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.

Animal Symbolism in Celtic Mythology
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~lars/rel375.html
An analysis of popular animals in Irish and Welsh mythology.

Shamanism –Working with Animals
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/4076/indexlist.html
A list of common spirit animals is here is somewhat chaotic order, apparently based on the popularity of their appearance. The entries are informative however, and include extinct (dinosaurs) and “mythical” animals.

Ted Andrews
http://www.llewellyn.com/authorinfo/17944
While I would seldom recommend any author who publishes with Llewellyn, Ted Andrews is one exception to the rule. I recommend his book Animal Speak in particular for those looking into their own animal spirits.

Shamanism in Society
http://ilectric.com/glance/Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Shamanism/
Here is a collection of links on the subject of Shamanism.

In May get a weed-hook, a crotch [fork], and a glove,
And weed out such weeds as the corn do not love.

May is named for Maia Majestas, the Roman goddess of spring who encourages crops to grow. She is the chief goddess of the Seven Sisters or Pleiades. She can be equated with the Irish Queen Medb or Celtic Meave. Hawthorm, her sacred plant, blossoms during this month. Artemis, Diana, Faunus, Flora, and Pan also have dominion over this month.

The Anglo-Saxons called this month Thrimilcmonath, "thrice-milk month." In England, May was also called Sproutkale. Winnemanoth, "joy month," was the Frankish name, and the Asatru name is Merrymoon. The Irish call May Bealtaine or an Ceitean, the first weather of summer. The two weeks before Bealtaine is ceitean earrach, spring May-time, and the two weeks after Bealtaine is ceitean samhradh, summer May-time. Bealtaine, also associated with the God Bel, means 'the fires of Bel'.

The first Full Moon of May is called the Flower Moon. It shares the names Planting Moon, Hare Moon, Pink Moon, and Green Grass Moon with April. The May moon is also the Bright Moon, Dryad Moon, the Moon When the Pony Sheds, the Frogs Return Moon, and Sproutkale.

The sun passes from Taurus to Gemini around May 21st. Those born in May have the lilly of the valley for their birth flower. The stone for the month of May, and for Taurus, is the emerald, though agate, chalcedony, and carnelian are sometimes mentioned for May instead, while Gemini lays claim to agate, particularly moss agate, and pearl. Aquamarine, lapis lazuli, kunzite, rose quartz, and sapphire are associated with Taurus, and chrysoprase, sapphire, and topaz are connected to Gemini.

Lunar Holy Days

In the Buddhist tradition, the first Full Moon of May is celebrated in honor of the enlightenment of Buddha.

The Thursday before the New Moon is the festival of Mjollnir, celebrated in honor of Thor's hammer. During the Middle Ages, this was a good time for ritual contests and trial by combat.

On the third Monday or Tuesday after Easter, the English holiday of Hocktide was celebrated. Ropes were used to "hock" or catch members of the opposite sex.

The seventh Thursday after Easter is the Russian spring festival called Semik.

The first Tuesday of May is the Ffair Ffyliaid, Fools' Fair, in Llanerfyl Wales.

"Saint" Pancras

Belgium Cat Parade

Aranya Shashti

Lemuria.

“Saint" Servatius

Goddess appeared in Fatima, Portugal

"Saint" Bonifatius

The Festival of the Midnight Sun

Widow Robinson of Kidderminster

Thoth appears with Shu; Panegyric of Isis

"Saint" Cold Sophie

The Argei Rites of the Vestal virgins

Maiae inuict

Hathor and Bast and the great feast of the Southern heavens

fairy guardians of blackthorn trees

Eusapia Palladino

Netjerts (Goddesses) feast in their temples

Savitu-Vrata

Dea Dia

Childless couples in the Philippines

twins honored

Pan

Apollon

Hathor returns to Punt

Plynteria

In understanding the role of spirit animals (or “power animals”) in our lives, I think it is important to understand the role of animals in the lives of early Native Americans. That is not to say there were not other animal “cults” around the world, but the native people of America were the last hold over of this practice. This is because the belief in animal spirits is closely allied to many concepts of Shamanism. There’s good evidence to indicate that the Celts (especially animals like the boar, cat, cow, crow/raven, deer, dog, fox, horse, salmon, swan) and the Vikings (especially the bear, boar, cat, crow/raven, snake, swan, wolf) had similar practices at one time. The practice has also been seen in Africa, South America, and Siberia. The tales of human-animal hybridization, were-wolves and other combinations, may also point to our formerly close connections to the animal world.

In the Native American belief system, animals were fully capable of transforming into a human form and interacting with humanity as equals. Though they are seen by much of the modern world (ie scientific, psychological, analyzing world) as merely archetypes, animal spirits and all physical manifestations of nature are living, thinking extensions of a living, thinking entity –that is, the world. Much has been made of the Native American respect for nature, of thanking an animal before killing it and of using all parts of animals without waste. But in the Native American way of life, that animal was a part of the whole "skan" (great mystery), a part of the circle of nature just as they were, and therefore needed to be thanked. One of the most basic beliefs of shamanism is the belief in the web of power that runs through all things. Everything is alive and connected in a mutually supportive way to everything else in the world. This web of power brings sense to the world.

Saying the animal guide is not an archetype does not mean that its own unique personality does not flavor your dealings with it. Obviously if one of your spirit animals is a dog, it is going to be very different in habit from a wolf because there is a unique rhythm of nature in each animal. Each animal has it own particular rhythm as it lives out its life, and shares that rhythm, as you need it.

There are many different theories as to how many animal spirits each person has. Some believe that each person has three –one for the past, the present and the future. Others state each person has four animal spirits –one each for North, South, East, and West– or one for each “element” –fire, air, water, and earth. Some go as far as seven animal guides that revolve in dominance around the wheel of your life. According to popular Pagan beliefs, the most commonly accepted belief is that each person has one main power animal or that an animal may come into your life as you need its specific wisdom and then depart at will.

Animal spirits vary in purpose. Some act solely as protectors and guardians, while others are healers and comforters. Sometimes a spirit animal is just there to nip you in the butt when your feet are dragging or warn you of a dangerous situation approaching. Their activities are as diverse as the situations you will encounter in your life. There is really no way of knowing what path a spirit animals is going to take to help you. A swift kick is sometimes just as useful in life as a comforting pat on the back.

It is important to remember that we do not choose our spirit animals. They choose us. A totem is an animal “cult” that you were born into, but a spirit animal is an animal (or animals) that has chosen to act as your guide in this life. Though some people refer to their animal spirit(s) as their totem, an animal totem is more properly the ancestral patron animal of your family or clan while an animal spirit is the guardian or guide of individuals. Your animal spirit and totem can be the same animal, but they are often different. And you can and often will have more than one animal spirit, but only one totem which will never change.

There are many ways to find, or should I say, notice a spirit animal. In Central America, new parents would leave the door of their home open and spread soft soil or powder around the cradle. Whatever animal prints appeared near the baby’s crib was thought to be its spirit animal. More often, spirit animals will appear in your dreams or in the material world. You may actively seek them, or they may present themselves to you without preamble. Even if you should actively go out searching for your spirit animal however, you should remember that you can’t force it to show itself.

Many people seem to think that they can just choose an animal and start communicating with it. Some individuals choose the animal he or she believes to be the most glamorous and powerful, rather than what is harmonious. You will find your greatest success in an animal that comes to you on its own terms. In developing a relationship with your totem, communication demands respect. You must learn to relate to their point of view. Very few animals warm up to people immediately.

Spirit animals are usually wild, not domestic. Though there are a few exceptions, people may have dogs or cats as totems, the domesticated animal may only be a softened form of its wild counterpart. Many domestic animals have wild counterparts. Look to their wilder nature for messages.

Some helpful questions when meditating on finding your Animal Totem:

1) Which animal, bird, insect etc are you drawn to or interested in? Which animals have always fascinated you, especially in childhood? Conversely, do any animals frighten you? This can also indicate a spirit animal from which you have something to learn. Some Shamans believe fears take the shape of animals, and only when we confront them without fear do their powers/medicine work for us instead of against us. Such an animal then becomes a shadow totem.
2) At the park, forest, or zoo what animal are you most interested in seeing? Do any animals appear with greater frequency than one would expect in your area? What animals do you see frequently in the wild? Do you feel drawn to collect pictures or figurines of certain animals?
3) Make note of your dreams and visions. Does any animal appear more often or did one appear in a dream that you have never forgotten? Have you ever been attacked or badly wounded by an animal (in dreams or reality)? Historically, if a Shaman survived an attack the animal was the Shaman's spirit totem. The attack was the totem's way of testing the Shaman's ability to understand and handle its power.
4) Are there any animals that have played a meaningful part in your life? Make a list of animals that have drawn your interest or left a deep impression on you from paintings, photographs, stories, movies, carvings, etc.
5) How do you react in extreme or stressful situations? Does your behavior mirror any of the animals to which you feel linked? Which quality of animal best describes your personality?

Working With Your Animal Spirits:

Animal spirits can help you in many areas of you life whether they are of the physical or astral plane. Once you are well acquainted with them, you can call upon them to help focus and raise the energy of a ritual or magickal circle. They can protect you in your dreams, meditations and quests, as well as in the real world. They can teach you how to take on their abilities through “shapeshifting.” They can help you learn to take yourself less seriously (or more so if needed). A guide can be your friend, confidant, sibling, teacher…

Talk with your guide. Ask it to teach you. To talk with it, visualize your animal spirit and call it to you. Get to know it as you would get to know any close friend. You will learn how to work with it as you get to know each other, as you learn to become a team and understand each other’s needs. Just remember to always treat your guide with respect and gratitude for the help it gives.

You work with spirit guides the same way you work with anyone else –ask for help, advice, or support, ask for whatever you need. They will decide if they will do what you ask. If it benefits you, they will almost always help, but not always in a way you expect. If they do not come when you call, try again later or try working out the problem on your own.

An animal spirit must be honored for its medicine to work in your life. The more you honor them, the more significance you give them within your life and the more powerful they become. Hanging pictures of them, draw pictures, reading and learning as much about them as possible. Buy or make figurines of your spirit animal for yourself. They are a reminder of the power and spirit of your totem animal. Learn to mimic its behaviors. Keep the animal alive within your imagination. See yourself as the animal totem using its qualities in appropriate places within your life. Parts of the animal can also be very powerful. You shouldn’t go out and buys these, but if they are given as a gift (you find it on the ground) it is a great gift from your spirit animal. I keep a feather I received from Raven on my altar.

Every animal has a specialty, its own talents or characteristics that affect your life if the animal adopts you. A study of its flaws and advantages will reveal the kind of medicine, magic, and power it can help you to develop within your own life. Spirit animals don’t choose you necessarily because you have something in common. Many choose you because there are skills or abilities that that animals that you could benefit from learning.

Baba Yaga Bony Legs or Bony Shanks (also Jezi-Baba and Baba Jaga) is a deity of Eastern European folklore. Baba is a word meaning “older than a girl” and may be taken to mean grandmother in this context. Though sometimes seen as a crone-witch or as a forest spirit, she has been interpreted as an ancient goddess of life and death. In some stories she had two older sisters also called Baba Yaga, so she may be seen as a triple goddess. As the leader of a host of spirits, she is depicted as a demonic spirit. Her demonization is most likely due to the introduction of Christianity and it almost certainly made her the “grandmother of the devil.” In her guise as wise hag, she sometimes gives advice and magical gifts to heroes and the pure of heart. The hero or heroine of the story often enters the crone's domain searching for wisdom, knowledge and truth. In fact, she is guardian of the Water of Life and Death. When one is killed by sword or by fire a sprinkling of the Water of Death heals all wounds. A corpse sprinkled with the Water of Life is reborn.

Her faithful servants are the White Horseman (Bright Dawn), the Red Horseman (Red Sun) and the Black Horseman (Dark Midnight). Day breaks when the White Horseman shoots an arrow into the sky, and the sun rises as the Red Horseman shoots his arrow. Night appears as the Black Horseman gallops across the land. Amongst her other servants are three bodiless and menacing pairs of hands, which appear out of thin air to do her bidding. She calls them "my soul friends" or "friends of my bosom."

Baba Yaga is described as a man-eater with iron teeth, though she might petrify her victims instead. She was so thin as to be almost skeletal, while her mouth is said to stretch from the Earth to the Gates of Hell. When she slept, she stretched out in all directions upon her ancient brick oven, and her nose was so long that it rattled against the ceiling of her hut when she snored.

The strange forest house of Baba Yaga had the legs of a chicken, and so it could move about at will. Though it was mostly described within a fence of human bones and skulls with flaming eyes, it might also be found spinning around and shrieking as it moved through the forest or standing at rest with its back to the visitor. The windows of the hut seemed to serve as its eyes, and the door was its mouth through which it might speak. It would only turn to face the visitor and lower itself to ground when a secret incantation is said. Then it would throw open the door with a loud crash.

When she wished to travel, Baba Yaga would climb into her mortar and pestle (or iron kettle) and take to the skies, going faster as she banged the pestle against the mortar and sweeping away any trace of her passage with her fiery silver-birch broom.

Description: Like most fruit trees, the cherry is a member of the rose family. Prunus avium is native to western Asia. It was introduced to Europe in ancient times, and now grows wild in Central Europe. The tree will reach up to sixty-five feet unless it is pruned for easy harvesting. The red-brown bark peels in horizontal strips with age. Alternate leaves, lanceolate and acuminate, are double toothed at margin. They are glabrous and a little rough at the top, and rather hairy below on a long stalk with a stipule. The white, scented flowers grow in an umbel with a long stalk. The fruit is a round drupe, slightly heart shaped, one-half inches across, and dark red with sweet flesh that adheres to a stone. Some fruit is red or yellow. The tree prefers temperate climates and bright positions.

Prunus besseyi is a bushy form of this tree. It extends from the East coast in America to the Midwest. Prunus pumila is also a dwarf or prostrate tree, preferring moist locations in the Northeast.

Prunus cerasus accepts all kinds of soil and is more resistant to frost than Prunus Avium. It will grow at altitudes of up to 6000 feet, and can reach a height of 20 ft with many branches. The leaves ovate-elliptical with double toothed margin, smooth and glabrous on both sides. It is smaller and shorter stalked than Prunus avium, with white hermaphrodite flowers in umbels from May to April. The fruit is a round, dark-red drupe, very juicy and sour. The skin comes away from flesh easily.

Prunus lyonii is grown in the California islands, while Prunus pennsylvanica extends northward to Colorado. Prunus serotina is a perennial extending from Nova Scotia to Florida and west to the Dakotas. It reaches ninety feet in height with a four-foot diameter. The bark of younger branches is reddish brown with horizontal markings (lenticels), which are typical of the genus. The inner bark has an almond smell. Young twigs are aromatic and bitter, and the leaves are bright green and shiny above, while the underside is a lighter green. The oblong lanceolate leaves taper to point with small in-curving teeth along the margins. Six inch racemes of flowers grow from May to June with August and September bringing black, bitter fruits.

Prunus virginiana can be found from Newfoundland to Saskatchewan and south to North Carolina and Tennessee. This tall shrub or small tree grows to an average twenty feet. The bark is smooth and reddish-brown. Alternate, oval lustrous dark green leaves are serrate with a pointed tip. From Apr to July, four to six inch clusters of tiny, five-petal white flowers appear. The fruits are purplish-red.

Effects: gentle
Planet: Venus
Element: water
Associated Deities:

Traditions:
The juice is appropriate for a blood substitute.

Magic:
All spells to stimulate or attract love may benefit from the addition of cherries. One of the simplest spells to attract love instructs the caster to tie a single strand of their hair to a cherry tree while in blossom. To bring love, collect as many cherry pits as you are years old and drill a hole in one stone each night beginning on the New Moon. Do not drill any during the waning). There should be a maximum of fourteen stones drilled in a month. Thread on red or pink thread and tie around your left knee each night for fourteen nights. Remove it each morning.

Collect cherry bark to revitalize a stalled project.

Known Combinations:
none noted

Medical Indications: (Caution: Both Prunus serotina and Prunus virginiana contain hydrocyanic acid in the bark, seeds, and leaves. Symptoms of poisoning include difficulty in breathing, loss of balance, and convulsions.) Parts Used: young, thin bark
Bark tea or syrup was once used as a sedative. The powdered bark was sprinkled on sores to aid in healing.

Nutrition:
All true cherries are edible, but not all are appetizing. Prunus avium is grown more than any other variety. Cherries are used fresh or in jellies, jams, wines, pies, and other pastries. The fruit of Prunus cerasus is edible but used more for jams and syrups and maraschino liqueur. Prunus virginiana was used by Native Americans in berry mixtures for pemmican, stews, jams, and jellies.

Mercantile Uses:
The pinkish white wood of Prunus cerasus and the brown half-hardened heartwood is used for whittled objects and walking sticks. Prunus serotina wood is prized in cabinet making. It is considered second only to walnut.

I am the one whose p[raise echoes on high.
I adorn all the earth.
I am the breeze that nurtures all things green.
I encourage blossoms to flourish with ripening fruits.
I am led by the spirit to feed the purist streams.
I am the rain coming from dew that causes the grasses to laugh with the joy of life.
I am the yearning for good.

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Quote : Buddha
All that we are is the result of what we have thought.

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

Brazilianite is a rare gem only discovered in 1945 in just one Brazilian area. Some small deposits have also been found in New Hampshire since then. The color of this stone ranges from yellow to green, and some specimens have been confused with chrysoberyl and topaz. Brazilianite is a softer stone however, with a hardness of 5.5. For this reason, it is really too soft for use as a gemstone, though it may be displayed in a setting which will not receive much impact, such as a pendant or earring. Its rarity makes it an expensive stone however. Brazilianite works at the synthesis of heart and mind. It allows for close, unbiased examination of situations and relationships.

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Humor : The Turkey and the Bull

A turkey was chatting with a bull one day. "I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree," sighed the turkey. "But I just haven't got the energy." "Well, why don't you nibble on some of my droppings?" replied the bull. "They're packed with nutrients." The turkey pecked at a lump of dung and found that it actually gave him enough strength to reach the first branch of the tree. The next day, after eating some more dung, he reached the second branch. Finally after a week, there he was proudly perched at the top of the tree. He was promptly spotted by a farmer, who shot the turkey out of the tree. Moral of the story: Bull crap might get you to the top, but it won't keep you there.

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A Dreamer's Guide : Paced to Pagoda

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

Impatience could be your undoing if you Paced in your dream.

If you attempted to Pacify someone’s suffering, you will be loved for your sweetness of disposition. This is a promise of a devoted spouse or friend. You will labor for the advancement of others if you tried to pacify someone’s anger. Attempting to quell the jealousy of a lover means that your love will be misplaced.

Some pleasant recreation is in store for you if you saw a Package being delivered, and accepting a delivery means someone loves you dearly. Receiving a packet from children however is an indication that your love life is not so good. Seeing one going out is a sign that you will suffer some slight losses or disappointments. You will make a short trip if you prepared a package, and if you mailed one, children will cause you some unhappiness. The health of some child may cause you worry of you were carrying a package, and carrying a big package is a sign of a big disappointment. You will have to face your troubles if the package was small. Opening a package means your marriage will last forever.

Packing for a journey predicts business worries which will keep you at home. Relatives packing are a sign of happiness in your family. If you packed clothes for a trip, you may leave your love through your own foolish actions. An abuse of confidence may occur if you were packing up mail.

A Paddock is an assurance of your happiness. Do not speculate if you were in a paddock of a racecourse, but if it was the paddock of a pasture, surprising news of an engagement will reach you. If others were inside the paddock however, an engagement will be called off.

Good luck is foretold by a Padlock. Beware trouble ahead if you were unable to unlock a padlock, but if a man opened one, he is flirting with several women at once. A woman who opens a padlock will be unfaithful to the man who loves her. If the lock was already open, it is a suitable time to pursue a courtship. If you had the key, avoid all aspects of speculation, and losing a key is also a warning to be careful with your money. You will come through your troubles if you found a key to a padlock.

In haste, you will agree to a union which is unsuited to you if you saw a Page (servant). You may fail to control your romantic impulses. If you acted as a page, you may participate in some foolish plan.

Misfortune in business is augured if you were Paged by someone. Paging others indicates good fortune in love.

The Pages of a book means you will be abused, but pages of letters predicts others will place their confidence in you. Any other collection of pages is a promise of money, as is assembling a collection of pages. Turning the pages of a book or magazine promises small business gains.

Do not judge on appearance alone if you dreamt of a Pageant, and don’t let other things distract you from your tasks if you observed one on a float. Happiness is predicted if you saw a pageant of children, but you are being deceived if your friends were in a pageant. Your enemies in a pageant is a sign of business troubles.

You will soon undertake a long desired journey if you saw a Pagoda in your dream. If you were in one with your love, many unforeseen events will transpire before you can be wed. An empty pagoda may indicate separation from your love, while seeing it inhabited is a augury of jealous friends.

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Quote : Amelia Earhart
Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace.

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