LITHA/SUMMER SOLSTICE CRAFTS

HI to ALL,

As the wheel continues to turn again we find ourselves nearing " Summer Solstice".

Litha/Midsummer is one of the Wiccan Sabbats and is usually celebrated on June 21st, but varies somewhat from the 20th to the 23rd, dependant upon the Earth's rotation around the Sun. This year it is on the 20th of June. The sun is at the height of its power before beginning its slide into darkness and we experience the longest day and shortest night of the year.

While steamy Midsummer marks the beginning of the Sun's dying strength the season itself is very lush. The Sun, flowers and Earth are in full bloom. Hot Midsummer creates a fiery, mature, breathless passion. The God is at the very height of his power as we hit midsummer, at this point of the year the gardens are coming along nicely . We have done all of the planting associated with spring and life gets a little easier as we sit back and tend what we've created. Its a time of great celebration before we meet the work ahead as the harvest comes in. On Midsummer the veil between the worlds is said to be very thin making this a great time for divination, historically many maidens would divine a husband at this time. Midsummer's Eve is said to be a time when fairies abound in great numbers this is a great time to commune with them and leave gifts of sweets outdoors.

Litha celebrates abundance, fertility, virility, the beauty and bounty of Nature. Harnessing the Suns great power makes all types of magic appropriate now. We can also harvest the first of our magical herbs at this time since they are drenched with the great power of the sun on this longest day of the year. It is a good time for empowerment, for strong magic for hand fastings and communing with Nature Spirits.

The journey into the harvest season has begun.

Here are some craft ideas you might like to try, and some traditional Litha activies. I am going to do a series of blogs early this year which will include lots of recipes for the Solstice feast ( lots of new, and some old favorites) crafts, and Litha lore. I thought to do this earlier as even last year I felt I was way to late even for myself to try something new! !! :-)

Enjoy

Bee

Sea Shell Wreath


Courtesy of Jo-Ann etc Experience the Creativity Magazine



Shore thing! A seasonal wreath in celebration of summer makes a comely conversation piece.
Finished size: Approximately 12"/30.5cm across
Materials
10" /25.5cm Styrofoam wreath base
about 15 small bags of seashells (use shells approximately same size and color)
Lion brand textured jute ribbon
hot glue gun & glue sticks
spooled floral wire
scissors
clear-drying craft glue
Preparing
1. With 18"/46cm-long trailing end, wrap wreath base with textured ribbon, gluing in place as you go.
2. Continue wrapping ribbon until entire wreath is covered, slightly overlapping edges to ensure there are no gaps between rows.
3. Trim ribbon, leaving 18"/46cm-long trailing end. Tie ribbon ends in large bow. Trim ends even and seal in back with clear-drying craft glue.
Assembling: Hot glue shells to wreath base, clustering and overlapping shells to create solid surface. Vary placement of shells for design interest. Use smaller shells to fill any gaps. Cut small piece of wire and use to secure bow. Tuck wire ends under knot.

BEE Bird House

Materials:

Gourd
Sand Paper
Paints...Black Light buttermilk (Americana)Straw (Delta Ceramcoat)Old Parchment (Delta Ceramcoat)
Drill with Bits
Jute
Matte Spray Varnish
Black Permanent Marker
Flat Brush for Base coat
Round Brush for detail
Tack Cloth
Pencil
Instructions:Clean, and sand a dried gourd.( you can grwo these your self) Wipe with a tack cloth. Drill 2 small holes at the top of the gourd large enough to thread jute. Drill a larger hole to act as a hole for the bird. Base coat the gourd with 2 coats of Old Parchment allowing each coat to dry thoroughly. Draw on the Bees (See Bee Pattern above) in a random pattern making sure they are facing all directions. They look goods in groups of 3 or alone. Base coat the wings in Light Buttermilk. Let dry. Base coat the bee body in Straw. Let dry. Base coat the head and stripes in Black. Let dry. Outline the wings, add antenna and a stinger with a permanent marker. You can also add the dotted lines to show where he has been and the curved lines to hint at wing movement. Allow to dry thoroughly before you spray with a matte finish. Thread jute through the top holes of the gourd and tie for hanging. You can add lengths of jute in a bow if you'd like. Optional: You may want to add Buzz on Inn around the door opening but make sure you allow for this when you draw the bees on.

Activities:

• 
  This is a good time for clearing away non-useful energies, and establishing a stable base. (bees choice)

• Cleansing may include leaping a fire (a low one, please), or putting herbs symbolizing (or charged with) the non-useful energies into a fire. You may leap a fire not only for purification, but to re-energize yourself.
• 
  Litha is a time for healing of all kinds, and protection rituals.
• 
  Get all your friends together with some drums and rattles, and dance the whole night through. A Spiral Dance would be nice, too. "Sing, Dance, make Music and Love, all in my Presence..." ( I think i will organize this for Castsel Raven?)
• 
  Make your own "Green Man" mask. Cut eye-holes in a paper plate. Let them glue on real or construction paper leaves.
• 
  Go berry picking. Have the children chose their best berry and throw it back into the berry bushes as they thank the Goddess and the bushes for the fruit.
• 
  Burn a Wreath in the bon fire or try using Wreaths of Vervain and Mugwort which were burned in ancient times at the end of the festivals to burn away bad luck. (bees choice)
• 
  Many families placed roses on the tables, as this is the Goddess flower for this time of the year. Try this yourself for a beautiful and fragrant decoration. (Bees choice I love my roses!)
• 
  Leave out milk and honey as an offering to the Fae folk (Bees choice)
• 
  Put a ring of flowers around a bowl full of mugwort
• 
  Hang a bundle of fresh herbs out to dry and use them to spice up a Litha feast of cooked summer vegetables (bees choice)
• 
  Light a white candle and place it in front of a mirror. Say your own Litha prayer over it, and then let it burn out ( bees choice)
• 
  Make a charm to hang around your neck with a seashell
• 
  Have an outdoor breakfast picnic to welcome the Solstice (great idea!! Bees choice)
• 
  Stay up and watch the sun come up on the longest day of the year! (Bees choice)
• 
  
  Try a fire divination, stare into the coals of your bonfire as it settles or look for forms in the leaping flames.
• 
  
  Make protection amulets for friends and family dispose of last years amulet in the Litha bonfire
  

In Memory

I am a United States Marine. My tenets are Duty, honor, and commitment in service to god, country, and corps. No matter the cost; nor matter the sacrifice; to the last full measure; I will do my duty. I will honor the traditions of those Marines that have gone before me; as they have passed to me so will I pass to those who follow the sword to freedom, the banner of courage, the unblemished honor of the corps; for service without honor is not service. I will serve with honor and remain faithful at all times; to my Corps, my division, my regiment, my company, my platoon, my squad, my fire - team, and to these tenets. I will be commented. I am a Marine. Not a ex, or a former marine; I am or I am not. There is no middle ground.

I AM A UNITED STATES MARINE

William MacDonald

Lady Luna

Hi to all, Are these moths fairy like or what.. ? I hope to see one,*~* One day...?

Sparkles

Bee

"Luna Moth Lore"

Their power is of the whirlwind - Ease of movement in darkness/shadow - Transformation - Ability to confuse enemies - Ability to find light in darkness

This nocturnal insect is found in deciduous hardwood forests in North America, from Canada to Northern Mexico. The Luna moth has a wingspan of 3 to 4 1/4 inches (7.5-10.8 cm). Males and females are similar in appearance, but the antennae of the males appear more feathery. Classification: Family Saturniidae, Genus Actias, Species luna.

Luna moths are one of the most unusual and beautiful of the North American moths known as Saturnidae. They are a light-green moth that has long, curving tails on its hindwings and distinctive eyespots on all four wings. Although they are often seen in pictures, they are a real surprise when found in nature. Although they are common throughout the eastern U.S., their night flying habits and short life span as an adult moth, only about 1 week, combine to make them a rare find. The luna moth, with a wingspan of 4.5-5.0 inches, is one of the largest moths in North America and is very common in many of the eastern states from Maine all the way to Florida. They usually are seen less as you go westward to Texas and the Great Plains. It is also found in southern regions of many Canadian provinces such as Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskachewan.



Life Cycle: The Luna moth starts life as a tiny egg that hatches into a plump lime-green caterpillar with tiny orange spots along the sides. This slow-moving caterpillar eats the leaves of the white birch, alder, persimmon, sweet gum, hickory, walnut, or sumac trees. After eating and growing, the caterpillar builds a brown, tent-like cocoon, and eventually emerges as a fully-grown adult. The adult Luna moth does not eat; it only mates and reproduces.

May is Fairy Month

The month of May is tradition­ally associated with the fairies, and interactions between this world and the fairy realm. In Celtic folklore, human beings venture forth to meet with both mortal, and fairy lovers. If you desire this type of relationship, carry talismans of protection that will allow you to return to this world. These Scottish lyrics tell of a union with a fairy lover — use them if you dare.

Wine of the wort
I'll give to thee,
Well I'll love thee,
Under the plaid,
If you come home with me
To the fairy knoll.

I was last night In the meadow,

Drinking ale with the Beguiling one.
I left my love in the doorway Of the fairy bower

With eyes like a star, and a voice like a Stringed instrument
My green-clad love Of the mist.

I must add this tid bit. Maybe some of you can try this next year?

In the month of April on Betane Eve try this "Beltane Eve Fairy Spell".

On the eve of Beltane the fairies are out in force. this is a fairy spell to work in your own garden or backyard. Gather together violets, St. John's wort, and clover. The violets are a fairy favorite. The St. John's wort will protect you from becoming fairy-led or tricked, and the clover is for prosperity and good luck. Gather these plants together, forming a little posy, and then tie it up with green ribbons. Blow the fair­ies a kiss and leave the posy as a gift. Now go and sit in the garden and try to meditate or to communicate with the fairies.

Say to yourself;

Fairies from far and wide,

I offer you a gift,

Tied up in green for luck,

And sealed with a kiss.

I can sense you If I'm pure of heart,

Bless me with good luck and sooth my dreaming heart.

Fleur-de-Lis - Mists of Antiquity

Hi to all, I wanted to do a blog entry on the "Fleur" for some time now. I find it so interesting. Not only as a flower, but it's long historical significance. The photo above is in the color of the Fleur that live in my gardens--> Royal Purple.

Enjoy!



Sparkling Bee






The emblem of royalty. The symbol of elegance, refinement and opulence. The iris has been cherished by kings, queens and gardeners since the beginning of history. During the Crusades,Louis VII of France chose the iris as his personal
symbol, known as the FJeur-de-Louisr which later became Fleur-de-Lis. Ever since, the stylized iris has been the symbol of French royalty. It glistened on the robes of the Sun King, Louis XIV. It is etched,carved and gilded into every comer of Versailles, the palace of Trench kings. And in the gardens of this paradise, the noble iris still reigns supreme.





Fleur History

Few heraldic emblems have been so controversial as the fleur-de-lis (or fleur-de-lys or flower-de-luce). Its history stretches far back in time, allegedly into the "mists of antiquity", and its quasi-mystical origins were seemingly accepted unquestioningly by early churchmen. One scenario identifies it as the lily given at his baptism to Clovis, King of the Franks (from AD 481 to 511), by the Virgin Mary, a tradition presented in evidence by the French bishops at the Council of Trent (AD 1545-63) to support their arguments for the precedence of their king, François I. The lily was claimed to have sprung from the tears shed by Eve as she left Eden (just as that unrelated flower, the lily of the valley, was said to have grown from the tears of the Virgin at the foot of the Cross). From its earliest records (it was the flower of Hera, the Greek moon goddess) it has been the symbol of purity and was accordingly readily adopted by the Church to associate the Virgin Mary's sanctity with events of special significance. Thus when Pope Leo III in AD 800 crowned Charlemagne as Emperor, he is reported to have presented him with a blue banner covered (semé) with golden fleurs-de-lis (an event which may have given birth to the legend of the Virgin's gift to Clovis, as it undoubtedly formed the basis of Nicolas Upton's reference, around AD 1428, to Charlemagne having received the banner Azure semé of fleurs-de-lis Or from an angel). Clovis is the same name as Lois, Loys and Louis, and as Loys was the contemporary spelling used by the Kings of France until Louis XIII (AD 1610), ":fleur-de-lys" has been claimed as a corruption of "fleur-de-Loys". Other imaginative explanations include the shape having been developed from the image of a dove descending, which is the symbol of the Holy Ghost, and, as Rouge Croix Pursuivant John Guillim explained in his Display of Heraldrie (1611), of it being a distortion of the outline of a toad.
That the French kings long used the fleur-de-lis as an emblem of their sovereignty is irrefutable. On his seal of AD 1060 (before heraldry became formalised) Philip I sits on his throne holding a short staff that terminates in a fleur-de-lis. The same staff appears in the great seal of Louis VII (AD 1137-80), whose signet ring was charged with a single fleur-de-lis. The great seals of Philip II and Louis VIII show them seated, holding in one hand a flower and in the other a sceptre on which is mounted an heraldic fleur-de-lis within a lozenge. But long before this, although it may perhaps be merely coincidence and unrelated to later practice, the Roman Emperor Hadrian (AD 117-138) issued a coin which represented Gaul (as France then was) with a woman holding a lily in her hand Louis VII is believed to have been the first to use Azure semé of fleurs-de-lis Or (now abbreviated to Azure semé-de-lis Or and designated "France Ancient") on his shield, but its use on a banner, and especially on the French royal standard, may have been earlier than this. (The reduction to three fleurs-de-lis, today designated as "France Modern", was commanded by Charles V in 1376, reportedly in honour of the Holy Trinity. This was copied by Henry IV of England who, following Edward III, had symbolised the English claim to France by placing the French lilies in his first quarter.)
Alexander Nisbet in 1722, after distinguishing between the natural lily, "the lily of the garden", and the stylised lily, "the lily of the flag", observed of the oriflamme ~





The other lilies, as those of France, so well known ....... having only but three leaves, is by the Latins called flos iridis, and by the French fleur de l'iris; being always called the flower of the rainbow or iridis, which the French call fleur-de-lis, from the river Lis, as some will; and anciently flams or flambs, which signifies the same: Whence the Royal Standard of France was called the oriflam or oriflambe, being a blue banner, charged with golden flower-de-luces, a suitable figure, say some, for the Franks, who come from the marshes of Friezland.





Two points are worth noting here. First, the seeming confusion between the iris and the lily is commonly found throughout all the early writings on this subject, for it was only during the 19th century that the iris ceased to be known as a lily. Second is the reference to the river Lis. Today, in France, this is the River Lys, and its continuation downstream into Flanders is, in Flemish, the River Leie. Here, to the west of Ghent (where it flows through the lands once held by the Gavere family, the first to bear the tressure flory-counterflory featuring the fleur-de-lis), the golden iris may still be found on its banks. The heraldic representation of the flower sweeps the upper pair of its five petals inwards to merge with the centre one, while the lower pair curve downwards. The photograph of the pressed and dried flower below left shows the results.
So although the legendary origins of the fleur-de-lis have caught imaginations down the centuries, and are still to be found in heraldic textbooks, Nisbet's casual comment is worth more than later writers have allowed it. The lily, now called an iris, still grows along the Lys in lands drained by the Franks. When pressed and dried it reveals clearly the shape of the stylised heraldic charge. This is, on balance, its most probable origin.





The Baronage Press

My Mother's Day Lilly

Hi to all This is the beautiful Lily I bought myself for Mother's Day... I put in in my green house, and this morning the whole building smelled so spectacular.. I just stayed in there, and breathed deep!!!!

Hugs Bee

Hybrid Oriental Lilies - This one is new called Dizzy or Hot Lips.

Oriental Lilies are one of the most beautiful of all lilies and their fragrance permeates the garden air. These are the lilies that florists favor for summer bouquets and bridal centerpieces. Blooming later in the season than most other lilies, these exotic beauties are truly spectacular in color and flower size. Grows in Zones 3 - 10.

Lily is a symbol of beauty, majesty and honor, with the White Lily representing innocence and purity. The Tiger Lily depicts wealth, pride and prosperity,

6th Moon of the Celtic Year

HAWTHORN LORE

6th Moon of the Celtic Year - (May 13 - June 9)

Latin name: crataegus oxyacantha (from the Greek 'kratos' - hardenss, 'oxus' - sharp, and 'akantha' - thorn).
Celtic name: Huath (pronounced: Hoh' uh)
Folk or Common names: Bread and Cheese Tree, Gaxels, Hagthorn, Halves, Haw, Hazels, Huath, Ladies' Meat, May, Mayblossom, May Bush, Mayflower, May Tree, Midland Hawthorn Quick, Thorn, Tree of Chastity.
Parts Used: Berries, wood, branches, seeds, flowers.

Herbal usage:

The berries are used as a cardiac tonic. Since this is a powerful herb it is best not to be used alone, so mix it with borage, motherwort, cayenne, garlic & dandelion flowers. Hawthorn leaves can be used as a substitute for oriental green tea, the seeds can be roasted and used like coffee. Hawthorn makes a light, hard, apple-like wood. Hawthorn usually doesn't grow much bigger than a shrub, and is popular in England as a hedge plant. The wood from the Hawthorn provides the hottest fire known. Its leaves and blossoms are used to create a tea to aid with anxiety, appetite loss and poor circulation. The pink or white star-shaped blossom gives off a musky scent - for many men, a strong scent of female sexuality. They are edible, sprinkled on desserts. Young leaves (country name - pepper and salt) can be eaten in salads and sandwiches.

Magical History & Associations:

The bird associated with this month is the night crow, the color is deepest black, and the gemstone is Lapis Lazuli. The Greeks and Romans saw the Hawthorn as symbolic of hope and marriage, but in medieval Europe it was associated with witchcraft and considered to be unlucky. This seeming contradiction is to be expected from a tree with such beautiful blossoms and such deadly-looking thorns. Hawthorne has a strong association with water. It is a Masculine herb, associated with the planet of Mars and the element of Fire. Hawthorn is so strongly associated with the Celtic May Eve festival of Bealtaine (Beltane) that "may" is a folk name for it. Whitethorn is another name popular in Brittany, where the tree marks Fairy trysting places. Sacred hawthorns guard wishing wells in Ireland, where shreds of clothing ("clouties") are hung on the thorns to symbolize a wish made. The Roman goddess Cardea, mistress of Janus who was keeper of the doors, had as her principal protective emblem a bough of Hawthorn. "Her power is to open what is shut; to shut what is open." Hawthorn is also associated with the deities of Flora (orgiastic use), the White Goddess Maia, and Hymen. There is an old legend which says that the first Hawthorn bush grew from the staff of St Joseph. The Burning Bush of Moses is a variety of hawthorn, Crateagus pyracantha. Hawthorn is one of the nine woods that is traditionally placed on the Bale-fire: "Hawthorn is burned to purify And draw faerie to your eye..."

Magical usage:

The month of Hawthorn is a good time to do magic designed to clear away old habits and spiritual cobwebs. Hawthorn can be used for protection, love and marriage, health and prosperity, Fertility, Purification, Chastity, male potency, Fishing Magic, purity, inner journeys, intuition, female sexuality, cleansing, and Happiness.

The fey are said to especially like Hawthorn groves, since the Hawthorn is sacred to them. Hawthorn is one of the tree fairy triad of Britain: 'Oak, Ash and Thorn', and where all three trees grow together it is said that one may see fairies. The flowers are supposed to "bring fairies into the house. Solitary Hawthorn trees growing on hills or near sacred wells act as 'markers' to the faery realm. It is said that a person should never cut a blooming Hawthorn, as the fey will become angry. It is also said that sitting under a Hawthorn tree in the month of May might mean being lost forever to the unknown, mystic faery world. Even today, in parts of Ireland and Wales, it is a spring custom to braid crowns of Hawthorn blossoms and leave them for faeries, who come at night and dance around them. This custom brings blessings to whoever left the crown.

In many parts of Europe it was customary in the spring or early summer to go out to the woods and cut down a Hawthorn and bring it in back to the town. There the Hawthorn was set up with much celebration. Branches of the Hawthorn were also fastened to all the houses. This custom was said to bring the blessing which the Hawthorn tree-spirit has in its power to bestow into the village. Hence the custom in some places of planting a May-tree before every house, or of carrying the village May-tree from door to door so that every household may receive its share of the blessing. May poles used to be decorated, and sometimes even made from Hawthorn.

Hawthorn has strong protective qualities. Hawthorn can be attached to a cow barn and the cows will stay healthy and produce an enormous milk supply. A globe made of Hawthorn can be placed in the kitchen for fire protection. Hawthorne in the rafters of a home is good for protection against spirits, and ghosts. In the past most witch's gardens contained at least one Hawthorn hedge for protection, as well as being one of the ingredients in the famous Flying Ointment. Leaves can also be used as a charm to protect a newborn child and a thorn carried in a pouch can bring good luck while fishing and can also ward off depression. A Hawthorn branch hung from the roof or chimney of a house will protect it from lightning. Worn or carried, Hawthorn promotes happiness in the troubled, depressed or sad. It also can be used to promote beauty. At dawn on Beltane a young woman who wants to remain beautiful for the rest of the year, can go bathe in the dew of the Hawthorn tree while chanting this rhyme:
"The fair maid, who on the first of May,Goes to the fields at the break of day,And bathes in the dew from the hawthorn tree,Will ever strong and handsome be".

Hawthorns are a favorite tree of Witches, and we are said to be able to transform ourselves into a Hawthorn tree at will. Hawthorn is also a good wood to make brooms and wands out of because of its strong bond with Witchcraft. Just make sure that if you are going to cut off a limb of a Hawthorn tree for this use, that you do it on Beltane, since to cut it at any other time is unlucky. It is also bad luck to pick Hawthorn flowers before the first week of May", and it also was considered "a sign that death is on its way if brought into the house, except for the first of May". In ancient Britain, destruction of a Hawthorn tree might bring on tragedies such as the death of one's cattle or children and a total loss of well-being.

Cinco De Mayo

To all my friends who celebrate

Cinco de Mayo..

Have a wonderful Day filled with family, friends, and lots of food!!!

Sparkling salt on my Margarita! Bee

Cinco de Mayo is a date of great importance for the Mexican and Chicano communities. It marks the victory of the Mexican Army over the French at the Battle of Puebla. Although the Mexican army was eventually defeated, the "Batalla de Puebla" came to represent a symbol of Mexican unity and patriotism. With this victory, Mexico demonstrated to the world that Mexico and all of Latin America were willing to defend themselves of any foreign intervention. Especially those from imperialist states bent on world conquest.

Cinco de Mayo's history has its roots in the French Occupation of Mexico. The French occupation took shape in the aftermath of the Mexican-American War of 1846-48. With this war, Mexico entered a period of national crisis during the 1850's. Years of not only fighting the Americans but also a Civil War, had left Mexico devastated and bankrupt. On July 17, 1861, President Benito Juarez issued a moratorium in which all foreign debt payments would be suspended for a brief period of two years, with the promise that after this period, payments would resume.

The English, Spanish and French refused to allow president Juarez to do this, and instead decided to invade Mexico and get payments by whatever means necessary. The Spanish and English eventually withdrew, but the French refused to leave. Their intention was to create an Empire in Mexico under Napoleon III. Some have argued that the true French occupation was a response to growing American power and to the Monroe Doctrine (America for the Americans). Napoleon III believed that if the United States was allowed to prosper indiscriminately, it would eventually become a power in and of itself.

In 1862, the French army began its advance. Under General Ignacio Zaragoza, 5,000 ill-equipped Mestizo and Zapotec Indians defeated the French army in what came to be known as the "Batalla de Puebla" on the fifth of May.
In the United States, the "Batalla de Puebla" came to be known as simply "5 de Mayo" and unfortunately, many people wrongly equate it with Mexican Independence which was on September 16, 1810, nearly a fifty year difference. Over, the years Cinco de Mayo has become very commercialized and many people see this holiday as a time for fun and dance.

Oddly enough, Cinco de Mayo has become more of Chicano holiday than a Mexican one. Cinco de Mayo is celebrated on a much larger scale here in the United States than it is in Mexico. People of Mexican descent in the United States celebrate this significant day by having parades, mariachi music, folklorico dancing and other types of festive activities.

Life Renewed

Beltane

(May*~* Day )

Hi to all this Lovely much awaited Beltane... Much Merry to all. I will spend my day dry pressing flowers. I have some spied to pick and get them pressed... :-)

Bee

Also known as May Eve, May Day, and Walpurgis Night. It celebrates the height of Spring, and the flowering of life. The Goddess manifests as the May Queen and Flora. The God emerges as the May King and Jack in the Green. The danced Maypole represents Their unity, with the pole itself being the God and the ribbons that encompass it, the Goddess. Colors are the Rainbow spectrum. Beltane is a festival of flowers, fertility, sensuality, and delight.

• Prepare a May basket by filling it with flowers and goodwill and then give it to someone in need of healing and caring, such as a shut-in or elderly friend.



• Form a wreath of freshly picked flowers, wear it in your hair, and feel yourself radiating joy and beauty.



• Dress in bright colors. Dance the Maypole and feel yourself balancing the Divine Female and Male within.



• On May Eve, Make a wish as you jump a bonfire or candle flame for good luck.



• Welcome in the May at dawn with singing and dancing.
  

This is a poem I wrote last "Beltane" it is slated to be published this year.



Beltane Moon


Under the moon, its pure delight,
As it rises high, so full and shinning bright.
Reflecting a smile to all below,
While wrapping the world in a magical glow,
To wish alls well in the renewed days to come
Filled by Mothers Natures grace, with the rising of the sun.


By Beecharmer
2007 April

Shakespearean Garden

The timeless appeal of Shakespearean literature draws upon nature's imagery that eloquently brings to life concepts such as beauty, love, and faithfulness. Plants create many different moods, linking scents to memories, colors to emotions, and various textures to any number of sensations. I think of this often when I write. Shakespeare has always inspired me. So with my botanical background I searched out these flowers and plants that could be the flowers of his writings. I plan --- over the next three years to develop a Shakespeare inspired flower bed.. I reasearched some what I have found are here and their images to see.

The color and texture really shows .. I so wish we could all smell their scents!!!

Sparkles Bee

Puppy Update

Another Puppy update.. Well my babies are 7 months old now. I had them pose today for a snap shot or two.. They cooperated some what---LOL

I am just now getting them to know that it is OK to be out doors by themselves.. I am letting them alone for a short time to help them trust themselves.. We have so many wild animals here. This has to be gradual so they gain confidence..

They love the warm weather too!! They want to stay out all day with mom, and do all the things Mom is doing..

They love all this digging and dirt moving.. The garden is of great interest too. They helped me move all my plant starts from the house to the green house with much interest. They know these plants are pretty important as they walk around them very carefully! It is really funny to watch as I have never told them anything about the plants they must just know by how I act when working with them??? Very smart puppies,--> to smart sometimes.. :-)

Sparkles

Bee

Green House Project Update

Hi to all .. ** FINALLY ** My green house is done!!!! Not all the surrounding ground work, but most of it.. Scotch on the Rocks was doing it at the same time we were under construction with the building.. Of course he had to build a support wall, and small patio ect. ect..

I have all my plant starts in there now. I had all those in the house, and I planted some cucumber seeds today. We made temporary tables out of saw horses, and 2 by 4's for the tops. They work pretty good. I was surprised.

It is so nice, I have waited a long time for this day. Lots of fun for me now to mess around in there .. Nice and warm to -->on a cold day!!!

Sparkling Bee

35 Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

A Carbon Footprint is the impact our activities have on the environment by the amount of greenhouse gases we each produce. It is measured in units of carbon dioxide.

Please use the calculater link below to find out your current carbon footprint.



http://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx







Hi to all,
I spent my Earth Day finishing my green house, and working in my compost bin. It was a lovley day here in the high 60's. To my surprize my newly planted sunflowers and pumpkins emerged from their seed today!!
Sparkling Bee



Happy Earth Day --> Please remember, 1 person's actions CAN change the world.




EVEN though industry and governments are going to have to make earth-shaking changes to cool things down, there's plenty we can to do help. The basics of reducing our individual carbon footprints are to do what Henry David Thoreau said: "Simplify, simplify." We'll all live better with less-processed, packaged and industrially produced stuff carted here from across the planet.
Then there's Wabi Sabi, Japan's esthetic ideal: Less is more. If you aren't using it, give it away or dispose of it responsibly. Before you purchase, be sure there's room for it in your home. Buy local, buy less and reuse, repair, freecycle and recycle more. You may pay more for locally produced, fair trade and organic products, but it evens out when you buy less of everything else and reduce carbon intensive activities like driving. It's not a coincidence that when you do things to save the planet you not only save money, but your life gets simpler, healthier and happier.



Here are 35 tips.

1. CUT DOWN YOUR COMMUTE.
2. BIKE TO WORK.
3. MAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WORK FOR YOU.
4. DISCOVER 'TRIP LINKING.'
5. GO SOLAR.
6. GREEN YOUR BUSINESS. Don't have the bandwidth or bread to develop "go greener" programs? Silicon Valley Leadership Group, Sustainable Silicon Valley and PG&E offer free services that help businesses get energy efficient and plug into available subsidies and legislative initiatives. Develop state-of-the-art commuter and telecommuter programs that'll get your employees to work without their cars (again, 511.org is a good place to start).
7. HUG A TREE. It's OK. It's cool now. Better yet, plant a tree.
8. USE LESS PAPER. The third largest industrial emitter of global warming pollution is the pulp and paper industry. Use paper made from post-consumer waste, and recycle your newspapers.
9. RID YOURSELF OF JUNK MAIL. 41pounds.org claims that the average adult gets exactly that much junk mail in a year. You can pay them $41 to nuke it from your life or try these more labor-intensive solutions: Call whoever is mailing you stuff and tell them to stop and to not sell, exchange or give your info to other commercial interests. Write this on their envelopes and mail it to them. When you buy online or through a catalog, or buy a magazine subscription, tell these vendors the same. Opt out of credit card solicitations by calling 1.888.5.Opt-Out. Many junk mailers like ADVO and Val-Pak Coupons have online opt-outs.
10. CUT DOWN ON PRINTER USAGE. Also, don't toss old faxes, reports and letters—put them in your printer face up and print on their blank side.
11. KEEP A CLOSED-DOOR POLICY. Moms know a lot about this. Keeping your doors closed means don't have to turn the heat or air conditioning on as much. Don't set your thermostat too high when it's cold or too low when it's warm.
12. NO TRASH BAGS. Don't use specially bought plastic bags—line your kitchen garbage container with newspaper.
13. LEARN HOW MUCH ENERGY YOU'RE USING IN YOUR HOME.
14. USE THE SUN TO DRY YOUR CLOTHES. Energy-guzzling gas and electric clothes dryers replaced Grandma's clotheslines, drying umbrellas and wooden drying racks that can be used inside or out. Sun-dried clothes smell good, the sun bleaches whites whiter and you'll seriously reduce your utility bill.
15. OUTSMART YOUR APPLIANCES. If you must use then, run your dishwasher and your laundry machines only when you have full loads.
16. TAKE SHORTER SHOWERS. And use less heated water.
17. BUY ENERGY STAR LABEL APPLIANCES. It's the mark of approval from the federal government, and for once, that's not a bad thing. See the details at energystar.gov.
18. SEAL OFF WINDOWS AND DOORS. Using weather-stripping to seal drafts around windows and doors will cut your heating and cooling expenses and reduce the burning of fossil fuels. It also protects against zombies.
19. GO SECONDHAND. Before purchasing something, ask yourself if you already have it or something similar that can be reused. Can you buy it secondhand at a thrift store or on Craigslist?
20. GET STUFF FREE. If there's something you need only once or twice, don't buy it. Borrow and return it. Go to www.freecycle .org and join a local group to exchange or borrow stuff. It's amazing what you can get for free by browsing the listings or posting a want ad.
21. REVOLUTIONIZE YOUR COMPUTER USAGE. Turn off computers and pull chargers out of the wall when you're not using them. Maximize your CPU settings, like the sleep mode, to reduce energy use. Set your printer to fast quality so you use less toner. Find responsible sellers and their take backs at www.computertakeback.com.
22. REFILL YOUR PRINTER CARTRIDGE. Find a Cartridge World franchise and reuse instead of tossing and buying a new one. Mailing your used cartridges somewhere uses fossil-fuel-intensive air travel. The same with gimmicky faux green products that come with a mailing envelope. Don't mail something to recycle it!
23. RECYCLE RESPONSIBLY. Be sure your e-waste recycler isn't merely collecting and selling it to brokers who'll ship it to a developing nation or a prison where it will be dismantled for salvageable parts and dumped. Go to www.ban.org and choose recyclers like Green Citizen who've taken the Electronics Recycler's Pledge of True Stewardship.
24. DON'T DUMP. At least not on Goodwill or the Salvation Army. If it isn't nice enough for them to sell, or if it's too specialized for them to know what to do with it, they'll have to pay to trash it.
25. USE THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. There's no need to buy so many books, especially if they're published overseas and sold at a big box store. Any library in Santa Clara County usually either has the book you want or can get it for you from a neighboring library.
26. READ LABELS AND BUY LOCAL. Organic from Canada or overseas isn't as easy on the environment as locally produced products. Buying anything imported across an ocean means a container ship transported it. "Just one container ship traveling one mile produces NOx emissions equaling 25,000 cars traveling the same distance," says Anthony Fournier of the Santa Barbara County Pollution Control District. Foreign manufacturers often use carbon-intensive industrial and environmental practices that are illegal here. Many imports are made in sweatshops where people labor in dangerous work environments and aren't paid fairly. Reducing the demand for imports not only reduces our carbon footprint but also sends a message to big business that we want better for everyone.
27. REDUCE PACKAGING AND PLASTICS. Let's stop using billions of pounds of plastic which uses millions of barrels of oil to produce. Wherever plastic is manufactured the environment gets trashed and the workers and nearby residents get sick from harmful chemical emissions. Plastic bags and water bottles release endocrine disrupters like Phallates and bisphenol A, especially when they're reused or heated.
28. BYOCSB. Bring your own cloth shopping bags.
29. BYOCC. Bring your own coffee canister. If you buy beans or ground coffee from a coffee shop, bulk sellers will usually let you bring your own containers.
30. SAY NO TO INDIVIDUAL WRAPS. Choose products without individually plastic-wrapped multiple servings.
31. REALLY SAY NO TO STYROFOAM. If it's sold in Styrofoam, just don't buy it.
32. DON'T BE A SLAVE TO CONVENIENCE. We'll all be paying later for using convenience foods like packaged mixed salads, because they use a lot of resources to produce.
33. AVOID FAST FOOD. Methane-producing factory farming and long-distance shipping are the heart of its business model and they're clear-cutting rain forests to graze their cows.
34. EAT LESS MEAT. Especially beef. The Worldwatch Institute says growing numbers of intensively farmed livestock are responsible for 18 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and account for 37 percent of emissions of methane, which has more than 20 times the global warming potential of CO2, and 65 percent of emissions of nitrous oxide, another powerful greenhouse gas, coming from manure.
35. DISPOSABLE CUPS? Really? Do the math: Buying coffee every day in a disposable cup generates at least 20 pounds of paper a year plus several hundred megaindustrially produced plastic covers. Styrofoam cups are worse. Dr. Theo Colborn, in "Our Stolen Future," says researchers have found traces of polystyrene in 100 percent of human tissue tested, because it migrates from the cup into hot food and beverages. Yuk! Bring your own coffee cup!

Fiddleheads--> a sign of Spring

Hi to all, Just had to drop a bit on the Fiddleheads. I love them.. They are so cool. This time every year I search for them, and its like a treasure hunt. Then one day there they are pushing their fiddle heads up from the earth seeking the warmth from the sunlight of spring time.

Sparkles
Bee

Fiddleheads are the young coiled fern leaves (about an inch in diameter) of the ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris). Nearly all ferns have fiddleheads, but those of the ostrich fern are unlike any other.

Common Name, Comes from the resemblance of the fronds to the plumes of the large flightless bird of Africa.

Other common names include Fiddlehead Fern, Garden Fern, Hardy Fern, Fougère-à-l'autruche (Qué), Strutbräken, Foderbräken (Swe), Strutsveng (Nor), Strudsvinge (Dan), Kotkansiipi (Fin), Straußfarn (Ger), Matteuccia (It), Struccpáfrány (Hun), Pióropusznik strusi (Pol)

(Hope I spelled these right?)

Fiddleheads are a delicacy that appears in the early spring. Harvest the tender little rolls of fern almost as soon as they appear within an inch or two of the ground. Carefully brush out and remove the brown scales. Wash and cook the “heads” in a small amount of lightly salted boiling water for ten minutes, or steam for 20 minutes. Serve at once with melted butter. The quicker they are eaten, the more delicate their flavor. They may be served, like asparagus, on toast. Cooked, chilled fiddleheads can be also served as a salad with an onion and vinegar dressing
They are available for just a few weeks in April & May, (Depends on where you live & this fern is common in the Northern United States)
If see some growing in the woods near you, take care. There are many other ferns that resemble the Ostrich Fern, some of which are considered to be carcinogenic, like the Bracken Fern. There are other edible Fern, but you MUST know how to positively identify them.

Their flavor is mild, and perhaps most closely resembles asparagus, and asparagus is the best substitute for the ferns. Some also say they are similar to green beans and artichokes. They are pleasantly crunchy with a nutty, slightly bitter bite, which is why you’ll see so many fiddlehead recipes calling for butter and salt. Treat the fiddle heads like asparagus tips and you can’t go wrong. If you really want a treat, serve them up with some morel mushrooms( I pick these too!!); their season coincides almost exactly with the ferns and they pair well.
Due to the short season for fiddleheads, some people like to preserve them to be used later. To freeze fiddleheads, prepare them as you would for the table. Blanch a small amount at a time for two minutes. Cool and drain. Pack into moisture- and vapor-proof containers and store them in the freezer.


**The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has investigated a number of outbreaks of food-borne illness associated with fiddleheads. The implicated ferns were eaten either raw or lightly cooked (sautéed, parboiled or microwaved), which was what caused a food-borne illness outbreak in British Columbia in 1990. Although a toxin has not been identified in the fiddleheads of the ostrich fern, the findings of this investigation suggest that you should cook fiddleheads thoroughly before eating (boil them for at least 10 minutes) . **

*Referance Source;University of Maine Cooperative ExtensionBulletin #4198


Fiddlehead Dijon

1-1/2 pounds fresh fiddleheads
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 cup nonfat buttermilk
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
3/4 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Clean and prepare fiddleheads. Remove scales and wash thoroughly. Place fiddleheads in a vegetable steamer over boiling water. Cover and steam 20 minutes or until tender, but still crisp. Set aside, and keep warm.
Combine cornstarch and buttermilk in a small saucepan; stir well. Cook over medium heat until thickened and bubbly, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in mustard, lemon juice, tarragon and pepper.
Arrange fiddleheads on a serving platter. Spoon sauce over fiddleheads. Serve immediately. Makes 6 servings.

Aprils Pink Full Moon

Hi to all on the eve of the Pink Moon,

The month of April is known for "April showers, Brings May flowers" (Except here at RavensWood.. Snowed today????) But anyway it is known as a month when spring flowers begin to show up. Herb moss, pink, or wild ground phlox, are some of the earliest widespread flowers of the spring. As the name infers, the flowers are pink in color, thus the name for April's full moon. I decided to put this to the test.. As the Old Farmers Almanac states this is why it is called the pink moon, as lots of pink flowers come into bloom around this time.. So I went out to my woods today with my puppies and camera in my shaky hands.. ( Very cold today) To search for this evidence... Low and behold there they were --- phlox, salmon berry, red current and apple blossoms. All natives here but the apple. I got some snap shots of them just before it started to snow..

So I guess the old farmer almanac wins again.... :-)

Many sparkling Moon beams to all

Bee

Basics On Willow Bark

Hi to all, I had a question from a blog reader about the pain relieving qualities from willow bark. So I am giving you all some general information on willow bark.
Willow is one of my favorite trees, and so very special.. I gain this information through many herbal books and source documents from my own personal library. So I feel this information is very sound.

Sparkling

Bee

Willow Bark has been used for thousands of years to treat fevers, and headaches, white willow bark contains a chemical forerunner of today's most popular painkiller - aspirin. The herb is sometimes called 'herbal aspirin', but has few of that drug's side effects.

"Salix Alba" (white willow) know as the American willow, belongs to the Salicaceae family and is also called "white willow", salicin willow, withe, withy,"Salix Nigra",( black willow) willow bark and salicis cortex.

"Salix Nigra" "Black Willow" Originating in Europe, this salix is also called the European willow.

History tells us that the bark of Salix Alba ( white willow?) has been used to relieve pain and reduce fever for over 2,000 years. The Willow encompasses more than three hundred species. The White Willow is a low-growing deciduous tree that is native to Europe and northern Asia and naturalized in North America. It grows in damp, low places, especially along riverbanks, and thrives in moist-to-wet, heavy soil in sun, rising to a height of eighty feet. White Willow branches were once regarded as a symbol of desolation and grief and were displayed by those who experienced "lost love," but it has more often been called one of nature's greatest gifts to man because of its natural painkilling effects. In the first century A.D., the Greek physician, Dioscorides, appears to have been the first to note the use of Willow Bark to ease pain and reduce fevers, and he even specifically prescribed a mixture with the bark to treat lower back pain. He also prescribed it for the pain occurring in childbirth. Biblical scriptures also reflect the use of willow bark as a "tea," which had an aspirin effect During the Middle Ages.

White Willow Bark continued to be used in Europe to reduce fevers and relieve pain. The plant contains salicylic acid, which was first synthesized in 1838, and provides the basis of aspirin; and in 1899, the Bayer Company of Germany introduced a drug composed of a synthetic chemical compound, similar to the active compound in Willow Bark, the "aspirin."

Native Americans knew of the benefits of White Willow Bark when they used it as a painkiller, a cure for fever and to induce sweating. Some tribes used Black Willow Bark to quell sexual desire and also made good use of the stems for basket-weaving. The stems are still used to create baskets and in the manufacture of wicker furniture and artists' charcoal pencils. Over the centuries, White Willow Bark's growing list of medicinal applications has risen to include remedies for insomnia, colds, rheumatism and dysentery. Some of the constituents included in White Willow Bark are apigenin, beta-carotene, catechin, lignin, rutin, salicin, salicylic acid, tannin, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, zinc, B-vitamins and vitamin C. .

History reads that in mid-18th century England, the Reverend Edmund Stone tasted white willow bark and found its bitterness similar to that of cinchona bark, the source of quinine(used to treat cramps). He wrote of the "success of the bark of the willow in the cure fever. Reverend Stone had reached this conclusion based on the willow's growing in damp areas. He reasoned that fevers abound in damp areas and the willow bark possessed properties appropriate to curing feverish conditions.
Salicin, is the active ingredient in willow bark, and was discovered in 1827. In conjunction with Reverend Stone's theories, it was first used in 1875 to treat rheumatic fever. Later uses included the relief of joint inflammation and reduction of uric acid in the blood of patients with gout. In the 1890s.

Gathering and Preparation;

Salix bark is stripped from the tree in spring when it is moist with sap. The bark can then be prepared in a variety of ways.

Salix as a liquid extract can be prepared by soaking one teaspoon of bark in cold water for 8-10 hours. The bark is strained and removed from the water. One cup of this extract equals a low dose of aspirin (about 60-150 milligrams.) Liquid extracts can also be prepared with alcohol and taken at a dosage of 1-3 milliliters. These extracts are generally used for cold symptoms, but can be used simply as teas. When consumed as a tea, sugar or honey is added to sweeten the bitter flavor of the bark. Preparations for extracts include soaking or boiling 1-3 teaspoons bark in 1 cup of cold water for 2-5 hours. The liquid is bitter and taken unsweetened. The dosage is 1 cup per day, a mouthful at a time. Although the bark is the most commonly used part of the salix tree, its leaves can also be eaten. This produces results similar to the bark as the leaves contain a concentration of salicin.


I must Warn you willow bark may ;

Cause upset stomach, nausea and vomiting
Avoid if you are pregnant or breast feeding.
Consult a physician before using salix bark to prevent heart attack or stroke.
Avoid if you have an ulcer.
Avoid if you have asthma or tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
Avoid if you are allergic to aspirin.
Do not give willow bark to children as it may cause Reye's syndrome. Although rare, the syndrome is potentially fatal and damages a child's brain and liver.

In the body the salicin from white willow bark is metabolized to form salicylic acid, which reduces pain, fever and inflammation. Though the herb acts more slowly than aspirin, its beneficial effects last longer and it causes fewer adverse reactions. Most notably, it does not promote stomach bleeding - one of aspirins most potentially serious side effects. Benefits White willow bark can be very effective for relieving headaches, as well as acute muscle aches and pains. It can also alleviate all sorts of chronic pain, including back and neck pain. When recommended for arthritis, especially if there is pain in the back, knees and hips, it can reduce swelling and inflammation and increase joint mobility. In addition, it may help to ease the pain of menstrual cramps - the salicin regulates the action of hormone-like chemicals called prostaglandins that can contribute to inflammation and cause pain.

USES

The white willow is an outstanding medication to heal arthritic as well as rheumatic pain that have an effect on the back as well as joints like keens and hips. When blended with other aromatic plant extracts and modifications in the dietary systems, while willow acts efficiently to alleviate irritations and enlargements. At the same time, it perks up mobility in sore and rasping joints in the body. Although these days aspirin-based medicines function better and more quickly than white willow, they are known to have bitter side affects.

In addition to the above mentioned uses of white willow, it may also relief headaches or any other kind of pain in the skull. White willow is also useful for women as the herb helps in lowering night sweating and hot flashes through menopause period.

When it comes to aspirin and colon cancer, it is not as if there are no other options. Aspirin was originally sourced from the herbs meadowsweet and white willow bark. In these plants salicylic acid is buffered by other plant compounds and they tend to be easier on the stomach and intestinal lining. While these herbs are a more gentle option, there is still no call to be taking them without good reason and without supervision for the long term.

I also have a source document that claims that Salix Nigra ( Black willow) also has a aphrodisiac effect.

Got the new box bees today!!

Hi to all, Well I picked up my new baby bees (as I call them) Two boxes about 4lbs each--> which is estimated to be about 45,000 bees in each box.... Nice big bees too!! Got them home, did a little prep to the already prepared hives, and Scotch on the Rocks & I loaded them up. Got it all done in about 1 hour--- closed up the hives in the nick of time as it started to pour rain!!! Whoooosh!! Lucky Bee charmer I am. I smelled that rain a comen!!!

I had to load them this afternoon as the temperature is going to start dropping this evening... In fact our snow level is dropping to 500 feet this weekend... We could get SNOW!!!!!! My bees are safe in there dry new home all snug like a bug in a rug so I am happy happy BeeCharmer !!!

5th Moon of the CelticYear

WILLOW LORE

· 5th Moon of the Celtic Year - (April 15 - May 12)
· Latin name: Weeping Willow: salix babylonica; black Willow: salix nigra
· Celtic name: Saille (Sahl' yeh)
· Folk or Common names: Willow, Witch's Tree, Pussy Willow, Salicyn Willow, Saille, Sally, Withe, Withy, Witches' Aspirin, Tree of Enchantment, Osier, Tarvos Tree, and Sough Tree. The Anglo-Saxon 'welig' from where the name 'willow' is derived, means 'pliancy'.
· Parts Used: Bark, sap, twigs, branches, wood.

· Herbal usage:

The bark of the Willow has been used as a pain killer... the bark contains a glusoside called salicin that forms salicylylous acid which is the 'active ingredient' in aspirin. The bark has astringic qualities and can be used for rheumatic conditions, heartburn and as a diuretic. The sap gathered from the tree when it is flowering can be used to treat facial blemishes and dandruff.

· Magical History & Associations:

The bird associated with this month is the hawk, the color is haze, and the gemstone is blood-red carbuncle. The Willow, a Feminine herb, is associated with water, and is an herb of the moon. The bird associated with this month is the hawk, the color is haze, and the gemstone is blood-red carbuncle.

The Willow is associated with water, and is an herb of the moon. Willow wood is one of the nine traditional firewoods to be added to the Belfire that is burned at Beltane - as the tree of death that is Sacred to Hecate, Willow is added to the fire as a celebration of death.

The Willow is also associated with Orpheus, regarded by the Greeks as the most celebrated of poets. It is said that Orpheus received his gifts of eloquence and communication by carrying Willow branches on his journey through the Underworld. A bas-relief in a temple at Delphi portrays Orpheus leaning against a Willow tree, touching its branches.

Pagan associations with the Willow have always been strong, for they are often revered as trees of the Moon Goddess, she who reflects her moon magic upon the waters of Earth. Willow was often the tree most sought by the village wise-woman, since it has so many medicinal properties, and eventually the Willow's healing and religious qualities became one and the tree became called 'witch's tree'. The Willow is also associated with the fey. The wind in the Willows is the whisperings of a fairy in the ear of a poet. It is also said that Willow trees can uproot themselves and stalk travelers at night, muttering at them.

· Magical usage:

The Willow has applications in magic done for enchantment, wishing, romantic love, healing, protection, fertility, magic for women, death, femininity, love, divination, friendship, joy, love, and peace. Placed in homes, Willow branches protect against evil and malign sorcery. Carried, Willow wood will give bravery, dexterity, and help one overcome the fear of death. If you knock on a Willow tree (knock on wood) this will avert evil. A Willow tree growing near a home will protect it from danger. Willows are also a good tree to plant around cemeteries and also for lining burial graves for its symbolism of death and protection. Willows can be used in rituals for intuition, knowledge, gentle nurturing, and will elucidate the feminine qualities of both men and women. If a person needs to get something off their chest or to share a secret, if they confess to a Willow, their secret will be trapped. Also, wishes are granted by a Willow tree if they are asked for in the correct manner. Willow leaves, bark and wood add energy to healing magic, and burning a mix of Willow bark and sandalwood during the waning moon can help to conjure spirits. Uses of Willow in love talismans include using the leaves to attract love. Willow leaves or twigs can also be used in spells to create loyalty, make friendship pacts, treaties, or alliances. A rejected lover can wear Willow as a charm to win back the love.

To determine if you will be married in the new year:

"Throw your shoe high upinto the branches of a Willow tree; If the branches catch and hold the shoe,you soon will married be."

Willows have many uses to Witches, the most common is that the wood is used to make wands for moon magick. Willow wands can also be used to dowse for water (underground --> I have tried this it works!!! So has my hubby), earth energies, and buried objects. (The Witch should be careful to ask for the tree's blessings before taking a branch to make a wand.) The supple long ending branches of the Willow make good weaving materials to use to weave circlets and wreaths. ( I do this too, it is great! I have a native white willow tree) Willow wood is good for making magical harps.

Diversity of Beliefs

Old St. Peter's Landmark (1898)

Gothic Revival style Catholic Church completed in 1898, the building features Carrera Italian marble, Kilgen pipe organ, 40-foot stamped metal ceilings, six foot rooster on a 176-foot steeple, which is the Gorge’s highest spire. Stained glass windows memorialize pioneer families. The wooden Madonna was carved from keel of a sailing ship. The building was used as a church until 1969. Old St. Peter's has been renovated and is open the to the public as a museum and a wedding chapel.

What the photo does not show is a beautiful red brick wall on the lower side near the street. I used to sit on this for hours and watch the traffic with my girlfriends back in the 60's "Ogling" muscle cars!!

Indian Shaker Church (1875)

Built by Henry Gulick, a Scottish immigrant who settled in the area in the 1890s. His wife Harriet, a local Wasco woman, was a member of the Indian Shaker movement, a unique mix of traditional and indigenous spiritual practices. The roof collapsed under snow in November 1996. North of the Shilo Inn, Jct. I-84 and U.S. 197, The Dalles. You can walk to the river side of the Shilo to view, but the buildings are not safe to enter. View from the exterior only The Indian Shaker Church was a unique mix of Catholicism, Protestantism, and indigenous spiritual practices. In the early 1880s, John Slocum, a Squaxin Indian and resident of western Washington’s Skokomish Reservation, claimed to have died and been resurrected. While “dead,” Slocum said he had a vision in which he was rejected from heaven and told to return to earth in order to lead others away from sin.

I had walked by this building many times this is a old photo it did not look like this when I was girl.. it is very run down now..

Celio Falls

A place called Celio. It’s a name that remains of a thing which is gone, the place where Interstate 84 now takes a joyful turn, banking and diving like a swallow over the water.
Here where the river widens was a festival of water, tier over tier; thunders and rills of whitewater and over them tier over tier were the stretching hands of fishing platforms made of cut saplings, impossible frame works and the silvery bodies of leaping salmon. All of them are frozen in photographs seen in museums: men standing in crow’s nests gathering fishnets, enormous purses slung from long poles, people seemingly playing with giant’s toys; exhausted, sweating, laughing. Hundreds of house-sized racks shingled with drying salmon.
These are things My Grandmother heard, smelled, touched, tasted. I have heard the lament sung by the thousands who gathered to witness the drowning of Celio Falls. Someone at the High Desert Museum outside of Bend, Oregon thought it worth our time. The only sound I have ever heard like it is a historical recording of an Irish lament collected from a survivor of the famine; a farewell to the white potato. These are love songs for the end of the world.
The river is wide now, mirror quiet. Above it rises the smooth concrete wall of The Dalles Dam whose only ornament is the image of a battlement castle in black and white, symbol of the Army Corps of Engineers.

I am one of the lucky ones who new the Celio people. My Grandmother (of Irish decent) witnessed the death of the falls, and new what it meant to loose your life's blood literally. She and my Grandfather took black and white photos of the falls and fishing tribesmen right before it was taken. One of these photos was later made into a painting that now hangs in the the Oregon State capital building. There are very few photo's in existence of the falls or of her people..