gurus, keeping with the trend of unprofessional, ignorant reporting and the highly biased- ‘paid news syndrome’. Read full story from chakranews.com
1 package (4-serving size) instant French vanilla pudding and pie filling mix
5 peanut butter candy cups, divided
1/3 cup whipping cream
Preparation:
Combine the confectioners’ sugar and peanut butter with a fork in medium bowl until blended. Spread mixture evenly in bottom of pie-crust.
Place milk and sour cream in a large bowl. Add pudding and pie filling mix. Beat with wire whisk or electric mixer set at medium speed until thickened, about 1 to 2 minutes.
Pour half of pudding mixture over the peanut butter mixture. Coarsely chop 4 peanut butter candy cups; sprinkle evenly over filling. Top pie with the remaining pudding mixture.
Beat cream in large bowl with electric mixer set at medium speed until stiff peaks form. Spread whipped cream over top of pie.
Cut remaining peanut butter candy cup into 8 pieces; place on top of the pie. Cover pie and refrigerate 2 hours or until ready to serve.
Tip: Use homemade peanut butter. Ground peanuts in a blender. When the peanuts are finely ground, add a little vegetable oil or peanut oil and blend the mixture to the desired consistency.
Summer Movie Preview, with a Witchly Touch
My question isn’t “What films will you be seeing this summer,” it is “What movie besides Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2” will you be seeing. LOL! For us Pagans of all types, this is the pinnacle of film. It has opened the world up to the possible fact that Witches and Wizards exist and we’re not that bad. When you say you are a Witch, the fist image in their head isn’t the Wicked Witch of the West, but maybe of Hermione or, in my case, Looney Lovegood.
Here are the films this summer with Pagan content and do yourself a favour, find your nearest Drive-In theater. Enjoy a film under the stars! Read full story from apaganslifefor me
It’s Horror Month on SundanceNOW
I’m slowly becoming a big fan of watching films “instantly”, be it through Netflix, Hulu, FearNet or any other online provider. Well, Sundance has gotten in on the action with SundanceNOW, and April is horror month. (You can view a full line-up of their horror films right here).
While most of their films rent out from $3.99-$4.99 SundanceNow is offering our readers three films for only 99¢ each. That’s a pretty good deal, especially considering NONE of these are currently available through Netflix on Demand. Here’s the lowdown on the films and how to view them…Read full story from brutalashell.com
What is Gov’t Doing to Rescue Women in Witch Camps?
Democracy, education, technology and modernity still haven’t changed the mindset of people in this 21st Century. The beliefs and practices of people pre-dating this modern era still rule the lives of people today.
In the northern part of Ghana, the baseless accusation of aged women as being witches has made old age a nightmare for many women.
Witches’ camps in the northern part of Ghana have been in existence since time immemorial.
The reason behind the creation of these camps was to protect society from the harmful attacks of alleged witches, and the level of false accusations and brutalities compels the victim seek protection from a higher authority if the rest of the society is not willing to protect them. Read full story from allafrica.com
Paranormal:
JFK sought documents on UFOs 10 days before his assassination
Adding new speculation to the assassination of President John F Kennedy, two documents revealed by an author researching the JFK presidency show Kennedy’s interests in gaining access to UFO information.
In letters sent by President John F Kennedy to the CIA, and revealed by author William Lester to AOL News, as reported byThe Daily Mail, Kennedy requests access to top secret information on UFO sightings, with particular interest in sightings reported over the former Soviet Union. Read full story from digitaljournal.com
Religion:
Religion’s interconnectivity comes full circle in Rome
ROME – While chanting monks, accordion players and the Italian version of “Beauty and the Beast” I saw last week were very cool, I’m here to talk to you about a different kind of tune than what you’ll find in the rest of this paper: “Music of the Spheres.”
This ancient philosophy explains there is a harmony between God and heavenly beings that move around the Earth, especially the Sun and the Moon. The idea was later explained in a literal and physical sense by Johannes Kepler, astrology scholar David Plant said. Kepler explained that geometry, astrology and other sciences worked together to explain the movement of the planets.
Last week for class, I watched the film “Agora.” It displays a clash of ideologies in 5th-century Alexandria (Roman Empire), running the gamut from Roman Paganism to Judaism and Christianity, to astronomy and philosophy. It is impossible for me to go in depth, but what you need to know is that every denomination of faith in the film is portrayed in a bad light. Read full story from temple-news.com
Islam Converted the Pagans But Did Paganism Convert Islam?
The Arabia of Mohammed was religiously diverse during his childhood and throughout the region you had Pagans, Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians, Sabaeans, and other faiths. Therefore, Arabia was multi-religious and extremely diverse and many faiths co-existed and thought patterns were openly debated because countless families will have been religiously mixed.
However, once Mohammed obtained power then the “no compulsion in religion” became “kill the apostate.” This small aspect of the Koran and Hadiths point to a period of weakness and moderation during the early stage but once powerful, then Mohammed desired power mechanisms in order to defeat and control the economic system of the non-Muslims.
Mohammed and orthodox Muslims in the world today believe that the next stage was about monotheism and the eradication of Paganism within the body politic of Islam. However, while it is true to say that Muslim forces did defeat the followers of Paganism it is also true to say that Paganism defeated Islam within the tenets, customs, rituals, and sayings of Mohammed. Read full story from aina.org
What was supposed to be a week off, turned out to be 2. I planned on playing catch up and starting a few new projects, but it didn’t happen. Turns out, I really needed to get my head together.
I didn’t realize being unemployed would be so difficult. Wade told me I do more now than I did when I had a job. Since coming out of the hospital I’ve managed to get involved in so many projects, sometimes I wish I had a job. No, not really. The one thing I did was drive for the first time in over a year. Kind of scary when you can’t feel your feet. I think I’ll be back on the road this summer, so if you live in the DC area, you may want to be on the look out.
I’m also taking up Intuitive Tarot over at Sacred Mists. Be sure to check out my Tarot journal. I’m planning on making this a weekly update, be sure to follow my journey.
Daily updates resume today. Be on the look out for new things to come!
That’s all for now.
Thanks for stopping by! Well wishes to you all and have a great day!
Every cell in the body relies on a sufficient supply of vitamins to do its metabolic work. Vitamins perform many functions, they promote blood formation and healthy skin, hair and vision, as well as the maintainability of nerves and muscles. Most vitamins must be obtained from foods or supplements because the body cannot produce them.
Vitamin deficiencies are common to many groups of people: dieters, pregnant or nursing women, the elderly, people under stress, and those taking medications (such as cortisone or antibiotics). Cigarettes, coffee, alcohol and birth control pills all rob the body of vitamins. The first signs of a vitamin deficiency are fatigue, irritability and anxiety. Over time, the immune system will weaken.
Recent research suggests that some vitamins can help prevent certain disorders. (e.g. cancer, cataracts, arthritis and heart disease)
Preserving Vitamins:
A healthy diet of fruits, grains and vegetables are necessary to avoid vitamin deficiency. It could take weeks or months of intake below recommended levels to show signs. Air, light, long storage, and overcooking vegetables diminish vitamins.
Buy fresh grown produce.
Frozen fruit, over canned vegetables have more nutrition.
Don’t buy precut produce. Wash and cut fruits and vegetables just before serving.
Eat skins on apples and pears.
Choose organic fruit.
Steam, rather than boil vegetables.
Fat-soluble vitamins:
To increase fat-soluble vitamins, cook with olive oil.
Vitamin
Functions
RDI
Supplied by
A
Healthy skin; heart
5000 IU
1 medium carrot
D
Bone formation
300 IU
3 ½ oz. avocado
E
Cell protection
30 IU
1 tbsp; wheat germ oil
K
Blood circulation
80 mcg.
¼ cup parsley
Water-soluble vitamins:
Water-soluble vitamins are not stored by the body, a daily dose of them are listed below.
Vitamin
Functions
RDI
Supplied by
B6
Strengthens nerves
2 mg
2 large bananas
B12
For red blood cells
3 mg
3 ½ oz. salmon
C
For immune system, wound healing, cell protection
60 mg
2 cups fresh raspberries
Folic Acid
For cell formation, fights heart disease, birth defects
450 mg.
2 cups asparagus
Niacin
For energy metabolism
20 mg.
5 oz. chicken breast
Pantothenic acid
For the central nervous system
10 mg.
10 cups skim milk
Riboflavin
Fights fatigue
1.7 mg.
3 cups nonfat yogurt
Thiamin
Strengthens muscles, heart, nerves
1.5 mg.
5 oz. pork loin
Multivitamin Preparation:
Not a substitute for a healthy diet, a multivitamin that supplies no more than the reference Daily for each nutrient can provide extra insurance. Except for vitamin E, which may be safely taken in dosages upto 400 IU by people not using anticoagulant drugs, taking supplements of individual vitamins is generally not a good idea, because sometimes very high doses are harmful.
Antioxidant power:
Beta-carotene (found in dark green vegetables and orange fruits and vegetables), vitamin C (found in citrus fruits and broccoli) and vitamin E (found in nuts, vegetable oil and dark leafy greens) are all natural antioxidants. These substances help neutralize free radicals, which in turn help prevent accelerated aging and fight disease, such as cancer and heart disease.
Vitamin-rich cocktails:
The best source of vitamins are raw fruits and vegetables. Use a juicer to make the cocktails below.
To boost the immune system
2 carrots, ½ lemon, 1 stalk celery, ½ red beet, 1 handful wheatgrass
To guard against cancer
3 carrots, ½ apple, 1 handful broccoli florets
To renew cells and fight the aging processes
3 carrots, 1 handful spinach, 1 orange, 1 tsp. olive oil
To improve vision
1 apple, 1 kiwifruit, 1 handful mache, 1 tsp. olive oil
Tips: Smoking destroys vitamin C, 100 mg a day is needed to supply this amount. Excessive caffeine can also lead to a vitamin deficiency.
References:
The Complete Guide To Natural Healing
Note: Consult with a Physician if you are seeking medical remedies. The information is not intended as medical advice. PagansWorld.org is not liable for the misuse of the information listed above.
Thanks for stopping by! Well wishes to you all and have a great day!
Thyme is a perennial shrub, and a member of the mint family. With over a hundred varieties, the most common being garden and lemon thyme. It’s an aromatic herb that enhances flavor, stimulates digestion and improves appetite. Other than it’s culinary value, it has many properties for medicinal use. The main ingredient helps inhibit the growth of fungus and bacteria. Thyme is useful for treating respiratory congestion, bronchitis, asthma, whooping cough and sore throats.
Thyme is derived from the Greek “to make a burnt offering.” Ancient Egyptians used it for embalming. The Romans used it to purify rooms and to give cheeses and liqueurs an aromatic flavor. In the Middle Ages, Europeans placed it under pillows to promote sleep and ward off nightmares. Women would also give the leaves to knights to bring courage. It was also placed on coffins and burned as incense during funerals to send one into the next life.
Characteristics: A woody evergreen with with small gray-green leaves that roll under the edges. Flowers can range in color from violet to pale pink.
Care: It needs a sunny warm location. Thyme thrives well in dry soil and a well drained environment. Little water is needed, avoid humidity. Harvest time is usually in fall and winter, cutting it through these months will weaken the plant.
Harvesting: Best time to harvest is during the day when it has the highest concentration of oils. Shoots should be cut 4 inches above the soil before it blooms, usually in May or June. Bundle the shoots together and hang in a shaded area to dry. Once dry, take the leaves and buds for use in teas, cooking and medicinal remedies. Store in a jar away from light.
Uses:
Ideal for flavoring all meats and vegetables.
Increases digestibility.
Calms the action of intestinal muscles and prevents gas.
Thyme and Rosemary combined can increase effects.
Oil from the plant is excellent for rubs, baths and washes.
Avoid Thyme oil while pregnant.
References:
The Complete Guide To Natural Healing
Note: Consult with a Physician if you are seeking medical remedies. The information is not intended as medical advice. PagansWorld.org is not liable for the misuse of the information listed above.
Thanks for stopping by! Well wishes to you all and have a great day!
So begins my journey into the world of Tarot. I will be using The Rider-Waite and The Witches Tarot decks. I picked up The Witches Tarot a while back, the artwork is what drew me to it. It has been used a lot in my photography, but never for divination. The second deck purchased was the Rider-Waite deck, honestly a store owner told me that this would be a great deck to learn on, so I bought them. I actually really like this deck now, and pleased that I have it. I’m sure I will purchase a few more decks throughout this course, right now I have my eye on the Dali deck.
An older deck I really like is The Gumppenberg Neoclassical Tarot, circa 1807-1816. The obvious reason I chose it, was that it grabbed my eye. I like the dark and sleek design. It is a 78 card deck, printed on metal engraving plates and hand colored. The Major Arcana is different from traditional tarot, it has Roman numerals and Italian titles. The Minor Arcana are numbered in Arabic in the upper left and right corners. The pip cards in the suit have Spanish type that don’t interlace. The deck has a repeating border throughout, with an alternating oval and round shape. The cards are polished and have a repeating star design with rays alternating around a single dot on the back. Gumppenberg’s name appears on the ace of cups. There was a reprint of the deck in 1980 by Edizioni del Solleone under Vito Areinti’s direction. It was limited to 1500 decks.
I was asked to pick out a card from the Major Arcana that I felt most represented me. I didn’t even have to look to pick out my card. Strength has been something I’ve needed for a long time now. I feel that it represents my life significantly over the past 12 months. Not only have I risen above and beyond so many hardships, I’ve seen my entire family do the same. They are a part of me as well. Honestly, I didn’t know I had it in me until last year. I’ve seen death, pain and struggle. I know I have more obstacles ahead, but today I stand strong!
The next two question kind of go hand in hand, which suit and card in the Minor Arcana call to me and why? The Swords seem to call out to me the most. I see a fight to be had, whether it be my mental or physical ability. I see a defense mechanism popping up, always on the lookout for what’s to come. I will welcome anything, but will fight off anything negative. With that said I feel most connected to The Queen of Swords. Again, I feel a lot of fight and strength in this card as well as being defensive.
Another question was, Do the Swords represent Fire or Air? I would have to go with Air. Air is something that is all around us, It connects us with all the elements. I see the swords as being the same way, I find it the strongest of the suit. I live day to day looking for what mother nature is going to send me, based on the wind. If I’m golfing or wakeskating, air could screw it up with a nice gust of wind. This is how I’ve lived for a long time and is also when I feel the strongest. This may change as I learn and grow with the Tarot.
On a final note, there’s much controversy in the world of Tarot where The Fool (0) should be placed. One theory by French occultist Eliphas Levi wrote in his book The Dogmna and Ritual of Transcendental Magic place it between 20 and 21, some occultists still follow this sequence. In my opinion, I would place it as the first card in the Major Arcana.
I’m looking to find out how other people view Tarot, feel free to post your thoughts, opinions and comments.
Thanks for stopping by! Well wishes to you all and have a great weekend!
I wish I could say I was taking a vacation, but I’m taking this time to play catch up. Not only am I behind on many projects, my health is suffering as well. I feel like I’m going a 100 miles an hour to nowhere. Hopefully I can get a few things finished and started in the next week, as well as a much needed me day. For those of you that have your own blog or site, you know that maintaining it can be time consuming. It only makes sense to put it aside for now.
You can still catch me on Twitter, or stop by my Facebook page for updates.
Thanks for stopping by, well wishes to you all and have a great week!
