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.

October was the eighth month of the old Roman calendar and was sacred to the goddess Astraea, daughter of Zeus and Themis.

Deireadh Fóómhair or an Damhair, the stag rut, was the Irish name for this month or Gealach a 'bhruic, moon of the badger. Winterfelleth, "winter is coming," was the Anglo-Saxon name. The Franks called October Windurmanoth, "vintage month." Hunting is the Asatru name.

The first Full Moon is called the Hunter's Moon. This moon is also known as Shedding Moon, Ten Colds Moon, Ancestor Moon or the Moon of the Dead, and the Moon of the Changing Season. It shares the name Blood Moon with July and Harvest Moon with September.

The sun passes from Libra to Scorpio around October 23rd. Marigolds are for October children. Beryl, aquamarine, opal, or tourmaline are best for people born in October, and opal or tourmaline are also the birthstones of Libra, while topaz is the stone for Scorpio. Libra has connections to aquamarine, emerald, kunzite, moonstone, opal, peridot, and pink tourmaline, and other Scorpio stones include albite, aquamarine, emerald, garnet, green tourmaline, malachite, moonstone, obsidian, and ruby.

Winter Saturday and Winter Sunday is a two-day Asatru festival held at the end of the month to commemorate the end of winter.

Fides Pulbica

Plemo Choai

The fertility of Min

The eight Great Netjers

Cementation and Propitiation Festival

Moroccan New Year

Dionysus and Medetrina

Lamentations of Isis and Nephthys

Elk Festival

Ieiunium Cereris

Festival of Hathor

Nubaigai festival

Mundis Cereris

Vishnu and Haribodhini Ekadasi

Mundus

Bast appears

Victoria

Feast day of Ma´at

Chung Yeung, the Festival of High Places

Felicitas

Ra judges

Outfitting your altar with magickal tools is usually the first step before casting circles and doing rituals. There are so many tools and items, it can be a bit overwhelming to know which is which and what you really need. First and foremost, you do not need any of these things. Magick comes from within and the tools only focus your power. You also don't need to get all of your tools at a specialty Wiccan store. Tools can be purchased or made, whichever works better for you. Many feel that making your own tools, or at least modifying tools that you buy, serves to further focus your will when the time comes to use them.

If you are able to have a permanent altar, you can decorate it however you wish. Obviously there will be things you keep on your altar all the time, but for the Holy days, you can decorate with appropriate items. It need not be a permanent display, and changing it throughout the year can reflect your own frame of mind as the seasons change. If you choose to have items to represent the four elements, they are usually placed at their corresponding direction:

Fire - South (athame, candles, etc)
Water - West (chalice, cauldron, sea shells, etc)
Earth - North (pentacle, bowl of salt or earth, etc)
Air - East (incense, wand, feathers, etc)

The reason for building a particular altar is usually the first step in its creation and tells you which tools you will include. It begins with a desire to honor, celebrate or change something in your life. For instance, you may wish to:

Honor your deities or belief in the powers that be, or pay homage to special people dead or living
Celebrate separations, unions, anniversaries, milestones, beginnings or completions
Connect to aspects or roles in your life (maiden, mother/father, matron/mid-life, crone/aging, inner child, warrior, provider, healer, teacher/mentor, artist, etc)
Heal mind, body or spirit or cause changes (growth, status, attitudes, life circumstances)
Aid in long-term magick
Encourage specific moods (romance, peace, tranquility, creativity, etc)

Cloths and coverings are an important part of many altars, and while not a necessity, they do add color, texture and mood. They may also act to camouflage a temporary altar. Altar cloths may be altered tablecloths, doilies or scarves. Cloths can be made at home and embroidered or found at yard sales and auctions. Linen handkerchiefs and silk scarves make wonderful additions to altars. Blankets and towels make useful coverings as well. Choose your coverings with colors that correspond with the intent of your altar. Choose textures by the mood they enhance according to the purpose you have in mind. Colors are important to set the mood and enhance the properties you wish to represent on your altar. For a color guide go to this page: Colors

You may wish to have images representing the God and/or Goddess or any of your patron deities in place. These may be statues or other artwork. If space is limited, you may choose to use pictures instead and affix them to the wall beside or above your altar.

Some typical paraphernalia includes: altar cloth; athame (black handle) and boline (white handle); candles and candleholders; bowls, cauldron, decanter or chalice; bell; Book of Shadows; broom; deity symbols; Holy Water; salt or sea salt; wands

There are many other things that you may wish to include in your altar:

Art – photos, drawings, needlework, jewelry, beads, baskets
Mementos – statues, statuettes, carvings, collectibles, trade tools (things used in work), coins, plackets, charms/sachets, amulets and talismans, pentagrams or pentacle
Written Words – poems, essays, affirmations, written charms, newspaper clippings, magazine articles
Nature – living plants, seeds, dried or cut flowers, herbs and spices, potpourri, stones, crystals and gems, shells, feathers, earth, rice, tobacco
Craft/Spell Supplies – glass jar with cork, glue or wax, oils, India ink, quills and parchment or paper, fabric or felt for crafts, mortar and pestle, paint, pouches, rope, scissors, string, stencil and brushes
Divination Tools – crystal ball or magick mirror, pendulum, runes, tarot cards
Misc – candle Snuffer, capes, cloaks, or costumes, divination tools, incense, bricks, burners, and fire resistant plates, lighters or matches

Generally, an altar is used to gather and focus specific energy. This can be accomplished in several ways depending on the type of altar and the individual’s personal ways of using energy. Some altars are best left to work quietly while others need to be tended everyday.

Once your altar is in place, remember that it is a sacred place and should be treated with respect. Whether or not you let people touch the items found on your altar is up to you, but some feel that other people will bring outside energy to your tools; not always a good thing. Keep your altar dusted and clean. Replace flowers as they die and water as it evaporates if you include them on your altar.

If space is limited, this craft is perfect for including pictures of your family or images of your deities above your altar rather than cluttering up limited surfaces. The materials you will need for this craft are really very simple, and this craft is so easy, it is suitable for all ages.

glue
scissors
two colors construction paper (or paint)

There are two ways to do this craft. One is to trace your hand and/or the hands of your family members onto paper and cut out the prints. If making multiple cuts of the same hand, you only need to trace it once, then trace the tracing for uniformity. The second is to make paint handprints on the paper and cut those out. You can decorate the wreath further with pictures. These can be stickers, photos, hand drawn artwork, and pictures from magazines or fliers.

You can also include dried flowers and other natural items or make symbols (using glitter glue, markers, yarn, etc). If you want the wreath to be sturdier, try using poster board instead of construction paper. Cutting a thick piece of cardboard or a largish piece of Styrofoam so it won’t show through, affix it to the back of you wreath. This will make your wreath more durable and allow you to pin new items to your wreath or remove them as you wish.

According to the Phoenician creation legend of Philo Biblos, Atlas was the child of Ouranos and Gea. He is the brother of Ashtart, Baitules, Dagon, El, Pontus, and Zeus Demaros.

In Greek mythology, he is a Titan, son of Iapetus and the Oceanid Clymene, making him the brother of Prometheus and Epimetheus. His name means, “he who carries,” and the Greeks believed he held up the rim of the sky. This was his punishment for fighting the god Zeus, a burden he was doomed to bear forever. The Pleiades, Hyades, Calypso, and the Hesperides are the children of Atlas and his wife Pleione. It is said that Perseus turned the giant to stone with the head of Medusa out of pity. The Titan was still doomed to bear the weight of the sky for eternity, but as a mountain he would feel no more suffering.

Description: Bromeliads are members of a plant family Bromeliaceae, containing over 2700 species in approximately 56 genera. The most well known bromeliad is of course the pineapple (Ananas comosus or cosmos), but the family contains a wide range of plants including some very un-pineapple like members such as Spanish Moss. Other members resemble aloes or yuccas while still others look like green, leafy grasses. Some even trap and eat insects. Many bromeliads collect water in a central cup or in separate leaf axils. The small bodies of water function as ecosystems for aquatic organisms and are called phytotelmata. The animals and other organisms that live in them are not pests of bromeliads, but a few, such as mosquitoes, cause problems for people.

Effects: strong
Planet: Sun
Element: air
Associated Deities:

Traditions:

Magic:
Bromeliads are grown in the home for protection, money, and luxury.

Known Combinations:
none known

Medical Indications: (Caution: juice may cause dermatitis in some people.) Parts used: enzyme
The enzyme in fresh pineapple is used to treat painful arthritis.

Nutrition:
Tender, young pineapple shoots and terminal buds (inflorescences) are eaten in salads or cooked in Africa and Guatemala. Pineapple stems are a source of the protein-digesting enzyme bromelain, used as a meat tenderizer and for pain reduction. Because fresh pineapple also contains bromelain, it cannot be used in gelatin molds since the enzyme breaks down the congealing proteins.

Mercantile Uses:
Within the last hundred years, bromeliads have become more widely used as ornamental plants. Although the pineapple is the only member of the family cultivated for food, several species including Caroa (Neoglaziovia variegata) are cultivated as a source of fiber. Spanish Moss (Tillandsia usneoides) contains a tough, wiry core that was once used as a material for stuffing upholstery. Bromelain stabilizes latex paint and is useful in tanning leather.

at dusk
from the island in the river,
and it’s not too cold,

I’ll wait for the moon
to rise,
then take wing glide
to meet him.

We will not speak,
but hooded against the frost
soar above
the alder flats, searching
with tawny eyes.

And then we’ll sit
in the shadowy spruce and
pick the bones
of careless mice,

while the long moon drifts
toward Asia
and the river mutters
in its icy bed.

And when morning climbs
the limbs
we’ll part without a sound,
fulfilled, floating
homeward as
the cold world awakens.

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Quote : J.H. Oldham
Differences were meant by god not to divide but to enrich.

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

Augite is a glassy crystal ranging in color from purple and brown to black with gray-green streaks. Its name is derived from the greek word augites which means "brightness," an allusion to the relatively high luster seen on some exceptional specimens. This crystal may be used to understand and accept life’s changes. Purple augite is particularly helpful in providing guidance for spiritual growth, and brown augite is useful in clearing out muddying emotions or thoughts. The black streaked stone has been used to stabilize painful transitions while allowing the user to remain grounded and centered in reality.

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Humor : Mean Drunk

A new bar opened up in Chicago, and Bob had to go and try it. It was on the observation deck of the Sears Tower. Bob rode the elevator up and entered the bar. It was very upscale, with the waitresses and waiters in fancy clothing, a real mahogany bar with a comfortable decor and feel overall. Bob sat at the bar and ordered a beer. "Hey, buddy," the man next to him said. "Have you heard about the trick of this bar?" "No," Bob replied. "Watch this," the other man said. He walked over to the window and stepped outside. Bob, totally aghast at this, ran over to the window, fully expecting to see the man plunging to his death. Instead, to Bob's utter surprise, the man was standing there, totally relaxed and unconcerned. "It's the updrafts," he explained. "They're really strong here. You should try it!" Bob hastily gulped his beer and stepped out to join the man. Screaming, he fell the 104 stories to the ground. Landing in a pile of mattresses, he got up without a scratch, but he was so angry, he ran the stairs back up to the bar. When he got there, totally out of breath, he was just in time to hear the bartender say, "You are one mean drunk, Superman!"

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A Dreamer's Guide : Macadam to Magpie

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

Traveling over a Macadam road signifies pleasant journeys from which you will benefit. It is also a sign of noble aspirations.

Macaroni means you are acting like a parasite. If you ate it, you will never be hungry, and if you made it, you will fall in love with someone who cleans for a living. Large quantities of macaroni mean you will only save money though the strictest of frugality. Cooking it is an indication that hard work and perseverance will bring you happiness. You be invited to a dance if you bought macaroni. Serving macaroni is an omen of unexpected guests or an impromptu party.

If you met an officer carrying a Mace, you will have dignity and distinction. If you saw someone using a mace, someone has secret feelings of hatred toward you. There is danger in love if you carried a mace.

You will be recognized for your efforts on behalf of the community if you smelled or used Mace.

You live a life of propriety if you dreamt of Machinery. Any machine run by steam augurs richness and happiness. Careful of new ventures if you were afraid of machinery, and if you were injured you will fail to fulfill your goal. Hard work is ahead if you bought machinery, and selling it is a sign of prosperity. Being interested in machines indicates good profits, while handling machinery means you have false friends. Dignity and distinction is yours if you fixed anything. Idle or derelict machines indicates approaching family or employment problems.

Expect trouble if you saw a dead Mackerel. If you saw it in a fish market, you will obtain a high and honorable position. You will be loved if you caught one, but having it for dinner indicates expensive pleasures. Cooking this fish presages marriage, and eating it means joy. Good health is foretold if children ate it.

Madness is a sign of happiness. A madman means you will love someone very deeply, and a madwoman indicates a famous child. If you thought you were mad, you may soon marry, and if you believed you were going mad, you will live long. Unhappiness is ahead if you saw someone who was raving mad, while seeing a dead mad person means you will have a new love interest.

A lie will be revealed if you saw a Mad Dog. If the mad dog belonged to you, an unfair accusation will be revealed as such. If you killed a mad dog, you will enjoy a contented future.

A Madstone, that is a stone with magical healing properties, used to heal a wound caused by an animal foretells that all your efforts to defend yourself from attack will end only in dishonorable defeat.

A Magazine predicts news from far away. Your worries will be relieved if you bought one, but selling one indicates loneliness. Friendship is foretold if you gave one away, but losing it is a sign of poverty. Be careful to avoid loss if you wrote an article.

Though you wouldn’t think it, a Maggot is a sign of changes for the better. If there were many, you will have a change of environment. Killing maggots is a augury of the failure of your enemies to do you harm.

A change will occur in your affairs if you dreamt of Magic. News will come from an unexpected source if you found yourself reading about magic. Discussing it indicates the loss of a friend, and being involved in some magical event predicts the progress of your plans. Reunion with a long lost friend or the rekindling of a past love is augured by being entertained or mystified by a magician. Performing magic indicates pleasant surprises.

Sorrow and trouble is indicated if you were summoned by a Magistrate. Fortune is coming to you if you were acquitted. If the magistrate ruled in your favor, you will overcome your worries. Hard times are ahead if he did not.

A Magnet promises success and security so long as you are not reckless. If you used one, things will get better. Seeing a magnet display its natural attraction is an omen of sexual vigor and popularity with the opposite sex.

Business will grow if you saw a Magnifying Glass, and your future will be glorious if you used one. Using one to read however predicts a short life. Lost valuables will be discovered if you bought one.

It seems logical that if you saw a Magpie, someone is trying to steal from you. You will have a long life if you saw one in a cage. A magpie in the morning promises success in your affairs, but seeing this bird in the evening is a warning that you will be badly cheated.

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Quote : Old Zen Saying
To a man who knows nothing, mountains are mountains, waters are waters and trees are trees. But when he has studied and knows a little, mountains are no longer mountains, waters no longer waters and trees no longer trees. But when he has thoroughly understood, mountains are once again mountains, waters are waters and trees are trees.

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