The Ancient Whispers Newsletter

Welcome to the Ancient Whispers Newsletter, a multi-cultural newsletter with a little something for everyone of any creed or religion. Here you will find inspiring quotes, irreverent jokes, crafts, and most importantly, historical and/or religious scholarship. Every Wednesday a new edition should appear on this website with reminder emails sent out the night before to those who have opted to join one of the many forums and mailing lists to which I subscribe. If you wish to share this newsletter with others, please keep it intact with the original authors' names on all the articles. Any articles or sections, to which an author or URL is not affixed, were written by Candace (with the exception of the various jokes found herein).

Questions, comments, and topical requests are encouraged and should be posted to the AskCandace open forum at yahoogroups. I'd like to start a help column for the newsletter, so if you'd like to have your problem featured in a newsletter, let me know when you post.

February was named for the Roman goddess Februa, mother of Mars. As patroness of passion, she was also known as Juno Februa and St. Febronia from febris, the fever of love. Her orgiastic rites were held on February 14th, St.Valentine's Day. In Norse traditions, she is equated with Sjofn.

The Irish called this month Feabhra or an Gearran, the gelding or horse. The horse was used to draw the plough, but Gearran also means 'to cut' and 'Gearran' can be used to describe the 'cutting' Spring winds. To the Anglo-Saxons, this was Solmonath, "sun month," in honor of the gradual return of the light after the darkness of winter. According to Franking and Asatru traditions, this month is Horning, from horn, the turn of the year.

The first full moon of February is called the Quickening Moon. It shares the titles Snow Moon with January and November, Wolf Moon with January and December, and Storm Moon with March and November. February’s Moon is also called the Hunger or Hungry Moon, and it has been called the Ice, Wild, Red and Cleansing, or Big Winter Moon.

Aquarius and Pisces share power over February, with Pisces taking over around the 19th of February. Violet is the flower for those born in February. Though jacinth and pearl appear on some lists, amethyst is the jewel for those born in this month and for Pisces, while aquamarine is the stone for Aquarians. Other stones associated with Aquarius are chrysoprase, garnet, labradorite, lapis lazuli, and opal. Albite, aquamarine, chrysoprase, fluorite, green tourmaline, labradorite, moonstone, and opal are linked to Pisces.

Nut

Hygeia’s Day

Mut and Nut

Mira Bai

Kalevala Day

Merriddyn Dydd

Buddha’s Conception

day for women to propose marriage

March, named for Mars, was the first month of the Greek and Roman calendar. Mars is god of war but also of fertile soil, equivalent to the Greek Ares and Tiu or Tiwazn an old sky god of Europe. He is also equated with the Celtic Teutates and the Norse Tyr. Mars' original name was Mavors. After Jupiter, he is the chief Roman god, often called Marspater, "Father Mars." He has three aspects, the martial god Gradivus, the rustic god Silvanus, and the patron of the Roman state Quirinus. The wolf and the woodpecker are his sacred animals.

March was called Mi an Mháárta or am Mart in Ireland, the seed time, and Hrethmonath, "Hertha's month," by the Anglo-Saxons, honoring the earth mother Hertha or Nerthus. The Frankish name for March was Lentzinmanoth, "renewal month." The Asatru call it Lenting.

The first Full Moon of this month is called the Worm or Sap Moon. It shares the names Storm Moon with February and Moon of Winds with April. It may also be referred to as the Moon of the Snowbird, the Crow Moon, and Lenting Moon.

Pisces and Aries hold power over March, the Zodiac turning to Aries around March 21st. The flower for those born in March is the daffodil and smaller jonquil. Bloodstone or jasper, or sometimes aquamarine, are the jewels for the month of March. Pisces birthstone is the amethyst, while diamond is the stone for Aries. Albite, amethyst, chrysoprase, fluorite, green tourmaline, labradorite, moonstone, and opal are other stones for Pisces, and Aries also lays claim to amethyst, carnelian, garnet, fire agate, pink tourmaline, and topaz.

Lunar Holy Days

Over several days preceding the Full Moon, the Hindu festival of Holi is held to celebrate the arrival of spring and the destruction of the demon Holika who was burned to death for devouring children.

first day of Matronalia

Strenia

Granny March's Day

St. Davis Day

Whuppity Scoorie

Iduna

Gwyl o Merriddyn

Golden Dawn was founded

Covenant of the Goddess (COG) was formed

Ceadda/Saint Chad

Going forth of Seth

Aegir

Incidentally, it’s my birthday today. Wooooooh!

O-Hinamatsuri

Rhyfeddod Lleiaf o Rhiannon

Birthday celebrations are relatively new. Before the average human being had a way of keeping time, no one paid much attention to annual events like birthdays. In time, the first calendars were created in order to mark seasonal changes and other special days. From this invention came the concept of a year and eventually the ability to celebrate birthdays and other significant anniversaries on a specific day rather than sometime during a particular season.

Though scholars are certain that birthdays have been celebrated for some time, there are very few records detailing such celebrations. Egyptians observed the birthdays of their pharaohs, holding parades, circuses, and sumptuous feasts. The Romans also staged parades, gladiatorial contests, and chariot races to celebrate the birthdays of their rulers and gods. Only birthdays of kings, high-ranking nobility, and other important figures have been documented, so it is impossible to say whether it was customary for regular folk to celebrate their own birthdays or if such practices were reserved for the upper classes that had access to calendars. However, the theory that nobility were the only people wealthy enough to throw birthday celebrations has caused some historians to surmise that these early celebrations resulted in the custom of wearing birthday "crowns."

What little evidence of birthday observances we have dates back over two thousand years to before the rise of Christianity. Many Pagan cultures feared evil spirits, especially on their birthdays, and so birthdays were merry occasions celebrated with family and friends. Rather than gifts, most guests brought positive thoughts and happy wishes for the upcoming year.

The Greeks and Romans believed that every person was endowed with a protective spirit at birth that watched over the child throughout his or her life. This spirit was in some way connected to whichever deity was associated with the day. The altar of such a god or goddess was often decorated with flowers and wreaths, and sacrifices were left at the temple. This notion may have something to do with belief in guardian angels, fairy godmothers, and patron saints.

Eventually birthday celebrations became a traditional for all people from all walks of life. Although the birthday customs in some countries are quite similar, not everyone celebrates in the same way. Different people have incorporated their own rituals into the birthday celebration, based on spiritual beliefs and ancient cultural traditions. Birthday traditions around the world

In China, tigers are regarded at protectors of children. Family members present newborns with gifts of clothing or toys decorated with tigers. When the child turns one year old, a variety of objects and toys are placed on the floor. According to ancient beliefs, the object that the child chooses indicates the profession he or she will pursue in life. Special extra-long noodles are served in Hong Kong and else where in China on a child’s birthday as a symbol of a long life.

In Korea, the Paegil (held on the one-hundredth day after a child's birth) is a day of feasting. Later, on his or her first birthday, called Tol, another feast is held. Family and friends gather to enjoy food together and offer the one-year-old money.

An old tradition still in practice in some parts of England is to make a birthday cake with symbolic objects baked inside. In medieval times, objects were mixed into the batter. People believed that the person who got a coin would be wealthy, while the unlucky finder of the thimble would never marry. Today small figures, fake coins, and small candies are more common. Guests are warned ahead of time as well, so no one injuries their teeth or swallows a tiny treasure.

People in Holland hang Birthday Calendars to remind them of the birth dates of all their family and friends. Adults will often bring a birthday cake to work to share with co-workers on their special day. Russian children receive birthday pies inscribed with a special birthday message.

"Birthday Bumps" are given to Irish children in honor of their birthday. The birthday celebrant is held upside-down and gently bumped on the floor one time for every year of their age, plus one for luck.

Some children receive birthday spankings. These were originally based on superstition, but are now considered more of a birthday joke. Originally the spankings were given for each year of the birthday child's life. Beyond that, a child received another spanking to grow on, one to live on, one to eat on, one to be happy on, and so on. At one time however, it was considered bad luck if the birthday celebrant was not spanked because it was believed to "soften up the body for the tomb.”

Mexican birthday celebrations often feature piñatas filled with candy and small toys, a tradition approximately three hundred years old. Children take turns being blindfolded and trying to hit the piñata. People believe that the child who breaks open the piñata will have good luck.

Children in Argentina receive pulls on the earlobe for their birthday. Traditionally, they get one pull for each year of their life.

18-guage floral wire
roll of floral tape (green or white, depending on your preference)
silk or dried flowers
ribbon (optional)
wire cutters
scissors

Prepare the flowers. If you're using silk flowers, you should use wire cutters to clip individual clusters or stems from the heavy wired stem for individual use*. If you are using dried flowers, make small clusters by gathering smaller bunches of flowers together and fastening them together at the base with floral tape. You can also combine silk and dried flowers if you wish.

Take the floral wire and make an oval hoop that fits on the wearer's head just the smallest fraction of an inch farther down than you really want it to sit. Wrap the entire hoop with floral tape, making sure the ends of the wire are well covered. The wrapping will make the circle fit a bit more snug, which is why you want it slightly larger than the wearer's actual head size. Floral tape is stickiest when it has been stretched slightly before use, which really is what you want to do. That slight stickiness is what helps keep everything together and also helps the flower circlet stay secure on the head. But it doesn't make the hair sticky at all so don't worry.

Start taping the flower clusters to the wreath. Lay one flower (or cluster of flowers) on the wire, keeping all flowers towards the outside of the hoop. Using a long length of floral tape, begin to tape the flowers to the wreath by wrapping the tape around both the wire and the flower. Keep adding flowers and taping until the wreath is completely covered with flowers. You may want to alternate one small bunch of colored flowers with one cluster of baby's breath. You may also alternate small bunches of silk flowers with larger individual silk flowers. Use flowers all of one color or any number of complimentary colors. Use your imagination.

The easiest way to add ribbons to the back of the headpiece is to take a length of ribbon twice as long as desired, then fold in half. Loop the fold over the wire, then draw the loose ends through the loop to form a knot. You may wish to use a drop of glue on the knot to keep the ribbons from coming loose. Ribbons can be any color or width desired.

* An additional step for silk flowers: you might want glue each flower onto its plastic stem. It takes a little more time, but it will keep any blossoms from dropping off if you plan on keeping the circlet for later use.

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Humor : Birthday Bums

A lady was throwing a party for her granddaughter, and had gone all out and hired a caterer, a band, and a clown. Just before the children’s party started, two bums showed up, looking for a handout. Feeling sorry for them, the woman told them that she would give them a meal if they would help chop some wood for her out back. Gratefully, they headed for the backyard. The guests arrived, and all was going well, with the children having a wonderful time. But the clown had not shown up. After another half an hour, the clown finally called the woman to report that he was stuck in traffic, and would probably not be able to make the party at all. The woman was very disappointed, and unsuccessfully tried to entertain the children herself. Then she happened to look out the back window, and saw one of the bums doing cartwheels across the lawn. She watched in awe as he swung from tree branches, did mid-air flips, and leaped high into the air. She called to the other bum and said, "What your friend is doing is absolutely spectacular! I have never seen such a thing! Do you think your friend would consider repeating his performance for the children at my party? I would pay him $50.00!" The bum replied, "Well, I dunno. Let me ask him... Hey, Willie! For fifty dollars, would you chop off another toe?!"

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Who's Who in World Mythology : Amaethon
For past articles and the bibliography, please go to the
Who's Who Archive.

Amaethon or Amathaon is a son of the goddess Don in Welsh myth. His name means ‘divine plough-man,’ and he is believed to have been an agricultural god. Amaethon robbed Arawn of a hound, a roebuck, and a lapwing, causing the Cath Godeu -Battle of Trees. He also refused to help Culhwch in his quest to win Olwen in marriage to plough, sow, and reap a hill in one day. The modern Welsh word for farmer is Amaethwr, an obvious derivative of this god.

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Quote: Henry Ford
Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right.

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The Magi's Garden: Castor
For past featured foliage and the bibliography, please go to the
The Magi's Garden Archive.

Castor (Ricinus communis)

Folk Names: Bofareira, Castor Bean, Castor-oil Plant, Eranda, Kik, Kikajon, Kiki, Mexico Seed, Oil Plant, Palma Christi, Palms Christi Root

Description: Castor is a member of the Euphorbiaceae family and a native of India. It is an herbaceous annual of temperate and tropical regions. It will grow up to ten feet in average conditions, but in favorable conditions, it will become a tree of some forty feet. It is grown in the US mostly as an ornamental. The stout stem supports alternate, star-shaped peltate and broad palmately lobed leaves four to eight inches across with seven to eleven lanceolate leaflets. The leaves are purple-bronze when young, maturing to a gray-green or dark maroon color. The terminal raceme sport petalless, female flower clusters above males. The male flowers have only a green calyx, deeply cut into three to five segments. The female flower has three reddish segments with a central ovary crowned with carmine-red threads. In late summer, the castor plant produces softly prickly, oval, green or red fruit, which explode when dry into three one-seeded parts. The seeds are smooth and glossy and are black, mottled gray, or brown.

Effects: strong
Planet: Mars
Element: fire
Associated Deities:

Traditions:
Castor seeds have been found in ancient Egyptian tombs. The oil was used in lamps and as an ointment. The Egyptians also used the oil to purge their systems three times a year by drinking it mixed with beer.

Magic:
Castor beans absorb evil and negativity. They may be made into a necklace (but may leak toxic substances through hole).
Pliny thought the oil could help with hair growth.

Known Combinations:
none noted

Medical Indications: (Caution: Though oil from the seeds is safe, the entire plant contains an irritating substance, ricin, one of the most deadly poisons in the world. It poisons the blood and should not be used internally. Symptoms of poisoning include a burning feeling in the mouth, throat, and stomach hours after ingestion, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. The second through the tenth day of poisoning, there may be bleeding and low blood pressure, possibly leading to shock. Complications may result in convulsions and death. Even nonfatal poisoning may permanently damage the intestines, liver, and kidneys. Induce vomiting immediately and seek medical help. Three large seeds have been known to kill an adult.)
Parts Used: Oil
Caster oil is cathartic. It is one of most common purgatives and is safe so long as the seeds are pressed and the oil is extracted below one hundred degrees Fahrenheit.

Nutrition:
not edible

Mercantile Uses:
In addition to its use as an ancient lamp oil, the cold extracted oil is typically found in scented soaps.
Heat extracted oil has a low freezing point, and so it is put to use lubricating airplane engines and as hydraulic brake fluid. As “turkey-red” oil, castor oil is used in the dying of cotton. It is also used in biodegradable laundry detergents, paints, and varnishes but is highly poisonous.

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Cartoon

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Poem : The Waking
Theodore Roethke

I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.
I learn by going where I have to go.

We think by feeling. What is there to know?
I hear my being dance from ear to ear.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.

Of those so close beside me, which are you?
God bless the Ground! I shall walk softly there,
And learn by going where I have to go.

Light takes the Tree; but who can tell us how?
The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.

Great Nature has another thing to do
To you and me, so take the lively air,
And, lovely, learn by going where to go.

This shaking keeps me steady. I should know.
What falls away is always. And is near.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I learn by going where I have to go.

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Quote : Albert Einstein
A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death.

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The Power of Stones: Bismuth
For past articles and the bibliography, please go to the
Power of Stones Archive.

Bismuth is a silver-white to red crystal. It assists in transitions from the physical plane to astral and spiritual realms. Situations of emotional or spiritual isolation are relieved through its use, and it stimulates group and relationship solidarity.

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Humor : Grandma’s Birthday

The family wheeled Grandma out on the lawn in her wheel chair where the activity's for her 100th birthday were taking place. Grandma couldn't talk very well but she could write notes fairly well when she needed to communicate. After a short time out on the lawn Grandma started leaning off to the right and some family members grabbed her and straightened her up and stuffed pillows on her right. A short time later she started leaning off to her left and again the family grabbed her and stuffed pillows on her left. Soon she started leaning forward and the family members again grabbed her and tied a pillow case around her waist to hold her up. A nephew who arrived late came running up to Grandma, “You're looking good, how are they treating you?" Grandma took out her little notepad and slowly wrote a note to the nephew, "They won't let me fart."

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A Dreamer's Guide : Nib to Nipple

For past articles and the bibliography, please go to the
Dreamer's Guide Archive.

If you broke the Nib of a pen, some enemy is seeking your ruin. However, a change of surroundings is promised if you repaired a broken nib.

If you dreamt of Nibbling, be careful what you read and sign, and if you nibbled in a public place, be careful in whom you confide. If you were in a friend’s home, you are surrounded by deceitful people. Beware of enemies if others were nibbling.

Sure profit is predicted by something Nice, unless something nice was given to you, in which case, there will be unhappiness. If others were nice to you, happiness is indicated, and a moment’s pleasure is augured if you were nice. Nice children are a sign of joy, and if there were many of them, you may soon become pregnant. If people were too nice and were flattering, beware deceitful people.

A Nickname means you will make money from your work, and if you told others your nickname, you will receive a present. Nicknaming others is an augury of contentment, and nicknaming children indicates an increase in the family.

A Niece foretells a long life, and several mean good health. You will have difficulties and worries if she was beautiful, and if a man was flirting with her, there is danger of death. If you were dating a niece, you are wasting your time, while marrying one predicts joy. If you saw a niece married, you are cheating in love. There will be unhappiness if a niece was killed.

Prosperity is indicated by Night Birds. If you heard them singing, you will have good luck in love, and if one frightened you, you will have money. Joy is predicted if you killed one, but many together is a sign of disgrace.

Expect a goodnight kiss if you gave a Nightcap to a loved one. You are madly in love if you lingered over a nightcap. Beware jealousy if you were caught having a nightcap at someone else’s home. Good fortune lies ahead if you had one with many people.

Trouble is foretold by a Night Walk, and disaster is indicated if you saw your enemies walking. Misfortune is augured by children walking at night, and if relatives took a walk at night, there will be a loss of money. You will receive news from afar if friends were walking at night.

A Nightingale means you will be jilted by your lover, but if you heard their singing, good times are coming. Many singing together indicate the recovery of one who is sick.

Nightshade is an omen of sorrow. If you ate the fruit you will have new interests and surroundings. If you saw it made into an ointment, money is on its way.

A Nightmare or Night Terror warns of treachery from one whom you trust. If there were other people in your dream however, especially if there were children, it was a promise of abundance.

Nighttime predicts a period of misfortune. Friends on dark nights augur a funeral, but children up at night indicates family satisfaction. Enemies on a dark night are a sign of embarrassment. If you entered a dark place at night, you will win at gambling. If your house was dark at night, your fortune lies ahead. If the night seemed to be fading, conditions which seemed unfavorable will son grow bright and prosperous.

A game of Ninepins is a sign that a rival will steal your sweetie’s affections. Your affairs are unsettled if you played, and you will soon experience many ups and downs if others played. If your sweetheart was playing, you will experience disappointments in love.

If you saw a baby or child being Nipple fed, you will be released from worry, but if an adult was receiving nourishment through a nipple, it was a warning that your debts are getting out of hand. Firm, pleasantly colored nipples predict an increase in wealth. Painful or ulcerated nipples are an omen of ill health. If you had more than the normal two, the only sexual problems you will have is in deciding on partner(s).

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Quote : Ralph Vaull Starr
Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.

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