Mood:
happyTopic: #8 Newletter Entry 7/08
July 2008 Newsletter h
Lunabar Moon Phases
First Quarter falls on Thursday, July 10, 2008 at 12:34 AM Full "Rose" Moon falls on Friday, July 18, 2008 at 4:00 AM Last Quarter falls on Friday, July 25, 2008 at 2:43 PM
New falls on Wednesday, July 02, 2008 at 10:20 PM
Holidays For July 2008
Independence Day: July 4th
Horoscopes for July 2008
Aries
(Mar. 21- April 20)
You need adventure and excitement in your life. Be sure to use your charm and diplomacy when dealing with potential new clients. Your childlike quality may get you into big trouble this month if you neglect your responsibilities. Don't rely on others to do your work.
Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Saturday.
Taurus
(Apr. 21- may 21)
Someone may try to damage your reputation. You will need to take a look at the renovations that are necessary and try to find the cheapest way to get things done. Be careful not to let friends or peers make you look bad. Difficulties with females you live with could cause emotional stress.
Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Thursday.
Gemini
(May 22-June 21)
You will have to be careful not to let infatuations with colleagues get out of hand. Real estate investments will payoff. Instant romance could be yours if you go out with friends. You need to get involved in groups that offer physical activities.
Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Tuesday.
Cancer
(June 22-July 22)
Your charm will be captivating. Be careful signing important contracts this month. Pushy people must be kept at arm's length. Get involved in groups that are creative in nature.
Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Wednesday.
Leo
(July 23-Aug 22)
It's time to reevaluate your own motives and make changes to yourself first. Your lover probably won't put up with your behavior. You are best not to discuss your personal life with others. You will be too quick to point your finger at your mate.
Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Sunday.
Virgo
(Aug. 23 -Sept. 23)
The danger of minor accidents will increase with the turmoil. Make sure to arrange in advance to spend quality time together. Your intellectual wit will bring greater popularity with your peers. Your lover may cost you financially.
Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Thursday.
Libra
(Sept. 24 -Oct. 23)
You can make favorable real estate offers this month. Arguments with employers or colleagues will be to your detriment. You will want to take off and have some recreation. Real estate investments will payoff.
Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Friday.
Scorpio (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22)
You may find travel to be most rewarding. Travel could turn out to be more exciting than you imagined. Try and avoid getting involved in idle chatter or gossip that might get you in trouble. You will gain valuable insight and knowledge through the experiences you have along the way.
Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Sunday.
Sagittarius
(Nov. 23 -Dec. 21)
You can't make things better if you don't know what to fix. Don't try to get even without having all the facts. Try to get others to stand behind your good judgment. You will be appreciated for the competence you exhibit and for taking on responsibilities.
Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Friday.
Capricorn
(Dec 22.- Jan. 20)
Check your project over carefully if you were not the only one contributing to the end result. You must steer clear of overindulgent individuals. Be careful that you aren't saddled with the responsibilities of others. Deception in your home is evident. Don't beat around the bush.
Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Thursday.
Aquarius
(Jan. 21.- Feb. 19)
Deception is likely. You can't lock your partner up and if you keep restricting their freedom you may be left out in the cold. You may be tempted to spend too much on entertainment or luxury items. If you haven't already, consider starting your own business.
Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Sunday.
(Feb. 20-Mar. 20)
Avoid getting trapped in internal disputes. You will gain knowledge through your adventure. You'll get to your destination just as quickly. Don't lament to a friend about any grievance regarding your mate, or it may be hard to rectify your relationship.
Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Saturday.
Wicca Term of the Month
Smudging
Using a smudging tool is part of many
Native American traditions
. The burning of herbs for emotional, psychic, and spiritual purification is also common practice among many religious, healing, and spiritual groups. The ritual of smudging can be defined as "spiritual house cleaning." In theory, the smoke attaches itself to negative energy and as the smoke clears it takes the negative energy with it, releasing it into another space where it will be regenerated into positive energy. Can also be used to cleanse your tool and even your own body to rid most object of negative energies.Craft of the Month
Make and use your own Smudging stick
Smudge sticks come in all sorts of different herbs and combinations of herbs. The most commonly used herb in smudging in Sage, or White Sage. There are also combinations of sage with other herbs, like lavender, juniper, sweetgrass, cedar and pine, just to name a few.
All a smudge stick really is, is a tightly bound group of dried herbs that can be lit, then blown out so it glows and smokes. Then the smoke can be feathered or guided over whatever area, item or person needs to be smudged or cleansed.
To make your own, simply grow your own, or buy fresh herbs from the grocery or nursery. If you grow your own, or pick them from a growing plant, do not take so much that it kills the plant. Take leaves from the ends of the plant, asking the plants permission before. Be sure to thank the plant for it's offering of herb, and if you like, you can leave an offering in return. The indians used to leave tobacco in respect of the plant. But I find shiny copper pennies do well also. Then hang them in bundles in a cool dry place for them to dry naturally. Then when they are good and dried, group them in large bundles, sometimes called "wands" and wrap them with cotton thread to keep them together. That's it! You have a smudge stick. Your sticks may look crude at first, but with more practice and stickmaking, you will grow to make fine smudgesticks for your own smudging needs.
To smudge a space for cleansing or clearing, fallow these steps:
1. Ground and center yourself. Take a few deep cleansing breaths and thank The Devine Power for it's blessings.
2. Hold your smudge stick in your reciving hand (usually left) and light the end. Allow it to burn slightly and blow it out so that it's glowing and smoking.
3. Next take a feather, or fan, or even your hand and begin to direct the smoke in the direction of the area you want to smudge. If your smudging a whole house for a moving in ceremony, then take small circles starting in the center of each room and slowly begin to move into bigger circles and don't forget the corners. Stagnant energy loves to collect in corners.
4. If this smudging is indeed for a moving in ceremony, then remember to open cupboards and closets as they collect energy as well.
5. When you feel your space is sufficiently smudged, stamp out your smudge stick, or sprinkle water on it to put out the glowing embers. Then be sure to place it in a heat safe place, like the kitchen sink. Herbs can still be a fire hazard even if it looks like it's all been stamped out.
6. Thank The Divine energy in this space for it's cleansing and visualise white light surrounding your space, sealing in the fresh, clean energy. You might even want to place a cleansed clear quartz crystal in the center spot in your home to retain the intentions of the clearning.
Herbs
Smudging with different herbs can bring different results. Here are a few suggestions on herb combinations and what they are used for.
Sage-- Cleansing, Strength, wisdom, mental clarity. Good for clearing negative energy from a space.
Cedar-- Draws positive energy to a space and aids in healing.
Sage & Lavender--Peace, wisdom & cleansing. Lavender is often used in aromatherapy to promote relaxation and peacefulness.
Sage, Juniper & Sweetgrass--Cleansing, purification & bringing in sweetness to an area.
Sage & Pine--Cleansing and purification.
Try wrapping your different combinations of herb sticks in differnt colored thread so you can tell which is which.
Happy smudging!
Adopted from http://www.geocities.com/psychicadvise/smudging.html website
Recipes of the Month
Foods of the Esbats!!
CRESCENT COOKIES |
1 cup butter Cream butter and add flour, nuts, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Shape dough into crescents. Bake in 250 degrees Fahrenheit oven for 1 hour. Roll in powdered sugar while still hot.
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3 pounds honey Put honey and grated rind from the lemon in a large saucepan or preserving pan with the gallon of cold water. Beat the two egg whites until frothy and add to the other ingredients in the pan. Place the pan over heat and stir as mixture comes to boil. Simmer gently for one hour. Pour liquid into large bowl and leave until lukewarm, then stir in the yeast. Cover bowl and leave in a warm place for three days. Stir daily. Then strain through muslin and bottle. Cork loosely. Push corks down gradually as fermentation ceases. Store bottles in a cool, dark place. The mead will be ready to drink in one year.
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1 1/4 cups sugar Add soda to boiling water and let stand until cool. Mix together flour, baking powder, salt, bran flakes, rolled oats and sugar. Cut in shortening; add water and soda. Roll out thin on a floured board. Bake in hot oven until golden brown.
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Blessed Be to all my readers! July’s Full moon is anything Positive. I hope that rings true for all of you! No Wiccan Holidays this Month. Stay out of the heat, and make the best of the reat of your Summer!! We’ll see ya next Month!
Much Love,
Phoenix Ravenmoon
