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.

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.

Tan Hill Festival

Festival of Nut and Ra, chief festival of Thoth

Adonis

Opet festival

Dog Days of summer

Tij Day, Haritalika

Ghanta Karna

Puck's Fair

Yashodhara

Pairika, Apsaras

Perseids

The Lychnapsia or Lignapsia, Sekhmet's repulsion of Set.

Felicitas

universe began

birht of Diana, Hecate

Camenae

Isis gained the Horns of Hathor, battle between Horus and Set

The Church of Wicca

Peace between Horus and Set

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

Humor: Civilized

A missionary who had spent years showing a tribe of natives how to farm and build things to be self-sufficient gets word that he is to return home. He realizes that the one thing he never taught the natives was how to speak English, so he takes the chief and starts walking in the forest. He points to a tree and says to the chief, “This is a tree.” The chief looks at the tree and grunts, “Tree.” The missionary is pleased with the response. They walk a little farther and the padre points to a rock and says, “This is a rock.” Hearing this, the chief looks and grunts, “Rock.” The padre is really getting enthusiastic about the results when he hears a rustling in the bushes. As he peeks over the top, he sees a couple in the midst of heavy romantic activity. The padre is really flustered and quickly responds, “Riding a bike.” The chief looks at the couple briefly, pulls out his blowgun and kills them. The padre goes ballistic and yells at the chief that he has spent years teaching the tribe how to be civilized and kind to each other, so how could he just kill these people in cold blood that way? The chief replied, “My bike.”

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

Article : Ushabti Magic
by Caraline of the Non Wiccan Witches at Yahoogroups

Background

Small statues have featured in religion and magic for thousands of years, and the ancient Egyptians, like many other ancient cultures, used such statuettes both in prehistoric and historic times. These statuettes represented the person on whose behalf the magic was being worked, and may very well be the source of the voodoo doll used in more recent times. It is thought by some scholars that the Ushabti was the forerunner of the witch's familiar or magician's homunculi. In tombs these statuettes were inscribed with the name of the deceased and were "enlivened" to act as servants in the Otherworld. As such, they were called "Ushabtis" (Answerers). Though the Ushabtis were magical servants, and were usually crafted with crude and vague features, they were often in the case of royalty and the wealthy, carved in the image of the deceased. It is believed that in these cases, the Ushabti was intended to represent the deceased himself and to carry out any work that the deceased may normally be required to do.

During the New Kingdom the purpose of the Ushabti shifted somewhat from servant to that of protector, and it became traditional for for Ushabtis to be placed at the cardinal points around the sarcophagus. Later during the Ptolemaic period, the figurines were used by Greco-Egyptian magicians for more coercive magic, earning them a negative reputation similar to that of the voodoo doll.

Creating an Ushabti

Materials

The Ushabti may be made using any material, such as clay, wood, dough or bread (see this week’s craft), or alternatively, purchased.

Enlivening the Ushabti

The Ushabti is placed upon an altar. The Ankh is touched first to the magician’s heart, then to the Ushabti's heart. The following words are spoken over the Ushabti.

"Ushabti, I am your creator and I give you life.
I enliven you with my own breath (magician breaths upon the Ushabti)
I enliven you with my own blood (magician places a drop of blood or holy water upon the Ushabti)
I enliven you with my own will (magician passes the Ushabti through a flame)
When your work is done I will take you back into my own self. Your deeds are my deeds and The Feather of Ma'at with judge me by your actions."
I enliven you Utchat (blessed) Ushabti

Instruct the Ushabti

Bearing in mind the fact that the deeds of your Ushabti will be recorded as the magician's own actions, the Ushabti is given clear instructions as to the task required of it. The instructions are ended with:

"Ushabti, I have charged you with this deed.
You must go now, and be about your task.
Having done so, return unto me
And I shall take you into my heart."

On the Return of the Ushabti

When the magician knows that the Ushabti has performed it's task, regardless of success or failure, the promise previously made must be kept.

"By my breath, by my blood, by my will
I accept you Ushabti into my heart.
Your deeds are now my deeds.
Rest now, until I have further need of you."

References:
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
Isis Magic by M. Isidora Forrest
Egyptian Magic by Gerald & Betty Fuller

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

Quote : Bertrand Russell
Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom.

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

Craft of the Week : Homemade Playdough

Because these ingredients are so readily available, you may wish to make a Ushabti using one of these playdough recipes. These recipes can also be used to make all sorts of sculptures, magnets, symbols, and jewelry. The possibilities are unlimited. Though you can paint your creations when they are finished, it would not be recommended for your Ushabti as many paints are flammable. Food coloring or natural dyes is a much better solution.

Playdough Recipe #1

1 C Flour
1/2 C Salt
1 C Water
2 Tsp Cream of Tartar
1-2 Tsp Oil
Food Coloring

Mix together all ingredients and cook for three minutes over low heat. Stir well. Add food coloring.

Play Dough Recipe #2

1/2 C of salt
1 C of flour
1/2 C of boiling water
1 1/2 Tsp vegetable oil
food coloring
spoon
bowl
wax paper

Combine the flour and salt in a mixing bowl. Add the oil and boiling water. Stir with a spoon until well blended, and the dough comes away from the sides of the bowl. When it is cool enough to handle, knead the dough with your hands until it is smooth. This should only take a minute or two.

Separate the dough into two or three balls. Flatten the ball and make a well in the center. Add two or more drops of food coloring to the well (two drops for a pastel color, more for deeper colors). Knead the dough until the color is even.

Play Dough Recipe #3

1 C cornstarch
2 C salt
1 1/3 C cold water

Put the salt and 2/3 cups water into a pan. Bring to a boil. Mix the cornstarch with the remaining 2/3 cups water, and stir well. Add these mixtures together and knead into clay.

Play Dough Recipe #4

2 slices soft white bread
2 Tbsp of white glue

Remove the crusts from your bread slices and tear the bread into small pieces. Drizzle the glue over the pieces, and mix with a fork until you can get your hands in there and knead. As you roll it in your hands, the glue and bread will mix. Everything will eventually start to stick to itself and come off your hands.

Store your finished modeling dough in an airtight bag or container. It will keep for weeks if stored in the refrigerator. Be sure to let it warm to room temperature before using. Pinch off as much dough as you need to make your shape and leave the rest in the sealed container. Work the dough into any desired shape with your hands or just about any kitchen utensil. When you have finished molding your shape, put it on a piece of wax paper to dry. It should dry overnight to a hard finish. The thicker the piece the longer it will take to dry.

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

Humor : Elementary Watson

Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson went on a camping trip. After a good meal and a bottle of wine, they lay down for the night and went to sleep. Some hours later, Holmes awoke and nudged his faithful friend. "Watson, look up at the sky and tell me what you see." Watson replied, "I see millions and millions of stars." "What does that tell you?" inquired Holmes. Watson pondered for a minute. "Astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, I observe that Saturn is in Leo. Chronologically, I deduce that the time is approximately a quarter past three. Theologically, I can see that God is all-powerful and that we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, I suspect that we will have a beautiful clear day tomorrow. What does it tell YOU?" Holmes was silent for a minute then spoke. "Watson, you idiot, some bastard has stolen our tent."

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

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

In Zoroastrian mythology, Atar is one of the Yazatas and the spirit of fire. He is also called Adar, Atash, Atesh, or Adur. Referred to as “The Son of Ahura Mazda” in the Avesta, he was created to fight the dragon Azhi Dahaka created by Ahriman to destroy the universe. The 9th day of the month and 9th month of the year is named for him in the Zoroastrian calendar.

According to Ugarit tablets however, Atar is the son of El and Aserah, known as The Terrible. In Phoenician lore, he attempted to rule the world for a time after the killing of Baal by Mot but was unsuccessful.

In Southern Arabia, Attar (Athar) is a pre-Islamic god of war, but also a giver of water. He was often referred to as “He who is Bold in Battle.” One of his symbols is the spear-point, and his sacred animal is the antelope. He may be equated with Atter of the northern Semites, the god of war whose planet was Venus and whose female counterpart was Attar. Atter may also be equated with Shahar (Sahar), a moon good of the northern and southern Semites.

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

Quote: Julius Robert Oppenheimer
The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance; The wise grows it under his feet.

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

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

Bodhi (Ficus religiosa)

Folk Names: Bo-Tree, Fig, Peepul Tree, Pipul, Sacred Tree

Description: The Bodhi tree is a type of fig native to India. It is a tropical deciduous tree with aerial roots growing down to form secondary trunks. The tree can reach up to one hundred feet with a dense crown of leaves. The stalked leaves are cordate at their base, and the entire leaf blade has a remarkably sharp point. The veins of young leaves are rosy, while adult leaves are bluish-green with veins of ivory white. The purple fruits are small and sessile, growing in pairs at the axils of leaves.

Effects: strong
Planet: Jupiter
Element: Air
Associated Deities: Buddha, Vishnu, Mithra

Traditions:
The Bodhi tree is sacred to Buddha and Vishnu. According to lore, both were born beneath one. Buddha sat beneath a Bodhi tree in meditation for six years, and its heart shaped leaves are said to tremble in memory of the divine vibrations. In the East, sacred fires are fed with its wood. It is often planted next to Indian temples. The fruit is believed to contain wisdom, while students seeking enlightenment carry bits of bark and leaves.

Magic:
The leaves of the Bodhi tree may be added to meditation incenses, and all parts of the tree may be included in wisdom mixtures. If you feel yourself in danger, and there is a Bodhi tree nearby, circle the tree several times to make evil flee. The Bodhi tree is also said to cure barrenness in women.

Known Combinations:
none noted

Medical Indications: Parts Used:

Nutrition:
none

Mercantile Uses:

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Cartoon

From Anubis Rising

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

Poem : The Oak
Aleksander Kushner b. 1936

The lonely oak,
with its tattered foliage,
its mildewed bark,
rustles dully overhead.

How dismal, how bewildered
it is, how uncertain
it’s going to outlast me.
And this makes our relationship

an odd one. I leave
the road everytime for it,
embrace and console it,
when really it should be consoling me.

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

Quote : Booker T. Washington
The world cares very little about what a man or woman knows; it is what a man or woman is able to do that counts.

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

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

Amethyst is a purple quartz crystal found in volcanic, extruding rocks. It is the most beautiful and valuable of the quartz family, its color coming from small traces of ferric iron. As much as one cubic foot of quartz can become amethyst by as little as the iron contained in the head of a pin.

From the Greeks, amethyst got its modern name meaning “without drunkness.” It is said the wine color of amethyst came from Bacchus. Feeling neglected, Bacchus was determined to kill with his tigers the first person he met. Unfortunately for the maiden Amethyst, she met Bacchus on her way to worship Diana at her temple. As the tigers sprang to attack, Amethyst pled to the goddess Diana for protection and was transformed into a pure, clear stone. Repenting his actions, Bacchus attempted to make amends by pouring wine over the stone, giving it its lovely purple hue. A later myth said that Amethyst was a nymph who loved the god of wine, but when he scorned her, she withered away to a small, hard stone which would always oppose the affects of wine.

Both the Greeks and Romans used it to prevent the effects of overindulgence in food and drink, and to cool love. Many goblets were inlaid with amethyst for this purpose. It was often placed under the pillow at night to cure insomnia, prevent nightmares, and to heal mental problems and control temper. It also had the power to control evil thoughts, increase the intelligence, and augment business savvy. For headaches, the stone was warmed and placed against the temples or forehead to reduce the throbbing. The Romans also used it protectively during travel, to tame or hunt wild animals, and to dispel fear and guilt. Egyptians, who called it hemag, also carried it for protection during travel and ambassadors used it to safeguard against treachery and ambushes. Even the Crusaders attached the stone to their rosaries for protection in their travels.

In nearly all societies, it was considered a sacred stone. Identified as a stone of royalty and the bishop’s stone, it is still worn on the second finger of the right hand by Catholic Bishops. The Semitic high priests used it as the center stone of the breastplate, and used it to symbolize spiritual power. According to legend, amethyst was the seventh stone Iacchus gave to Appolonius. It represents piety and dignity. The Rosicrucians saw the stone as an emblem of divine sacrifice because the color was representative of suffering, passion, and hope. Unfortunately, in antiquity the word amethyst was applied to all purple stones, including purple garnet and purple sapphire so it is impossible to say how accurate the religious uses are.

Many consider amethyst a powerful stone for psychic ability. It has been used to ward off psychic and magickal attack, and medieval writers stated that an amethyst engraved with the form of a bear would drive off demons. Some stones have been known to lose their color after protecting against an attack. Conversely, amethyst is said to increase psychic ability or open up blocked abilities, and it is said to cause dreams and visions This belief comes for the Hebrew name for the stone, Ahlamah from halom, “dream.”

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

Humor : Zen Judaism

Take only what is given. Own nothing but your robes and an alms bowl. Unless, of course, you have the closet space. Let your mind be as a floating cloud. Let your stillness be as the wooded glen. And sit up straight. You'll never meet the Buddha with posture like that. There is no escaping karma. In a previous life, you never called, you never wrote, you never visited. And whose fault was that? Wherever you go, there you are. Your luggage is another story. Do not let children play contact sports like football. These only lead to injuries and instill a violent, war-like nature. Encourage your child to play peaceful games, like "Sports Doctor." To practice Zen and the art of Jewish motorcycle maintenance, do the following: get rid of the motorcycle. What were you thinking? Learn of the pine from the pine. Learn of the bamboo from the bamboo. Learn of the kugel from the kugel. Be aware of your body. Be aware of your perceptions. Keep in mind that not every physical sensation is a symptom of a terminal illness. If there is no self, whose arthritis is this? Those who know do not kibbitz. Those who kibbitz do not know. Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out. Forget this and attaining Enlightenment will be the least of your problems. Do not kvetch. Be a kvetch. Become one with your whining. The Tao has no expectations. The Tao demands nothing of others. The Tao does not speak. The Tao does not blame. The Tao does not take sides. The Tao is not Jewish. Whenever you feel anger, you should say, "May I be free of this anger!" This rarely works, but talking to yourself in public will encourage others to leave you alone. Drink tea and nourish life. With the first sip... joy. With the second... satisfaction. With the third... a cheese Danish. The Buddha taught that one should practice loving kindness to all sentient beings. Still, would it kill you to find a nice sentient being who happens to be Jewish? Enter into your inner self and behold the eye of the soul. Gaze upon your original face before you were even born. Shocked? Remember, this was before the nose job. Be patient and achieve all things. Be impatient and achieve all things faster. In nature, there is no good or bad, better or worse. The wind may blow or not. The flowering branch grows long or short. Do not judge or prefer. Ask only, "Is it good for the Jews?" To Find the Buddha, look within. Deep inside you are ten thousand flowers. Each flower blossoms ten thousand times. Each blossom has ten thousand petals. You might want to see a specialist. Be here now. Be someplace else later. Is that so complicated? Be a little good to the people who really love you. Is it too much to ask you should nudge a little business to our sponsor who also has to eat?

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

A Dreamer's Guide : Ledger to Lentils

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

A Ledger is a sign of a long life. Seeing a ledger full of figures may foretell the discovery of lost money. If you kept a ledger, you will be perplexed and disappointed. Incorrect entries will lead to small disputes and slight losses. You will lose money by combining pleasure with business if someone of the opposite sex kept your ledger. If the accounts in your ledger were worthless and useless, you will have bad management and losses, but if the accounts were good, conditions will improve.

Placing the ledger in a safe means you will be able to protect your rights under adverse conditions. If you lost it, neglected duties will cause your plans to go awry. You will suffer through the carelessness of friends if it was destroyed in a fire.

Enemies will encroach upon your business if you dreamt of Leeches. The more leeches you saw, the money you stand to lose. If they were applied to you for medical reasons, there will be a serious illness in your family, and if they were used on others, trouble or sickness will befall a friend. There is danger for you in unexpected places if you saw a leech on yourself, and killing one is indicative of a false friend.

Slow progress is presaged by a Leek growing in the garden, but if you ate, cooked, or served this relative of the onion, you will realize a quick rise in status. To see it on a coat of arms is a promise of dignity and distinction.

If you dream featured the Left side of anything or a left turn or the direction, do not be discouraged by temporary setbacks. Perseverance will help you attain your goals.

You face an awkward situation or dangerous rival if you were left handed in your dream when you are not normally in the waking world. You will find happiness sin love if you wrote with your left hand, and you will have honor and riches if you did anything else with your left hand. Fighting with your left hand means loss of a relative or friend, and eating with your left is a warning to modify your manners. For the southpaw, using your left hand means better times ahead.

If someone left you, you must learn to control your passions, while leaving someone else foretells sorrow. If you left your home, your business will prosper, but leaving your family indicates dishonor and embarrassment. You will be prosecuted if you left children behind.

A Legacy is a very lucky dream unless it came from your immediate family, in which case, it will be a season of niggling aggravations. If the legacy was from someone unknown to you, you will have prosperity.

You will come into a situation requiring all your energy and ability to extricate yourself if you or someone else practiced Legerdemain.

If you were a member of Legislature, you will be vain about your possessions and treat family members unkindly.

Admiration for shapely Legs indicates a loss of judgment when it comes to some attractive individual. If you admired your own legs, it is a warning of vanity. Misshapen legs presages unprofitable occupations and ill-tempered companions. A wooden leg is a sign that you will portray yourself in a false way to friends. Skinny legs are a warning of embarrassment due to some ill-advised romance.

If you legs were clean and well shaped, you will have a happy future and devoted friends. A wounded leg foretells loss and illness, while ulcers on your legs indicates a drain on your income through aid to others. Bruises or swollen legs foretell financial difficulties. If you had more than the typical two legs, you have more plans in your mind than will ever benefit you in the real world. Poverty is the meaning of paralyzed legs, and if you had a leg amputated, you will lose valuable friends.

Drinking Lemonade means you will successfully deduce that someone’s attempt to get money is merely an attempt to enjoy themselves at your expense. Serving it predicts an increase in your popularity however. Hot lemonade mean an improvement in your health.

Lemons amidst rich, green foliage is a sign of misdirected jealousy toward some loved person which you will realize is absurd. Eating or sucking lemons is an omen of humiliation and disappointment. Squeezing them is a warning of a need for economy and penny pinching. Sickness and contagion is foretold by green lemons, and shriveled lemons indicate divorce or separation. Lemon blossoms foretell a trip.

Lending money foretells difficulties in meeting payments, and lending anything else could mean impoverishment through generosity. If you refused to lend anything, you will be aware of your interests and have the respect of friends. You will enjoy prosperity and close friendships if anyone offered to loan you anything.

A dream of Lentils denotes quarrels and unhealthy surroundings. This may indicate dissatisfaction with you lover, but through parental advice, you will come to value him or her.

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

Quote : Thomas A. Edison
Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.

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

Newsletter Archive

Past Newsletters