- The Coven Avalon
~ Lughnasadh Crafts and Activities For Children ~
(by Sylvi…
The Coven Avalon~ Lughnasadh Crafts and Activities For Children ~
(by Sylvia Farley – http://www.helium.com/items/2057587-lughnasadh-crafts-and-activities-for-children)
At Lughnasadh, pronounced “Loonasah”, Druids celebrate the turning of the Wheel of the Year, from growing time to storing time, from the sunshine of summer to the dark of winter.
The word Lughnasadh means August games. Lunasa is the Irish word for August. Games and feasts were held on the first full moon after August 1st to celebrate the gifts of Lugh, the god of the sun, and his mother, Tailltiu, the harvest goddess. It is a time to rest from farming labour and give thanks for richness of the earth. The festival has been adopted by Christians as Lammas, or “Loaf mass” when special bread was baked and distributed to the poor.
Children can do many fascinating things to honour the sun and the harvest, making special food, modelling salt bread, plaiting corn dollies, playing ritual games and going on walks in the countryside.
The characters of the Green Man, representing trees and nature, the Harvest Queen and John Barleycorn, representing the grain used to make beer and the fun of celebration, are central to harvest ritual. For children, the Barleycorn figure is less appropriate that the former two who also stand for Lugh and Tailltiu.
A way of teaching children the lessons of Lughnasadh is to spend a special day of celebration activities and games.
This could begin with the children in a circle, all standing on one leg with one hand over one eye as they try to balance and settle themselves in the pose of the Heron. In the centre of the circle is a crowned woman dressed as a queen. When the children have finished giggling and falling over and are focussed on the idea of a graceful bird standing still as a statue and watching for fish in a river, an adult, dressed as the Green Man, decorated with leaves, can call for their attention.
He will explain that Lughnasadh is a time to reflect on what each of them has learned from the past and what they hope for the future. He will say that each of them have been given special talents and will ask them to step forward, one at a time, bow or curtsey to the Queen and tell her who they are and what they want to do with their lives. This is a good way of breaking the ice and introducing them to each other.
Funeral games were once held in honour of Tailltiu (tal – 'like Pal but with a T' – E-too), who had died from exhaustion after preparing the fields for planting. Races, wrestling and jumping competitions were held. This is an excellent way for children to let off steam. After the games, each can be rewarded with a coloured token which will correspond to the trail they will follow at the end of the day to find their prize.
Corn is one of the vital crops harvested at this time. Crafts to be practiced on this day include making corn wreaths and dollies to keep for the rest of the year. Wreaths represent the Wheel of Life and are made by winding corn stalks together and binding them with string. Dollies are figures of the God or Goddess made by plaiting corn stalks. They can be decorated with ribbons, beads or dried flowers.
Alternatively the models can be made from salt dough, which has been prepared as a firm paste a few hours before use from flour moistened with salted water. The wreaths and figures must be baked hard to keep for months. After a few days they can be painted with poster paint and varnished.
Traditionally, this festival was a time when people went out over the moorland and into the fields and orchards to gather bilberries, black-berries and apples.
Food for the gathering can be prepared in advance, but traditionally comprises golden butterfly chicken with colcannon, followed by bilberry pie or black-berry and apple cobbler.
Chicken breasts are cut open to a butterfly shape, flattened thinly by beating in a polythene bag, tossed in flour seasoned with salt and pepper and gently fried in butter with finely chopped onions. They are then lifted out and left to keep warm in the oven. For Colcannon, boiled potatoes are mashed or pureed with the remaining butter and onions and spread in a shallow dish. The chicken breasts are laid on top to serve.
The Cobbler is made from a cake mix of equal measures of creamed butter and sugar mixed with a double measure of self-raising flour. This is placed in a buttered baking dish. Over it, sliced apples and blackberries are heaped, sprinkled with more sugar and cinnamon and enough water to cover them. The whole is cooked in a medium oven until risen and golden, usually about three-quarters of an hour. The cobbler is served hot with ice-cream, cream or custard.
If an after-dinner country ramble is not possible, a treasure hunt can be held instead. Previously hidden gifts can be found by the children following trails of wool or yarn, or coloured paper tied in trees.
These gifts might be whatever the children have not had time to do for themselves: corn wreaths or dollies to take home and decorate; salt bread models to paint, or even little packets of bead and ribbon to decorate their own work, or small palettes of paint, a paintbrush and a tiny pot of varnish.
At the end of the day, the Green man and the Queen address the meeting, taking turns to speak alternate lines of this invocation:
“Prosperity is not saving up great wealth we cannot use. Prosperity is having what we need and a little extra to give to others. We celebrate the Harvest. We celebrate the Wheel of Life. We celebrate the rich gifts of the Universe. We recognise these gifts and honour them.”
Another game to play on this special day is that of “ Hand-fasting”. This was a traditional way for young people to choose a partner for the coming year. A girl stands on one side of a screen where she cannot see the boy on the other side. They clasp hands through a hole in the screen and the girl tries to guess which boy she is holding. When they walk out to where she can see him, she either puts her arms around his neck, or stands with her back to him. He can also put his arms round her neck, or turn his back to her. Couples who embrace remain together, while couples who turn their back get another chance. The game goes on until everyone is paired, the last couple remaining having no choice but each other.
Then the couples all join in dancing which is lead by the King and Queen. This is an ideal time to learn traditional country dances and reels and a wonderful way to end a very special day.
*The Coven Avalon claims no rights to this artwork, or any on our page. If this work belongs to you and you would like for us to remove it, please contact us and we will certainly do so. Being a non-profit educational site, we operate under the Fair Use rule of the US Copyright Law – please refer to the page information for full details. Blessings!
Wall Photos
~ Lughnasadh Crafts and Activities For Children ~(by Sylvia Farley – http://www.helium.com/items/2057587-lughnasadh-crafts-and-activities-for-children)
At Lughnasadh, pronounced “Loonasah”, Druids celebrate the turning of the Wheel of the Year, from growing time to storing time, from the sunshine of summer to the dark of winter.
The word Lughnasadh means August games. Lunasa is the Irish word for August. Games and feasts were held on the first full moon after August 1st to celebrate the gifts of Lugh, the god of the sun, and his mother, Tailltiu, the harvest goddess. It is a time to rest from farming labour and give thanks for richness of the earth. The festival has been adopted by Christians as Lammas, or “Loaf mass” when special bread was baked and distributed to the poor.
Children can do many fascinating things to honour the sun and the harvest, making special food, modelling salt bread, plaiting corn dollies, playing ritual games and going on walks in the countryside.
The characters of the Green Man, representing trees and nature, the Harvest Queen and John Barleycorn, representing the grain used to make beer and the fun of celebration, are central to harvest ritual. For children, the Barleycorn figure is less appropriate that the former two who also stand for Lugh and Tailltiu.
A way of teaching children the lessons of Lughnasadh is to spend a special day of celebration activities and games.
This could begin with the children in a circle, all standing on one leg with one hand over one eye as they try to balance and settle themselves in the pose of the Heron. In the centre of the circle is a crowned woman dressed as a queen. When the children have finished giggling and falling over and are focussed on the idea of a graceful bird standing still as a statue and watching for fish in a river, an adult, dressed as the Green Man, decorated with leaves, can call for their attention.
He will explain that Lughnasadh is a time to reflect on what each of them has learned from the past and what they hope for the future. He will say that each of them have been given special talents and will ask them to step forward, one at a time, bow or curtsey to the Queen and tell her who they are and what they want to do with their lives. This is a good way of breaking the ice and introducing them to each other.
Funeral games were once held in honour of Tailltiu (tal – 'like Pal but with a T' – E-too), who had died from exhaustion after preparing the fields for planting. Races, wrestling and jumping competitions were held. This is an excellent way for children to let off steam. After the games, each can be rewarded with a coloured token which will correspond to the trail they will follow at the end of the day to find their prize.
Corn is one of the vital crops harvested at this time. Crafts to be practiced on this day include making corn wreaths and dollies to keep for the rest of the year. Wreaths represent the Wheel of Life and are made by winding corn stalks together and binding them with string. Dollies are figures of the God or Goddess made by plaiting corn stalks. They can be decorated with ribbons, beads or dried flowers.
Alternatively the models can be made from salt dough, which has been prepared as a firm paste a few hours before use from flour moistened with salted water. The wreaths and figures must be baked hard to keep for months. After a few days they can be painted with poster paint and varnished.
Traditionally, this festival was a time when people went out over the moorland and into the fields and orchards to gather bilberries, black-berries and apples.
Food for the gathering can be prepared in advance, but traditionally comprises golden butterfly chicken with colcannon, followed by bilberry pie or black-berry and apple cobbler.
Chicken breasts are cut open to a butterfly shape, flattened thinly by beating in a polythene bag, tossed in flour seasoned with salt and pepper and gently fried in butter with finely chopped onions. They are then lifted out and left to keep warm in the oven. For Colcannon, boiled potatoes are mashed or pureed with the remaining butter and onions and spread in a shallow dish. The chicken breasts are laid on top to serve.
The Cobbler is made from a cake mix of equal measures of creamed butter and sugar mixed with a double measure of self-raising flour. This is placed in a buttered baking dish. Over it, sliced apples and blackberries are heaped, sprinkled with more sugar and cinnamon and enough water to cover them. The whole is cooked in a medium oven until risen and golden, usually about three-quarters of an hour. The cobbler is served hot with ice-cream, cream or custard.
If an after-dinner country ramble is not possible, a treasure hunt can be held instead. Previously hidden gifts can be found by the children following trails of wool or yarn, or coloured paper tied in trees.
These gifts might be whatever the children have not had time to do for themselves: corn wreaths or dollies to take home and decorate; salt bread models to paint, or even little packets of bead and ribbon to decorate their own work, or small palettes of paint, a paintbrush and a tiny pot of varnish.
At the end of the day, the Green man and the Queen address the meeting, taking turns to speak alternate lines of this invocation:
“Prosperity is not saving up great wealth we cannot use. Prosperity is having what we need and a little extra to give to others. We celebrate the Harvest. We celebrate the Wheel of Life. We celebrate the rich gifts of the Universe. We recognise these gifts and honour them.”
Another game to play on this special day is that of “ Hand-fasting”. This was a traditional way for young people to choose a partner for the coming year. A girl stands on one side of a screen where she cannot see the boy on the other side. They clasp hands through a hole in the screen and the girl tries to guess which boy she is holding. When they walk out to where she can see him, she either puts her arms around his neck, or stands with her back to him. He can also put his arms round her neck, or turn his back to her. Couples who embrace remain together, while couples who turn their back get another chance. The game goes on until everyone is paired, the last couple remaining having no choice but each other.
Then the couples all join in dancing which is lead by the King and Queen. This is an ideal time to learn traditional country dances and reels and a wonderful way to end a very special day.
*The Coven Avalon claims no rights to this artwork, or any on our page. If this work belongs to you and you would like for us to remove it, please contact us and we will certainly do so. Being a non-profit educational site, we operate under the Fair Use rule of the US Copyright Law – please refer to the page information for full details. Blessings!
- The Coven Avalon
~ Lughnasadh Crafts and Activities For Children ~
(by Sylvi…
The Coven Avalon~ Lughnasadh Crafts and Activities For Children ~
(by Sylvia Farley – http://www.helium.com/items/2057587-lughnasadh-crafts-and-activities-for-children)
At Lughnasadh, pronounced “Loonasah”, Druids celebrate the turning of the Wheel of the Year, from growing time to storing time, from the sunshine of summer to the dark of winter.
The word Lughnasadh means August games. Lunasa is the Irish word for August. Games and feasts were held on the first full moon after August 1st to celebrate the gifts of Lugh, the god of the sun, and his mother, Tailltiu, the harvest goddess. It is a time to rest from farming labour and give thanks for richness of the earth. The festival has been adopted by Christians as Lammas, or “Loaf mass” when special bread was baked and distributed to the poor.
Children can do many fascinating things to honour the sun and the harvest, making special food, modelling salt bread, plaiting corn dollies, playing ritual games and going on walks in the countryside.
The characters of the Green Man, representing trees and nature, the Harvest Queen and John Barleycorn, representing the grain used to make beer and the fun of celebration, are central to harvest ritual. For children, the Barleycorn figure is less appropriate that the former two who also stand for Lugh and Tailltiu.
A way of teaching children the lessons of Lughnasadh is to spend a special day of celebration activities and games.
This could begin with the children in a circle, all standing on one leg with one hand over one eye as they try to balance and settle themselves in the pose of the Heron. In the centre of the circle is a crowned woman dressed as a queen. When the children have finished giggling and falling over and are focussed on the idea of a graceful bird standing still as a statue and watching for fish in a river, an adult, dressed as the Green Man, decorated with leaves, can call for their attention.
He will explain that Lughnasadh is a time to reflect on what each of them has learned from the past and what they hope for the future. He will say that each of them have been given special talents and will ask them to step forward, one at a time, bow or curtsey to the Queen and tell her who they are and what they want to do with their lives. This is a good way of breaking the ice and introducing them to each other.
Funeral games were once held in honour of Tailltiu (tal – 'like Pal but with a T' – E-too), who had died from exhaustion after preparing the fields for planting. Races, wrestling and jumping competitions were held. This is an excellent way for children to let off steam. After the games, each can be rewarded with a coloured token which will correspond to the trail they will follow at the end of the day to find their prize.
Corn is one of the vital crops harvested at this time. Crafts to be practiced on this day include making corn wreaths and dollies to keep for the rest of the year. Wreaths represent the Wheel of Life and are made by winding corn stalks together and binding them with string. Dollies are figures of the God or Goddess made by plaiting corn stalks. They can be decorated with ribbons, beads or dried flowers.
Alternatively the models can be made from salt dough, which has been prepared as a firm paste a few hours before use from flour moistened with salted water. The wreaths and figures must be baked hard to keep for months. After a few days they can be painted with poster paint and varnished.
Traditionally, this festival was a time when people went out over the moorland and into the fields and orchards to gather bilberries, black-berries and apples.
Food for the gathering can be prepared in advance, but traditionally comprises golden butterfly chicken with colcannon, followed by bilberry pie or black-berry and apple cobbler.
Chicken breasts are cut open to a butterfly shape, flattened thinly by beating in a polythene bag, tossed in flour seasoned with salt and pepper and gently fried in butter with finely chopped onions. They are then lifted out and left to keep warm in the oven. For Colcannon, boiled potatoes are mashed or pureed with the remaining butter and onions and spread in a shallow dish. The chicken breasts are laid on top to serve.
The Cobbler is made from a cake mix of equal measures of creamed butter and sugar mixed with a double measure of self-raising flour. This is placed in a buttered baking dish. Over it, sliced apples and blackberries are heaped, sprinkled with more sugar and cinnamon and enough water to cover them. The whole is cooked in a medium oven until risen and golden, usually about three-quarters of an hour. The cobbler is served hot with ice-cream, cream or custard.
If an after-dinner country ramble is not possible, a treasure hunt can be held instead. Previously hidden gifts can be found by the children following trails of wool or yarn, or coloured paper tied in trees.
These gifts might be whatever the children have not had time to do for themselves: corn wreaths or dollies to take home and decorate; salt bread models to paint, or even little packets of bead and ribbon to decorate their own work, or small palettes of paint, a paintbrush and a tiny pot of varnish.
At the end of the day, the Green man and the Queen address the meeting, taking turns to speak alternate lines of this invocation:
“Prosperity is not saving up great wealth we cannot use. Prosperity is having what we need and a little extra to give to others. We celebrate the Harvest. We celebrate the Wheel of Life. We celebrate the rich gifts of the Universe. We recognise these gifts and honour them.”
Another game to play on this special day is that of “ Hand-fasting”. This was a traditional way for young people to choose a partner for the coming year. A girl stands on one side of a screen where she cannot see the boy on the other side. They clasp hands through a hole in the screen and the girl tries to guess which boy she is holding. When they walk out to where she can see him, she either puts her arms around his neck, or stands with her back to him. He can also put his arms round her neck, or turn his back to her. Couples who embrace remain together, while couples who turn their back get another chance. The game goes on until everyone is paired, the last couple remaining having no choice but each other.
Then the couples all join in dancing which is lead by the King and Queen. This is an ideal time to learn traditional country dances and reels and a wonderful way to end a very special day.
*The Coven Avalon claims no rights to this artwork, or any on our page. If this work belongs to you and you would like for us to remove it, please contact us and we will certainly do so. Being a non-profit educational site, we operate under the Fair Use rule of the US Copyright Law – please refer to the page information for full details. Blessings!
Wall Photos
~ Lughnasadh Crafts and Activities For Children ~(by Sylvia Farley – http://www.helium.com/items/2057587-lughnasadh-crafts-and-activities-for-children)
At Lughnasadh, pronounced “Loonasah”, Druids celebrate the turning of the Wheel of the Year, from growing time to storing time, from the sunshine of summer to the dark of winter.
The word Lughnasadh means August games. Lunasa is the Irish word for August. Games and feasts were held on the first full moon after August 1st to celebrate the gifts of Lugh, the god of the sun, and his mother, Tailltiu, the harvest goddess. It is a time to rest from farming labour and give thanks for richness of the earth. The festival has been adopted by Christians as Lammas, or “Loaf mass” when special bread was baked and distributed to the poor.
Children can do many fascinating things to honour the sun and the harvest, making special food, modelling salt bread, plaiting corn dollies, playing ritual games and going on walks in the countryside.
The characters of the Green Man, representing trees and nature, the Harvest Queen and John Barleycorn, representing the grain used to make beer and the fun of celebration, are central to harvest ritual. For children, the Barleycorn figure is less appropriate that the former two who also stand for Lugh and Tailltiu.
A way of teaching children the lessons of Lughnasadh is to spend a special day of celebration activities and games.
This could begin with the children in a circle, all standing on one leg with one hand over one eye as they try to balance and settle themselves in the pose of the Heron. In the centre of the circle is a crowned woman dressed as a queen. When the children have finished giggling and falling over and are focussed on the idea of a graceful bird standing still as a statue and watching for fish in a river, an adult, dressed as the Green Man, decorated with leaves, can call for their attention.
He will explain that Lughnasadh is a time to reflect on what each of them has learned from the past and what they hope for the future. He will say that each of them have been given special talents and will ask them to step forward, one at a time, bow or curtsey to the Queen and tell her who they are and what they want to do with their lives. This is a good way of breaking the ice and introducing them to each other.
Funeral games were once held in honour of Tailltiu (tal – 'like Pal but with a T' – E-too), who had died from exhaustion after preparing the fields for planting. Races, wrestling and jumping competitions were held. This is an excellent way for children to let off steam. After the games, each can be rewarded with a coloured token which will correspond to the trail they will follow at the end of the day to find their prize.
Corn is one of the vital crops harvested at this time. Crafts to be practiced on this day include making corn wreaths and dollies to keep for the rest of the year. Wreaths represent the Wheel of Life and are made by winding corn stalks together and binding them with string. Dollies are figures of the God or Goddess made by plaiting corn stalks. They can be decorated with ribbons, beads or dried flowers.
Alternatively the models can be made from salt dough, which has been prepared as a firm paste a few hours before use from flour moistened with salted water. The wreaths and figures must be baked hard to keep for months. After a few days they can be painted with poster paint and varnished.
Traditionally, this festival was a time when people went out over the moorland and into the fields and orchards to gather bilberries, black-berries and apples.
Food for the gathering can be prepared in advance, but traditionally comprises golden butterfly chicken with colcannon, followed by bilberry pie or black-berry and apple cobbler.
Chicken breasts are cut open to a butterfly shape, flattened thinly by beating in a polythene bag, tossed in flour seasoned with salt and pepper and gently fried in butter with finely chopped onions. They are then lifted out and left to keep warm in the oven. For Colcannon, boiled potatoes are mashed or pureed with the remaining butter and onions and spread in a shallow dish. The chicken breasts are laid on top to serve.
The Cobbler is made from a cake mix of equal measures of creamed butter and sugar mixed with a double measure of self-raising flour. This is placed in a buttered baking dish. Over it, sliced apples and blackberries are heaped, sprinkled with more sugar and cinnamon and enough water to cover them. The whole is cooked in a medium oven until risen and golden, usually about three-quarters of an hour. The cobbler is served hot with ice-cream, cream or custard.
If an after-dinner country ramble is not possible, a treasure hunt can be held instead. Previously hidden gifts can be found by the children following trails of wool or yarn, or coloured paper tied in trees.
These gifts might be whatever the children have not had time to do for themselves: corn wreaths or dollies to take home and decorate; salt bread models to paint, or even little packets of bead and ribbon to decorate their own work, or small palettes of paint, a paintbrush and a tiny pot of varnish.
At the end of the day, the Green man and the Queen address the meeting, taking turns to speak alternate lines of this invocation:
“Prosperity is not saving up great wealth we cannot use. Prosperity is having what we need and a little extra to give to others. We celebrate the Harvest. We celebrate the Wheel of Life. We celebrate the rich gifts of the Universe. We recognise these gifts and honour them.”
Another game to play on this special day is that of “ Hand-fasting”. This was a traditional way for young people to choose a partner for the coming year. A girl stands on one side of a screen where she cannot see the boy on the other side. They clasp hands through a hole in the screen and the girl tries to guess which boy she is holding. When they walk out to where she can see him, she either puts her arms around his neck, or stands with her back to him. He can also put his arms round her neck, or turn his back to her. Couples who embrace remain together, while couples who turn their back get another chance. The game goes on until everyone is paired, the last couple remaining having no choice but each other.
Then the couples all join in dancing which is lead by the King and Queen. This is an ideal time to learn traditional country dances and reels and a wonderful way to end a very special day.
*The Coven Avalon claims no rights to this artwork, or any on our page. If this work belongs to you and you would like for us to remove it, please contact us and we will certainly do so. Being a non-profit educational site, we operate under the Fair Use rule of the US Copyright Law – please refer to the page information for full details. Blessings!
- ~ Lughnasadh Correspondences ~
August 1 will be here before we know it! )O(
*…
~ Lughnasadh Correspondences ~August 1 will be here before we know it! )O(
* Tools, Symbols & Decorations *
The sun, oak, birch & fir branches, sun flowers, lilies, red/maize/yellow or gold flower, love amulets, seashells, summer fruits & flowers, feather/flower door wreath, sun wheel, fire, circles of stone, sun dials and swords/blades, bird feathers, Witches' ladder.
* Gods & Goddesses *
Lugh
(Celtic, one of the Tuatha De Danaan)
The Mother, Dana
(Lugh’s wife & queen)
Demeter/Ceres
(Roman grain goddess..honored at Ceresalia)
Johnny Barleycorn
Arianrhod’s golden haired son Lleu
(Welsh God of the Sun & Corn where corn includes all grains, not just maize)
Other agricultural Goddesses
The Waxing Goddess
The Waning God* Colors *
Red, Orange, Golden Yellow, Green, Light Brown, Gold, Bronze, Gray
* Customs *
Bonfires, processions, all night vigil, singing, feasting, celebrating with others, cutting divining rods, dowsing rods & wands, herb gathering, handfastings, weddings, Druidic gathering of mistletoe in oak groves, needfires, leaping between two fires, mistletoe(without berries, use as a protection amulet), women walking naked through gardens to ensure continued fertility, enjoying the seasonal fruits & vegetables, honor the Mother's fullness, richness and abundance, put garlands of St. John’s Wort placed over doors/ windows & a sprig in the car for protection.
* Animals/Mythical Beings *
Griffins, basilisks, roosters, calves, centaurs, phoenix
* Gemstones *
Aventurine, citrine, peridot, sardonyx, yellow diamondsand citrine
* Herbs *
Grain, acacia, heather, ginseng, sloe, cornstalks, cyclamen, fenugreek, aloes, frankincense, sunflower, hollyhock, oak leaf, wheat,myrtle
* Incense/Oil *
Wood aloes, rose, rose hips, rosemary, chamomile, eucalyptus, safflower, corn, passionflower, frankincense, sandalwood
* Rituals/Magicks *
Astrology, prosperity, generosity, continued success, good fortune, abundance,magickal picnic, meditate & visualize yourself completing a project you’ve started.
* Foods *
Loaves of homemade wheat, oat, & corn bread, barley cakes, corn, potatoes, summer squash, nuts, acorns, wild berries (any type), apples, rice, pears, berry pies, elderberry wine, crab apples, mead, crab, blackberries, meadowsweet tea, grapes, cider, beer
*The Coven Avalon claims no rights to this artwork, or any on our page. If this work belongs to you and you would like for us to remove it, please contact us and we will certainly do so. Being a non-profit educational site, we operate under the Fair Use rule of the US Copyright Law – please refer to the page information for full details. Blessings!
Wall Photos
~ Lughnasadh Correspondences ~August 1 will be here before we know it! )O(
* Tools, Symbols & Decorations *
The sun, oak, birch & fir branches, sun flowers, lilies, red/maize/yellow or gold flower, love amulets, seashells, summer fruits & flowers, feather/flower door wreath, sun wheel, fire, circles of stone, sun dials and swords/blades, bird feathers, Witches' ladder.
* Gods & Goddesses *
Lugh
(Celtic, one of the Tuatha De Danaan)
The Mother, Dana
(Lugh’s wife & queen)
Demeter/Ceres
(Roman grain goddess..honored at Ceresalia)
Johnny Barleycorn
Arianrhod’s golden haired son Lleu
(Welsh God of the Sun & Corn where corn includes all grains, not just maize)
Other agricultural Goddesses
The Waxing Goddess
The Waning God* Colors *
Red, Orange, Golden Yellow, Green, Light Brown, Gold, Bronze, Gray
* Customs *
Bonfires, processions, all night vigil, singing, feasting, celebrating with others, cutting divining rods, dowsing rods & wands, herb gathering, handfastings, weddings, Druidic gathering of mistletoe in oak groves, needfires, leaping between two fires, mistletoe(without berries, use as a protection amulet), women walking naked through gardens to ensure continued fertility, enjoying the seasonal fruits & vegetables, honor the Mother's fullness, richness and abundance, put garlands of St. John’s Wort placed over doors/ windows & a sprig in the car for protection.
* Animals/Mythical Beings *
Griffins, basilisks, roosters, calves, centaurs, phoenix
* Gemstones *
Aventurine, citrine, peridot, sardonyx, yellow diamondsand citrine
* Herbs *
Grain, acacia, heather, ginseng, sloe, cornstalks, cyclamen, fenugreek, aloes, frankincense, sunflower, hollyhock, oak leaf, wheat,myrtle
* Incense/Oil *
Wood aloes, rose, rose hips, rosemary, chamomile, eucalyptus, safflower, corn, passionflower, frankincense, sandalwood
* Rituals/Magicks *
Astrology, prosperity, generosity, continued success, good fortune, abundance,magickal picnic, meditate & visualize yourself completing a project you’ve started.
* Foods *
Loaves of homemade wheat, oat, & corn bread, barley cakes, corn, potatoes, summer squash, nuts, acorns, wild berries (any type), apples, rice, pears, berry pies, elderberry wine, crab apples, mead, crab, blackberries, meadowsweet tea, grapes, cider, beer
*The Coven Avalon claims no rights to this artwork, or any on our page. If this work belongs to you and you would like for us to remove it, please contact us and we will certainly do so. Being a non-profit educational site, we operate under the Fair Use rule of the US Copyright Law – please refer to the page information for full details. Blessings!
- lol
lol
Wall Photos
To lighten up your day …
Lady Abigail / Lady Lydia -
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New Jersey Pagans
Thursday Correspondence…July 12 Today's Influences: Luck, Religion, Healing, Trade And Employment, Treasure, Honors, Riches, Legal Matters Deities: Amon, Thor, Zeus, Jupiter, Juno, Hera, Kwan Yin, Mary, Cybele, Tara, Mawu, Mlaba Mwana Waresa, Ishtar, Nuit Aromas: Stock, Lilac, Storax, Aloes Incense: Nutmeg, Henbane Color of The Day: Dark Purple, Indigo, Blues, Greens Candle: Blue Planet: Jupiter Metal: Tin Gemstones: Turquoise, amethyst, lapis lazuli Herbs & Plants: Honeysuckle, oak trees, cinquefoil, red clover Associations: Honor and family loyalty, harvests, clothing and riches, fealty Use for magick involving growth, expansion, prosperity, money, business, attracting more of what you have. Sun is in Cancer, Moon is in Aries Review Lammas What's Happening Today: World Festival of Folklore Schoten – in Belgium Orangeman's Day (Northern Ireland) Galicka svadba – group wedding festivities in Galicnik, Macedonia; beginning on St. Peter's Eve (July 11) with a torchlight bridal procession, the brides, grooms and guests participate in a purification ceremony that includes bumping their heads together; the newlyweds do not consummate the marriage until the second night, after a huge communal feast Kiribati Independence Day Lobster Carnival – in Nova Scotia International Criers Day National Pecan Pie Day Pet Photo Day Steel Days Visitation Day - Moon Day 24
In the European tradition, this day is of no account and is consider…Moon Day 24
In the European tradition, this day is of no account and is considered to be absolutely neutral, but Veda and Avesta emphasise that it increases physical energy and sexuality, and inclines to arguments, risks and rivalry. It is not recommended to start anything, especially with the hopes of significant financial results. - Astral Advertising: A Modern Occult Menace?
The Occult community is becomi…
Astral Advertising: A Modern Occult Menace?The Occult community is becoming increasingly divided over a controversial development in modern magick – Astral Advertisements. In their recent Yuletide broadcast to all Witch Queens, Magi, & Gurus, the Secret Chiefs departed from their usual message of world peace and harmony to urge the heads of all magical Orders to make voluntary cutbacks in the level of astral advertising. One of our reporters interviewed a recent 'victim' of astral junk mail; The High Priestess of the New Reformed Orthodox High Church of Wicca (Wymeswold Branch), Marjorie Pebble.
"It's awful. Why only last week we invoked the Goddess, and instead of getting the advice I wanted to heal our Sharon's bad knee, all I got was a repeating message to subscribe to 'Occult News Monthly' or something. It's getting so bad that every time I meditate I get all these jingles running through my head selling Aeon-share holidays or ozone-friendly Demon-repellant."
Last month, a public meeting of occultists at Conway Hall was thrown into chaos when, following a Pathworking, several members of the audience complained about seeing 359 formation-dancing Angels advertising the new Qabalistic treatise by 'Z'em Bang Hafesh Wang'. Visitors to Glastonbury have also reported feeling a strange 'empty' sensation when climbing the Tor, which can only be assuaged by visiting Russell Wobble's Astral Health food and Orgone-free Wine Bar. The problem appears to become particularly bad during the festivals, full moons, and in the run-up to Yuletide.
But some occultists, notably those in the business sector, are fully behind astral advertising. We spoke to Angel Moonflower of the 'Have A Nice Day' New Age Centre, Stow-on-the Wold:
"Well, I prefer to think that it gives consumerism a spiritual dimension. All our crystals have been charged with the messages "buy me" and "buy one more". But really, you know you can never have too many crystals. I think that little blue one in the corner likes you…"
After a long and arduous ritual (including intermission & commercial breaks) we managed to find the inner-plane adepts masterminding astral advertising in the UK, the shadowy A… A…, Inc. They were out to lunch, but we left a message with the Guardian of the Threshold. Later, in a channelled interview through their solicitors, Shem, Ham & Phorash, the A… A… said:
"This is only the beginning. We can train a good neophyte in six months to project an image & soundtrack, and thanks to the Butterfly Effect it'll stay coherent on the astral for months. Of course, whenever someone picks receives the advert, their contact feeds more energy into the thought-form. Our first takers were a consortium of Chaoists doing a special offer 'try our Chaosphere on the astral for 90 days before you buy'. Then the OTTO hired us to project an advert of Crowley endorsing one of his own books. Anyone doing the Gnostic Mass for the next few months should be able to pick it up. That's the beauty of it – not only is it cheap, but you can target your audiences. And it's not only occultists who are taking advantage of our services. A major soup company has offered us a substantial amount to market 'Olive Twitch's Instant Cook-in-a-Cauldron Noodles', using a dopple-ganger of Gerald Gardner and the New Forest Coven. In the next few months we're to begin beaming out a series of coffee ads starring several members of the Greek Pantheon. It's amazing what some of those old deities will do for a bit of media attention. We're particularly pleased with the one featuring Zeus, 2 Nymphs, several goats and a jar of Nescafe Gold Blend."
"But" we said, "Isn't this getting a bit out of hand?"
"Not at all. The occult needs to move with the times, and we're using 1% of our income to help general spiritual enlightenment with sponsored pathworkings for minor demi-gods; posting 'Keep the Planes Tidy' notices at all major portals, and computerising the Akashic Records."
But some traditionalists are not convinced. Hercules Wobble of the Order of the Nine Blades; head of the Surbiton Branch of the 'Clean Up the Astral' campaign told us:
"It's bloody disgraceful. Yesterday we performed a full evocation of Asmodeus and his 99 legions for a Channel 4 Astral Broadcast Unit, and all the little buggers turned up wearing 'Norse Gods Comeback Tour' T-Shirts!"
Despite the controversy, it looks as though Astral Advertising is here to stay. Since we complained on behalf of suffering readers, the A… A… have generously offered a simple astral 'noise filter' meditation. It costs a mere £500 and is available from Mammon Investments direct. Simply visualise the A… A… logo – a dollar sign inside a triangle, and, on hearing the astral bell, simply chant your name, address, and Karmacard number.
- Ok it Thor's day or has now become know as marvel superhero day could not let t…
Ok it Thor's day or has now become know as marvel superhero day could not let this one pass
- Day to Night……..
Clear Blue Skies, Grass of Lustre Green
Her Beauty is ther…Day to Night……..Clear Blue Skies, Grass of Lustre Green
Her Beauty is there for all to See
Warm of Air, Heat born of Fire
By Her Will, By Her Desire
Mountain High, Rock and Stone
The Lord He Dwells within our Home
Water Clear and Running Free
Magnifies and Shines Her Beauty
Forest Deep and the Mighty Oak
Brings the Fae and wild Folk
Dragons Fly around and around
As the Rich Earth embraces the trembling Ground
Unicorns run in their magestic wake
The Magick flows for all to take
As Dusk turns into the beautiful Night
Her Moon ascend in radiance Bright
The fire glows with its own Power
The flames rise high and above us Towers
His Laugh is Heard from the forest Deep
He call to us…for its us, He Seeks
There in His Magestic Stance
Is the Lord, with his Merry Dance
The Lord and Lady join the fun
The night is new and just begun
Blessed are We, to join them Bright
We ll dance and play all through the NightBlessed Be
)0(
Lady Jhyenan Hps/SAD
Wall Photos
Day to Night……..Clear Blue Skies, Grass of Lustre Green
Her Beauty is there for all to See
Warm of Air, Heat born of Fire
By Her Will, By Her Desire
Mountain High, Rock and Stone
The Lord He Dwells within our Home
Water Clear and Running Free
Magnifies and Shines Her Beauty
Forest Deep and the Mighty Oak
Brings the Fae and wild Folk
Dragons Fly around and around
As the Rich Earth embraces the trembling Ground
Unicorns run in their magestic wake
The Magick flows for all to take
As Dusk turns into the beautiful Night
Her Moon ascend in radiance Bright
The fire glows with its own Power
The flames rise high and above us Towers
His Laugh is Heard from the forest Deep
He call to us…for its us, He Seeks
There in His Magestic Stance
Is the Lord, with his Merry Dance
The Lord and Lady join the fun
The night is new and just begun
Blessed are We, to join them Bright
We ll dance and play all through the NightBlessed Be
)0(
Lady Jhyenan Hps/SAD
-
Greatest illuminated extent for Venus July 12, 2012 | Tonight | EarthSky
earthsky.org
Venus shines at it brightest for about a week in the middle part of July 2012. This dazzling world reaches its greatest illuminated extent on July 12. - Good Thor’s day to all I am feeling better as I have sky man coming today so wil…
Good Thor’s day to all I am feeling better as I have sky man coming today so will have TV back Yah sometime in life it’s the simplest that can make us happy so today I hope you all find something simple that makes you happy (stop looking at your partner thinking he/she does) may you find humour in difficult times and as this day departs may your heart have been warmed by laughter and good friends Brightest Blessings Draco )o(/|\
- A sweet lesson on patience.
A NYC Taxi driver wrote:
I arrived at the address…
A sweet lesson on patience.A NYC Taxi driver wrote:
I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I honked again. Since this was going to be my last ride of my shift I thought about just driving away, but instead I put the car in park and walked up to the door and knocked.. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.
After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie.
By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.
There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard
box filled with photos and glassware.'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.
She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.
She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her.. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.'
'Oh, you're such a good boy, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, 'Could you drive
through downtown?''It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly..
'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice.
I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued in a soft voice..'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.
'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.
For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.
We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.
Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired.Let's go now'.
We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move.
They must have been expecting her.I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.
'How much do I owe you?' She asked, reaching into her purse.
'Nothing,' I said
'You have to make a living,' she answered.
'There are other passengers,' I responded.
Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug.She held onto me tightly.
'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said. 'Thank you.'
I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light.. Behind me, a door shut.It was the sound of the closing of a life..
I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day,I could hardly talk.What if that woman had gotten an angry driver,or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?
On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.
We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.
But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.
Kahayne Henry's photos
A sweet lesson on patience.A NYC Taxi driver wrote:
I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I honked again. Since this was going to be my last ride of my shift I thought about just driving away, but instead I put the car in park and walked up to the door and knocked.. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.
After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie.
By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.
There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard
box filled with photos and glassware.'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.
She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.
She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her.. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.'
'Oh, you're such a good boy, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, 'Could you drive
through downtown?''It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly..
'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice.
I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued in a soft voice..'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.
'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.
For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.
We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.
Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired.Let's go now'.
We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move.
They must have been expecting her.I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.
'How much do I owe you?' She asked, reaching into her purse.
'Nothing,' I said
'You have to make a living,' she answered.
'There are other passengers,' I responded.
Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug.She held onto me tightly.
'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said. 'Thank you.'
I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light.. Behind me, a door shut.It was the sound of the closing of a life..
I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day,I could hardly talk.What if that woman had gotten an angry driver,or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?
On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.
We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.
But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.
-
- Thursday — Thor's day
Middle English thur(e)sday
Old English thursdæg
Old Norse…Thursday — Thor's day
Middle English thur(e)sday
Old English thursdæg
Old Norse thorsdagr "Thor's day"
Old English thunresdæg "thunder's day"
Latin dies Jovis "day of Jupiter"
Ancient Greek hemera Dios "day of Zeus".
Thor is the Norse god of thunder. He is represented as riding a chariot drawn by goats and wielding the hammer Miölnir. He is the defender of the Aesir, destined to kill and be killed by the Midgard Serpent.Jupiter (Jove) is the supreme Roman god and patron of the Roman state. He is noted for creating thunder and lightning.
Zeus is Greek god of the heavens and the supreme Greek god.
- Sunrise: 5:10 AM BST
Sunset: 9:20 PM BST
Length of Day: 16h 10m
Tomorrow will…Sunrise: 5:10 AM BST
Sunset: 9:20 PM BST
Length of Day: 16h 10m
Tomorrow will be 1m 59s shorter.
Moon Rise: 12:24 AM BST
Moon Set: 3:26 PM BST
Moon Phase: Last Quarter 40% Illuminated
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