Hi, folks!
2nd day of Psychic Fair!
Right now Carl Neal is doing a special class for the Wicca 101 group on incense and on “the incense game”.
The sun is very bright again. I’m looking at the angle of the light. At 10 am in the winter the shadows were long and deep, but these shadows are short and shallow! There’s a light breeze and we’re supposed to have good weather for several days. That will be good. I’ve *got* to try to get some more pine tips! …and if the garden doesn’t get weeded I won’t have anything planted….
Today’s Schedule
5/6 – Sunday, 10am – Wicca 101 Special Class with Carl Neal
Noon - Brea’s Elements (class)
1pm – Free showing of Full Circle
3pm – Discussion follows movie
Here’s some more information about this Psychic Fair’s special guest…..
Bio:
Carl Neal is a self-professed incense fanatic who has been lucky enough to learn from a variety of incense makers from North and South America, Asia, and Europe. This Llewellyn author has traveled across America leading incense making workshops and discussions. He has been a frequent guest at Pagan festivals and gatherings where he spreads his enthusiasm for incense with vigor.
Incense Magick is Carl’s latest book which explores not only the history of incense but modern adaptations of ancient incense techniques, modern approaches to materials and methods, rituals, meditations, and magickal enhancements are all explored. Learn amazing burning techniques like hidden incense trails and incense chaining. Six years in the making, this book was worth the wait!
The Magick Toolbox explores the wide variety of tools that are used in rituals, spells, and other magickal practices in an encyclopedic fashion. From athames to wands, this book will help you purchase, modify, customize, purify, or even create from scratch, tools for your magick.
Incense: Crafting & Use of Magickal Scents is the book that teaches the world how to make high-quality, natural incense for any purpose. Avoid the harsh and sometimes dangerous ingredients in low-quality commercial incense and instead craft this amazing substance using your own ingredients and your energy. It is very simple and you could finish your first batch of incense in as little as 15 minutes!
He’s a fascinating guy!
When we first got to the shop yesterday morning I had to clear the class table. Well, we’d had the Sabbat, so there were a lot of dishes and such. So I got that done then settled in on the plants that I had harvested before heading that direction. There were just a few violets and a couple of calendula (counting one from the planter boxes….) but a lot of horehound and an odd, but interesting, plant that I can’t ID and a whole *whacking* lot of comfrey…If I hadn’t spent some time pulling it, it was looking to eat the horehound whole. I think I’m going to dig some of the horehound and plant it elsewhere and let the comfrey and the ornamental St. John’s Wort duke it out…. There’s a lot of chopped root, now and a bundle of leaves and the rest is in the dryer.
I kept on processing herbs when Carl got there. He came in and we talked while he got his lunch. Well, I whispered and he talked.
There were 3 other people in his workshop. We made two different types of incense and he talked a lot about how to make certain types work.
After the workshop we also discussed him coming back over the summer. Right now we’re talking about the week that wraps around 4th July, the Psychic Fair that pairs up with Pathways to Transformation in August, and Pan-Pagan. He’s got a bunch of specialty workshops
…and then we kept talking. I was working on doing more herb processing, since there’s always a ton of that to do. I worked my way through powdering some bay and sorting a bunch of calendula from the calyx. I’m getting better at powdering things, which is going to be a necessity if we go into making some of the incense that he’s talking about.
…and then he headed home and I crashed. I was too exhausted to even drive myself up to the house, so I collapsed into the recliner and slept for several hours.
When we finally left the shop Venus was hanging high in the mid-twilight sky, paired with a small star. I love that blue in the sky at the end of twilight, when the sea color turns to hammered aluminum and the sky to a deep rich color that you don’t see except in those conditions….
…and then we came around the corner of the building and the Moon was up, having risen about the Coast Range, hanging in a golden haze. Once we were home I hung out on the porch watching until I chilled, then rolled my chair over past the study desk to gaze out the window as She rose out of the haze and became a brilliant silver disk. I thought seriously about getting some of the burnable out and doing what I did last Full Moon… and then thought about particulates in my lungs and stayed, sanely, in the study….
There’s a house finch on the feeder. I had to look him up, but I’m pretty sure he’s a house finch and not a purple finch….
Like I was implying before the shop’s open and classes/workshops well under way. Today’s moving is going to be “Full Circle” if you want to come in and watch.
The shop opens at 11am, but we’ll be there earlier. Spring hours, 11am-7pm, Thursday through Monday. If we’re supposed to be closed, but it looks like we’re there, try the door. If it’s open, the shop’s open!
Love & Light,
Anja
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Café Press Products from Ancient Light - http://www.cafepress.com/ancientlight Everything from T-shirts to pillows to coffee mugs to journals with witchy or just fun designs! Take a look at the new Badger Totem designs!
Spoonflower Fabrics - http://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/coastalanja The newest designs are in the Anja’s Spring Garden collection (think daffodils in the snow and violets…). We have designs for sale in the Bugs ‘n Slugs Collection, the Garden Collection and Mushroom Collection and the Pagan Collection is coming soon.
Our Circle’s site! http://www.ancientlight.info/circle/ Add things by e-mailing me here. mbartlett@harborside.com
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Today
The Moon is Full, but waning. Full Moon Magick: From fourteen to seventeen-and-a-half days after the new moon. “And better it be when the moon is full!”! Prime time for rituals for prophecy, for spells to come to fruition, infusing health and wholeness, etc. A good time for invoking deity. The Full Phase ends at 8:35am on Monday. Waning Moon Magick - From the Full Moon to the New is a time for study, meditation, and magic designed to banish harmful energies and habits, for ridding oneself of addictions, illness or negativity.
Venus, the brilliant "Evening Star" in the west, is passing its closest to the star Beta Tauri, which is only 1/300 as bright at magnitude 1.6. During and after late twilight, look for the star 0.8° to Venus's upper right. That's about a pencil-width at arm's length. Although they look close together, they're not. Venus is 3 light-minutes from us; Beta Tauri is 130 light-years in the background.
Look high to Venus's upper right for Capella. Look very close to the bright planet for Beta Tauri, also known as El Nath, glimmering only 1/300 as bright (at magnitude +1.6). Beta Tauri is 1° above Venus on May 4th, 0.8° to Venus's upper right when they're closest together on the 6th, and 1.6° to the planet's right by May 11th.
Celtic Tree Month of Saille Willow Apr 15 - May 12
Goddess Month of Maia runs from 4/18 - 5/15
Runic half-month of Lagu, 4/29-5/13 Representing the flowing and mutable forces of water, Lagu symbolizes life, growth and waxing power of this time of year.
Sun in Taurus
Full Moon in Scorpio at 8:35pm
Saturn retrograde, Juno retrograde, Pluto Retrograde
Color: Black
Planting 5/5-6
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©2012 M. Bartlett, Some parts separately copyright
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Calendar
May 5-6 – Psychic Fair – Special Guest, Carl Neal
5/6 – Sunday, 10am – Wicca 101 Special Class with Carl Neal
Noon - Brea’s Elements (class)
1pm – Free showing of Full Circle
3pm – Discussion follows movie
Harvest 5/7-8
5/7 – Monday – 6pm – Wicca 101 – Lesson 1-2
Planting 5/9-10
5/9 – Wednesday, 3pm – Herbs Outdoors – (depends on the weather)
5/10 – 5pm - Wicca 103 – Lesson 5/6
5/10 – Thursday – Waldport Chamber of Commerce meeting, Greenside Restaurant (Crestview Golf Club) – Noon
Waldport City Council Meeting – 2pm
Planting 5/9-10
5/9 – Wednesday, esbat, waning moon, Brigdhe’s flame, weather permitting
5/10 – Thursday – Waldport Chamber of Commerce meeting, Greenside Restaurant (Crestview Golf Club) – Noon
Waldport City Council Meeting – 2pm
Harvest 5/11-12
Sat. May 12 – Waldport’s Great Garage Sale (We’ll have people the days before and after…)
5/12 – Saturday, 11am - Herb Workshop
Noon-ish – Care and Feeding of a Rock Tumbler
3pm - Sewing Workshop
Planting 5/13-15
5/13 – Sunday, 10am – Wicca 101
Noon - Brea’s Elements (counseling)
2pm - Practical Craft
Tuesday, May 15, 2012 - 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM - Rural Tourism Marketing on a Shoestring Workshop - Overleaf Events Center at the Overleaf Lodge, $5.00
Harvest 5/16-17
Wednesday, May 16, 2012 - 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Fundraising for Tourism & Developing
Action Teams Workshop - Overleaf Events Center at the Overleaf Lodge, $5.00
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM - FREE EVENT: Community Tourism Kickoff, Location: Ona Restaurant, Yachats
http://industry.traveloregon.com/Departments/Tour ism-Development/Oregon-Rural-Tourism-Studio-1.aspx http://industry.traveloregon.com/Departments/Touri sm-Development/Oregon-Rural-Tourism-Studio-1.aspx
5/17 - 3pm, Crones’ Tea
Planting 5/18-19
Sun enters Gemini, 5/20 8:16am
New Moon, 5/20, 4:47pm
Planting 5/23-25
5/23 – Wednesday, 7pm, esbat, Diana’s bow
Planting 6/1-2
June 1-3 – Psychic Fair – Special Guest, Tanya Lester, Tasiographer
6/1 – Friday, Tea Leaf Reading Workshop 7pm – by donation
6/2 – Saturday, 10am-6pm - Tea Leaf & Tarot Readings by Tanya Lester, Tasiographer
6/2 – Saturday, 11am - Herb Workshop
Noon – Care & Feeding of a Rock Tumbler
3pm - Sewing Workshop
6pm - Metta Meditation
7pm – Movie Night, showing ? (discussion follows)
6/3 – Sunday, 10am-6pm - Tea Leaf & Tarot Readings by Tanya Lester, Tasiographer
6/4 – Full Strong Sun Moon at 4:12am, Pathfinding Horse Moon
Oregon Coast Pan-Pagan Gathering, Friday – Sunday, September 28-30
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www.wunderground.com
May. 06, 2012, Rise, Set
Actual Time, 5:59 AM PDT, 8:27 PM PDT
Civil Twilight, 5:26 AM PDT, 8:59 PM PDT
Nautical Twilight, 4:45 AM PDT, 9:40 PM PDT
Astronomical Twilight, 3:59 AM PDT, 10:27 PM PDT
Moon, 9:42 PM PDT, 6:12 AM PDT
Length Of Visible Light, 15h 33m
Length of Day, 14h 28m
Tomorrow will be 2m 30s longer.
Full, 100% of the Moon is Illuminated
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Saille Willow Apr 15 - May 12 - The Willow in the Tree alphabet stands for the female and lunar rhythms of life. She is water-seeking, thriving from preference on the damp margins of lakes and streams or across the low-lying water meadows. Water and the tidal movements of the sea are governed by the pull of the moon. The moon in its monthly rhythms is female, contrasting with the male sun's daily and yearly turnings. In several ways, the Celts held women in higher regard than we do today. On the material level, women were property owners, and whoever controlled the property controlled the marriage. Women of all types and ages appeared in the Celtic pantheon, the spiritual strength and life-giving qualities given by both female and male recognized equally. There were colleges of Druidesses - learned women and teachers - respected equally for their gifts of see-ship, often expressed through dreams, or night visions.
Magical Associations: Romantic love, healing, protection, fertility, magic for women.
Saille - WIllow Ogam letter correspondences
Month: February
Color: listed only as bright
Class: Peasant
Letter: S
Meaning: Gaining balance in your life
to study this month - Ohn - Furze Ogam letter correspondences
Month: None
Color: Yellow Gold
Class: Chieftain
Letter: O
Meaning: Information that could change your life
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Tides for Alsea Bay
Day High Tide Height Sunrise Moon Time % Moon
/Low Time Feet Sunset Visible
Su 6 High 12:34 AM 9.1 5:59 AM Set 6:12 AM 99
6 Low 7:30 AM -1.9 8:27 PM Rise 9:42 PM
6 High 1:54 PM 7.2
6 Low 7:24 PM 1.8
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Affirmation/Thought for the Day – One does not learn by speaking.
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Journal Prompt – I wish… - I wish I had enough money to......
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Quotes
The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift. — Albert Einstein
The man who is rows the boat usually doesn’t have time to rock it. – Unknown
The Queen's Park Oval, exactly as its name suggests, is absolutely round. - Tony Crozier
The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. - Marcel Proust
Robert Frost (1874–1963). Mountain Interval. 1920.
1. The Road Not Taken
TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
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Magick – Why do we believe in electrons, but not in fairies? by Benjamin Kuipers
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2e98Rx/www.cs.utexa s.edu/~kuipers/opinions/electrons-vs-fairies.html/
No one has directly observed either electrons or fairies. Both of them are theoretical constructs, useful to explain observations that might be difficult to explain otherwise. The "theory of fairies" can actually explain more things than the "theory of electrons". So why do we believe in electrons, but not in fairies?
Is the issue a political one, where the "electron" fans got the upper hand in the nineteenth century, so by the twentieth century the "fairy" fans were a scorned and persecuted minority? Or, have we proved for sure that fairies don't exist?
No, to both. The real difference is that for electrons, we have accumulated a set of quite narrow and specific rules about how electrons will behave under various circumstances. Those rules let us make very specific predictions about electron behavior, and about the observations that will result. If those predictions don't come true, we know that either we didn't set up the circumstances correctly, or there is something wrong with the rules. But over many decades, we have repeatedly fixed problems with the rules, so we can now make really good predictions about electrons, especially in certain highly contrived circumstances (i.e., circuits).
Fairies are much more free. A fairy does what it decides to do. We haven't been able to find any useful rules for predicting how a fairy will behave under particular circumstances, or even for telling when a fairy has been involved in a particular observation. (At least I don't know of any such rules. I stand ready for correction on this.) Over many, many decades, it has not been possible for people to try out pretty-good sets of fairy-prediction rules, find out where they make mistakes, and replace them with better sets of rules.
It's always possible that there really are fairies. But the theory of electrons has been far more successful because it makes testable predictions. Because it doesn't make testable predictions, the theory of fairies hasn't enjoyed the same process of incremental improvement. So we have lightbulbs and microprocessors and the Internet, all based on electrons, and no fairy processors.
The scientific method is an amazing procedure for incrementally improving certain kinds of theories: those that make testable predictions. A theory that doesn't make testable predictions could still be true, but it doesn't participate in the scientific method. (There are people who believe that the only truths are scientific truths, but this is essentially a religious faith on their part.)
The theory of evolution is a scientific theory, because it implies a large number of specific testable claims. The specific rules leading to testable predictions have been tested, modified, and refined over many decades (roughly as many as the theory of electrons). Simple versions of the rules for evolution have been tested and refuted long ago, and replaced by better, more specific ones, just as they have for electrons. We are about as confident in the theory of evolution as we are in the theory of electrons.
The theory of intelligent design could be true. The biological world is a marvelous place, with truly amazing complexity. The theory of evolution assumes certain random processes for generating mutations. If an Intelligent Designer could influence those random processes, then perhaps both theories could be true simultaneously. But the theory of intelligent design does not make testable predictions, just like the theory of fairies. The Designer does what He does because He decides to, not because He is governed by rules. (See Matthew 4:5-7.)
The scientific method is an enormous intellectual asset to the human race. All citizens should understand what it can and cannot do, and all children should be taught to appreciate and apply it. It is important for them to understand why the theory of electrons is a scientific theory, while the theory of fairies is not. Likewise, of course, for evolution and intelligent design.
In the debate between evolution and intelligent design, I believe that we scientists are missing an important opportunity to educate people about the difference between "truth" and "scientific truth". There is a perfectly reasonable role in society for faith in truths that are not scientifically testable. But we and our children need to understand and respect the difference.
Atheism is a religion, too!
While one driver in this controversy comes from people with a fundamentalist religious agenda, there are scientists on the other side who pursue an essentially religious belief that "There is no Designer." Occam's Razor is a useful piece of practical advice about preferring simpler theories, but it has no more empirical content than the Apostle's Creed.
An advocate for Intelligent Design provided the following quotes from leading evolutionary biologists:
• "Man is the result of a purposeless and natural process that did not have him in mind" (George Gaylord Simpson, The Meaning of Evolution);
• "If humankind evolved by Darwinian natural selection, genetic chance and environmental necessity, not God, made the species" (Edward O. Wilson, On Human Nature);
• "By coupling undirected, purposeless variation to the blind, uncaring process of natural selection, Darwin made theological or spiritual explanations of life processes superfluous" (Douglas Futuyma, Evolutionary Biology).
These are not scientific conclusions. These are statements of sincere personal belief by these authors, who doubtless feel strongly that their beliefs are consistent with their experiences as scientists. But they are essentially statements of faith, and they are out of place in a textbook. (An interesting essay by Michael Ruse, Is evolution a secular religion?, sheds historical light on evolution and this kind of "religious atheism".)
On the other hand, scientists in general are very careful to avoid making religious (including atheist) statements in a scientific context. Simpson's and Wilson's books are opinion pieces, not textbooks, so expressions of personal faith are appropriate. Futuyma's book is a leading textbook, but the above quote seems not to appear in the current (third) edition.
There is a widespread claim that evolutionary biology textbooks argue against Christianity, or against religion in general. You can read (here) a careful examination of a number of accused textbooks, refuting that claim.
Teaching better science
In our pluralistic society, some people believe in God or in the absence of any God (both faith-based positions), while some people don't know and some don't care. In our pluralistic society, it is important to teach science without imposing on others one's own religious beliefs, including the belief in the absence of God.
Science education is about teaching the scientific method, and about teaching some of the knowledge that the human race has acquired by applying the scientific method. It would be a useful part of a science class to teach the distinction between theories that are scientific because they make testable predictions, and other theories that could be true, but are not scientific because they don't. Comparing fairies with electrons, or comparing evolution with intelligent design, should be an opportunity to teach better science.
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Written 15 February 2005. Updated 30 June 2005 and 11 September 2005.
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Energy list
4/16/12 – For someone who has found a dream job and wants some extra oomph to help him get it.
4/13/12 – “I am still very sick and have been for a month now - really need help kicking this on the spiritual plane - depression makes you sick and I am having a hard time climbing out of this hole. I now have bronchitis as well as the ongoing infection - see Dr again on Monday - This is probably the only request for help/healing I have ever made - but I just can't seem to kick this on my own. Whatever you think will help - I feel like I am dying a very slow and painful death.”
4/8/12 – For an older father with various health issues that gave us all a scare a while back. He’s much better, but still needs help to get back to health.
4/7/12 - 9-year-old boy with an inoperable brain tumor. Starting radiation. Family and friends asking help for him and for the children that know him. Update 4/7 He’s doing pretty well and back in school despite the treatments.
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Silliness – There's a name for every phobia. Vestiphobia is a fear of clothes. Amathophobia is a fear of dust, and a fear of God is called religion. - Clarke Kant
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