"What Is...?" Wednesday

The Blarney Stone

"There is a stone there, that whoever kisses,

Oh! He never misses to grow eloquent:

'Tis he may clamber to a lady's chamber,

Or become a member of Parliament."

Blarney Castle  was constructed in 1446, the history of the place goes back two centuries before that time. The story begins with a magical stone, its origins shrouded in mystery. One legend says

Tarot Tuesday

The Wands are a fiery, passionate and creative suit. In the past this suit was associated with peasants and today it is still used to predict changes in work and creativity. Their direction is south; its element fire, its season summer and the

Morgan's Tarot Monday

IT'S A DOG EAT DOG FOOD WORLD

"In the realm of constant concern about how to survive, it's nice to know the methods, but being in that realm is

Serenity Sunday

Old Folk Herbal Spells

~If you have been robbed, collect sunflowers during the month of Leo and place them under your pillow. Sleeping on them, you will

Silly Picture Of The Week

Ah, there's nothing like a nap time buddy!

Plant Of The Week

Popular as ground cover, the blue star creeper, botanically known as Isotoma fluviatilis, makes for an interesting plant on a landscape. It is favored over

"What Is...?" Wednesday

The Stone of Destiny

The Stone of Destiny or the Coronation Stone is an oblong block of red sandstone, used for centuries in the coronation of the monarchs of Scotland, the monarchs

Tarot Tuesday

Six of Disks

"Success and gain in material undertakings. Power, influence, rank, nobility, rule over the people. Fortunate, successful, liberal and just. If ill dignified, may be purse-proud, insolent from

Morgan's Tarot Monday

SOMEWHERE, THERE IS AN ENERGY LEAK

Check the pipe connection of the source northeast of Samarkand. If it's not there we can still come out in Oaxacn.


Actually, we have an infinite amount of energy from which to draw. In the same way, there are an infinite number of redwood trees. Though it may be true that "if you've seen one redwood tree you've seen them all," somewhere there is another redwood tree quite similar to the one destroyed. Unfortunately, it is in the seventeenth dimension of a universe zibbly times distant from ours. But if you know how to solve the transportation problem, there is no problem.


I truly feel we are wasting our precious resources and generally take our planet for granted. Take the Gulf oil spill for example...so much devastation and needless loss of wildlife, sea life and the livelihood of those that make their living from those industries. Our natural world is suffering at our hands and those in position of power seem to do nothing. What can you do today, no matter how small, to improve the world in which we live?

Serenity Sunday

"A Father Just Like You"


"I just want you to know
you mean the world to me,
Only a heart as dear as yours
would give so unselfishly.


The many things you've done,
all the times that you were there,
helps me know deep inside
how much you really care.


Even though I might not say,
I appreciate all you do,
Richly blessed is how we feel
having a father just like you."

Happy Father's Day!

My List:

1.) My kids

2.) My step dad

3.) Great friends

4.) Laughter

5.) Picnic's

6.) Warm hugs

7.) Mocha latte's

8.) Thoth tarot

9.) Books

10.) Red licorice (Mmmmm!)

Silly Picture Of The Week- Blast From The Past

Naughty Norman sleeps with Mr. Bunny.

I miss you Naughty Norman!

Plant Of The Week

Nasturtiums

Nasturtium plants were discovered in the jungles of Peru and Mexico in the 16th century. They are easy to grow, edible, cheerful and they are great companion plants as well. Nasturtiums help deter aphids, whiteflies, squash bugs, cucumber beetles and other pests. Plant them with tomatoes, radishes, cabbage, cucumbers, and under fruit trees. They come in vibrant colors, or muted tones-variegated leaves or plain-and some are fairly dwarfed while others can be used as a vine, climbing five foot or more.

Although the blossoms appear delicate, they are actually very durable and make for vibrant and long-lasting garnishes, one of their best uses. Use the blossoms either whole or chopped to decorate creamy soups, salads, butters, cakes and platters. Their sweet, peppery taste (both in the leaves and in the flowers) adds to the enjoyment. In fact, it is for its tangy taste that nasturtium gets its common name. It comes from the Latin "Nasus Tortus" meaning convulsed nose, referring to the faces people made when tasting the spicy plant. 

~Here's what you need to get growing:

Nasturtium seeds - there are many varieties including climbing, variegated leaves and dwarf. Colors range from a vanilla white to fiery red and even multi-colored. We have listed resources for the seeds below.


Soil - Nasturtiums grow best in semi-neglected areas. If you feed them too much they will grow huge and green but you won't get many flowers. Just make sure it's well drained as they don't like their feet to wet.

A garden area or large pot to grow them in. Dwarf varieties make great edging plants and the climbing varieties are lovely on a back fence in the garden or in pots with trellises. The cascading varieties are wonderful for hanging baskets.


To get a faster sprout soak your seeds (they are large and pretty hard) in some warm water overnight and then place directly in the garden or pots where you want to grow them. Nasturtiums are annuals so plant the seeds in spring when the danger of frost has passed. 


Once they are established, nasturtiums will continue to spread and bloom until the first frost, with very little work or water from you. They will grow in partial shade but you will get mostly foliage as they don't flower as well in those conditions as they do in their preferred full sun location.

Book Review- "Psychic, My Life In Two Worlds"

I was recently asked to review a new book out by Sylvia Brown called "Psychic, My life in two worlds" by Harper One publishing and was totally thrilled to have the privilege. I had known about Sylvia in my periphery but had never really explored the world of predictions or anything much in the psychic realm so this was an excellent opportunity to learn a little more about the field as well as get to read a really great book.

In the beginning of her book, Sylvia takes a realistic and objective look at her life and speaks about her childhood, of her doting father, Bill and self-involved mother Celeste and writes about her formative years of growing up in a decidedly dysfunctional home. She speaks candidly about her father who adored his young daughter and frequently called  her "The apple of his eye" and remembers fondly the love of her maternal grandmother, who became her guiding force in the psychic development of her gifts. I can remember well my grandmother and I having such a strong bond, not anything psychic mind you but it was refreshing to remember my own childhood.

Along her journey she writes about her introduction to her spirit guide, Francine, and goes in depth about how our spirit guides work and just what their purpose is in working with us. I found Sylvia's no nonsense attitude and positive outlook on the times in her life that were at most, more than many of us could probably handle, extremely validating and shows a great example of how not allowing  negativity to taint us opens up so many more possibilities in our lives. 


Sylvia's experiences in love are a shining example of her humanity and although being a gifted psychic she also a woman just trying to understand this crazy world we live in. My heart went out to her as I read her accounts of heartbreak and her indomitable spirit while learning to take the chance at love again. I can see that even she has up's and down's like the rest of us and life is not always easy or uncomplicated.

Sylvia's book impresses upon me that just because bad things can happen to good people, there are always lessons learned and something to have been gained by slogging through the bad times. We learn strength, wisdom and even sense of humor and great love of life. This theme was reinforced throughout this book and I have walked away feeling her  love for life as well as her personal tenacity like no other. I definitely give this book a big "Lizzie's Logic" seal of approval.

"What Is...?" Wednesday

Thelema

Thelema (They-LEE-mah) is a Greek word meaning "will" or "intention". It is also the name of a spiritual philosophy which has risen over the past several hundred years and is now gradually becoming established worldwide.

The central goal of a Thelemite (as adherents refer to themselves) is to discover and perform his or her True Will, which is generally defined as the innermost Nature or proper life course of the individual. The techniques used to achieve this goal fall under the heading of Magick.


There are also strong political, ethical, aesthetic, and cultural aspects to Thelema. Although there is no strict literal doctrine concerning these matters, Aleister Crowley wrote many articles and essays regarding his ideas about the proper behavior of individual Thelemites and for an ideal Thelemic society. These ideas have continued to develop into modern times. However, the primary themes involve personal freedom, a recognition that men and women have an inherent divine nature, and that Love is the basis of the Great Work.


Thelema may not be a religion in and of itself but because of the influence of Aleister Crowley on Gerald Gardner certain Neo-pagan beliefs and practices seem similar to it, although the intent or reasoning behind why each philosophy does things a certain way is often different. Thelemites, unlike many Wiccans do not openly profess their beliefs, unless of course they are professing them online. 

Not all adherents of Thelema consider it a religion or subscribe to the philosophy of True Will as outlined in Aleister Crowley's writings. Thelemites may or may not believe in the necessity of Canon or Theology as outlined in this article. Many require nothing more than an acceptance of the message of The Book of the Law as interpreted by the individual, each for him/herself.

There are seven main divine names associated with the Current of Thelema, all but one of which is expounded upon in The Book of the Law. These are Nuit, Hadit, Therion, Babalon, Hoor-Paar-Kraat, Heru-Ra-Ha, and Ra-Hoor-Khuit. Thelemites hesitate to call these energies “Deities” or “Gods” or “Goddesses” in the classical way that people often refer to, say, Isis as a Goddess. 

Their philosophy is that although these divine names or “energies” can and will appear god-like in aspect at certain times in magical work, they can also appear to be energies that are manifestations of an initiatory process, or energies that are represented by various paths, magical processes and formulas, or they can become avatars embodied in human flesh much like the Hindu Deities.

*Sources for this article can be found here and here.

Tarot Tuesday

The Empress

The Empress is the Great Mother card. She is the life force that gives birth to all creation. She is abundant and fruitful. Everything in life is born through her. She depicts the true nature with which we are born. When well placed during a reading she indicates that the questioner is using their talents to the full, and when reversed she indicates the opposite or a blockage in this area of your life. In other words, she symbolises a block to using ones inherent gifts and an inability to reach full creative potential.

The Empress is also the card of Maternal Love. It brings wonderful influences and benefits. No matter what the current circumstances, they can only be helped and improved by the appearance of this card.

The number of the Empress is 3 which stands for Creation. She also represents fertility, so children born of and with love may be a relevant factor now. In relationships, there will be a lot of love and affection. Expressions of generosity and kindness will be sincere and genuine. It is also a card of creativity; creative seeds are planted and will flourish and grow. This might be a work of art, a piece of writing or a musical endeavor.

When the Empress makes an appearance in a tarot spread, she is relatively easy to interpret. When representing someone other than the querent, she is almost always going to stand for a mother figure. If she's not the actual mother, then she is very likely someone who plays a similar role for the querent in one way or another. 


If the Empress is situated in such a way that she represents the querent herself, then it should be taken to mean that she is at a point in her life when she's feeling somewhat maternal, although this does not have to be in a traditional sense that revolves around children. She may also be feeling protective or "motherly" in regards to a new business venture or a new relationship.

On another note...I'd like to introduce you to a terrific new forum called The Magician's Grotto. I recently signed up as a member because ThelmicWaves is such a wellspring of information for me about the tarot, specifically the Thoth tarot deck I recently bought. The topics range from herbalism, spirituality, magick and the Tarot and a wonderful group of people to exchange ideas and information with. I found it extremely refreshing to join such a knowledgeable, high energy, fantastic place to learn and contribute!

Morgan's Tarot Monday

Du Wacky Du

"Originally this was a tall, thin bird that rapidly peeked (not pecked) through many windows. Later it was a tall, thin bird staring around itself at the dull, stupid life of the Modern Age. Finally it assumed its present form."

What an interesting card, it reminds me of the Hanged Man in tarot...not suspended mind you, but looking from a different perspective none the less. Have you run into a wall or hit a rut lately? Well, maybe we just gotta say "Du Wacky Du" and gain a totally different view of the circumstances and see if that frees up the situation.

What situations have become mundane while looking at them from the same old viewpoint?

Serenity Sunday

Prosperity Potion...

You will need: 


1/8 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp ground bay leaf
1/2 tsp. basil
1/2 tsp. marjoram
a wooden spoon
1-1/2 cup spring water 
a small cloth 
a jar with lid
a rubber band


What to do: 

Mix the ingredients together and boil in the spring water for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain the potion and pour it into the jar. Cover the jar with the cloth and fasten it with the rubber band. Leave the potion in a dark, cool place for three days and three nights, then cap the jar with it's original lid. The potion only last until for fourteen nights, then you will have to pour it on the Earth, thanking it for it's powers and energies.

My List:

1.) My kids

2.) Fantastic sunny days

3.) Tarot videos

4.) Great friends

5.) Contest prizes

6.) Bouncy music

7.) Books

8.) Mentors

9.) Smiles

10.) Fresh herbs

Plant Of The Week

Lithodora  is a hardy evergreen creeping groundcover originating in southern Europe  requiring only a little attention. It can hug the ground very closely or mound upward to six inches or rarely as high as a foot. 

It spreads as a dark green mat that produces its first few bright azure blue flowers as early as March, but is really going to town blooming in May and June, continuing to bloom at intervals  less overtly up to Autumn's first frost. In mild weather, it will even produce the occasional bloom, one or two bright blue spots at a time, in any month of the winter.

It likes a little acidity in the soil, but isn't fussy. It likes lots of sun but will tolerate shade. It is very cold-hardy but prefers temperate weather won't often thrive in American South or Southwest climates. It does not want much moistness can even survive in droughty conditions under conifers, though blooms will be fewer without sun. It is ideal for rockery ledges, which is where we've planted ours.

Each plant will quickly spread to two feet, in the longer run could conceivably spread to six feet, though so easily pruned to size there's no risk of it becoming aggressive. When it stops blooming, for the most part in early autumn, that's the time to trim it every other year or so, to keep it from getting too spindly to encourage regrowth at the center.

"What Is...?" Wednesday

The Rosetta Stone is a stone with writing on it in two languages (Egyptian and Greek), using three scripts (hieroglyphic, demotic and Greek) and was originally carved in 196 BC, during the reign of Pharaoh Ptolemy V. The stone is typical of the period, in which complimentary inscriptions praising the Pharaoh for his virtues were common. 

Because Egypt had recently been conquered by the Greeks, the Rosetta Stone's inscription was written in both Egyptian and Greek. The Egyptian portion was written in both demotic -- a type of common, everyday alphabet -- and the more ancient and formal hieroglyphs.

The Ptolemic pharaohs were all descendants of General Lagus, friend and ally of conqueror Alexander the Great. Therefore, they were ethnically Greek rather than Egyptian. At the time of the Rosetta Stone's inscription, both Greek and Egyptian languages were used in Egypt. Interestingly, Alexander the Great is buried in the Egyptian city named for him, Alexandria.


When Egypt became a vassal state of the Roman Empire, ruled by a Roman governor, hieroglyphs fell into disuse, and by the fourth century AD the writing system was lost. At the time that the Rosetta Stone was rediscovered, hieroglyphs were indecipherable. Some people even thought they weren't a language at all, but some iconic form of decoration. With the Rosetta Stone, it was possible to decipher the demotic from the Greek, and then the hieroglyphs from the demotic.


The Rosetta Stone was translated and deciphered by Jean François Champollion, a French linguist of amazing ability. He began work on the translation in 1808, when he was eighteen, and in 1822 published his translation of the Rosetta Stone. His breakthrough was in realizing that the images that made up hieroglyphs were used not only as pictures to represent ideas, but also as letters that represented specific sounds, much like American Sign Language. 


Thus words that did not have a pictorial representation in the alphabet could be spelled out. Proper names of individuals were spelled out in this way, and names were differentiated from other text by being enclosed in a rectangle with rounded corners, called a cartouche. The Rosetta Stone has led to the translation of hieroglyphs and all the inscriptions in the myriad tombs and monuments of ancient Egypt.

Tarot Tuesday

The Ten of Swords represents an ending and utter despair. This card signifies the "victim" mentality. It's time for an attitude change, you were at bottom but that can change.

This is the card of despair, mental anguish, ruin and pain. It usually represents an end of something because of treachery, backstabbing, and/or misfortune. The loss seems particularly bad because you didn't see it coming and it takes away something you were counting on.

On this card, we see a man dead with ten swords in him, a bit of overkill. It is a frightening looking card and sometimes everything just... goes... wrong. This is a card that lets the person having their cards read know that, yes, things are as bad as he fears but as the man on the card shows us, the swords have done their worse. It is over.

Although something is coming to an end according to this card, the Ten of Swords suggests that this won't be easy but deep down they know that certain things must happen so that new chapters can begin. They've been through some difficult times and although it won't be an overnight change, things can only get better from here. The number ten represents hope and out of the ashes, the phoenix will rise. New beginnings will be built on firm foundations as they'll have learned through the benefit of experience.

Morgan's Tarot Monday

"It is not what you do that counts, it is where your head is at"

"Negative feelings or emotions are useless in themselves. Negative attitudes can become positive if one realizes that it is not actions or deeds in themselves that have value, but rather the way one feels. This is not to say actions can be independent of feelings. Harmful actions breed negativity."

"In general, a positive attitude brings more favorable results and as long as you can be objective, your circumstances will not make you anxious or depressed. You have the power to remove negative feelings and replace them with positive ones."

Like the reason for giving, if you give because you look more charitable in the eyes of others, your motivations are totally wrong. No one likes a "martyr" or "look how gracious I am" character, lose the ego and give because it feels good to help that individual or charity out and because it makes you feel good inside to lift a burden from another's shoulders and bring a smile to their face.

"How can I share what I have with someone else this week, because it makes me feel good?"