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.

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 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 is celebrated in honor of the enlightenment of Buddha.

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

"Saint" Bonifatius

Festival of the Midnight Sun

Widow Robinson of Kidderminster

Thoth appears with Shu

"Saint" Cold Sophie

The Argei Rites

Maiae inuict

festivals of Hathor and Bast and the great feast of the Southern heavens

fairy guardians of blackthorn trees

Eusapia Palladino

the Netjerts feast in their temples

Savitu-Vrata

Dea Dia

Philippine fertility festival

The twins honored

Pan

Apollon

Hathor returns to Punt

Plynteria

Plato

Sailing of the netjers after Hathor

Peter Hurkos

Gwydion Pendderwen

Tefnut

Ragnar Lodbrok

dandelion wine

Earth Religion Anti-Abuse Act

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Humor: The Philosophy of Beer

A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, rocks about 2" in diameter. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The students laughed. The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. "Now," said the professor, "I want you to recognize that this is your life. The rocks are the important things - your family, your partner, your health, your children - things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else, the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first, there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Take care of the rocks first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand." But then a student then took the jar, which the other students and the professor agreed was full, and proceeded to pour in a glass of beer. Of course the beer filled the remaining spaces within the jar making the jar truly full. The moral of this tale is: No matter how full your life is, there is always room for beer.

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Article : This Month’s Eclipses

An eclipse is simply the shadow cast by one body upon another when it passes in front of a source of light. There are two categories of eclipse on the Earth, Lunar and Solar eclipses. An eclipse of the Moon can only occur at full Moon and only when the Earth is exactly between the Sun and the Moon. Usually occurring twice a year, the Moon becomes engulfed in the Earth's shadow for up to 1 1/2 hours. The Moon never becomes completely blacked out during a lunar eclipse. Instead, the full moon is seen in shadow, and often appears a beautiful deep-red color. The darkness of the shadow can vary due to the amount of cloud, dust, and pollution that is suspended in the Earth's atmosphere at the time of eclipse. Sometimes the obstructions are dense enough to make the Moon seem to disappear, while at other times, the shadow only creates a light, rusty hue on the Moon. For this eclipse the Moon will be in Libra, one of the lower portions of the ecliptic. Because of this, the eclipse could possibly be darker as there will be more atmosphere between us and it.

A Solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and Sun. This only occurs at the New Moon. Observers on the daytime side of the Earth have their view of the sun cut off, either partly or completely. While binoculars or a telescope are sufficient for lunar eclipse observation, they are Not Suitable for viewing a solar eclipse. You will need special equipment to protect your eyesight. You may use binoculars to project the Sun onto a screen, but Do Not look directly at the Sun with the binoculars or through a finder-scope! Direct the binoculars towards the Sun (without looking through them) and hold a white sheet of paper behind it. Adjust the distance to make a suitable size of the Solar disc. Adjust the sharpness by turning the focus wheel on the binoculars. You can also try making a hole in a thick sheet of paper. Hold another sheet a distance (perhaps a meter) away, and the sunlight from the hole will fall on the other sheet of paper. The best way to view a solar eclipse is with eclipse glasses if you can find some. These are special glasses with which you can look directly at the Sun, though preferably only for short periods.

This year there will be two eclipses in May – a total lunar eclipse on May 16th and the annual solar eclipse on the 31st of May. The total lunar eclipse of May 15th-16th, 2003 will be visible over the Americas, Europe, and Africa. An annular solar eclipse, the total eclipse in its series, covers the top of the Earth, and partly misses it entirely. The path of the Moon's umbral shadow will begin in northern Scotland, and quickly sweep across Iceland and portions of Greenland. A partial eclipse will be seen within the much broader path of the Moon's penumbral shadow, including most of Europe (except Spain and Portugal) and the Middle East as well as central and northern Asia. It will be visible over all of North America except for the extreme northwest portions of the continent. Eclipse observers from Ontario eastward will see all phases of the eclipse while those to the west will see the Moon rising with the eclipse already underway, although totality will still be visible.

In many cultures, the moon the goddess and a lunar eclipse could be interpreted as the death of the goddess. In ancient China, the word for eclipse, “chich,” also means eat. People of the Shang dynasty (ca. 1550-1050 BC) believed that some monster was eating the Sun or Moon during an eclipse. Even those who did not see the moon as sacred believed that it influenced life. Due to its monthly cycle of waxing and waning, early philosophers and priests taught that the moon was related to birth, growth, and death.

Historically, solar and lunar eclipses were seen as bad omens of things to come. Ancient records often associated an eclipse with some unfortunate event following soon afterward- the death of a king or a wide famine, etc. Greek mythology refers to Zeus hiding the Sun's light (total eclipse) out of anger toward men.

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Quote : Edgar J. Mohn
A lie has speed, but truth has endurance.

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Craft of the Week : Safety Pin Angel

10-2 inch gold safety pins
105-6mm round iridescent clear beads
4-2mm round iridescent clear beads for hands
1-12mm round pearl bead for bodice
1-14mm round pearl bead for head
2-12.5 mm fancy bell caps for over safety pin tails and on top of 12mm pearl bead body
14-2mm gold beads for halo
4 smaller fancy bell caps for bottom of sleeves cuffs
22 gauge gold wire or 22 gauge white wire
Needle nose pliers and cutters

For the Skirt, place five 6mm clear iridescent round beads on each safety pin. Cut a 12" piece of wire and put it through the head (clasp) end of the safety pins with two 6mm clear iridescent round beads in between each pin’s head. Twist and close the wire. Cut another piece of wire for closing the tail (non-clasp) end of the pins. Twist and close, cutting off all excess wires.

For the Head and Body, take another piece of 12" wire. Add a 6mm round iridescent bead in the middle of that wire, almost folding it completely in half, and insert this into the bottom of skirt up through the center of the tail end of pins. Add a 12.5mm fancy bell cap and insert both wires into the bell cap to cover the safety pin tail. Twist this a few times to secure, but don’t cut the excess. Add a 12mm round pearl bead (body) and run both wires up into the body. Add another 12.5mm Fancy Bell Cap, putting both wires through it. Run both wires up through the 14mm round pearl bead (head) and twist a few times to secure. Add the small gold beads to form a halo. You can shape it any way you'd like. Splitting the wire, add small gold beads 7 to each wire. Bring together twist and cut off as close as you can.

Take an 8" piece of wire for the arms and twist it around in between the head bead and the body bead. For each wire add one 8mm round iridescent bead then four 6mm round iridescent beads for arms. Add 2 smaller fancy bell caps for ruffles one against the other opposite ways. Use two 2mm round iridescent beads for the hands. Make a loop to cut off access. Do this to the other arm as well.

Use a 12" inch piece of wire for the wings. Wrap this around the neck a few times, then add twenty-three 6mm round iridescent clear beads to that. Twist to the back of the form and shape as you wish. Repeat this process for the second wing.

Note: If you would prefer to have a fairy instead of any angel, use another 12.5 fancy bellcap to represent hair. Feed the wires through this and ad a few gold beads for a ponytail before twisting the wires together and removing the excess. You can also make the excess into a loop and make the figure into a necklace or hanging ornament.

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Humor : That’s Lucky

A famous art collector is walking through the city when he notices a mangy cat lapping milk from a saucer in the doorway of a store. He does a double take, as he notices that the saucer is extremely old and very valuable. He walks casually into the store and offers to buy the cat for two dollars. The storeowner replies, "I'm sorry, but the cat isn't for sale." The collector says, "Please, I need a hungry cat around the house to catch mice. I'll pay you twenty dollars for that cat." And the owner says "Sold," handing over the cat. The collector continued, "Hey, for the twenty bucks I wonder if you could throw in that old saucer. The cat's used to it and it'll save me having to get a dish." But the owner said, "Sorry buddy, but that's my lucky saucer. So far this week I've sold sixty-eight cats."

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

Artio of Muri was a continental Celtic goddess (or priestess) of prosperity and harvest closely associated with bears. She may also have been a consort of Esus, an agricultural god of the Essuvi Celts. She is known on inscriptions and statuary in Switzerland at Berne (meaning “bears”) and is depicted offering fruit to a bear in one bronze figurine. Roman influence has equated her with Artemis, who could change into a bear at will and with Andarta.

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Quote: Malcolm S. Forbes
When things are bad, we take comfort in the thought that they could always be worse. And when they are, we find hope in the thought that things are so bad they have to get better.

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

Belladonna (Atropa belladonna) P

Description: Belladonna is a European perennial naturalized to the eastern United States. It prefers pastures, mountain forests, ruins, and waste places, growing especially luxurious in shady areas. It particularly prefers limey or highly calciferous soil. The thick, creeping, whitish and fleshy root, usually about six inches long, rises to an erect, glabrous, herbaceous stem. The purplish stem is usually three to five feet high and splits into three branches. The dull green ovate leaves are solitary lower on the branches and grow in pairs, one leaf half the size of the other, on higher branches. In June and July, solitary bell-shaped flowers bloom from the axils of leaves, followed by shiny dull brown to dark purple one-inch long fruit. This fruit is sweet, the size of cherry, and full of purple juice. The fresh plant exudes a foul odor when crushed, but this almost disappears in dried plants. The leaves retain a bitter flavor. No part of Belladonna should be consumed for any reason.

Effects: gentle
Planet: Saturn
Element: water
Associated Deities: Hecate, Bellona, Circe, Atropos

Traditions:
Atropos, the third Fate for whom the herb is named, is said to have used belladonna in her duties when snipping the thread of life. The name, Beautiful Lady or Belladonna, comes from Italy. According to lore, women would drop juice into their eyes to dilate pupils.

The Bellonarii, priests of Bellona, a Roman goddess of war and sister to Mars, drank an infusion prior to invoking her aid or worshiping her. The priests dressed in black and honored her at sacrifices by screaming and wounding themselves in the arms and legs. Her temple was outside the city walls and used by the senate to negotiate with foreign ambassadors and receive victorious Roman generals. This is also possibly the plant which poisoned Marc Antony's troops during the Parthian Wars.

During the Middle Ages, Devil was said to watch over the belladonna day and night. The only except was the night of Walpurgis (derived from an 8th century English Saint) which corresponds to Beltane. On this night, he had more important duties to attend to.

Magic:
According to legend, belladonna was one ingredient of the famous “flying ointment.” Belladonna does contain powerful and deadly hallucinogens. It has been applied to spells for astral projection, visions, and rituals of the dead. Due to its connection to Bellona, it has also been used in rituals for preparation before battle.

Known Combinations:
none noted

Medical Indications: (Caution: It is so toxic, in fact, that people have died from eating animals that have fed on the berries of this plant. Symptons include dilated pupils, flushed skin, dryness of the mouth and throat, nausea, vomiting, weakness, delirium, rapid heartbeat, and sometimes paralysis and coma. A person who has merely handled the plant may also show some signs of poisoning as the plant's chemicals are absorbed through the skin. Berries are sweet and pleasant tasting so watch children.)
Parts used: leaves, tops, berries
Belladonna contains atropine, scopolamine, and hyoscyamine. These are all chemicals which have found applications in modern medicine. Despite belladonna's strong toxicity, there are several medical uses of its parts...though not suggested for home use. It’s most common name, Belladonna, comes from the fabled use of the plant's juices by Italian ladies, who would drop the juice in their eyes to enlarge their pupils and make their eyes more beautiful. Atropine, a chemical found in belladonna, is used by modern eye doctors to dilate the pupils so they can examine the retina.

Two other substances found in Belladonna, scopolamine and hyoscyamine, are used in a number of antispasmodics used to treat intestinal disorders like diarrhea, irritable colon, and peptic ulcers. Belladonna is an anti-spasmodic, a calmative, diaphoretic, diuretic, and narcotic.

Nutrition:
none

Mercantile Uses:
None aside from medical applications.

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Cartoon

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Poem : Sleepyhead
Walter de la Mare (1873-1956)

As I lay awake in the white moon light,
I heard a faint singing in the wood,
'Out of bed,
Sleepyhead,
Put your white foot now,
Here are we,
Neath the tree
Singing round the root now!'

I looked out of window, in the white moon light,
The trees were like snow in the wood--
'Come away,
Child, and play
Light with the gnomies;
In a mound,
Green and round,
That's where their home is.
Honey sweet,
Curds to eat,
Cream and frumenty,
Shells and beads,
Poppy seeds,
You shall have plenty.'

But soon as I stooped in the dim moon light
To put on my stocking and my shoes,
The sweet sweet singing died sadly away,
And the light of the morning peeped through:
Then instead of the gnomies there came a red robin
To sing of the buttercups and dew.

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Quote : Edmund Hilary
It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.

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

Andradite is a calcium iron variety of garnet, which forms in contact or regional metamorphic environments. Its color range includes wine, orange-yellow, all ranges of green, brown, brown-red, and black. Melanite is the black variety. Demantoid is the bright green variety and is sometimes cut as a gem, and Topazolite is the yellow variety and is also occasionally cut as a gem. There is also a rainbow form of andradite which displays all the color ranges of the stone.

Andradite works to enhance and stabilize male energies and qualities such as strength, stamina, and courage. One type of andradite, the demantoid garnet, displays a twist of green fire. This gem is useful in increasing your energy levels. It also attracts to you that which is not necessarily wanted, but that which is needed for further growth of character. Rainbow andradite assists in clearing the aura as well as the psychical vision. It dispels isolation and disconnection, and allays unwanted fears. Rainbow andradite has also been put to use in expanding mystical experiences.

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Humor : Obviously a Marriage in Heaven

The child was a typical four-year-old girl - cute, inquisitive, bright as a new penny. When she expressed difficulty in grasping the concept of marriage, her father decided to pull out his wedding photo album, thinking visual images would help. One page after another, he pointed out the bride arriving at the church, the entrance, the wedding ceremony, the recessional, the reception, etc. "Now do you understand?" he asked. "I think so," she said, "Is that when mommy came to work for us?"

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

If you felt or were given a Jab, you are injuring your chances by underestimating yourself, but if you jabbed someone else, guard against a tendency to be overaggressive.

A Jacaranda tree is a sign of growing contentment.

An automobile Jack indicates a sudden relief from a heavy burden or an improvement of conditions. A Jack of clubs is a sign of a good friend, while a Jack of hearts is a symbol of a true love. An enemy is near if you dreamt of a Jack of spades, and a Jack of diamonds signifies a false friend.

A Jackal is a warning to protect yourself from over persuasive friends with ambitious plans. Financial gains are foretold by a yellow jackal, and children with a jackal means you have one loyal friend.

A Jackass predicts much business ahead. If you owned one, you will have a disagreement with a best friend, and chasing one means some scandal is being spread about you. A braying jackass indicates disgrace, and removing one from a barn means the end of a love affair.

Ill health and quarrels are indicated by a Jackdaw, but if you caught one, you will either outwit enemies or soon marry. You will come into possession of disputed property if you killed one. A poor harvest is foretold by a jackdaw in a cage.

Infirmity is signified by a dark Jacket, and wearing a sport jacket means financial gain. You will be deceived if you wore an evening jacket, and a house jacket means infidelity. Luck and prosperity is foretold by a waiter’s jacket.

If you won a Jackpot be prepared for a period of hard work with meager rewards. If someone else won however, you can expect to gain something you want with less effort than you anticipated.

Prosperity and protection from adversity is augured by Jade. Jade earrings foretell unexpected news, and a necklace indicates a marriage which will last forever.

Jail is an obstacle dream. If you escaped or were released, your difficulties will only be short term, otherwise expect trouble of a longer duration. Freedom from worry is promised if others were imprisoned.

Treachery will harm your interests if you saw a Jailer.

Any type of Jam in movement refers to a delay which will eventually give way with intelligent effort. Making, eating, or serving jam forecasts happy domestic times. Eating it denotes pleasant surprises and journeys, while making it foretell a happy home and appreciative friends.

Being or seeing a Janitor is a portent of additional responsibilities which may seem onerous at first but which will prove beneficial. If you looked for a janitor and could not find him, petty annoyances will destroy your calm.

Dreaming of January outside of that month is an omen of a solution to some perplexing problem or mystery. A false friend is near if you dreamt of being born in January.

Jars predict pleasant social affairs. If they were empty, it foretells poverty and distress, while broken jars indicates sickness or deep disappointment. Buying jars means a precarious success and heavy burdens. A jar full of candy means your worries will be soothed away.

Jasmine is an augury of success in romantic or personal affairs. One loyal friend is indicated by a bouquet of jasmine.

Jasper is a portent of success and love. If you lost a jasper, you will disagree with your lover.

Jaundice is an omen of prosperity after embarrassment. If others were ill, unpleasant companions and discouraging prospects will cause you worry.

Defending yourself with a Javelin means your most private affairs will be searched over to establish claims of dishonesty. You will prove your innocence only after many trials. Enemies will succeed against you only if you were injured by one. Your interests are under threat if you saw someone carrying a javelin.

Any type of pain or problem with your Jaws is an indication of malicious gossip against you which could damage your standing with those you hold in high esteem. Fight back. Financial gain through outside help is foretold by the jaws of others. Seeing or being in the grip of the jaws of a monster means a misunderstanding which could lead to a broken friendship.

Pleasant visits from friends and interesting gossips are foretold by Jays. If you caught one, you will have pleasant, though fruitless, tasks. A dead jay indicates unhappiness, and a jay in a cage means a poor harvest.

If you were Jaywalking or saw someone else doing so, dismiss some foolish action you are contemplating.

Hearing Jazz is a warning to against getting involved in social or community affairs which are beyond your means.

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Quote : Henry Ford
You cannot build a reputation on what you are going to do.

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