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.

Consus

birth of Nut, Procession of Bast

Devaki

Olympics

The Gelede

birth of Hathor

Alexandrian calendar

Urda

Augustus Caesar

Egypt

Chariseria

Eyos

Horus receives the White Crown

Raymond Buckland

September acquired its name as the seventh month of the old Roman calendar. Pomona, patroness of fruit and fruit-trees, was tutelary goddess of this month in which autumn begins.

September was Meán Fómhair in Ireland or an t-Sultainn, the fat time. All these names refer to the ripening harvest. The September moon is gealach an abachaidh, moon of ripening. Haligmonath, "holy month," was the month of September among the Anglo-Saxons. The Franks called this month Witumanoth, "wood month," for this when the majority of wood was gathered for the coming cold months. September is Shedding among the Asatru.

The first Full Moon is called the Fruit or Grain Moon, a name it shares with August. It shares the name Harvest Moon with October and Sturgeon Moon with August. It has been called the Singing, Wine Moon, and the Moon When Deer Paw the Earth.

Libra takes over from Virgo around September 23rd. Those born this month have the aster for their birth flower. The stone for Virgo and those born in September is the sapphire. Chrysolite and sardonyx are also listed as stones for those born in Septmeber. Libra’s birthstone is opal or tourmaline, and Libra is also linked to aquamarine, emerald, kunzite, moonstone, opal, peridot, and pink tourmaline. Amazonite, amber, carnelian, chrysocolla, citrine, and sapphire are other stones associated with Virgo

Lunar Holy Days

The Chinese Moon festival, Chung-Ch'iu, falls on the fifteenth day of the eighth moon of the Chinese lunar calendar. The climax of the growing season, it is a time to give thanks for a bountiful harvest. Rites are carried out by the women of each family in their courtyards. A picture or a figurine of the Moon Hare (who is supposed to inhabit the moon is placed on a special altar. When moonlight fills the courtyard, the ceremony begins. Offerings are set on the altar, five platters of different fruit and thirteen mooncakes, small spicy circular cakes. In northern China, mooncakes have two fillings—a sugar paste or a date paste. In southern China, the fillings are more varied—they include ham, preserved apricots, sweet bean puree, walnuts, and watermelon seeds. Yellow beans may also be offered. Incense is lit and women approach the altar one by one. The picture of the hare is then burned to release its soul.

During China's Choyo-no-Sekku or the Kiku no Sekku, Chrysanthemum Day, chrysanthemum wine is drunk on the ninth day of the ninth moon to ensure long life. At the Chrysanthemum Doll Fete, lifelike clay figures are dressed in robes made of fresh chrysanthemums and arranged as parts of legendary and historical scenes. The celebration is also held to honor the poet T'ao Yuan-Ming who flavored the flower which only blooms in the autumn. After his death, he became the god of the flower.

In Staffordshire England, the Horndance begins at dawn on the first Monday after Wake Sunday (the first Sunday after September 4th). At one time, it was held two weeks before the autumnal equinox. Costumed dancers gather and wander through the village and the country-side, performing their dance periodically. The final dance is held in the center of the village before the antlers are returned to the church for storage. The Dancers are all male. They include a fool, a Robin Hood on a hobbyhorse, a Maid Marion, a bowman, two musicians, and six deer wearing wooden replicas of reindeer antlers. It has been considered a tradition honoring the Horned God, commonly known as Cernunnos.

Radha and Krishna

A Feast of Osiris

Akwambo

The Apache Sunrise ceremony

Runes are a very useful tool in Witchcraft, limited in their usage only by the diversity of the Witch her/himself. Runes are an ancient form of divination, said to have been brought into the mortal plane by Odin himself. Whatever their origins, it seems that all cultures that have included Witches and/or Druids in their past seem to have their own form of this archaic Futhark (letter system) with it's many uses.

A Runic Cross can be drawn in order to divine much needed information about the past, present and future. Though not an easy skill to develop, those adept with the Runes find great success in their readings. The key here is practice and patience, unlike riding a bike, the skill can be lost without usage and so a simple divining should be done at least once a day by those interested in developing their Runic proficiency.

Runes have endless potential for casting spells as well as their more common usage as an oracle. Each Rune has specific Magickal power that may be invoked in ritual. Beyond this, each rune also has an element, color, God/Goddess, animal, plant, numerological value and astrological sign associated to it, thereby opening endless spell possibilities to the Witch who cares to explore this venue.

Perhaps the most forgotten usage for the Rune is it's original purpose as a Futhark (letter system). Though this seems mundane, it is actually quite useful and beautiful in it's own right. A Witch may choose to send a private message to another in Runic form should the content be sensitive. One may also use the Futhark to create spell banners, plaques or talismans. Basically, any time a regular writing is called for, the runic Futhark may be substituted for an extra boost of power and privacy.

You'll need all of the following to begin:
An ordinary home oven
Glass or ceramic bakeware
Three 2-ounce packages of Sculpey III brand polymer clay (or a comparable amount of any similar oven-hardened plastic clay). You can use more than one color for a marbling effect.
A tool to press lines into the Sculpey to make glyphs. You can make your own glyph-pressing tool from thick cardboard. Cut a rectangle an inch long, then trim two of the corners at odd angles to create lines of differing lengths. Pressing the glyph-lines is much better than scraping them out with a pointed object; it makes cleaner lines.

Set aside about an hour. Have clean, dry hands and a good working surface ready. Tear your Sculpey into pebble-sized chunks, kneading as you go. Toss them all into a mix. Blend the pebbles back into a single, smooth mass of clay. Fold, stretch and knead as required to make the kind of marbling or mottling that looks good to you.

Roll the clay into a rope of even thickness. Use a ruler (or whatever method works best for you) to divide it into an equal number of pieces. Keep the size of the pieces as uniform as possible. Shape each piece into an oblong or oval "stone," using your fingers to mold curves and contours. Keep the shapes varied for best results; just make sure that each stone is flat enough to have two distinct sides. Press the glyphs into each stone using your pressing and poking tools. Work directly on the glass/ceramic surface you'll be baking on to minimize damage from moving the stones around. You can lightly rub your own fingerprints off the surface of the clay once you're done pressing in each glyph or you can use sand paper once they’ve been baked.

Bake according to package directions, adjusting with care to suit your oven's performance. Sculpey can burn, too, so be careful not to singe your stones! Cool the stones completely; you can leave them on the bakeware or spatula them out onto a cooling surface. Once they're cooled, the stones can be painted, sanded, coated with sealant, or anything else that appeals to you. Then you can think about making a nice cloth bag to keep them in.

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Humor : Dust

A little girl was listening to a sermon by a priest, and was puzzled by the phrase, "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust." After the sermon she approached the priest and asked what it meant. "My dear attentive girl, it means we all come from dust and we all go to dust." The little girl looked very worried now and said, "Well, can you come and look under my bed because there's someone either coming or going..."

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

Atea “space” or Atea Rangi is a moon god and the Polynesian primeval god, the first to emerge from Chaos. Divided down the center, he is depicted in some tales as half man and half fish. He is also referred to as Avatea, Vatea, and Wakea (Hawaiian). The second god to emerge from Chaos was his brother Tinirau who was also depicted as half man and half fish.

According to the myths of Tahuata (the smallest of the Marquesas islands), Atea emerged one morning from his mother Chaos, Vari-Ma-Te-Takere. Freeing himself, he made room for Atanua to arise. They married and had a son, Tu-Mea, the first man. Other myths say he separated into two beings, becoming the god Rangi, Vatea, or Wakea and the goddess Papa. Their children were Tangaroa and Rongo. Though Vatea liked Tangaroa, he allowed himself to be persuaded by his wife to dispossess him in favor of Rongo.

By Tuamotuan (islands east of Tahiti) mythology, Atea was the sky god who married Fa'ahotu. After their firstborn, the magician Tahu, died of starvation on Fa'ahotu's flat bosom, and others followed, the two gods exchanged sexes. A legend is told of Atea and Tane, a younger god whom Atea tried to capture. After having sent a host of deities against Tane, the young god escaped to Earth and wandered, finally becoming so hungry that he killed and ate one of his ancestors. This was the beginning of what was to become cannibalism. Reaching manhood, Tane declared war on Atea, and slew him with the thunderbolts of his ancestor, Fatu-tiri.

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Quote: George Bernard Shaw
A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.

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

Borage (Borago officinalis)

Folk Names: Bee Bread, Bugloss, Burrage, Common Bugloss, False Bugloss, Herb of Gladness, Starflower, Euphrosynon (Greek)

Description: Borage is an annual found wild in the Mediterranean and cultivated elsewhere. It grows well in eastern North America and inland as far as Tennessee and Illinois. The hollow, branched and spreading stem grows up to two feet. The deep green leaves are oval or oblong-lanceolate with wavy edges. Both the leaves and stem are covered with prickly white hairs. The basal leaves form a rosette while the stem leaves grow alternately. Blue or purplish, star-shaped flowers appear in loose racemes from June to August. The prominent black anthers form a cone in the center of the flower, commonly referred to as the plant’s “beauty spot.” Each flower produces four, brownish-black nutlets.

Effects: strong
Planet: Jupiter Zodiac Leo
Element: air
Associated Deities:

Traditions:
Blue borage flowers are a traditional motif in embroidery.

Magic:
Borage was known from ancient times for its cooling qualities and refreshing taste. It was added to drinks (and mulled wines) and salads to make people merry. It was said to drive away depression and promote strength of character and optimism. Knights at jousting tournaments drank a borage tincture for courage, and this is remembered in the rhyme:

I, Borage,
bring always courage.

The fresh blossoms may also be carried for courage, or they can grace a buttonhole for protection. A tea of borage is also said to aid psychic ability, and it may be added to baths and incenses.

Known Combinations:
none noted

Medical Indications: (Caution: Contact with the skin may cause dermatitis in some sensitive people. Some researchers now believe borage can cause cancer if taken internally over long periods of time.)
Parts used: herb, flowers, seeds
Borage is a source of calcium, potassium, essential oils, gamma-linolenic acid, mucilage, oleic acid, palmitic acid, tannins. It is an aperient, febrifuge, galactagogue, pectoral, tonic, anti-inflammatory, and demulcent. Due to its high GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) content, it has been used to reduce menstrual cramps
Borage has been used as a calmative for nervous conditions from times immemorial. It has also be used as a calmative and anti-inflammatory for pleurisy and peritonitis. It has been ingested to reduce fever and restore strength during convalescence, and to treat problems of the kidney and pulmonary catarrh. The leaves and seeds may be brewed into a tea to stimulate milk flow in nursing mothers.
The fresh herb is used in a wash or poultice externally as eyewash and for inflammations (dermatitis and eczema), and swellings. A wash of borage may be used simply as a skin cleanser.

Nutrition:
Use fresh borage leaves in salads, cold drinks, and fish sauces. The young leaves may be cooked as a vegetable like spinach or used as a pot herb. The flowers can be added as a garnish in punch and iced drinks, in salads, and candied for cakes. The fresh leaves and flowers have a cucumber odor and taste pf cucumber if steeped in water.

Mercantile Uses:
As the name bee bread would imply, borage is a favorite with bees and yields excellent honey.

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Cartoon

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Poem : In Superstitious Panic
Nikolay Morshen (b. 1917)

In superstitious panic
I stared at walls surrounding me:
What space encloses me –
Four-dimensional or four walled?

I opened the door. It was twilight.
Objects gradually disappeared behind each other
And the air rustled lightly like foam –
Palpable, yet elusive.

The tide of dark air
Rose to my knees, to my chest
And I had only to cross the threshold
To swim and swim, choking on stars.

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Quote : Ellen Parr
The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.

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

Aragonite has the same chemical composition as Calcite, but is less common and forms differently shaped crystals. One variety, known as flos feri, “flowers of iron,” makes intricate, coral or worm-like curling and curving branches. Other varieties form hexagonal or pseudo-hexagonal twinned prisms. Aragonite is a major constituent of pearls, shells, and the skeletal structure of marine creatures.

Aragonite is an excellent meditation stone, reminding us of the six-fold symmetry prevalent in nature. From the hexagonal cells of a beehive to the six petals on many flowers, it is an ideal contemplative stone for nature-minded people. Some aragonite aggregates radiate in prisms from a common center. This can suggest all sorts of natural progressions from singular to universal. Aragonite aids in centering, especially during times of stress and anger.

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Humor : A Good Reason to Drink

as explained by Cliff Clavin, of Cheers to his buddy Norm from the TV series Cheers "Well ya see, Norm, it's like this... A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members. In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. That's why you always feel smarter after a few beers."

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A Dreamer's Guide : Liar to Lilies

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

You will lose faith in some plan which you had formerly had much confidence in if you thought of someone as a Liar. If someone called you a liar, some deceitful person will cause you vexations. If you thought you fiancé was liar, your conduct may lose you a valued friend.

You will be very successful if you dreamt you were the victim of Libel, but you will suffer a misfortune in your business if others were libeled. If your libeled others personally, you will overcome your enemies.

A Library indicates rapid progress, but if you were the owner, you will need to consult a judge. If you were in a library, you will grow discontent with your current environment and associates, and instead, seek fulfillment in study and the exploration of ancient customs. Poverty is augured by borrowing a book, while consulting a book at the library means laziness.

Good luck is foretold byLice, the more lice you saw, the more abundant will be your good fortune. Dishonor is presaged by killing them however. Finding lice on your clothes or in your hair heralds approaching money, but lice on other people means misfortune in love. Lice on animals foretells famine and loss.

There will be a change in your profession if you dreamt of obtaining your License, while applying for one indicates a change of surroundings. If you were refused a license, an important and beneficial event is on its way.

If you were Licked by a dog, you will have luck and prosperity, and if it licked someone else, you are still in for good times. You will also have a good life if you were licked by a baby. If you were licked by a horse however, you will find danger in love. Happiness is foretold if you were licked by others, and if you saw anyone else get licked, a friend is relying on you for guidance.

Telling a Lie means you will live a long life, but if you were told a lie, friends will cheat you. You have many enemies if people were telling lies. If a married couple told each other lies or you lied to a judge, you will come to suffer from your own foolishness, but if children lied to their parents, your high ambitions will be realized.

You will face opposition of your plans if you saw a Lifeboat aboard a ship, and you can expect difficulties if you saw one beached on shore. A lifeboat afloat on the ocean indicates triumph over enemies, and many lifeboats on the water or conversely, a smashed lifeboat foretell a change of luck for the better. A lifeboat on a river is a warning of trouble, while a lifeboat on a lake means a mystery will be solved. Advancement is promised by a lifeboat in the process of being built. You will have a peaceful life if you saw people saved by a lifeboat. Dignity and distinction are indicated by buying a lifeboat. If you saw one sinking, friends will contribute to your troubles.

You will recover from illness if you Lifted anything, but if it was very heavy, this is a warning of trouble. Dignity and distinction are presaged by lifting a child. You will overcome enemies with perseverance if others lifted something. Lifting something with machinery means approaching money.

If a Light was on, there is an inheritance in your future. A dim light means sickness however, while a bright light indicates good health. Difficulties lie ahead if the light was obscured in any way, and if the light went out, there is danger in love. You will safely return from extensive travel if you saw a light in the distance, and if it was on a ship, you may soon take a trip with your love. Your business will be successful if you turned a light on, but turning one out means your love is unfaithful. If others turned a light on, you will recover from an illness, but if they turned out a light, you may need a small operation. Lighting a lamp means happiness, but putting one out indicates bad news from a faraway friend.

You will have a healthy life if you were in a Lighthouse. There will be success in business if you went to a lighthouse, while returning from a lighthouse may mean a letter from a relative. A lighthouse by a calm sea indicates a peaceful life, and a lighthouse in a storm promises happiness.

Lightning in the sky is an omen of high honors. If it struck a house, you may lose a friend, and striking a tree foretells discord between partners. If you were struck by lightning, you may lose a relative. Success is guaranteed is lightning struck water, but your life is in danger if it struck and killed animals in the field. Lightning at night indicates trouble and quarrels. Lightning from the south means you will be unfortunate for a while, but from the southwest, it means luck, and the farther west the better your fortune. If it was in the north, obstacles will need to be removed before your prospects brighten. From the east, lightning is a sign of easily won favors and fortune.

Some cherished work is under threat if you saw a Lightning Rod. If you saw one struck by lightning, there will be an accident or sudden news to cause you sorrow.

Conceit is indicated by Lilacs. A friend will give you a gift if you spelled lilacs, and if you received a gift of lilacs, you are unconcerned by appearances. A change of surroundings is augured by a gift of lilacs to others.

Much happiness is foretold by Lilies in season, but out of season they are a symbol of the loss of all hope. If you saw them growing, an early marriage will take place. Do not expect help from others if you bought lilies, and selling them also means you must depend upon yourself. You will be guilty of foolishness if you saw withered lilies, and throwing them means a thoughtless action will cause your downfall. Frivolity is indicated by a bouquet of lilies.

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Quote : Beverly Sills
You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try.

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Ancient Whispers Newsletter Archive

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