May 23, 2010
April 1, 2010
March 8, 2010
March 5, 2010
The crow in March
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
Black bird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
all your life
you were only waiting for this moment to be free
Blackbird fly, Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.
the beatles
February 17, 2010
Ὀλυμπιακοί Ἀγώνες
The Greeks named the Olympic Games after the pleasant valley of Olympia beside the River Alpheus in Elis, where the contests began as religious celebrations. Elis was called “a country” in ancient Greek geography. Elis was an area in the western part of the Peloponnesus, the peninsula forming the southern part of the mainland of Greece.
February 15, 2010
"The roots of St. Valentine's Day lie in the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, which was celebrated on Feb. 15. For 800 years the Romans had dedicated this day to the god Lupercus. On Lupercalia, a young man would draw the name of a young woman in a lottery and would then keep the woman as a sexual companion for the year."
"Pope Gelasius I was, understandably, less than thrilled with this custom. So he changed the lottery to have both young men and women draw the names of saints whom they would then emulate for the year (a change that no doubt disappointed a few young men). Instead of Lupercus, the patron of the feast became Valentine. For Roman men, the day continued to be an occasion to seek the affections of women, and it became a tradition to give out handwritten messages of admiration that included Valentine's name."
"Pope Gelasius I was, understandably, less than thrilled with this custom. So he changed the lottery to have both young men and women draw the names of saints whom they would then emulate for the year (a change that no doubt disappointed a few young men). Instead of Lupercus, the patron of the feast became Valentine. For Roman men, the day continued to be an occasion to seek the affections of women, and it became a tradition to give out handwritten messages of admiration that included Valentine's name."
February 11, 2010
February 5, 2010
January 19, 2010
January 16, 2010
January 7, 2010
December 30, 2009
December 26, 2009
December 21, 2009
HAPPY WINTERS DAY!
Happy Solstice may your Winter be warmth of hearth and spirit.
Peace to all,
Winter Solstice, is the time the sun reaches the Tropic of Capricorn. It occurs the first day of Winter. On this day (December 21 or 22) in the northern hemisphere the sun is farthest south and the length of time between sunrise and sunset is the shortest of the year. In the pagan tradition the solstice is also know as Yuletide, Alban or the Arthanthis holiday and is celebrated as the rebirth of the Great God who is viewed as the newborn solstice sun. Traditionally one would light a Yule log. It's lighted on the eve of the solstice (it should light on the first try) and must be kept burning for twelve hours, for good luck. It should be made of ash. As time passed the Yule log was replaced by the Yule tree but, instead of burning it, burning candles were placed on it. Evergreen, holly, ivy and the mistletoe were important plants of the season, all symbolizing fertility and everlasting life. Mistletoe was especially venerated by the Celtic Druids, who cut it with a golden sickle on the sixth night of the moon, and believed it to be an aphrodisiac. (Magically -- not medicinally! It's highly toxic!) Other customs of the holiday include weaving 'Brigit's crosses' from straw or wheat to hang around the house for protection, performing rites of spiritual cleansing and purification, making 'Brigit's beds' to ensure fertility of mind and spirit (and body, if desired), and making Crowns of Light (i.e. of candles) for the High Priestess to wear for the Candlemas Circle, similar to those worn on St. Lucy's Day in Scandinavian countries.
Happy Solstice may your Winter be warmth of hearth and spirit.
Peace to all,
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