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 other 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.

Irish Fire Festivals: Lughnasadh
http://cyberpict.net/sgathan/essays/lghns dh.htm
A good essay which juxtaposes historical information of what Lughnasadh was or might have been with how it is celebrated among neo-Pagans.

Lammas, Lughnasadh
http://www.mythinglinks.org/Lammas.html
An essay and collection of links on the subject of Lughnasadh.

Lughnasadh Dance
http://www.msen.com/~robh/slg/lughd ance.html

Lughnasadh Recipes
http://www.geocities.c om/Athens/Parthenon/7039/AshlinCI.html

Raksha Bandhan.

Domhnach Chrom Dubh

Pythia’s Day

Thor

Piscis Austrinids

Delta Aquarids

Helena Petrovna Hahn (Madam Blavatsky)

Alpha-Capricornids

Lammas Eve, Oidhche L'dghnasa, August Eve, or Lughnassadh

August was named for the first Roman emperor, Augustus Caesar (September 23, 63 BC - August 29, 14 BC). Demeter or Ceres is the tutelary goddess of August.

The Anglo-Saxon name for this month was Weodmonath, "vegetation month." Aranmanoth, "corn ears month," was the Frankish name. The Asatru call it Harvest. The Irish name this month Lunasa or an Lunasdal. It comes from the early Irish Lughnassadh, the festival of Lugh.

The first Full Moon is called the Sturgeon or Corn or Barley Moon, names it shares with September. August’s moon is also referred to as the Dispute Moon and the Moon When Cherries Turn Black. It shares the name Thunder Moon with July.

Leo gives way to Virgo around August 23rd as the sun passes from the constellation of Leo. Gladiolas are the flowers for people born in this month. August’s stone is carnelian, sardonyx, moonstone, topaz, alexandrite, or peridot. The birthstones of Leo are onyx, ruby, and smoky quartz, while Virgo claims the sapphire. Other stones associated with Leo are amber, carnelian, chrysocolla, citrine, fire agate, garnet, pink tourmaline, ruby, and topaz. Virgo is connected to amazonite, amber, carnelian, chrysocolla, and citrine.

Lunar Holy Days

*The second Friday of August is the celebration of the Burryman in the town of Queensferry, Scotland. The Burryman is matted head to toe with burrs with a hat made from 70 roses and one dahlia. He walks around the edge of town slowly, speaking to no one. The respectful townspeople offer donations. Some theories consider him a forgotten fertility god of fishing. Other theories state he may represent a scapegoat figure, carrying off the town's guilt in his burrs.

Lughnasadh, Lughnas, or Lughnasa

Fair of Carman

fair of Emain Macha

Odin and Frigg.

Aomori Nebuta

Loch-mo-Naire

Lugh Dydd

Tan Hill Festival

Festival of Nut and Ra, and chief festival of Thoth

Adonis

Breaking of the Nile, Opet festival

The Dog Days of summer

Tij Day, Woman's Holiday or Haritalika

Ghanta Karna

Puck's Fair

Yashodhara

Pairika

Perseid meteor shower

The First Harvest

(Lammas, August Eve, Feast of Bread, Harvest Home, Dozynki, Lúúnasa; Lunasda, Lunasdal; Laa Luanys and Luanistyn; Gwl Awst, Cornucopia, Thingtide, Garland Sunday, Bilberry Sunday, Fraughan Sunday, Chrom Dubh Sunday, Black Stoop Sunday)

One of the four great fire festivals of the Celtic year, Lughnasadh marks the beginning of autumn. It is known by many names : Lammas, Cornucopia, Thingtide, Garland Sunday, Bilberry Sunday, Fraughan Sunday, Chrom Dubh Sunday and Black Stoop Sunday. It is the beginning of the harvest season and celebrates the decline of summer into winter. Festivals and rituals typically center around the assurance of a bountiful harvest and the celebration of the harvest cycle. The name Bilberry Sunday comes from a tradition of gathering bilberries at this time, symbolizing the success of the Lughnasadh rituals. If the bilberries were bountiful, the crops would be also. This is typically the feast of the first grain harvest. Though the exact date of the festival varies, it is held anywhere from August 1st to August 14th. Most begin at sundown of the previous evening, or July 31st, since the Celts reckon their days from sundown to sundown. An alternative date, August 5 (Old Lammas), when the sun reaches 15 degrees Leo, is sometimes employed by Covens.

Lughnasah is named for Lugh, but the god most associated with the ancient festival is "Crom Dubh," the "dark bent one." Stooped from carrying sheaves of wheat to mankind and dark from his time spent in the underworld Sidhe of Aine, he emerges from the Otherworld on or about August 1. Originally, Crom Dubh was a deity to whom it is thought sacrifice was made at the Cross-quarter Days, including Lughnasadh. There has been a small movement in Ireland in recent years to shift the national Irish holiday of St. Patrick's Day in March to a celebration Crom Dubh in August. The Friday (Aoine Cromm Dubh) before the Sunday (Domnach Cromm Dubh) before August 1 is the date of an annual pilgrimage up the 2510 ft Cruach Padráig (St. Patrick's Mound) in County Mayo. Other gods associated with this day are John Barley Corn and the Green Man.

Lugh, God of All Skills, is known as the "Bright or Shining One." He is called Samhioldáánach, "equally skilled in all the arts," and is the patron of craftsmen and artists. As the god Lug Lamfhota, roughly meaning bright and long-armed, he is associated with both the Sun and agricultural fertility. He is a hero of the Tuatha De Danann in their later years. Lugh was the father of the famous Celtic hero Cu Chulainn. Though he was later replaced by St. Michael and St. Patrick, Lugh remained in folk memory as Lugh-chromain ("little stooping Lugh"), or Leprechaun.

Lugh is the son of Ethne, daughter of Balor, and Cian, son of Dian Cécht the Healer, and a chieftain of the Tuatha Dé Danann. It had been foretold by druids that Balor would only die at the hands of his own grandson. To prevent this, he had his only child Ethne imprisoned in a high tower, Tor Mor, with twelve matrons instructed to keep her away from all men. Cian wished revenge on Balor for stealing his magic cow, and with the help of a druidess, he disguised himself as a woman and sought shelter at the tower. The druidess placed the matrons under enchantment, and when she and Cian left, Ethne was pregnant. Nine months later, she gave birth to three sons. Balor ordered that the children be killed, and a servant wrapped the babies in a cloth and took them to be drowned. One of the babies, Ludh, fell from the wrapping, and only his brothers were murdered. A stillborn infant was thrown into the sea instead, and Lugh was fostered by Tailltu, the last Queen of the Fir Bolgs, Goibhniu, and the Shí of Mananann Mac Lir, the sea god. Lugh grew up and learned many trades. He was a carpenter, warrior, druid, mason, smith, harper, poet, physician and goldsmith. In the second battle of Moy Tura, he threw a stone into Balor’s eye and killed him, thus fulfilling the prophecy and driving the Formorians from Ireland.

Though Lughnasadh means the funeral games of Lugh, the funeral was not his own. The god of light does not really die (mythically) until the autumnal equinox. It was in the area of Tailltu’s burial that the festival of Lughnasah evolved. As a favor to Lugh she cleared the Forest of Breg, making a plain for cultivation, and died of exhaustion for her trouble. Lugh decreed that a feast was to be held in her honor every August 1st at Tailtiu (now Teltown near the river Blackwater) for fifteen days. The great annual Lughnasah fair included bonfires, feasting, chariot races and other sporting events. The Tailtean Games were athletic contests very much like the Olympics. Traditional craft fairs and Tailtean marriages (which last for a year and a day) were held at this time. The last games were held August 1st, 1169 under Ruraigh Ó Conchobar, last High King of Ireland at the traditional site, 15 miles from Tara, the holy city.

One possible derivation of the name of Lugh is from the old Celtic word "lugio", meaning "an oath." A traditional part of the celebrations surrounding Lughnasadh is the formation of oaths. From before recorded history into the twentieth century, marriages, employment contracts and other bargains of a mundane nature were formed and renewed at this time of year. Since the agricultural year had its culmination in the harvest and harvest festivals, oaths and contracts that had had to wait until after the crops were in could be focused on at this time. Marriages, hiring for the upcoming season and financial arrangements were often a part of the Lughnasadh activities. In many areas, fairs were held specifically for the purpose of hiring or matchmaking.

Another tradition of the festival were the Teltown or Tailtean marriages. Joining hands through a wall or holed stone, participants were joined until the following year when they were at liberty to walk away from the arrangement if they so chose. Such trial marriages (or Handfastings) were common even into the 1500's, although it was something one ‘didn't bother the parish priest about.’ Such ceremonies were usually solemnized by a poet, bard, shanachie, or possibly a priest or priestess of the Old Religion. The site of these marriages has tentatively been identified as the "Knockauns" in the ritual enclosure still existing at Teltown. From the early Irish term "Cnocan a Chrainn," Knockauns refers to "the little hill of the tree," possibly alluding to the presence of a sacred tree which unfortunately no longer stands.

This festival was also the traditional time of year for craft fairs. Medieval guilds created elaborate displays of their wares, decorating their shops and themselves in bright colors and ribbons. There were parades and ceremonial plays and dances.

The 'Catherine wheel' or sun wheel was a ceremonial highlight. A large wagon wheel was taken to the top of a near-by hill, covered with tar, set aflame, and ceremoniously rolled down the hill. Some mythologists see in this ritual the remnants of a Pagan rite symbolizing the end of summer, the flaming disk representing the sun in its decline. Though the Roman Church moved St. Catherine's feast day all over the calendar, it's most popular date was August 1st. They also kept trying to expel this much-loved saint from the ranks of the blessed because she was mythical rather than historical and because her worship gave rise to the heretical sect known as the Cathari.

Irish sites associated with the festival include Teltown in County Meath, the Lios stone circle in Lough Gur in County Limerick and the sanctuary of Aine and her harvest consort Crom Dubh atop Croagh Patrick. The area of Knockauns in Teltown contains two parallel mounds, extending approximately 200 feet east-west and sitting roughly 10 feet apart. Occupying the highest point in the area, these mounds provide a clear view of the surrounding ritual area. In 1998, a local farmer bulldozed part of this ritual enclosure, the mound Rathdhu or "Rath Dubh," which had previously stood revered and untouched for hundreds of years and comparative in importance with the Hill of Tara and Rath Cruachain in County Roscommon. There are a number of other features still existing at the Teltown complex, and it remains one of the most profound ritual landscapes in Ireland.

The Christian religion adopted the harvest theme of Lughnasadh and called it Lammas, meaning ‘loaf-mass,' a time when newly baked loaves of bread are placed on the altar. Columcille (St.Columba) tried to change Lammas into a "Feast of the Ploughmen" with no success. When it was Christianized as Michaelmas, the date of Lughnasadh shifted from late July to September 29. The Burning Man festival, held in Nevada, has its roots in another Lughnasadh tradition, the erection of giant wicker men or smaller Corn Gods, which were then set on fire. The Greek myth of Demeter and Persephone also comes to mind at this time of year. As August progresses, you can see the subtle changes in tree and plants that mark Persephone's preparations to go underground again.

In Slavic countries, the harvest festival is called Dozynki. Sponsored by the lord of the manor for the people who worked his fields and harvested his crops, villagers dressed in colorful folk costumes, singing and playing instruments. They carried wreaths made of corn, wheat and a variety of flowers as an offering to the owner of the estate. A loaf of bread, baked from the fresh grain, was also presented to the lord and lady of the manor, who would give a slice to the guests who had worked hard to make the harvest possible. The people then danced and sang songs in praise of the master and the harvest.

In Poland today, the ceremony has changed to include everyone living in the entire countryside. Elected officials and area representatives have taken the place if the lord and lady of the manor. The celebrants continue to dress in traditional costumes and carry their harvest wreaths, attempting to surpass each other in originality and beauty.

Sacred Gemstone :
Carnelian

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Humor : Jay Leno
“In a speech the other day to the Amish, President Bush said that God speaks through him. That’s what he said. I don’t know... do you think God would mispronounce that many words?”

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

Badari or Bhadri-Nath is a Hindi title which means piety. It is an ancient title for Shiva, but was later given to Vishnu as Lord of the Bhadrinath, a temple on the Ganges River. In the Maratha country, he was worshipped as Bhadra Vira. In this instance, he was depicted with the sun and moon, mounted on Nandi, the sacred cow, and accompanied by the goat-headed Daksha. He is armed with a bow and arrow, sword, spear, and shield. The goddess Durga was called Bhandrakali.

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Quote: Anonymous
There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.

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

Melia azedarach

Folk Names: Africa Lilac, Azederach, Azadirachta, Bead Tree, China-tree, Hagbush, Holy Tree, Hoptree, Indian Lilac Tree, Margosa, Neem, Nim, Pride of China, Pride of India, Pride Tree

Description: The China Berry is a short-lived, deciduous tree of southwestern Asia, especially if the Himalayas, and naturalized to the West Indies and southern US. It will grow from thirty-five to fifty feet tall with a thick trunk and spreading branches covered in furrowed bark. The branches are fragile and easily broken by wind. The leaves are alternate, bipinnate, and ovate-acuminate. The entire leaf is one to three feet long with numerous pointed, sharply serrate or lobed leaflets, elliptic to lanceolate in shape. The fragrant purplish or lilac flowers grow in long peduncle panicles in early spring or the beginning of summer. Each flower had five petals and a central, dark-violet, staminal tube. The fruit is a nearly rounded, yellow drupe less than an inch across with a bony, molded, perforated seed. The flesh of the fruit has an unpleasant smell, especially when ripe. It is inedible and poisonous in sufficient quantities. The tree tolerates all but severe frosts and average soil with little water.

Effects:
Planet: Jupiter
Element:
Associated Deities:

Traditions:
The seeds are used as beads, especially for Rosaries and prayer beads.

Magic:
China Berry seeds are good luck charms. Carry them to bring change.

The gum is considered an aphrodisiac.

Known Combinations:
none known

Medical Indications: (Caution: fruit is potentially poisonous) Parts Used: root bark, seed
China Berry has been put to use as an anthelmintic, astringent, bitter tonic, emetic, emmenagogue, and purgative. A decoction of root bark is purgative and emetic in large doses. It can also promote the onset of menstruation. The seeds and oil from the fruit is used to purge intestinal worms. Fruit pulp is used to get rid of lice.

In India, the bitter and astringent bark is used as a tonic.

Nutrition:
Not edible

Mercantile Uses:
China Berry is sometimes used as an insecticide. The wood is also used as ornamental lumber comparable to Mahogany. The tree is most often planted as an ornamental shade tree.

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Cartoon

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Poem :We live by the sun
Stephanie Kaza, Green Gulch Farm

We live by the sun
We feel by the moon
We move by the stars

We live in all things
All things live in us

We eat from the earth
We drink from the rain
We breathe of the air

We live in all things
All thins live in us

We call to each other
We listen to each other
Our hearts deepen with love and compassion

We live in all things
All things live in us

We depend on the trees and animals
We depend on the earth
Our minds open with wisdom and insight

We live in all things
All things live in us

We dedicate our practice to others
We include all forms of life
We celebrate the joy of living-dying

We live in all things
All things live in us

We are full of life
We are full of death
We are grateful for all beings and companions

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Quote : Oprah Winfrey
Energy is the essence of life. Every day you decide how you're going to use it by knowing what you want and what it takes to reach that goal, and by maintaining focus.

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

Cacoxenite radiates tufts of yellow to brown crystals. One of the most interesting formations develops with amethyst. This particular combination is said to help bring forth original ideas and creativity.

Cacoxenite by itself is used to increase spiritual awareness. The stone is especially powerful when used with Moldavite for this purpose. It is notably more powerful during planetary alignments, world meditations, and full and new moons. The crystal may also be utilized to bring healing energy to the earth. Cacoxenite is also useful for plumbing the depths of past life memories.

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Humor : Hard Decision

There were 11 people hanging onto a rope dangling beneath a helicopter: Ten men and one woman. They all decided that one person should let go of the rope because otherwise the rope would break and they would all die. No one volunteered to let go of the rope however, until finally, the woman spoke and gave a very heart-stirring speech saying how she would sacrifice her life to save the lives of the others. She concluded her touching speech by saying that women are used to giving up things for their husbands and children, and giving in to men, and not receiving or expecting anything in return. When she finished speaking, touched with her self- sacrifice, all the men broke into a great round of applause.

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A Dreamer's Guide : Peddler to People

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

A Peddler predicts that business will soon be booming. If you met him, business will be good, but if you spoke to him, there may be sickness. You will receive sad news if you were a peddler. You are too proud if you ignored one. Sending a peddler away may indicate insincerity among your friends, and many peddlers suggests your companions are deceitful.

Perseverence will allow you to overcome your enemies if you dreamt of a Pedestrian, and many pedestrians means success in business. An injured pedestrian also foretells success in business. You may be confronted by insurmountable obstacles if you bumped into a pedestrian, while a pedestrian who falls may be a sign of infidelity. Honor and fame will be yours if you were a pedestrian. You may soon attend a funeral if you saw a pedestrian approaching you.

Peeling fruit suggests the illness of a relative or that you will discover a secret of some use to you. If you peeled vegetables, you may soon have friends over for dinner. A loved one will pay you a visit if you peeled eggs. Peeling skin is an indication of sickness.

A Pelican predicts success commingled with disappointments. If you are frugal, you will enjoy prosperity. If you caught one, you will overcome any disappointing influences, but killing a pelican means you will cruelly trample the rights of others. Pelicans in flight is an indication of changes which leave you uncertain as to their value.

Great unhappiness is foretold by a Pen in your dream. Your love of adventure is leading you into serious complications. Buying one means you will live a long life however. You will receive news from absent friends if you wrote with one, and honor is suggested if the pen was old fashioned. Writing with a fountain pen means you have false friends, and a quill pen suggests people are gossiping about you. If you wrote love letters with a fountain pen, there is no doubt you are being deceived. You will be annoyed if you were writing with a pen in bed. Fortune will arise through your family ties if you saw children using a pen. A pen which refuses to write is an omen of a serious breach of morality.

You will be upset by duties which leave you rebellious if you had Penalties imposed upon you. If you paid a penalty, you may suffer sickness and financial loss. If it turned out you did not have to pay, you will be the victor in some contest.

You should attempt to be more reserved around strangers for the time being if you dreamt of doing Penance for some misdeed. You will have a long life if you asked for penance, but if others asked for it, be careful of a dangerous influence while you travel. You will enjoy good health if you gave penance to someone.

Dreaming of Pencils means there are good influences around you. If someone gave you pencils in your dream, beware of this person when you wake. Giving pencils to someone means you may remove yourself from this person upon waking. Good business is foretold if you bought pencils, and sharpening them indicates your accounts are in order. Writing with one is a good omen for marriage, unless you erased any words, in which case, be prepared for heartache.

An unexpected message is forthcoming if you saw a Pendulum. If it stops moving, you will have a long and healthy life. Starting one moving predicts a long journey. If a pendulum sat on the mantel, beware of treacherous friends.

Penguins are a sign that your troubles are not as bad as they seem.

A Peninsula is an omen of harm. Your friends will torment you if you were on a peninsula, but if you lived there, you will have plenty of good food.

A Penitentiary is an omen of loss in your affairs. If you were an inmate, you face loss in business and discontent at home. You will overcome difficult obstacles if you escaped from one.

Pennies are a sign of unsatisfying pursuits, and shiny new penny indicates a false friend. Business will suffer and lovers and friends will complain of the lack of your affections. Losing pennies predicts small failures, though finding them foretells improved prospects. You will be business-like and frugal if you counted pennies. If you gave pennies away, you will be lucky in money.

Receiving a Pension suggests that you will be called upon to make a decision, but if you were a pension, you have one loyal friend. If others received a pension, be careful in your decisions. You may invest in stocks if a relative received a pension. Drawing upon a pension suggests friends will come to your aid.

Be careful not to live beyond your means if you dreamt of a Penthouse.

A Peony foretells a loss of temper. If you had some of these flowers, you will be anxious, while receipt of peonies predicts annoyances. If you gave any to anyone, your companions are deceitful. The color of the peony may modify the omen.

You will be a respected in your social circles if you dreamt of happy People; the larger the group, the more dignity and respect you will have. You will receive orders from a superior if you were counting people in your dream. If people came to home, you will have sorrow and tears, especially if they came uninvited. Armed people predicts a visit from someone in the armed forces. Blind people are a sign of misfortune. You will lose a friend if you saw people dressed in white, while people dressed in black are an omen of unhappy events in the near future.

Elderly males predict fortune, while elderly females are a sign of disgrace. An influential man is a warning of persecution, and if you were sought after by a woman of high class, you will suffer misery and wrongdoings. Honor and dignity follow a dream of people in a high office or of noble birth. If you dreamt of people of the lowest classes, do not let your boss mistreat you, and if you had any dealings with lower classed people, hold firm to your principles. If you were protected by lower class people however, you may be expected too many favors of others.

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Quote : Leo Rosten
I learned that it is the weak who are cruel, and that gentleness is to be expected only from the strong.

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