The following piece will be useful to people of all religions. However it will help Pagans tremendously since many sects of Paganism promote volunteer work. I've compiled some ways to fit volunteer work into hectic lifes.
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Many of us view the changes happening in our environment and society with dismay. We realize that our society and environment is quickly becoming toxic in both physical and metaphorical ways. We often wish that there was some way we could help but find it difficult to volunteer our time to society and our environment because our schedules are already frighteningly tight.
It is a shame that many of us can not find the time to volunteer because in addition to benefiting our society and environment, volunteer work of any kind has advantages for the person donating their time. Volunteer work is excellent on resumes and college applications, and is an excellent way to gain job experience, network and learn new skills.
Adults are not alone in benefiting from volunteering their time; it is an especially positive experience for children. It instills good values such as empathy and altruism and also teaches a child that not everyone is fortunate enough to have everything that they need.
The general image that comes to mind when we think of volunteer work is a good Samaritan handing out soup to homeless people at a soup kitchen in a bad part of town. However, there are thousand of ways to donate your time and even money in creative ways that are easy to fit into a packed schedule that can positively affect both our society and our environment.
Here is a list of easy ways that a person can help make the world a better place. This is by no means a comprehensive list. I urge everyone to take a moment to research additional ways to help; it is nearly impossible not to find at a least a few ways to help out that will work for you. If you pass some of these tips on to others you'll greatly add to the impact.
1. Clean up a park or playgroundThis one is really easy because it does not require any scheduling and the only requirements are decent weather and a trash bag. This is also a good activity for children too since it teaches them not to litter. They can also then play in the park as a reward for their labor. If you visit parks or playgrounds often an easy way to always be prepared for this opportunity is to simply keep a few trash bags in the trunk of your car and make a habit out of cleaning up while you are there.
2. Help older neighbors.This one is a small task also, though it is a repeated one. Many older people are in need of help with things like shoveling snow from their walkways. If you have a teenager that you can delegate the task to, it becomes even easier! All joking aside, this one isn't as simple as throwing away some litter at the park but its importance is more than correspondingly larger. It seems that not a winter goes by that I do not hear of an elderly person that suffered a heart attack while shoveling snow or slipped on a snowy walkway.
Even if you are not in shape to shovel snow you can still help out considerably. Many elderly people simply need someone to check in on them occasionally. Sometimes when a person lives to an extended age they have few relations left in this world, and no one to help them when they become sick or injured.
I often read of situations where elderly persons were hurt or became ill and were literally stranded in their home for days before a neighbor realized something was wrong and came to investigate. You could be that neighbor...have you knocked on your elderly neighbors' door lately to see how he or she is fairing? It only takes a few minutes to find out if he/she needs you to pick up a prescription for him/her or just check on their welfare.
3. Provide web support for a good cause.If you have skill with the internet, word processing, or web design your skills are needed by many charitable and community friendly agencies. Many of these organizations need web support to help advertise their efforts and often they simply need people to help answer email requests for information. If you know of any group that is undertaking a community friendly effort that you support and you possess any of these skills make an offer of your time. These activities can generally be done from home with very flexible scheduling making it easy for you to squeeze in time to help.
4. Craft items for needy people.Do you know how to knit, crochet, or sew? If you possess these skills you can make blankets, scarves, and clothing for needy people. You could also craft baby rattles, dolls, or other small toys for needy children. Nearly every domestic violence and homeless shelter has a location where you can drop off donated items. Children in these situations are particularly comforted by items like blankets, toys and loveys as many of them arrive in the shelter with nothing but their clothes.
Pregnant women find themselves in these situations too; the number one cause of death for pregnant women is homicide so quite a few are in domestic violence shelters. Many enter the shelter with nothing for their coming arrival and could use baby clothes, blankets, booties, etc. Your gift could sincerely make a difference. Call your local shelters to find out if they accept donations of this type and where there drop off area is located, you could also ask them what kinds of items they particularly need. You can also increase the impact of this activity by passing along information about it to your friends.
5. Eliminate the tree killing, mailbox invading nuisance that is junk mail.Well, not completely eliminate it but at least reduce it by roughly 75%. This one is convenient as well as easy since the average person finds the seemingly never ending stream of junk mail they receive to be maddening. Junk mail is hell on the environment as well as on your nerves. The paper used for one person's unwanted junk mail for one year is roughly equal to one and a half trees. For a person who lives to be 78 that starts receiving junk mail at 18 that is the equivalent of 90 trees!
You do not have to be a tree hugging hippy to think it insane that 90 trees are sacrificed in the effort to bombard one person with unsolicited ads that they mostly have no use for. So write to the address below, reduce the senseless ad driven tree slaughter and contribute to your home's future decrease in clutter all in one fell swoop.
Most direct marketers use mailing lists that they get from the Direct Marketing Association. Write to them and simply ask them to remove your name and contact information from their list. This will reduce your junk mail on average 75% the equivalent of 66 trees saved over the course of a life time. Here is their address: DMA Mail Preference Service P.O. Box 643 Carmel, NY 10512. Do this for everyone in your household to multiply the impact.
6. Conserve resources and be thrifty.There are numerous simple ways to conserve resources that add up over time. This conservation is not only earth friendly but will save you money. Simple efforts like turning the water off while you brush your teeth, recycling, buying in bulk to save money and cut down on packaging, are all examples of easy ways that you can conserve. Being thrifty also helps you save money while conserving resources.
Look around in your basement, attic, garage, or storage shed for items that you can put back to general use in your home instead of buying new items. You could also see if you have any items that you can donate to charity or offer on Freecycle. Freecycle is a service that uses the internet to host email lists where members can post "wanted" messages for items they need or "offer" messages for items they no longer need and are willing to give away.
Shopping for clothing and other items at thrift stores is also an excellent way to save money while benefiting a good cause as most thrift stores are run for the benefit of organizations like the Salvation Army, and many veterans groups.
7. Put your money where your mouth is - buy and invest green.You can have a large impact on the environment by changing your buying preferences. Buy recycled items and be loyal to companies that ban animal testing or promote philanthropic endeavors. Boycott companies that do animal testing or otherwise harm the environment and let them know that they are losing a customer because of their practices.
Buying organic is very helpful to the environment since the majority of pesticides used on non-organic materials run off in to the ground water. Organic products can be found in many areas now including food, beauty products, and even high fashion. In our capitalistic society money often talks and if you demand environmentally friendly products businesses will respond to the earth friendly need that you are creating.
Looking to diversify your investment portfolio, then think about investing green by investing your money in environment friendly alternative energy development. In addition to being earth friendly this kind of investment, when properly planned, is an excellent choice due to the worlds growing determination to develop renewable and clean energy sources. Even some of the big oil companies like BP and Shell are spending a substantial amount of money developing alternative energy sources.
8. Put your workplace to work. Consider suggesting to your supervisor or Human Resources department that the company start a volunteer program that could organize employee volunteer opportunities and perhaps even allow employees limited time off from work to complete approved volunteer work. If you have the time, offer to help implement the program by generating flyers or finding volunteer opportunities for employees to take part in. Make sure to stress the benefits of corporate philanthropy such as good advertising, positive PR, and increased employee morale.
Some of these activities require very little time and do not require your attention on an ongoing basis. The other opportunities will require a little attention and renewed effort over time but can be done in small chunks when you can fit them in to your schedule making it easier for your to help make the world a better place. People often feel powerless when it comes to changing the world because they do not realize that the battle is primarily fought with the little things; all the small acts of good we complete do add up.
Very few of us are put to a choice or given a moment in time so pivotal and important that we can declare our allegiance to right or wrong and do more good than all the harm we have caused in our lives in one amazing act. The real superheros are the ones that keep on grinding it out day by day doing what they can to help whenever they are able to.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
How to make Herbal Incense
This following piece will help a layperson learn to make their own natural and high quality herbal incense. While there are many incense blends suitable for ritual/spiritual purposes available commercially making your own preperations just adds that extra OOMPH! to spellwork. Enjoy!
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Making your own herbal incense requires time and effort but the results are well worth it.
Perhaps the most important benefit of making your own incense is the confidence you will have that it was made with natural ingredients; making your own herbal incense is also beneficial because you can make it to your exact specifications. It is also less expensive to make your own incense as oppossed to purchasing it.
To make herbal incense start by carefully researching the flowers, roots, oils or resins you want to use. Keep in mind that some plant matter and essential oils while normally safe can be poisonous when burned. So be very careful when choosing your herbs.
Once you have researched and decided what plant matter and oils you would like to use you can purchase them from a health food store or from an online supplier. Mountain Rose herbs is an excellent on-line company to purchase herbs and essential oils from.
After you have purchased your plant material you will need to grind it. You can use a mortar and pestle, food processor, or coffee grinder. Mortar and pestles work well for grinding resins but the process is much easier if you have a food processor or coffee grinder.
Grind each component seperately, taking care to process the material into a powder. I have found it that I save time by grinding extra of each component that I am using; I then store the extra material in a zip lock craft bag (any zip lock bag will do).
Many people find the grinding process to be enjoyable, but it can also be very tiring. It is possible to eliminate this step for some herbs such as lavender and rose since these are readily available in powder form. It generally costs more to purchase herbal powder, but it does save time so do not feel that you must exhaust yourself grinding the material. Resins (such as frankincense and myrrh) and roots (such as comfrey) are more difficult to grind than flowers, so it is also possible to base your recipe on the ease of preparing the materials.
Free incense recipes are available all over the internet, and many suppliers of herbs and essential oils include recipes on their websites as a service to their customers. Once you have finished grinding each ingredient all that is left is to mix them together in proper proportions according to the recipe you have chosen.
Make sure to stir thoroughly until all ingredients are nicely blended. After you have finished this step refer to your recipe to see what essential or fragrance oils you will need to add. Then add the oils, one drop at a time, stirring the mixture carefully between drops. Once you have finished adding the oils stir the mixture once more taking to make sure the mixture is uniformly blended.
Once you have finished blending your incense it is ready for storage or use. You can store the incense in small craft bags, or store in a small and pretty glass bottle. Glass bottles of hand made incense make lovely and thoughtful gifts. For a truly thoughtful gift try making some incense with the intended recipient's favorite flowers and scents. To burn the incense add a pinch of it to a lit charcoal disc. Charcoal discs are available from health food stores and on-line.
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Making your own herbal incense requires time and effort but the results are well worth it.
Perhaps the most important benefit of making your own incense is the confidence you will have that it was made with natural ingredients; making your own herbal incense is also beneficial because you can make it to your exact specifications. It is also less expensive to make your own incense as oppossed to purchasing it.
To make herbal incense start by carefully researching the flowers, roots, oils or resins you want to use. Keep in mind that some plant matter and essential oils while normally safe can be poisonous when burned. So be very careful when choosing your herbs.
Once you have researched and decided what plant matter and oils you would like to use you can purchase them from a health food store or from an online supplier. Mountain Rose herbs is an excellent on-line company to purchase herbs and essential oils from.
After you have purchased your plant material you will need to grind it. You can use a mortar and pestle, food processor, or coffee grinder. Mortar and pestles work well for grinding resins but the process is much easier if you have a food processor or coffee grinder.
Grind each component seperately, taking care to process the material into a powder. I have found it that I save time by grinding extra of each component that I am using; I then store the extra material in a zip lock craft bag (any zip lock bag will do).
Many people find the grinding process to be enjoyable, but it can also be very tiring. It is possible to eliminate this step for some herbs such as lavender and rose since these are readily available in powder form. It generally costs more to purchase herbal powder, but it does save time so do not feel that you must exhaust yourself grinding the material. Resins (such as frankincense and myrrh) and roots (such as comfrey) are more difficult to grind than flowers, so it is also possible to base your recipe on the ease of preparing the materials.
Free incense recipes are available all over the internet, and many suppliers of herbs and essential oils include recipes on their websites as a service to their customers. Once you have finished grinding each ingredient all that is left is to mix them together in proper proportions according to the recipe you have chosen.
Make sure to stir thoroughly until all ingredients are nicely blended. After you have finished this step refer to your recipe to see what essential or fragrance oils you will need to add. Then add the oils, one drop at a time, stirring the mixture carefully between drops. Once you have finished adding the oils stir the mixture once more taking to make sure the mixture is uniformly blended.
Once you have finished blending your incense it is ready for storage or use. You can store the incense in small craft bags, or store in a small and pretty glass bottle. Glass bottles of hand made incense make lovely and thoughtful gifts. For a truly thoughtful gift try making some incense with the intended recipient's favorite flowers and scents. To burn the incense add a pinch of it to a lit charcoal disc. Charcoal discs are available from health food stores and on-line.
How to make an infusion
Making infusions is the most basic thing one can do to improve their life through aromatherapy and spiritual practices. The process is actually quite simple once one learns how to do it. Enjoy!
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Making an infusion is a quite simple way to use floral and herbal essences for better living. All it requires is the plant matter of your choice (be sure to research the plant and ask your doctor about it before using it) and lukewarm to hot water.
Be sure to use the appropriate temperature of water for your chosen herb. All plant oils have a flash point, which is the temperature at which its essential oil vaporizes. If you are trying to make your kitchen smell good then adding flowers or herbs to boiling water is a good idea because the essential oils will vaporize and strongly scent the air.
Conversely if you are planning on using the infusion to add to bath water or hair rinse it is important to find the flash point for your chosen herb and avoid heating your infusion to that temperature.Once you have finished researching your chosen herb and have determined that it is the right one for your purpose and determined its flash point you're ready to begin.
Coarsely grind your herbs either with a mortar and pestle (useful for resins and roots), food processor, coffee bean grinder, or food chopper. Grinding the herbs first will allow the plants oils to infuse with the water better. Then pour the proper temperature water over the plant and allow to steep for appropriate time (make sure to make a note of suggested steeping times when researching the herb).
Its just like making tea, with the exception that you should cover the container you are steeping the infusion in, to keep more of the vapors in. After you have finished steeping, strain out the herb (depending on how much herb you are using a mesh tea ball can be very useful, eliminating the need to strain).
Keep in mind that infusions are perishable. I suggest adding vitamin E for preservation, and storing your infusion in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Also make sure that your work area and utensils are clean and sterilized, this will help you avoid contamination. You do not want to introduce any bacteria or mold spores that can ultimately spoil your infusion.
You can use your infusion for a variety of things. Floral infusions make excellent and sweet smelling hair detanglers. They can also be added to running bath water to impart a lovely fragrance while softening skin. You can also bottle the infusion in a mist sprayer bottle to make your own room and linen spray.
Perhaps best of all infusions make lovely and unique gifts. Try making an infusion with the intended recipient's favorite flowers to add a touch of thoughtfulness then store the infusion in a glass bottle with pretty ribbon tied around the neck.
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Making an infusion is a quite simple way to use floral and herbal essences for better living. All it requires is the plant matter of your choice (be sure to research the plant and ask your doctor about it before using it) and lukewarm to hot water.
Be sure to use the appropriate temperature of water for your chosen herb. All plant oils have a flash point, which is the temperature at which its essential oil vaporizes. If you are trying to make your kitchen smell good then adding flowers or herbs to boiling water is a good idea because the essential oils will vaporize and strongly scent the air.
Conversely if you are planning on using the infusion to add to bath water or hair rinse it is important to find the flash point for your chosen herb and avoid heating your infusion to that temperature.Once you have finished researching your chosen herb and have determined that it is the right one for your purpose and determined its flash point you're ready to begin.
Coarsely grind your herbs either with a mortar and pestle (useful for resins and roots), food processor, coffee bean grinder, or food chopper. Grinding the herbs first will allow the plants oils to infuse with the water better. Then pour the proper temperature water over the plant and allow to steep for appropriate time (make sure to make a note of suggested steeping times when researching the herb).
Its just like making tea, with the exception that you should cover the container you are steeping the infusion in, to keep more of the vapors in. After you have finished steeping, strain out the herb (depending on how much herb you are using a mesh tea ball can be very useful, eliminating the need to strain).
Keep in mind that infusions are perishable. I suggest adding vitamin E for preservation, and storing your infusion in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Also make sure that your work area and utensils are clean and sterilized, this will help you avoid contamination. You do not want to introduce any bacteria or mold spores that can ultimately spoil your infusion.
You can use your infusion for a variety of things. Floral infusions make excellent and sweet smelling hair detanglers. They can also be added to running bath water to impart a lovely fragrance while softening skin. You can also bottle the infusion in a mist sprayer bottle to make your own room and linen spray.
Perhaps best of all infusions make lovely and unique gifts. Try making an infusion with the intended recipient's favorite flowers to add a touch of thoughtfulness then store the infusion in a glass bottle with pretty ribbon tied around the neck.
How to find a supplier of herbs and oils
I wrote the following piece to help anyone who wishes to use natural materials to improve their lives by using them as medecine, healthy diet and for spiritual purposes find suppliers that are honest and provide quality products.
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The use of herbs, essential, and fragrance oils to naturally improve one's sense of well being and help ensure good health has surged in popularity in recent years. While there are many excellent suppliers that offer high quality products free of harsh and even dangerous additives many companies aren't so trustworthy.
Unfortunately there is never a shortage of shady businesses willing to take advantage of consumer demand for products; the problem is exacerbated by the ease of opening and running Internet businesses. Consumers looking for herbs, essential, and fragrance oils must take care when choosing suppliers to ensure the quality of the products they purchase.
When choosing suppliers the most important aspect to focus on is the quality of the materials wanted to purchase. Good bargains are attractive... but it is not worth it if the quality of the product is not up to standard. The quality of your materials is of the utmost importance, especially if they are for ingestion. Consumers should be wary of suppliers that offer bargains that seem too good to be true, or suppliers who do not have enough information available about their product.
Consumers can safeguard the quality of the items they purchase by asking potential suppliers a few simple questions.Some questions to ask when purchasing herbs:
*Where did the herbs originate from? Regional differences are often very apparent in harvested herbs; their scent, strength, and even color can vary by region. The potential supplier should be willing and able to state what country, or at the very least what region, the herbs originated from.
*Are the herbs pesticide and herbicide free? This question is of particular importance since those chemicals are not something a person wants to ingest, burn, bathe in, or fragrance their home with. This is also important to environmentally conscious consumers since roughly 90% of pesticides and herbicides run off into the ground water leading to increased pollution. If the supplier can not guarantee that the herbs are pesticide and herbicide free then consumers should not buy them.
* Have the herbs been irradiated? This is important because irradiation can leave chemical traces in the product that are unwanted. If the supplier can not state that the herbs have not been irradiated then consumers should not buy them.
Questions to keep in mind when buying oils:
*Where did the oils originate from? Just like herbs the essential oils home region can affect its scent, potency, and even color.
*How were the oils extracted? Oils that have been extracted using solvents are called absolutes and are not suitable for ingestion. Distilled and expeller pressed essential oils are suitable for ingestion. This is very basic information; if a supplier can not give this information consumers should most certainly avoid them.
*Are the fragrance or essential oils pure and uncut? Consumers should make sure that the oils have not been cut with DPG or Carrier oils. Cut oils, while suitable for wearing on the skin, are not suitable for crafting purposes because they do not smell strongly enough. These oils are also not meant for consumption.
* Are the oils fragrance or essential? Each type of oil has its uses and both can be beneficial, but it is very important that the consumer knows what they are buying. The strength of the oil determines how much of it they should use, and whether or not they can get any alleochemical benefits from the oil. Fragrance oils are also not meant for ingestion; they are synthetic renditions of essential oils and are only suitable for use as fragrance.
One way a consumer can find potential suppliers is to spend some time on aromatherapy or herbal message boards and forums and read through any existing threads about suppliers. Consumers can also start their own topic listing all of the materials that they need. If they pick a well populated board they will get lots of responses. These responses will be particularly helpful because of the responders' personal experience with the suppliers they are recommending. Consumers can also check their local health food, and crafting stores for materials.
The last, but very important, step that a consumer can take is to check every potential supplier's record with the Better Business Bureau. Suppliers who have numerous unresolved complaints should be regarded as not trustworthy enough to purchase herbs or essential and fragrance oils from. With a little caution and inquisitiveness it is easy for the average consumer to find a trustworthy supplier for all of the herbal needs.
I have found Mountain Rose Herbs to be an excellent source of high quality herbs and essential oils. www.mountainroseherbs.com
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The use of herbs, essential, and fragrance oils to naturally improve one's sense of well being and help ensure good health has surged in popularity in recent years. While there are many excellent suppliers that offer high quality products free of harsh and even dangerous additives many companies aren't so trustworthy.
Unfortunately there is never a shortage of shady businesses willing to take advantage of consumer demand for products; the problem is exacerbated by the ease of opening and running Internet businesses. Consumers looking for herbs, essential, and fragrance oils must take care when choosing suppliers to ensure the quality of the products they purchase.
When choosing suppliers the most important aspect to focus on is the quality of the materials wanted to purchase. Good bargains are attractive... but it is not worth it if the quality of the product is not up to standard. The quality of your materials is of the utmost importance, especially if they are for ingestion. Consumers should be wary of suppliers that offer bargains that seem too good to be true, or suppliers who do not have enough information available about their product.
Consumers can safeguard the quality of the items they purchase by asking potential suppliers a few simple questions.Some questions to ask when purchasing herbs:
*Where did the herbs originate from? Regional differences are often very apparent in harvested herbs; their scent, strength, and even color can vary by region. The potential supplier should be willing and able to state what country, or at the very least what region, the herbs originated from.
*Are the herbs pesticide and herbicide free? This question is of particular importance since those chemicals are not something a person wants to ingest, burn, bathe in, or fragrance their home with. This is also important to environmentally conscious consumers since roughly 90% of pesticides and herbicides run off into the ground water leading to increased pollution. If the supplier can not guarantee that the herbs are pesticide and herbicide free then consumers should not buy them.
* Have the herbs been irradiated? This is important because irradiation can leave chemical traces in the product that are unwanted. If the supplier can not state that the herbs have not been irradiated then consumers should not buy them.
Questions to keep in mind when buying oils:
*Where did the oils originate from? Just like herbs the essential oils home region can affect its scent, potency, and even color.
*How were the oils extracted? Oils that have been extracted using solvents are called absolutes and are not suitable for ingestion. Distilled and expeller pressed essential oils are suitable for ingestion. This is very basic information; if a supplier can not give this information consumers should most certainly avoid them.
*Are the fragrance or essential oils pure and uncut? Consumers should make sure that the oils have not been cut with DPG or Carrier oils. Cut oils, while suitable for wearing on the skin, are not suitable for crafting purposes because they do not smell strongly enough. These oils are also not meant for consumption.
* Are the oils fragrance or essential? Each type of oil has its uses and both can be beneficial, but it is very important that the consumer knows what they are buying. The strength of the oil determines how much of it they should use, and whether or not they can get any alleochemical benefits from the oil. Fragrance oils are also not meant for ingestion; they are synthetic renditions of essential oils and are only suitable for use as fragrance.
One way a consumer can find potential suppliers is to spend some time on aromatherapy or herbal message boards and forums and read through any existing threads about suppliers. Consumers can also start their own topic listing all of the materials that they need. If they pick a well populated board they will get lots of responses. These responses will be particularly helpful because of the responders' personal experience with the suppliers they are recommending. Consumers can also check their local health food, and crafting stores for materials.
The last, but very important, step that a consumer can take is to check every potential supplier's record with the Better Business Bureau. Suppliers who have numerous unresolved complaints should be regarded as not trustworthy enough to purchase herbs or essential and fragrance oils from. With a little caution and inquisitiveness it is easy for the average consumer to find a trustworthy supplier for all of the herbal needs.
I have found Mountain Rose Herbs to be an excellent source of high quality herbs and essential oils. www.mountainroseherbs.com
The difference between essential and fragrance oils
I wrote this peice to help laypersons learn about the differences between essential and fragrance oils. In addition to the many differences they have, they also have different uses that they are suited for. The jury is still out over wether essential or fragrance oils will suit the making of ritual oils. Many purists claim that essential oils are neccessary. I tend to think that unless the oil, or preperation will be ingested, a high quality fragrance oil will do nicely. I believe this because the use of oils and herbs in rituals and spellwork is primarily a form of sympathetic magic and its real power is the effect that it has on the practitioner. Scents have profound effects on our bodies due to our sense of smell being hardwired to many parts of our brains. A high quality fragrance oil that smells true to the scent it is attempting to emulate effects our psyche just as much as an essential oil. With that said enjoy the rest of the piece!
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What is the difference between essential and fragrance oils? This question is frequently posed by those new to aromatherapy and herbalism. There is a lot of debate surrounding this subject.
Fragrance oils and genuine Essential oils have many similarities but they also differ in fundamental ways. Genuine essential oils are pure distillations of a flowers, herbs, roots, or resins that have not been cut with any kind of carrier oil. These oils are often expensive, and they are prized for their potent fragrances as well as their medicinal benefits.
Plants and the essential oils derived from them contain alleochemicals-chemicals that have affects on the human body. Sometimes these effects are good and sometimes they are bad depending on the plant matter used. This is why it is particularly important to familiarize yourself with the herbs and oils that you use. Those new to the art should take the time to use additional resources, and speak with their doctor before using any herbal preparation that they are not familiar with.
Some of the prized effects of certain essential oils are: skin and hair softening, skin moisturizing, rash / eczema / psoriasis relief, youthful looking rejuvenation, anxiety dissipation, tension relief, stress relief, pain relief, migraine relief, and enhancement of overall feeling of well being.
Essential oils have drawbacks as well as benefits. Many essential oils are incredibly expensive - an example of this is Rose Otto Essential oil. It is said that it takes a thousand Rose petals to make a mere drop of this oil. A fluid ounce costs, on average, $200 dollars. The pure scent of the oil is heavenly, and a small amount of the oil will go a long way. However, the expense is something that few can afford to indulge on a regular basis. This reason alone is often enough for many people to choose fragrance oils which are much less expensive.
Another drawback of some essential oils is that both their quality and scent varies depending on the crop. Essential oils can also vary by region due to variations in the plant matter used, conditions grown in, etc.
This makes it difficult for craft makers to keep their finished products consistent. For people simply making items for personal use this is not usually significant unless the person is very particular about their fragrances, but for crafters making items for sale this can pose a very large problem. Many crafters opt for fragrance oils instead to keep their finished product consistent.
Finally, sometimes an essential oil that smells really good, is not so good for health if the plant matter is poisonous or an irritant to the human body. This extremely limits the oils aromatherapy applications. Fragrance oils provide a way to avoid any unpleasant side effects of but still benefit from the scent of normally dangerous, or irritating herbs.
Those characteristics: the definition, benefits, and disadvantages of essential oils along with information about why fragrance oils are a viable alternative are a good start but its important to define what a Fragrance oil is.
Fragrance oils are almost always synthetic; they do not contain the true floral essence so their contribution to aromatherapy is simply fragrance. Some fragrance oils aren't synthetic, these oils are blends of essential oils cut with a carrier oil. If you plan to use fragrance oils for crafting incense, bath and body products, etc. it is important to use concentrated, synthetic oils.
Fragrance oils that are really essential / carrier oil blends have been diluted too much and their scent is not strong enough to be used for crafting purposes. Save the essential / carrier oils blend for use directly on the skin, hair, or candles.
Finally, Fragrance oils are beneficial even though they are synthetic because their aroma can help encourage peace of mind, and alleviate the blues. However, they are never to be taken internally unlike genuine fragrance oils. They are also much more affordable with the average person being able to use some every day.
Ultimately whether a fragrance or essential oil is appropriate depends on the application, and the crafters budget.
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What is the difference between essential and fragrance oils? This question is frequently posed by those new to aromatherapy and herbalism. There is a lot of debate surrounding this subject.
Fragrance oils and genuine Essential oils have many similarities but they also differ in fundamental ways. Genuine essential oils are pure distillations of a flowers, herbs, roots, or resins that have not been cut with any kind of carrier oil. These oils are often expensive, and they are prized for their potent fragrances as well as their medicinal benefits.
Plants and the essential oils derived from them contain alleochemicals-chemicals that have affects on the human body. Sometimes these effects are good and sometimes they are bad depending on the plant matter used. This is why it is particularly important to familiarize yourself with the herbs and oils that you use. Those new to the art should take the time to use additional resources, and speak with their doctor before using any herbal preparation that they are not familiar with.
Some of the prized effects of certain essential oils are: skin and hair softening, skin moisturizing, rash / eczema / psoriasis relief, youthful looking rejuvenation, anxiety dissipation, tension relief, stress relief, pain relief, migraine relief, and enhancement of overall feeling of well being.
Essential oils have drawbacks as well as benefits. Many essential oils are incredibly expensive - an example of this is Rose Otto Essential oil. It is said that it takes a thousand Rose petals to make a mere drop of this oil. A fluid ounce costs, on average, $200 dollars. The pure scent of the oil is heavenly, and a small amount of the oil will go a long way. However, the expense is something that few can afford to indulge on a regular basis. This reason alone is often enough for many people to choose fragrance oils which are much less expensive.
Another drawback of some essential oils is that both their quality and scent varies depending on the crop. Essential oils can also vary by region due to variations in the plant matter used, conditions grown in, etc.
This makes it difficult for craft makers to keep their finished products consistent. For people simply making items for personal use this is not usually significant unless the person is very particular about their fragrances, but for crafters making items for sale this can pose a very large problem. Many crafters opt for fragrance oils instead to keep their finished product consistent.
Finally, sometimes an essential oil that smells really good, is not so good for health if the plant matter is poisonous or an irritant to the human body. This extremely limits the oils aromatherapy applications. Fragrance oils provide a way to avoid any unpleasant side effects of but still benefit from the scent of normally dangerous, or irritating herbs.
Those characteristics: the definition, benefits, and disadvantages of essential oils along with information about why fragrance oils are a viable alternative are a good start but its important to define what a Fragrance oil is.
Fragrance oils are almost always synthetic; they do not contain the true floral essence so their contribution to aromatherapy is simply fragrance. Some fragrance oils aren't synthetic, these oils are blends of essential oils cut with a carrier oil. If you plan to use fragrance oils for crafting incense, bath and body products, etc. it is important to use concentrated, synthetic oils.
Fragrance oils that are really essential / carrier oil blends have been diluted too much and their scent is not strong enough to be used for crafting purposes. Save the essential / carrier oils blend for use directly on the skin, hair, or candles.
Finally, Fragrance oils are beneficial even though they are synthetic because their aroma can help encourage peace of mind, and alleviate the blues. However, they are never to be taken internally unlike genuine fragrance oils. They are also much more affordable with the average person being able to use some every day.
Ultimately whether a fragrance or essential oil is appropriate depends on the application, and the crafters budget.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
All about Gum Arabic (acacia)
Gum Arabic is an amazing substance, and though most do not know it nearly everyone either ingests or wears some of it every day because it is included in so many products. The resin is popular among pagans and other pursuing holistic lifestyles due to its use for many natural products and in herbal medecine. I wrote the following peice to highlight its history, harvesting process and uses.
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Gum Arabic is a highly prized resin used for a variety of purposes such as adding to cosmetics, lotions, paint, adhesives, soda, candy and marshmallows.
Gum Arabic resin is harvested from two species of Acacia trees, specifically Acacia seyel and Acacia senegal. The Acacia trees grow in several African countries, however the majority of Gum Arabic is harvested in Sudan. Sudan harvests roughly 60 % of the world's Gum Arabic. This figure represents a significant decline of Sudan's harvests since the 1990's.
Oddly enough Gum Arabic resin is produced by sick and or wounded trees. This happens because Acacia trees' production of resin is a defensive measure. When the trees are ill and their protective bark is damaged the trees produce a thick sap which fills the damaged portion of the bark. The sap oozes out and soon dries in teardrop shapes becoming quite hard.
The resin protects the tree from insects and pathogenic fungus that might otherwise invade the injured part of the tree bark.Gum Arabic is a precious commodity and materialistic owners of the trees are not content to wait for the trees to emit Gum Arabic resin naturally. Owners generally speed up the process by deliberately injuring the trees. This is done by workers who gouge holes in the trees' bark and or remove strips of bark from the tree forcing the tree to protect itself by producing sap.
Once the sap hardens into tears it is manually harvested by workers who hand-pick it. Legend has it that the Moor's who used to harvest the tears could subsist on nothing but the very nutritious resin. After harvesting workers sort the tears according to quality. The quality of any piece of the resin is readily discernible from its color. White gum Arabic is considered to be the most potent and pure. Yellow and Red Gum Arabic resins are considered to be of medium quality, while brown resin is the lowest quality available.
Much of Gum Arabic's value comes from its nutritional content. Its nutritional value makes it a very desirable food additive. The resin is also useful for manufacturing food and cosmetics due to its ability to emulsify oil and water. Its ability to emulsify makes it a useful ingredient in creams, lotions and confections such as frosting. The resin is also used in the adhesive on the back of many stamps.
The availability of Gum Arabic has been reduced in recent years by the instability in Sudan resulting from the conflict occurring in Darfur. Many of the very valuable Acacia trees have been cut down by desperate, indigent people who sell the trees for firewood and timber. In 2007 Sudan's President also threatened to stop export of Gum Arabic in response to the threat of sanctions from the United States. At this time the future of Gum Arabic is very much in question.
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Gum Arabic is a highly prized resin used for a variety of purposes such as adding to cosmetics, lotions, paint, adhesives, soda, candy and marshmallows.
Gum Arabic resin is harvested from two species of Acacia trees, specifically Acacia seyel and Acacia senegal. The Acacia trees grow in several African countries, however the majority of Gum Arabic is harvested in Sudan. Sudan harvests roughly 60 % of the world's Gum Arabic. This figure represents a significant decline of Sudan's harvests since the 1990's.
Oddly enough Gum Arabic resin is produced by sick and or wounded trees. This happens because Acacia trees' production of resin is a defensive measure. When the trees are ill and their protective bark is damaged the trees produce a thick sap which fills the damaged portion of the bark. The sap oozes out and soon dries in teardrop shapes becoming quite hard.
The resin protects the tree from insects and pathogenic fungus that might otherwise invade the injured part of the tree bark.Gum Arabic is a precious commodity and materialistic owners of the trees are not content to wait for the trees to emit Gum Arabic resin naturally. Owners generally speed up the process by deliberately injuring the trees. This is done by workers who gouge holes in the trees' bark and or remove strips of bark from the tree forcing the tree to protect itself by producing sap.
Once the sap hardens into tears it is manually harvested by workers who hand-pick it. Legend has it that the Moor's who used to harvest the tears could subsist on nothing but the very nutritious resin. After harvesting workers sort the tears according to quality. The quality of any piece of the resin is readily discernible from its color. White gum Arabic is considered to be the most potent and pure. Yellow and Red Gum Arabic resins are considered to be of medium quality, while brown resin is the lowest quality available.
Much of Gum Arabic's value comes from its nutritional content. Its nutritional value makes it a very desirable food additive. The resin is also useful for manufacturing food and cosmetics due to its ability to emulsify oil and water. Its ability to emulsify makes it a useful ingredient in creams, lotions and confections such as frosting. The resin is also used in the adhesive on the back of many stamps.
The availability of Gum Arabic has been reduced in recent years by the instability in Sudan resulting from the conflict occurring in Darfur. Many of the very valuable Acacia trees have been cut down by desperate, indigent people who sell the trees for firewood and timber. In 2007 Sudan's President also threatened to stop export of Gum Arabic in response to the threat of sanctions from the United States. At this time the future of Gum Arabic is very much in question.
The history and uses of Myrrh resin.
Myrrh resin is highly prized. The resin has a rich history and has many uses both in mundane and in Pagan circles. This versatile herb is in many ways a staple of a witch's herbal. I wrote this peice to highlight the resins many uses.
Myrrh is a valuable resin produced by Commiphorra myrrha tree. Myrrh like all tree resin is actually hardened sap. The sap is secreted by the Commiphorra myrrha tree when its bark has been removed or penetrated. The sap protects the tree from invasion by fungus and insects. The sap leaks out of the damaged spots on the tree and hardens into oblong shapes generally referred to as tears.
Myrrh resin has been used in religious rituals both Pagan and Christian for millenia. It is perhaps most well known for its inclusion in the story of Jesus of Nazareth's birth. According to the Christian bible Myrrh, along with gold and frankincense, was one of the gifts brought to the child Jesus by three wise men. The time indicated in the account coincides with the height of Myrrh's heyday because the resin was widely used in Pagan religious practices.
The Commiphorra myrrha trees are native to parts of Somalia and Ethiopia. During its peak Myrrh resin sales helped Ethiopia flourish, thrive and become a great kingdom that sharply contrasts the famine stricken, third world Ethiopia of modern times.
Myrrh's decline, and also Ethiopia's, began with the advent of Christianity. As Christianity spread and many Myrrh loving Pagans were converted demand for Myrrh dropped dramatically. While not entirely responsible for Ethiopia's decline the drop in Myrrh sales contributed to it greatly.Myrrh is still used by some Christian sects in certain services. Demand for the resin is also rebounding slightly due to the rise of Wicca and other neo-pagan religions.
Myrrh resin is quite hard and is reddish brown in appearance. It is often ground and then used in incense blends. Small unground chunks of Myrrh resin are also used in incense, usually burned on charcoal discs. When Myrrh is burned it has a very smoky, earthy scent with a hint of sweetness. It is said to add depth to incense blends and perfumes.
Finely ground myrrh can be used a natural colorant in many personal care items. The resin is used in many bath products. It is antiseptic in nature causing it to be used in items such as toothpaste, mouthwash, and salves for wounds. The resin is used in both Chinese Medicine and Modern Herbalism.
Myrrh is not hypo-allergenic, however it has an excellent safety record and allergies to it are uncommon. However, the resin should not be used by pregnant women. One should consult a doctor before using any herb or resin.
Myrrh is a valuable resin produced by Commiphorra myrrha tree. Myrrh like all tree resin is actually hardened sap. The sap is secreted by the Commiphorra myrrha tree when its bark has been removed or penetrated. The sap protects the tree from invasion by fungus and insects. The sap leaks out of the damaged spots on the tree and hardens into oblong shapes generally referred to as tears.
Myrrh resin has been used in religious rituals both Pagan and Christian for millenia. It is perhaps most well known for its inclusion in the story of Jesus of Nazareth's birth. According to the Christian bible Myrrh, along with gold and frankincense, was one of the gifts brought to the child Jesus by three wise men. The time indicated in the account coincides with the height of Myrrh's heyday because the resin was widely used in Pagan religious practices.
The Commiphorra myrrha trees are native to parts of Somalia and Ethiopia. During its peak Myrrh resin sales helped Ethiopia flourish, thrive and become a great kingdom that sharply contrasts the famine stricken, third world Ethiopia of modern times.
Myrrh's decline, and also Ethiopia's, began with the advent of Christianity. As Christianity spread and many Myrrh loving Pagans were converted demand for Myrrh dropped dramatically. While not entirely responsible for Ethiopia's decline the drop in Myrrh sales contributed to it greatly.Myrrh is still used by some Christian sects in certain services. Demand for the resin is also rebounding slightly due to the rise of Wicca and other neo-pagan religions.
Myrrh resin is quite hard and is reddish brown in appearance. It is often ground and then used in incense blends. Small unground chunks of Myrrh resin are also used in incense, usually burned on charcoal discs. When Myrrh is burned it has a very smoky, earthy scent with a hint of sweetness. It is said to add depth to incense blends and perfumes.
Finely ground myrrh can be used a natural colorant in many personal care items. The resin is used in many bath products. It is antiseptic in nature causing it to be used in items such as toothpaste, mouthwash, and salves for wounds. The resin is used in both Chinese Medicine and Modern Herbalism.
Myrrh is not hypo-allergenic, however it has an excellent safety record and allergies to it are uncommon. However, the resin should not be used by pregnant women. One should consult a doctor before using any herb or resin.
The history of the Mandrake plant
another popular baneful herb, Mandrake also has a very rich history. I wrote this article to show all of the neat things about this interesting herb.
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The Mandrake plant is popular these days as a way to showcase the occult. Few witchy or even just fantasy stories are complete without incorporation of this plant. Mandrake's association with the occult, however, is not a new trend.
The plant has long had ties to superstition and witchcraft. These ties were brought about by Mandrake's eerie and disquieting resemblance to the human form. It was called the Witches' Umbrella.
What is perhaps the most well known superstition concerns the legendary scream of the mandrake. According to folk lore Mandrake plants scream when they are uprooted and this scream is deadly to those that hear it.
The old tales go so far as to explain one of the few "safe" processes for harvesting Mandrake. The process reportedly involved starving a dog until it was nearly feral from hunger. Then the dog was tied with a rope to the exposed parts of the Mandrake plant.The harvester then placed a steak or other raw meat a bit out of the dog's reach. The person reportedly had to either quickly leave the vicinity or adequately block their ears to avoid death. The dog would then strain so hard to get to the meat that it would rip the Mandrake plant out of the earth.
The Mandrake's scream would kill the dog but then the harvester would be free to take the plant once the screaming stopped. This process was supposedly carried out by witches who allegedly used the Mandrake for spells, potions, poisons and other sorceries involving prophecy and protection.
It is not immediately clear where this legend came from. It is possible that it arose simply due to superstitions regarding the Mandrake's similarity to the human form. During this time period even the violin was considered evil because of its uncanny resemblance to the human voice. It is more likely that Mandrake's poisonous nature inspired the tale. The legend could simply have been a way to frighten children away from a plant that could kill them or an explanation for an accidental poisoning.
The Mandrake plant is also known as Mandragora and belongs in the nightshades family. It is cousins with two other well known baneful herbs: Deadly Nightshade and Belladonna which also belong to the nightshades family.
Mandrake is rarely used in medicines. The plants many toxic compounds have caused the United States Food and Drug Administration to rate the Mandrake plant as UNSAFE. The Mandrake plant is an exceedingly strong purgative. Ingestion of it will cause incredible nausea and vomiting. It also can cause fatal inflammation of the digestive track
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The Mandrake plant is popular these days as a way to showcase the occult. Few witchy or even just fantasy stories are complete without incorporation of this plant. Mandrake's association with the occult, however, is not a new trend.
The plant has long had ties to superstition and witchcraft. These ties were brought about by Mandrake's eerie and disquieting resemblance to the human form. It was called the Witches' Umbrella.
What is perhaps the most well known superstition concerns the legendary scream of the mandrake. According to folk lore Mandrake plants scream when they are uprooted and this scream is deadly to those that hear it.
The old tales go so far as to explain one of the few "safe" processes for harvesting Mandrake. The process reportedly involved starving a dog until it was nearly feral from hunger. Then the dog was tied with a rope to the exposed parts of the Mandrake plant.The harvester then placed a steak or other raw meat a bit out of the dog's reach. The person reportedly had to either quickly leave the vicinity or adequately block their ears to avoid death. The dog would then strain so hard to get to the meat that it would rip the Mandrake plant out of the earth.
The Mandrake's scream would kill the dog but then the harvester would be free to take the plant once the screaming stopped. This process was supposedly carried out by witches who allegedly used the Mandrake for spells, potions, poisons and other sorceries involving prophecy and protection.
It is not immediately clear where this legend came from. It is possible that it arose simply due to superstitions regarding the Mandrake's similarity to the human form. During this time period even the violin was considered evil because of its uncanny resemblance to the human voice. It is more likely that Mandrake's poisonous nature inspired the tale. The legend could simply have been a way to frighten children away from a plant that could kill them or an explanation for an accidental poisoning.
The Mandrake plant is also known as Mandragora and belongs in the nightshades family. It is cousins with two other well known baneful herbs: Deadly Nightshade and Belladonna which also belong to the nightshades family.
Mandrake is rarely used in medicines. The plants many toxic compounds have caused the United States Food and Drug Administration to rate the Mandrake plant as UNSAFE. The Mandrake plant is an exceedingly strong purgative. Ingestion of it will cause incredible nausea and vomiting. It also can cause fatal inflammation of the digestive track
The history and uses of Wormwood
Wormwood is a very popular herb by pagans and non-pagans alike. I wrote this peice to further understanding of this amazing herb. It serves a variety of purposes but it is a baneful (poisonous) herb and as such requires special care when using. This article includes this information as well. Enjoy!
Wormwood is an herb that belongs to the artemisia genus and is cousin to both Sage and Mugwort herbs. The herb is surrounded by superstitions due to its baneful nature and the conditions in which it grows. The plant often grows in cemeteries, lich yards and other places of waste. This characteristic is responsible for the plant being named wormwood.
Wormwood is one of the ingredients in the original formulations of the neurologically devastating liquor Absinthe. That original version is banned in many countries replaced by a version free of wormwood and mistletoe.
Many absinthe adorers claim that wormwood's prescience in the original formulation of the liquor caused a psycho-active response in the brain of the drinker.The main chemical present in wormwood, coincidentally also the one to cause wormwood's famed hallucinogenic effects is called Thujone.
Thujone is a very close cousin to THC, the main mind altering chemical found in marijuana. However, Thujone, differs markedly from THC in terms of safety.Thujone, depending on the recipient of the chemical can be deadly when ingested. The effects the chemical will have on a person vary; they are dependent on the recipients liver function. A safe amount of thujone for one person may constitute a deadly dose for another.
Wormwood is mentioned in the book of Revelation in the Christian bible. According to the text wormwood is the substance that falls to earth and poisons all sources of fresh water.
Wormwood is often used as a natural pesticide. Gardeners often brew a tea with the herb and then use the tea to water their plants. The tea, heavy in thujone will kill insects and when used correctly will not injure the plants. If brewing wormwood tea for use on plants, steep the herb in warm water and cover the pan so what little steam there is will not escape. DO NOT add boiling water to wormwood for steeping. Water this hot will cause the wormwood's thujone laden volatile oil to vaporize. This weakens the tea's potency and could prove irritating to your eyes, nose and throat.
Wash your hands carefully after making and using the tea. Also be sure to clean and sterilize the utensils, pans, or containers you used to make the tea.
Wormwood is also used for religious purposes, mainly by neo-pagans who use the herb for cleansing divination tools such as scrying mirrors and pendulums.
Tea made from wormwood is sometimes used to treat patients suffering from stomach parasites. Use of this herb is a tricky business. No one should attempt to self-medicate with wormwood. A doctor is the only one qualified to determine a safe dose of wormwood for medicinal purposes.
Avoid burning wormwood; its fumes are toxic. Also be wary of any herbal incense mixture that contains even a small amount of wormwood. Even a small amount can cause smoke that is irritating to the eyes, nose and throat. Also do not use wormwood oil for aroma therapy purposes.
Store wormwood herb and any unused wormwood tea in a safe place out of the reach of children and pets.
Wormwood is an herb that belongs to the artemisia genus and is cousin to both Sage and Mugwort herbs. The herb is surrounded by superstitions due to its baneful nature and the conditions in which it grows. The plant often grows in cemeteries, lich yards and other places of waste. This characteristic is responsible for the plant being named wormwood.
Wormwood is one of the ingredients in the original formulations of the neurologically devastating liquor Absinthe. That original version is banned in many countries replaced by a version free of wormwood and mistletoe.
Many absinthe adorers claim that wormwood's prescience in the original formulation of the liquor caused a psycho-active response in the brain of the drinker.The main chemical present in wormwood, coincidentally also the one to cause wormwood's famed hallucinogenic effects is called Thujone.
Thujone is a very close cousin to THC, the main mind altering chemical found in marijuana. However, Thujone, differs markedly from THC in terms of safety.Thujone, depending on the recipient of the chemical can be deadly when ingested. The effects the chemical will have on a person vary; they are dependent on the recipients liver function. A safe amount of thujone for one person may constitute a deadly dose for another.
Wormwood is mentioned in the book of Revelation in the Christian bible. According to the text wormwood is the substance that falls to earth and poisons all sources of fresh water.
Wormwood is often used as a natural pesticide. Gardeners often brew a tea with the herb and then use the tea to water their plants. The tea, heavy in thujone will kill insects and when used correctly will not injure the plants. If brewing wormwood tea for use on plants, steep the herb in warm water and cover the pan so what little steam there is will not escape. DO NOT add boiling water to wormwood for steeping. Water this hot will cause the wormwood's thujone laden volatile oil to vaporize. This weakens the tea's potency and could prove irritating to your eyes, nose and throat.
Wash your hands carefully after making and using the tea. Also be sure to clean and sterilize the utensils, pans, or containers you used to make the tea.
Wormwood is also used for religious purposes, mainly by neo-pagans who use the herb for cleansing divination tools such as scrying mirrors and pendulums.
Tea made from wormwood is sometimes used to treat patients suffering from stomach parasites. Use of this herb is a tricky business. No one should attempt to self-medicate with wormwood. A doctor is the only one qualified to determine a safe dose of wormwood for medicinal purposes.
Avoid burning wormwood; its fumes are toxic. Also be wary of any herbal incense mixture that contains even a small amount of wormwood. Even a small amount can cause smoke that is irritating to the eyes, nose and throat. Also do not use wormwood oil for aroma therapy purposes.
Store wormwood herb and any unused wormwood tea in a safe place out of the reach of children and pets.
All about scrying mirrors
This is my absolute favorite tool for divination. I love them so much I learned how to make them so I could have lots of them without feeling guilty about spending money. In this peice I write a bit about how the mirrors are made, used and their history. Enjoy!
A scrying mirror is a highly polished, colored mirror used for telling the future. Black is the most popular color for scrying mirrors. Black is used for scrying mirrors the vast majority of the time, however other colors are occasionally used based on preference or need.
A scrying mirror is an evolved, portable and more convenient form of water scrying. In ancient times until the present day people attempting to discover what the future held for them would scry with a pond, creek or other relatively placid body of water.This was often done on a moonlit night. As our world became more crowded and urbanized fewer implements for natural scrying were available. This lead to a need for an alternative.
Many people are content to scry with a dark colored bowl filled with water. This however can be messy and is not very portable.
The first scrying mirrors, which coincidentally are still the most sought after and prized, were made from semi-precious stones, precious stones or volcanic glass. These stones were cut in large circles and flattened. The tops were buffed and polished to a mirror shine. Obsidian and other kinds of volcanic glass is used for this purpose often.Mirrors such as these can be difficult to obtain.
More often than not scrying mirrors available today are made from a peice of ordinary glass that has been sanded, polished, painted and framed. The majority of them are black and are either round or square. Diehard scryers insist that the round scrying mirrors are more effective at their purpose.
Methods used to paint the glass are: spray painting; painting by hand and air brushing. The mirrors are usually painted and constructed during the full moon.Frame styles and designs vary widely. However, silver is the traditional frame color used for scrying mirrors because many believe that the color silver is conducive to divination.
Use of scrying mirrors is popular among neo-pagans but holds appeal to those of other religions, particularly those interested in New Age ideas.
Use of colored mirrors (besides black) is sometimes a part of color therapy which proponents claim uses color to heal emotional and physical maladies.
People use scrying mirrors by looking at them in a focused but relaxed way, allowing their thought to wander but not their eyes. This is done until the surface of the mirror appears hazy. Proponents claim that they can then see reflections of future people, objects, events and places.
Scrying mirrors have many similarities to crystal balls used for divination.
A scrying mirror is a highly polished, colored mirror used for telling the future. Black is the most popular color for scrying mirrors. Black is used for scrying mirrors the vast majority of the time, however other colors are occasionally used based on preference or need.
A scrying mirror is an evolved, portable and more convenient form of water scrying. In ancient times until the present day people attempting to discover what the future held for them would scry with a pond, creek or other relatively placid body of water.This was often done on a moonlit night. As our world became more crowded and urbanized fewer implements for natural scrying were available. This lead to a need for an alternative.
Many people are content to scry with a dark colored bowl filled with water. This however can be messy and is not very portable.
The first scrying mirrors, which coincidentally are still the most sought after and prized, were made from semi-precious stones, precious stones or volcanic glass. These stones were cut in large circles and flattened. The tops were buffed and polished to a mirror shine. Obsidian and other kinds of volcanic glass is used for this purpose often.Mirrors such as these can be difficult to obtain.
More often than not scrying mirrors available today are made from a peice of ordinary glass that has been sanded, polished, painted and framed. The majority of them are black and are either round or square. Diehard scryers insist that the round scrying mirrors are more effective at their purpose.
Methods used to paint the glass are: spray painting; painting by hand and air brushing. The mirrors are usually painted and constructed during the full moon.Frame styles and designs vary widely. However, silver is the traditional frame color used for scrying mirrors because many believe that the color silver is conducive to divination.
Use of scrying mirrors is popular among neo-pagans but holds appeal to those of other religions, particularly those interested in New Age ideas.
Use of colored mirrors (besides black) is sometimes a part of color therapy which proponents claim uses color to heal emotional and physical maladies.
People use scrying mirrors by looking at them in a focused but relaxed way, allowing their thought to wander but not their eyes. This is done until the surface of the mirror appears hazy. Proponents claim that they can then see reflections of future people, objects, events and places.
Scrying mirrors have many similarities to crystal balls used for divination.
All about Pendulums
Pendulums are one of my favorite tools for divination and chakra cleansing. Lots of Pagans use Pendulums but many do not know about the variety of purposes they serve or how they work. I wrote this article to illuminate these things. Again, I've wrote it to appeal to people of all religions. I will write a follow-up, probably next month, that will focus on making or choosing a pendulum. Enjoy!
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Most people think of a hypnotist swinging a watch back and forth when they hear the word pendulum. Pendulums take many forms but basically consist of a chain with a weight of some sort on one end.
Proponents claim that all things give off energy and pendulums are sensitive to this energy. The direction in which a pendulum is swinging reportedly changes based on the energy that the pendulum encounters.
One of the pendulums most famous uses is dowsing. In olden days pendulums were used to dowse (search) for water. According to folk lore the presence of water nearby would cause a swinging pendulum to dip strongly enough to cause the person holding the pendulum to feel as if something had suddenly and lightly pulled on the pendulum. This practice is sometimes called witching for water. In modern times dowsing is used to search out much more than water.
One popular use for a pendulum is searching for lost or hidden objects. This is generally done with a map or a blueprint of a building. The pendulum is held by the seeker who verbalizes what he/she is looking for while visualizing what they wish to find. As with dowsing for water, the pendulum reportedly drops causing the seekers hand to dip slightly when it is over the spot on the map that shows where the lost or hidden object is located.
People also use pendulums to evaluate the health and energy flow of their chakras. A pendulum that swings clockwise when allowed to dangle over a chakra indicates that the chakra is healthy and open. A pendulum that swings counter clockwise when dangling over a chakra indicates that the chakra is blocked.
Pendulums are also a tool for divination. Many people using pendulums use them as a tool to help them access their subconscious minds or divine beings. Using a pendulum for this purpose can be tricky.There are not very many ways that the pendulum can swing so the answers that it gives are limited to varying degrees of yes, no and uncertain. This requires the user to ask very specific questions. Someone using a pendulum for this would generally begin by assigning a yes or no answer to bother the clockwise and counter-clockwise pendulum swings.
This is accomplished by the user verbally telling the pendulum which is a yes answer and which direction is a no answer while swinging the pendulum in the appropriate direction.Some users will draw a chart divided and labeled with possible answers. They then dangle the pendulum over the chart while asking a question and dowse for the answer.
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Most people think of a hypnotist swinging a watch back and forth when they hear the word pendulum. Pendulums take many forms but basically consist of a chain with a weight of some sort on one end.
Proponents claim that all things give off energy and pendulums are sensitive to this energy. The direction in which a pendulum is swinging reportedly changes based on the energy that the pendulum encounters.
One of the pendulums most famous uses is dowsing. In olden days pendulums were used to dowse (search) for water. According to folk lore the presence of water nearby would cause a swinging pendulum to dip strongly enough to cause the person holding the pendulum to feel as if something had suddenly and lightly pulled on the pendulum. This practice is sometimes called witching for water. In modern times dowsing is used to search out much more than water.
One popular use for a pendulum is searching for lost or hidden objects. This is generally done with a map or a blueprint of a building. The pendulum is held by the seeker who verbalizes what he/she is looking for while visualizing what they wish to find. As with dowsing for water, the pendulum reportedly drops causing the seekers hand to dip slightly when it is over the spot on the map that shows where the lost or hidden object is located.
People also use pendulums to evaluate the health and energy flow of their chakras. A pendulum that swings clockwise when allowed to dangle over a chakra indicates that the chakra is healthy and open. A pendulum that swings counter clockwise when dangling over a chakra indicates that the chakra is blocked.
Pendulums are also a tool for divination. Many people using pendulums use them as a tool to help them access their subconscious minds or divine beings. Using a pendulum for this purpose can be tricky.There are not very many ways that the pendulum can swing so the answers that it gives are limited to varying degrees of yes, no and uncertain. This requires the user to ask very specific questions. Someone using a pendulum for this would generally begin by assigning a yes or no answer to bother the clockwise and counter-clockwise pendulum swings.
This is accomplished by the user verbally telling the pendulum which is a yes answer and which direction is a no answer while swinging the pendulum in the appropriate direction.Some users will draw a chart divided and labeled with possible answers. They then dangle the pendulum over the chart while asking a question and dowse for the answer.
Color Therapy
Color therapy is common in Pagan and New Age circles and is also used in Eastern Medecine. It has helped me tremendously so I wrote the following peice describing many ways that color therapy can be used. Enjoy!
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There are many processes that fall under the title of color therapy. What these processes have in common is that they make use of color to attempt to heal someone physically, mentally or emotionally.These processes draw on the belief that colors can influence us emotionally and mentally.
Proponents of color therapy believe that the emotional and mental changes brought on by color can affect the body physically.One very popular form of color therapy is known as coloring therapy.
One favorite activity of children everywhere, coloring is rapidly becoming a hit with adults too. Modern people often live their lives in fast forward, somehow managing to cram ever more activities into already jam packed schedules. This can leave them feeling tired, stressed and stretched to their limits.
Coloring therapy seeks to help people relax and let go of their worries. Proponents claim that your brain slips into a meditative state while you are coloring because the only thing you are thinking about is filling designs in with color.The complexity of coloring therapy varies widely.
Proponents claim that benefits can be gained by even the simplest of coloring projects. However, they also claim that such things as choice of design filled and the color palette used can increase these benefits.
Another popular, though not nearly as accepted form of color therapy involves water that has been infused with color. This like many other forms of coloring therapy is popular in India. The process for infusing water with color generally involves a clear container of water that has been set out in the sun.
The container is usually draped with silk of the color the practitioner wishes to infuse the water with. Proponents believe that the sunlight shining on the water through the silk will infuse the water with the color.
This infused water is used in a variety of ways in an attempt to heal physical or spiritual maladies. Certain color infusions are drunk as if they were medicine. Some acupuncturist now dip their acupuncture needles in color infused water before using them on patients. They claim this can help heal and balance the Chakras.
Another form of color therapy involves the use of colored lights. This can be done with colored pin hole glasses or color filters placed over sources of light. The user sits under the appropriate colored light for their malady.Most color therapies typically assign very similar meanings and uses to colors. These definitions and uses are based on established social and cultural perceptions related to each color.
By,
A. Kairi
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There are many processes that fall under the title of color therapy. What these processes have in common is that they make use of color to attempt to heal someone physically, mentally or emotionally.These processes draw on the belief that colors can influence us emotionally and mentally.
Proponents of color therapy believe that the emotional and mental changes brought on by color can affect the body physically.One very popular form of color therapy is known as coloring therapy.
One favorite activity of children everywhere, coloring is rapidly becoming a hit with adults too. Modern people often live their lives in fast forward, somehow managing to cram ever more activities into already jam packed schedules. This can leave them feeling tired, stressed and stretched to their limits.
Coloring therapy seeks to help people relax and let go of their worries. Proponents claim that your brain slips into a meditative state while you are coloring because the only thing you are thinking about is filling designs in with color.The complexity of coloring therapy varies widely.
Proponents claim that benefits can be gained by even the simplest of coloring projects. However, they also claim that such things as choice of design filled and the color palette used can increase these benefits.
Another popular, though not nearly as accepted form of color therapy involves water that has been infused with color. This like many other forms of coloring therapy is popular in India. The process for infusing water with color generally involves a clear container of water that has been set out in the sun.
The container is usually draped with silk of the color the practitioner wishes to infuse the water with. Proponents believe that the sunlight shining on the water through the silk will infuse the water with the color.
This infused water is used in a variety of ways in an attempt to heal physical or spiritual maladies. Certain color infusions are drunk as if they were medicine. Some acupuncturist now dip their acupuncture needles in color infused water before using them on patients. They claim this can help heal and balance the Chakras.
Another form of color therapy involves the use of colored lights. This can be done with colored pin hole glasses or color filters placed over sources of light. The user sits under the appropriate colored light for their malady.Most color therapies typically assign very similar meanings and uses to colors. These definitions and uses are based on established social and cultural perceptions related to each color.
By,
A. Kairi
The art of Divination
There are so many different views regarding divination I thought it prudent to write a peice that describes the subject accurately. It is written to appeal to people of all religions in the hope of shedding light and engendering understanding of Pagan practices.
The word Divination usually inspires mental images of raven-haired Romani women staring into crystal balls or peering intently at tarot cards. The imaginary women read fortunes of doom and gloom in thickly accented voices.
The truth, however, is that divination is far from the obscure parlor trick of wandering strangers that it appears to be. From the decorated bones and sticks thrown by primitive man to the broad horoscopes printed in millions of copies of modern newspapers, humankind has long sought knowledge of what the future might bring.
Despite this wide spread love affair the art of divination receives varied reactions from people. People divide into several camps concerning their opinions of divination. There are some major ones that will be discussed here. One theory regarding divination holds that every person alive subconsciously knows everything that has ever happened and everything that will ever happen.
Those who accept this theory believe that the many tools used for divination such as tarot cards, rune stones and crystal balls are simply mechanisms that allow the user to access their subconscious minds.Another theory claims that divination is evil. Many religions incorporate this theory in their dogma.
Those who accept this theory believe that the diviner is contacting demonic forces or malevolent deities that may or may not be disguised. Adherents to this theory feel that the evil entities are divulging information about the future in order to spread harm among human kind.
The poet Dante included divination in the Inferno cantica of his epic poem the Divine Comedy. He wrote that a person using divination was a false prophet and would end up in the eighth circle of hell.
Conversely there are those who believe that the diviner is in contact with angelic forces or benevolent deities. Adherents to this view feel that these forces are assisting the diviner with the purpose of helping humankind. Many proponents of this theory are neo-pagans who outright reject the assertion that divination is evil.
The last major theory regarding divination that will be discussed here is the theory that divination does not allow anyone to truly know the future. The theory holds that divination is simply a psychological tool.
An example of this would be tarot cards or rune stones. Each card or stone represents a particular concept. According to the theory if the seeker were to look at each card or stone in turn they could easily apply each concept to their own situations. Proponents of this theory feel that divination used in this way is a tool for the diviners psychological growth that will help them overcome obstacles and mental blocks. Those who accept this theory often feel that any prophecies formed this way are only true because they are self-fulfilling.
There are other theories besides these and science seems prepared to step into the fray with increased research in extra-sensory perception (esp) and quantum physics. Only when we have unraveled many more mysteries of our minds and have a better understanding of the nature of our universe will we be able to prove whether divination is actually possible. Until that time it is purely a personal choice.
The word Divination usually inspires mental images of raven-haired Romani women staring into crystal balls or peering intently at tarot cards. The imaginary women read fortunes of doom and gloom in thickly accented voices.
The truth, however, is that divination is far from the obscure parlor trick of wandering strangers that it appears to be. From the decorated bones and sticks thrown by primitive man to the broad horoscopes printed in millions of copies of modern newspapers, humankind has long sought knowledge of what the future might bring.
Despite this wide spread love affair the art of divination receives varied reactions from people. People divide into several camps concerning their opinions of divination. There are some major ones that will be discussed here. One theory regarding divination holds that every person alive subconsciously knows everything that has ever happened and everything that will ever happen.
Those who accept this theory believe that the many tools used for divination such as tarot cards, rune stones and crystal balls are simply mechanisms that allow the user to access their subconscious minds.Another theory claims that divination is evil. Many religions incorporate this theory in their dogma.
Those who accept this theory believe that the diviner is contacting demonic forces or malevolent deities that may or may not be disguised. Adherents to this theory feel that the evil entities are divulging information about the future in order to spread harm among human kind.
The poet Dante included divination in the Inferno cantica of his epic poem the Divine Comedy. He wrote that a person using divination was a false prophet and would end up in the eighth circle of hell.
Conversely there are those who believe that the diviner is in contact with angelic forces or benevolent deities. Adherents to this view feel that these forces are assisting the diviner with the purpose of helping humankind. Many proponents of this theory are neo-pagans who outright reject the assertion that divination is evil.
The last major theory regarding divination that will be discussed here is the theory that divination does not allow anyone to truly know the future. The theory holds that divination is simply a psychological tool.
An example of this would be tarot cards or rune stones. Each card or stone represents a particular concept. According to the theory if the seeker were to look at each card or stone in turn they could easily apply each concept to their own situations. Proponents of this theory feel that divination used in this way is a tool for the diviners psychological growth that will help them overcome obstacles and mental blocks. Those who accept this theory often feel that any prophecies formed this way are only true because they are self-fulfilling.
There are other theories besides these and science seems prepared to step into the fray with increased research in extra-sensory perception (esp) and quantum physics. Only when we have unraveled many more mysteries of our minds and have a better understanding of the nature of our universe will we be able to prove whether divination is actually possible. Until that time it is purely a personal choice.
VA now allows pentacles on graves
This is actually old news. I wrote this article a while ago right after the VA made the announcement that they would allow pentacles to be placed on gravestones in VA cemetaries. Previously the VA refused to allow fallen Pagan soldiers to have Pentacles on their gravestones. In fact the VA stalled for years before finally allowing it. Though it happened last year many pagans still haven't heard about this massive victory for religious freedom. I hope members of all religions will read this, take heart and continue the fight for religious freedom.
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The American Civil Liberties Union and Americans United for the Separation of Church and State brought separate lawsuits against the Veterans Administration; both lawsuits concerned the Veterans Administrations failure to make a decision regarding allowance of Wiccan Pentacle grave markers in National Cemeteries.
The VA announced reachment of a settlement Monday regarding the suit brought by Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, this settlement also resolved the ACLU's mirror lawsuit. The lawsuits requested that the VA be forced to make a decision regarding use of the Pentacle; the VA has now agreed to allow the Pentacle to be used as a grave marker in national cemeteries.
The ACLU and AU's lawsuits alleged many things including that the VA's hesitancy in approving the symbol resulted from President Bush's opinions towards Wicca. While Governor of Texas President Bush expressed his view that Wicca was not a real religion when he learned that the military allowed Wiccan soldiers to meet on military bases for religious services. He disagreed with the military's recognition of Wicca as a religion and stated that he wished the military would change their minds. The AU's lawsuit claimed that the VA's actions were based on Bush's opinions.
The AU and the ACLU also argued that the VA's practice of keeping a list of allowable religious symbols, while excluding others was in violation of soldier's constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of religion.
The contradiction of soldiers who fight, and many who give their lives, defending our freedoms being denied the right to have a grave marker from their chosen religion was apparent to many. The subject was given much attention by the blogosphere and covered heavily on message boards where the VA received much criticism for their actions from Wiccans and non-wiccans alike.
The first request for a pentacle grave marker was filed with the VA by a Wiccan church nine years ago. The request was filed by the church on behalf of the family of a deceased Wiccan soldier.
The VA neither approved nor denied the symbol. Had the VA denied the symbol then the soldier's family would have been able to contest the denial in court. During this time six other religious symbols were approved. One symbol was approved within weeks of the application.
The Va's refusal to make a decision concerning the pentacle effectively mired the families of fallen, Wiccan service members in legal limbo until the ACLU and AU intervened. The mirror lawsuits requested that the VA make a decision to end the quagmire, and opened the way for more litigation if the VA denied the symbol.
The settlement contained a provision promising Pentacle grave markers for all fallen soldiers whose families have applied for one to be placed on the tombstones within 90 days. The settlement also agreed that the VA would pay $225,000 for court costs and legal fees.
The ACLU represented the plaintiffs: the Aquarian Tabernacle Church, and the Correllian Nativist Church. The suit also named petitioners: Kathleen Egbert, Patricia Darlene Howell Corneilson, and Scott Stearn. The former two are family members of deceased Wiccan service members and the latter is an ailing Wiccan veteran who wishes to have the pentacle grave marker placed on his tombstone after his passing.
The AU represented: the Circle Sanctuary Church. The AU also named petitioners: Roberta Stewart, Karen Depolito, and Jill Medicine Heart Combs all family members of ailing or deceased Wiccan service members. The Isis Invicta military mission, a Wiccan and pagan congregation for military members was also named in the suit.
The settlement came after the AU and VA presented oral arguments to the court on April 10th. The Pentacle now joins 38 other approved religious symbols on the VA's list. The ACLU and the AU lauded the decision as a victory for the cause of religious freedom.
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The American Civil Liberties Union and Americans United for the Separation of Church and State brought separate lawsuits against the Veterans Administration; both lawsuits concerned the Veterans Administrations failure to make a decision regarding allowance of Wiccan Pentacle grave markers in National Cemeteries.
The VA announced reachment of a settlement Monday regarding the suit brought by Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, this settlement also resolved the ACLU's mirror lawsuit. The lawsuits requested that the VA be forced to make a decision regarding use of the Pentacle; the VA has now agreed to allow the Pentacle to be used as a grave marker in national cemeteries.
The ACLU and AU's lawsuits alleged many things including that the VA's hesitancy in approving the symbol resulted from President Bush's opinions towards Wicca. While Governor of Texas President Bush expressed his view that Wicca was not a real religion when he learned that the military allowed Wiccan soldiers to meet on military bases for religious services. He disagreed with the military's recognition of Wicca as a religion and stated that he wished the military would change their minds. The AU's lawsuit claimed that the VA's actions were based on Bush's opinions.
The AU and the ACLU also argued that the VA's practice of keeping a list of allowable religious symbols, while excluding others was in violation of soldier's constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of religion.
The contradiction of soldiers who fight, and many who give their lives, defending our freedoms being denied the right to have a grave marker from their chosen religion was apparent to many. The subject was given much attention by the blogosphere and covered heavily on message boards where the VA received much criticism for their actions from Wiccans and non-wiccans alike.
The first request for a pentacle grave marker was filed with the VA by a Wiccan church nine years ago. The request was filed by the church on behalf of the family of a deceased Wiccan soldier.
The VA neither approved nor denied the symbol. Had the VA denied the symbol then the soldier's family would have been able to contest the denial in court. During this time six other religious symbols were approved. One symbol was approved within weeks of the application.
The Va's refusal to make a decision concerning the pentacle effectively mired the families of fallen, Wiccan service members in legal limbo until the ACLU and AU intervened. The mirror lawsuits requested that the VA make a decision to end the quagmire, and opened the way for more litigation if the VA denied the symbol.
The settlement contained a provision promising Pentacle grave markers for all fallen soldiers whose families have applied for one to be placed on the tombstones within 90 days. The settlement also agreed that the VA would pay $225,000 for court costs and legal fees.
The ACLU represented the plaintiffs: the Aquarian Tabernacle Church, and the Correllian Nativist Church. The suit also named petitioners: Kathleen Egbert, Patricia Darlene Howell Corneilson, and Scott Stearn. The former two are family members of deceased Wiccan service members and the latter is an ailing Wiccan veteran who wishes to have the pentacle grave marker placed on his tombstone after his passing.
The AU represented: the Circle Sanctuary Church. The AU also named petitioners: Roberta Stewart, Karen Depolito, and Jill Medicine Heart Combs all family members of ailing or deceased Wiccan service members. The Isis Invicta military mission, a Wiccan and pagan congregation for military members was also named in the suit.
The settlement came after the AU and VA presented oral arguments to the court on April 10th. The Pentacle now joins 38 other approved religious symbols on the VA's list. The ACLU and the AU lauded the decision as a victory for the cause of religious freedom.
The Goddess Brigid
I wrote the following peice to illustrate all of the wonderful things about my chosen Goddess Brigid (or brid, bridget, brighid,etc.). If you are interested in either Celtic or Fire Goddesses then this article may interest you.
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The Irish goddess Brigid is unusual among deities because she is found in several different religions. References to her are found in ancient Paganism, Neo-Paganism, Christianity and Voodoo.Both Neo -Pagans and Pagans of old worshiped Brigid as a Celtic pagan triple goddess.
The term triple Goddess refers to the belief that some deities have three distinct aspects covering the maiden, mother and crone phases of life. The three fates of Greek mythology are examples of a triple goddess.Brigid reportedly has power over childbirth, motherhood, smith craft, peace, unity, poetry, inspiration, healing, hearth and home among others.
Legend holds that Brigid began the Irish tradition of keening (crying,wailing, and singing) over the body of a deceased person at a wake. After her son Ruadan died during battle it is said that let out keening such as never been heard or would be heard again. It is also said that Brigid's keening convinced both sides of the battle to leave the field and commit to peace. Keening has decreased in recent years but is still practiced in Ireland where expert female keeners are often paid to keen over bodies at wakes.
Interestingly Brigid appears in Christianity, specifically in Catholicism in the form of St. Brigit. Catholics claim that St. Brigit lived in Kildare, Ireland which is also the home of the pagan goddess Brigid. An Abbey in Kildare is dedicated to St. Brigit. This is also the location of Brigit's well which folk lore holds is the resting place of the Holy Grail of Arthurian legend.
The Catholic nuns who maintain the Abbey host visitors who have come to Brigit's well and eternal flame. The eternal flame is maintained by 19 nuns that reside at the abbey. Many of the visitors to the abbey are Neo-Pagans who worship Brigit in her Pagan incarnation.
Many of these Pagans are members of Ord Brighideach. Members of Ord Brighideach also maintain a sacred flame for Brigid, this flame is transferred from the flame at the Kildare Abbey. They refer to themselves as flame keepers of Brigid and are organized into groups of 19. Each member of the group takes a shift tending the flame while Brigid is said to take the last or twentieth shift herself.
Brigid also appears in Voodoo as Maman Brigette. Scholars believe that worship of Brigid came to the Caribbean islands along with Irish people who had been kidnapped, enslaved and forced to the islands to work. Maman Brigette is said to drink hot peppers and reportedly has a very dirty mouth using obscenities frequently. Voodoo dogma holds that Maman Brigette will protect graves if the gravestone is marked with a cross.
By,
A. Kairi
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The Irish goddess Brigid is unusual among deities because she is found in several different religions. References to her are found in ancient Paganism, Neo-Paganism, Christianity and Voodoo.Both Neo -Pagans and Pagans of old worshiped Brigid as a Celtic pagan triple goddess.
The term triple Goddess refers to the belief that some deities have three distinct aspects covering the maiden, mother and crone phases of life. The three fates of Greek mythology are examples of a triple goddess.Brigid reportedly has power over childbirth, motherhood, smith craft, peace, unity, poetry, inspiration, healing, hearth and home among others.
Legend holds that Brigid began the Irish tradition of keening (crying,wailing, and singing) over the body of a deceased person at a wake. After her son Ruadan died during battle it is said that let out keening such as never been heard or would be heard again. It is also said that Brigid's keening convinced both sides of the battle to leave the field and commit to peace. Keening has decreased in recent years but is still practiced in Ireland where expert female keeners are often paid to keen over bodies at wakes.
Interestingly Brigid appears in Christianity, specifically in Catholicism in the form of St. Brigit. Catholics claim that St. Brigit lived in Kildare, Ireland which is also the home of the pagan goddess Brigid. An Abbey in Kildare is dedicated to St. Brigit. This is also the location of Brigit's well which folk lore holds is the resting place of the Holy Grail of Arthurian legend.
The Catholic nuns who maintain the Abbey host visitors who have come to Brigit's well and eternal flame. The eternal flame is maintained by 19 nuns that reside at the abbey. Many of the visitors to the abbey are Neo-Pagans who worship Brigit in her Pagan incarnation.
Many of these Pagans are members of Ord Brighideach. Members of Ord Brighideach also maintain a sacred flame for Brigid, this flame is transferred from the flame at the Kildare Abbey. They refer to themselves as flame keepers of Brigid and are organized into groups of 19. Each member of the group takes a shift tending the flame while Brigid is said to take the last or twentieth shift herself.
Brigid also appears in Voodoo as Maman Brigette. Scholars believe that worship of Brigid came to the Caribbean islands along with Irish people who had been kidnapped, enslaved and forced to the islands to work. Maman Brigette is said to drink hot peppers and reportedly has a very dirty mouth using obscenities frequently. Voodoo dogma holds that Maman Brigette will protect graves if the gravestone is marked with a cross.
By,
A. Kairi
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