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.

July was named for Julius Caesar who reorganized the previously skewed calendar to what is now called the Julian calendar. Instituted in 26 BC, this was known as the Year of Confusion because of the irritation switching the calendar caused. This was the calendar of the west for the next 1600 years. July is sacred to Apt (or Apet), Athena, Sothis, Spider Woman, and Rosea.

The Irish name for this month was Iúil or an t-Iuchar, the border time. Traditionally during the last two weeks of July and the first two weeks of August, Sirius, the dog star, can be seen in the sky. The Anglo-Saxon name was Aeftera Litha, "after Litha," or sometimes Maedmonat, "meadow month." Hewimanoth, "hay month," was the Frankish name, and the Asatru call it Haymoon.

The first Full Moon is called the Buck Moon. It is also the Blessing or Wort Moon and the Honey Moon, a name it shares with June’s Moon. It is also called the Moon of Claiming, Fallow Moon, Thunder Moon, a name shared with August, and Moon of Blood (due to mosquitoes), a name it share with October.

The sun passes from Cancer to Leo on July 23rd. The birth flower for July is the larkspur. Onyx, sardonyx, carnelian, turquoise or rubies are the stones listed for those born in July. The birthstone of Cancer is the moonstone or pearl, while Leo’s stone is the ruby, onyx, or smoky quartz. Albite, chrysoprase, emerald, green tourmaline, opal, pink tourmaline, and rhodochrosite are also significant to Cancers, and amber, carnelian, chrysocolla, citrine, fire agate, garnet, pink tourmaline, ruby, and topaz are associated with Leo.

Lunar Holy Days

The seventh of the seventh moon is the Chhit Sek or Chilsuk, a Chinese holiday honoring the meeting of the Heavenly Spinning Lady (the star Vega) and her lover, the Cowherd (the star Altair). (See also July 7th)

The last Sunday in July is the Procession of Witches in Beselare, Belgium.

Saut d'Eau

Birth of Set(h)

Amaterasu-O-Mi-Kami

birth of Isis

Lu Pan

John Dee

birth of Nephthys

Opet Festival, feast day of Thoth

Adonia

Mayan

Damo

Aten was born

Neptunalia

Festival of the Rise of Sothis-Sirius

Gwyl o Cerridwen

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

Humor: Jesus

Late one night a burglar saw an open window and decided to break in. He was sneaking across the lawn when he heard a voice announce, "Jesus is watching you!" He jumped, turned around and around, but saw no one. So he started across the lawn again. "Jesus is watching you!" He heard it again! So really freaked out, he looks in the window and sees a parrot in a cage. Laughing a little, he says, "Did you say that?" The parrot answers, "Yes I did." Curious, the burglar said, "What's your name?" to which the parrot replied, "Clarence." "What kind of stupid idiot would name his parrot Clarence?" asked the annoyed burglar, to which the parrot answered, "The same stupid idiot that named his Rottweiler 'Jesus'."

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

Article : The Snake Tribe
from http://www.earthbow.com/native/frames.htm, please visit their site for more Native American lore
Myths of the Cherokee, James Mooney, 1900

The generic name for snakes is indädû'. They are all regarded as anida'wehï, "supernaturals," having an intimate connection with the rain and thunder gods, and possessing a certain influence over the other animal and plant tribes.

It is said that the snakes, the deer, and the ginseng act as allies, so that an injury to one is avenged by all. The feeling toward snakes is one of mingled fear and reverence, and every precaution is taken to avoid killing or offending one, especially the rattlesnake.

He who kills a snake will soon see others; and should he kill a second one, so many will come around him whichever way he may turn that he will become dazed at the sight of their glistening eyes and darting tongues and will go wandering about like a crazy man, unable to find his way out of the woods.

To guard against this misfortune there are certain prayers which the initiated say in order that a snake may not cross their path, and on meeting the first one of the season the hunter humbly begs of him, "Let us not see each other this summer."

Certain smells, as that of the wild parsnip, and certain songs, as those of the Unika'wï or Townhouse dance, are offensive to the snakes and make them angry. For this reason the Unika'wï is held only late in the fall, after they have retired to their dens for the winter.

When one dreams of being bitten by a snake he must be treated the same as for an actual bite, because it is a snake ghost that has. bitten him; otherwise the place will swell and ulcerate in the same way, even though it be years afterwards. For fear of offending them, even in speaking, it is never said that a man has been bitten by a snake, but only that he has been "scratched by a brier." Most of the beliefs and customs in this connection have more special reference to the rattlesnake.

The rattlesnake is called utsa'nätï which may be rendered, "he has a bell," alluding to the rattle. According to a myth given elsewhere, he was once a man, and was transformed to his present shape that he might save the human race from extermination by the Sun, a mission which he accomplished successfully after others had failed.

By the old men he is also spoken of as "the Thunder's necklace" (see the story of Ûñtsaiyï'), and to kill one is to destroy one of the most prized ornaments of the thunder god. In one of the formulas addressed to the Little Men, the sons of the Thunder, they are implored to take the disease snake to themselves, because "it is just what you adorn yourselves with."

For obvious reason the rattlesnake is regarded as the chief of the snake tribe and is feared and respected accordingly. Few Cherokee will venture to kill one except under absolute necessity, and even then the crime must be atoned for by asking pardon of the snake ghost, either in person or through the mediation of a priest, according to a set formula. Otherwise the relatives of the dead snake will send one of their number to track up the offender and bite him so that he will die (see story, "The Rattlesnake's Vengeance").

The only thing of which the rattlesnake is afraid is said to be the plant known as campion, or "rattlesnake's master" (Silene stellata), which is used by the doctors to counteract the effect of the bite, and it is believed that a snake will flee in terror from the hunter who carries a small piece of the root about his person. Chewed linn bark is also applied to the bite, perhaps from the supposed occult connection between the snake and the thunder, as this tree is said to be immune from the lightning stroke.

Notwithstanding the fear of the rattlesnake, his rattles, teeth, flesh, and oil are greatly prized for occult or medical uses, the snakes being killed for this purpose by certain priests who know the necessary rites and formulas for obtaining pardon.

This device for whipping the devil around the stump, and incidentally increasing their own revenues, is a common trick of Indian medicine men. Outsiders desiring to acquire this secret knowledge are discouraged by being told that it is a dangerous thing to learn, for the reason that the new initiate is almost certain to be bitten, in order that the snakes may "try" him to know if he has correctly learned the formula.

When a rattlesnake is killed the head must be cut off and buried an arm's length deep in the ground and the body carefully hidden away in a hollow log. If it is left exposed to the weather, the angry snakes will send such torrents of rain that all the streams will overflow their banks. Moreover, they will tell their friends, the deer, and the ginseng in the mountains, so that these will hide themselves and the hunters will seek them in vain.

The tooth of a rattlesnake which has been killed by the priest with the proper ceremonies while the snake was lying stretched out from east to west is used to scarify patients preliminary to applying the medicine in certain ailments. Before using it the doctor holds it between the thumb and finger of his right hand and addresses it in a prayer, at the end of which the tooth "becomes alive," when it is ready for the operation.

The explanation is that the tense, nervous grasp of the doctor causes his hand to twitch and the tooth to move slightly between his fingers. The rattles are worn on the head, and sometimes a portion of the flesh is eaten by ball players to make them more terrible to their opponents, but it is said to have the bad effect of making them cross to their wives.

From the lower half of the body, thought to be the fattest portion, the oil is extracted and is in as great repute among the Indians for rheumatism and sore joints as among the white mountaineers. The doctor who prepares the oil must also eat the flesh of the snake.

In certain seasons of epidemic a roasted (barbecued) rattlesnake was kept hanging up in the house, and every morning the father of the family bit off a small piece and chewed it, mixing it then with water, which he spit upon the bodies of the others to preserve them from the contagion. It was said to be a sure cure, but apt to make the patients hot tempered.

The copperhead, wâ'dige-askâ'lï "brown-head," although feared on account of its poisonous bite, is hated, instead of being regarded with veneration, as is the rattlesnake. It is believed to be a descendant of a great mythic serpent (see number 5) and is said to have "eyes of fire," on account of their intense brightness.

The blacksnake is called gûle'gï, "the climber." Biting its body is said to be a preventive of toothache, and there is also a belief, perhaps derived from the whites, that if the body of one be hung upon a tree it will bring rain within three (four?) days. The small greensnake is called, sälikwâ'yï, the same name being also applied to a certain plant, the Eryngium virginianum, or bear grass, whose long, slender leaves bear some resemblance to a greensnake.

As with the blacksnake, it is believed that toothache may be prevented and sound teeth insured as long as life lasts by biting the greensnake along its body. It must be held by the head and tail, and all the teeth at once pressed down four times along the middle of its body, but without biting into the flesh or injuring the snake.

Some informants say that the operation must be repeated four times upon as many snakes and that a certain food taboo must also be observed. The water moccasin, kanegwâ'tï, is not specially regarded, but a very rare wood snake, said to resemble it except that it has blue eyes, is considered to have great supernatural powers, in what way is not specified.

The repulsive but harmless spreading adder (Heterodon) is called dalïkstä', "vomiter," on account of its habit of spitting, and sometimes kwandäya'hû, a word of uncertain etymology. It was formerly a man, but was transformed into a snake in order to accomplish the destruction of the Daughter of the Sun (see the story). For its failure on this occasion it is generally despised.

The Wahnenauhi manuscript mentions a legend of a great serpent called on account of its color the "ground snake." To see it was an omen of death to the one who saw it, and if it was seen by several persons some great tribal calamity was expected. For traditions and beliefs in regard to the Uktena, the Uksuhï, and other mythic serpents, see under those headings.

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

Quote : Welsh Proverb
Be honorable yourself if you wish to associate with honorable people.

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

Craft of the Week : Snake Refrigerator Cookies

I scoured the net, but could find no reference to any homemade lizard treats or foods to be used as this week’s craft. That’s not surprising considering many lizards eat their food live. Yeeeeech! So instead, make a snaky treat that you can eat.

1/2 Cup Peanut Butter
1/2 Cup Powdered Milk
1/2 Cup Honey
1 Tbsp Cocoa
1/2 tsp Vanilla
1/2 Cup Chopped Nuts
1/2 Cup Raisins
Mini M & Ms

Combine the peanut butter and the powdered milk until blended. Stir in honey, cocoa, vanilla, nuts, and raisins - in that order. Roll your mixture into small snake shapes. Add 2 mini M & Ms for eyes. Attach the Mini M & Ms with peanut butter. Place the snakes on wax paper on a cookie sheet and chill in the refrigerator until very firm.

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

Humor : Moody
Not happy with her mood swings, an enterprising husband bought his wife a mood ring so he would always know how she was feeling. When she’s in a good mood it turns green. When she’s in a bad mood it leaves a big friggin' red mark on his forehead. Maybe next time he’ll buy her a diamond.

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

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

The Asvins (Aswins), Dasra and Nasatya, are twin gods. They are the sons of Saranyu, the cloud goddess, and Surya or Vivasvar, the sun god, and represent the morning and evening stars. After Indra, Agni, and Soma, they are the most named deities in the Rig-Veda. Their attributes include a book, a vessel with herbs, and a water jar. Called the “horse drivers,” they travel by a three-wheeled, golden chariot drawn by horses, or sometimes birds. Each morning, they make a path for the goddess of the dawn, Ushas, and scatter dew with their whips.

The Asvins were originally cosmic deities, but were later known as divine physicians. They heal the sick and lame and rejuvenate the aged. These golden twins are said to bring bliss to humanity and symbolize strength and energy. According to the Rig Veda, they often intervene on behalf of the human race. They also act as guardians of the Rishis, or seers, to prevent them from drowning in the sea of ignorance, and protect love and marriage.

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

Quote: Bertrand Russell
So far as I can remember, there is not one word in the Gospels in praise of intelligence.

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

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

Bluebell (Campanula rotundifolia or Scilla nutans)

Description: Very long, narrow leaves surround a flower stem sporting pendulous, bell-shaped blossoms, arranged in a long curving line. Each flower has two small bracts at the base of a short stalk. The perianth is bluish-purple and composed of six leaflets. It flowers from early April to the end of May and is found year after year in the same spot. The grass-like leaves remain late into the Autumn.

Effects:
Planet: Mars, Saturn, Uranus
Element:
Associated Deities: Apollo, Zephyrus

Traditions:
Linneaus first named this plant Hyacinthus, associating it with Hyacinth, the flower of grief and mourning. Hyacinthus was a young man loved by both Apollo and Zephyrus, but Hyacinthus preferred the god of the Sun to the god of the West Wind. One day while Apollo and Hyacinthus were playing quoits (discus), Zephyrus took his revenge. He sent a wind to blow a quoit (a flattened ring of iron) off course to kill Hyacinthus. Grief-stricken, Apollo raised a purple flower from the blood of his beloved.

Magic:
Turn a bluebell inside-out without tearing it, and you will eventually have the one you love.

For luck, pick a bluebell and say:

Bluebell, Bluebell,
bring me some luck
before tomorrow night

Anyone who wears the flower will be compelled to tell the truth in all matters.

Tennyson said that the juice of bluebells would cure snakebite.

Known Combinations:
none noted

Medical Indications: Parts Used : The bulb is considered poisonous when fresh.
Though of little use in modern medicine, the dried bulb was applied as a diuretic and styptic.

Nutrition:
none

Mercantile Uses:
The viscid juice of the root was once employed as a bookbinder’s gum, and Gerard said that it was used for setting feathers in arrows.

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Cartoon
From The Revenge of the Vampire Bed and Breakfast

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

Poem : All Grows Old
Yevgeny Vinokurov (b. 1925)

All grows old. And what has aged
Has the mystery of age.
Sarmatian arrow from the crossbow
Or the mossy stone of the fortress wall.
The years impart grandeur to the plane tree.

The wheel of the century turns, -
An ordinary man, One day I’ll become
Distant and mysterious... Like everything

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

Quote : Calvin Coolidge
Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence and determination.

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

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

Apache Gold is a combination of steatite and pyrite. It can be found in black and gold. If you wish to be free of impressions to form some unbiased conclusion, apache gold may be helpful. As a check against your intuition or awareness with regard to a situation, apache gold is unparalleled. Apache gold encourages you to act at an instinctive level. It is an excellent grounding stone during meditation, and natives of Mexico have used it during ceremonial magic and shamanic journeys.

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

Humor : Goodbye

A father put his three year old daughter to bed and listened to her prayers. Ending, she said, “God bless mommy, God bless daddy, God bless grandma, and good-bye grandpa.” Concerned, the father asked, “Why did you say good-bye grandpa?” The little girl replied, “I don't know daddy, it just seemed like the thing to do.” When the grandpa died on the very next day, the father thought it was just a strange coincidence. A few months later the father put the girl to bed again and listened in on her prayers. “God bless mommy, God bless daddy and good-bye grandma.” The next day the grandmother died! “My gosh,” thought the father, “this kid is in contact with the other side.” Several weeks later when the girl was going to bed he heard her say “God bless mommy and good-bye daddy.” He practically went into shock, couldn't sleep all night and got up at the crack of dawn to go to his office. He was nervous as a cat all day, had lunch sent in and watched the clock. He figured if he could just get by until midnight he would be okay. He felt very safe in the office, so instead of going home at the end of the day he stayed there, drinking coffee, looking at his watch and jumping at every sound. Finally midnight arrived, he breathed a sigh of relief and finally went home. When he got home his wife said, “I've never seen you work so late, what's the matter?” He said, “I don't want to talk about it, I've just spent the worst day of my life.” She said “You think you had a bad day; you'll never believe what happened to me! This morning the mailman dropped dead on our porch!”

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

A Dreamer's Guide : Lamb to Lapis Lazuli

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

Tranquility and bounty is foretold by Lambs frolicking in a field, but if they were grazing, something will frighten you. A lost lamb means wayward people will fall under your influence; be careful of your conduct. If you found a lost lamb, you will win a lawsuit, and prosperity and prosperity are indicated if you carried one. The bleating of a lamb means someone may soon appeal to your generosity. You will receive a big surprise if you bought a lamb, and selling one is a sign of happiness. Giving one as a gift presages a long life. Just owning one indicates profit or at least consolation.

Eating lamb means sorrow, unless it was an Easter meal, in which case expect lasting friendship. If you killed them, you will be tormented, and a dead lamb means sadness and desolation. Blood on the white fleece of a lamb foretells innocence suffering through the betrayal of others. Lambs devoured by wild animals are a sign of suffering through scheming villains. Shearing lambs mean you will be cold and mercenary, honest yet inhumane.

Disappointments are in store for you if you dreamt of someone who was Lame. Being lame yourself is a sign of business trouble. Lame children on the other hand indicate good earnings for some reason.

An unlit Lamp means business will soon come to a standstill, but if the lamp was very plane, it may be a good sign for your love life instead. Many lamps are a sign of an easy path through life. You will need to offer explanations to someone if you lit a lamp, and already lit lamps indicate passions. A very bright lamp is an omen of good luck in some small venture, but a dim light means you will need to work hard to face difficulties.

Your love will soon cool if you turned a lamp out, and lamp that goes out on its own foretells the failure of your plans. A broken lamp may foretell the death of family or friends, and dropping a lamp foretells a sudden upset of your plans and hopes.

A Lamppost augur some stranger entering your life who will become your most loyal friend. You will need to overcome deception if you fell against a lamppost, and to find one in your path means adversity.

A Lance denotes formidable enemies and dangerous experiments. If you were wounded, an error in judgment will cause you annoyance. If you broke a lance, impossible obstacles will be overcome for the fulfillment of your desires.

Fertile Land may indicate a marriage soon, but if the land was barren, trouble may soon follow. Land covered in trees presages poverty, while grasslands mean happiness. A change of occupation may be in store for you if you owned land or moved away from some land, but of you were ordered off some land by the owner, expect bitter disappointment.

Bad luck is foretold by a ship Landing, and a plane landing is a warning to be on the lookout for treachery.

Your hopes will meet with rapid success if you dreamt of being a Landlady or paid rent to one. Important and beneficial events are in the works if you discussed business with a landlady, and arguing with one means a long life.

Domestic trouble is indicated by a dream of a Landlord, and business with a landlord may be a sign of a dangerous secret. Talking to a one may indicate an unexpected fortune, and a change for the better is foretold if a landlord insulted you. You have loyal friends if you were a landlord.

A Landslide warns of loneliness and trouble. You will triumph over enemies if you caused it, while repairing damage from a landslide may mean the recovery of lost valuables.

A country Lane is a warning to use more caution in how you conduct yourself with the opposite sex.

If you took notice to the Language you were speaking, it was your own, you are not being sincere. Speaking in foreign languages is a sign of honor however. Practice modesty if you were learning another language, and hearing others speak a foreign means you will be a victim of circumstance. Happiness in love is indicated by children learning other languages.

A dark Lantern is a warning to be wary of deceit from a friend, and putting out a lantern foretells sickness and poverty. You will have an important and responsible position if you saw a signal lantern. Joy and happiness will be yours if you noted the beauty of the flame in the lantern. A dim lantern means domestic troubles, and if it went out, you will face worry and difficulties.

You will receive good news from friends if you sat in the Lap of someone of the opposite sex. A mother holding children in her lap is a sign of a change of surroundings.

A Lapdog promises assistance from friends during some approaching dilemma. If it was thin or sickly, you will be very distressed about your future.

Lapis Lazuli foretells peace of mind through acceptance of your lot in life.

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

Quote : Alexander Solzhenitsyn
Our envy of others devours us most of all.

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

Newsletter Archive

Past Newsletters