Happy Lithasblot (Norse Holiday) July 31-Aug1

Never heard of Lithasblot? It is a harvest festival celebrated from July 31- August 1 in honor of the bountiful Earth Mother (aka "Urda" or "Ertha").

A "Blot" represents an offering made to the gods. It can take the form of animal, food, or other goods. In Norse rituals, the people accept and eat the offering. Therefore, a feast is usually associated with a Blot.

During Lithasblot, celebrants bake loaves of bread in the shape of the Sun-wheel (aka "Fylfot"/the symbol shown) and celebrants also give thanks for the harvest which will sustain life through the coming winter months. The abundance is shared with all (alms for the poor are distributed to the less-fortunate directly in the form of money and food).

Incredible Find: HexCraft!

While touring New York City, I found a copy of

HexCraft: Dutch Country Magick (Paperback)

by Silver RavenWolf (Author). The book I happened upon sold for merely $1.00!

How incredible/lucky/magickal is that! I will definitely be doing a review here in a few days . . . so much to do and read. :D

Have any of you read this book? What did you think?

Happy MidSummer! {Pagan Jokes/Pagan Bumperstickers}

Sorry I did NOT post information for CyberCoven's ritual this month. (My father-in-law passed away on Friday and with so many funeral preparations I barely made it to the Public Ritual I organized).

Here's some laughter to make up for lost time. {{Since nobody takes credit for writing these beauties . . . no credit is available to be given.}}

Q: What is a witch's favorite snack?
A: PAN pizza

Q: What's a witch's favorite subject in school?
A: SPELLing

Q: How many Druids does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: They don't screw in light bulbs, they screw in stone circles.

Q: How many Druids does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Thirteen; one to hold the bulb, and twelve to drink enough to make the room spin.

Q: How many Witches does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Depends on what you want to change it into

Q: How do you get a nun pregnant?
A: Dress her up as an altar boy. {MMMMmmmmkay. So that one's REALLY bad.}

Bumper Stickers:
*If you can't change your mind, are you sure you still have one?
* If Ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy?
* Misspellers of the world, unit!

The following is a very fascinating documentary of so-called Witches . . . many
modern-day innocent civillians accused without a trial - are being held without cause or
evidence. {Thank goodness for the civil rights laws offered in America}

Ever Hear of Echidna In Greek Mythology?

THE MOTHER OF ALL MONSTERS.
While doing some research on Cerberus (the three-headed dog) I learned that the Greeks believed all beasts, including that triple-canine just mentioned, were born of Echidna: that half-nymph pictured (see her womanly torso and snake-like lower limbs).

Can you just imagine all the frightening stories this character represents for writing children's stories?

What sort of characterization would you write -- if you were to tell this creatures story?

In relation to magick -- and the whole yin/yang principle of balance -- it's easy to see from Echidna how she could represent that which we adore about ourselves and that which we'd prefer to shed faster than a snake leaves its old skin.

As the Sun reaches its fullest potential here in the Northern Hemisphere during this month of June, it might be a good time to do a little honest self reflection: to at least know WHY we make the decisions we make to do and act as we choose (while the sun shines brightly; illuminating ALL that would otherwise be hidden).

Gentle Reminder:
Next Full Moon Is 2009 June 7 18:13 {This Sunday}. What do you want to improve about your life?

The Earth Is Our mOtHeR

I am utterly swamped with rituals this Saturday (I'm leading a Shamanic Journey for the Women's Spirituality group and another full blown ritual for the Pagan Sabbat/Full Moon event on May 9th). I'm hoping at least ONE CyberCoven member here will leave a comment about what they hope to do in their personal ritual work this weekend.

Saturday, May 9th is our next Full Moon date. What are your plans?

I'm focusing on Earth: Gaia's living and breathing skin (aka "soil") really needs our help so I'm asking participants of the Full Moon Ritual to gather a 1-3 pound stone; in a respectful manner. The goal is for all participants to bring a stone and together we will charge the stones, create a big vortex to experience the energy shift for helping heal the Earth Mother.

Naturally -- I do a whole lot of habitat restoration work (practical stuff) with the ongoing volunteer work I do . . . but our planet needs us on a spiritual/energetic healing level as well.

PUT YOUR HANDS IN THE SOIL this Saturday. Perhaps you will choose to pick up garbage along some trail that you walk, add organic compost to the yard, or otherwise do something in the way of being a blessing to Gaia.

Here's a beautiful song: "The EArth iS oUr mOtHer" (Which makes a really good backdrop for ritual this Saturday).

Will You Be Dancing Around The May Pole This Friday?

Dancing around the phallic Maypole is just one way to celebrate the fertility aspect of Spring ("May Day" is known as "Beltane" to most Witches) . I remember back when I was a child -- about three hundred million-trillion-gadzillion years ago now -- when I attended grade-school in Seattle. My kindergarten, first and second grade teachers all asked (in subsequent years) the students to weave "May Day" baskets from construction paper strips. The baskets were for holding whatever wildflowers we'd pluck later on.

The idea was to fill those baskets with whatever flowers we found and to take one to any of a number of neighboring front doors. We'd hang a flower basket on the door knob from it's paper handle. Otherwise we'd rest the flower basket on the stoop before ringing the doorbell. Then, before the residents could open the door to discover who was there, we would run really fast to hide (so their hand-crafted gift would be received anonymously.)

It was such a blessed thing to do as a child. I remember hiding in bushes giggling as one Caucasion neighbor-lady in particular found my basket each year and acted so very animatedly surprised.

As I study Scandinavian and Norse mythology I realize these seeming "rituals" of spring date way back . . . and I feel saddened to think they seem to be going by the wayside now. At least -- I haven't heard of any local children passing out May baskets to anyone; not since I did it in the second grade.

Have you heard of such a seasonal ritual??? Ever???

Many of us have felt the huge energetic shift in response to the economy -- not to mention seasonal and social changes as immigration and migration for jobs continues to change what our neighbors and friends tend to look like (and I'm not just talking abut haggard stares).

My hope is that you, dear CyberCoven member, will do something FUN on Beltane. Leap over a small bonfire or weave a paper basket to fill with wildflowers (and give it to a loved one). The death-grip of winter is now over. SPRING IS HERE!

Let's celebrate!
~ SunTiger

Walpurgis (Norse Festival Of Darkness) Ap22-May1

Sometimes I forget how the herb Peppermint (which grows fluently in my garden) came from a wild-growing plant. Thanks to our ancestors -- who lived when "traditional" medicine was not available -- herb knowledge was aquired to help them to survive disease and our existence became possible. I wonder how much of this history do herbs remember (on a cellular level).

While I walk in my yard -- which now blooms with Spring flowers, the Sun seems to be wooing the Earth with kisses: "Wake-up Earth! The cold winter is now over."

While I think of my ancestors, I wonder what their back yards looked like 100 years ago or longer; especially the ones that lived way up north where there might still be some snow on the ground.

For those familiar with Norse Mythology, today begins Walpurgis, the festival of darkness. Historically, this holiday has been celebrated for nine nights: April 22 to May 1, to symbolize the nine days and nights that Odin hung upside down on Yggdrisal - that tree of life. The "Hanged Man" Tarot card seems to remember Odin's sacrifice as well -- because the Hanged Man card symbolizes willingly sacrificing something for a greater cause (as Odin willingly sacrificed his physical comfort for knowledge).

On the ninth day of suffering, Odin saw the runes and died. Then, that midnight, he is reborn (and the Norse Pagans celebrate that hour, where we benefited from so much of Odin's wisdom, by building bonfires. The flames were fueled to keep chaotic spirits away and to honor the dead; especially Odin).

May 1 is also celebrated as Beltane. I wonder -- what do YOU (Cyber Coven Member) plan to do in celebration as May approaches?